Welcomes and Ceremonies Pt. 1

Posted on Friday 3 August 2018 @ 13:28 by Commander Save'ena (Sav) Tillatix & Captain John "Apollo" Barstow, M.D. & Commander Cale Llewellyn DSci & Lieutenant Marbim Rejal & Lieutenant Michael Ki MD & Lieutenant JG Saren Barel & 1st Lieutenant Cara O'Reilly MD & Lieutenant Colonel Kachiko Bayushi
Edited on on Sunday 5 August 2018 @ 21:06

Mission: Shoreleave
Location: =/\= Starbase 306 Banquet Hall =/\=
2739 words - 5.5 OF Standard Post Measure

OOC: Check out the new dress uniforms here: http://uss-merlin.com/index.php/wiki/view/page/23
or bigger: http://uss-merlin.com/application/assets/images/dress.png

ON:

Commander John Barstow walked into the banquet hall that he'd rented for the crew dressed in the new Starfleet dress uniform.He hadn't worn it since it was issued a year ago and tugged at various parts that felt stiff to him. He liked it, though, it reminded him of the later Kirk era uniforms, just a different color and department symbol where the rank would have been, in his case a gold command star. He shook his head and looked up, pulling himself from his thoughts as he took in the scene. Station command had apperently put out the red carpet, literally. The carpet was crushed velvet and went from the doors all the way to the front where a stage and podium had been set up. Behind that were a Federation flag and a flag that had Merlins crest/unit patch on it. On the main floor were several hundred tables for the crew, each covered in white, silk tablecloths.

John grinned and walked through the center of the room and his attention was pulled to the side where enlisted crewmen and civilian waiters were all setting out all kinds of food and drink and then lining up behind the tables to wait for the crew, "the command staff knows how to throw a party," he said to the empty room with a grin.

"Yes we do," came the voice of the previously unheard Executive Officer from behind Apollo. Kachiko was wearing a Starfleet uniform stylized silk kimono, Commander's pips on her collar, two blades securely bound to her wide belt on her left hip. She returned the man's grin, "Evening, Boss. Funny running into you here. Sorry if I gave you a jump, I just walk really quietly."

Sav entered the banquet hall. She almost lost herself in loud laughter, just being able to stifle it down to a loud snort. This was like the diplomatic quarters she was assigned to, along with Kachiko, ReiRei, and CaiCai. She loved how the two girls had delighted in the almost presidential suite accomidations, while she had to convince Kachiko that yes, Kachiko deserved the Double King bed suite inside while Sav gladly took the Queen single suite. After all, that gave Kachiko a chance to sleep with her daughter and Cai as a group.

She shook herself in her new duty uniform, not liking the pants and wishing for a long dress, but, this was how Dress Uniforms were. Of course, her green duty sash from left shoulder and down over right hip was still there, giving her a presence with it. She moved over to where Apollo and Kachiko were standing. Coming to attention, she stated, "Lieutenant Commander Save'ena Amilia Tillatix reporting for Dress Banquest and requested, Sirs."

Cale made his way into the banquet hall and was astounded by the sheer size of it. Apollo had outdone himself this time. But he still felt a little odd in his dress uniform, which was the old style dress that Starfleet had adopted when he was XO. It made him feel stiff. He thought he might talk to the person(s) that designed these uniforms about making them a tad bit less starchy. But then again, he didn't get to wear them often enough to bother said person(s) so he decided to let the matter slide.

"My my, Commander, you sure do pull out all the stops when you give a party, don't you, Sir?" he said as he approached Barstow. "This place is gorgeous. I especially love the silk tablecloths," Cale said to Barstow.

As Sav had sensed Cale approaching, she moved to the side and behind Kachiko and Barstow. They must have missed her reporting to them as they were dealing with the banquet particulars. Well, she was a department head and was supposed to show initiative, and thus, she did.

Saren entered the hall and was more uncomfortable now than when he was putting on his dress uniform. He was unused to such events. They seemed to happen a lot in the Federation. Unless you were important individuals, most Romulans did not experience such affairs. For Senators, other politicians, and high ranking Admirals and ship Commanders they were more common. For those who were of lower position on the social chain, they were rare. Regardless of social status, it was hard to relax in such galas when a Tal'Shiar agent could be anywhere.

Then there was the issue of intimacy. He did not know many of the individuals here. One might say it was an opportunity to learn more about your co-workers. For Romulans, one got to know individuals in a less public arena before attending social gatherings with them. It prevented unintended embarrassing moments.

He approached the Captain and when there was an acceptable break in conversation, he asked, a stoic expression on his face, "As you requested sir, I have come to the function. May I leave now?"

"I'm sorry, Lieutenant, you're stuck here," John replied with a smirk, "you're a senior officer and I require my senior officers to lead by example, that means sticking around until the end."

Sav took a few steps back to allow other officers to more readily approach the XO and CO. Out of all the officers, she had the most experience with them and so it would not due to take up their time. She went to a mini-bar and requested a Sambuca, double, chilled, with three coffee beans.

Cara hadn't worn her dress uniform for ten years. Not since the SFMC 8th Regiment's memorial service after a nasty battle on Cuinus that took the lives of several of her close friends. She took the uniform out of its protective bag and hung it on the closet door. Removing the old rank , she pinned her current rank to the collar and secured her combadge in place. Using a hand held steamer she removed the wrinkles and pinched the fabric where the creases were supposed to be so that they set then she removed her robe and began to get dressed. With her long red hair secured into a French Roll, leaving just thin curl to hang loose in front of her ears, she looked at her reflection in the mirror.

"Added a few inches around the middle," she said to her reflection and turned to the side. "Suck it in O'Reilly. And lay off the chocolate for a while or you'll start to look like a Fleeter." She picked a couple of long red hairs from the Marine green shoulders, smoothed out the tunic and headed for the door. "Lights to 20%," she said as she left her temporary quarters on the base. Five minutes later she walked through the doors of the banquet hall and headed straight for the bar.

Sav perked up as she saw Cara enter. Cara reminded her of Melody. Sav wondered if Cara wouldn't mind dancing with another fem, but any space to act went to the wayside as she saw Cale make his way over, only to be followed by Kachiko. Sav sighed, then worked her way to a smaller table, but did not sit. She remained standing, now looking for David, as in Lt. Scarlet, to walk in. She wanted to dance with him and ask him some questions about their relationship as in if it was still viable or not.

Cale walked over to Dr. O'Reilly and positioned himself within earshot of her and no one else. "Dr. I hope I'm not being to forward by saying this but you look stunning. Oh and I hope you don't take that as a come on because I'm gay. I just appreciate beauty where I encounter it."

The small Executive Officer had likewise headed over towards the Marine physician, absent mindedly shifting how the black phaser set on her right hip. Overhearing the Second Officer's comment, Kachiko laughed as she slid up next to Llewellyn, "Like Mister Llewellyn, I am also 'gay', but that's an entirely different matter with me, isn't it?" The tiny white haired Japanese woman offered the beautiful redhead a smile and a wink. "He is also very right, you do look very lovely."

"Well thank you Commanders," Cara said with a nod as she lifted her glass of Jamesons in a silent toast to the two.

Saren nodded to the Captain and replied, "I assumed that would be your response, but if one does not ask, the answer is automatically no. I will go mingle as humans are fond of saying."

With that Saren left the Captain and went to the bar. He saw Lieutenant Commander Cale speaking with Dr. O'Reilly, so he gave them some space. When the bartender came over to him, he ordered a 'Romulan Ale'. He took a sip when he got it. As he expected, nowhere near the kick he wanted to be able to survive this function.

Cale looked over at the obviously uncomfortable Romulan science officer and frowned. He left Dr. O'Reilly and went over to the other new crewmember and said, "I'm sorry if you're not enjoying the party though I realize that they aren't part and parcel of Romulan life but they are in the Federation. So is there anything I can do to make this function more 'bearable' for you?"

"Not really Commander", he replied taking a deep breath and unconcously. "I do appreciate your attempt to help though. It is my responsibility to adapt."

If there was anything that Michael Ki truly enjoyed it was a formal occasion. It brought out the Japanese heritage in him, formality, tradition, it all ran in his blood. He stood in his quarters and adjusted the mandarin collar of his dress uniform. He smiled at his own reflection as he realized exactly how good he truly looked. Michael made his way to the banquet hall and arrived hot on the heels of his Assistant Cara. His eyes scanned the room and took it all in, pretty standard he thought, and then he beheld the XO. Who not only was beautiful but struck a cord deep within him by wearing a kimono. Michael took a champagne flute and approached the Captain and XO. Bowing deeply in the Japanese tradition he spoke "Good evening Captain, Commander. Quite the extravaganza planned for this evening." He smiled and looked at Kachiko. "Iki o nomu. Anata wa megami jishin no imēji o miru koto o mite." (Breathtaking. To look at you is to look at the face of the goddess herself.) Michael raised his glass in toast.

'If he only knew the truth of how accurate he was,' Kachiko mused inside. Normally, she would respond in kind, in Nippongo, but they were in mixed company and it would be rude, "I thank you, Doctor. You look dashing yourself. I doubt that I could compare to Amaterasu."

She glanced at Cara, offering the redheaded physician a broad grin, "I don't know how you're going to manage working with this handsome devil every day, Cara."

Cara smirked. "I think I'll manage," she said with a wink then she took a sip of her drink and turned to watch the activity unfolding in the hall.

Cale groaned at the blatant flirting going on near him. he said to himself as he turned around and started to amble off before seeing the newest addition to their crew looking extremely uncomfortable in his dress whites as well as in his own skin. He made it a point to get to know this young Cardassian wearing a Bajoran earring.

Receiving the invite to the 'dress party' made Miles groan. He was in the middle of tracking down the Chief of Engineering, and also trying to find some buried information about the Defiant. Besides, he disliked his dress uniform. It was starchy and stiff, somewhat like his race according to the tailor who did the measuring on his. Although Miles' uniform was barren of many ornamentations, two pieces he did wear, the merit badges he had received for saving his fellow cadets from the fire incident, and for saving another student form being drugged and raped. On top of these two badges, he was concerned about how his new companions would take to him openly wearing his grandmothers Bajoran earring. Walking into the room he was taken aback at both the beauty of room, and at the number of new people he was going to have to win over. He will look for the closest drink dispensary, which turns out to be an actual barkeep. Approaching the bar, he will smile and nod at whomever looks his way. Once at the bar he will ask, "Do you have Klingon Bloodwine my good sir?"

Cale turned to the bartender and ordered a Long Island Iced Tea, double strong. He knew that if he were to be able to make it through the night, he would need some help. "Here you are, Commander," said the man behind the bar who was quite attractive. Cale sensed that though he wasn't gay, he may be receptive to 'testing the waters' so to speak. And since Caleb was no longer aboard, he knew he would need a little diversion tonight.

Miles, waiting for his bloodwine smiled and nodded at Lieutenant Commander Cale Llewellyn, "Are these functions common on the Merlin sir, if so, I may need to find a way to unstarch my uniform, it's very scratchy."

Cale chuckled at the Cardassian's question. "Not that frequent, Lieutenant. This is an extra special occasion and I suggest you try wearing it more often. Oh not to functions, just around your quarters just to allow it time to get more comfortable to you," Cale said trying not to laugh anymore than he already had.

After everyone arrived Barstow motioned Cale and Kachiko to follow him to the stage. Once the three officers were there John took his place at the podium and grinned seeing the special red button he'd requested. The CO looked out over the crowd before hitting the button, causing the lights to dim and holograms of fireworks going off over everyones head in a display that ended with an outline of Merlin. After the display stopped John smiled, "crew of the Merlin, new and old, welcome," he started, "as many of you may know I came to Merlin as a fighter pilot in her fight corps. This ship has been home for me ever since and holds some of my best memories, including finding out that my daughter was coming. The crews before were like family and, though we are organized how we are, I already see the seeds of that same feeling being planted," he said and took a breath, "and tonight is to celebrate you, and bribe you but don't tell the boss.

"Tonight we have a few officers we'd like to recognize, starting with Lieutenant Saren Barel, front and center, Lieutenant," Barstow ordered.

Saren looked a bit confused, but came forward.

Once the Lieutenant was standing in front of him Apollo turned to face the man, "Lieutenant, you have really screwed things up," he started and paused for a minute, leaning an elbow on the podium, "since coming aboard you have really dug in, getting answers for the computer, getting your department settled and even giving us suggestions for crew transfer which is working out well. I don't know how you could blatantly make us command officer look like we aren't working," he said with a grin and motioned Bayushi forward with a wooden box, "it is for those reasons we have decided to award you Meritorious Newcomer of the Month Award, congratulations and well done," Barstow said as he pulled the yellow ribbon from the box and pinned it to the science officers uniform.

Saren wasn't quite sure what to say, as much of what he did was what a Captain should expect at a basic level. Not really in a position to debate this, he smiled slightly and simply said, "Thank you Captain."

Once he was dismissed, he returned to his seat.

(TBC....)

OFF:

Lt. Commander Save'ena Amilia Tillatix
Chief Flight Control Officer
Bridge Command Specialist
USS Merlin