08-03-2026, 04:28 AM
It took a few extra seconds to fully absorb the casual revelation that the doctor was not, in fact, human. Ethan had heard of EMHs, of course. Even on Earth and at primary Fleet Medical Centers they saw widespread usage, but as with many other things, he'd never actually encountered one. Aside from that, this particular program (Was that even the right term for something like this?) belonged in a completely different category. Whoever built her had to be some kind of genius at synthetic humanoid design.
"That's a pretty good answer," she told him. "You sound about as ready as anyone can be for their first real mission on an active starship. Don't worry, with time will come familiarity and confidence. The more you do things, the more they will become second nature. I can fly a ship, but you might say that I don't have an intuitive talent for it that a skilled pilot might have. Everyone has different skills and knowing what your strengths and weaknesses are helps you a great deal. Now that you're here, you'll find less focus on book knowledge and more emphasis on the practical application of those facts you learned in the Academy."
"I see. Thank you, Doctor," was all Ethan could say. She was right, of course. Out here, not even an academy education could prepare you for every eventuality, but it was still rather unsettling to think about. Off the top of his head, Ethan was inclined to say his biggest strength was that he managed to graduate. He was no fool, but he wouldn't say he had anything that qualified as a "strength". Nothing that would make him especially effective as a bridge officer, that is. Maybe it was too early to tell.
"You're cleared for full duty," the doctor continued. "Welcome to the crew. If you ever need to talk, or are in need and don't know who else to ask, just ask for me." She removed the hand from his shoulder and extended it to him for a handshake, "Cindy Talion. Pleased to meet you, Ethan."
Ethan accepted her hand, briefly taken aback by how lifelike it felt. "Thank you, Doctor," he repeated. "The pleasure is mine."
Just then, something gave him pause. He'd heard that name before somewhere, hadn't he?
"Forgive me, Doctor--Talion? No relation to Commander Talion, by any chance?" He asked, only half-joking. Ethan hadn't met the Chief Science Officer yet, but he supposed it would make sense if he had something to do with all this. An experiment, perhaps?
== Tag Lt. Kalli Thorn (NRC Cindy Talion) ==
"That's a pretty good answer," she told him. "You sound about as ready as anyone can be for their first real mission on an active starship. Don't worry, with time will come familiarity and confidence. The more you do things, the more they will become second nature. I can fly a ship, but you might say that I don't have an intuitive talent for it that a skilled pilot might have. Everyone has different skills and knowing what your strengths and weaknesses are helps you a great deal. Now that you're here, you'll find less focus on book knowledge and more emphasis on the practical application of those facts you learned in the Academy."
"I see. Thank you, Doctor," was all Ethan could say. She was right, of course. Out here, not even an academy education could prepare you for every eventuality, but it was still rather unsettling to think about. Off the top of his head, Ethan was inclined to say his biggest strength was that he managed to graduate. He was no fool, but he wouldn't say he had anything that qualified as a "strength". Nothing that would make him especially effective as a bridge officer, that is. Maybe it was too early to tell.
"You're cleared for full duty," the doctor continued. "Welcome to the crew. If you ever need to talk, or are in need and don't know who else to ask, just ask for me." She removed the hand from his shoulder and extended it to him for a handshake, "Cindy Talion. Pleased to meet you, Ethan."
Ethan accepted her hand, briefly taken aback by how lifelike it felt. "Thank you, Doctor," he repeated. "The pleasure is mine."
Just then, something gave him pause. He'd heard that name before somewhere, hadn't he?
"Forgive me, Doctor--Talion? No relation to Commander Talion, by any chance?" He asked, only half-joking. Ethan hadn't met the Chief Science Officer yet, but he supposed it would make sense if he had something to do with all this. An experiment, perhaps?
== Tag Lt. Kalli Thorn (NRC Cindy Talion) ==