Pleasantries in the Passageways
Posted on 28 Feb 2016 @ 3:20am by Commander Andreus Kohl & Lieutenant JG Rael Psy.D. & Ensign Miraj Derani & Ambassador Olenna Mirok
Edited on on 28 Feb 2016 @ 3:20am
1,600 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: Jupiter Station - Various locations
Timeline: MD 88 - Various times
[ON]
Although there was still a symposium-selected speaker making a presentation on the stage, Andreus Kohl crept out of his seat. He had positioned himself near the back of the auditorium for this very purpose, making it easier for him to sneak out the back doors. Venturing into the wide antechamber outside the auditorium, Kohl found himself a quiet corner to stretch out his calves and his back. Just as he was preparing to head back into the auditorium, he saw a young officer approaching from the opposite direction. Kohl raised a hand to wave the officer over.
"Hullo there," Kohl declared, "Are you Ensign Derani, by any chance?"
Miraj stopped suddenly, not expecting to hear her name, and looked round to see a human looking man with light brown hair beckoning to her. Even from a distance she could see the three pips on his collar. He knew her and she didn't know him. That couldn't be good. "Yes, sir?" she tried not to sound nervous.
“I’m Commander Kohl," he said, and he flatted his palm against his chest. "I serve Galileo as her Second Officer. I’m so pleased to meet you.”
She breathed out and relaxed slightly. That explained that. She was due to report for Duty the following day. "Likewise sir," she smiled. "its an honor to get the posting."
"Believe me when I say we are just as honoured for you to join us," Kohl said. He delivered his words with a quiet enthusiasm. Kohl's sapphire eyes lit up, when he asked, "How did you end up assigned to our tough little ship? Tell me a jot about your journey.”
"I asked for somewhere in the beta quadrant, but beyond that it was just luck, sir. And I flew. I've got a modified Waverider that does full impulse, so I took her for one last spin. We played all the way here. Manouvres. Went for a splash in Saturn's atmosphere. I'm going to miss her."
Listening to Derani describe her ship in a wistful manner, Kohl could fell himself smiling fondly, without intending to do so. Then he frowned at the thought of Derani being separated from the being she loved so. He raised one hand to cover up his pips, as if they might be spying on him for Starfleet Command. Conspiratorially, Kohl asked, "Have you ever thought of stepping aboard your waverider and just going? Going and going and going? Out there?"
She tried not to smile, and failed miserably. Her whole face lit up at the idea. "All the time. I mean, I'd grow old and die in the cockpit before I got anywhere interesting without Warp, but sometimes you just have top open up a throttle and see where you end up. Even if thats just alone surrounded by nothing but stars."
Grinning back at Derani, Kohl asked, "But since you are to be posted aboard a starship with warp drive, you should tell me: where would you like to go?"
"Typhon Expanse," she said it so fast that so much as a seconds gap between his question and her reply. Then she gathered herself. The typhon expanse sir. Its barely charted, and is reported to have several very dangerous navigational anomalies." Which was true, if not the whole truth.
"Typhon Expanse," Kohl said, echoing her words in consideration. He nodded vaguely and then he said, "Let me look into it for you..."
Her heart leapt. Would he really? Could it be even remotely possible? Just to get there in a ship like the Galileo, with its sophisticated sensors, it would be a huge step to finding her mother. "Thank you sir. You don't know how much that would mean to me.”
Feeling renewed and refreshed, Andreus Kohl strolled out of the multi-faith prayer and/or quiet room. He had been surprised to discover an Argelian whereness mandala among the wall-hangings, and it has been instrumental in focusing him on a brief meditation. Striding out into a corridor aboard Jupiter Station, Andreus Kohl didn’t get very far before he took sight of someone who motivated him to break the stillness of his thoughts.
"Well, hullo!" Kohl called out with some small excitement. He waved too. "You must be Lieutenant Rael," Kohl asked, "...are you not?"
The Vulcan turned curiously to the individual who had approached him, and tilted his head. "That's correct, yes. What can I do for you today?" he asked, congenial and poised. A mug of coffee rested in his hands, and his fingers played over the rim absently.
To introduce himself, Kohl said, “I’m Commander Kohl. I serve Galileo as her Second Officer. How fortuitous to meet you here, like this.”
"Commander Kohl," the Argelian's name was repeated warmly. Rael's brows arched and he extended one hand to him in the human fashion. "Fortuitous indeed."
Momentarily surprised by the Vulcan's openness to physical contact, Kohl stared at that hand as if it were a cold fish. He recovered quickly enough and he clasped the hand between both of his own. Looking to Rael, Kohl asked, “How did you end up assigned to our tough little ship as a counselor? Tell me a jot about your journey.”
Far from cold, Rael's skin was fever-hot like he'd been hanging onto his mug of coffee too long. He shook once, firm but brief. "Well, I fear that tale may take more than a jot." It was a joke. He was joking. "Nevertheless--I've recently graduated Starfleet Medical Academy," was the watered-down version. "This is my first assignment. I hope I'll be able to serve admirably."
Surprised by the heat of Rael's touch, Kohl glanced down at his hand --just briefly-- while Rael spoke. Before the Vulcan finished, though, Kohl had regained eye contact and was nodding at his words. "Ah, then you have my congratulations," Kohl said warmly. "I was once a recent graduate from Starfleet's Medical Academy. Though, it seems like a long, long time ago now. At this critical juncture, your first posting, I'm curious: what do you think you would have become, if you weren't to be a counselor?"
"A curious question, Commander. Undoubtedly I would have pursued a career that would allow me to interact with patients in a rehabilitative setting, regardless of credentials. I'd briefly considered nursing, actually--however, this is where I am meant to be." It was assured. Solid weight. Ancient like roots.
In a bit of a stage whisper, Kohl told Rael, “Don’t tell anyone I asked you this... but I have a bit of clout with the command staff.” Kohl took a single step closer to ask, “Where would you like Galileo to take you?”
"To people," Rael said, offering Kohl a faint smile.
Hurrying out of the auditorium three minutes before that symposium session was due to end, Andreus Kohl made his way to the nearest public replicator slot. He ordered himself a tall glass of water and he chugged it down. After he recycled the glass back into the replicator’s matter stores, Kohl searched the antechamber for his best exit strategy before the entire audience began to pour out of the auditorium. He had begun to notice a handful of others sneaking out the auditorium early, just as he had done. Before he planned his escape, Kohl was distracted by the visage of someone he’d only ever seen on an LCARS panel, but he recognized that someone almost immediately.
As he approached, Kohl remarked, "How do you do? I presume you are Ambassador Mirok, yes?"
The Romulan turned her head to see who was speaking to her. "I prefer Lady Olenna,. "She spoke in a very deliberate way. "Romulan naming conventions are tricky." she added, politely.
“I’m Commander Kohl. I serve Galileo as her Second Officer," Kohl said to explain himself. He bowed his head. "It is an honour to meet you, Lady Olenna."
"And it that your only funtion, Commander?" She surely hoped he was not the best Galileo was sending to greet her.
“Hmm.” Kohl licked his lower lip and he tilted his head to the right. He laid his palms to rest on his hips. Kohl narrowed his eyes at Olenna, and he said dryly, "I'm afraid I don't understand the question."
"In my exposure to Starfleet, Second Officer is rarely a primary function." She spoke with distaste and a small amount of venom.
"Ah," Kohl murmured, offering a nod at the same time. "Yes, I see," Kohl said in a perfunctory manner. A curious expression came to Kohl's face. "Lady Olenna, may I ask: have you been invited to our starship in order to broaden your observations of Starfleet functions?"
"General Fleet Operations actually." She said through clenched teeth.
"General. Fleet. Operations," Kohl said, echoing her words. When he said it aloud, it still sounded awfully nebulous to him. Amiably, Kohl said, "Yes, I do believe we will be able to suit your purpose. Now, don't let me keep you from your journey today. I only meant to introduce myself. ...Unless there's anything I can do for you, Lady Olenna?"
The noblewoman raised an eyebrow, betraying her Vulcanoid heritage. "So good to have met you." She said smartly, before pressing on with her stride.
[OFF]
Ensign Miraj Derani
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Galileo
Lieutenant JG Rael
Assistant Chief Counselor
USS Galileo
Olenna Mirok
"The Black Lady of Mhiessan"
Foreign Observer
Lieutenant Commander Andreus Kohl
Second Officer
USS Galileo
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