A Hornet's Nest

Posted on Tue Jul 16th, 2019 @ 7:53pm by Commodore Jane Saulitis
Edited on on Fri Jul 19th, 2019 @ 4:46am

Mission: War Games
Location: Station
Timeline: Sometime Before War Games
2196 words - 4.4 OF Standard Post Measure

The flight from Starbase 621 to the Proving Grounds had been long, especially when taken on a ship the size of the Agrona. It was a Hornet and most definitely not meant for long travel, but the War Games were just something too big to miss. As Commander Rosado rounded the corner, he looked to his tactical officer, "I agree, the guns need to be recalibrated. Pulse cannons are the best weapons that we can offer Captain Ehestri and her team. How long will it take to finish?"

The tactical officer shrugged as he estimated, "Maybe half the day."

"Very good, keep me updated," Jared smiled an almost mischievous grin as he thought about the Agrona finally getting a chance to bear its teeth. Sure it was only test fire, but it was not everyday that a group of station crew got to get their hands dirty in some actual combat with something bigger than smugglers or pirates. As the two officers parted, Commander Rosado leaned on the railing to see what the Promenade had to offer.

It felt good to stretch her legs, not that she couldn't do so on her own starship. But a Space station offered far more interesting sites for Jane than just the plain old corridor. She was standing on the Promenade, wondering where to go next when something small and hard landed on the top of her head, bounced off and rolled a meter away from her before being stopped by a display. Rubbing her head, she bent down to pick it up then looked above her for the source of the mysterious object. "This yours?" She called up to the man. The small gold pip held between two fingers. She'd never heard of one falling off before and hoped the man hadn't taken to throwing things at passersby just to gain attention. But now, should she go up or did he want to come down?

"I don't think...," Jared began as he lifted his hand to his collection of pips that now only identified him as Lieutenant instead of Commander. With a bit of embarrassment, he finished with, "Yes, I apologize." To give him an excuse for having a red face, the Commander called down, "I'll be down to get it." As he quickly made his way to the lower level, he mentally kicked himself for the accident. This was not the best way to make a first impression.

After a few minutes, Rosado arrived to where Jane was standing. He immediately noticed the Captain pips on her uniform as well as the loose bun of hair atop the Captain's head. Serving on the frontier of the Federation proved to keep him at a disadvantage with names, however he introduced himself with apologies. "Captain, I am Commander Jared Rosado. I apologize for raining pips down on the deck below."

"Jane Saulitis. It's alright. Odd really, I've never heard of one just falling off like that, must not have been snapped into place properly." She waited for him to hold out his hand and then placed it carefully in it. "Makes for a funny introduction though." Her hand went up to touch the spot on her head where it had hit. No doubt her hair was unruly now but there wasn't much she could do about it here.

"Have we met before, you look familiar?" She couldn't put her finger on it, which bothered her as her memory for meeting people was usually very sharp. She remembered dates and people, two of the things she prided herself on.

Narrowing his green eyes slightly, Jared scanned his memory for her face. "I don't think we have," he replied, "maybe at a conference or if you visited the Academy a few years ago." The woman rubbing her head brought his mind back to what was really important, "Are you okay?" he asked, nodding to her head, "I can take you to Sickbay."

"Oh no, I'm fine. Just a sting was all. It just made my hair feel weird. Besides, if I did, I'd go on my own ship and give my doctor something to laugh about, she could use it." At her first opportunity she could undue her hair and wrap it back up in place but this wasn't the time for that. "Have you had afternoon meal? Would you like to join me?"

"Not yet," Jared replied. "We just arrived on station and I'd do about anything to avoid short range replicator food, so I'd love to," he added, his voice indicated that he had been eating those for the duration of his Hornet's trip here. Making a bit of friendly small talk until they reached the restaurant district, he asked, "So, which team was your ship represent?"

"C," Jane replied. She figured they were probably on opposite teams, but it didn't hurt to be friendly. Besides, it wasn't a real battle. And as much as she wanted to show her superior officers that she was capable, she really could care less about the outcome. They were all on the same side after all and she'd always found competition to be off putting because people got too involved in it.

"I'm on B, so that makes us allies," Jared replied in a way that suggested that it did not matter. In the end, they were all Starfleet and this exercise was to ensure fleet readiness. Indicating the Promenande and it's almost endless choices, the Commader asked, "With all of these choices, do you have any recommendations for a new arrival?" Anything would taste better than a Starfleet defaults on the Agrona's replicators. The operations staff on his starbase had yet to work their magic on the replicators so the choices were rather unimaginative.

"I haven't explored much to be honest. But I always enjoy Bajoran food. Pretty much anything that's not replicated is heavenly in my opinion. Somehow I ended up with a chef on my ship who does wonders with food. I think my husband, well then he was only my boyfriend, pulled a few strings."

"What I wouldn't give for something not replicated," Jared replied, savoring the taste of something real. Sharing the appreciation for good food, the Commander added, "My station has its share of great food establishments. Surprisingly, we have a Cardassian and Bajoran fusion restaurant that stays packed."

"Huh, interesting combination. I'm pretty much willing to try anything as long as it's dead though. I don't like my food moving, it's the only rule I have about eating. So . . . I'll let you pick. What strikes your fancy?" Jane crossed her arms, not meaning to look impatient, she just didn't know what to do with her hands at that moment.

Quickly giving the Promenade a look, Jared noticed a restaurant that caught his attention. It was a Tex/Mex style place that looked very much like what he had grown up eating back home in Arizona. "It has been years, what do you think about that one?" he pointed out his find.

"Perfectly fine with me." Jane hid a yawn, she'd not been sleeping well leading up the games. Too many things on her mind that she wanted to ensure were done before things got going. "So . . . where are you from, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Not very far from Flagstaff, Arizona yet far enough away to have been raised in the desert," Jared replied as the two of them entered the restaurant and found a table. The smell of the steaming fajitas making their way to the tables made his mouth water. As they grabbed their table, he asked back, "What about yourself? Where is home?" That was not his full answer, and he hoped that she would not dive deeper. Being born on a planet in the DMZ ofter brought more questions and he was enjoying his time here.

"Montana. Specifically Flathead lake, closest to Polson. It's where my mother ended up after the divorce." She took a seat. "She built a cabin herself. I never ate replicated food until I was at the academy."

"Same with me," Jared replied. "Our ranch has been in the family generations, my father believed in using as little technology as possible, and he made sure we could live off the land," he explained.

Before anymore discussions could happen, the waiter arrived with a basket of chips and bowl of salsa. "May I take your order?" he asked with a friendly smile and PADD in hand.

"Hmm, everything sounds so good. I'll have the Tijuana tacos and a lime soda." Jane said, placing her hands in her lap. She waited for Jared to give his order while she thought about what to say next in the conversation.

What she had ordered sounded really good, but Jared always felt awkward in ordering the same thing. "I'll have the Monterrey Chicken Fajita, the lemon soda sounds wonderful."

"Were either one of your parents in Starfleet or how did you come about joining?" It was what she wanted to know the most and frequently asked new crew members on her ship.

Jared shook his head in the negative, "My dad is a rancher and my mom is a teacher. My sister and I are the first to leave Earth for more than a business or field trip." Taking a chip from the basket and dipping it in the salsa gave him a moment to think about his real reason for joining. "My sister took the first step, she joined the fleet to become a doctor. I saw her example as a way off Earth, a way to see what was really out there. I took the Command path and learned to love piloting, which is where I got my start."

He took a bite of his chip to indicate the next thought. After he swallowed, he nodded to the Captain, "What about yourself, Captain? How did you get out of Montana?"

"My mother drove me insane," Jane smirked. "And my father was a Starfleet officer though once I was in the academy we split tracks pretty fast. He was a diplomat and I want into piloting as well. I thought I wanted to be a science officer but my now husband thought otherwise and convinced me to move in this direction when we first met."

"Are you happy with the direction you took?" Jared replied. Taking that kind of advice was always a big risk, the fails compared to the success rate had to be almost even. "I don't mean to pry," he offered, realizing that he may have overstepped his bounds.

Jane nodded, not minding the question at all. "Yes, I'd say so. It took me a while to let go of my fear but I have a great support system, not only in him but in my crew as well. They know I'm not perfect but I feel as if they trust me and trust that I'll make the decision I think is right. What about you?"

"If you would have asked the Academy graduate me, I would have never thought I'd be in a command position," Jared answered honestly as the waiter delivered the food. After giving his thanks to the waiter, the man turned back to the Captain, "I was a very different young officer. I'm a better officer and, I hope, person now that I've had a career full of life changing moments."

"It seems to me." Jane said, pointing her fork at him. "That the best commanding officers are the ones who don't seek power, but are encouraged or due to situation are given the responsibility, because they are a lot more careful with that power. Just an observation I've made over the years." She said, trying her first bite and letting the flavors settle in her mouth.

As Jane spoke, Jared politely moved the fajita sides to the side and began mixing the steaming onions, peppers, and chicken together. "I hope to be counted among the good ones once my turn comes at the center chair, but for now I hope the station's crew would call me a good XO." He took a small bite as to not look like he was pigging out, the flavors took him home. "What is it about food that brings back memories?"

"Hmm, yes, baby steps." She paused on his second question not sure if it was rhetorical. "Not just food, a smell, a sound . . . it's a sign we're getting old." She grinned. "What were you remembering just now?" Jane asked, hoping as he had earlier that she wasn't overstepping any boundaries with the question.

“Just a reminder about how small the Galaxy can be,” Jared shook his head. Pointing his fork to the plate he said, no matter how far I go, this always tastes the same. “Even as far away as the Romulan Empire.”

Jane smiled warmly. "To never being far away from home." She raised her glass of soda and waited for him to do the same.

"To never being far away from home," Jared echoed, raising his glass for the toast.

---

Captain Jane Saulitis
Commanding Officer
USS Majestic

Commander Jared Rosado
First Officer
Starbase 621