004 | video

[suddenlycaptain]

[ Carolyn is sitting in her room instead of lurking around the shuttle bay for once. The reason why should be clear after a few minutes, when an orange tabby pokes his head out from behind her before plopping himself on her lap. Carolyn honestly just looks like she has no idea what to do for a moment before reaching to scratch him behind the ears, speaking to the camera as she does. ]

Some of you might recognize this cat as Jones, who belongs to Ellen Ripley. For those of you who knew her, it appears that she's gone home. I'll be looking after him for her.

[ Still petting the cat, she clears her throat. ]

For those of you who don't know me, my name is Carolyn Fry. On the Tranquility I'm part of the flight crew, but back home I was a pilot and captain of a merchant ship -- a spaceship. As a result, I've been helping people out with basic skills to work on in space. Last month we held a training session on health, fitness, nutrition, shuttle procedures, and basic evacuation. In the case that either myself or Ripley vanished and to keep a copy for anyone who wasn't able to make it or wasn't on the ship, we recorded the session.

[ A link pops up, opening an area on the network that contains a brief description of the session and a link to the video. ]

I'll be posting the videos of future sessions in this spot, if everyone would like to keep an eye on it and update their information posts, that sort of thing. If you have any questions, about this or anything else, feel free to ask.

[ locked to 005 » 075 ]
I need a drink. You in?

[ locked to FLIGHT CREW ]
We should all get together.

Comments

[blindleads]

No insects. It's an old phase -- if I had to guess, it came from how hard it is to ignore something that's right there, in your ear.

[anthropos]

Fascinating.

[ A pause as he sets it aside for future use, even though that usually doesn't work out so well. ]

Do you not believe it would be easier to grow accustomed to others without the existence of the familiar?

[blindleads]

Without the existence of the familiar...

[Geordi's pressing his lips together, processing that for a moment.]

Yeah, I guess I'd say that. That's why we have the officer exchange program. It's not saying the officers selected for it need more training, but it gives the ones that participate an opportunity to get out of their routines and learn something a little extra to bring to their work. When Commander Riker was on that Klingon ship, I guarantee you he and that crew made some strong impressions on each other.

[anthropos]

[ He considers his own experiences, sent outside of his usual bubble of comfort, tested by Picard's orders. Convince the people on a dangerously uninhabitable planet to leave, command a ship despite the distrust of the crew, join him on an undercover mission to Romulus. No matter what the mission outside of his usual routine, they had certainly tested him.

He tilts his head in agreement. ]

Then would you suggest that we intentionally distanced ourselves from each other, in order to facilitate such growth?

[blindleads]

[That'll get some quick backpedaling out of the engineer.]

Woah, Data...that's not what I meant.

Sometimes it's good to change things up a little, to widen your horizons. But it's good to stick with your friends, too. Considering our situation, I'd say we're already far enough away from the familiar.

[anthropos]

I do not understand.

[ But he'll accept it none the less. He seems to consider for a moment longer, and then gives a demonstrative shrug, though it's clear he's put the contradiction away where he can think about it later. ]

I shall 'take your word for it', Geordi.

[blindleads]

I appreciate that, Data. Besides, you've been here how long now? I'm sure you've picked up a thing or two already.

[anthropos]

The Tranquility's passengers are all very much unlike each other from one to the next. Where the Enterprise's passengers and crew had some things in common, the people present share very little, in rare cases a star date, or a world, but never similar enough so as to become comfortable with their differences.

Perhaps with time.

[blindleads]

Yeah...assuming we have the time. It's almost too bad we don't have some specialists around -- this would be an incredible opportunity to study history, culture, and the different ways things develop.

[anthropos]

[ Don't have any specialists around, Geordi you wound him. ]

Xenobiologically alone, it is a wealth of data significant enough to keep even me thoroughly occupied. I expect you have found the same to be true of the ship's technology?