Caught Off Guard! (Part 1)
Posted on Mon Oct 2nd, 2023 @ 5:01pm by Captain Kagami Izumi & Lieutenant Abigail Halesworth-Fletcher M.D. & Lieutenant JG Nico Yazawa & Hatsune Izumi & Commander (la') Tormek & Lieutenant Commander Sydney ap Iorwerth & Lieutenant Nash Winters & Lieutenant Maki Nishikino 'Bones' & Lieutenant Ashreth "Ash" Th'Raanin & Lieutenant (Sogh) Vep Ka of the Empire & Tadao Yoshikawa
Edited on on Sat Oct 7th, 2023 @ 10:43pm
1,967 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Lockdown
Location: Various
Timeline: MD02 - 10:30 Hours
[ON]
Kagami stepped out of her quarters sporting the Starfleet Dress uniform. She never understood why Starfleet always made the dress uniform so uncomfortable, or why it was a requirement at such diplomatic functions. However she had to set an example for the rest of the crew and she had to adhere by the rules and protocols.
The Tholian Diplomatic Party had arrived a few minutes ago and were currently being escorted to the conference lounge. Kagami was due to meet Commander Tormek at the turbolift as they had arranged, and together they would enter the negotiations together.
The soft thud of heavy Klingon boots stepping across the carpeted deck plating softly echoed throughout the corridor. Commander Tormek arrived in all of his Imperial glory, his robust curly dark hair cascading across the tops of his armor-plated shoulders and his fu-manchu immaculately combed and twisted tightly into a 'presentable' diplomatic fashion. He quickly spotted the short purple-haired base commander in decorative white dress then stepped to greet her. "Captain," was his simple acknowledgement before he looked her over in more detail. "You look...rotund. Your uniform does not suit you."
'Did he just call me fat?!' Kagami thought to herself a little alarmed. "Well... You know that Dress Uniform never really suits anyone." she responded quickly a hint of snappiness in her voice. "Its protocol though, you know... Best foot forward and all that crap."
"Protocol means nothing to these Tholian baktag," he bluntly stated. "We must show them force before solidarity. Look at my armor," he gestured to his elaborate silver and gold-trimmed ceremonial sash which crossed from his shoulder to his waist and was pinned with several unique Klingon emblems. Honorable accolades he'd earned throughout his years of KDF service.
"Uh huh..." Kagami replied as she gestured towards the turbolift. "After you." She said as the doors opened to reveal the empty interior of the turbolift car.
He held her eyes while following her prompt then entered the turbolift. This was shaping up to be a unglorious day, yet he was duty-bound to this new captain and would follow her orders even if it meant an early path to Sto-vo-kor.
[Conference Room]
Vep Ka had arrived early; as a good Hostess should; but as this is a Federation Party, one does what the Romans do when in Italy. It was some Earth saying to that effect. It Meant more formal attire as she was representing her master and the Federation formal skirted uniform was so uncomfortable that a few alterations were in order.
First was to have the garment done in white silk throughout; sleeves removed to make a more tailored vestment that fit closer to the curves and shapely to comfort of movement. The shirt of chiffon how she moved. The vest lost three buttons to allow a deeper 'V' in the shirt as well; every man like some cleavage, but tasteful . Sleeves of flowing material and long cuffs. Sliver bracelets adorn her wrists that hoop earrings.
The skirt seemed a centimeter or two long, she had a cut on the seam side to keep the hem loose and allow her to stride as is proper for an Orion. Bear legs with white dyed, knee high Klingon style Leather boots that were 'fitted' to the soft skin of Vep'Ka's dancer calves.
She felt ready for this boring 'Cocktail party' Earth Style. As she awaited the arrival of all the other guests.
The doors of the conference lounge opened and in walked three large Tholians in their environmental suits. A window on their 'helmet' revealed their 'face' which glowed bright orange with dark black slits which resembled eyes seemed to scan the room. It was like looking into a face from hell itself, their soulless expressionless faces were hard to gauge.
Their suits clicked as they walked across the deckplayes and stood at one end of the table, opting to stand instead or entertaining the chance to sit.
Vep Ka met their gaze; or what one would call eye contact with a Tholian, The fire in the eyes reminded her of the volcanoes on Earth when viewing them through a thick glass but little more. The armored Life Support Suits were no more intimidating as Klingo Warriors in Armored Life suits for alien world invasions.
Bowing with a courtsey; a proper greeting stance for a slave.
"Greeting Distinguished Ones, I am Vep Ka of the Empire House of Frontier Station."
The middle Tholian spoke simply, the translator struggling to keep up with their complex language of clicks and whistles. "I am Tholian ambassador Tliken. I will only speak to your captain."
"With presence not here ; by intergalatic laws and some Star Fleet Regulation; as Ranking Officer Preent I am the voice of the Captain and assume the role of Command for the Official portions of 'talking."
Deck 13 - Science Lab 19
Sydney was working with his people, when the station was attacked some of the tissue gathered from alien worlds that were being stored went online. Personally, he thought just a system error given this was a newly built station.
Peering down the microscope, staring at sample PZ-33-Q1-F001, looking for any marks that weren't meant to be on a bacteria.
[Turbolift]
The soft humming of the lift was all that could be heard as both of the command officers stood in silence. Kagami and Tormek hadn't yet got to know each other well enough for small talk, not to mention they had a rocky start when it came to planning these negotiations. She fussed with her collar, hoping that she came across as presentable enough to the Tholians.
Standing next to the much shorter Human, Tormek's posture resembled a statue and didn't move while the turbolift descended. Yet out of the corner of his eyes, he glanced over to the purple-haired captain then decided to speak. "You should not have disrespected Vep Ka's duty and honor by granting her 'Federation freedom'," he suddenly chastised. "She is an Orion representative from my government...you have no jurisdiction to change her political status within the Imperial Empire."
Kagami sighed. "I don't see the need to have a slave." she said. "I was abolished by Humans hundreds of years ago. So, if she's assigned to me or not it doesn't matter. I will accept her as an officer, but not a slave girl."
Raising his chin with acceptance of his captains words, the Klingon first officer concurred. "I have already spoken to her. She will be an officer aboard this station but will serve me, not you. I am the Empire's representative here -- her presence falls under my jurisdiction, not yours. As you have just said...this matter does not concern you."
"Fair enough then." Kagami said shrugging the issue off.
The turbolift came to a smooth halt and the doors swished open. Kagami knew that the Counselor was due to join them in the negotiations.
Counselor Th'Raanin saw the open turbolift door and jogged to catch it, squeezing in with the Captain and Commander Tormek. Tholian Diplomatic Party in itself was considered an oxymoron in most circles, but the Counselor had been reading the briefs on this meeting and was hopeful it would be productive.
"Good morning Captain, Commander," Ash said greeting the two senior officers.
Kagami nodded at the Counselor. "Morning," she greeted. Once he had stepped in the doors swished closed and the turbolift continued upwards.
The Klingon first officer turned his attention to the new Starfleet arrival. The blue skin, white hair, lean build and antennae adorning the man's head almost caused Tormek to visibly scowl. Andorian. Before the Federation had even formed and when news of Captain Archer's defeat of the Duras attack force first reached Qo'noS, their species had become sworn enemies of the Empire. "You are the new counselor. T'Ra'in," acknowledged the first officer with private reluctance. "I have read your transfer orders like those of all other new personnel," he curtly elaborated.
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Commander," Ash had picked up on the tension in the Klingon officer's greeting, but felt it wasn't the time or place to address it. "I'm sure you found everything in order."
"Your assignment to this station is..." Tormek tried to control his personal prejudice and present a more diplomatic approach - a Starfleet way of thinking, "...welcome."
Ash smiled at the Klingon. "Thank you, Commander. I'm happy to be here."
[Sickbay, Deck 26]
A small Japanese Engineer walked into the main sickbay. She had her black hair up in twintails and she looked around. She made her way over to the main entrance. Lieutenant Nico Yazawa was one of the new engineers on Starbase Frontier and she had come to get her medical out of the way.
Fortunately, the wait wasn't all that terribly long, as a nurse was on hand to receive her in a matter of minutes.
"What can I get for you, Miss..."
his voice abruptly trailed off as he immediately recognized the person standing before him.
"Y... You... You're..." he gawked in starry-eyed bewilderment. "You're... Nico Yazawa!"
Nico was slightly taken aback. "Erm, Yeah I am. What of it?"
"Geh; where the hell are my manners? I sound like a blithering idiot," the nurse grumbled before moving to shake Nico's hand. "It's truly an honor to meet you in person, Miss Yazawa; my big sister was a fan of your music back when I was growing up. She had all the singles, Nico-Nii swag from all your concerts, plushies, the whole nine yards; she probably could've curated a Nico-Nii museum if she really wanted to."
He scratched his chin as he pondered the thought. "Actually, she probably still could; I don't believe she ever got rid of all that stuff..."
"Well those days are long behind me," Nico replied simply. "I'm here to report to medical, apparently I need to be cleared for duty."
"O-oh; but of course, Miss Yazawa," the nurse apologized sheepishly. "The CMO should be here any second now..."
As if on cue, the CMO stepped out into the waiting room, perusing a list of appointments on her PADD.
"Alright, let's see here; we have a 10:30 appointment for Lieutenant..."
She stopped dead in her tracks as she found herself staring down the last person she had expected to see- or wanted to see, for that matter- in her sickbay.
"Miss Yazawa," the Doctor greeted icily.
Nico smiled as she looked at Maki. "You're so formal Maki-Chan. Whats with all that?"
"Is there something here I'm missing?" the Nurse commented, suddenly feeling a bit out-of-place.
"The two of us went to High School together," Maki explained for his clarification. "She is quite possibly the most obnoxious, self-centered brat I have the displeasure of having to put up with."
Nico smirked. "What she's not telling you is that we were good friends. If not closer."
"Friends?" Maki scoffed. "More like you decided we were friends, and I just happened to tolerate you."
Nico just smirked at Maki in response. "But I'm such a loveable brat!"
"In whatever la-la land you seem to think you live in, perhaps," Maki sighed. "Anyhow, are you here to bother me, or do you have an appointment or something? Because I'll have you know I've been very busy since Lieutenant Sh'Alkins was transferred off-site, so I don't have time to be messing around."
"Just need my checkup. I'm newly assigned here," Nico replied simply.
To be continued...
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