Exploring the Depths

Posted on Mon Jun 10th, 2024 @ 8:15pm by Lieutenant Narin Valen & Lieutenant Fathom Fellini
Edited on on Tue Jun 11th, 2024 @ 7:30pm

1,618 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 15 - The Evil That Lies Beneath
Location: Officer's Mess Hall - Deck 2 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD003 1300 hrs

Narin made his way to the Officer's Mess Hall, seeking a brief respite before diving back into his duties. Upon entering, he spotted Fathom seated at one of the tables, her presence familiar from her service record photo. With a cup of tea in hand, he approached her table to introduce himself. "Hello," he greeted. "I'm Narin Valen. New Assistant Chief Science Officer."

She looked up and smiled. "Hi. I'm Fathom Fellini." Noticing his cup of tea she added, "Please, have a seat. How long have you been on board?"

"Thank you," Narin responded with a nod of appreciation. "I just arrived couple of days ago, actually. Still getting acquainted with everything and everyone on board." He took the offered seat.

"Welcome aboard. I hate to admit it, but I don't know as much about who is coming and going as I probably should," Fathom admitted. "I'm generally several days behind." She smiled at her new superior officer. "I should keep up, but I've been doing research on the oceans we recently visited."

Narin nodded understandingly, taking a sip of his tea before responding. "I can understand that. Keeping track of personnel can be quite a task, especially with the constant influx and outflow." He leaned forward slightly, showing genuine interest in Fathom's work. "I'm eager to learn more about the environments we explore.

Fathom leaned forward, too, and grinned. "That's what I love about working on a starship. I've been able to look at two different oceans on two different worlds recently and it's fascinating. Even if it doesn't involve water and water-dwelling creatures, there's always something new or unusual among the stars."

"The diversity of environments we encounter is one of the most exciting aspects of our work. I've always been fascinated by how different ecosystems evolve and adapt, whether it's an ocean world or a completely different type of habitat." He took another sip of his tea, then continued, "What were some of the most interesting findings from the oceans you've recently studied?"

"Aquil has a colony of merfolk living in the ocean," Fathom said, her eyes showing her delight. "They're very private people and keep their home shielded, but they have a smaller dome where they sell food and goods to the surface dwellers. I spent several hours there while on shore leave. It's fascinating. I was also able to do some scuba diving. I don't get many chances to do that on a starship. I hope to go back at some point. That's the most interesting place I've visited in a while." Her smile faded as she continued. "Before that, I ran some scans on another ocean, but only from the ship and shore. That wasn't as pleasant an experience. We were asked to find out why human body parts were washing up on shore. They were from a Romulan facility experimenting on ways to give people BIID so they'd cut off their own feet." She shook her head. "It ended well. The Romulans were stopped and we got our people back. Still, I don't think I'll forget either of those experiences any time soon."

Narin listened intently, his expression a mix of intrigue and empathy. "Both of those experiences sound incredibly impactful, though for very different reasons. The merfolk colony on Aquil sounds absolutely fascinating. If you get a chance to visit again, I'd love to hear all about it." He paused, his tone becoming more serious. "As for the Romulan facility, that sounds harrowing. I'm sorry you had to go through that and witness such things."

He offered her a reassuring smile, hoping to convey his support.

"It wasn't as bad for me. I was still on the shuttle with Harris. It was the rest of the team that went missing. Mignon is still dealing with the aftermath, but she's mostly recovered."

Changing the subject, Fathom raised an eyebrow. "What have you experienced so far as a scientist?"

"My last assignment entailed a five-year mission to the Gamma Quadrant," Narin began. "Our objectives were multifaceted, ranging from charting new star systems to fostering diplomatic relations and delving into scientific research in uncharted territories." Pausing to take a sip of his tea, he continued, "In essence, we were embarking on an mission to seek out strange new worlds, life forms, and civilizations."

Setting down his empty cup. "During one of our away missions, we landed on an M-class planet nestled within an uncharted star system. It was like stumbling upon a celestial oasis, brimming with an array of exotic flora and fauna. The plant life on his planet was sentient. They communicated through these mesmerizing biochemical signals. As we explored further, we stumbled upon an intricate web of interconnected plant life, all working together to keep planet in a delicate balance.”

"That sounds fascinating. Is the planet protected so no one harms the balance? I can think of several groups that would like nothing better than to harvest the plants for money." A planet like that deserved to be protected by scientists.

"As far as we could discern, no. “Narin answered. "Yet, being situated within Dominion space may inadvertently offer its own form of protection. Few venture into Dominion territory.”

"True. There's still a lot of unknown space in our own corner of the universe, but I imagine there will be more ships going there just to see what they can find. It's why we ventured into space in the first place." She grinned. "And under the oceans."

"A lot of unknown." Narin nodded in agreement. "What made you want to become a marine biologist?" He asked.

"I'm from Florence, Italy. So, it's either art, history, or the Mediterranean." She shrugged. "I fell in love with the sea, so it was only natural to study it. I almost stayed on earth, but the idea of studying oceans on other worlds was enticing." She paused, then asked. "Have you ever been underwater? I mean scuba diving or using a rebreather."

"I've always wanted to visit Florence, but it hasn't happened yet. Maybe next time I'm on Earth," he remarked. "As for scuba diving or using a rebreather, it's still on my list of things to try," Narin admitted with a smile.

"Well, if we ever get back to Poseidon Station, you should try the ocean there. It's amazing. So is Florence. It's still an incredible city. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?"

"I didn't know Poseidon Station had an ocean," Narin remarked with genuine interest. "Perhaps we can convince the captain to make a detour back to Poseidon Station."

He grinned at the thought before continuing, "In my spare time, I do enjoy delving into my work a bit more. Reading scientific literature keeps me engaged and helps me stay sharp. I also find solace in the holodeck. It's a nice escape from the realities of ship life, even if just for a moment." Narin chuckled softly. "Though, compared to some, maybe I'm a bit boring."

"I hope we can go back, eventually. I'd love to do more exploring. But if not, as you said, there's always the holodeck." Then she paused for a moment, considering his last comment. "I think we can all be boring at some point or another. I know people who think the oceans are boring. Or reading academic journals. I guess it depends on your interests. Don't most scientists spend a majority of their time looking at data? I'm sure some find that boring, but to me, it depends on the data." She smiled. While many thought the oceans were beautiful, few wanted to actually learn about all the creatures that lived there and what type of water they needed.

Narin nodded in agreement. "You're absolutely right," he concurred. "Diverse interests keep things interesting. It'd be quite dull if we were all alike, wouldn't it?"

That made her laugh. "It would indeed. Can you imagine if everyone wanted to study oceans or planets?" The image of a world full of people--all vying for the first right to get in the ocean and study it--made her grin.

"It would be quite the chaotic scene, wouldn't it?" Narin chuckled along with her. "Since I can't experience a real ocean anytime soon, do you have any recommendations for a holodeck program?" Narin asked.

"Yes. There are some nice recreations of Jacques Yves Cousteau. He was a 20th Century oceanographer. He invented the aqualung and was instrumental in helping the people of earth understand and appreciate the oceans. Start with him, then build from there."

Narin nodded. "Jacques Yves Cousteau," he repeated, making sure to remember the name. After a moment of thought, he looked at her and asked, "Would you like to join me when I get a chance to run one of these programs? It would be great to have someone with your expertise for my first dip into the ocean.”

A smile spread across her face. "I'd love to." There were several programs she particularly liked and hoped one of them would be a good introduction.

“Great, maybe the next time we're both off duty and have no other plans, we can go,” Narin suggested.

"Definitely. And speaking of work, I should get back to mine." She'd enjoyed the conversation, but her break was over. She picked up her tray and stood. "See you later."

Narin nodded with a smile. "Of course. It's been great chatting with you. I'll see you later."

A Joint Post By

Lieutenant Junior Grade Narin Valen
Assistant Chief Science Officer, USS Pioneer

Lieutenant Fathom Fellini
Marine Biologist, USS Pioneer

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