Changing His Ways

[Apollo 0]

The science laboratory areas of the ‘new’ Republic were buzzing with activity, the side effects of their current mission. In the small, walled off cubicle that passed for his office attached to main science, Apollo Link took a drink of kagura root tea, letting the spicy, bark flavored liquid pour down his throat before he turned his attention to the stack of PADD’s that had cluttered his desk.

 

It had occurred to him that this had exactly been why he’d given up the position of Chief of Sciences once before and he wondered exactly how long he was going to last in his current stint. It wasn’t that he minded administrivia, in fact, like most Arzaban, he enjoyed the routine; it was that he tended to disappear into it and totally miss anything else going on with the rest of the ship, or his research for that matter.

 

Sighing, he put aside the PADD he’d been working on that covered approvals for a couple dozen pet projects for various officers, approvals for sensor array time, requests for usage of the main deflector dish, and department evaluations. Instead he pulled up the mission logs, lifting his brow he tapped his finger on the console absently.

 

Though he’d never had more than a passing interest in geophysics or geology, the particulars of the situation made it slightly more interesting. “A high energy explosion on the surface of a planet with a Starfleet Research Facility? Sign us up for intrigue!” he thought almost out loud.

 

Putting down the PADD and picking up his tea he headed out into the main lab area, deciding he should check in with the locals and see if they needed any help or direction -- not that he’d expected them to, really. To be entirely honest, the crew of the Republic were all brilliant, gifted officers and in the case of science, excellent scientists that excelled with or without his micromanagement.

 

Outside of his office, the main ‘hub’ area for the science labs (a design choice he would like to find and thank whoever made it) included a ‘reception’ area manned by an enlisted officer with a large MSD behind a desk with the status of all the labs, the main computer and a half-dozen other ‘packages’ of information.

 

“Good morning... or is it afternoon,” Apollo said, glancing toward the Petty Officer who’d ‘won’ the opportunity to serve at the ‘reception’ desk of science.

 

“We’re in space,” Petty Officer Daron Jakal said with a dubious look towards the Arzaban. “Isn’t it basically always night?”

 

“I suppose,” Apollo said musingly. “But then we’re in orbit of a planet, so technically we’re experiencing a night-day cycle too.”

 

Daron groaned. Science geeks with pips. “Of course, sir. Something I can do for you?”

 

Smirking, Apollo nodded, taking a drink of his tea, “What’s our status, mission related?”

 

Sobering, Daron pulled up the latest status of the labs and put them up on the MSD. “Bridge has asked us to focus on the source of the explosion. Ensign Knight has the computer chewing on some data. She reconfigured the sensors to ping the surface for energy signatures matching the initial explosion. You’d have to talk to her for more on that,” he said deferentially. “They've been coordinating with the bridge as they're basically retasking the sensor arrays..”

 

Apollo nodded. “Thank you, I’ll go talk to Mister Knight then. Carry on.”

 

Daron nodded and pretended to be busy, which meant pulling up a game of ka’lo he’d been playing with Petty Officer Gagan down in weapons control.

 

Oblivious, the Arzaban tapped the computer console on the wall for the location of Tory before heading her direction, cup of tea in hand. This time, he thought, he wouldn’t let himself get so buried in paperwork that he’d be absentee from missions.