Dinner in the Captains mess

Posted on Fri Aug 6th, 2021 @ 8:59pm by Captain Xavier Carey & Lieutenant Talsi Carey & Commander Marisa Sandoval

Mission: The Mentarin Effect
Location: Captains mess
Timeline: current

Xavier walked into the Captains mess. There was a table, filled with food from throughout the federation, most of which were probably lame given Klingon standards. Alcohol, was not something he wasn't even going to try and match, which is why he had agreed the Captain bring over some Klingon alcohol.

Marisa walked in and smiled at the Captain. "Hello, sir." She looked over the table, glad to see there were several Klingon dishes in the mix. She was also glad Captain Carey asked Captain Drex to bring alcohol. It was hard to find good blood wine outside of Klingon territory.

"Commander." Xavier greeted her as she walked in. "Whats the news from around the ship."

"Everyone appears to be settling in," she said. "With the exception of the Chief Science Officer. I'm beginning to wonder if she ever settles in completely. She's continually running from one place to another." She chuckled. Amelix was quite a character. She'd likely help keep everyone on their toes."

"There is something I have to discuss when the time is right Commander." He stated as he stole a some fresh Gagh, it was Tals favourite, so he kept a lot on board. As they squirmed in his fingers, he watched them slightly. Before finally slurping them down in one gulp.

Marisa raised an eyebrow at the comment. She was curious as to when the right time would be, but there was no rush, and other matters were far more pressing.

The door swished open to reveal Captain Drex and his daughter Ael. They were escorted from the transporter room to the Captain's Mess by two security personnel.

"Greetings again Captain Carey." Drex exclaimed as he walked in carrying a large bottle of bloodwine.

"And thank you for the invitation," Ael piped up behind him.

The two security guards stayed outside, one on each side of the door.

"Please, formality for me ends at the door, just Xavier for me Captain." Xavier replied as he looked at the security personnel. "I apologize, my wife was supposed to meet you and bring you down." He walked over to the door. "We will be fine, we will call if anything is needed."

With a slight hesitation they left.

"Xavier to Tal. Come in please."

"I will be there as soon as I get off of escort duty." Tal replied.

Sighing. "Right. Chesire. I will send some more security, we have a VIP in the Captains mess."

"Alright give me five minutes."

Xavier nodded, "Fine."

Ael gave a small grin to her father. Drex replied to his daughter in kind. "I recognize that tone Xavier," Drex said while taking a seat opposite the Resolution's captain.

"Every culture seems to have their own version of 'fine'," Ael mused sitting next to her father.

Xavier nodded, "Was it that obvious." Xavier replied as he slid himself further back in the chair. "I sense you have used it on more than one occasion. With the wife?"

"Clearly," Marisa said, grinning as she took a seat. "Welcome," she said to the Klingons.

"Thank you Commander," Drex replied.

"We brought a bottle of bloodwine," Ael mentioned while setting the bottle on the table, "It's one of the best vintages, 2333."

Xavier looked at the bottle. "I may have to 'confiscate' a couple of bottles for my collection Captain. Name your price." He set it down, and glanced over to the door that had just opened.

"Sorry I am late Captains." Tal replied glancing to both. "So far Chesire shows nothing that would suspect. But he was adamant he wanted to see the security offices first." Walking over, she bent over giving her husband a kiss. Sitting down on the floor, which she has always done. Which brought her up even with everyone else.

"Hello, Lieutenant," Marisa said to the new arrival.

"Commander." Tal replied as she looked the table over. "Reminds me of home... although home would make these pale in comparison."

"You'll have to tell me about your home some time," Marisa said, curious. She hadn't met the Captain's wife yet as there had been so much going on she still hadn't met all of the senior staff. Talsi was right after that on her list. Maybe they could have lunch together at some point and talk.

Tal thought about it, "My people were..." She paused, although it never got to her usually. It did this time. "A great people, our space spanned that of your Federation and beyond. We consisted of thousands of species, much like your Federation."

Leaning over Xavier turned to her, "Perhaps some other time, right now we are here for the Captain."

Tal nodded "My apologies."

'None are necessary," Drex assured her, "But I would like to hear your story at another time."

"How long have you Commanded the Gree'tok Captain," Tal turned the subject over to the captain, "Many worthy battles of song to bring honour to your house."

At this Drex smiled widely, "Getting close to thirty years now, I believe. I started out on her as second in tactical and I've worked my way up from there. I've been her master for almost twelve years now."

"That's an impressive amount of time on one ship," Marisa said. "Quite an accomplishment for you and your house."

Drex nodded a thank you, "It's been quite an adventure and the Gree'tok is fine ship with a fine crew." He took a pull of bloodwine, "Tell about your time on this fine vvessel."

"Actually, I've only been here for a short time. This is the first assignment I've been part of." She took a drink of bloodwine. "So far it's quite promising."

"This is a new crew, after a retrofit, the only two that was original was the CO and former second officer. She left when he was transferred to Starfleet Medical."

Drex nodded, "I see. Well then, you can mold and shape this new crew to your liking then."

"The Captain and I hope to help them work as a cohesive unit. Much of the crew is also new, which helps," Marisa said. "There is also something to be said for moving up through the ranks, as you did. I'm sure you had the respect of the crew before you ever took command."

"It can hinder it as well. I started on the Wellington, when I was a new straight out of the academy. Made it to First officer of the Wellington then it got decommissioned. HQ tried to avoid giving me the CO position that many thought was warranted, it took an Orion sniper to make it happen."

"A baptism of fire, I believe the Terran saying goes," Drex nodded sagely, "It means you were born to lead."

Xavier smiled. "If I understand Klingon compliments Captain, I thank you. It means a lot coming from a seasoned Captain in the Klingon fleet." He paused, took a drink of his Blood wine.

Drex gave a toothy grin after a long pull at his own bloodwine, "Learning to recognize such things will also get far in your quests."

"So, your house, tell us about it. Did you bring your house up from good standing, or did you shed the blood of your enemies yourself and climb their lifeless bodies to get to the top." Xavier inquired.

Drex was quiet a moment, then spoke, "In my youngest days, our house had little honor. Then one of my grand-fathers came to lead and he started changing the way things are done. Not everyone... appreciated it at first, but our close family did. There are old stories of House Hov'vaj filled with dishonor and horror. Slowly but surely our house has risen out of it's dishonorable ways. Today, House Hov'vaj may still not be the most popular, well liked, house in the Empire, but we are respected because we act with honor, courage, and intellect."

"That I can relate to." Xavier replied, his voice trailed off.

"We would love to hear about it," Ael spoke up.

Pausing, "My family has been tied to some... dishonorable instances within the federation, which Starfleet has had to apologize for."

The first officer raised an eyebrow. "That can be said for many families. Surely your own exploits would prove that you are different."

"Would genocide be in that list. " Xavier replied as he looked to the Commander. "My father was part of a group that committed war crimes, against the enemy, and some allies including the Klingon empire."

She gave him her full attention. "But you were not involved. The sins of the father do not become the sins of the son simply because of birth."

"I was involved in one, behind enemy lines. I was assigned to his group which was assigned temporarily on the Wellington. We found an encampment of young children and the elderly." Xavier replied as he placed his cup down finally. "We gathered them up, lined them according to age kids first. Some just infants."

Drex knew well of the incident Xavier was speaking about. He had to tamp down his growing anger for the sake of the negotiations. The Empire had a somewhat different view on the sins of a father being inherited by offspring.

Drex's daughter recognized her father's subtle expression. Ael spoke up voicing Drex's thoughts much more diplomatically than he would have. "The Empire has a... somewhat harsher view of the father's sins falling to the offspring than you do Commander. However, the offspring is redeemable if they can correct or somehow atone for the dishonorable actions."

"I heard about that incident, but I was not present for that. I was with him in another, behind Cardassian lines." He paused sat back, and looked to Drex. "I prevented it from happening again, and spent the next three months in a Cardassian POW camp."

"I think that would count as restoring honor to your house," Marisa said, glancing at Drex and Ael. "Preventing it from happening again, that is. Starfleet found you not guilty of your father's crimes. That's good enough for me."

"Preventing it from happening meant killing my only family. Mothers dead they were only children, I was an only child. No aunts uncles or cousins. Up until Tal and our son, I was alone."

Drex and Ael looked at each other. Then Ael said to Xavier, "Sometimes the way of the warrior is a lonely one."

Pouring another blood wine he paused. "We are going to be sending a team down to the planet. To determine what they need to fix their planet and what we can offer. As per negotiations members of each party must be present."

Drex nodded, "As per negotiations, we are willing to provide whatever support is needed."

"As are we," Marisa said. "I'm glad we agree on this. It will help when dealing with the Orions."

"You seem to deal with the Orions on a much more frequent basis," Tal replied as she looked over to their guests. "What is their strategy, would they have a hidden base on planet, in the system... one person team sounds highly ineffective."

Drex's brow knit in thought before he spoke, "They are sneaky p'thaks." He stated plainly.

Ael picked up where her father left off. "We suspect, at the very least, they have at least one asset on Mentar. A spy sending out information or possibly someone working in a government position. They could be native or a well concealed Orion."

"Whoever they are," Drex spoke up, "They are good at their job. They've been hard to track down. This is why we are somewhat... untrusting of the higher officials."

"Well, Chesire, he was interested quite eager when the prospect of obtaining Federation technology." Tal inquired.

"He seems to be quite interested in a lot of things," Marisa added. Too many, to her thinking. She wasn't sure what angle he was playing, or what he wanted out of this meeting, but she was glad security was keeping an eye on him.

"He was eager for weapons, and the like, more than engineering solutions for his people. Nor medical. Not what would be on my list."

Drex's eyes narrowed and pointed to emphasize his statement, "He's a wily one. A close eye should be kept on him."

Ael added, "He does not..." her lips flattened into a thin line as she thought of the right words, "I'm not saying he is dishonorable outright as there is no proof yet, but to me he doesn't seem to... project honorability."

"jInmol batlh," Drex clarified in Klingon.

"Yes, exactly," Ael answered.

"If he is siding with the Orions there could be motivation that we don't know. Everyone seems to have lost loved ones to them."

"This is something we should try to confirm or disconfirm," Ael stated, "He should be watched closely."

Marisa wished she could have a talk with Chesire. As a counselor, she could get a good read on him with a few questions, but the way he was acting he'd probably be suspicious. His misplaced interest was enough to cause concern. That did not, however, necessarily mean he had anything to do with the Orions, the attack on the former Captain, or the assassination.

Tal nodded and looked over to Xavier.

"I doubt we want to put the nail in the coffin before we have reason. People do many things even work with the enemy if they have enough reasons to." Xavier replied, and taking the hint from Tal. "Captain, I have a request. There is something I would like to discuss with you in private, perhaps in my quarters when we are completed with dinner."

"A Captain's Counsel then?" Drex asked. Drex and Ael exchanged a look. Drex looked to Xavier and answered, "I will grant your request."

"Commander, if you would mind giving Ael a tour of the ship, I am sure we can trust her in the areas we don't normally allow visitors."

Marisa nodded. "It would be my pleasure." She smiled at Ael. "Anywhere you want to go."

Ael thought about it a moment. "I think I'd like to see one of the lounges first."

"As soon as we're done here, I'll show you around," the first officer replied.

"Excellent. Just let me know when you want to speak to Chesire and Tal can bring him to you." Xavier replied, "Tal you can get back to Chesire after this. Now lets get back to food."

"Indeed! All this talk has worked up my appetite!" Drex raised his glass and took a long drink.