Ensign Thomas Melville-Kilpatrick - A Crucial Discussion

[Sarah P]

((Bridge, Deck 1, USS Khitomer))

Melville-Kilpatrick: I wouldn't call it just yet. What's the status of the hazmat now?

Dewitt: Good thinking, Ensign. Delegate that. Initiate containment protocols and inform the deck officer. Give them some time to get a hold of the situation and supervise it from the bridge.

Morda: Aye, sir. The cargo appears intact. ::To Melville-Kilpatrick:: Thomas, I’ll pipe down to make sure the deck crew sees the lading information and knows the starbase is sending folks. I'll also send that to medical.

Thomas nodded, already thinking of how he'd check in with the medical team, being one of its members. He remembered many boring nights on duty. At least this would be something for the team to do.

Melville-Kilpatrick: I could take a look at it, but it might be better if my focus stays here.

Delegation was the most difficult part of a job like this. Sometimes he wished he was able to split himself into multiple different parts. Then again, if the ship was full of Melville-Kilpatricks, it might get a little chaotic. Thomas had already dealt with his family reunions.

Dewitt: Yes, do not hesitate to check in with them after your shift. That’s what a good officer does.

Morda: Aye, Commander.

Melville-Kilpatrick: I'll see what they think when I get the chance.

It was almost like they were getting a break, though Thomas was too superstitious to comment on that.

Dewitt: So who of you is team coffee and who is team tea? Or have you made your peace with being tired?

Morda: Coffee. Always coffee.

Thomas had learned to enjoy many beverages over the course of his many late nights, but there was only one that favored the need to stay alert.

Melville-Kilpatrick: I agree with Talon, sir. Coffee's better for keeping awake.

Morda: Commander, in your experience as an engineer, and as a leader … ::He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, staring into his coffee to gather his thoughts, then looking up from the cradled cup.:: … why put a replicator on the bridge but not have a single flat surface to put a mug on? ::Gesturing, careful not to spill:: This console I’m at almost has a corner parallel to the deck, but everything else is curves and slants and angles. I get not wanting to tempt fate and let a stray elbow cause a spill … but these consoles are waterproof, and in a pinch,you might lose time running to the replicator to demat something, and the alternative is to just lay it on the deck.

Thomas laughed a little. It wasn't something he thought of, having little experience on the bridge, but it was now relevant. He held his own mug, but now that it had been pointed out, he did notice that it was a little odd.

Melville-Kilpatrick: The aesthetic side of the architects overwhelmed the functional side, perhaps?

He had to admit, every time he was on a ship's bridge, he was impressed. Something had to be working.

Dewitt: Response

Melville-Kilpatrick: Or maybe whoever built it was hoping that nobody would want to be bringing drinks with them to their seats.

He tried to put himself in the mindset of one of these bridge designers, a difficult challenge as he had no idea how some of the things under all the beautiful blinky buttons worked.

Morda/Dewitt: Response

He took a sip of his own coffee, then looked at the ground.

Melville-Kilpatrick: ::musing:: Maybe it wouldn't be the worst thing to put it on the deck if hands were needed.

This brought to mind the idea of a fully chaotic bridge where everyone had coffee stains around their ankles, a thought that Thomas was more than happy to keep to himself.

Morda/Dewitt: Response

TAG/TBC

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Ensign Thomas Melville-Kilpatrick

Medical Officer

USS Khitomer – NCC62400

K240210TM2