Callisto Grand Opening (Part 2 of 3)

Posted on 30 Apr 2014 @ 1:53pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Commander Norvi Stace & Commander Andreus Kohl & Tarel Rilem & Lieutenant Jacob Pendleton & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Command Master Chief Markum Quinn & Lieutenant JG Victoria Crawley & Commander Luke Wyatt & Lieutenant JG Wakeham Paul Alasia Ph.D. & Chief Petty Officer Lyras Ueda & Lieutenant Theron Rhodes & Lieutenant Min Zhao & Lieutenant Asahi Kita & Amril

2,842 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Episode 06 - Legend of Souls
Location: USS Galileo: Deck 7 - Callisto Bar
Timeline: MD -10 :: 1625 Hrs

[CONTINUED]

Paul Alasia absently traced in front of his face with his finger as if leading his eyes around from door to door. Aa he walked, his bounded around looking for his destination. "Callihan's..." he whispered to himself while wondering along the hallway hoping the location would respond. In the distance he saw blue and red decorations hanging along a door, he hastened his steps up to where he was surely headed. "Callisto's..." Paul elongated the "o" to to himself just under his breath.

The door opened and Paul witnessed a mass of people talking and laughing; his new shipmates. Each was dressed in variously formal or casual outfits - many of them outfitted beautifully - and nearly all mingling amongst themselves or nursing a drink. Paul suddenly felt naked in his duty uniform. He turned his shoulders to leave, hesitated, thought better of it and sidled over to the nearest wall for its pathetically inqdequate protection.

Paul found one other person suffering from his same wardrobe faux pas: a young lady NCO with a gold collar at a far table. She rested her chin on her one hand and swirled her drink apathetically with the other. Paul moved discreetly along the wall. "May I join you?" He asked meekly. The young lady shrugged and gestured across the table. As Paul sat the young lady returned her attention to the swirling, brown funnel in the bottom of her glass and took a sip.

"I just came on board a short time ago." Paul mentioned.

"Oh?" The young lady raised her eyebrows and nodded far more vigorously than was necessary. Paul nodded a confirmation in return before the silence returned between he and his new interlocutor.

"My name's Paul." He offered helpfully. "Well, Wakeham actually - but everyone calls me Paul."

"Uh-huh. It's great to meet you, Paul." The young lady took a large swig from her drink. "I'm going to get a quick refill. Really great to meet you." The young lady smiled as she hastily stood from the table and walked in the direction of the bar. Paul waited until she had fully walked away before making a slight gesture of "goodbye." Paul sighed as drummed his fingers on the newly conquered table.

News of Callisto Bar's grand opening had been spreading through the ship like a wildfire throughout the day, and while at first Lirha had not planned on attending until later in the evening, her curiosity and ambition had gotten the best of her. After a quick stop in her quarters after alpha shift to strip down out of her uniform and into something more relaxed, she now found herself moving quickly through Deck 7 on her way to 'inspect' the new facility. A twinge of excitement played through her nerves when the doors swished open, and she took in the scene with bright, observant green eyes and a small smile spread across her gold lips.

Large LCARS monitors had been installed throughout the bar, each showing either a FNN news feed or some type of local sporting broadcast (or recording, she wasn't quite sure), and the layout of the lounge was surprisingly uncluttered. There was even a small stage area set up where Lirha guessed some live musical performances would be taking place.

Seeing other members of the crew already present at some of the tables, Lirha gave them all a small wave then walked up to the bar and took a seat while she waited for a bartender to service her. Absent mindedly she tugged on the green shoulder straps of her dress, not giving much thought to the tight low-cut and backless attire she now wore.

Jacob saw Lirha out of the corner of his eye and his jaw nearly hit the floor; she was STUNNING! He drank a swig of his soda, rose up to full height with his broad shoulders back and muscular chest forward, and then walked over to her. In the deepest, sexiest voice he could muster (which would be considered cheesy coming from just about anyone else) said to her, "Hello gorgeous. Never seen you before here, come here often?" It was an old line yes, and it would have been over-comical had it not been for the fact that, after all, he WAS the ship biggest and BIGGEST geek/nerd.

A man as tall as Pendleton hadn't gone unnoticed by Lirha's peripheral vision, and she couldn't help but grin and smile up at the brown-haired man when he approached and spoke. "Just came for a quick drink and to admire the new facility," she replied with a light and casual voice a bit different from her usual authoritative command persona. "So, I suppose you have indeed not seen me here before," she jested. "Enjoying yourself so far? I just arrived."

Jacob blushed deeply. He figured she would laugh her arse off at him or maybe ignore him or slap him, but she was actually playing along! He stammered, "I.. um.. yes.. I am enjoying it all... I.. um just arrived too..." He was completely out of his league now.

"Well...have a seat, then," she motioned towards the vacant chair next to her with her hand. "I promise I do not bite. Usually," she added after some thoughtful and humorous reflection. When Lirha had first arrived, she'd wondered where Siren was, but quickly realized her duty shift had just begun. She wasn't quite sure if she would show up, so in the meantime, Pendleton would have to keep her company.

Jacob took the seat Lirha offered, "Thank you m'lady." He desperately tried to sound sophisticated as he kept up the game, "I am Jacob, Jacob Pendleton, Chief Research Officer of the USS Galileo... an incredible science vessel to be sure and yet as incredible as she is.. dare I say.. she pales in comparison to your beauty m'lady." He offered his hand to her and in taking hers, he kissed her hand as if this was 1700's "Gentlemanly Earth".

Lirha's eyebrows slowly rose as he spoke, and she was not really sure what to make of him or his strange chivalry. With a small grin tugging at the corner of her gold lips, she lightly shook her head. "You are a strange human, Mister Pendleton. Strange...but interesting," she teased. "Now, would you like to get this lady a drink?"

"Waitress, a drink for this gorgeous woman and one for, well, me. Anything she wants; as for me, I'll take an Orange Creme Soda on the rocks." He smiled back at Lirha. "So..." Jacob continued to play this enjoyable game of meeting Lirha for the first time, "...What is your occupation? A queen perhaps, or maybe a princess, or maybe even a woman of some great esteem?"

"I am the queen and supreme ruler of Galilea, a long-lost land of mystery full of beautiful gold treasures and exotic peoples." Lirha did her best to keep a straight face, but the amusement present in her bright green eyes betrayed her true intentions. "And what brings you to my land? A quest of some sort?" she asked in return.

Jacob smile was a big as it could be (and for him that was pretty big!) he suddenly thought about some of his favorite times in Earth's history. He decided he was going to be "Sir Lancelot" to her "Queen Guinevere" as it were. He bowed his head in reverence to her. "Ah fairest Queen of Galilea, this Knight of Kingdom of Du Chien, greets you with all humbleness and adoration. Had I known you were of Royalty oh gorgeous Empress, I would have brought thee a gift." He took a drink of his soda and continued, "I am on a quest your majesty. A great quest in fact! I seek to rid the honest people of Lyshan from a haunting of ghosts. Yes, oh yes. "'Twill be a most difficult and possibly dangerous quest your highness. Perchance this humble knight could bring back your fairest highness a gift so as to win your favour and mayhaps your heart?" He reveled in having to show off his (not real great) acting skills; including his voice changing to a very poor English accent as he went into a very geeky version of Shakespearean styled playacting.

It took a few moments for the Orion commodore to decipher everything he had just said, but the word 'gift' was all too familiar and pleasing. "Yes...a gift. An excellent idea. Perhaps...something gold and shiny? Like this?" She reached up and push her dark hair back behind her left ear to show Pendleton the multiple gold earrings which adorned her earlobe.

The earring was beautiful, but not as beautiful as her hair, her cute ears and her lovely neck! Jacob almost allowed himself to fantasize about kissing that neck but had to get his mind back into the conversation, "Ahh yes... yes your highness. A gift like that would be splendid, or perhaps a lovely necklace, or a beautiful bracelet... nothing would be too good for such a lovely woman of royalty as yourself."

"Sounds like you have a new side quest, then. Do not forget your sword and lance. I hear there might be Klingon dragons hiding amidst the gold mines," Lirha replied with an airy laugh.

"Dragons eh? Well, there wont be any of them left once this Knight rambles through their lairs!" Jacob smiled at Lirha and then flexed his right arm showing off his twenty seven inch bicep as it stretched his shirt's material to near tearing point. "This Knight of the Realm shall conquer any foe your highness, especially in thoust name."

"Excellent. I look forward to seeing the spoils of your conquest. Perhaps there is a place for you in my court, afterall." Lirha's drink finally arrived and she took a much needed sip, followed by a second and third. It was great to know the new bar was stocked with real alcohol instead of exclusively synthehol as was regulation on most Federation ships, and her stiff beverage sent a warm burning sensation down her throat.

Jacob couldn't believe Lirha was participating in this "fantasy" and that she would continue to allow him to flirt with her this way. He smiled at her widely and took a long swig of his soda as she drank her own drink.

Abbey was still waiting for her drink to be made when she noticed the unmistakable Commodore Saalm taking the seat after the next away from her. She had never spoken to the ex captain but her father had spoken highly of her.

Having spent the better portion of the first bits of his shift updating himself on most, if not all, of the Galileo's diplomatic type matters, Lyras had decided to take the opportunity of a slow night to appear at the bar. As a diplomatic officer on a science vessel, he hadn't seen a workload he couldn't handle, something he found himself grateful for. It meant he could visit the Callisto, with the intention of determining if the crew was taking it as well as intended. Internal crew morale may not have been his specialty, but if an outsider they were trying to appease saw any unhappiness in the crew for whatever reason, it would have been something Lyras would have had to buffer.

Fortunately, as he stepped into the bar, he discovered that this was far from the case. Everyone seemed rather pleased with the bar, and many were participating in the festivities. He made a quick scan of the full room, before his eyes rested upon another purple-collared individual, quirking his head to one side inquisitively, before making his way over.

"Of all the colors I would have thought to have seen on the Galileo and her crew, purple was one I hadn't expected to see in quite awhile." Lyras may not have been the only diplomatic type on the ship, but the other officers were few and far between. "It is quite a welcome color."

Paul breathed an enormous sigh of relief finding a friendly conversationalist. "I can't imagine they're going to let me keep it much longer the way I've been charming people around here. Probably end up running maintenance in the bowels of this ship by tomorrow." Paul smiled and went to extend his hand. He hesitated before making a Vulcan salute with his left and extending his hand for a shake with his right. "Figured I'd cover all my bases. Paul Alasia. Great to meet you."

"Oh, I don't know about that." Lyras replied, hesitating at the man's attempts at a greeting. There had always been a confusion behind his heritage, especially with those who either ran more sensitive or opinionated on the spectrum on the matter. Settling for the handshake, he smiled reassuringly. "I do not quite see how you'll end up elsewhere, what with such an accommodating greeting such as yours'. I promise next time though, I will not be offended regardless of the greeting you choose. Ah, Lyras Ueda. It is nice to finally meet someone I'll be able to relate to."

"Pleasures all mine." Paul lowered his hand with a chuckle. "I suppose I'm overcompensating a little so I'm sorry about that. You meet enough post-modernists, take enough institutional economics courses, do enough qualitative study and before long you have anything even remotely resembling cultural insensitivity beaten out of you. Keeps you from pissing people off but occasionally, you're gonna look like an idiot." Paul smiled. "So, I guess you're as good a person as any to ask: what is it that a diplomatic does around here?"

"Over-compensating is much better than under-compensating." Logical or not, at least it made sense to Lyras. "I've found that it is much better to attempt to accommodate for as many races as possible. You offend much fewer people in the end." He chuckled, placing his hands on the bar. "Ah... Observe. That is what I have found needs doing the most 'around here.' It is the best way to describe what exactly the Galileo does to those of new races who may not entirely understand the Federation's existence. Otherwise, it is probably wise to find a side-task, on the off chance there is not all that much work to do. Scientists are the least likely to get themselves in trouble, I've found."

Paul smirked. "That may be the case, but what's the point of being in Starfleet if you can stir things up on the regular."

"Oh, I believe we will get along swimmingly." Lyras returned the smirk. Vulcan heritage was something he may have had, but it was almost impossible for him to ignore his non-Vulcan impulses from time to time. "We cannot learn from anything if we don't first cause at least a small commotion... It's the full-scale war threats that I'd like to avoid. No one gets anything done when everyone's shooting at each other."

"I know what you mean. It was a huge relief when I got this posting. I think even I would couldn't screw up so badly that I would start an interstellar war while stationed aboard a science ship. But then again..." Paul trailed off. "Now there's a challenge." Paul chuckled. "Anyway, I imagine we're going to be working together quite a bit, so tell me about yourself."

Lyras' brow quirked upward, but he managed a smile. "A challenge, yes, but some would see it as one that wasn't all that impossible. Which could be deadly for all involved." He laughed. "Ah, what to say? I have most of my studies in science, anthropology and languages, which is probably why diplomacy was oh so easy to transfer into. It was something that had become more necessary during the war than a simple language specialist." He gave a wry smile. "And the CO wasn't exactly the most well-spoken with any of the other races until... well, until the war. Yourself?"

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

CDRE Lirha Saalm
Mission Advisor
USS Galileo

Lt Cmdr Allyndra illm Warraquim
Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

Lt. Theron Rhodes
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

CPO Luke Wyatt
Security Officer
USS Galileo

Crewman Abbey Wyatt
Scientists Mate
USS Galileo
(PNPC - Wyatt)

Lt. Jacob Pendleton
Chief Research Officer (and apparent slayer of dragons)
USS Galileo

Tarel Rilem
Waitress (Lounge Singer)
USS Galileo
[PNPC Kita]

Lt. Asahi Kita
[Acting] Chief Engineering Officer
USS Galileo

PO 1rst Class Lyras Ueda
Diplomatic Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant Andreus Kohl
Assistant Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

LT Norvi Stace
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

CMCPO Markum Quinn
Chief of the Boat
USS Galileo

LTJG Victoria Crawley
Psychologist
USS Galileo

LTJG Wakeham Paul Alasia
Diplomatic Officer
USS Galileo

LT Min Zhao
Chief Operations Officer
USS Galileo

Amril
Operations Officer
USS Galileo

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