Pop the Champagne (Part 1 of 6)

Posted on 06 Nov 2012 @ 4:39pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Captain Jonathan Holliday & Lieutenant Commander Pola Ni Dhuinn M.D. & Lieutenant Commander Evelyn Coleman & Lieutenant Commander Dea Mialin & Lieutenant Theron Rhodes & Lieutenant Aria Rice & Lieutenant Kiri Cho & Commander Andreus Kohl & Commander Scarlet Blake & Lieutenant Commander Amynta Markos & Chief Warrant Officer 4 Cyrus Kiwosk & Command Master Chief Markum Quinn & Ensign Im'er Mor'an & Amril & Petty Officer 1st Class Gabriel Stark & Verity Thorne & Crewman Athlen & Chief Warrant Officer 2 Arthur Willis

2,706 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Episode 02 - Resupply
Location: USS Galileo - Mess Hall
Timeline: MD 04 - 1035 hrs

[ON]

"This is," Athlen finished his summary with a loud whistle, gesturing to the well decorated mess hall, Liyar beside him. "Nice reception." He grinned mischievously, fetching a large mug from the nearest table and leaning against the side, immersing himself immediately within the growing crowd. The Vulcan merely stepped to the side, gazing out of a far window while the reception got underway behind him.

Entering the room, Pola cursed herself internally as she realised how early she had arrived to this reception. The only good surrounding this was that maybe she would get away with leaving again early, before a majority of the rest of the people arrived. Already seeing a person she recognised, the Doctor made her way across to Liyar. "Liyar...how did you find your first crew gathering?"

The Vulcan turned as Ni Dhuinn entered his line of vision. "Adequate, Doctor," he said, staring down at her calmly. "You are distressed." He noted it as a statement of fact, rather than a question, though his demeanor didn't alter with the observation.

Blinking for a moment as she tried to regather herself, Pola shook her head slightly. "I'm just not one for company at the moment. I haven't been feeling too well lately." Smiling and shaking her head as a server offered a drink, the Doctor turned her focus back to Liyar. "I figured I should at least show my face for my staff and because I received this new rank."

Liyar didn't give much of a hint of acknowledgment, beyond a slow blink, the finer intricacies of emotional support flying right over his head. He did, however, possess enough tact not to demand an explanation from the clearly exhausted doctor. "As you say, Doctor." It was as close to inanity as the Vulcan appeared to get.

Fortunately, he was rescued by the upbeat presence of his aide. "Doctor Ni... Dhi..yun!" Athlen greeted her unintelligibly, holding out an extra mug of something steaming and faintly aromatic to the woman, eyebrows raised expectantly. "Good for the soul. They called it chamomile tea," he said almost reverently, taking a drink of his own. "I brought it for the lieutenant here, since he needs to loosen up, but you look more in need."

"I do not require to loosen up," Liyar informed him chidingly.

"That's what they all say," Athlen said dismissively with a shrug. "Congratulations, Doctor," Athlen told her, eying the full pip on her uniform.

Smiling softly, Pola nodded her head gently in appreciation. "It came as a surprise...I guess everyone might be saying that though." Finally taking a drink from a server who kept coming over to her, she just took a small sip before turning back to Athlen. "How are you finding your first few days onboard?"

"Interesting to say the last." Athlen grinned.

Intrigued in the meaning behind those words, the Doctor studied Athlen a little closer. "Interesting? Sounds very intriguing."

Athlen just gave a secret little smile, rocking on his heels slightly. "That is certainly one way to put it. I am working with diplomacy, so it is definitely a departure from my usual work. What of yourself? I had heard your previous mission was unexpected."

For some reason, alarm bells were going off inside of her head. She wasn't certain if it was the demeanour Athlen was presenting her with, a man who seemed to be enjoying himself but remained very secretive, or the fact that she'd just seen Cyrus enter the room alongside Theron. "Hum...what do you already know of our last mission?"

"Oh, absolutely nothing," Athlen assured sincerely. "Only that it resulted in a rather completely disabled ship. And the fact that everyone here looks like they could go for a month's shore leave." Somewhere amidst their conversation, Liyar had wandered off, and he took that time to grin, and explain. "Mostly, my job is comprised of helping Lieutenant Liyar. Diplomacy, as it turns out, is most interesting when one barely has experience with outworlders, let alone on a Federation starship." He tilted his head, and said almost conspiratorially, "I keep him from making people want to stab him in his sleep."

Remembering the experience of doing the Vulcan's medical the day before, Pola found herself shaking her head lightly with a slight smile. "I could have done with you yesterday so, when you're trying to do a medical to clear him for duty, he doesn't give you much to go on, makes my life more difficult than it should be."

"Ah, yes, medical examinations on primary Vulcan citizens by outworlders," he said, mimicking an approximation of Vulcan superiority, and air quotations. "Those are fun!" Athlen said with a little good willed teasing.

"Well I must say..you must have a lot of patience to be able to do it." Looking around her, Pola ran her free hand over her hair before rubbing her eyes. "I must apologise, I'm not the best of company today. I only meant to pop in for a few minutes and then head back to sickbay."

"Ah, well, do not let me keep you, Doctor. It was very nice to meet you." He smiled.

Holding out her hand, Pola smiled softly, "It was nice to meet you also Athlen. I'll be around for a few more minutes, there's another individual I need to corner before I leave but I hope I will see you around."

Athlen nodded in turn, taking her hand and letting her wander off to her own friends. As for himself, he decided he would go and find a giant tray and fill it with all the wonders the reception had to offer. Terran and Orion foods were certainly delicious.

Cyrus walked in with Theron, and the smell of the numerous delicacies filled his nostrils. His stomach rumbled.

Lt. Rhodes upon entering the reception room felt like he had been struck with a tidal wave of smells from the delicious food. He looked to Cyrus and raised an eyebrow in delight. "This just might be a nice distraction."

Cyrus looked at him and grinned. "Glad I'm not the only one that noticed!| He laughed. "Well sir, I don't think we should just stand around waiting for the food to come to us. Let's take the fight to them shall we?"

Rhodes' smile continued, "You are most correct there Chief. After you." and extended his hand for Kiwosk to lead the way.

"My pleasure L T." Kiwosk replied and made his way to the buffet style appetizers. Taking a plate he began picking out sandwiches and decided to pour a bottle of beer, real beer, into a plastic cup. "I have to say Theron, I was worried I wouldn't adjust well onto the ship. You guys at Sec, really helped out. I was wondering if I was going to end up crashing an 'all boys club.' "Cyrus confessed, as he took a bite of cheese.

Theron holding his plate of delectables replied, "Not a problem Chief. Your experience is welcome to the mix."

The CWO swallowed his cheese and smiled. "Much appreciated L T. It's good to be welcome." Cyrus looked around the room slowly scanning for other people he knew. When he saw the good doctor. His shoulder throbbed slightly and he rolled it to ease the ache. He looked back to Theron and chuckled...why not? "Hey, boss, what do you think of the doctor? She seems nice. " He took a large gulp from his cup and nodded in her direction. "She seems nice." He said quietly.

Theron looked upon Lt. Dhuinn and pondered several posibilities. He too had 'seen' her recently. "The good Doctor is a wonderful person. Extremely attactive. And someone that will back you up when in a . . let us say, poor situation, so you do not look bad to those around." Theron glance toward the Chief and then back to Lt. Dhuinn. "She is exceptional. I think way out of my league."

Cyrus reflected on what Theron stated and nodded unconsciously. "She is exceptional..." He mumbled. "Out of your league? I doubt that boss..." He sighed and looked away shrugging helplessly. "She is something though." Chuckling he took a step away from the security XO. "I'm going to attempt to mingle around. Might be one of the only times I get out of the department." He laughed.

"All right Chief." Rhodes chuckled in response. Theron then turned to look around the filling room for himself. He eyed a beautiful woman at the door. It had to be the newly made Lieutenant Rice and made his way toward her.

Aria had changed. Because...well, the uniform and her? Bad combo. So she wore her hair up, a black simple satin dress and heels. A reception was an occasion after all and she had been itching to use her new more formal dress. She moved to get somethink to drink...sparkling wine, the real stuff too. And then the lady-like behaviour ended as she downed half the glass.

When Aria pulled down her, now empty glass, Theron was standing right in front of her. "Excuse me." he began sarcastically, "I have been looking for my associate in security. Might you have seen her." then added a wink.

Aria smiled as she watched him, arching an eyebrow. "What? Cinderella? No, I am her evil stepsister..." she winked before chuckling.

Theron chuckled along with her. "Evil? Not likely." He extended an elbow as if to escort her, "Come on. Let us go get another drink."

Amril arrived at the reception wearing an unusual outfit that more or less resembled a dinner jacket, with the addition of his new rank pinned to the collar. He looked around briefly and then wandered into the crowd.

Maenad took her time getting to the mess hall. She still hadn't met much of the crew other than those from her own department, and the unfortunate encounter she'd had with Cyrus. For the sake of formality and expectation, however, it would have been good for her to at least make an appearance.

She stepped through the doors and saw a bustling room of people, all talking and laughing with each other. Looking around for a familiar face she saw neither Kohl nor Cho, much to her disappointment. Even the captain would have done, but Maenad couldn't see her around either. Hoping that one of them might find her, she made her way to the food tables. Maenad got a couple of triangle-cut chicken-salad sandwiches on a paper plate and a glass of red wine. It was early, she thought, but what the hell.

"I knew it," said Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Andreus Kohl in a timbre of delight. Gently pushing his way through the crowd forming around that same refreshment table, Kohl squeezed his way between Maenad and a particularly large security officer. The cultural notion of personal space was not something Kohl always remembered. Enthusiastically, he said, "I knew if I followed you, I would find the good wine."

Maenad had just swallowed a generous amount from her glass, getting ready to find a nice corner to stake out, when Andreus Kohl welcomely got in her way. "I don't know what it is," she smirked, "but it gets the job done."

"Let's pour me a glass of serviceable wine then," Kohl said enthusiastically. He began piling thick and sappy oskoid onto a plate, and took a glass of wine for himself as well. As he prepared his refreshments, he asked Maenad, "How do you manage with Starfleet pomp and ceremony?"

Maenad ate one of her mini-sandwiches as Kohl loaded up his plate. "Not..." she said, swallowing, "Not very well." She washed the crumbs down with the rest of her wine, then immediately refilled the glass. "I haven't been to many Starfleet ceremonies."

Suddenly, she realised that of all the places in the room this was probably the worst to have a conversation. Now incredibly self-conscious, she was thinking that people wanted her to get out of the way. Maenad reached for Kohl's elbow with the same hand that held her glass. "Here, we're in the way," she said with a gentle push from her fingers, her tone frustrated. "Let's go stand over there," she nodded to a spot near the windows.

"Pfft. We're allowed to be in the way," Kohl said boisterously. For all his bombast, Kohl immediately backed away from the serving table. He weaved and twisted his way between the people moving towards them. Once he made it through the thickest of the crowd-thicket, Kohl course corrected towards the viewport Maenad had indicated with her poke. As he walked, he went on: "I am now a Champion (Junior Grade) and you are the Chief Science Officer of this ship of scientific exploration. We will go where we please."

"Yes," she agreed with a genuine laugh, holding her glass near her mouth to hide some of it. She ate another sandwich; they had moved to get out of the way, but she had nothing to say. At least the chewing made for a good excuse not to be talking, and then the long sip of wine she took afterward. "Champion junior grade," she repeated over a suppressed laugh, shaking her head. "Congratulations, by the way. I'm sorry," she rolled her eyes at herself for not having congratulated him sooner.

With faux-modesty, Kohl said, "Oh, this old thing?", or at least that was how it came out the other end of the universal translator. He petted the rank pips on his collar as they were a furry pet. "Years of service, Panne, just years of service." He took a small sip from his wine glass before setting it down on the ledge of the viewport. With one hand free, he could pay his full attention to the food on his plate. Referring back to his earlier question, a shy smile came to Kohl's face, and he said. "I actually enjoy this sort of soiree. I work in the same room in the same uniform day after day. Now I get to dress up and be someone else."

Maenad only laughed, having nothing to say. She took another drink, her glass nearly empty. "I never would have guessed that you could ever find your job boring."

Balancing the plate on the palm of his right hand, Kohl raised a warm oskoid to his lips and took a bite, taking care not to spill any of the sap across his face. He chewed quickly once Maenad asked her question, and then he replied, "Ah, but anything can become routine."

With a shrug Maenad said, "I suppose," and took another large gulp of her wine. She could not remember the last time that she'd drank this early.

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

Cmdr Jonathan Holliday
Executive Officer
USS Galileo

CAPT Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant Pola Ni Dhuinn
Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Andreus Kohl
Assistant Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant (JG) Maenad Panne
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant (JG) Theron Rhodes
Assistant Chief of Security
USS Galileo

Cadet Senior Grade Im'er Mor'an
Red Squad Intern
USS Galileo

Lieutenant (JG) Liyar
Diplomatic Officer, SDD/VDF
USS Galileo

Crewman Athlen
Sociologist, SCC
USS Galileo

LTJG Dea Mialin
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Galileo

LTJG Kiri Cho
Asst. Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

LT Amril
Chief Operations Officer
USS Galileo

LT Evelyn Coleman
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Galileo

LTJG Aria Rice
Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

LTJG Scarlet Blake
Counselor
USS Galileo

LTJG Amynta Markos
Intelligence Officer
USS Galileo

CWO Cyrus Kiwosk
Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

MCPO Markum Quinn
Chief of the Boat
USS Galileo

SCPO Arthur Willis
Engineering Officer
USS Galileo
NPC'd by Markum Quinn

PO2 Gabriel Stark
Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo
NPC'd by Scarlet Blake

PO2 Verity Thorne
Chaplain
USS Galileo
NPC'd by Scarlet Blake

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