Lt. JG Natasha Cole - Something Productive
Natasha Schell
(( Archaeological Survey Site – Serein Basin, Rylor ))
The wind moved softly over the basin, carrying with it the scents of sun-warmed stone, dry grass, and the faint mineral tang that seemed to drift through much of Rylor’s air. Natasha had expected the colony to be pretty, maybe even polished in the overly-curated way of places designed to help people “recenter.” Instead, Rylor felt… intentional.
Earlier that morning, she had found a public notice on one of the colony boards about volunteer support being welcome at an active archaeological dig outside one of the newer settlement zones. The posting had promised light fieldwork, supervised excavation, and a chance to assist in preserving a newly uncovered portion of the planet’s pre-colonial history.
That alone had been enough to catch her interest. She knew this was probably not the type of relaxation she was expected to partake in, but the idea of being alone with her own thoughts felt like a bad idea. Plus the idea of doing something with her hands that didn’t involve a phaser or a security log had sounded… good.
So here she was, in an olive green wrap around top and a calf length skirt over shorts she felt comfortable, especially with her practical boots and hair tied back just enough to keep it out of her face. Tricorder left ship-side per site regulations. She had considered arguing that point, but even she had to admit it was probably for the best if a volunteer wasn’t allowed to wave around sensor equipment near delicate ruins.
The site itself had been built around a shallow stepped depression in the earth, half natural basin, half exposed excavation zone. Canvas shade structures had been raised over portions of the dig. Fine brushes, support struts, field cases, and portable recorders were arranged with the kind of careful order that told her someone running the operation knew exactly what they were doing.
Below the nearest awning, a partially exposed wall curved out of the earth in pale stone, etched with geometric lines and weathered spirals that caught the light when the sun shifted.
oO Well. This certainly beats paperwork. Oo
A nearby civilian volunteer waved her over toward a supply table where assignments were being checked and sorted. Natasha gave her name, accepted a pair of gloves and a brush, and was directed toward the lower trench with all the cheerful confidence of someone who had probably been up since dawn and was running on passion and tea.
Volunteer: If you need guidance, Lieutenant Tal is overseeing this section.
Natasha nodded, brushing a fleck of dust off the cuff of her vest as she stepped toward the indicated trench.
She was only halfway there when another familiar figure came down the opposite path toward the same trench, and Natasha slowed just enough to do a double take.
Lieutenant Commander Jovenan, that caught her by surprise.
Of all the people she might have expected to find at an archaeological dig during shore leave, the Artemis’ Chief Science Officer probably should have been near the top of the list. And yet, somehow, Natasha still hadn’t expected it.
oO Well. In hindsight, that one’s on me. Oo
Cole: Commander?
Jovenan: Response
Natasha’s mouth curved faintly.
Cole: I was going to say I didn’t expect to see you here, but that would make it sound like I’ve learned absolutely nothing about science officers.
Jovenan: Response
Natasha let out a small laugh and gestured lightly toward the excavation below.
Cole: I came for the opposite reason. It seemed like a respectable way to avoid spending shore leave stuck with thoughts I’d rather not deal with.
She paused, then added with a dry little shrug:
Cole: Also, dust feels more productive than paperwork.
Together, they made their way down toward the lower trench. That was when Natasha saw her.
The Trill woman was a little farther down the excavation line, one boot braced against a low rise of packed earth as she leaned over an exposed stone panel. Sleeves rolled. Gloves dusted pale from fieldwork. There was nothing theatrical about the way she moved, but there was precision in it … confidence, the kind of ease that came from knowing both the work and the space around it.
Tall, too … Noticeably. Natasha slowed just a fraction.
oO Well that seems excessive. Oo
She watched as the woman spoke quietly to two volunteers working the edge of a newly opened section, gesturing toward a narrow support seam and then toward a marked boundary post. Not bossy. Just certain.
Before Natasha could decide whether to introduce herself immediately or wait until she wasn’t obviously staring, the woman glanced up and noticed them.
Natasha pretended she had not, in fact, been caught mid-assessment and stepped the rest of the way down into the trench.
Cole: Lieutenant Junior Grade Natasha Cole. I was told this was the place to report if I wanted to exchange paperwork for dirt.
Jovenan: Response
Tal: Response
(((OOC: Lieutenant Nyra Tal is a special guest NPC connected to Natasha’s developing story arc. Carter has graciously offered to help write her, so I don’t end up talking to myself.)))
Tags/TBC
----- ◌● -----
Lt. JG Natasha Cole
Security Officer
USS Artemis-A
Writer ID A240205NC4