LtCmdr Jovenan – We were supposed to talk about science… guess biology is science too
Jovenan
((Chief Science Officer’s office, Deck 9, USS Artemis))
Richards: Unexpected is fairly typical no matter where I go. ::Chuckling:: Life seems to think I thrive in chaos, so I just roll with it.
Jovenan nodded. The chaos and the unexpected were likely the experience shared by anyone who had ever even looked at Starfleet’s direction. There likely weren’t a single person in the service, not even a single receptionist or a librarian on the most obscure station in the safest corners of the cosmos, who hadn’t experienced something unexplainable. That was obviously true for Richards as well, whom Jovenan had met for the first time on a Borg Cube and who had proceeded to punch a drone. It would have been stupid of Jovenan or indeed anyone to question Richards’ adaptability in the face of hardship.
Jovenan: Besides the missions and our own projects, there’s the bridge duty that rotates between officers. Which is, uh, something I’ll need to check with the Captain if you’ll be expected to take part in it. Did you do anything like that while on the Amity?
Richards: No, we didn’t- well if we did it wasn’t something the civilians took part in. If that is something you and the Captain would like me to do I am more than willing to join the rotation.
Listening to her response, Jovenan wrote down a reminder to herself onto the PADD to discuss the topic with the Captain and the rest of the staff. She didn’t doubt Richards’ ability to man the science station on the bridge, especially if she was given a training into it. It was Richards’ status as a civilian yet a full member of the Science Department that made her question what the rules said about her newest subordinate being required or permitted to take that role in the system critical to the ship’s command. She didn’t know if she’d do Richards a favour or disservice if she advocated for her inclusion in the rotation – the bridge was where the action took place, but under normal circumstances, just sitting there watching the sensors detect nothing for hours could be rather dull and took time from the actual research projects.
Jovenan: Okay. By the way, how’s your competence with other Starfleet systems? Databases, computer architecture, research publishing platforms, sensors… weapons? We mostly use stuff that’s specifically made for Starfleet, and they can be different from the civilian ones.
Richards: Thankfully I spent time on the Indy-B, one of Amity’s support ships, I was given a crash course on the systems as soon as I got there. Now I am comfortable with all of it. ::Tilting her head to the side:: I have received Starfleet field training and had to get comfortable with the systems. If there isn’t something I know how to do, I’ll ask for help. And I’d like to believe I am a quick learner.
Jovenan smiled, almost smirked. Richards was confident – a rarity in the Artemis blue-shirt division – but she also had something to back her claims. Jovenan could believe it, too; it was probably easier to train a scientist to use all the basic Starfleet systems than to educate a non-blue-shirt in science. That said, even Jovenan still had much to learn about how all the fancier equipment and machinery worked, so she wanted to gently remind Richards to continue her learning process.
Jovenan: Great! But we’re not expecting you or any of our officers to know everything from the get-go. There are frequent training sessions that all the departments run, and you can also ask for personal orientation from the senior officers at any time. I’d like to see you take part in those regularly. ::glimpse at the belly:: If you feel able to, of course.
Richards: I just want to show everyone I can do this. Pregnant or not, I have a lot to offer and I don’t want to let anyone down.
In addition to having still much to learn in engineering, Jovenan found herself lacking in reading people’s emotions. Richards’ face had gained a reddish tone to it, and her entire attitude was more – defensive? Determined? Or insecure? Jovenan couldn’t tell. Had she made her uncomfortable by bringing up the pregnancy? Had she been inappropriate in assuming it may cause limitations to her training? Jovenan leaned in closer, trying to express her empathy.
Jovenan: Of course! What you’ve told me and all the documents show me that you are a great scientist and already skilled in almost everything you need to know on the ship. ::pause, smile:: Just talk with the Sickbay personnel and find a pace that suits you.
Richards: Is there anything else you wanted to go over? When we wrap up here would you like to go grab a coffee and have some less professional chit chat? ::Smirking:: We've got some catching up to do. ::Beat:: If you aren’t busy, that is!
Relieved that there weren’t any further issues of that nature, Jovenan leaned back and spread her arms a little before landing her hands back onto her lap.
Jovenan: I guess we’ve covered everything important. I’ll send you all the necessary documents, and you can get to work as soon as possible. ::stands up:: Welcome aboard!
Richards: Response
Walking around her desk, Jovenan guided Richards out of the office and towards somewhere where they could get a drink and chat. She wanted to catch up with their new crewmember, but she hesitated for a moment as there was one thing in particular that had changed since their last meeting, but she wasn’t sure if it was appropriate for her to ask too much of it. Reproduction was a difficult topic to many cultures and to some individuals regardless of their culture.
Jovenan: If it’s okay for me to ask… I don’t remember seeing that the last time we met. How far are you?
Richards: Response
Jovenan had to do some maths in her head. It had been a while since her xenobiology course into the different systems of a body – she had not taken the course in reproduction specifically – but she was fairly certain that humans had a gestational period of just over two thirds of a year, and Betazoids’ a bit longer. Either way, the more important than the precise dates was how the mother-to-be was thinking about the pregnancy. That was an important question to ask before she’d start congratulating her over it.
Jovenan: And how are you feeling?
Richards: Response
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Lieutenant Commander Jovenan
Chief Science Officer
USS Artemis-A
E239911J11