So you like plants.

Posted on Sat Aug 26th, 2017 @ 7:17pm by

Mission: Mission 4 - Combustion
Location: Botanical Lab and storage
Timeline: MD-6
1143 words - 2.3 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Braden was going to buy a couch but he decided to check the gardens and botanical lab to see if there was anything needed there. He had access as the Chief of the department so he merely walked in to look around. He noticed a woman working in the lab and walked over toward her. Clearing his throat as a way of announcing his presence even though he was certain she had heard the doors opening and closing. "Good day Miss Humili? Is that what you go by? I am Braden and I was just hired as the Chief Science officer, yesterday in fact. I was stopping by to see if we needed anything for this area. I am on my way to the base and well thought to acquire any shortcomings here while on the base." She was a pretty Trill and a nice height to talk to. He did not feel he was looking down at her when standing and she did not have to overly strain her neck to look up at him.

It may have been something easier to judge if Humili had not sat herself on top of one the crates, weaving the tendrils of unruly, vibrant green hop plant. But it did give her a great vantage point of him, and she was more than happy to peer at him through her goggled vision. "Braden?"

She held her free hand out to him, a neutral expression on her features. "Pardon my expressions and forgive me for not being so attached, but I'm unused to the whole 'Starfleet' designations. But I do appreciate you checking up." Humili then gestured around the bay. "I make a point of growing food down here for the rest of the crew, so you're more than welcome to look around... though I recommend not adventuring too far back. That's when the plants start turning hostile."

Braden looked around and she had a green thumb for sure but the garden was not well laid out for efficient production. He took out a PADD and he requested a picture of a botanical garden with this size area as a backdrop so it would super-impose the garden over the room. He replied smiling but still working on his PADD. "I will avoid your hostile plants to be sure." He picked the one he liked and offered the PADD to Humili. "Would you be agreeable to help me create this? It would increase food production, add variety, and increase the purity of the air in the ship." It would be a lot of work though."

Humili's brow rose from behind her goggles as she frowned at the PADD and then at Braden neutrally. "No," with an added, "This doesn't take into account the vegetation we have for scientific purposes, the needs of the plants within the hydroponics bay itself, or the load that engineering would have to do - which would require them to come in here and disturb everything to begin with, which could decrease production of the food-providing life within the Hydroponics Bay."

While she seemed completely unaffected by the changes Braden wanted to impose upon the bay, Humili also added. "There could be a compromise, but I would much prefer to have a say in it before anything was done."

"It is why I am here to see you. The changes will have no ill affect on the growth of the present food production and if the numbers bare out the food production will dramatically increase rapidly. I will leave whatever science projects you have to you but we will be making changes. You can help hand pick the engineers who enter the bay and I will help you see to it the plants are not ill affected." Braden was totally ambivalent to her attitude as he stated what was going to happen. "We will make this a more efficient and your aid will greatly enhance the smoothness of the transition. So will you help me. If you say yes your presence will greatly affect the changes."

"I will, so long as you're receptive to what I've got to say." Removing her goggles, Humili leaned over, grabbing the outdated PaDD she had been utilizing for her own notes, and handing it over to Braden without batting an eye. "The past few chiefs and scientists have been much more bold about what they decide they wanted to put in here. The PaDD has my notes, which projects are being utilized for further air production within the bay, and which of these plants are here simply for the purposes of food. There's also a list of plants that are either out of place or were left behind. Some are beneficial, but some... eat tribbles, or have some other use that is situational or case-specific. Both lists are labeled by importance to food production and overall crew health. My personal biggest concern is that small set of plants over there."

She pointed to a small corner, where three sets of tendriled plants were growing on trellises and creeping up the bulkhead side. "Part of my fare to travel upon this ship was to brew a quality ale, and that is what I'd like to be able to continue to do with the hops on those vines."

Braden looked at the vines "I do believe we can work around that section with no problem." He nodded with a smile "You are making beer. I would think you are the most popular person on the ship. So the vines requirements are in this PADD as well? I will be going out to get supplies before we leave port so send me anything you need to this PADD." He was pleased she seemed to be willing to work with him, at first he thought they might not get along. He looked around and took pictures of each wall section. "I will be back in two days to begin, hopefully with an engineer to help us."

"It's all in there," Humili concluded. She had her thoughts, but there were times and places for them. Already, she had spoke more of her mind than she wanted to. "I'll make sure I'm free in two days, then."

"This will work out, and we will have a place for everything." Braden tried to reassure her, he was going to need her help here very much and he did not wish to alienate her. "I will be back in a couple days and then we will work on the layout." Braden felt he should go, let her think about this and hope she came around to his way of seeing it. Or at least enough so that she would work with him.

OFF:

Braden MaCloud
Chief Science
S.S. Mary Rose

Humili Planita
Hydroponics Operator
S.S. Mary Rose
[NPC - Mahone]