Wedding Bells? Ships' Bells? Which is it!?

Posted on Thu May 11th, 2023 @ 2:48pm by Lieutenant Etan tar-Lexros & Captain Xavier Carey

Mission: Shoreleave
Location: Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: After Dropping off Colonists
Tags: operations, command, ready room, wedding

Etan didn't really know how to approach the Captain about the information he'd just seen come across his screen. On one hand, a wedding should be a happy occasion, but he was aware that there were delicate areas about it that he didn't want to touch with a three-meter hydrospanner. The whole situation seemed odd to him, since he wasn't exactly inclined toward marriage himself. He supposed that there were Federation species for whom this would be normal, but there was also the issue that it was a marriage between the Captain and a senior officer aboard the ship. There was also Talsi to consider. She'd been his predecessor in the Ops role, and who he still occasionally looked to for support regardless of her current assignment in Security, didn't seem pleased with the situation when they'd initially discussed it. Perhaps the situation had changed.

Still, it was a wedding on the ship. And it was the Captain. He'd figure out his own gift offering for the couple later, but right now he'd have to make the arrangements in terms of supplies, refreshments, even the question of whether the couple would be using the Ship's Chapel, or doing the wedding and reception in the same place. Still, he wasn't on Bridge duty, and when he queried the Computer, he found out that the Captain was alone in his Ready Room. That made it a perfect time to discuss the situation.

He took a few PADDs and a set of isolinear chips up with him, as well as a set of measuring tools used usually for uniforms. The turbolift moved swiftly, and he was across the back of the Bridge with a nod to his report at the Ops 2 board just as quick, touching the bell beside the Captain's door. "Captain, it's Lieutenant tar-Lexros. Do you have a moment to speak, sir?"

"I'm currently in my ready room if nows a good time Lt"

Etan nodded and walked in, letting the door close behind him before walking forward and addressing Xavier. "Captain. I was made aware of your impending wedding to Lieutenant Jansen. I was hoping I might be able to help with the preparations - as you know, most of it does fall under the Operations department. Will you be using the ship's chapel, sir, or should I arrange for any alternate locations - such as a holodeck program? Do you already have a tuxedo styled and made, sir, or shall I schedule an appointment with the ship's outfitter? For refreshments, would you prefer fresh-made in the galley or replicated? And when we dock at Starbase, I can have any legal alcohols brought aboard in regulated quantities, for those who would prefer it to synetholic beverages. Also, I wasn't made aware of any guests coming aboard, do you or Lieutenant Jansen intend to have family aboard? I can, of course, ensure quarters and security details for all of them. And if you wish to log any standing orders with Operations for the duration of any honeymoon leave you might take, I can take note of them now, to be disseminated to Commander Stoffels and Commander Doctrine."

It was a lot of questions all at once that the young Ops Lieutenant just breezed through without really thinking too hard. This was his job, and while he wasn't often good with people, he was very good with systems. Sometimes a system wasn't just a technology, but a process to be followed. In this case, the wedding and its preparation were just such a social system, with each piece having to move in lockstep to make the final result run smoothly.

Pausing as he thought about all the questions. "Its going to be a party, so lets do the real thing but have a supply of synthehol on hand for those that wish it. There will only be a handful at the ceremony, but the reception will be open invite. Both the ceremony and the reception will take place in the holodecks. If you can find a good niagara falls program."

"Aye, sir. I'll have it brought aboard, and the better synthehol as well." Etan nodded quickly, taking down notes. Real alcohol was to be brought aboard, as expected. He'd already queried ahead about Starbase's holds and found their stocks satisfactory. Synthehol to be replicated and bottled in advance for those that wanted - he'd have to reach out to Starbase for that, too. That wasn't difficult, though. The ceremony to be intimate, the reception open. Etan nodded at that thought and continued typing. He brought up the list of Holodeck programs simulating Earth, narrowed to the northeast section of North America, and Niagara Falls. He looked back at the Captain, having only paused briefly. "I can suggest several programs, depending on what part of the falls you'd like to be featured, time of day, and year represented. Do you already have the invitations selected, or would you like a member of the Ops team to present designs? And have you and Lieutenant Jansen already selected an officiant?"

"The wedding will be minimal... best man, maid of honour, officiant, one that walks the bride down the aisle. The reception open, no invite needed."