One Item Off The List: Part II

Posted on Sat Mar 4th, 2023 @ 9:35am by Commander Lucy Heartfilia & Captain Tristan Faust & Lieutenant Commander John Stryker II & Lieutenant Commander Marc Kitchner M.D. & Lieutenant Thraxina & Lieutenant Shinobu Miyake & Lieutenant Azrel Vox & Cadet Freshman Grade Poppy Koppelman & St. John Talbot
Edited on on Sun Mar 5th, 2023 @ 5:31am

2,548 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Mission 3: The Peace Ship
Location: Deck 5: Captain's Mess
Timeline: M3 MD01 1800

After talking with the Captain and the Ambassador, Aze went on a mingle with the others. She noted her glass of orange juice was half full and would soon need a top up.

Poppy bumped into her and looked askance at the half-full glass of juice (Poppy was a eternal optimist, unfortunately for Captain Faust) "Oh, hello Lieutenant Vox, I'm sorry about your drink, who gave you that? Here, I'll take that for you and go and fetch you..." she frowned as she remembered "... a midori" she offered "It was the stronger kind you liked, wasn't it?"

"Um thanks for the offer Poppy but after last time I think I will have another orange juice please. " Aze replied.

The cadet looked puzzled, Lieutenant Vox had looked like she was having a great time at the Awards Ceremony after chugging down that tumbler of green lady-fuel, but orders was orders "Yes Ma'am!" she nodded and went to fetch the requested soft drink, narrowly swerving Doctor Kitchner, stuffing his face, as per usual. She remembered his favourite tipple from the Awards, so didn't need to ask.

Marc Kitchener stepped into the mess. His dress uniform was stiff in all the wrong places. He walked over to Tristan and Talbot. "Evening Ambassador ... Captain." Marc snagged two hors d'oeuvres from a passing waiter. They were braised mushrooms with goat cheese on a toasted slab of French baggett and had a few drops of what could be guessed to be olive oil on top. He inhaled it almost without chewing. "Pardon me gentlemen, I haven't had an opportunity to eat anything all day." He said before popping the second one into his mouth. "So what is the great debate for this evening?"

"Oh just trying to entertain our guest and failing," the Captain responded with a chuckle.

"Well I wouldn't say you are failing Captain," Talbot commented with a grin, "Although I can hear your officers discussing me and my reputation over there... Incredibly rude." He shot a glare towards Stryker and Thraxina.

Captain Faust put his face into his hand.

Poppy swooped in, good little creep that she was, she had read up on St John Talbot, their distinguished guest on the ship.

"May get you another aperitif, Mister Representative? And..." she glanced at Faust and then Talbot and blurted ".. oh I know its not my place to say it but... Mr Representative, can I please say what an immense thrill it is to meet the man who saved the Little People of Minos IV from destruction by the Kragges?"

It was an obscure and rare early success from the pages of Talbot's now somewhat tattered and dogeared resume.

She looked at Talbot with the stars in her eyes she usually reserved for the Captain himself. "Mr Talbot persuaded the whole Kragge invasion fleet to turn back, and the Little People revere him as a God to this day!!" she gushed.

"Ah yes, it was a tough fought negotiation," Talbot commented with a chuckle, "Although we never did learn the defensive strategy for Minos Korva..."

The story sufficiently distracted Talbot and Tristan could breathe again.

The very junior cadet should, perhaps, have left it at that, but wanting to impress, pushed on, looking up at Faust she said.

"Sir, I've already spoken out of turn, but there's something else I'd like to say, even if it means being..." she looked at him with doe eyes "... punished severely for my insubordination. But I know it's traditional for distinguished guests on a starship to be assigned a personal security guard and an administrative assistant. I heard that Miss Larant has been assigned to be Representative Talbot's guard... and I know I don't have a millionth of the experience of someone like Yeoman Corden or Yeoman La'lei, but I would like to volunteer to be Mister Representative Talbot's personal assistant for his time on the ship..."

She turned and gave St John the biggest smile ever, which had the unfortunate effect of cracking the cover-up makeup dotted on her bigger pimples, all except that big one on her forehead. That one was a doozy of almost planetary proportions, and all the worse for being dead centre - it looked like it had been placed there on purpose as a fashion statement. She looked back at Faust, pulling a more pleading face.

"... I know you'll say 'no', Captain, a man of Mister Representative's calibre and reputation needs an experienced and, dare I say beautiful and glamorous Yeoman by his side, not someone like me, but I just know I'd kick myself forever if I didn't ask while I've got the chance!"

The Captain took a sip from his Martini glass, needing the alcohol for what he was about to say, "If it does not interfere with your duties," he said, "And if Mr. Talbot is willing... Then you may..." He looked at the man with the long grizzled face.

"I do appreciate the cadet's eagerness..." Talbot responded, "It should be rewarded... I consent..." He picked up his glass of wine, "cheers," he said.

"Oh THANK YOU, SIR!!!" Poppy beamed and skipped away happily.

Aze was people watching as usual. She had her orange juice in a tall glass. As she watched other interact, she also tried to work out what each had to drink based on the style of the glass and the colour of the liquid and whether or not it had ice. She then took a seat at the table. She smiled at everyone around her as she put her glass of orange juice on the table.

Commander Heartfilia was one of the last to arrive. She had been up on the bridge and had taken that opportunity to arrive as late as possible without being impolite. Plus she could use it as an excuse to leave as early as possible. The blonde science officer had changed into her dress uniform as required and made her way over to an empty seat by the Captain.

"Welcome to the party Commander," Tristan said. He leaned over and whispered, "I've been sitting in the hot seat since we started..."

Lucy smirked. "Well I've been keeping your seat warm on the bridge," she couldn't help but enjoy this moment. "However, I'm here now. I suppose you needed some backup huh?" She asked him in a hushed tone.

"Please," Tristan responded.

"Welcome Commander," Talbot joined in, "Would you join me for a nice Chardonnay?" He gave her a smile although his eyes were fairly devoid of emotion.

Lucy looked over at Faust, giving the look that clearly said 'Does this guy ever smile?'. She turned to Talbot. "I will have a small glass, I'm still on duty." She told him.

Talbot snapped his fingers to signal Poppy to deliver more wine

Poppy gave a sort of clumsy curtsy and jumped to it.

Observing from a distance, Lieutenant Miyake's expression turned to one of disgust.

"What an asshole," she muttered, making a mental note to tip Cadet Koppelman handsomely for the bullshit she had to put up with...

When Talbot snapped his fingers at Poppy, Lucy immediately stood up. She turned to Talbot, giving him a disgusted look. "Mister Talbot. The Captain won't say anything like this, but I will. Snapping your fingers at any of the officers on this ship is not acceptable. This is a Federation Starship not some cruise ship. You will treat the officers on this ship with the same respect they show you. You may hold the rank of Diplomat, but remember this is a Starfleet vessel and you hold no rank. Everyone on this ship follows orders from Captain Faust or myself. Show more respect or I will arrange for you to arrive at Nimbus Three in a shuttlecraft!" She told him angrily. She looked back at Faust, she couldn't stand this man and she didn't particularly care how he felt about her.

Talbot stood up. His smug grin was gone, replaced with a scowl. He glared at the Commander which caused everyone in the room to stop talking and look over. The expression cracked and Talbot started to laugh before sitting back down, "Quite right, Commander," he said before looking at Tristan, "Quite a tiger you have here for a first officer, reminds me of Captain Chiotis... He's quite an odd old wolfhound."

Tristan's heart had skipped a beat and blinked, "Why yes, Commander Heartfilia is... Rather Sanguine," he said finally.

Poppy, on the other hand, popping back with Talbot's wine, didn't seem bothered at all by the ordering about. She put a fresh glass on the table next to the Representative of all that was best in the Federation and half whispered to him "It's a Coche-Dury 2204." she poured a small amount for him to taste. When he had approved it, she filled his glass and place the bottle in an ice bucket.

Lucy had crossed her arms and was glaring still at Talbot. "I believe you owe Miss Koppelman an apology" she stated simply at Talbot, not breaking eye contact with him.

"Amen," Lieutenant Miyake agreed, the look of disgust on her face speaking volumes about "Saint" John's discourteous behavior.

The girl merely smiled. "That's all right Commander, my sister was a waitress on Wrigley's Pleasure Planet for a while, and she says that waiters and waitresses like to serve people who know what they want and don't beat around the bush telling you." She looked back to Talbot. "And I hope you won't beat around the bush telling me exactly what you want when I'm your assistant, Sir!" she said innocently and standing smartly to attention in her short little red uniform.

Thraxina, looking on, just shook her head in wonder and somewhat revising her opinion of the annoying Poppy muttered to herself 'that girl should run a masterclass in sucking up!'

"Of course Cadet, I would be most happy to show you the ropes during this mission," Talbot responded, "Thank you for the glass, an excellent choice."

“Oh, thank you, Sir!” Poppy beamed. If she could keep the Ambassador happy, then he would make a good report about the ship and her hero, Captain Faust!

"Cadet" Lucy said turning her attention to Poppy. She lowered her voice slightly as she stepped around the table. "A word. Outside." She said simply indicating to the door.

Poppy face fell, she could tell from the First Officer’s tone of voice that she was not best pleased.

As she marched on trembling legs to the door, she could hear Lt. Thraxina’s voice cattily remark “Oh dear, somebody’s in trouble.”

[Corridor]

Once the doors has closed, Lucy turned around to the young cadet. "Cadet. I don't know what they are teaching you at the Academy these days, but no Starfleet Officer has ever progressed very far by 'sucking up'. You are part of Starfleet now and part of this crew. You have a duty to that uniform and yourself as a potential officer."

“Yes, but...” Poppy stood rigidly to attention, this was even worse than her dressing down by Lt. Karashka. She tried to look dignified and stare straight ahead, but it was no good, pretty soon her bottom lip started to quiver and tears welled in her eyes, adding to her humiliation.

Lucy paused. 'You're not going to get any special favours from brown-nosing. Start to stand up for yourself and act like a Starfleet Cadet should. Otherwise you're going to find it very difficult on this ship. This isn't a telling off, more of a bit of advice. Follow your own steps Cadet, don't stand in someone's shadow, because they'll chew you up and spit you back out again once they've finished with you!" Lucy took a deep breath. "Now get back in there and don't be so eager to do everything for everyone, understood?"

“Yes Ma’am” Poppy nodded and walked back in, everybody looking up and staring at her. It was obvious that she had been taken outside for a telling off, but also everybody could see she’d been crying, her eyes were as red as her glowing cheeks: the Ambassador, the Captain, that nasty Thraxina, looking at her with an amused smirk on her face, and even Commander Stryker and Lt Vox had witnessed her shame, that was the worst part, she wanted the ground to swallow her up. And how she supposed to wait on the table and not do what people told her? It was an impossible task.

The Captain saw the look and wiped his mouth with his napkin. And dropped it on the table, "If you would excuse me Ambassador," he said. He stood up and walked over to the cadet, "If you want to continue your duties you can, if not, you can take the rest of the night," he said in a calm voice.

Poppy sniffed away a dribble of runny snot that was threatening to dribble down her top lip as she looked up into Captain Faust’s finely chiselled, incredibly handsome face. “I’d rather carry on, Sir.” she said bravely “And I’ll try not to mess up again.” She blinked away a tear “I’d better go and fetch the Prawn cocktails.”

Thraxina’s eyes were getting tired from rolling “And welcome to another exciting episode of the Poppy Koppelmann Show!” she muttered.

Lucy entered a few moments later, she had calmed down a lot from her time out in the corridor. She didn't usually lose her temper so easily, but having Talbot click his fingers expecting the crew to wait on hand and foot for him had just been enough. She already didn't want to be there, she never liked these events. She set it to the back of her mind as she returned to her seat and sat down, careful not to meet anyones gaze.

Aze smiled across the table at Lucy. She was still grateful for her help recently after her competitive nature taught her a lesson.

"Well that was a lovely evening," Talbot said finally before standing up, "Thank you for your hospitality Captain, although I must retire for the evening."

The Captain stood up, "Of course Ambassador," he responded as the watched the man depart the Captain's Mess with his usual swagger. The Captain sat back down and glared at his senior officers, "Good work people," he responded, "I thought I made myself clear, regardless of whatever he does, whatever he says, we are to treat him with kid gloves..." He raised his hand before Lucy could speak and said, "Yes he was rather slightly rude to Cadet Koppelman, but it wasn't completely off color considering her duties for the evening... Regardless this mission is much more important."

The wait staff showed up with dessert and Tristan gave a stern glare to one of the men clad in black. The young man shuddered a bit and kept walking.

Lucy let out a sigh of relief. 'Thank god he's gone!' she thought to herself as she relaxed slightly in her chair. No doubt Faust will be wanting to talk with her regarding the events of the night.

 

RSS Feed