Officers' Get Together
Posted on Wed May 26th, 2021 @ 4:50pm by Lieutenant Leah Bailey & Commander Taeler Santu M.D. & Lieutenant Xavier Leiko & Lieutenant Ausra Danton & Ensign George Paxton
Mission:
By Artemis' Bow
Location: USS Cavalier
Timeline: MD-03 19:30hrs
1154 words - 2.3 OF Standard Post Measure
The Officers Mess on the Cavalier had been over-decorated, if those present were honest with themselves. That the crew from Athena had simply come to support in the science team's efforts, most would have said it was unnecessary. Yet there was a positive mood, and the opportunity to get to know new people seemed to boost morale.
Captain Ramirez didn't linger too long - he made a short introduction and excused himself, leaving Commander Jeron to host things and encourage cross-crew interaction.
Aura entered the room and immediately had to hold back a giggle when she thought about a bunch of scientists at a party. They were all wallflowers, what was going to happen when all the wall space was taken up and it forced some of them into the middle? Luckily, she'd been known to be a bit outgoing at times, strange times, but still . . . it was a start.
"Welcome, come on, mingle..." Commander Jeron was trying to cajole some life into those gathered. "Commander Taeler, welcome. Can I get you a drink? Anyone?" He looked around the Athena crew waiting for a reply.
"I hope you've got some spring wine?" Taeler usually wasn't much for Bajoran tradition, but she wanted to be in good graces with the Captain of the ship and felt that going through their shared heritage would be a good avenue.
George immediately noticed the sole engineer present from the Cavalier's crew. Then, realizing there was no way out of this social entanglement, he reluctantly strolled over to introduce himself. "Hi, I'm Ensign George Paxton," he said as he shyly offered his hand.
"Nice to meet you. Ensign Isabella Emery. It seems we're the only two engineers in here." She chuckled, secretly wishing for the night to end sooner rather than later. Whose idea was it to put a bunch of scientists together in a room for a social engagement?
Xavier loved a good party, but Starfleet functions were normally either really dull, or just plain dull. Starfleet liked to pull out all of the stops, but they were just a little too conservative to really be classed as a party, a gathering maybe. Then you throw a group of scientists into the mix and it really became snooze central. The worse thing was that Starfleet officers were encouraged to have a good time, but not too good of a time that might cause offense to someone else at the party. Despite all this Xavier was determined to make the most of it. "I'll have whatever you're having," he said to Commander Jeron. It had better be real alcohol.
Jeron smiled broadly, offering a mug of synthale. "We don't have a lot of luxuries out here, Lieutenant. We make up for it in a positive attitude and a warm welcome," the Commander explained.
Xavier took the drink and smiled. "How warm?" He asked with a smile before taking a sip of the drink.
"Exceptionally," the Bajoran grinned. "If your work in deflector control earlier was anything to go by," he added with a wink.
"Well, I'll toast to that," Xavier said with a smile. "If you really want to reward me, I wouldn't mind seeing the rest of the ship."
"Of course. We're only small compared to yours, but I'm sure you'll find that size isn't everything when it comes to the Cavalier's crew<," Jeron replied.
Xavier's cheeks turned pink, it wasn't easy for someone to make him blush. "Maybe I've been a bit too spoiled on the Athena, not only is the size adequate but you also get used to everything coming in threes," he replied.
"Lieutenant Danton?" Professor Summers approached the Science Officer. "What do you think so far? You must be as excited as I am to get to study the Pilgrims up close tomorrow?"
"So excited I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight." She knew what it was like in the past when she had something very fun planned for the next day, she would fall asleep only to be woken by a surge of adrenaline. At least it was for a good reason and not because she was worried or anxious about anything.
"I know that feeling well. I was the same the night before my first encounter with them too. Fascinating creatures. Incredible. Have you ever come across anything like them?" the Professor inquired.
"No, but my specialty the academy was actually botany and I only branched out fairly recently. But they are completely fascinating and now I wish I'd studied something like Xenobiology."
"We all have our callings, Lieutenant," Quill grinned warmly. He stroked his beard, which evidently hadn't been shaved for a number of days. He'd been so involved in his work the little things tended to slip. "Botany and Xenobiology are both studies of life, merely in different forms! Honestly as we grow our understanding of these wondrous creatures I would be fascinated to explore their dietary patterns with you; it's rare to find a species that does not subsist on some sort of vegetation - perhaps a biological element?"
"Oh, well I'd be delighted! That's true, extremely rare but then these are nor your average creature. The universe never ceases to amaze me. Somehow life always finds a way to exist. That small detail gives me a lot of peace and hope when something always seems to go wrong."
Taeler had gravitated towards the edge a bit herself, and was now looking out the window of the room they had been gathered in. She looked at the stars, the asteroid belt, perhaps in the hope to catch a glimpse of the pilgrims with her own two eyes. There was something about seeing things, not through screens or enhanced imagery, but with your own two eyes, that technology could never replace.
"It's nice, isn't it?" A Denobulan man had walked up to her, "I think we're at the wrong angle to see the pilgrims come by. You'd think they make an effort and reorient the ship for the occasion, but no. Protocol and safety guidelines tell us we shouldn't." A sigh came from the man who otherwise seemed very chipper and happy, "You're the Athena XO, right?"
Taeler nodded and extended her free hand, "Taeler Santu, and you are?" She hadn't had time to make herself familiar with all the officer on the ship.
"Oh, I'm a nobody in Operations," His face formed into the broadest of smiles, "it's always nice to meet new people, the name's Gygax." He took the hand leaned in and gave it a small kiss on the back of the hand, "a pleasure to meet you."
The sounds of partying faded immediately when the comm system chimed.
"Commander Jeron to the bridge!" came the urgent call.
"What's the problem?" the ship's XO queried.
"We've got a ship on sensors. Destroyer-sized. They're on a direct intercept course!"
