A Farewell Dinner

Posted on Sat Jul 31st, 2021 @ 9:39am by Warrant Officer Koh Ottasu & Warrant Officer Callisi Veera & Commander Ichiko Gail & Lieutenant Commander Evelyn Rozia & Linza (Lin) Esni & Joquer & Captain Abigail Laurens & Lieutenant Commander William Gunnison & Lieutenant Roxa Onaix & Lieutenant Veznia MD PSyD & Lieutenant Alexis Aenera & Lieutenant JG Shaille Levine & Lieutenant JG Tamarack & Senior Chief Petty Officer Maria Vasquez & Cole Gunnison & Ensign Rajeo & Ensign Elaine Goff

Mission: Pathstone to History
Location: Conference Lounge

The festivities were already in full swing when Abigail finally entered the conference room. The weariness that had been etched on her face earlier in the day was gone. Now she smiled gracefully as she wove through the group of officers toward their special guests. This was not a formal dinner, no uniforms were required, instead it was just a gathering of friends, a farewell before the Astraea departed the following day. "Alia, Fleetmaster Goki, welcome back to the Astraea," she offered as she approached, offering a quick nod to Ichiko who had been standing with them, keeping them company. "My apologies for keeping you waiting. I trust the refreshments are to your liking?"

Roxa sipped a drink and made small talk with a few people in the room, trying to listen to the conversations going on around her. She offered a smile and a nod to the Captain when she entered the room.

Alia gave a pair of nods, the binary diplomat dressed in a flowing white and blue dress that allowed for easy movement and didn't hinder the digitigrade structure of their lower body. "Oh it's quite alright, you're an Overseer, or Shipmaster or, wait, you just say Captain." she said, a pair of giggles. Each form had a drink in their hands, and ever the pioneer of discovery, the Dalacari had a separate drink for each form.

Goki, the Ts'usugi Fleetmaster, was dressed in as casual an attire as his profession would allow. A simple black button shirt, grey slacks of a sort, and well polished black boots. No rank insignia, no shiny buttons, nothing. He was drab and dark, an inky blot. Perhaps that was the point of the attire. "Everything is as close to perfect as permitted, Shipmaster. We thank you for your hospitality, and we hope your crew will in time forgive this misalignment of the concepts of protocol. Justice is universal, but her means and methods not so much." he looked around at the grouping. "You have an excellent crew."

Ichiko, their handler if you would, was wearing a simple black slip dress with a red floral pattern. Sleeveless, perhaps the most daring outfit the rabbitess had. Daring and bold. At the conversation before her, she stayed quiet, but she did offer Abigail a soft smile at her approach.

Linza was surprised she was able to come to the dinner. She figured she'd be on security detail somewhere while the rest of the crew enjoyed themselves. When she was invited, she decided to pull out a blue, thin strapped dress and heels. Could she walk very well in them? No, but she could at least do so without tripping on her own feet...most of the time. She was even more happy when she realized she could get a drink, though she didn't go for anything too strong. For some reason though, as she looked around at all the people, she started to feel self conscious in her outfit choice.

Joquer had been rather late coming to the party. Frankly, he had only gotten the memo that there even was a party in the first place just minutes ago, as he had been busy negotiating contracts with a local entertainment company, marking a milestone accomplishment as Joquer's foot in the door in the Delta Quadrant. He arrived to the party still dressed in his business suit and made his way over to the table laden with Ferengi dishes, scooping himself up a nice plate of worms. Granted, these worms had been killed, and the best kinds of worms were the live ones that struggled as you attempted to eat them, but Joquer couldn't complain. At this rate, he was glad there was even Ferengi food being served at all.

Veznia was never one to turn down dinner. She arrived as promptly as ever, wearing a flowing jumpsuit of Betazoid silks. She was meticulous in her choice, making sure it was something with stretch to it as she was not certain what was on the menu. The Denobulan looks downright jovial as she strode in. "Evening all."

Shaille linked her arm through Koh's as they entered the conference lounge. "Nervous?" she asked, referring to the near legendary presence of Goki aboard the ship.

"Who, me?" the fighter pilot said with a soft smile, "A little. Just promise to step on my foot or something if I start to make an ass out of myself? I'm still bad at picking up those subtle human signs."

"I have allowed something of an open door policy tonight for any crew that wish to come," Abigail offered by way of explanation to both Goki and Alia. "While my crew are somewhat familiar with the Ts'usugi, the Dalacari are still something of an enigma, and given the most recent events, I thought it good that everyone sees we are all friends."

Alia gave a pair of smiles, while Goki himself just looked impressed. "That's rather clever. I like the way you think." the fleetmaster said, amused. "We don't normally have such an open door policy on Ts'usugi ships. Everyone knows their job, and knows what to do. It might do well for the crew to loosen up from time to time." he continued, "Though, our crew isn't as diverse as yours. So there's not much to gain on the interplanetary mindset by mingling."

"I think the notion of being seen as approachable is commendable. It defeats the ancient concepts that the leader of a ship, or a community, is beyond approach. Beyond consequence." Alia somewhat countered.

"Besides, this is the first time I get to see such a diversity of life." the binary diplomat mentioned, and at Veznia's entrance, the Dalacari raised her drinks, "And good evening to you too." she was all smiles, no teeth. Having such a fun time being surrounded by so many people, and so diverse a crowd.

Having made the offer to help Alexis after the fact, Ashe made her way through the room, tray of drinks in hand. "Can I interest you in a slidewinder? I hear they're trending by ten percent. How about a tea? We have a particularly lovely long island blend on offer this evening."

Evelyn had slipped in relatively unnoticed, wearing a relatively slinky forest green dress that showed probably far too many of the Trill's spots as it wove in and out over them and showed much of the outside of her left leg, "You're a lifesaver, Ashe. One of the Long Island teas for me, I think." She accepted the drink gratefully, "Thanks, no really, thanks." She smiled at the civilian and glanced around to see if there was someone to talk to.

Hearing something about the drinks being offered, Linza slipped her way over to where Ashe was giving some out. "Agree on the Long Island tea, please." She shifted on her heels. "Why'd I wear these things?"

“Probably for the same reason I did?” Evelyn chuckled as she balanced on one foot precariously to show she was wearing a set as well, “Semi-formalism, but elegant? Or at least in the eyes of people who set the ‘rules’ for things like this.”

Senior Chief Petty Officer Maria Vasquez leaned over. "Actually, ma'am, I avoid such things myself," she said, showing off her fashionable yet low-heeled footwear. "Admittedly, though, there is a reason for it. I tried high heels once years ago, but dropped the idea - and the shoes - after I wound up in sickbay with a broken ankle."

“I’ve got a bit more experience with these these things,” Evelyn gave a small laugh, “An additional lifetime’s worth and I don’t know why I keep on putting them back on. I’ve never broken an ankle, only sprained a couple pretty bad. I’m going to have to get that look of shoe, though, they do look awful nice, ummm…” Evie didn’t know the name of the woman, and she was slightly embarrassed about that.

"Oh, my apologies. Senior Chief Petty Officer Maria Vasquez, ship's quartermaster. Usually you don't see me much in person. Either you just file something like a supply request and stuff just seems to appear, or if you do deal with a person you usually get one of the junior members of the department, and sometimes it seems like they're usually some crewman apprentice who's fresh out of their Academy basic training."

Lin smiled at Evelyn, "Linza Esni. Don't worry, I'm somewhat new to the crew, and just a security officer. Afraid I don't know you either though."

"Evelyn Rozia, Engineering." The Trill smiled at both of her companions, "I'm sorry, Chief, you've probably gotten far too many requisitions from me. I know you do your best and I truly only ask for what I really need. At least, the things I can't just make or locate myself. On the other hand, if either of you have questions about the ship, I was on here for a few months before the rest of you arrived, so I've got all the inside skinny on this sweetheart."

"I'm just happy to be here honestly." Lin took a sip of her drink, reminding herself to not have to many. "I'm not big on the engineering aspects except when something goes wrong. I know the basics but, anyone who graduated the Academy should know some, right?"

Abigail made her way through the gathering crowd, making small talk with the crew as she walked around. Finally, she stopped next to Alexis and the rest of the group. "Lieutenant Aenera, I must say, you've done an exceptional job with the festivities, I am very impressed, it seems our guests are as well. Congratulations."

Alexis had finally made it back, needing, more wanting to go get cleaned up and dressed up after all of the preparation. She'd returned in a sparkling blue gown with matching heels and sapphire jewelry to go with it, then snagging a glass of bubbly something as she walked in and began to mingle a bit and had ended up near the Captain, "Thank you, ma'am." She said quietly, "I just... Wanted to make up for my mistakes."

"You've done well," Abigail reassured. "Our guests are suitably impressed, and it seems as is many of the crew. We'll talk more tomorrow after departure, until then, enjoy your hard work." The Captain offered a smile before walking away, taking a glass of something bright yellow served in a tall glass, something that basically looked like liquid sunshine. One sip sent a wave of warmth through her. It was almost like drinking liquid sunshine. She smiled again, making her way through the room back toward Alia and Goki who were being kept company by Ichiko. "Have you tried these?" she asked, holding up the glass. "If you could take a warm summers day and liquify it, I think this is what it would taste like!"

Lin had just listened. All she'd really done was escort one of the bot-things around. It might have been helpful to some, but for her, it felt like it wasn't. She was still getting used to all this, but hadn't felt like she was helping much. She went back to sipping the drink, debating another.

"A warm summer's day, you say? I haven't felt the sun and the wind in over seven months." Goki smirked, "The real sun, the real wind. I have to see if this claim holds up." and Alia simply smiled, "You know, shore leave isn't against regulation." she reminded him.

"The Koldaran demand my attention, Alia. Never a moment respite, except now." and Ichiko, ever the diligent hostess, came back with a platter of tall thin glasses filled with bright sunshine. Glass in hand, Goki now stood. "Pardon me, shipmaster, but in matters of state these are expected." and he held up his glass. Alia tapped her glasses with her fork to get the room's attention. "He loves these." she muttered to Abigail.

"To the brave and intrepid crew of the Astraea, explorers across the gulf of space, I welcome you to this new frontier. Familiar to some of us, home to fewer, but to so many of you this is beyond the boundary of possibility. The last time one of your ships was this far out, it was on accident. Now, you are here on your own volition, with a renewed purpose and a fire in your eyes. To seek, to peek, and to explore." Goki chuckled, "I envy you, each of you. My explorer days are behind me, and I fear I've seen all there is to see in the gulf of the dark. I look out and I see enemies, concerns, and front lines... but each of you sees new horizons, new dawns, and the promise of what tomorrow will hold. I ask each of you, hold that feeling tight and never let it go."

He chuckled again as he turned to Abigail, "Damn the desk jobs." he muttered, for her ears only, before returning to address the crew, "The future you write here is a future you can hand to the next graduates, and the next, and the lanes you pave in the starways will forever bear your mark. All I have the right to ask is to ensure that it is a mark worth remembering. Eyes up, explorers. To your new frontier!"

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