Eden building

Posted on Wed Apr 23rd, 2025 @ 9:51am by Lieutenant Sapphire Morgan [Lalor] & Lieutenant Samaire MacBride-Reece [Lalor] & Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Lieutenant Anna Esquivias & Lieutenant Thor Magnus & Lieutenant N'vok Holv & Lieutenant JG Daisheliss "Lissa" Kerr & Warrant Officer Gen'Terta CrystalCliff & Lieutenant Scott Gregory [Taylor] & Ensign Garabed "Garo" Hakobyan

Mission: Season 6: Echoes of the Zynari
Location: Aboretum
Timeline: MD 1, 12h00
2005 words - 4 OF Standard Post Measure

Arboretum Level 3

Phoenix looked around the expanse of the Arboretum. She had, had it cleared, no trees, or play equipment, these having been moved to other areas in the four-deck arboretum and now summoned all personnel in Science, Operations and Engineering to the area.

After they gathered, she took a breath. “Ladies and Gentlemen. Thank you for your time. As you can see this area of the Arboretum has been reset.” She waved a hand. “As you know we are looking at a long trip home and I know that there will be times when we do not have access to fresh foods. So, your task, as a group, is to turn this area into a functioning farm area. Fruits, Vegetables, grains. Use hydroponics, and land techniques. Work together.”

Scott stood alongside Sapphire and the others from the Operations department and listened in silence as the Commodore had instructed them in regard to their new assignment and what she wanted them to accomplish. It was going to be a massive undertaking. One that demanded that all departments worked together to produce what the Commodore believed they could. He, for one was anxious to get started and see what they could accomplish using proper land management along with hydration. Ideally if they were on Earth and on a farm they would rotate their crops every year to not deplete the ground of minerals and vitamins. Here, they would first need to 'seed' the land in minerals and vitamins for what they wanted to grow, It would be a challenge but he was confident they could succeed in.

"Layers," Lissa announced to whoever around her was paying attention. "We need to build in layers. Fruits and vegetables that can grow on vines, should be trained to climb any structures. A lot of berries, and even root vegetables do well growing upside down, we can make suspension planters. Tiered garden beds for selected items that won't do well in hydroponics - like grains. We'll need a system for getting the appropriate amount of light in designated areas. Low light and full light regions of growing space - as well as humidity control. And mushrooms. We have spores we can cultivate."

Scott nodded at Lissa's suggestions. "Yes. That's good, very good. We'll also need an irrigation system as some of the fruits, berries and grains will require different amounts of water and attention."

Gen'Tetra gave a tired sigh, her ears twitching lightly as she looked around the space. "If its acceptable, We could try Aquaculturing as well," she said softly, her voice low and hushed. "My home planet mostly harvests Algea's and Kelps that form a pseudo parasitic relationship with Phytoplankton to make a self sustaining ecosystem." she paused and frowned. "if...we have supplies for that kind of project of...course."

"I will research ways to prepare soils, as we will need to replenish the soil from time to time," said N'vok. "Do we wish to introduce a pollunator species, such as bees, or do such directly?"

"Directly would be more efficient and less prone to...Accidental cross breeding," Gen Said with a shiver. "I assume we'll also be growing foods that are Cross species compatible?"

Sapphire looked at Samaire who nodded. "What equipment will we need?" Samaire asked curiously.

Garo stepped forward unceremoniously, hands on hips and eyes sweeping the cleared area with mock gravity.

Grinning, he said, "I don't want to cause panic, but this might be the first time in Starfleet history ops officer says, I came, I saw... I built trellis." His thick Armenian accent pushed through every vowel.

Nodding at Lissa and Scott, he smiled with his eyes scrunching up somewhat making him seem several years older than his 26 years. "Your layering idea? Beautiful. Very vertical. Very friendly for vine. I like. I can talk to Engineering--make sure structures are strong enough to hold weight of food, water... maybe also one overeager botanist?"

Garo turned to Gen'Terta and N'vok, shrugging with an amused expression. Whispering behind a cupped hand, he said, "If we are doing aquaculture, I volunteer to clean algae filters. But with small condition: I get to name the fish. This is fair, yes?"

Feeling some eyes on him, he flushed a little and tried to assume a more professional stance. To Samaire, he began counting-off fingers. "Lieutenant, for equipment... we will need lamps, soil kits and reclamators, moisture sensors, nutrient injectors." He paused for a moment and with a whisper, added, "And a playlist. Something cheerful. We grow food, not sadness."

Again, he felt eyes on him at his outburst. Although, Garo was convinced most of his fellow officers in Operations had become used to his humourous prattle. Perhaps not the Commodore, thought Garo.

Thor always liked assignments in the arboretum because it reminded him of his Great-Grandmother’s estate in Hel,Norway.

Samaire nodded as Garo spoke. "We can start gathering that with Engineerings help." She said as she made notes. "Divide the area up, give every type of growing its own section."

Scott looked over the area that the group had to work with. "It is too bad we can't build a fish hatchery/nursery. having fish in our diet even occasionally would be a benefit."

"The mass of water makes a hatchery not feasible. I'm sorry. Just one cubic meter of water is 1,000 kilograms, and that doesn't get us anywhere with livestock." Lissa said apologetically. "We could probably find a way to make some seaweed and algaes grow in our hydroponics systems though. I can work on what might be mutually beneficial. At the very least, even if they require similar nutrients, we already know we'll have to feed the vegetation regardless. We just need to make sure they won't choke each other out."

Garo nodded thoughtfully. She was correct and moreover, two separate systems made more sense.

"You are right--hatchery's not realistic with that kind of mass. Even a small tank would be pushing the limits on weight and containment systems." He considered what would be required and snatched a PADD from a nearby table.

He turned to Anna and began tapping away on the data PADD.

"Lieutenant," he said. "If you give me a list of species you think are viable, I'll start running simulations to check for compatibility--nutrient demands, growth rates, containment needs."

"We will cross-check with recently encountered species and see if there is anything there worth adding to the mix, as it were," said N'vok.

Anna was smiling rather brightly to hear the contributions of the Operations officers and others. "These are all excellent ideas," she added cheerfully. "I'll get to work on a complete list right away, Ensign, but I am mostly just compiling what others have already said. Strawberries, blueberries, various mushrooms, potatoes, sweet potatoes, maize, wheat, rice, various algae and seaweeds...This is a starting list. I'm sure we'll wind up whittling it down a lot, We're also going to need legumes, if we're not going to be directly harvesting animal proteins, which might be an issue of cultural sensitivity for some anyway." She gave a small shrug. She doubted it would have been a big deal but she was just as happy not dealing with it. "So we're going to want lentils, chickpeas, soy, lima beans, common beans, pinto beans. I'm not sure about peanuts. Some people have fairly severe allergies towards them. But I can have a complete list of species, properly designated, for you to start with in coordination with science and medical in maybe an hour. It wouldn't hurt to start looking into the ones we've already specifically discussed before that. Let's wait until we have a fully formed plan before we get to work physically. It'd be a waste and time and labor to do anything we later had to undue."

Ensign Hakboyan nodded at her suggestions--they were prudent and seemed reasonable. Giving her a wink, he said, "Agreed. No use planting seeds before the rain knows where to fall. That's what my grandmother used to say. Though, she once planted cucumbers in her piano, so... jury's out."

"The legumes would grow with the grains," Lissa stated. "They tend to make good crop rotation partners. Earth and Bajor both have variants of three sisters gardens that would allow us to grow both in addition to squash in the same space at once. We may have to rely on replicators for that kind of variety. Soy beans and chickpeas take up quite a bit of space compared to the yield. We'll want to stick to pole beans, they take up less space, and we can get a continuing harvest out them."

"I know everyone has their favorite foods," Lissa continued. "And I know we want to accommodate as much of that possible, we really do. But space is limited, and we have to efficient, and pick a nutritional balance for the crew, as well what can grow well together in this space. I think we can take suggestions from the entire crew, maybe five wishes a person. I can write an algorithm that will hopefully keep anyone from picking something that isn't feasible before we push out the survey," Lissa suggested. "And, an algorithm to weed through the responses - No pun intended. But I think we could use operations' help right away with getting hanging structures built, and laying out where would be the best place for irrigation systems for the tiered gardens: Our grains, AND legumes," she smiled at Anna, "That we won't put into hydroponics systems."

N'vok nods. "I will leave this in the hands of the experts but let me know how I can be of help." He pauses as a thought occurs to him. "Though it would be much smaller scale, should we offer crewmembers the chance to have small container gardens in their quarters? It would not produce much in the way of food but would give everyone a chance to feel that they were contributing."

Phoenix smiled as the group seemed to get closer as they discussed things. She caught Sapphires eye and then headed off without a word.

Sapphire commented on N'voks suggestion. "That's a great idea. And the school as well for the younger children."

"Some crew members are already doing that," Anna informed them, remembering her recent work on a certain sprinkler system, "but we could certainly stand to make it more widespread." She was looking at Lissa thoughtfully. "You're sure?" Her instinct was still to plan a little more first.

"The hanging planters? Sure," Lissa said nodding. "We can run some designs back and forth, but yeah. Growing root vegetables upside down is going to be less stress on the plant for harvesting. The more multi-purpose use, the better, so we aren't committed to any one thing. Again, I think we're going to be limited on where we can put them, so that we can access for harvest, so maybe your team can design around feasibility? But I'm thinking out of the way of everything else."

Garo tapped a few figures into the PADD estimating the dimensions using only his eyes. "We can grow them upside down," he said still tapping away. "But it's best if the design is modular or we will be limited on which vegetables to grow."

Samaire looked around. "We have a lot to do. Shall we get started? Can Engineering start replicating the parts we will need?"

"I think we can get started," Anna answered her, "unless anyone has a reason why not." She glanced around. She looked to the engineering officers present.

Garo nodded absently, eyes still skimming the figures on his PADD. "I'll coordinate with Engineering on the design and get back to you by the end of shift, Lieutenant." He grinned at the others present. "Let us make the plants proud."

Scott spoke up. "What do you need us to get started on?"

Thor's team started replicating the parts. It was essential the parts were needed in order to get it to work.

OFF