242508.27: JL Amberlyn/Boren Feline Assurances

Posted on 28 Aug 2025 @ 1:54pm by Lieutenant Commander Sandra Boren & Lieutenant Commander Riah Amberlyn XMD

1,430 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Fractured Accord
Location: Aft Lounge - Deck 10
Timeline: After the Commissioning Ceremony

// Aft Observation Lounge – Deck 8 //

Riah was actually dozing in the comfortable chair in the seating arrangement of 4 club chairs surrounding a small coffee table, in the Aft Observation Lounge. There were two such arrangements and a couple of women occupied the other, engaging in a quite serious conversation, in which Riah had heard one of them stifling tears.

For Riah's part, this lounge seemed an appropriate place to be looking behind her at the path she had walked to get to this place, this ship, this mission. In addition, the Aft Lounge was smaller, but quieter than the forward-facing lounge on Deck 5.

She had her journal on her lap, closed, but her place marked with her pen. She heard the door whish open and looked up to see a fairly young-looking woman, dark blonde hair and it was too dark in the lounge to determine her eye color. She was about Riah's size but carried herself very erect and that made her seem taller. As she came closer, Riah could make out the lifted brows of a Vulcan or Romulan. The woman stopped to allow her eyes to adjust to the darkened space. Riah spoke up.

"You're welcome to share this circle with me. I think they are having a pretty intense conversation over there," she said softly.

Sandra decided on some food while going through the PADD with the latest status reports, and had walked into the aft observation lounge. The voice almost startled her and she turned to the woman, inclining her head, "that is very kind, allow me to get some food from the replicator first." She turned and walked to the replicator and ordered a club sandwich and a tea, before returning with both of them to setting with the woman. Her mind had been so full of the Engineering data that it took a moment before she could put the name to the face, she'd seen her at the staff briefing earlier. "I must apologise, Dr Amberlyn, I have not had the chance to officially report in at sickbay. I will do so as soon as we have left space dock if that works for you as well."

"Not to worry, Commander. We've had a lot of people coming through Sickbay. We are even using the smaller clinic down on Deck 16. I trust you have it somewhere on your to-do list. So unless you are suffering a migraine from the stress or the scent of all the new everything, no rush, " laughed Riah. "So, do you have a couple of minutes to chat, or need to get right to quiet? I understand both needs and you are coming to the least used Obs deck on the ship, so don't hesitate to tell me to leave you be."

"You are most kind, it will be nice not to talk or think about engineering for a short time, that is why I came here. Occasionally, it helps to have a different perspective on the ship." Sandra replied, she leant forward and took a bite from her sandwich. She was a bit at a loss of what to talk about, she had been about to ask if all systems in sickbay were in working order, but stopped herself, since she didn't want to talk or think about her engineering to-do list.

"What are you looking forward to most about serving on Arawyn: the ship or the adventures awaiting us?" asked Riah, hardly ever at a loss for questions.

Sandra used the fact that she was eating and had to empty her mouth to think, with everything going on it was not something she had thought about. "Both, Doctor," she replied, "The Arawyn is an impressive ship, and brand new at that. Yet, setting out from space dock means two things for me... First and foremost, my to-do list is much smaller, and second, exploration." Sandra paused a moment, Epsilon Fleet had been important to the family, especially with its location and the Spinward March. "I am looking forward to both."

"I'm looking forward, at this point, to developing a routine. A routine I can fall back on when I'm tired, or stressed, or in crisis," said Riah. "Yes, innovation and limber thinking is critical, and to know that through it all, Arawyn has a distinct mission and the wherewithal to meet that is supported by the training and the routine. Like a home base, something to reach back to when things are tight. It's felt a bit chaotic - getting here, finding my way around the unbelievable maze of this ship, getting Sickbay up to snuff, settling into my new home. Right now, I want something to act as structure, a routine. And I know it will be there soon enough. And I'll likely chaff at it more than once. But some kind of homeostasis will be a comfort. What did you think of the ceremony? I like that old tradition of breaking a bottle of Bubbly on the bow."

A faint smile passed over her face when the doctor mentioned the maze of the ship, if she hadn't been studying the lay-out and plans from the ship before arriving, she would probably have thought the same, despite being the Chief Engineer. "It is indeed a tradition that goes back hundreds of years on Earth. And since Earth is one of the founding members of the Federation and Starfleet... it is appropriate to keep it." Sandra took the sandwich off the plate on the table, "once we are off, I am certain that the structure will fall into place," she said as she took another bite of her sandwich.

"How did you end up as an Engineer?" asked Riah.

Once again, using the fact her mouth was full, Sandra thought about it for a moment. "I was always taking things apart, it seemed the logical course to take," she replied, "How did you become a doctor?" She asked curious about the woman opposite her.

"I started out to be a xeno-veterinarian, but had the feeling that I'd have a better chance to be stationed aboard the Starship in Starfleet if I were a XMD instead of a XDVM. My goal was to be head of a department. And I decided I preferred Chief Medical Officer, not the head of an entire Science Department. As a CMO, I still get to deal with medicine. As the head of a whole Science Department, I'd be over all manner of disciplines and unlikely to be able to continue to specialize in xeno-vet medicine. I went all through med school before going to Academy, where I got lots of management training. That also put me in a better position to advance as a physician and as a Department manager," Riah explained. "Have you managed Engineering before?"

At the word veterinarian Sandra raised an eyebrow, “as far as Engineering is concerned, yes, I was Chief Engineer, but the Valiant was an Intrepid class, the entire crew was smaller than my current Engineering department.” She finished her sandwich, “you mentioned veterinarian, the... cat distribution system has assigned me a kitten. If I need medical assistance for her, may I come to you?”

"That's what the Captain was talking about. How many kittens are there?" Riah laughed.

“I am unsure of the total number, but at least two, the Captain’s and mine. Having said that, if there was an entire litter on the loose on the Starbase, it could be several more. It depends if more assigned themselves to the Arawyn.” Sandra replied

"Certainly, I can handle just about anything with a Terran cat, dog, rabbit, small primates. I even know my way around a Klingon targ if push came to shove. So yes, don't worry about that. Listen, I've gotta run. I'm due in the little clinic on 16 in 15 minutes, so I better get moving. It was a pleasure to chat with you," said Riah, gathering her journal and pen and standing up.

“Thank you, Doctor, I will stop by for a check-up for her. I am not sure if she has been vaccinated at all yet,” Sandra replied. “I enjoyed our conversation as well, doctor.”

"Ah. What's your kitty's name?"

“I named her Luna, the moon always calms me down, and she has done the same, so the name seemed appropriate.” Sandra replied.

"What a joy. So glad Feline Distribution found you. See ya."

“Thank you, Doctor.”

~~~
LtCmdr Riah Amberlyn, XMD
Chief Medical Officer
USS Arawyn

LtCmdr Sandra Boren
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Arawyn
“Everything fits, otherwise we’ll make it fit!”

 

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