Lunch Time

Posted on Sun Sep 8th, 2019 @ 9:26pm by Captain Wilkan Targaryen & Commander Zephryn Kaldiran
Edited on on Thu Jan 2nd, 2020 @ 5:14pm

1,560 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Atlantis
Location: Officer's Mess, Starfleet One
Timeline: 2429-12-03, 12:00

As the Away Teams explored the surface, Admiral William Teagarden figured he had plenty of time to enjoy some lunch. Visiting the Officer's Mess he stepped through the door and walked over to the large bank of replicators, quickly ordering a Turkey and Spinach Wrap from the available menu and a sweet tea. Turning he looked out amongst the crowd for someone to sit with.

Commander Zhephryn C. Kaldiran was sitting at a table near a viewport with two ladies on either side of him. Well, their forms were clearly norm female humanoid, but their skull and facial features were not 'Terran' norm. To Zheph's left was a white 'Tigress' Humanoid, and to his right was a 'Caninoid', short in stature with large ears, each one nearly the size of her head. Zheph was asking questions of the Caninoid and she was answering. Nandra, Pantigrian race, noticed Will, then nipped at Zheph's left ear followed with a whisper into it. Zheph stood up and motioned for Will to come on over to him and his group.

The Commanding Officer of Starfleet One saw his Operations Officer near the window with his cohorts. Taking his tray he walked toward the table and took a seat, "Glad to see you back aboard, Commander."

Zheph sat down as Will did. He yiffered and answered, "Great to be back Aboard, Sir. While my absence was due to a rather drawn out affair, I do believe that Starfleet has a better understanding of the L'Tandrey culture and Taboos, so all for the better." He motioned to Resnandra and Natasha, then added, "While I know that the ship has a different mission with different parameters, you know that Avqarin wouldn't let me onboard without a couple of family to keep me in line. So, as Nandra is a registered Shaghasi-i-Huzuri Assistant and Tasha is a registered Hanandra-i-Juruwai, Avqarin figured they would fit right in. And, if you noticed, Tasha is now my wife, Vienderian position. I hope that was okay, sir."

"I'm afraid that matters of the heart aren't under my purview as the vessel's commander," William said with a smile. "Welcome aboard the En... Welcome aboard Starfleet One," he stopped himself before he finished the former name. "Happy to have you aboard."

Zheph yiffered as Nandra snorted in humor. Tasha looked a little confused, so Zheph used his tail to reach over to touch hers and did direct touch telepathy to explain to her what Will had done, in talking about Tasha now being married and not even mentioning the gals were here and that Zheph had brought them onboard without first getting permission, i.e. accepting them in their roles on board. Tasha blushed slightly as such faith Will had in Zheph's, and Avqarin's, decision.

Zheph now looked at Nandra and said, "Shaghasi-i-Huzuri, please perform your duties." Resnandra stood up and politely curtsied to the group, then said, "I already know what you would like, Commander Kaldiran and Hanandra-i-Juruwai Kaldiran. Are there any changes to your typical?" Zheph and Tasha shook their heads. She now turned towards Will. "Admiral Teagarden, anything you would like me to fetch for you that you may have forgotten for your lunch?"

The Admiral was a bit perturbed by this. He glanced at the Operations Manager then back to the other, "Quite unnecessary. I know my way to the replicator terminal."

As Nandra went to get the provisions, Zheph yiffered lightly and said to Will, "She has asked me to observe her to make sure she has not gotten rusty in being with the family. If you notice anything she needs to work on, please, voice it. Otherwise, I think she is doing fine until she is briefed on any idiosyncrasies for the Diplomat she will be assigned to while on board Starfleet One."

"I was not aware she had been assigned to the Diplomatic Corps aboard this ship, Commander," William commented. "Is there something you'd like to fill me in on?" He took a bite from the wrap that he had ordered.

Zheph raised an eyebrow and realized that Commander Galatea had not advised Will of the reasons behind his wives accompanying him onboard. He yiffered gently and replied, "Yes sir. Avqarin chose them because of their specialty diplomatic statuses for being a registered Diplomatic Assistant and Diplomatic Nurse. When I beamed on board and informed Commander Galatea of this, she let me know she had put their arrivals into the duty log as well. Thus, they are available for the Diplomatic corps, when desired. Right now, they are not assigned to anyone, nor have been called by the corps as of yet, but are honing their trade for if or when they are needed. With their specialty certificates, and being of a Neutral Party Race, they can step in where a hostile party might not want a Federation assistant or a medical personnel to take care of them. Hence, why earlier I had asked if their being on board with their assigned specialties was okay with you."

"Interesting that I was not fully briefed about their presence aboard the ship," he answered taking a sip of his drink.

Nandra came back at this time with the tray of foodstuffs and silverware. She placed each item before Zheph and Tasha in a specific order and placement for those of 'upper crust' breeding and training, exactly as how diplomats or corporation officers would desire it. However, there were a couple of differences between Zheph's placement and Tasha's placement. Nandra did a Starfleet Admiral's setup for Zheph, while doing an L'Tandrey Clan Head for Tasha, as per assistant protocols. She knew specific rites and placement for Klingons, Romulans, Ferengi, and many other races. After getting a nod from Zheph and Tasha, she placed her own food items down, put the tray aside, and waited for Zheph and Tasha to take a bite of food before she would partake of hers.

The Admiral was slightly taken aback by the display. He understood the diplomatic niceties that were in play with this situation, but he had never been one to stand on ceremony. Or interfere with family dynamics for that matter. "How was your voyage to join us? I remember that you were called away shortly after the critical systems failure we experienced last year."

Zheph took a bite of food, followed by Tasha, and then Nandra dug into her food. With the initial 'release' for his wives to eat, Zheph swallowed and now answered Will. "The voyage here was relaxing, especially after the call away. During one of the rests between repairs, I was relaxing at a card game and a contracting engineer accused me of cheating at the card game I had just won. As a Telepathic race... well, the can of worms was large and took a lot of energy to negotiate. However, I think now understanding is better among Starfleet about the L'Tandrey, and relations are now strengthened. I.. just don't wish to go through that again, at least for a while. A person can only take so much accusations of not truth before patience begins wearing very thin. So, Will, I am very glad to be back aboard."

While Zheph was talking, Nandra and Tasha were eating, but also making some small anger noises. They were very protective of their male, and what had happened still did not sit well with them. Zheph had explained to them many times over, but, it still didn't sit well with them.

Zheph now asked, "Anything I need to be aware of to look out for?"

"No more than usual, Commander," the Admiral answered as he finished his meal. "With our assignment out here, and the President's insistence that we serve at his pleasure, this is a primarily political vessel now. Our missions will be a bit more structured than before, but we will figure that out as we go." He finished his drink and set it aside, "I look forward to seeing what our future has to offer though. You may not be my XO any longer, but I still have expectations as always for you to be a leader among the crew of this ship. You wouldn't be Operations Manager otherwise."

Zheph yiffered in affirmation of what Will said, along with his tail shaking twice, an L'Tandrey symbol of full acceptance and finality. "I will do my best, no matter the role assigned to me. I am here to serve, to lead, to support, and to guide in all I am able, as I know you are fully aware." He stood up, and his wives followed suite. "I am glad you had lunch with us, Admiral. I look forward to giving you updated reports on Operations for your bedtime reading pleasure."

The Admiral nodded, "I enjoyed our lunch as well. If you'll excuse me as well I need to return to the Bridge. With the away teams on the surface I need to be up there, should they find anything of concern."

As he walked William considered the planet as he caught another quick glimpse of it out the window. Something wasn't sitting right with him and it wasn't the turkey wrap. He hoped it was his own paranoia, but something was amiss and he hoped it wasn't something that grew in risk for them. For all their sakes.

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