Surprise Reunions

Posted on Sun Dec 24th, 2017 @ 5:45pm by Laura Myers & Commander Rostra Tang

Mission: https://wellington.pegasusfleet.site/index.php/sim/missions/id/4
Location: Promenade, New Earth
Timeline: July 3, 2399 @ 1100

Laura was strolling the promenade mostly out of boredom... Her belongings had been moved to Jason's new quarters on the ship, but there were just a few things she needed to pick up that she knew she wouldn't have a chance to for a while. She had enjoyed that aspect of starbase life: The not having to wait until the next shore leave. But damned if Jason wasn't just a smidge determined to go back into space. It was for the best.. And she knew it.

Strolling around the Promenade taught Rostra one thing: Humans had an appreciation for personal space. This place was beautiful. The ample elbow room, the wide halls and walkways, even the proper use of transparent hull materials to expand the illusion of interior space. She had to admit, as much as she liked Dalacari construction, if everyplace was built to New Earth standards she could get used to it.

Needed a Dalacari touch though. Needed drones. Rostra actually laughed to herself at that thought. She was horrible sometimes. Though as she was recovering from that moment of decadence, something caught the corner of her eye. No, her other eye. No, her other other eye. Was that...?

"Is that Laura Myers I see?" Rostra called out, turning to intercept the woman to see if her eyes and her memory were playing tricks on her.

Laura turned around, hearing the voice and her name. Her confusion gave way to surprise, and then to a grin. "The one and only." she said. "Of all people, I can't believe I just randomly run into you!" she said with a bit of a laugh. "Taking a bit of a break, are we?"

Rostra gave a wide, wide pair of smiles as she just about ran into her old friend. One form held her arms wide for an incoming hug, but she remembered her manners and personal spacial regulations. "Permission to hug?"

Laura chuckled. "Of course!"

Rostra's forms smiled, as one embraced Laura in a grand hug. "It's so so good to see you again!" she started, then released Laura and gave a giggle, "Who? Me? A break?! Please. Just cleaning up a rather..."

"... large and obnoxious diplomatic mess, then out from the shadows comes your husband. Says he needs an officer with gusto, with a sense of adventure." she giggled again.

"I swear I think I'm the ONLY Dalacari with a sense for danger and adventure. But, he roped me into it, and of course I said yes, so... here I am." she motioned around to the station.

"You missed all the excitement on the Frontier Midnight. Oh, and you also missed being aboard a Dalacari station. Oh you'd have loved it, don't worry I have..."

"... plenty of images and vids to share." she was obviously excited to meet up with her old friend. Well, old in a friendship sense. Certainly not in an age sense.

"By the sounds of it, it's probably good that I wasn't around. Diplomatic mess sounds like a pretty mild way to put it." Laura said. "Are the crew doing okay?"

Rostra gave a smile each, "Oh, they're holding together nicely. Well, nicely from an outside perspective once everything was settled. I mean, we're going to be picking up the pieces..."

"... for a while, and by we I mean the Dalacari Republic, but things are getting along. What's that expression, something about trains and stations... but yeah things..."

"... are progressing. It was touch and go havoc there for a while though. It's a good thing Jason had Michelle had me there." she smiled. "But seriously, anyone else and..."

"... there'd have been a much bigger conflict. Especially considering who all showed up to the table. There were elder Klingon generals, Federation diplomat masters..."

"... and we even got a showing of one of the more prestigious and well-known Ts'usugi shipmasters. You know, thinking about it, I think you and Tukal would get..."

"... along rather well. Well, you get along with everyone, really." Rostra complimented.

"You mean you didn't get to prevent a war with cheesecake again?" Laura asked, recalling that incident.

"Funny story..." Rostra's forms giggled, "Tukal asked for the recipe." a pause, "So how've you been? Listen to me, dominating the conversation. Always such a blabber..."

"... mouth. A PAIR of blabbermouths, they'd even call me." she giggled.

Laura laughed. "They can say whatever they want." she added before noticing a change. "Oh my god, it's about time... I just noticed. Congratulations, *Commander*, she said before pausing. "Life has just been life, mostly. Holosuite, tending to plants... Feeding Jason." she said. "I was getting rather comfortable with life on board New Earth. But... You know how Jason is... He wanted to be back out in space so badly. What about you?"

She smiled, "Oh, it's just a pip. Thank you." she started, then returned to the topic at hand, "I gave up a sweet desk job in one of the most prestigious offices in space to gallivant around..."

"... the Delta Quadrant nose first into danger. You know, like no Dalacari ever would do." she giggled, "Rather than enjoy heated seats and tons of fabricator rations." she paused, and just shook her heads, "Oh you..."

"... know me, I'm the crazy Dalacari. Could never say no to a little adventure, only this time I'm prepared. I went and got Recon Certified." she sounded proud of that.

"Means I can harass troops at range with a rifle. Yeah, all of my time with you Federation types done broke my mind, and I went out and got certified to use a ..."

"... rifle. Though, I mostly got it so that if push came to shove, I could protect my friends and family."

"Understandable. But I bet you're good with a phaser rifle." Laura said. "God, it's been years since i've fired one. After Jason made Commodore, I figured it was time to maybe give civilian life a go. I haven't really regretted it too much... yet."

Rostra gave Laura a puzzled look. "Phaser rifle?" one asked. "Oh no nonono... Dalacari don't use phaser rifles. Tell you what, next time we both have some free time, let's take some time..."

"... at the range, and we can get you back into practice. Oh, and I can show off a bit." now both of them had a smile.

"Looking forward to it." Laura said. "I fear you're probably going to best me at least a little bit though now." she added. "Oh, what did we get ourselves into?" she said as she looked at the docked ships.

"What you always get into when Jason Myers is involved. Adventure, excitement, and danger." Rostra stated. "You know, one of those is on the Dalacari list to be avoided." she cited, with a smirk.

"You know, could get you a cushy desk job on a Dalacari station if you want..." the other twin spoke up, in a tease. "Nice desk, posh office, Calus-Class shuttle." there was a pause, "You know, Dalacari..."

"... shuttles fly themselves." she teased again, but this time with a giggle from each form. "Who am I kidding, Dia knows if I had a Calus-Class shuttle Jason would have to pry..."

"... me away from it with a team of crowbars." she smiled.

"You sure you just don't want to marry him and I'll go try and live a normal life?" she said facetiously. She'd never dream of doing that to poor Jason. Or maybe it was Rostra she had more to worry about. "And cushy desk job eh? It's a tragedy we never discovered more automation by now."

Rostra dismissed that thought with a wave and a giggle, "Oh I wouldn't dream of it. Jason Myers is an incredible man, but he's just one man." then she paused, one hand clapped over a mouth. "Oh I... I didn't mean it like that, I just..." and she'd spend the next few moments fumbling over various apologies and backpedals.

"So..." she paused, "... with foot firmly in mouth..." she continued with a pair of smiles. "He's a good friend." and that settled that.

The silent twin spoke up after a moment, "As for automation, I think the Federation has seen a little too much of the dangers of automation to be able to see past it. We saw the pros and cons, and weighed..."

"... them against our own fragility, and decided that as long as firm limits were in place to stop a drone uprising, the pros far outweighed any downsides." she paused.

"Plus, the Calus-Class shuttle..." she said dreamily. "Sorry, just, childhood dreaming."

"Some day, I'm going to have to check those out. Perhaps the next time we're by the Frontier Midnight. Jason couldn't believe how hospitable they were, though it was kind of a rough start. I'm really going to miss having a promenade to shop on though."

"I saw one when I was nine. Some representative to the Republic sold their manor and pooled their resources to buy one. It was enormous and it was beautiful." Rostra said with that dreamy tone to her voice.

"But getting to the topic, we Dalacari really are a hospitable and friendly bunch." the previously silent twin started, "At least we try to be. Jason and the rest just caught us at a..."

"... rather bad time. You could understand." she said with a smirk on each face. "And someday, I'd love to introduce you to the splendor of Frontier Midnight."

Rostra was silent for a while, "Until then, it's Starfleet replicated cheesecake. Diplomacy of the stars."

"You may have to just order Jack to let you in the kitchen to whip a batch up of it... What's he going to do... Relieve you?" Laura asked. "I bet the real thing tastes twice as good."

"There's a joke here about Dalacari cheesecake being twice as good." Rostra smiled, "But I'm not allowed to make that joke." she giggled.

"It wouldn't be wrong. Why don't you come join me? There's a Bajoran food shop down the hall and I need to stock up on material since it'll be a while." Laura said.