A Meeting of Minds
Posted on Fri Apr 25th, 2025 @ 6:24am by Lieutenant Siadra Molaur & Lieutenant James Constantine & Ensign Nala Rider & Lt JG Fenora & Lt JG Andrea Arendsøn & Ensign Coln Jena
Edited on on Fri Apr 25th, 2025 @ 4:19pm
1,735 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Episode 2 - The Sins of History
Location: Science Lab 3 - Deck 12 - USS Artemis
Timeline: MD012 1400 hrs
It was the next day and near evening. Siadra sent out a call for those in science, to meet in the main area. She also sent out an invitation to Constantine.
=^=Please meet in Science Lab 3 at 1400 hrs. Lieutenant Molaur out.=^= leaning against the wall waiting for them to gather.
"Ohkay...this oughta be interesting," Nala finished tying her hair back, then headed for the main room.
"Hi, Lieutenant, Siadra," Nala greeted, easily.
Fenora looked up at the speaker and sighed. She'd only been back from lunch for an hour and was up to her elbows in work. Well, not work, exactly. She was playing with a skeleton of a giant sea turtle from Optimus Prime. However, work was work, and whatever Siadra wanted was probably that. She carefully set the pieces in a container, peeled off her gloves, and headed to the main science lab.
Jena was examining a Bajoran Starblast, beautiful, but rare plant. It was once plentiful in certain parts of the planet, but the warfare and industrial piracy inflicted on its habit had caused its near eradication. This was one of the few, to have grown under lab conditions.
When she heard the summons, Jena put it carefully back in its stasis chamber, removed her special clothing and headed to the Main Lab.
Andrea received the summons as she was in the process of examining an unknown fossil from Andoria Prime. She set it back on the table under a stasis field and stood, stretching before making her way to the Science Lab.
It didn't take long for Constantine to catch up with the rest of them. He'd paused to tug his uniform jacket on and he was still adjusting the cuffs as he entered the science bay. He looked around on instinct, but what was meant to be a quick, fleeting glance became a long sweep across the eclectic mix of life, death and experiments that were being studied.
When everyone arrived, Siadra looked around at her team she was very proud of them all. "I know this is a little bit unusual, however, I'd like you all to meet a new investigator who had just come on board. I don't know if you have had the chance to meet the others, but I think it would be of great value to do so. Other than that, I present to you, Lt. Constantine." she looked towards James, "the floor is yours to start things."
[Hm...this just got interesting] Nala thought, her brow rising curiously.
Constantine nodded to them with a small smile as he settled his hands on his hips, pulling his attention back to the group and away from the evidence of their work. "Thanks, Lieutenant. I'm new to the team and wanted to understand more about what you do here. Any insights to the process are invaluable, so I appreciate you taking the time. I'm...no scientist, far from it, so...go easy on me," he added with a soft chuckle.
[Ah, so he's the newbie,] Nala thought, relaxing against a wall with a soft smile.
Andrea gave a courteous smile while she roved her eyes over him; taking her initial gauge of the man but not saying anything further just yet.
Fenora smiled and gave him a nod. "Welcome."
"Maybe I could get the grand tour?" he asked with a small, half smile that appealed to their better nature, holding his hands out to the side. "I'm already pretty curious about what you've got going on out here..."
"We're building golems." Jena said remembering the department's visit to the holodeck. "Sorry, inside joke." She added. "I'm Jena, and I'm a forensic botanist, I study the plant matter present at a crime. I can determine its origin and work out its significance to the crime." She smiled. "While we're not on a case, I study plants, and sometime create new varieties."
"Hi ya. Name's Nala, and I'm the Chief Facial Recognition Specialist. In layman's terms, I put broken pieces back together. Tours cost 'bout a dollar two ninety five," Nala giggled at an old family joke.
"Technically, we made Frankenstein's monster," Fenora said, needing to be specific. "I am Fenora, the forensic anthropologist. I study bones."
Constantine nodded along as he took it all in, putting faces to specialties. "So pretty much an all in one forensics suite," he glanced around with interest. "With the specialised equipment to match. I take it that allows you a pretty fast turnaround time...?"
Fenora nodded. "Many of us have our own labs as well, but this department is basically a one-stop forensic shop."
Constantine nodded slowly as he considered the advantage compared to planetside suites that would likely be under pressure from competing teams. "Do you prefer to collect your own forensic evidence? Or do you rely on assistants while you set up here?"
"It depends on what's going on. I rather enjoy getting my hands dirty.. pardon the pun," Nala blushed slightly.
"Taking our own samples, helps simplify the chain of custody." Jena said.
“I completely agree with Jena; keeping the chain of custody as short as possible is extraordinarily important in a lot of cases; the fewer hands touch our work the less chance something can be degraded or destroyed.” Andrea leaned forward extending her hand to him and breaking her silence. “Andrea Arendsøn; Neurosurgeon turned Forensic Archaeologist…. I got tired of staring into brains.”
"Ppfff!" Nala tried to not think about that as a joke.
Constantine nodded with understanding. He had expected so. More bodies...the breathing kind...made crime scenes a crowded place to navigate, but he could understand it. He'd often returned to a scene, just to get a better sense of the space when trying to work a chain of events out. "Is there anything you'd wish we do better?" he asked bluntly.
"Thank you," Fenora said, smiling. "We rarely get asked. As you can see, we have different expertises here, which is not something you see in most labs. I think it depends on the crime. For samples, yes, we do like to take them ourselves, but it can be later, depending on the sample. Some of us know how to read blood spatter or can tell how long someone has been dead based on the insects. For example, Nala does facial reconstruction, which is best done here. I look at bones or bodies that have been dead for weeks or years. That may not require me being on site. But if you think a scientist would be of use, ask Lieutenant Molaur. She can tell you who you need and when."
"And there you have it, everyone here brilliant minds, each in their own sections everyone working together to find the elusive clues." Siadra giving a chuckle.
Constantine nodded slowly as they spoke, absorbing the information with appreciation for their skill and dedication. He wasn't sure he could be so focused. He guessed that's how one became an expert in their field. He gave a wry, inward smile; he also guessed that it was why he'd always remain a jack of all trades and master of none. "Whenever you have the chance, I would love to see some past case files where you've used these different disciplines, if you wouldn't mind?"
"I think that can be arranged." Siadra looking at the women who were part of the team. She was getting the notion that they would all love to get back to work. And she wasn't going to keep them any longer. Giving a fond smile towards them. A few moments of thought then she stated.
"Well, now that the initial introductions have been made." the chief Science officer turning her gaze back to Constantine, "I am sure my team would like to get back to their work before they mutiny on me." giving teasing wink. Her team was very hardworking and had different projects they were working on.
"Welcome to the team, Lt.. We couldn't mutiny anyway, she's got the keys to the snack cabinet!" Nala got in a playful jab of her own, smiling lopsidedly at her crewmates.
Fenora raised an eyebrow. Most of them weren't that busy right now. They were either working on personal projects or doing personal research. But they all knew it would only be a matter of time. "No, indeed. Skeletons can be quite impatient. Mine are dying to dance." One side of her mouth quirked up in a smile and there was a definite twinkle in her eye.
“So this wouldn’t be the time to mention that I can totally pick the lock on that cabinet?” Andrea chuckled as she posed the question, tossing a wink to Siadra as she did so.
Nala lost it at that and started howling with laughter.
Constantine glanced down to his hands as he chuckled softly, shaking his head at the warmth and humour on display. The labs had a good atmosphere...capable, smart people who supported each other as a team. It was just about perfect. "No need to mutiny, I've taken up enough of your time, for now at least..." he assured, lifting his hands as if yielding.
"You're always welcome," Fenora replied cheerfully. "It was nice meeting you."
"Absolutely!" Nala grinned in acknowledgment.
“You know where to find us; shouldn’t need a map.” Andrea chuckled, stepping off back toward her work area.
"As I said, I've got a great group of people here." Siadra looking around at her team, filled with a great amount of pride. "I couldn't ask for any better team."
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Junior Grade Fenora
Forensic Anthropologist, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
Ensign Coln Jena
Forensic Botanist, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
Ensign Nala Rider
Chief Facial Recognition Specialist, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
Lieutenant James Constantine
Criminal Investigations Officer, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
Lieutenant Siadra Molaur
Chief Forensic Science Officer, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
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