Post Number 22- Anomalies

Posted on Wed Aug 12th, 2026 @ 4:13am by Lieutenant Tara Herculoid PhD & Lieutenant JG Tuhjer Mil

Mission: Character Development 7/26
Location: Science Lab
Timeline: Current

Tuhjer left the bridge for the main science Lab. As he walked, he repeatedly checked the data on his pad, which he knew was a bad habit. Up until now, doing this had never created an incident. A walk into a bulkhead or another person, but if he wasn't careful, his luck would run out.

After a short ride in the turbolift to deck 5, he continued on his way. He turned a corner, stepping into the science suite. He wasn't sure what Tara looked like, so he just stood a moment.

Tara, seeing someone enter the science lab that she didn't know, handed off a PADD to one of her officers and walked over to where the officer stood. "I'm Lieutenant Herculoid, how can I help you?" she said, offering her hand.

"Ah, I am Lieutenant JG Tuhjer Mil, Chief Engineer. Our commodore directed me to you regarding some minor anomalous readings appearing on our engineering stations, apparently coming from some of the Propulsion system sensors, and the commodore suggested we should discuss it."

"Let's go to my office where I can see it," Tara said "Nice to meet you as well." She led the way to her office and moved a pile of reports to the side of her desk. "Please have a seat."

Tuhjer took a seat in her office. " What our displays are suggesting is higher or lower readings for the impulse manifolds and the warp nacelle flush vents. We've gone and done actual readings and verified that in most cases, the readings on our instrument panels are off in 6 out of 10 checks."

"Let me see your readings," Tara replied.

Tuhjer handed her his padd with the data results.

Tara studied the information for a few minutes. "You have a good eye; it's a sensor glitch. Considering the planet we just left, I'm not surprised." Tara jotted down some notes and handed it back to him. "That should clear it up."

"Thank you." He replied, taking back the padd. "I appreciate your help. Can my team be of any assistance to the science department?" He asked.

Tara thought a minute before getting up from her desk. Walking over to a closet, she opened it and removed a case. Carrying it over, she set it on her desk and opened it. "This is an electric microscope. No matter what I've tried, I cannot get it to work. I'm like the commodore and rely on the older microscope; while it works great, this one, if it were operational, would help get reading a lot faster. Think you can fix it?"

He took a long, close look at the electric microscope, sitting in its box.

"It's quite a beautiful device. Elegantly crafted. I would be happy to have a look at it and see if I can repair it. It reminds me of a device my father has. Although not a microscope, but a music player, his is also in a wooden box.
It's hand-wound and plays music by turning a cylinder with nodules on which, when you twang the individual fingers of metal above, as the cylinder turns, it makes a tune."

"If you can fix it, I'd be grateful; the way it is, it's no use to me," Tara replied. "The music box you speak of, my roommate at the academy had one."

"I will, of course, do my very best to fix this for you. My grandmother has a music box which stands on her sideboard in the hallway of her home. It plays a small segment of a Trill melody."

"I know you will, and if it's not fixable, it's no big loss. It hasn't worked in some time."

" Well, leave it with me, and I will do what I can. I do enjoy a challenge, and I love working on older devices as it's like a glimpse back in time at how things worked."

"Do forgive me, but you’re the first person I’ve ever met from Amzock. One of my favourite things, aside from anything engineering‑related, is meeting people from different worlds. The sheer diversity across the universe fascinates me. Whenever I’m working on a project, it’s inspiring to remember just how many possibilities exist, and how many different ways there are to reach a goal."

"There are not many from my world in Starfleet. My cousin Dr Kristian Long, the CMO, and Captain Alesha Rivers, who is the wing commander in the fighter squadron, are from my planet. Kristian is my cousin, and Alesha's parents are family friends. Kristian and I both look on Alesha as family. What about Amzock would you like to know?" Tara asked

"Is it as beautiful as I have heard people describe it?" He asked.

Tara nodded, "It's a beautiful planet, a little larger than Earth. It has four moons; one is just a hunk of rock. The other three have life on them. One of the moons is in the early stages of development and is off limits without permission from the Royal Family. I have a blind set up there, and I do go just to watch them. I pilot a shuttle that cloaks so they cannot see me."

" Sounds wonderful. I am definitely going to have to add Amzock to my list of places to visit. Anything you want to know about me? I may not be as interesting, though." He smirked.

"I'm not interesting; I'm a scientist," Tara giggled "What made you join Starfleet?"

" Everyone is interesting. The level depends on those viewing from the sidelines. I joined Starfleet mainly to explore outside my home world but also for my love of engineering. I've loved building things, taking this apart, seeing how they work. I also just love starship technology."

"I joined at the request of my parents. They told me it would be good for me. Dad told me that when the time comes for me to return home and take the position that I'll eventually take over. Starfleet will help me in that future." Tara said.

" If you don't mind me asking, what position are you going to be taking over when the time comes? "

Tara sighed "My planet is a monarchy; I will one day be Queen. Not something I'm looking forward to. It's going to be years before that happens."

" Seriously, Queen? Do I need to address you differently?"

"I'm Lieutenant Tara Herculoid," Tara said simply. "I'm a Starfleet officer; that's it."

”Of course. I just wouldn't wish to offend. " Tuhjer explained.

"None taken. I'd just ask that what I told you stays here. I don't need it or want it mentioned outside of this office," Tara said.

" Oh, of course. Absolutely. I have nothing similar to tell. "

"Thank you," Tara replied. "What I told you is in strict confidence. I do bet your life is interesting, perhaps not as interesting as mine, but we all have interesting lives."

"Well, I'm a joined Trill."

"I've heard of joined Trill but have never met one," Tara commented. "What is it like?"

"It’s a complicated answer. I don't just possess my own memories; I carry the full lives of three prior hosts alongside who I am now. The joining of host and symbiont fuses us into a single entity. As a result, I hold memories that transcend gender, including pregnancy and birth. I've experienced life from both perspectives."

"How do you keep everything straight?" Tara asked

" Who's to say that we do? Get hours of specialist training and counselling before you are officially joined, and even then, the first few months are the most challenging, which is why there is always someone at the Symbiosis Commission on hand to provide help if needed. "

"What happens if something happens to the symbiont once you're off the Trill homeworld?" Tara asked,

"We have to hope Starfleet medical science can handle any situation, but they can seek direct help from the Commission if needed. " Tuhjer replied.

"I'm sure my cousin can. She's been to a lot more places than I have," Tara commented. "She may even have been to Trill."

"Well, it is worth a visit. But then I am being somewhat biased about my homeworld," he replied with a smile. "Where have you been?" he asked.

"We all like our homeworlds," Tara said "I've been to countless planets, Romulus- that is a long story and one I'm not willing to discuss. The Klingon homeworld, to name two. So many other worlds that there are too many to name. I've not been to the commodore's homeworld. Being a scientist, I've aided a lot of planets that needed assistance."

"Romulus. Interesting. I have not been there or to Kronos. I did once have a brief visit to Ferenginar. They must have some of the best drainage systems anywhere, considering how much it rains." Tuhjer commented.

"The Romulans are difficult to deal with. I don't recommend going there, as you have to cross the neutral zone. Klingons are an honourable race. As for Ferenginar, I have no desire to set foot on that planet." Tara commented.

" I was only on Ferenginar for a day. It was an unscheduled stop on a transport I was on. When I say I, I mean my last host, Lerani. "

Tara nodded "From what I've heard, that planet is one to stay away from."

"Well, yes, but especially for women- well, females in general, really and my last host, Lerani, was a woman." Tuhjer added.

"That is what I've heard," Tara said "The Ferengi are a sneaky race as well."

" Indeed. Well, I best get back to engineering. Talk again later perhaps."

"Stop in anytime, and keep me posted on that microscope," Tara said.

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