Little box of mystery

Posted on Tue Mar 14th, 2023 @ 7:11am by

Mission: Evacuation
Location: Mess Hall, USS Resolution
Timeline: Current.

The Mess hall was incredibly crowded, Alpha shift still had around thirty minutes before it began so he realised he'd come in a little late to try and get a seat. Scanning the tables closest to him, he did spot one empty seat opposite a blonde haired lady with what looked like a blue collared uniform denoting they were possibly in the Science or Medical department.

Walking over, he quietly spoke "Excuse me, sorry to bother you, if this seats not taken, would you mind if I sat down here so I can have my breakfast?"

"Please.". Paige moved herself a little so that he could get to the chair in question, revealing a blue button down collared shirt without rank or insignia, over a paler silvery undershirt. "It really is quite the zoo here today."

"Thank you, that's very kind" Finchley replied, grateful to get the seat. Putting his tray down, he smiled and offered his hand, saying "Finchley Kerr, Chief of the Boat or 'Guy who does everything when there's no-one else available'"

Paige chuckled and dried her hand of condensation from her drink before shaking his hand. "Paige Bryant. Civilian Chief of Science, who is actually an archaeologist. "

"Ah, someone who tries to make sense of why we're all lunatics of our own asylum" Finchley said "That'll be extremely handy here" he continued, gesturing to the packed Mess hall around them "being as you so rightly pointed out, it's like a zoo in here. So...Paige, in your opinion, are we all suffering from heard mentality, or are we just aimlessly wandering?"

"Neither I think." the blonde answered after a long moment of thought. "Herds don't move out into the unknown, they travel only when they've exhausted whatever resource they focus on most. Aimless, seems a sad way of describing the exploration of the galaxy. Makes us as a race seem sloppy. "

"Personally I love exploring, going into the unknown, it's what keeps the excitement going for me" Finchley said "plus the fact I have a penchant for archaeology...amateur of course, I couldn't hold a candle to anyone in the profession. Take for instance the trip to Karnisfar, that was amazing, two months of going over the planet, discovering what had happened to it's inhabitants, piecing together their lives from what was left behind, reading about their history. I was on one such dig and I came across this box with strange markings. We didn't have enough of their older language to decipher all the words on it, but basically what could be read was 'the bearer has the power', but that's it. I still have the box, you can have a look at it if you wish, see if the Scientist in you can make head or tail of the rest. I do still have some of the language notes as well from the mission, they could help. What do you say, would you like to have a go at solving the mystery?"

"That's like offering a starving man a feast. Of course I want to have a go at it. What a question.". A delicate little laugh escaped her lips as she nodded fervently. She adored puzzles like that, and so did a large number of scientists and archeologists that she knew. They called them the 'puzzle table' and they were a delightful time sink when one had free time and was still technically on the clock. "We could even put pictures in the archaeo-linguistical database so that you get more eyes on your puzzle.".

"That's a fantastic idea, I never thought of that" Finchley replied enthusiastically "I'm about to go on shift, when would suit you best to have a look at it and where would you like to meet?" he asked.

"It's surprisingly effective, when you need the best brains in the galaxy. You can drop by my office anytime. I tend to be in the arboretum if I'm not in my office. "

"That's great" Finchley replied, "So, what drew you into your field of expertise?"

"That, friend is a long story. The short version is that I grew up on a farm, and if I didn't get with the sciences, we didn't eat. ". She chuckled softly, for it was so much more complicated than that, but she was sure that he didn't want the full story in a crowded mess hall. He'd just met her after all.

"Well, if you want to, you can give me the longer version when I bring the box by later" Finchley replied "in the meantime, I better get to my station. It's been great talking with you, I look forward to speaking with you later."

"Oh yes, definitely I will." A smile touched her lips at the man's departure and she waved when he reached the door to exit.

Finchley waved back and then disappeared out the door to go and start his shift.