Future Relations (1/2)

Posted on 05 Feb 2016 @ 10:49pm by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Lamar Darius

1,930 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: Jupiter Station - Deck 176, Main Promenade
Timeline: MD 23 - 1400 hrs

[ON]

Jupiter Station was quite unlike any starbase Lamar had ever visited. Its corridors and living rooms seemed a bit dated, but it was also sectioned off into several top-clearance sections which required nothing but the highest of Starfleet Science clearance, and where he knew important Federation projects were being worked on.

Despite the intimidating nature of the station, he soon found himself on the main promenade on deck 176 and stepped out of the turbolift when the door swished open. It was unlike anything he had ever seen before...instead of a large circular layout, it was sectioned off into various blocks which resembled a mini city street district. There was a buzz of activity, mostly from blue-collar science and medical personnel, and he was one of the only ones dressed in a casual gray polo t-shirt with blue jeans.

Fortunately for him, he was hungry, and he quickly sighted a small restaurant with a glowing holo-sign above it advertising pasta, salad, hamburgers, steaks, and a variety of non-Human culinary meals that he didn't even recognize. Tentatively, he approached the establishment and made his way inside and to the bar where he sat down and smiled politely at the female Bolian bartender.

"Miller Lite, please," he requested from the young lady before he started glancing around to see who else was present.

Not long after Lamar, a tall and almost regal looking Andorian female walked in. She carried herself with an air of command as she walked in, her deep blue dress hugging to her forms, accentuating them. Her hair was flowing freely across her shoulders, where normally she would wear it done up, her antennae swaying gently as she walked and looked around.

Her ship was docked for restocking of supplies and technical updates and would depart again in a few weeks. While her crew enjoyed their leave, Talla sought to meet new people. And, while she was off duty, she preferred to wear a comfortable dress, instead of the restricting command uniform.

Sipping his beer, Lamar continued to observe the people around him. He took note of the various personnel coming and going, including a family of Tellarites who were now departing from the dining lounge. Out of the corner of his eye, however, his attention was quickly diverted by the sight of long and white hair moving close to him. He turned his head to look closer, and took in the sight of a tall, curvy, and very attractive Andorian woman who was settling into a bar stool only several seats away from him. As discreetly as was possible, his eyes traveled from her antennae to her chest, then down to her hips and legs.

She was dressed in what appeared to be a silky/flowery dress which was low cut and displayed her toned thighs in all their glory. The top cut was quite lenient as well, and her figure was nothing short of incredible.

Momentarily stunned, Lamar reached for his beer while staring at her, but accidentally knocked the bottle over and spilled beer on the bar counter. "Oh shit..." he mumbled, feeling very flustered.

Turning her head, Talla stared at the man. "I don't see any," she replied suggestively, "though I do suggest you move lest your fermented drink drips all over you in a very unflattering manner.." She gestured towards the spilt drink which threatened to run down the side of the counter, right onto his pants. She flagged the barman and ordered a tall glass of ice tea, then turned to watch the still flustered male seated close by.

It didn't help that he heard his momentary crush speak in such an affirmative yet seductive tone. He processed her words and admired her accent, but barely managed to scoot himself to the side to avoid the beer drip.

Beads of sweat now dripped from his head from utter embarrassment and he felt like a high school kid all over again. Get a grip, man he said to himself with a mental kick. "Thanks" he replied to the Andorian, then looked her in the eyes and gave her a friendly smile. "Lamar Darius," he said, offering his large, dark hand to her to shake in an attempt to introduce himself.

She offered him a delicate hand - which showed evidence of weapons handling - in return. "Talla H'Rhar," she answered smoothly, "and where do you come from, Lamar Darius? Which ship do you call home?"

He took the offered hand in his own and gently shook it. It was warm, her fingers were long, and her palms felt weathered. "Nice to meet you, Talla." He replayed that name in his head and tried his best to pronounce it in the same manner that she had. He had never been very good with accents.

"USS Galileo," he then answered. "Nova-class. We're docked here for shore leave. What about yourself? Did you make the trip all the way from Andoria to come hang out with Jupiter Station scientists?" he asked, half-teasingly.

"No, my ship is in dock for upgrades and restock. USS Sarek, I'm the commanding officer," Talla replied dryly, "and while I'm here I thought I might visit my son, who's attending Starfleet Medical."

"Oh," he remarked, giving her a small smile. "Congratulations. To you and your son." It was a great accomplishment to be accepted into Starfleet Medical, for those personnel were the best of the best in the entire Federation. "I've never met a CO before off duty. Well, not a Starfleet captain...what's it like, having your own ship?"

"Quite busy but I wouldn't have it any other way," the Andorian smiled, taking a sip from her near frozen tea. "I get to create my own direction and the ship doesn't go anywhere without me telling the helmsman to set a course." She tilted her head in curiosity. "You say you have never seen your own CO off duty? Doesn't she interact with the crew while not on duty?"

"I'm not sure. Never really seen her except in passing when I'm not on duty," he admitted. "I work in the shuttlebay so most of the time I got my head buried beneath a runabout or a Type-9 fixing microfractures and replacing thruster couplings. By the time alpha shift is over, I go straight to the gym then back to me quarters for some dinner. Then I hit the sack," he explained with a casual shrug. "Captain Holliday is kinda reclusive as well. Don't see him around too much outside of his shifts."

"Hmm..." The Andorian looked thoughtful. "Shuttlebay hm? Ever wanted to fly something a little larger than a shuttle?" She smiled at him over the edge of her glass, blue eyes sparkling.

He narrowed his eyes a bit and looked at her with intrigue. "You mean a starship?" He wasn't quite sure if that was an offer, but the look in her eyes seemed tempting enough.

"Exactly like a starship," Talla replied, "and I don't mean that little bucket you serve on now. I mean a real ship."

He couldn't help but grin at the lighthearted jab, and now wanted to know more. "So a big bucket, then?"

"Extremely big," Talla chuckled. "My ship. Want to take her out for a spin? She needs a test run anyway and my helmsman is on leave."

He couldn't quite believe what he was hearing...an offer to pilot a starship and take it for a joy ride. Under her supervision, of course. "Well..um, yes ma'am! But I'm not certified to fly anything larger than a runabout. Well, not yet, anyway," he sheepishly admitted. "What, um, class of starship are we talking about?"

"Sovereign...and I heard you've been guiding a cadet on steering a starship and have supervised him doing it. The cadet in question speaks highly of you, you see." She started to walk off and cast him a daring look over her shoulder. "Coming?"

Before he could connect the dots between the unnamed cadet and Wintrow -- who happened to the only said cadet under his perview -- the Andorian lady was already up and moving towards the nearest turbolift. His eyes traveled across her backside, and he took a long mental note of her exposed blue skin, collar blades, and lower back, as well as the curves in her hips and butt. He oogled at her for far too long before regaining his composure and nodding.

"Yes ma'am!" He tossed a few credits on the bar counter to pay for his spilled drink, then jogged towards her to catch up.

"...Are you sure this is a good idea...?" he asked in a quiet voice. "I mean, what if I crash your ship by accident? I don't want to spend the next two years in your brig..."

"Is your cadet in the brig?" Talla returned, her antenna swaying in amusement, "he flew in my wing, before transferring to your supervision to expand his learning." She smiled brightly, invitingly as she led him towards her ship's berth. "And now, it's time to expand yours. You do know how to fly a starship, right?"

He was flattered by the confidence she had shown him, and for his own sake, nodded in reply even though it was a bit far from the truth. "Yeah...just need to get used to the navigation console at the helm. It's a bit more robust than the one on an average shuttle," he chuckled nervously before changing the subject. "So you know Wintrow, huh?"

"Oh yes...came to us as a very quiet and shy seventeen year old when his dad dropped him off. He was my yeoman for a while before dropping in no the wing and exposing his talent for flight. But he needed to expand his wings and not cling to that which he was comfortable with. He's doing well I assume?"

Talla led her guest up to the bridge and gestured towards the helm. "By all means, take her out."

The turbolift doors swished open and suddenly Lamar was presented with the most regal of bridges in the Federation. He stood still for a long moment, staring around in awe of the different stations and spacious expanse which was about three times as large as the Galileo bridge.

Slowly, he finally stepped into the command center and made his way to the forward helm console where he took a seat and observed the complex controls now in front of him. "Yes...captain..." he finally replied before tapping away at the console to activate the required propulsion devices. He brought the RCS thrusters online as well as the impulse engines, then looked back over his shoulder towards the blue lady. "Ready to depart.... I think."

"You think?" She approached and leaned over him. "Did you take the park brake off?" she suggested with a smile. "Cleared the moorings?"

Hmm...external inertial stabilizers? Check. Thrusters at stationkeeping? Check. Moorings retracted? Check. Lamar went through this new mental checklist as best he could, letting his hands tap away at the console to perform each administrative task necessary before looking back over his shoulder. "Yeah, all set. I contacted dock control and we're cleared for departure. I...didn't know what to submit for a flight plan so I filed a charted course around the solar system."

"That's fine." Talla grinned.

== TBC ==

--

Commodore Talla H'Rhar
CO USS Sarek-A
TGCO TF21-C

CWO3 Lamar Darius
Chief Support Craft Pilot
USS Galileo
[PNPC Saalm]

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