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[forgodssake]

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xavier
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CHARLES XAVIER

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[navigational]

Is this Professor Xavier of the Xenobiology and Genetics Department?

[forgodssake]

it is
how can I help you?

[navigational]

My name is Felix Gaeta. I saw Dr. Gallo's announcement. I was wondering how much of a scientific background is background enough to be useful.

[forgodssake]

that's a question I often ask myself
I typically only ask after specialisations and practical experience, as well as research interests, and extract a pledge that anyone who joins isn't going to get too het up about concepts to do with magic and the supernatural to the point of offense
and so I hope you don't find "any" to sound desperate or discouraging but we are quite a small department

what sort of experience do you have?

[navigational]

Is there a grace period for accepting the existence of magic and the supernatural?


My bachelor's degree is in genetics, but I joined the military to pay for a graduate degree and never left. I haven't had a lot of occasion to use it lately. I've worked on a few planetary surveys and one failed genetic testing project. At this point I know more about computers than biology. I used to love it, though.

[forgodssake]

I will say it took me a cycle and change, but my own academic background lends me to having an open mind

[ That will be humorous, later! ]

it sounds like you have a lot of useful gifts, Mr Gaeta, and if you want to be kept busy, pulling shifts with other departments is generally acceptable, save for perhaps Communications. but I can assure you we keep busy ourselves, not only with subjects, but with whatever the ship events tend to throw at us.
and we have a lot of computers.

you're hired, in any case. it will be nice to have another geneticist in our genetics department.
what military branch, may I ask?

[ 'Planetary surveys'. ]

[navigational]

[ Hilarious. ]

Thank you. I think not having a psychotic break might be a full-time job for a while, but I'll keep that in mind.

[ People actually on the verge of psychotic breaks don't joke about them, right? He's fine. ]

The Colonial Fleet. I was stationed on a battlestar. [ He's seen enough people with swords to know he might need to explain— ] Spacecraft. Smaller than this one. Better lit.

Do you not have many geneticists?

[forgodssake]

good man
and good to know I needn't convince you that we are indeed in space, then.

there is myself, and formerly one other, but she has since departed. we have two scientists with specialities in biochemistry and bioengineering, among other things, so we're actually doing alright. we used to have more of a magic-based staff, but we're whittled down to one (although one of our scientists is also a practicing witch. you'll get accustomed to it, I promise).
none of us are from space age societies, but at least I've been onboard here for a good year and a half.

[navigational]

If you promise.

[ This is very brief, he is very overwhelmed, he is going to ask about Charles' background later, can he read his thesis, etc. ]

When and where should I report?

[forgodssake]

I do

find attached my office hours (subject to disasters) and directions to the Science Department
we're on level three

there's no pay cheque, so come when you're ready