[h3][center][b]Bradacharchle
Aboard the Carrion[/b][/center][/h3]
[hr]

	[b]W[/b]hen the Paladin's call went through, the Erkani science-officer was already seated close to the holo-map console, as they found its dim glow and shifting colors relaxing, good for work. In their left hand, they held open a text on particle physics – an introductory treatise that would have been cheaper in a digital format, but for translation work they preferred hardcopy, as staring too long into the LCD glow of a reader was painful. Their left hand trailed a pressurized-cartridge pen over the pages of a thick notebook, tracing the swirling characters of Erkani calligraphy as they prepared their translated manuscript. The translator-turned-mercenary had brought along plenty of such work for this voyage; all of their personal effects that were not weapons, ammunition and safety equipment consisted of hardcover books on the various sciences, spare ink cartridges, and blank notebooks. While their skill in botany had been enough for Alvirstein to hire them for the position of science-officer, the Erkani did not believe expertise in a single discipline would be sufficient, and so resolved to devote their spare time to studying and translating texts from other key disciplines, starting with the foundations and working their way towards more esoteric knowledge.

	[b]A[/b]s the Paladin's call went out over the intercom, the translator sealed the pen, closed the notebook, and slid both between the pages of the larger book to mark their place, sliding the whole assemblage into a drawer below the console. Free-time was over; another crewmember turned up the lights on the bridge for the comfort of the others, leading the Erkani to reflexively close their translucent second set of eyelids, dimming the light back to their own comfort level as they waited for information on the mission.