The Feasts of Four Kingdoms - Part 1

Posted on Sat Nov 18th, 2017 @ 10:58pm by Captain Michelle Bartlett & Commander Rostra Tang & Lieutenant Commander J'Loni Mo'Bri & Lieutenant Valeria Mordin & Commodore Jason Myers & Lieutenant Talea Honn
Edited on on Sat Nov 18th, 2017 @ 11:06pm

Mission: https://wellington.pegasusfleet.site/index.php/sim/missions/id/4
Location: Observation Lounge
Timeline: Current - June 18, 2399 - 1300

ON:

Mok'Tor returned with two bottles of blood wine and gave them to J'Loni who in turn opened one, and poured each of the glasses, including Tukal's. Holding it in the air, "To the lasting peace and friendships that were forged here today. May they stand the lasting tests of time!", and touched each glass before she drank.

"Now for some of this strange but delicious food here", she said and walked with the group to the tables.

Tukal, and each form of Neelor, raised their glasses in salute. A final raise to support the toast, and then they drank. Neelor wasn't quite ready for the strength of the alcohol, and each form came up almost gasping for air as though she were drowning. "I... hope I don't... discredit your collection, but I think that's enough for me."

Tukal, on the other hand, had almost the same reaction. Though, he at least held an appreciation for the liquor. "That... wow. That's something. Wooooooo... gonna put a shine in my eye if I have too much of that. I think I'm going to try something a little less potent, like... I suppose... Dalacari plasma eject or the matter exhaust." he had a smirk, and he managed to finish the glass poured to him like a true captain. Though, he left the last little sip untouched.

"That... that stuff's dangerous." he said, but he sounded way too amused for it to be a legit threat. The smirk he had on his face said exactly how serious he wasn't. "Yeah, food." he announced, and joined the line.

The food line went fast, as the staff was helpful and automated. Each drone in the line commented on the food it was serving, the proper way to fully enjoy it if you weren't a Dalacari, and would pleasantly wish everyone to enjoy the afternoon in the name of peace. Those on their second trip were asked how they enjoyed their first dish, and would quickly find that any favorite dishes they enjoyed were often the first things replaced on their empty return trips.

The servers were learning.

Michelle arrived early, looking at the options for food and would probably have licked her lips if it was becoming.

J'Loni went looking for anyone who she thought would have some engineering knowledge to start up a discussion with but came up empty. She was almost fascinated in a way with the drones, and picked some of the Ts'usugi food and the Dalacari desserts. She'd skipped breakfast anyways with everything going on. Might as well gorge.

The drones serving the food were more than pleased to serve J'Loni, describing each dish and the proper way to eat it. "Due to your singular nature, ma'am, this unit recommends consuming half of each pastry at once. Dalacari traditionally consume one pastry each, to allow the flavor to combine through shared sensation."

J'Loni looked at the drone and tried the pastry as suggested and indeed find it savory. "A very tasty pastry in deed", she said, as she went back for more.

The serving drone gave a nod of it's head, having been built with bipedal familiarity in mind. "Delightful. This unit will update the listing of your preferences." after a short pause, hardly half a second, "Would you care for more? If you enjoyed the black-streak fish from the Ts'usugi concessions, this unit can suggest a complementary sauce. Provided your tolerance for spices is at least a class three or higher."

"Looking for someone?" it was the voice of Neelor.

"I'm trying to decide where to start." Michelle said

"Start at dessert. We're all adults here." Neelor said with a smirk, watching J'Loni go for the pick of the list. "Though, J'Loni there has the right idea. If you like seafood, you can't beat the Ts'usugi."

"You know they have entire farm complexes on some of their ecosystem moons? Stretch for miles, incorporate the local ecosystem. Just to farm fish for their empire."

Michelle looked astounded. She'd almost never heard of such an operation. "They take most of a moon up just for fishing?" she asked, rather impressed with this. "I'd have to see this for myself. It sounds beyond impressive." she said.

Neelor gave a nod, "Twenty five thousand acres, they say." she commented softly, "The Ts'usugi know their expansion puts a crimp on the surrounding ecosystems, so they try to supplement how they can. Their replicator technology is..."

"... a bit behind the curve, but there's a major schism about trusting anything further advanced than their Insipp unit. See the average Ts'usugi doesn't really trust transporters, and Replicators are just a..."

"...stone's throw away from transporters. Their old ways are putting a huge strain on their infrastructure BUT there's a major division of advisers to the Emperor that try to stick to the old ways." Neelor explained in a hush.

"They're probably about fifty years away from adopting Dalacari series fabricators. Maybe."

"It'll be fascinating to see who ultimately wins out." Michelle said.

Daisan Tukal took a moment to seek out Commodore Myers, "A fine moment in history. I may have something to add to it, but not to take away this moment's shine. I have a gift for you. Well technically for the ship." he said with a smirk. "I also have a bit of fleet business to discuss with your Wing Commander. I have a pilot who's interested in a bit of cross-platform study, and has requested that I see if there's a place for him here. He'd be bringing his fighter, which I've permitted, and he'd be bringing all the necessary equipment to maintain and resupply."

"All I need is your consent, and the approval of your Wing Command, and he'll pack his duffle."

"Of course. So long as the Captain and Commander Lawson agree.

"So long as I agree to what, Commodore?" Lawson asked, having heard his name in conversation.

"The Ts'usugi would like to send one of their fighters to serve with us and along with your fighter group." Jason replied. "Based on what I saw out there today, I think he would be quite an asset. Plus it's always good to see what others do and maybe learn from them as well."

"I have no problem with that. The more the merrier I always say." Then, after a moment's thought he added "Of course I will want to meet this pilot first. When will he or she be coming aboard?"

"He. You might have met him out in the field. His previous call sign was 'Red Bishop', but with his wing having been retired he requested the transfer. He's handling the post-flight clean up and prep for transfer, so he unfortunately will miss all the food." Tukal mentioned, "He was quite impressed with Federation fighter tactics. At least he seemed rather surprised that you employed them at all." another mention, but this time with a smirk.

"Oh really?" Lawson asked, a bit of irritation beginning to show at what he perceived to be an insult aimed at his squadron. "And just why, sir, would he be surprised at that?"

"We've seen some research footage of engagements involving Federation craft, and we've never seen them deployed." Tukal mentioned. "Either the classes of craft we saw weren't equipped with them, or opted not to deploy them."

"I'll match my fighter squadron's capabilities against any other group," he snapped. "I believe they are not just one of the best but THE best fighter squadron around - Federation or otherwise. I would have thought their performance in the recent unpleasantness would have proven that to you. If not, I'll be glad to arrange a demonstration against any group you'd care to designate."

Tukal gave the CAG a smile, "I like that pride in your unit. I'm certain if you were to ask the wing commander on the Orbital Dawn, she'd say the same thing. Now, I was indeed impressed by the display of your wing. The only reason there was surprise is because there was no footage of previous deployments." he paused, "No offense was intended, I assure you."

"In that case, none taken..." Lawson said. "And I look forward to meeting this pilot of yours," he added as he extended his hand to the other man. "I'm sure he will be an asset to our squadron."

Tukal took the man's hand in his own. For such a young man, he had a decently firm handshake. Nothing bone crunching certainly, but it would be what some would consider to be a 'real' handshake. "I'm certain of it, or at least he'll certainly try." a pause, "If you'll excuse me." he turned towards Jason, "With that out of the way... As for the gift, tell me, what's the most powerful and important thing in the cosmos? The one thing that's completely invaluable in any situation." Tukal asked with a smirk. Ts'usugi loved their puzzles.

"Information." Jason said. "You don't know who or what to fire at or how to proceed with a new species without that."

Tukal gave a nod, then fished a small object out from his uniform pocket. About two inches wide by four inches long, and half an inch thick, it was a case that contained four isolinear chips of some form. Violet in color, though that was really their only difference. "Your people are new here, the Delta Quadrant I mean. Sure, you had explorers here before but they were more intent on returning home than exploring. Since you're going to be around our neck of the woods, I figure you might as well have some access to a well informed stock."

"These will need to be installed in your central computer core, primarily the part concerning communications across the subspace frequencies. They contain communications protocols and encryption codes that are unique to this set, so no sharing or replicating." he smirked, "These will grant you limited access to the Ts'usugi Buoy Network."

Rostra almost spit out her drink.

"Limited, in the sense of access. Three requests for data per ten days." he explained. Rostra meanwhile sought out napkins.

Out of seeming nowhere a chuckle was heard at Rostra doing a spit take. "Three requests per ten days. Seems fair enough" Jack smiled, seemingly appearing from the either behind Jason, dressed in a white 3 button suit, black shirt with a red tie his salt and pepper hair slicked on the sides while the top was short and maintained.

"It seems a fair limit. If it's too easy to access and no limits are in place, then what's the point of exploring? Just ask for a copy of everything we and the Dalacari have ever found, and spend the next eight years pouring over it. Simple, easy, and boring." Tukal smirked, "Three is a lucky number in our society, and over the course of ten standard federation days, every one of Ts'usu's moons will have made one orbit. Something of an auspicious collection of numbers for us."

"I just want you to promise me one thing, Commodore. Call it a favor, if it sets you at ease." he paused, "Don't copy the chips, and don't hand out this access lightly. There will be some questions the Network can't or won't answer, so if they say such don't press. Such a failure to answer won't count against your limit. It isn't 'You get three questions', it's 'You get three answers'."

To be continued...

OFF:

Commodore Jason Myers
Task Force Commanding Officer
Starfleet Command

Captain Michelle Bartlett
Commanding Officer
USS Wellington

Commander Harold Lawson (ONPC - Jim)
Commander Aerospace Group (CAG)
USS Wellington

Lt. Commander Rostra Tang
Strategic Operations
USS Wellington

Lt. Commander Talea Honn
Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Wellington

Lt. Cmdr. J'Loni Mo'Bri
Assistant Chief Engineering Officer
USS Wellington

Lt. Mok'Tor
Assistant Chief of Security/Tactical Officer
USS Wellington

Fleetmaster Daisan Tukal
Ts'usugi Fleet
ICF Orbital Dawn

Diplomat Neelor Palim
Diplomatic Division
Dalacari Republic

Serving Drone U37, U38, and U40 (U39 had the night off.)
Dalacari Fabrication Division
Dalacari Republic