Seeds Planted

Posted on 05/12/2020 @ 2:16pm by Lieutenant JG Jasmine Langtree
Edited on on 05/12/2020 @ 6:16pm

Mission: S1E3: Visit to Starbase 375
Location: USS Crazy Horse, Hydroponics
Timeline: Day 1 at 1530

"How much space were you planning to use?" Jasmine asked.

Tahlin, Ilos, and the human woman were in the Crazy Horse's hydroponics bay; Tahlin was more of an observer than anything. Plants weren't really her thing, unless it was actual soil and water. Besides, this was Ilos's grain, not hers.

"I can probably synthesize the proper soil; I grow coffee and certain teas the same way." Jasmine added.

"Not much space," Ilos answered. "The plant in question produced pretty well. From the notes my sister sent me, six planters could produce, after sixty or so days, enough grain to feed half the crew." He showed a diagram on a PADD to both Jasmine and Tahlin. The plant resembled a barley or wheat plant in a lot of ways, but it seemed like every two centimeters or so the stem split. A fully grown specimen would produce orders of magnitude more edible grains than most similar plants. "A colonist's dream, this is. A lot of food quickly with little environmental impact. Bajoran geneticists made this one just for the New Bajor colony."

"Reminds me of quadrotriticale," Tahlin remarked. "What's it taste like when cooked?"

“Structurally it’s somewhere between Earth rice and Earth barley,” Ilos answered. “You can use it in place of either. The grains puff when cooked in liquid. I’ll make sure that Chef knows how to use it.” He planned to keep enough for him to cook for Tahlin, but six planters didn’t need much of his stock. The crew could eat another thing that was fresh, and he would be responsible.

"Lovely... I went through a bit of a phase where I was trying every grain I could get my hands on. Did you know that Vulcans even have something that tastes a bit like millet?"

"I had it once, at the Academy," he answered. "Damn good."

"If we install some shelves we can increase the surface for growing things. How much of this grain were you looking to grow"? Jasmine asked.

Jasmine looked around it was definitely doable.

"In ideal light and soil conditions, like in here, the yield is fantastic even with just a few plants," Ilos noted. "Why don't we double my sister's instruction. A dozen planters, with those shelves as you suggest. Minimal floor space and lots of fresh food."

"Agreed... You think they'll go for this? Some people have been raised on replicators all their lives." Tahlin's tone was a bit skeptical.

"I think they will" Jasmine said.

"I'll do what I can, at least... Hmmm, I'm thinking I ought to break out that old Earth dish... Rice pudding I think its called?"

"Don't like the replicated version, hmm?" Jasmine said smiling.

"A lot of our crew do come from backgrounds where they ate fresh food, especially in their youths. About half the ship are from frontier colonies, and another sixth or so from Federation members where replicators aren't in every home. Even if they've lived off replicators in their adult lives, this will remind them of home. Rice pudding. Fried rice. Risotto. Some kind of stew, perhaps? My sister might have a bread recipe for it, too. Some might not appreciate it, but for those that do, it will be special."

Tahlin's mouth watered. "I've got the bread covered, though we'll have to add something... Rice and similar grains don't do well by themselves in bread because of the structure."

"I know what you mean I feel the same way about my coffee beans." Jasmine stated.

"Coffee beans?" Tahlin questioned the other woman.

"Yes, its a special bean from home that I'm partial too. I can grow enough to keep me supplied, I also grow different types of tea's." JAsmine said

"That's a fantastic use of the space," Ilos agreed. "Anything to connect to home as we speed away from it."

"The best thing about the arboretum is that it is expandable, we can make more space simply by growing in expanded levels. Its useful and productive. I am curious though as to how the rift might change how things grow here." Jasmine said.

"No sense worrying about that till it happens... What do I have to do to get my hands on some of that coffee, though? Back home, we've got something similar, but I developed a bit of a taste for coffee when I was on Earth... There's a lovely little spot called Crow's Nest I'm partial to." Tahlin sighed, lost in memory.

"I'm more than happy to share, it will be about three weeks, but I figure right about the time were in the rift and encountering a problem or two". Jasmine replied.

“Exactly when people will benefit most from it,” Ilos added. “Thank you, Lieutenant Langtree. Hopefully people will appreciate it.”

"Agreed... Now, anyone up for a cup of tea?" asked Tahlin, jovially.

"I'd love some tea", Jasmine said.

"Sounds good to me," Ilos said. "Lead the way."

A post by:
Lieutenant (J.G) Lae'Or Tahlin
Chief of Security/Tactical
Uss Crazy Horse

And

Lieutenant (J.G.) Jasmine L. Langtree
Chief Science Officer
USS Crazy Horse

And

Lieutenant (J.G.) Toran Ilos
Chief Counselor
USS Crazy Horse