| Planting Seeds |
| Summary: | Some more hydroponic ideas are pursued when Madilyn visits Rose. |
| Date: | 16 Sep 2041 AE |
| Related Logs: | None |
| Players: |
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| Hangar Deck - Starboard - Midship - Battlestar Cerberus |
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| This Hangar Bay is filled with boxes, crates and other various supplies that are needed throughout the ship. Most have been moved to one end and lashed with tarps to keep them out of the way. The place has gone from extra ship storage on one end and the ability to house over 450 people on the other end. Whatever could be made into cots has been set up like a huge barracks. Some areas have been made more presentable with a few items that belong to the person holding onto their small area in this world. Marines guard this area 24/7 and food is brought in cafeteria style, feeding people out of vats and buckets as they line up with their plates. One area has been tarped off to the side, that holds canvas showers and sinks. The 'Head' in this area has to be cleaned daily since it is a temporary military bathroom setup, due to there is no way to flush it out through pipes. |
| Post-Holocaust Day: #202 |
If noise level were any indication of what time it was in the starboard hangar, right now would be "anytime o'clock." Many folks have settled into fairly depressive rhythms, doing a lot of sleeping or reading, or in general acting like caged animals who have more or less resigned themselves to their conditions. The din on deck is constant and somewhere around the level of a crowded theater before a show.
Rose, this evening, has segregated herself from the constant activity of the Sardine Can. Several feet above the deck tucked away amongst some cargo containers, she has a couple of blankets as a makeshift nest. And, wouldn't you know it, she's listening to the portable music player that Major Cavanaugh gave her.
Rumors have a nasty habit of spreading like colds when you're stuck inside a tin can floating through space. Tonight, the very same major that loaned said music player to the scientist is in the starboard hangar to address (or at least pursue) one of said rumors. At first, she had poked around on the catwalk above the hangar bay, looking for the woman. Eventually she stopped one of the faceless masses of civilians and asked if they knew the locale.
Visible over the cargo containers, the blonde with hair pulled back into a tight bun approaches this little hidey-hole. Boots thump softly on the metal floor of the place as she draws close.
Even with earbuds in, Rose seems to have some sort of extra-sensory perception of when people draw near. Perhaps it was Madilyn's boots. Or maybe her perfume? Either way, her head pokes up like a meerkat. "Someone there?" She asks, tugging the earbuds out and stopping the playback.
"There is," Madilyn replies, appearing around those cargo containers. "Ms. Ibbhanas, hello. Just the person I came to see." For the moment, Madilyn doesn't sit, which means she looms. In an attempt not to loom, howver, she doesn't cross her arms or anything in that vein. "Are you enjoying the music, at the least?"
"Major!" Rose practically squees at the sound of Madilyn's voice. "Oh, let me get out of this undignified position!" With a bit of a scramble, she climbs down from her nest. Her hand quickly searches out her whitestick, which she finds with some clumsy fumbling - it's not like she's going anywhere, but it seems it's required. Pushing some of her uneven hair back behind her ear, she asks, "To what do I owe the honor? It's so good to see you again!" Even though it's clear she /can't/ see.
"Unfortunately, today I'm on the clock, as it were." When Rose climbs down, Madilyn does offer what help she can for the girl, but she seems able to handle it all well enough. "Rumors have circulated, as they are wont to do in any situation like this. One of them is that you are not only versed in several fields related to botany, but also interested in developing the small ship's hydroponics bay? It stands to reason that any endeavor to become more self-sufficient in terms of food stuffs would not be discouraged at any levels of command."
Rose chuckles at the topic. "You're the second person to come visit me today on that subject," she explains. "Miss Cidra Hahn came by earlier. I handed her a list of civilians eager to get back to work, even if it meant not following the trades or skills they had previously. We chatted about hydroponics. Mainly I've a degree in biochemistry, and I was just a few months short of finishing my Masters in phycology and practical applications of phycology in the military. My grandmother, rest her soul, taught me what I know about herbs. Old country things. While I'm not a horticulturalist or a green thumb by any stretch, I do know the science behind it, and I do understand the likely impending food situation aboard the Cerberus. It's something I've been talking to some folks about."
"All the better, then, if the ship's CAG is thinking along the same lines. Though, if we were to attempt hydroponics on a scale large enough to feed all of these peoples," Madilyn says while motioning around to the rest of the hangar bay. "Now, I'm no expert on anything related to growing foodstuffs in deep space, but I'd have to think that our small hydroponics bay, even working at maximum efficiency, may not even be able to feed this ship alone. I think there are two things in our favor however. Aerilon is the breadbasket of the colonies, no? There may be plenty of technology that we could use to that end left behind."
Rose smiles broadly. "Miss Hahn was thinking along those lines as well. Anything that we could salvage and devote to the civilian needs of the fleet would be a godssend. Perhaps a joint operation between the marines and the air wing? I mean, I don't mean to suggest I know anything about doing your job, but… it seems… prudent?"
"Depending on the magnitude of the operation, yes. No matter where we go, absent of Cylons or not, it always seems as if we have trouble that the Cee-Em-Cee specializes in handling. Though, the rumors had gotten me to thinking as well. Call it the engineer in me, I don't know, but, we're faced with civilians that want to work and a lack of jobs for which they may be qualified. Additionally, we're faced with the eventual issue of food supplies. Fortuitously, we're orbiting Aerilon. I was thinking that, with enough specialists - or at the least, people who know how to grow things aboard Ef-Tee-El capable ships - we might salvage a freighter from the planet, and convert it to our purposes."
Nodding slowly, Rose listens intently to Madilyn's ideas. "I think that's very wise, and a very good idea. I'm no engineer, though; I can make math. Lots of math. And then hand it to the engineers to make pretty." Beam. "I had no idea you were an engineer. Was this before you joined the marines and got such lovely shoes?"
Before replying, Madilyn lifts a leg a bit and admires the boot - CMC issue. "Oh these? These are just my everyday footwear. You should see the really fashionable ones I break out for planet operations," Madilyn replies with a bit of a smirk on her lips. "To address your question: yes, I was. Am. Master's in systems engineering. Other people make things; systems engineers make them work together, and better."
"Excellent! I hope, then, we can sit down and talk shop sometime," the younger woman states. "I mean, if we find something to use on Aerilon. Oh, I wish we could visit Colchis University. I know it's not practical, but there's a lot of texts there that would be invaluable for reference alone." She sighs wistfully. "Probably bombed flat. And no use to a blind person, anyway." That last bit had a little edge of sarcastic humor, clearly making a quip at her own expense.
Madilyn nods, if only by habit and not to spite the woman who can't see. "That's actually a good idea. Salvaging libraries and other educational facilities on the surface to expand the fleet's library. I'll add that to the list of things to do. If you're willing to participate in this project, from an advisory role or otherwise, I'll do what I can to get fleet support."
Rose's smile is fleeting, replaced by a lift of her chin and a sudden grim determination. "I'll do what I can, Major. You know that. Anything I can do to help, I will."
Once more, Madilyn nods. "Understood. If you recall any other civilians interested in helping, or with any botanical knowledge - farmhands, scientists, at this point, I really don't care what experience they have, so long as they have some - please let me know. I'll get in contact with Major Hahn and other department heads, and we'll keep this group of civilians informed. However, that was all I had wanted to ask you about, at the moment."
Rose dips her head in a nod. Then, slightly more timid-sounding, she says, "I know you're here on duty, Major, but… it /is/ good to see you again." The smile slowly returns.
"Thank you, Ms. Ibbhanas. While I'd like to stay and talk botany and plans for hydroponics, I do need to attend to other duties. I hope you're feeling better. For now, though, I must say good bye." Already Madilyn is turning, her footfalls audible on the deck as she prepares to keep the ball rolling.
Rose sighs lightly, watching Madilyn go. Shrugging in resignation - there'll always be a next time - she clambers back up into her hidey-hole and puts her headphones back on.