Lt. Commander Tahna Meru - Ambiguities
Tahna Meru
((Aithela Cove, Deluvia IV))
While most of the folks at the festival had gathered in a large group and were participating in the dancing (ras, she should have timed it), there was an open spot of beach, down by the cove. No one was there, and it was closer to the plankton. Meru pointed the spot out to her companion.
Tahna: Would you be interested in making closer observations of the plankton?
V’Lar: Indeed. While the species is likely well-documented, the efficiency of their reaction is... fascinating in its simplicity. I have always found simple organisms to be undemanding subjects.
Meru chuckled—she could relate to that. Though, depending on one’s definition of “simple”, plants might not count. But there was a comforting ease to studying creatures that weren’t trying to kill you, at the very least. Especially following recent events.
The pair moved away from the joyous noise of the festival, closer to the cove itself. Gradually the sounds of the waves against the shore replaced the music of the festival, and the lights of the plankton outshone any artificial light still glowing from the land. It was quiet here, peaceful, and blessedly uncrowded. Meru felt like she could breathe again—she hadn’t realized how she’d tensed up in the chaos before.
V’Lar: It is curious. A Bajoran who avoids the dance, and a Vulcan who attended a festival. We appear to be a pair of statistical outliers.
Tahna: ::Smiling.:: At least we’ve found company for our oddities, yes?
Now if she were back home, she might have joined in on the dancing. But that was a very different set of circumstances—at least off of Bajor, Meru joining in a festive dance was the exception, not the rule. She assumed that most people were statistical outliers in one way or another (very few people proved a perfect stereotype of their race or upbringing), but she didn’t have any studies memorized to back that hypothesis up, so she kept it to herself.
V’Lar: You stated earlier that command was not your intent. May I enquire, by what mechanism did your elevation to the position occur? Was it a matter of necessity, or a direct selection?
After the Borg, who could blame Sami for stepping down? But she had been an excellent first officer, was an excellent officer, no matter what. It was a difficult circumstance, and not one that was in any way her business to air out.
Tahna: A bit of both, really. ::She shrugged.:: Like I said, I love science, but I’ll go where the ship needs me.
V’Lar: I see. Do you find that your scientific background makes the ambiguity of command difficult?
Meru frowned slightly and turned to look at the Vulcan. The glow from the plankton played across the sand, and across the features of the officers on the shore, casting everything in lovely light.
Tahna: I’m not sure I understand what you mean?
V’Lar: Response
Meru listened, nodding. Science did tend to have one answer (except, unfortunately, when it didn’t). It was predictable (except when it wasn’t). And it didn’t care about your emotions, no matter how it influenced them. People and situations were none of those things. Did that make her current role more difficult?
Tahna: Science and command are both complex puzzles to be solved. On that level, at least, they’re similar. ::She paused.:: I don’t know that science is a more or less challenging mindset to bring to command than anything else. But…yes, it is difficult sometimes. It’s hard to know that there’s not always a correct answer, and you have to choose the best answer anyway.
V’Lar: Response