A New Friend and A Simple Meeting

Posted on Thu Dec 28th, 2017 @ 8:22pm by Lieutenant Commander J'Loni Mo'Bri & Lieutenant Temperance Zachary

Mission: https://wellington.pegasusfleet.site/index.php/sim/missions/id/4
Location: Holoceck 1
Timeline: July 3, 2399 1230

ON:

J'Loni saw that there was a new crew member that had just arrived and she was eager to meet her so she decided to set up a program on the holodeck that might prove to be the correct setting for meeting her and hopefully to know her. =/\=Lt. Cmdr. J'Loni Mo'Bri to Lt. Temperance Zachary, could you meet me at Holodeck 1 for a friendly get together?=/\= and she closed the com. Heading for the holodeck, she programed a setting where she had dreamed of when she was a small girl. It was like a colorful waterfall against a starlit sky with two moons and a gentle mountainous outline against the starlit sky. The pool of water that formed from the waterfall was lit in different colors from the moons rays and it looked like there were lights under the pool of water that changed as the water fell. There was a small café around the waterfall that served food and drink and the thought it would be the best place to meet with her there. Once she had programed it, she had the computer open it up and as she went in, it was perfect. It was just as she had pictured it and imagined it. Now it was set and all she had to do was wait for Temperance to get there.

Temp heard the comm call and hesitated, her hand just above her comm badge, before she replied. Her first instinct was to say no, this wasn't a good time, that she was far too busy unpacking in her quarters, and then just quietly go to sleep, but that is something that the old Temperance would do, the Temperance who lived in the past. Before she could change her mind, she tapped her commbadge lightly and replied. =/\= 'I am on my way now Ma'am,'=/\= she said quietly before closing the comm link.

The walk to the holodeck was neither lengthy nor was it difficult. A few people stopped her to welcome her aboard, but that was about it. Most just smiled and nodded and left her go on her way. Before she knew it she was standing in front of the holodeck doors. She stood tall, her head held high and straightened her uniform. As soon as the doors parted, she stepped in, speaking quickly. "Lieutenant Temperance Zachary reporting as required Ma'am..." her voice trailed off as she took in the scenery around her. "Oh my goodness," she breathed softly. "This is absolutely amazing!"

J'Loni awaited for her to arrive and when she did, the first thing she said was, "Lt. Zachary, drop the Ma'am and just call me J'Loni, and I will call you Temperance or what ever pleases you better. I know you were busy and I bet you were unpacking in your quarters but this is my way of saying hello and welcome aboard", she said. The doors opened the scene was beautiful. A starlit sky, two moons, a waterfall that changed color as the water fell and the pool of water that formed at the base looked like it had lights in the bottom that changed colors was the water fell. The rays of the moons fell on a gentle mountain range that was so beautiful it really seemed all to real. There was a café that was there and she led Temperance to the café and sat at a table very near the edge of the pool of water. "Ok Temperance what would you like? I am going to eat a salad and have a double shot of honest 14 year old Scotch that I have from one of my engineers who owns a family business making Scotch" she said.

"This is absolutely breathtaking," she said quietly as she walked to the cafe and sat near the water. She could almost reach the waters edge from her seat and it was so tempting to pull off her boots and dip her toes in the water. Instead she turned her attention back to J'Loni. "Most people call me Temp," she said with a smile. "I think a light salad and a scotch sounds just wonderful, that is, if that's ok?" She poured herself a glass of water from the water bottle that had silently appeared at the table in front of them and took a sip. "Now, if memory serves, you would be the Chief Engineering Officer, yes?"

"Yes. I have been a Chief Engineering Officer for the last 14 years of my service. I started out as an Ensign and rose through the ranks. It was easy for me as my parents had me playing with engineering parts since I was a baby. I love engineering and like I tell the Admiralty, you can promote me to Captain or Admiral but don't take me out of my beloved Engineering Room. I live in the engineering officer half the time but since I got married 7 years ago I have a family and a daughter who is 6 and in school so I do have to go home. You will find on this ship, we have a zoo. I have two full grown grey wolves and my husband has al hybrid eagle/hawk bird. Several of my engineering crew all have animals and there are others on the ship that have pets. Basically engineering is my staff except for Cordale and Renee. They are two people that are great engineers and I have incorporated them both into the Engineering Musketeers as I call them now. It is a long story but the short story is all of them except for Renee and Cordale, were transferred en-mass by me to this ship from the other ship. I had the pull to get them here and so engineering is basically sewed up by my people. They are a great bunch of kids and a lot of fun once you get to meet them. And what about you? You are Strategic Officer?" she asked as she sipped her drink.

Holding the drink in her hand, she swirled it lightly, watching the liquid move around in her glass. "Strategic Operations is something that I just kind of fell into," she said quietly. "No rhyme nor reason other than I discovered I'm quite good at it." She shrugged slightly, feeling somewhat awkward. Her history was not something that had ever really been a ready focus of conversation for her, she was generally quite happy to sit on the sidelines and observe, that was a very small part of what made her good at her job. "The zoo sounds very interesting, definitely something very unusual for a starship." She glanced briefly at the water again and the way the colours moved. "So, it seems very much that if I want or need anything in Engineering, you would be the go to person then?"

"Yep, me or my assistant, Cor. If you can't get either one, basically anyone of the Musketeers can help you", she said smiling. Changing the topic for a brief minute, " You know, I have a friend in Security who is a very good Tatical Officer. Some of her battle strategies are fantastic. Maybe you would like to meet her in the future", she added.

"That would be great,' Temp replied with a smile. "Tactical is such a diverse field, I've dabbled in it a little over the years... there is usually some overlap between our fields, and truthfully, I find it fascinating."

"Well if you want I could tell her that you would like to meet her. I am sure she would say yes. She is also a fighter pilot and between both positions I bet you two could really have a great conversation", she said. J'Loni knew that Temp would love it so she made a note to set it up for her. "Temp in the mean time would you like a tour of engineering? I now the guys wouldn't mind showing you around", she said.

"That would be fabulous actually, up until now the biggest ship I'd ever set foot on was only a Nova class, and everything on this ship seems so much more impressive! I'm sure even Engineering would be the same!" Temp replied with a smile.

"Well then, I can give you a tour or the guy's, which ever you would prefer", she said. "As for T'Lar, I can let her know you are intetested in meeting her", she said. "Is that acceptable?", she added.

"That would be perfect," Temperance replied with an easy smile, leaning back comfortably in her seat and turning her gaze back to the water. The way the colour changed in the water was near magical. "When ever you can schedule a tour of engineering just let me know, I'm pretty much available almost all the time until we get underway, so I can be pretty flexible."

"Well I can arrange the tour for tomorrow around 0930 if you want and I can show you around unless you want one of the others to do it?" she said, sipping on her drink looking at the sky and the way it changed as the waters changed color.

"9.30 will be perfect, and I would love for you to show me around if you have the time," Temperance replied easily.

"Beautiful place this is. I was facinated by it and I remembered it from a while back and just had to recreate it again. I think I am going to keep this one in the program files. I think William would love it as well", she added.

"William?" Temp queried, turning her attention back to J'Loni.

"Oh shoot, William is my husband Temp", she said, laughing. "I forgot to tell you from the beginning, I am married to William Spanner. He is one of my engineers", she added, laughing.

"Ooohhhh... that makes sense!" Temperance finally replied. "Sorry, down side of new ship, as well as trying to remember all the names and faces, you need to remember relationships and everything as well. How long have you been married for?" she asked with genuine curiosity.

"7 years and we have a 6 year old daughter. Her name is Jenna MoBri Spanner and she is a cuttie and a very smart girl. Sometimes she thinks she is all grown up and wants to come with us to all the social functions. The last one she was with us nearly killed me. I got so embarassed I nearly died. With all the different species, you can imagine what she wanted to do with all of them including the Mission Advisor. Oh lord I thought I would die. She actually wanted to take her home as a pet. Fortunately the Advisor understood and explained to her that she could not be her pet but be her friend", she said, turning red in the face at the explanation.

Temperance laughed at the thought. "I can just imagine," she replied. "At least the mission advisor took it all very well, it could have ended so very differently. I have seen a few children attend functions, some have ended well, some not so much. At least it sounds like your daughter is well behaved and well intentioned."

"Hey, how would you like to have dinner with us some night soon? I am a good cook you know, and you can meet he family. How's that?", she asked.

"I think I'd like that very much," Temperance replied with a smile. "Are you sure your husband and daughter won't mind?"

"Nope, as a matter of fact I think they would both enjoy the company. It would give Jenna a chance to show off her companions", she said smiling.

"Her companions?" Temp asked curiously. "Should I be concerned?" she asked with a light laugh.

"Temp, they are both 8 year old grey wolves that have grown up with her. They are both obedient and gentle. They were given to me before I joined the Wellington. When I joined the previous ship, USS Pathfinder, Sheba was with child. The pups were born on the ship and shortly there after I also became pregnant. So you see, they grew with the family", she said smiling.

"Oh, they sound lovely," she said. "I look forward to meeting her creatures then."

"You will fall in love with them...oh I forgot to tell you about the bird. William has a hybrid hawk/eagle as well. His name is Beast. He is also a fun kid and is also obedient. The stories we could tell you about these animals will have your sides hurting", she said, remembering one such incident.

"It sounds like your daughter is one very lucky little lady indeed," Temp replied with a smile.

"Jenna is a special little girl that was not planned but just happened and I have...no...William and I have no regrets in having her at all. She is the light of out lives at this point and we are a happy family. Some day I hope you will have the joy that we do" she said, smiling. J'Loni knew that she ment when she told Temperance that. Jenna was a mistake yes but one that turned out to be the most joyous moment in both their lives. Now what J'Loni wanted was to make friends with Temperance and to add her to her small list of friends on the Wellington. It wasn't enough that she had a crew in engineering but real friends were something she didn't have here on the Wellington and for the moment Temperance was one of them, or at least she hoped she was.

"Temperance I will see you then tomorrow morning in engineering at 0930", she asked.

Temp smiled easily. "Fabulous, I'll see you then! Thank you for the... for everything" she motioned to the table as she stood up. "I should probably make sure I've got myself organised though, I've spent so much time in the short time I've been on board just meeting all these new people, I'm afraid I've neglected my own department a little." Walking away Temperance smiled. Everyone on the ship so far had been so friendly, now just remained to see how long this lasted and if any would become actual friendships.


OFF:

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

Lt. Temerance Zachary
Strategic Operations Officer
USS Wellington