Dreams in Science

Posted on Mon Jun 15th, 2026 @ 4:14pm by Lieutenant Muffy Harrington
Edited on on Mon Jun 15th, 2026 @ 4:53pm

1,082 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Mission 01 Shakedown Cruise
Location: USS Churchill
Timeline: Stardate 239706.15 1000 hours to 1300 Hours

Dreams in Science
Duty Log
Lieutenant Muffy Harrington
USS Churchill



::Begin Log::


Muffy, after helping Toulaine to Sickbay, went directly to science and stood looking at the chaos. There were science staff all running around with no clear picture of what was needed and where.

“Okay, folks, let’s settle down here. I am Lieutenant Muffy Harrington, the new chief of science here, so we will get focused as we have to report to the captain in a little less than three hours the status of Science. Just so you all know, I do not find a single branch or twig of science to be less than any other. The trunk is the method needed to conduct tests and experiments, the control factor will be necessary for any work done on this ship to validate findings. The branches are the general area of science and the twigs are the specialized focus. Do you all understand?”

There was some grumbling as some thought their area of study was more important than others but didn’t voice more than the grumbles.

“Now I know everyone feels their area of study is the most important because it is their area of focus, but I have seen the science of sewing save an away team where every other school of science failed. So do not discount any area of science, even domestic sciences, because you never know when it might save your life.

“With this in mind, we are going to organize science thusly. Each month, this central area will feature a different science and that science will be able to show off their projects and such. Stellar Cartography will have its labs and offices just off the projection room. Cartography will be next door to the right.”

She finished outlining how science would be laid out and while there was some good natured grumbling, in the end, everyone was satisfied. With a clear picture of what science would now look like, everyone got to work setting up sections, offices,and labs.

Muffy took the time to set aside her chief’s office with a connecting lab and to lock the door with her retina, palm, and dna scan so that no one could get into her office without removing the door completely. She also set up the locks to identify Toulaine, to allow her to come in and make sure that Muffy wasn’t ignoring her own needs to finish a project or research.

As the three hours were coming to a close, she looked around and nodded, science was now ordered chaos with all departments up and ready to go. Some areas had already set up labs and research projects.

Then Muffy saw the single problem and went to her office and created a new system for her department. She came out of her office and using a bonding agent, attached what looked like a sideways computer screen, punched in a code and a small blue dot started to flash at the bottom left of the screen.

“Okay, folks, if I could have your attention for another moment.” She waited until everyone in science was once again looking at her. “Thank you all for your hard work in getting science set up. I want you all to know that I am strongly in favor of cross training with other departments, as long as you have the permission of that department head first. Science works well with pretty much every department on the ship.

“Secondly, when I am in my office, I often do not hear the chime as I get hyper focused and turn out everything else. So if I am in my office and the door is closed, please use the screen next to the door to leave me a message and as soon as I aware of myself and the ship and such, I will get to those messages and get back to you. Also, if it has been longer than two days that I have been locked in my office, please contact Doctor Toulaine, as she is keyed to get into my office and she can drag me out of whereverI am in my head. Finally, the lists of who’s turn it is to be on the bridge and whose turn it is to go on away teams are posted here, by my office. If you have any questions, I will not be locking myself into my office for at least a couple of days so feel free to ask.”

The science personnel nodded. Some went to check out the message board and asked if they could get one for their offices and Muffy willingly gave them the program to use for their own offices. Some checked the list of bridge duty and away team duty and again, thought it was fair.

Muffy wrote her report for the Captain and sent it to him.

Sir,

Science is up and running, all departments within science have checked in and signaled their areas are ready for anything asked for it. In Stellar Cartography, we have the current star map up of space surrounding Starbase 13. I shall have the command pillows done within the hour. If you have anything else you require from science, please don’t hesitate to ask.


Lieutenant Muffy Harrington+

Chief Science Officer


Then with the report sent, she sat down at one of the sewing machines and made two cushions for the seats of the Captain and Executive Officer, with their names embroidered on them to make the chairs more comfortable and more safe, giving extra lift where needed to support the back, hips, and legs and give the extra traction to stay in place should things happen to shake up the bridge. She then took them to the bridge and put them on the respective seats and put a card on each and warned everyone else to keep their butts off of these two cushions or they would answer to her and she pinned them all with a warning stare and then turned and left.

The cards said simply,

“These will help you and will conform to your butt print and no one else will be able to sit on it. The pillow gives support where needed and protection against the ship movements that are not taken care of by the inertia dampeners. Enjoy.”

Muffy.


She then went to collect Toulaine to help get their own quarters up to snuff.


::End Log::

Lieutenant Muffy Harrington
Chief Science Officer

 

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