In the Bleak Mid-Winter (Open)

Raynor Hughes wrote:

Klingons could sense trouble, practically taste it like the seasoning of life.  

Still, Raynor knew that this was neither the time nor the place for it.  For some reason, Starfleet gatherings frowned upon good-natured bodies slamming through tables.  Therefore, Raynor chose to ignore the Bajoran officer's sentiments.  He would have assumed it was just his acute hearing picking it up, but obviously both Ilana and Nelkar had zeroed in.  

He gave the Bajoran a quick glance-over.  The man's age seemed fairly close to his own, and his sentiment ruled out his having been a collaborator.  Resistance, Raynor thought, quickly sorting deductions.  Probably seen action.  Rudimentary medical treatments available to rebels mean possibility of poorly-healed bones.  Could exploit old fractures.  Probably has bad joints, particularly knees.

The hell of the thing was...Raynor didn't mind the sentiment itself, just the fact that it was directed toward Ilana.  Or, rather, her father.  If someone had insulted Ilana directly, the Great Bird of the Galaxy itself would not stand between him and revenging that wrong.  Or making the Bajoran a permanent addition to the Christmas tree.

"Perhaps we could continue this conversation.  Elsewhere."

[Gathering]

In what was likely a rare occurrence, Nelkar and Raynor were of similar mind-- at least oin the realm of briefly sizing up the bajoran with the hot head. There was a difference, of course. Nelkar's assessment wasn't geared towards how easily he could crack the man's bones. That line of thinking was much more suited to a Klingon than a cardassian. Not, of course, that he couldn't do so. Some humanoids were so.. Fragile.

He himself was considering where he'd seen him before, what he knew about him, intelligence wise. What little secret he could hold above him, or what words could be used to manipulate him into submission. He already recognized the face, and more pertinently te name attacked to it. Kejal-- not a real family name, he was certain, but the moniker taken on by a very specific and very irritatingly deadly group of resistance fighters that he'd dealt with during the occupation of bajor.

It was likely he'd encountered him directly at some point. He'd have to puzzle this over some more.

"Agreed," he replied shortly to the suggestion of moving. This of course assumed that Ilana expected him to follow her around. The prospect didn't necessarily enthrall him, but neither did the idea of standing like an idiot in a group of people he only knew via intelligence, especially near one who seemed to take pleasure in offing people like him.

Kejal Buris wrote:

Buris nodded appreciatively at that fact.  "Well, then I hope that the enlisted Ops men down there are treating you with the respect you deserve.  If any of them give you lip, send 'em my way and I'll straighten it out properly."

One thing he'd come to appreciate about his commission was the ability to set the rough-and-tumble set of enlisted men straight from their more uncouth and unpleasant ways.

"Chief Callan and the Captain have decided that I'm going to stay on the Bridge on our next shift rotation.  So I will see you there."



"I'd say we're on time, but I guess I'm just very punctual.  And, not to put too fine a point on it, ma'am, but if the SCE board was calling someone to sit to justify an off-book repair, I'd throw anyone under the bus I could.  If you've never had the 'pleasure', count yourself lucky.  It's just hours of old engineers asking you every question they can think of while you justify that everything done was necessary at the time and the safest possible option.  The number of field repairs we did - not only the lateral array, but the helm computer and probably a good half of the EPS grid's diagnostic circuits... to put it simply, I'd throw the most expendable Ops person at them and hope for the best."

He shrugged lightly.  It was obvious he was accustomed to rubbing people the wrong way, and that he'd been in places where that particular trait hadn't done well for him.  He actually tried smiling. "Frankly, if you'll excuse me for putting it like this, ladies, the whole damn process is a little funny, if looked at in a certain way - because anyone who's sat for these guys knows that they've probably pulled off something even crazier.  Then again, I guess that if you grow up fragging Cardies like that bastard Gul Telak and his demonspawn, you learn to find humor in strange places."

The fact that Buris was so affected by his history was troublesome at best - but the fact that he named outright the father of one of his shipmates who was standing less than 5 meters away - and her dead siblings - might be cause for alarm.  He thankfully hadn't noticed Ilana and Gul Epath with Raynor, because he wasn't looking at the drinks - having decided that he'd only start in when M'Rai did.

Julia let out an audible chuckle at the notion and then quickly pulled back. "I don't seriously the that the Corps of Engineers will seriously look at anything we did out there. But throwing people under the proverbial bus? That's harsh, Ensign. Let me be equally candid; that is not how you take care of your team. If you ever hope to learn, grow and ultimately get promoted that attitude will have to change. You can't steamroll the people you work with and you can't go into it with plans to steamroll anyone and save your own ass. There is an unwritten rule, Ensign, we take care of each other out there and the sooner you learn that the better."

Raynor Hughes wrote:

The hell of the thing was...Raynor didn't mind the sentiment itself, just the fact that it was directed toward Ilana.  Or, rather, her father.  If someone had insulted Ilana directly, the Great Bird of the Galaxy itself would not stand between him and revenging that wrong.  Or making the Bajoran a permanent addition to the Christmas tree.

"Perhaps we could continue this conversation.  Elsewhere."

Nelkar Epath wrote:

"Agreed," he replied shortly to the suggestion of moving. This of course assumed that Ilana expected him to follow her around. The prospect didn't necessarily enthrall him, but neither did the idea of standing like an idiot in a group of people he only knew via intelligence, especially near one who seemed to take pleasure in offing people like him.

[Gathering]

Keeping her head down, as if in the hope of keeping the Bajoran from seeing her face, Ilana nodded in quiet agreement with the two males, quietly relieved that it would seem that he hadn't read the updated crew roster in recent times and seen her name there. No doubt he would make the connection. Is it too late to try cosmetic surgery to look like someone else? she wondered.

Moving unfortunately meant standing closer to or at least walking past Admiral Stark, but if she was honest with herself, she would rather that than staying where they were. Stark may dislike her species, but at least he made an effort to turn that into indifference.

Slipping her hand into Raynor's she gently guided him further away from Kejal, looking out for any friendly faces.

Archangel T'Koris wrote:

[Gathering]

Although an amused smile lifted the corners of Archangel's mouth upwards, as she started to scan the gathered people for one face in particular, the smile turning into a frown as she failed to spot it.  She gave a quiet sigh, tapping her commbadge.

"T'Koris to Pardek.  Safefta, I thought I told you to take some down time and come to the gathering on the Athena.  Don't make me turn that into an order."

[Phoenix, Quarters]

She should have expected the irritating chip from her combadge sooner or later. She also shouilkd have known that Archangel's 'suggestion' that she socialise and make herself more present wasn't a suggestion at all. Safefta looked coldly at her combadge, deliberated over a reply, and then decided not to bother.

Slowly, she rose from her work desk and with all the speed of cold molasses walked over to the only mirror in her sparse quarters. It wasn't as though it meant anything-- her appearance never varied. Perhaps for a moment she considered changing out of her uniform... As though she owned anything else.

Giving her reflection a shrug, she headed out the door.

[Gathering]

She couldn't think of any fathomable reason she'd want to be there, or anything to do there besides get so drunk she didn't know what was going on anymore. Perhaps she could just... Pretend she was on duty. That would do nicely. The hard nosed officer took a look around. Spotting Archangel and Gabriel across the way, she changed her direction and approached. Best to let her know she hadn't skirted things this time.

"Jolan'tru, Archangel. Mister Arthur."

Kejal Buris wrote:

Buris nodded appreciatively at that fact.  "Well, then I hope that the enlisted Ops men down there are treating you with the respect you deserve.  If any of them give you lip, send 'em my way and I'll straighten it out properly."

One thing he'd come to appreciate about his commission was the ability to set the rough-and-tumble set of enlisted men straight from their more uncouth and unpleasant ways.

"Chief Callan and the Captain have decided that I'm going to stay on the Bridge on our next shift rotation.  So I will see you there."

He shrugged lightly.  It was obvious he was accustomed to rubbing people the wrong way, and that he'd been in places where that particular trait hadn't done well for him.  He actually tried smiling. "Frankly, if you'll excuse me for putting it like this, ladies, the whole damn process is a little funny, if looked at in a certain way - because anyone who's sat for these guys knows that they've probably pulled off something even crazier.  Then again, I guess that if you grow up fragging Cardies like that bastard Gul Telak and his demonspawn, you learn to find humor in strange places."

[Gathering]

Persephone had been about to thank Kejal for his offer to straighten out any of the Operations crewmembers who tried to be insubordinate to her, despite the fact that she was still a very junior officer, fresh out of the Academy, but the words that came out of his mouth next killed those words in her throat.  Her ears flicked back, her constantly twitching tail stilling, two distinctive signs of discomfort in the humanoid feline.  She was aware of two Cardassians on the ship, one of whom, she was sure, was called Telak.

Turning away slightly to scan the room, she spotted the two Cardassians, the female of the two appearing to try to hide behind the Klingon she was standing with.

"Isn't that a little... inapprrrroprrrriate?" she cautioned Kejal as she turned her attention back to him, also glancing briefly at Julia as she spoke.  "This is Starrrrfleet.  They don't apprrrove of theirrr crrrews saying things like that."

Julia Rellek wrote:

Julia let out an audible chuckle at the notion and then quickly pulled back. "I don't seriously the that the Corps of Engineers will seriously look at anything we did out there. But throwing people under the proverbial bus? That's harsh, Ensign. Let me be equally candid; that is not how you take care of your team. If you ever hope to learn, grow and ultimately get promoted that attitude will have to change. You can't steamroll the people you work with and you can't go into it with plans to steamroll anyone and save your own ass. There is an unwritten rule, Ensign, we take care of each other out there and the sooner you learn that the better."  

Buris looked at her and waved a hand, shaking his head. He quickly realized how what he'd said might sound to someone who hadn't been hands-on in an engine room - or didn't have his admittedly dark sense of humor. "No, you're absolutely right, ma'am. If it weren't for people putting their lives on the line, I wouldn't be standing here today. And vice-versa, I assure you. When the chips are down, the team is all that matters. When it's a critical matter, you're absolutely correct on that. But I'm a little sensitive about interrogations, and I hope you can respect that. I do see why they value the SCE review board... but, the fact that you're there to talk about it usually means whatever you pulled off went properly. If it didn't, it ends up in the General Court because someone died. So it's just... bad comedy, to me. And an unnecessary stress on those of us who've been through an interrogation at less-pleasant hands."

Persephone M'Rai wrote:

"Isn't that a little... inapprrrroprrrriate?" she cautioned Kejal as she turned her attention back to him, also glancing briefly at Julia as she spoke. "This is Starrrrfleet. They don't apprrrove of theirrr crrrews saying things like that."

Buris looked at her, and raised an eyebrow. Even her feline features betrayed something to him that made him concerned. He tried to remain calm, and not let the fear rise up into his chest. Hell, those days were long over. He'd been a child - he'd been forced to become a man. He was a Starfleet officer now, not a Rebel or a Maquis. He took a deep breath, his composure restoring quickly. "I'm going to guess that there's something I don't know, and which I probably shouldn't."

He looked between the two women and tried to smile. He didn't like seeing M'Rai nervous; he'd come to realize that usually immediately preceded him getting snarled at because the helm was going off-kilter and all he could do was report and ask her to update him - rather than actually doing anything constructive. "I'm more accustomed to off-duty talk with active combat veterans - not two respectable ladies. You'll have to forgive me if I misspeak occasionally. We do have very different experiences before Starfleet, after all."

He looked at Rellek and tried changing the subject completely. "Oh, speaking of... in all the hubbub with coming aboard, and the fact that we've had one crisis after the next since, I never got to to congratulate you on your promotion, ma'am. I don't know much about the circumstances before I came aboard - only the little bit that Earthside scuttlebutt had - so all I can do is wish you the best with it."

Arlan Opran wrote:

Opran was not being intentionally rude to the Petty Officer - he hadn't processed that the man was speaking to him at first, before looking through the purple snow.  He was kind of awkward himself.  And when Leela walked in, he noticed at the man's eyes were drawing to the young Trill woman as well.  Not that he had any real issue with that, but it was interesting to notice the difference in their expressions.

He looked at Conor. "Uh, yeah, sorry.  I know, actually.  I tried to go skiing once while I was at the Academy... it didn't go very well, but this is an interesting effect.  I wonder if it's intentional."

He waited a moment, taking a sip of his tea and looking back toward Leela, speaking to Conor with a smirk. "Fortune favors the bold, man.  Go talk to her.  She doesn't bite, at least she didn't when we got into a discussion of philosophy."

He chuckled and looked into his teacup, thinking that he ought to find one of the doctors, maybe that Kintiss fellow, and ask if there was any way they could let him eat and drink like a normal person for a night without retching his guts out the next day or some other systemic issue that'd leave him in Sickbay.

"Hm? Oh," Conor replied, tagging it with a quick and slightly-sheepish smile. "I...imagine I'll do so before this night is over." Of course, they had done quite a bit more than talk in the past.

Something the Trill had said finally sunk in. Conor took a glass from a passing tray, enjoying a slow sip from it. He hadn't the slightest what it actually was. Something similar to champagne, but...indigo? "Do...ah, you two know each other well?"

Gabriel watched the girls go scampering off, knowing that they couldn't go too far (security surreptitiously posted at the entrances kept an eye on who left and who entered the party), and assuming that they were going to look at the tree, or find Gavin and Thelos. The girls had taken such a liking to the two. He was also glad to have someone aboard the ship that they could trust with them.

Safefta Pardek wrote:

She couldn't think of any fathomable reason she'd want to be there, or anything to do there besides get so drunk she didn't know what was going on anymore. Perhaps she could just... Pretend she was on duty. That would do nicely. The hard nosed officer took a look around. Spotting Archangel and Gabriel across the way, she changed her direction and approached. Best to let her know she hadn't skirted things this time.

"Jolan'tru, Archangel. Mister Arthur."

Blinking, Gabriel cocked an eyebrow to make sure he wasn't seeing things. Indeed, it was Lieutenat Pardek...making a social appearance. Of course, most people at gatherings like this were voluntold to be there. Still, he was surprised that the Romulan hadn't found a reason to avoid it all. "Saf!" he exclaimed. "You appeared! Is this Christmas, or Groundhog Day?"

A strategically catastrophic hull breach would be nice, Stark thought, nodding all the while along with whatever the hell this blue-skinned ambassador was on about. Unfortunately, many of the station's visiting dignitaries had taken it upon themselves to join the festivities. Not that he blamed them for an excuse to drink, but damn if he wasn't regretting wearing his flag officer uniform. Might as well be wearing a sign that says, 'come bore me with crap I don't care about', he thought, wishing that Deacon were here to handle it.

"You don't say," he said, idly stirring his neat whisky. The barkeep had done a great job, pouring the alcohol over ice and then into another glass, chilling it but not watering it down. "I'm sure that no Elasian tears have been slipped into any of the drinks," he reassured the pale blue ambassador from Troyius." His smile turned somewhat wicked. "Besides...you're in the Federation, now. That means holding hands and tying daisy chains with Elas."

With that, he politely made his excuses, leaving the Troyian diplomat looking for all the world like a carp sucking air. Or...the cold vacuum of space. That could also be arranged. Turning, Stark very nearly ran into the broad, tall form of Lieutenant Hughes. He greeted the man in Klingonese, then reluctantly nodded to the Cardassians accompanying. Christ in a shuttlepod...this is all I need. "Epath. Telak. I trust you're enjoying the festivities."

Conor Terell wrote:

"Hm?  Oh," Conor replied, tagging it with a quick and slightly-sheepish smile.  "I...imagine I'll do so before this night is over."  Of course, they had done quite a bit more than talk in the past.

Something the Trill had said finally sunk in.  Conor took a glass from a passing tray, enjoying a slow sip from it.  He hadn't the slightest what it actually was.  Something similar to champagne, but...indigo?  "Do...ah, you two know each other well?"

Arlan shook his head at Conor's question, looking at the glass with a curious expression. Then again, since he mostly couldn't drink, he didn't know most alcohol. But it certainly didn't look familiar to him. Then again, purple snow went with blue-purple champagne. "No, not especially. I think we never really will understand each other, though. But I don't have to agree with her on everything to think she's a nice person."

He shrugged lightly. "The disagreement is really just the attitudes of people at home, honestly. Not something you need to get into."

Corman Stark wrote:

With that, he politely made his excuses, leaving the Troyian diplomat looking for all the world like a carp sucking air.  Or...the cold vacuum of space.  That could also be arranged.  Turning, Stark very nearly ran into the broad, tall form of Lieutenant Hughes.  He greeted the man in Klingonese, then reluctantly nodded to the Cardassians accompanying.  Christ in a shuttlepod...this is all I need.  "Epath.  Telak.  I trust you're enjoying the festivities."

[Gathering]

Although it was good to put even a little more distance between the little group she was a part of and the apparently belligerent Bajoran, Ilana still felt deeply uncomfortable that she was even in the same room as him. On the other hand, with Raynor next to her, she knew that there was little that could harm her without him charging into battle for her.

This thought lifted her plummeting spirits a little until she spotted Admiral Stark making his way toward them. She wrapped her arms around Raynor's, shifting a little closer to him.

"Y-y-yes, s-sir," she replied. "It's g-g-going r-really w-w-well." Of course, she was a terrible liar. She was just going to have to hope that one of the others picked up where she left off and made a better job of it.

Arlan Opran wrote:

Arlan shook his head at Conor's question, looking at the glass with a curious expression.  Then again, since he mostly couldn't drink, he didn't know most alcohol.  But it certainly didn't look familiar to him.  Then again, purple snow went with blue-purple champagne.  "No, not especially.  I think we never really will understand each other, though.  But I don't have to agree with her on everything to think she's a nice person."

He shrugged lightly. "The disagreement is really just the attitudes of people at home, honestly.  Not something you need to get into."

Taking another sip of his drink, Conor swirled the purplish stuff around a little. It had a strong flavor, good bite, didn't linger very long. Not bad at all. "Oh." Conor wondered why he found himself so relieved that Opran didn't have any particular attachment to Leela. No strings attached, right? That's what we said. So much easier said than done, however. Human nature was still...human nature.

Cocking an eyebrow, Conor wondered what kind of argument he'd stumbled into. It wasn't really his business, but...Leela fascinated him. And, after all, Opran had brought it up, not him. It wasn't really prying. "I was raised by an anthropologist. Try me," he smiled.

Gavin scanned the room, his eyes quickly darting over the gathered officers. He spotted more than a few that he knew from the station, and many more from the Phoenix. There was Zero, and thankfully without Jiseth. Now, if only that was a permanent situation. Not that he wanted anything particularly bad to happen to the Romulan, but...if she got stationed on duty in the Delta Quadrant, he wouldn't shed any tears.

There, of course, was the drink table, replete with various alcohols from a hundred worlds, a smattering from all across the Federation. Gavin had ideas, however, as he moved toward the non-alcoholic section, picking up two glasses and filling them with eggnog. It was time to introduce Thelos to an old Christmas tradition.

Returning to the Andorian, Gavin carried two reindeer-shaped glasses, holding each by the antler handles. "See what you think, love," he grinned, kissing him quickly on his blue cheek.

Kejal Buris wrote:

Buris looked at her and waved a hand, shaking his head.  He quickly realized how what he'd said might sound to someone who hadn't been hands-on in an engine room - or didn't have his admittedly dark sense of humor.  "No, you're absolutely right, ma'am.  If it weren't for people putting their lives on the line, I wouldn't be standing here today.  And vice-versa, I assure you.  When the chips are down, the team is all that matters.  When it's a critical matter, you're absolutely correct on that.  But I'm a little sensitive about interrogations, and I hope you can respect that.  I do see why they value the SCE review board... but, the fact that you're there to talk about it usually means whatever you pulled off went properly.  If it didn't, it ends up in the General Court because someone died.  So it's just... bad comedy, to me.  And an unnecessary stress on those of us who've been through an interrogation at less-pleasant hands."



Buris looked at her, and raised an eyebrow.  Even her feline features betrayed something to him that made him concerned.  He tried to remain calm, and not let the fear rise up into his chest.  Hell, those days were long over.  He'd been a child - he'd been forced to become a man.  He was a Starfleet officer now, not a Rebel or a Maquis.  He took a deep breath, his composure restoring quickly. "I'm going to guess that there's something I don't know, and which I probably shouldn't."

He looked between the two women and tried to smile.  He didn't like seeing M'Rai nervous; he'd come to realize that usually immediately preceded him getting snarled at because the helm was going off-kilter and all he could do was report and ask her to update him - rather than actually doing anything constructive. "I'm more accustomed to off-duty talk with active combat veterans - not two respectable ladies.  You'll have to forgive me if I misspeak occasionally.  We do have very different experiences before Starfleet, after all."

He looked at Rellek and tried changing the subject completely. "Oh, speaking of... in all the hubbub with coming aboard, and the fact that we've had one crisis after the next since, I never got to to congratulate you on your promotion, ma'am.  I don't know much about the circumstances before I came aboard - only the little bit that Earthside scuttlebutt had - so all I can do is wish you the best with it."

Julia wasn't entirely certain where to go with all of this. Part of her wanted to lay into him. Scream at the top of her lungs that he was overreacting and drumming up conspiracies where likely none existed. She shirked off the urge and left the issue with a single comment. "What you call an interrogation; I call a debriefing." She shifted her weight from one foot to the other and let the topic shift to a sunnier arena. "And thank you Ensign. I am very excited to delve into my new role. And how about you? Congratulations on your assignment." She added.

She then shifted to Ensign M'rai, in the same moment. "And you as well Ensign? We haven't had much time to chat. How are you settling in? Are you adjusting well to Lieutenant Jiseth's command?"

Julia Rellek wrote:

Julia wasn't entirely certain where to go with all of this. Part of her wanted to lay into him. Scream at the top of her lungs that he was overreacting and drumming up conspiracies where likely none existed. She shirked off the urge and left the issue with a single comment. "What you call an interrogation; I call a debriefing." She shifted her weight from one foot to the other and let the topic shift to a sunnier arena. "And thank you Ensign. I am very excited to delve into my new role. And how about you? Congratulations on your assignment." She added.

She then shifted to Ensign M'rai, in the same moment. "And you as well Ensign? We haven't had much time to chat. How are you settling in? Are you adjusting well to Lieutenant Jiseth's command?"

[Gathering]

With the conversation turning away from the uncomfortable subject of the continuing divide between the Bajoran and Cardassian species, Persephone's ears flicked forward again, her tail starting to twitch again as it was known to do constantly. Even so, she still felt as if she should stick up for the shy doctor.

"Doctorrrr Telak isn't that bad," she said cautiously. "She was rrreally nice when I went in to see herrr about my physical."

The Caitian then looked to Julia, a more relaxed smile on her face although one ear flicked back slightly. "I'm settling in well, thank you! Lieutenant Jiseth's cerrrrtainly differrrent to any commanderrrr I've had beforrre, but I'm getting used to it."

Buris was about to respond to Rellek when he heard what came out of M'Rai's mouth next. His jaw fairly well hung open, and after a moment of total stupefication, he turned all of himself toward M'Rai. In that moment she would see the shift from the Ops man she'd seen on the Bridge to a battle-scarred soldier. His eyes were narrowed, his jawline sharper than normal, his shoulders tensed. Everything in him seemed to shift on that single comment.

"Doctor Telak? He's dead, I know he's dead. I saw his corpse... what was left of it. There were rumors that the youngest daughter lived, but that's all they were - just rumors. What he did to innocent Bajorans lives on, but that man is dead. How is there a Doctor Telak? And where was this physical?"

He was fixated in that moment, looking between the two women in crimson - which was appropriate since he was seeing red anyway.

Kejal Buris wrote:

Buris was about to respond to Rellek when he heard what came out of M'Rai's mouth next.  His jaw fairly well hung open, and after a moment of total stupefication, he turned all of himself toward M'Rai.  In that moment she would see the shift from the Ops man she'd seen on the Bridge to a battle-scarred soldier.  His eyes were narrowed, his jawline sharper than normal, his shoulders tensed.  Everything in him seemed to shift on that single comment.

"Doctor Telak?  He's dead, I know he's dead.  I saw his corpse... what was left of it.  There were rumors that the youngest daughter lived, but that's all they were - just rumors.  What he did to innocent Bajorans lives on, but that man is dead.  How is there a Doctor Telak?  And where was this physical?"

He was fixated in that moment, looking between the two women in crimson - which was appropriate since he was seeing red anyway.

[Gathering]

As Kejal turned toward her, the fight clear in his posture, Persephone found her fur fluffing up, a natural Caitian response to the perceived threat. She even took a step back, feeling her claws slide out from their sheaths, her ears flicking back again.

Something told her that the best thing to do would be to be quiet, but she still felt the need to try to explain things before something bad happened. Making a determined effort to get her claws to retract and her fur to lie flat again. She had spent a long time grooming herself before coming out to the party and she didn't feel like having that work destroyed.

"Uh... Mrrrr Telak is still alive," she pointed out warily. "I've met him once, when I flew Doctorrrr Telak back to see herrr parrrrents once. They arrrre rrreally kind. She gave me a physical beforrre I came aboard the Phoenix. I think she's just been assigned to the to the ship, actually, a temporrrary assignment."

It was fairly obvious that his night wasn't going to get any better through making small talk with Cardassians, so Stark made his polite exit. Well, actually, he just bid them good night and left, but...that was polite, wasn't it? Polite enough. He would have maybe liked to talk to Hughes more. Maybe later. Too damn bad that they'd be losing that one to T'Koris' merry band of misfits.

Speaking of misfit, he never did see how the relationship between Hughes and Telak even began to work.

Stark put aside such thoughts (gratefully), moving back to the drink table and waving off a member of the civvy waitstaff who approached him. He could pour his own goddamn scotch, thank you very much. As he poured, Corman glanced again around the room, wondering where in the hell Rachel was. If she's managed to duck out of this...

A sudden shiver shot down his spine, almost as if someone left the door open on a winter's day. Shrugging it off, he put the newly-freshened glass to his lips, taking a nice swallow. He wondered if whoever programmed the fake snow had also written it to feel chilly.

Archangel T'Koris wrote:

Setting Seika down to run after her sister toward the large Christmas tree that dominated the room, she turned to Gabriel, running her fingers lightly down his arm.  "No matter how old they get, they'll always be our little girls," she murmured.

What a waste of resources, Salek thought, deftly picking his way through the gathered crowd.  Obviously, he saw the logic in allowing extracurricular gatherings.  Such things built morale.  It was only a small irony that inefficient 'parties' made for more efficient crew.  

It wasn't so much the idea of such a party that seemed absurd.  No, Vulcans brewed some of the most potent beverages known to space, and their lyrists could often bring more emotionally-inclined listeners to tears.  Not that the latter group included Vulcans themselves.  It was the whole 'celebration of death-life-rebirth' thing that just stank of rickety Terran superstition.

A few of Salek's senior officers had accompanied him to the gathering, and were filtering through the crowd.  Normally, he would avoid such things, and certainly ones attended by Archangel T'Koris.  However, protocol and tradition demanded that he at least say hello to a fellow captain.

"Captain T'Koris, Commander Arthur," the Vulcan said, nodding to each in turn as he approached the small group.  He turned to Safefta and quirked a cool eyebrow.  Another Romulan.  How droll.  "And I believe we have not met, Lieutenant."

[Gathering]

Julia listened as the Ensigns discussed the Cardassian. She was concerned that Ensign Kejal was going to have the kind of reaction that would require her to step in in an official capacity. She took a step back and listened for his reply it was at this moment that something interesting caught her eye. Salek? She thought. She was certainly more than a little surprised to see an unexpected visitor.

She knew how the Vulcan made her Captain feel. She decided to be a good First Officer and take some of the heat for her Captain.

Looking towards the Vulcan she spoke to her colleagues. "Ensigns, if you'll pardon me for a moment. Seph, we will catch up soon.

Without awaiting a reply she stepped towards the group and placed herself next to Gabe and waited for a proper introduction.

Rachel Deacon wrote:

[Gathering]

It was testament to the amount of self control that Rachel had trained herself to achieve that she didn't pull away immediately from the Ferengi's hand on her shoulder.  She tolerated it as she followed his gesturing toward the table and the change of food that had occurred.  She wasn't all that sure just why he was trying to show her given that she couldn't see it the same way that he did, but she put it down to the unfortunate reality that no one really understood just what it was that she saw.

"A gift to me for Christmas," Rachel stated, one eyebrow rising above the edge of her VISOR.  "I suppose that you'll expect a gift in return, to be inkeeping with tradition."

"Eggnog was never something that particularly appealed to me once I learned what went into it," she replied honestly to his question.

"No no Admiral Rachel." She shook his hand dismissively and flashed a mischievous smile. "The company of you and your staff is gift enough." He was oblivious to the frustration that the Admiral displayed at his advances. "As for the Eggnog..." He leaned in closer. "...I couldn't agree with you more. But the Hew-Mons seem to enjoy it." He pulled away and let out a loud laugh.

NPC wrote:

Captain Salek

What a waste of resources, Salek thought, deftly picking his way through the gathered crowd.  Obviously, he saw the logic in allowing extracurricular gatherings.  Such things built morale.  It was only a small irony that inefficient 'parties' made for more efficient crew.  

It wasn't so much the idea of such a party that seemed absurd.  No, Vulcans brewed some of the most potent beverages known to space, and their lyrists could often bring more emotionally-inclined listeners to tears.  Not that the latter group included Vulcans themselves.  It was the whole 'celebration of death-life-rebirth' thing that just stank of rickety Terran superstition.

A few of Salek's senior officers had accompanied him to the gathering, and were filtering through the crowd.  Normally, he would avoid such things, and certainly ones attended by Archangel T'Koris.  However, protocol and tradition demanded that he at least say hello to a fellow captain.

"Captain T'Koris, Commander Arthur," the Vulcan said, nodding to each in turn as he approached the small group.  He turned to Safefta and quirked a cool eyebrow.  Another Romulan.  How droll.  "And I believe we have not met, Lieutenant."

(I just want it generally known that I had to type this post three times because the site ate it.)

[Gathering]

Safefta ignored the quip from Gabriel about the groundhogs, simply because she didn't understand it. That held for most ridiculous human sayings and references. Sometimes, she thought that people said such things to her just to confuse and aggravate her. Humans loved playing on the cultural ignorance of aliens.

Her attention was diverted to the new arrival. A Vulcan. It took mere seconds for Safefta to make the determination that this man was one who blanketed a near Romulan level of arrogance and passed it off as logic. Why wasn't she surprised?

"We have not," the half-Vulcan deadpanned. "I am Lieutenant Pardek."

Safefta Pardek wrote:

Safefta ignored the quip from Gabriel about the groundhogs, simply because she didn't understand it. That held for most ridiculous human sayings and references. Sometimes, she thought that people said such things to her just to confuse and aggravate her. Humans loved playing on the cultural ignorance of aliens.

Her attention was diverted to the new arrival. A Vulcan. It took mere seconds for Safefta to make the determination that this man was one who blanketed a near Romulan level of arrogance and passed it off as logic. Why wasn't she surprised?

"We have not," the half-Vulcan deadpanned. "I am Lieutenant Pardek."

Careful, Saf, Gabriel thought.  You might just have a reaction to something.  Well, sometimes he felt like the only reactions that Pardek might have would be to Andorian shingles.  He often felt the need to help her integrate better with the crew, but sometimes it was an irresistible force/immobile object type of struggle.  Then again, maybe that's how she wanted it.

Gabriel stepped back a bit as Captain Salek approached their small group.  His wife's dislike of the Vulcan was well-known, at least to him, or anyone close to her.  It was something that went back all the way to her Academy days, and likely went beyond the simple animosity between Vulcans and Romulans.  In fact, it was rather an open secret that Salek felt command of the Phoenix, and by extension the de facto task force command, should have been his. Everyone spends so much damn time worrying over why she shouldn't be here, why someone else should be in charge, instead of realizing why she *is*.

"Captain," he nodded, content to snatch a champagne flute from a passing tray.  It was going to be one of those nights.

NPC wrote:

"Captain T'Koris, Commander Arthur," the Vulcan said, nodding to each in turn as he approached the small group.  He turned to Safefta and quirked a cool eyebrow.  Another Romulan.  How droll.  "And I believe we have not met, Lieutenant."

Just hearing the sound of that damned voice behind her brought an automatic eye roll from Archangel before she put on a carefully neutral expression and turned to face him. For a Vulcan, he was surprisingly smug when it came to... just about everything, come to think about it. Even that day, back at the Academy in a hand-to-hand combat class when he had taunted her to the point of losing her temper.

"Greetings, Captain Salek," she replied, keeping as close to emotionless as he was. She took a step closer to Gabriel, noting that he had picked a glass from the tray of one of the many roving waiters. Perhaps alcohol would make the evening go more smoothly, but it wasn't worth the time she would have to spend getting hypos jabbed into her. Gabriel's presence was fortifying enough for her at that time.

Safefta Pardek wrote:

"We have not," the half-Vulcan deadpanned. "I am Lieutenant Pardek."

Julia Rellek wrote:

Without awaiting a reply she stepped towards the group and placed herself next to Gabe and waited for a proper introduction.

Nodding to her officers, she turned her attention back to the smug Vulcan. "Lieutenant Pardek is my chief of security, and this is Julia Rellek, my first officer. Julia, I don't think you've met Captain Salek?"

Corman Stark wrote:

Stark put aside such thoughts (gratefully), moving back to the drink table and waving off a member of the civvy waitstaff who approached him.  He could pour his own goddamn scotch, thank you very much.  As he poured, Corman glanced again around the room, wondering where in the hell Rachel was.  If she's managed to duck out of this...

Rama wrote:

"No no Admiral Rachel." She shook his hand dismissively and flashed a mischievous smile. "The company of you and your staff is gift enough." He was oblivious to the frustration that the Admiral displayed at his advances. "As for the Eggnog..." He leaned in closer. "...I couldn't agree with you more. But the Hew-Mons seem to enjoy it." He pulled away and let out a loud laugh.

Rachel bared her teeth in what could be an approximation of a smile or possibly a grimace of pain. Dealing with the Ferengi was a necessary evil that she would rather not have to do, but he seemed to have some kind of fascination with her that was starting to grate on her nerves.

Scanning the people in the room, she spotted someone who could possibly save her from this uncomfortable situation. Rama was starting to get far too close to her.

"It would seem to be a matter of personal tastes, Mr Rama. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to have a word with Admiral Stark."

Quickly extracting herself from Rama's presence, Rachel made her way over to her second in command, a few tension lines evident in her expression.

"If you happen to have a bottle of scotch secreted about your person, I would gladly take a measure from you," she muttered in a low voice.