LtJG Jovenan – First time teacher here, how do I grade a test?
Jovenan
((Sensor Pod, USS Artemis))
Jones: I'll see what I can do.
Hiro had received the instructions and seemed to have understood them. Scan places, determine if they are viable for simple life, don’t get stuck to spots, report the potential sites. Negative result is also a result, which should be obvious to all scientists, but it’s one of those things nobody seems to ever remember. It was better to remind that, considering that she hadn’t actually prepared any simulated results. All data acquired was real.
Jovenan: It’s okay if you don’t find anything, the Artemis will just move to another system. Do you have any questions about the scenario or you mission, or do you want to start right away?
Jones: I think I understand.
She patted him to his shoulder. It was a gesture she remembered several Academy trainers to perform before an exercise began. She hoped it was an appropriate one for this occasion.
Jovenan: Then you’re good to go.
She turned her attention to the console. Hiro had learnt the controls rather quickly. Observing the incoming telemetry on the small screen, she could see him going deeper and deeper into the moon Rea, scanning one layer at a time. She had chosen a biological scenario, hoping he would find it interesting and maybe even useful in case he ever needs to scan for… she didn’t know what a doctor or a medical scientist would scan, the spread of microbes in the atmosphere, maybe. Or Da’allium, which was actually something he might have been interested.
Limiting the scanning area every now and then, Hiro kept bringing up new scans for different requirements. She couldn’t read Hiro’s thoughts, so she didn’t know if he had dropped all the other places, but it certainly seemed that he was focused on a few different spots. Timer was closing to zero, and he worked fast, but it wasn’t quite enough.
Jones: Oh no! Do I fail if I haven't completed the whole scan in time?
Jovenan: No, you did fine. And this isn’t an exam, just training on equipment that is new to you. ::pause:: So, what’s the result you reached?
Jones: Well, you probably saw what I did. There are two locations that have most of the requirements. I was just about to check for calcium concentration. That would potentially change whether or not I'd report them as viable.
She nodded, even though he was still wearing the helmet and couldn’t see her. He had gathered a reasonable amount of data and had analysed it professionally, all under a very strict time limit. Just because a scan or two were missing for higher confidence, it didn’t mean it wasn’t a good result.
Jovenan: Very good. Based on that report, the Captain would make decision to initiate further studies or report to Starfleet and request another ship to take a look at it. Scenario ended. ::pause:: You did good job, Hiro!
Jones: So I guess it's time to return my eyes to their proper places, huh?
Jovenan: Your eyes never left your head, it’s not that kind of a device. ::pause:: Oh, the probes. Yes, uh, the safe route back has been programmed in them, so you don’t need to do anything. I should still monitor them, though, so they don’t cause any accidents on the way. I’ll come help you out after that.
Jones: Fair enough.
The probes rushed back from the moon at a quarter impulse speed, before reaching the Spacedock control zone, where they slowed down and only moved on thrusters. Slowly, they approached the ship and were gently guided back in with tractor beams. Jovenan reported to the bridge the exercise was over and all probes had returned before turning to Hiro and assisting him remove the TOV suit.
Jones: That was truly amazing. Thank you so much for showing me.
Now that Hiro was seeing her again, she could smile widely.
Jovenan: It was no problem, thank you for coming! So, what did it feel like?
Jones: Response
Jovenan: I prefer the Astrometrics. The TOV is good for speedy decisions while scanning, but I like more studying something with time. Also, you can’t crash an Astrometrics lab to a planet.
Jones: Response
The training was over, but she had still some work to do. She had earlier said the session would be evaluated, and while it didn’t actually consist of a grade, she would still need to write down what they had done and whether or not Hiro actually succeeded in it – and he definitely did. She didn’t know if anyone would actually read it, but for all she knew, Hiro’s superiors might actually look it up, see he’s competent to use the TOV suit and maybe even use it when considering promotions. In a way, it worried her: how do you write a positive report without it sounding like she was just flattering her close friend?
Jones: Response
Jovenan: You go ahead. I’ll have to do a report on the training, and some other PADDwork. ::pause:: And, uh, Hiro? Thanks for, uh, your words earlier. It really helped me.
Jones: Response
She smiled and waved at him as he went, exhaling deep after the doors closed. She had almost forgotten the earlier conversation with all the excitement that the exercise had brought. It could have ended up differently, with the crying and hug and all. She couldn’t believe letting her emotions take control of her like that. If Hiro hadn’t been so understanding, it could have ended their friendship, maybe get her into trouble.
But he was. It made her feel warm. She didn’t feel so homesick and lonely anymore. Maybe this was her home.
TAG/End for Jovenan
----
Lieutenant JG Jovenan
Science officer
USS Artemis-A
E239911J11