Thus far, today had been a productive day. Spock had graded the papers he had assigned to his Interspecies Ethics Class and finalized the test material for tomorrow's Advanced Phenology Midterm all before noon. While the computer finished calculating the grade distribution for the Ethics papers Spock reviewed the resume of his new TA for anything he could easily engage in small talk about out of human curtesy, something he had not considered when reviewing her resume in the application process.

Although one of the few second year students to apply for the position, Cadet Uhura was certainly as qualified as her elders. She had, on her own time, worked to get ahead in the list of languages required for the communications officer track—and was nearing the level of proficiency required upon graduation—and was therefore able to take some of the advanced third and fourth year language courses. She had also logged nearly double the required number of hours for second years in the long range sensor lab, a place most cadets found boring and rarely took the opportunity to explore.

She was also was not too near graduation and therefor would be able to work for Spock as a TA for the next few years and would be able to assist his replacement when Spock left for theEnterprise. Now here was something for them to talk about: Ms. Uhura's ambition was to someday serve on the Enterprise. He could certainly bring up this goal of hers as a way to, as humans would put it, "break the ice" before giving her any new work.

It was just then that Spock heard the door chime indicating Cadet Uhura had arrived. Spock closed out of her resume and reopened the grade distribution calculations. "Come," he called while rising from his desk chair to greet the Cadet.

She entered in the standard cadet red uniform, hair tied back as usual. Although she had been in both of his classes before the two had rarely communicated and never further than simple pleasantries. It was no surprise to Spock then that, while she entered his office confidently, she appeared just slightly out of place.

"Hello, Commander," she said "I am Cadet Uhura, you contacted me about my application as your TA?" Although not a terribly formal greeting it was direct and to the point, something Spock could appreciate. There would apparently be no need for small talk.

"Yes, Cadet sit down," he responded indicating the chair opposite his desk. "I called you here to inform you that I have selected you for the position of my second Teaching Assistant. As you know Cadet Morrison will be graduating soon and I would like you to replace him when he does. For now, however, you would act as a second Teaching Assistant for me and learn the responsibilities and duties assigned to such a task. Do you accept the position?"

The Cadet was apparently excited about the offer as she smiled and responded "Absolutely, Commander I'll start right away."

Although she was clearly not surprised by the offer her eagerness to take on the job was a good sign to Spock. "Very well, I have just completed the grading process for an Interspecies Ethics Class assignment. I would like you to use this PADD for all the work I give you," he picked up the PADD that had been resting beside his own on his desk and handed it to her. "If you will turn it on you will see the assignments are already loaded onto the PADD for your use. I would like you to distribute them using the program you see open there."

As he spoke she turned on the PADD and began flicking through it, finding the essays and figuring out the best way to return the graded copies, an exceptionally easy process only requiring the entry of a simple command. This is more a challenge to get the Cadet using the program.

"Once you have done that I would like you to rewrite a test for me. You may recall the Advanced Phenology Midterm for your first year. I have already selected the material I would like this semester's Midterm to cover, you will see the compilation of the material on your PADD as well. I would like you format that into an administrable test in the next week. You will also see a record of my old tests so that you may maintain my preferred testing format and difficulty. If you have any questions about your assignments now would be the time to ask them."

Although Spock was aware he could sometime appear intimidating to the Cadets, particularly when assigning them work—he recalled Cadet Morrison has appear on the verge of tears when first given a similar assignment—but Cadet Uhura appear simply determined, almost angry. Her brows had furrowed and he saw her eyes working fast over the PADD's surface.

"No questions about the assignments, Commander. Is there anything else you would like to give me now?"

An interesting response: formatting the Midterm would already take her hours. Never one for social cues Spock wondered if perhaps the Cadet was employing the use of sarcasm, her expression, however, lead him to believe she was not. "Not at this time, Cadet, you are free to go."

"Thank you, Commander. This is really a great opportunity, I look forward to working with you." Again the smile was back as Ms. Uhura left his office. She appeared as though the prospect of hours of work excited her, something he found so rare among humans, particularly the every free time-seeking Cadets. Spock, deciding there could be little cause for the Cadet's apparent excitement, reflected on the good choice she would be for a Teaching Assistant. Perhaps he would be able to replace Cadet Morrison earlier than anticipated.