She makes it to her station

Julie lets out a sigh of relief as the automatic door behind her slides closed with a satisfying "wooshing" sound. She really wasn't sure how she was going to make it through her career in the Space **** if she couldn't even walk down a hallway without stressing out, but since the Captain didn't seem likely to cut her any slack any time soon, she guess she'd just have to get used to walking around her workplace about 95% naked. As she scanned the room, she found it occupied by only two other crew members One was her Lieutenant, the other another brand new Ensign like her. Unlike her, however, the other ensign was a large, bright orange insectoid creature with beady black eyes and 10 hyper articulated arms. The room was filled with wall to wall computer terminals and the orange ensign seemed to be working several terminals at once while the Lt. supervised.

Taking note of the new arrival, the Lt turned around and scurried over to Julie, looking up at her from his position somewhere around her knees. It took every iota of willpower Julie had not to recoil in horror when her new boss approached her. Julie was always kind of grossed out by spiders, and if her new boss wasn't QUITE a spider, he was certainly close enough for government work... and about the size of a dog to boot. As he looked up at Julie with his 7 red eyes, Julie couldn't help but wonder what kind of a view he was getting of the barely covered area between her legs. If he was enjoying the view, however, he didn't let on, though Julie had to admit she found his alien face impossible to read.

"So, Ensign Starr..." the Lt. remarked in a decidedly mocking tone.

"Thank god for universal translators..." Julie thought. As she watched his mandibles move to form the rapid clicks and chirps that were the basis of his people's language, she knew she wouldn't have been able to make heads or tales of a single word without them.

"Ensign Starr, are you paying attention? Or are you gawking at my mandibles?"

Julie blushed, for the first time today about something OTHER than her near nudity. She recovered as quickly as she could and replied "Sorry sir, I'm still a little flustered... my meeting with the Captain... did not go the way I wanted it to..."

"I had a feeling that might be the case." The Lt. replied in an amused tone. "I warned you."

"You did sir. Still, I felt that..."

"No. I don't want to hear another word about it. I let you take your grievance to the Captain because your situation is unique and I could tell it was important to you, but if you met with the Captain, the issue is settled and I'll hear no more about it. You'll wear your assigned uniform just like the rest of us and that's that, now let's get to work. I'm Lt. Vazz by the way. You didn't let me finish introducing myself before running off to complain to the Captain about all of your exposed human bits."

Julie lowered her head and replied "Yes, sir. Sorry, sir."

"Harumph." Was the arachnid's reply (or at least that's how the translator related whatever clicking sound he'd made.) He turned and lead her over to the console. "This is Tulak, another fresh faced ensign like yourself. He's currently occupied with running a manual diagnostic on the ships computer systems."

Julie's eyes went wide. "Manual?"

"Yes. Is that a problem?" Vazz answered.

"No, sir, it's just that... I mean, a Federation ship... the systems are so sophisticated... wouldn't it make more sense to have the computer run it's own diagnostic?"

"Of course." Vazz replied. "The computer is programmed to run regular diagnostics on all of the ship's systems, but, seeing as how the diagnostic system is ITSELF **** to flaws, it just makes sense to run through the systems manually every now and then. It's dull, repetitive work, but that's what we have ensigns for..."

Julie's jaw dropped. She had studied Star Ship computer systems at the Academy. Running a manual diagnostic on them would take weeks... maybe even months, and even then she'd probably lose her mind before she got the job done!

Vazz made a rapid clicking sound that the translator chose to depict as laughter. "Don't worry, ensign, we would never ask you to do it. We are well aware of humans and their... limitations. You don't have the mental capacity to run through the math as quickly as Tulak, and even if you did, you don't even have the manual dexterity to push the buttons fast enough to keep up. Come over here, I'll set you up at a terminal and give you something that will put a little less stress on your brain."

Julie hung her head. It really did feel like every single moment of this day was an object lesson in exactly why she wasn't good enough to be here. She was just beginning to lose heart when her Lt. spoke again.

"Hey, Ensign... Julie, I know it can be a little hard to accept your place in the grand scheme of things. I read your file. You show exceptional aptitude for mathematics... for a human... but compared to many other species in this Galaxy, that doesn't amount to much. That is a fact that you are going to have to accept and work with if you're going to succeed here, but let me tell you another fact: Your talents lie elsewhere. You wouldn't be here if you didn't have something to contribute. I also recall from your file that you had top grades for marksmanship in the academy. Take a look at my appendages. Would it surprise you to learn that I can't even hold a blaster, let alone fire one? No opposable digits..."

Julie nodded and smiled. She almost felt like she might tear up.

The Lt. continued. "There now, come along and let me introduce you to the ships systems. We know you're a marksman, and that's a good start. Lets put you to work so we can find out what your particular talents are."

Julie smirked as she approached the console and quipped "And what are your particular talents, Lieutenant?"

"Telling dumb naked primates what to do, mostly." He replied tonelessly.

Julie was taken aback "I... I'm not sure how to take that...."

"You're relying too much on the translator that's why. It can't always be relied upon to pick up tone, especially if the subject is trying to hide their intentions. You need to learn how to read non human facial expressions, and that means mingling more with the crew and in the wider galaxy at large."

"Yes, sir!" Julie replied as she sidled up to the computer terminal.

"In your uniform of course." The Lt. added.

"Yes, sir..." Julie replied glumly. As she sat down at the terminal, the feeling of her bare buns on the cushioned seat was a novel one, and she could tell from the faux leathery texture and from the sheen of perspiration that had by now covered every inch of her exposed body that she was going to have to peel herself off of the seat when she was done. It seemed like every aspect of life on this ship was going to have a learning curve to it...