Ensign Elana Thompson preferred the honorific “Doctor” Thompson over her rank. Not that anyone on the Denver cared go ask.  She was just a teal uniform on ship that never did any science things. As such she never got to flex her microbiology PhD from John’s Hopkins University, but perhaps that was for the best.  Being forgotten meant you also didn’t have to do things that she was uncomfortable with… like shooting Jem’Hadar. 

She sat back from the microscope and frowned before entering information into a PADD.  Adjusting the resolution on the microscope on the key pad next her she leaned forward and peered in again.  “Computer, increase theta radiation dose by 10… no make that 15 percent.” The computer beeped and there was a zapping sound followed by a “hmm” from Elana.

Farl had entered the biology lab 5 minutes ago, and apparently gone unnoticed. He was here to check in on his latest transfer. Technically, his first new officer on the Denver. He had walked over to the workbench, trying to shuffle his feet so as not to startle the Ensign, but she was clearly engrossed in whatever was under the microscope. Farl looked at the terminal display, saw nothing he recognized other than radiation, and cleared his throat politely.

“Good afternoon Ensign.”

Elana looked him her brow furrowed in confusion.  The intruder in the lab was the first sentient lifeform she had seen since entering.  She glanced at the microscope one last time and finally gave into military decorum and stood to greet the senior officer.   “Commander.”

“I am Lieutenant Commander Ferrus. If we aren’t on duty, or in the thick of it, you may call me Farl. Are you all settled in onboard, or did you skip straight to research?” Farl smiled. He recalled his first assignment. He hadn’t unpacked his bags for a week, living out of his footlocker in order to maximize his time in the astrometrics lab.

“Doc… uh Ensign Elana Thompson sir.”

Farl adopted a relaxed stance in what he hoped was a signal for the Ensign to do the same. “Look, I’ll be straight with you. I just came from the Academy too; just on the teaching side, obviously. Protocol and proper military conduct are enforced there, for good reason. And while I’m not suggesting we completely throw protocol out the window, I’m fine with slightly relaxed communication within my department. You’ll have to get a feel for the rest of the crew though, I’m doing the same.” Farl remembered how he’d already been addressed by his first name while on bridge duty. “You can call me commander if it makes you more comfortable, but I’m also fine with Farl. How should I address you?”

Elana relaxed, “Everyone that knows me calls me Lana.”

“Works for me,” Farl nodded. “Care to fill me in on what you’re working on? I probably can’t help you, looks outside my wheelhouse, but I like to keep abreast on my team’s projects. Also, at the very least, I can probably get you additional resources you might need.”

She shrugged,  “It’s nothing too exciting.   I found this bacteria in isolation.” She picked up a PADD and handed it to Farl.  “It seems the ship’s doctor found it on a bullet she extracted from one of the engineers.  Somehow it survived the transporter biofilters. I wanted to see what else it could survive.  It might give me an idea of its life cycle and thus potential threat. We don’t need a transporter resistant version of the black plague spreading throughout the ship do we?”

Farl grinned. “I can’t think of a good use for that, no.” He looked over the data on the PADD quickly. “I assume we’ve had the ship scan for more of this bacteria?” 

“It was limited to the bullet and transferred to our engineer’s wound.  I hadn’t bothered to check the medical team’s work.”

“Sounds good. Please forward your results to Commander Haigh when you have finished. Also, again, if you need anything, let me know. Welcome aboard, Lana. See you at the next department meeting.”

Elana raised an eyebrow and shrugged before sitting down behind the microscope again.  “Sure.  I’ll have the bacteria’s DNA sequenced within the hour. That will make the ship’s internal sensors more accurate  in locating the pathogen.” She looked up and turned to Farl,  “When I went to the Academy I got a degree in Xeno-anthropology.  Not my strongest subject I admit, but it was fun.”

Farl turned back towards the microbiologist. “…That sounds awful to me, ha, but I’m glad you enjoy it.” Farl chuckled to show he wasn’t trying to yuck her yum. “Team diversity is good. I kind of avoided studying anything to do with life forms… I’m very much a ‘space and energy’ scientist. But part of why I transferred here was to see if I could apply my work towards helping the war effort. Preserve our way of life, save lives, that sort of thing. Sounds cheesy saying it out loud, but I just felt like I was sitting on the sidelines at the Academy.” Farl shuffled his feet a bit, feeling awkward after that. “Well… ” His voice trailed off, and Farl turned for the door.

“Until next time,” she finished and turned her attention back to her microscope trusting Farl could find his way out of the lab.

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