Biome, biome, which one is home
Posted on Sat Nov 22nd, 2025 @ 10:49pm by Lieutenant JG Tirenn MacDara
580 words; about a 3 minute read
Mission:
First Light
Location: Biostation-29 "Aurelia Pod"
This was Tirenn's first time seeing the Aurelia Pod, the Archlight's botany bay, which was larger than a shuttle bay but smaller than a full science deck. This advanced, self-contained botanical habitat can support multiple distinct micro-biome ecosystems simultaneously. The translucent alloy arches made the pod feel like a soft-curved terrarium cathedral, with environmental fields replacing traditional walls, allowing the micro-biome ecosystems to be observed without stepping in.
Between the micro-biome ecosystems ran the central hall, nicknamed the Luminous Spine, which was a 2m-wide path running nose to tail, with a transparent composite floor showing root and substrate channels beneath, and finally, the LCARS-V29 holo-panels appeared only when summoned, running all the way down the Luminous Spine.
At the very beginning, Luminous Spine was a quick-transition airlock to prevent cross-contamination, and then a vestibule area with two decon alcoves, uniform micro-sterilizers, and sample lockers.
As you walked down the Luminous Spine, on either side of the Luminous Spine were the micro-biome ecosystems; for right now, there were just five of them, and at the end of the Luminous Spine were two research alcoves. Both were fold-out analysis stations with specimen stasis drawers, as well as portable chronomicroscopes and biophasic scanners.
And past the research alcoves was the quantum soil & nutrient mix bay, a storage for 29th-century nutrient-gels, chrono-soil reactors, and replicator cartridges, and finally, it was the engine of the botany bay, the environmental control node; housing the climatic harmonizer, atmosphere modulator, biosphere field calibrator, and micro-gravity coupler (creates localized 0.8g, 1.0g, 1.2g zones).
Her unique knee-high boots thudded on the Luminous Spine that lit up; they were a blend of soft, weathered brown leather and sage-green botanical fabric, the latter subtly patterned with leaflike motifs that echo natural growth patterns. They matched perfectly with her sleek, tailored garment, form-fitting through the torso with clean seam lines that emphasize precision and elegance. The skirt portion is mid-thigh length, gently tapered to allow easy movement without losing its structured shape, and the sleeves are her usual long, fitted sleeves ending in thumb-loop cuffs, a design carried over from her full uniform for comfort during field or lab work.
The micro-biomes were empty for now, but that would change as Tirenn sent in requisitions for as many different plants as possible, while also making sure there was always room for more new samples. "....so is it true that you served under Captain Elira T’Ravel?" the ensign asked.
"I did," Tirenn said in a slight Gaelic accent as she flicked her wrist. She activated the holo-panels; it wasn't as graceful as Elira did, but it was close. "Alright, so I need these three biomes," she said, pulling up the specifications for the temperate terrain, humid jungle, and aquatic/marsh. "....these are the flora specimens that'll be going in each, which means I need each biome to have everything perfect before we put anything in them," Tirenn said.
"Of course, we'll get started on that right away," the ensign said, looking over the specs. They weren't crazy, but it was gonna take time, since everyone assigned to the botany lab is new to the Aurelia Pod.
"Good, I'll be exploring the new bay, if you need anything," Tirenn said, leaving the ensign to assign tasks to the science mates, giving her time to explore and admire one of her mentor's life-works.
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