Meet the Press, Part 4 (1/2)

Posted on 12 Feb 2013 @ 12:55am by Justin Baker & Captain Jonathan Holliday & Lieutenant Commander Evelyn Coleman & Trija Natyal & Raifi Zaren

1,931 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 03 - Frontier
Location: USS Galileo: Airlock
Timeline: MD01: 1410 Hours

[ON]

Trija sighed, "No, and no, Mr. Kelehom," she said flatly. She interrupted the purple-skinned gentleman on the other end before he got another word in. "How many times do you need to hear it? How many ways? Do you want an interpretive dance?" the Betazoid snapped into the small display unit at her wrist, scowling before tapping it with her finger and drawing herself up regally as the airlock doors opened. Jool Fenta's idiotic production team asking if they can have hair and make-up and maybe wardrobe come aboard. They were journalists, damn it, not a circus! She looked up, diminutive in stature to practically everyone standing around her. "Commander Holliday, Commander Coleman." She offered them a brusque nod. "We spoke over vidcomm. Trija Natyal. This is Raifi Zaren and Jool Fenta. We're pleased to be aboard and thank you for your accommodation." She smiled thinly.

"You will make it happen, Naytal," Jool whispered as she pushed past the woman, then putting on the beaming and charming smile that millions of sentients tuned in to see...well...the leather shoulderless outfit that presented the reasons she was Miss Quadrant and first runner up to Miss Galaxy. The Interion woman went to the strong man in uniform. "Oh, Commander!" she said walking over to Holliday, extending her hand. "I can't tell you what a pleasure and honor it is for me to be here. Truly, truly an honor. I'm such a fan of everything Starfleet does in the galaxy."

Behind her, Zaren sucked in his cheeks to keep from laughing aloud.

John had been less than enthusiastic about having members of the press aboard the Galileo. In fact, it was something that he would downright want to avoid. Nevertheless, the Captain had ordered him to meet their new guests at the Airlock, and he was going to follow orders no matter what.

"Welcome aboard the Galileo. I'm Commander Holliday, the ship's First Officer."

"And Commander Coleman?" she asked, turning her emerald green eyes to the El Aurian. "I always admire strong female role models."

"Kid," Zaren murmured sweetly. "Take a breath. You've got at least a week to kiss their asses. No need to yank their pants off on the first meeting." He grinned at the intelligence officer, "Hey, Eve."

Evelyn felt like pushing Jool back through the airlock when the Trill spoke up and addressed her. "Hello..." Zaren the name sounded familiar and then she recalled her time on Trill when she was a Science Officer. ''Zaren, I guess the worm inside you decided to upgrade to a newer model." She smirked.

"What can I say?" he chuckled. "There was an incident with a bee; I'll tell you about it some time. Very daring. Think it's an upgrade, do you?"

"Compared to the last time I saw you, yes." Evelyn smirked, "but if you think you can score an exclusive just because I knew you in a past life, think again."

"I would never presume to trade on a past meeting. Besides," he laughed. "We've already got the exclusive." He studied her eyes, grateful to see that they were still as clear and lovely in person as he remembered them. "I am glad to see you again, Eve. I hope we'll have a chance for another walk. Off the record."

Jool ignored Zaren's little comment. The dirty little muckracker that he was. Coleman was frosty, but that was okay. She wasn't here about Coleman. There were others she was far more interested in. Not to mention the information she obtained before she arrived.

And then there was the PADD from Admiral Aknet, Starfleet Public Information authorizing her for...well...whatever she wanted really. She kept her attention on Commander Holliday. So far, he wasn't part of her story either. Not yet anyway.

"Thank you, Commander," Jool said. "It's an honor to be here to help cover this exciting event! From the first moment I heard about it, I just knew I had to be a part of the story!"

Zaren stifled a snort of laughter.

"Imagine, a whole new planetary system to explore," she went on. "Look, I'm getting goosebumps just imagining all the possibilities."

Trija sincerely doubted that. "Now that we're all acquainted, I'm assuming there's some sort of lodging and place to set up arranged for us?" she asked of Coleman and Holliday, brushing a lock of electric blue hair behind her ears.

Coleman's shifted between Jool and Zaren and then to Trija. "Never assume." she replied cryptically.

"Mmm," Trija responded, giving them all a bored look. "So there hasn't been an area set up. We will need space to coordinate, have one arranged." Either ignorant or just apathetic to Coleman's feelings, she continued, waving her hand. "Meanwhile, I'm sure you have plenty to brief us on. I know how much you Starfleet folks appreciate protocol. Which we will do our utmost to follow." She said that pointedly at the three behind her. If she could have elbowed them to make it any clearer, she might have. "Anyway." She smiled at them all. "Shall we? No use standing around in an airlock all day."

The Trill shook his head; all this posturing was ridiculous. Eve and Holliday both knew that they were coming aboard, because Trija had gotten approval from two of Starfleet's admirals. He remembered her softer, but then he remembered her off-duty too. This side of her was equally interesting, just... different. Well, she was entitled to some changes. He'd gone and done that himself. He just hoped that all of Jool's obsequious and obviously false pandering wouldn't kill the story for the rest of them.

"I never said an area wasn't set up. Like I said earlier, don't assume." Evelyn handed Trija a data PADD, "Here is a list of restricted areas of the ship. If you have an objection to this list, the airlock is to your left. If you agree and we catch even one of your reporters deciding to go Woodrow and Bernstein in these restricted areas, you all will spend the remainder of the trip in the brig."

"I'm sorry," Jool said to Holliday, "for the rudeness of some of my assosciates. I'm sure," she said, glancing at Coleman, "that you fine officers already have everything arranged for our imposition on your ship. I know that this seems like quite the intrusion now, but I'm hoping that soon we'll all have a much better understanding of each other. And the galaxy will have a much better idea of the scientific face of Starfleet."

She glared at the others. Did they know nothing about gaining cooperation from reluctant people? No wonder Zaren was still a fourth rate agitator and Naytal was on her way out.

Trija took the PADD and gave it a glance and a nod. Standard access areas. Most in orange. They'd probably have an escort the majority of the time, judging by this list. Trija cast an unsubtle glare at Zaren. This ship and its crew were hostile, and now she would have to do even more work to get them where they needed to go. Practicing the long-tried Earth custom of Diplomacy she airily replied, "Good, very good. And on behalf of the Federation News Network, we thank you for your accommodations."

Zaren met her glare with a small shrug. She'd been the one to insist on Fenta. He would have been perfectly happy for her to just pave the way for them to come on board small and simple.

"FENTA!" A shout echoed from the pathway from which the FNN crew had arrived from as another stranger entered the same way. Ignoring the rest of the people, Justin took the case on his shoulder into both his hands before coming to a stop in front the the reporter who's name he had shouted. "Get your damn beauty products out of the fricken way of my equipment or next you see of this will be when it's blown out of an airlock." Loosening both of his hands, Justin allowed the box in question to drop to the floor with a big bang.

Jool looked at the box that had just dropped to the floor. "I'm not sure why you're treating your equipment that way. It's certainly not mine. I'd never have anything so...pedestrian. Perhaps Zaren's eyeliner?" She smiled sweetly.

The Trill lifted his brows and clapped a hand on Justin's back. "And this is Justin Baker. Renowned photographer and videographer." He looked at Jool meaningfully, "You're welcome." Whatever Justin's manners or their history, Baker was one of the best he'd ever seen, and he made the images through his lens look like finely honed pieces of art.

Throwing one last glare in Fenta's direction, Justin pushed back his glasses so as they perched on the top of his head. Taking in the growing number of people in the room, his eyes gave only a courtesy glance to Trija whom he knew to be their producer, his focus was more so on the starfleet officers. Analysing each of them, there was no mistaking the subtle hint of hostility under their surfaces.

"Commanders. May I personally offer my thanks and appreciation for allowing us this opportunity to visit your ship. I personally am looking forward to getting to know this Nova class more personally as even from the outside she's a true beaut."

"If I had it my way..sir...none of you would be stepping any further than this airlock. I don't approve of civillians on a starship. Whilst aboard this vessel you will obey any and all orders given to you by any crewman without hesitation, without insubordination, and without procrastination. If even one of your..team..set one foot in an area that we have deemed to be secure access only, I'll see you all spend the rest of this trip in the Brig, is that clear?"

John had no intention of maintaining an air of snooty appreciation towards the members of the press who had worked their way aboard the Galileo. The extra security concerns alone were enough to give the XO a headache far bigger than he would want to deal with this early on into their mission.

Watching the man with a critical eye, Justin threw a charming smile in Trija's direction. "You won't have too many problems Commander. Our producer runs a tight ship and at the end of the day, we are here to do our job, just as you are out there doing your own. Already that puts us on equal standing."

"Right." Zaren chirped, rubbing his hands together. "Well, I guess, let's get to it?" He looked at Trija. He'd rather avoid any more threats about brigs; it might put the wrong spin on their perspective. Objectivity. That was what they needed for this. Not irritation.

The blue-headed woman gave him a sharp nod, barely giving Holliday the time of day. She'd heard the speech once already, and she was over it. "Let's get to it," she confirmed, offering her assembled team a smile and gesturing down the hall. "Lead the way."

[TBC]

CMDR Jonathan Holliday
Executive Officer
USS Galileo

Lt. Cmdr. Evelyn Coleman
Chief Intelligence Officer, 2XO
USS Galileo

Jool Fenta
FNN Journalist
USS Galileo
(pNPC Stone)

Trija Natyal
Assistant Producer, FNN
USS Galileo
(PNPC Liyar)

Raifi Zaren
FNN Journalist
USS Galileo
(pNPC Lilou Peers)

Justin Baker
FNN Cameraman
USS Galileo
(pNPC Pola Ni Dhuinn)

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