After she visited with the new counselor she decided that she needed a break and something to eat, she headed out of the shuttle maintenance area walking down the corridor towards the turbolift. Once she arrived just a few minutes later she entered she told it where to go as the doors shut behind her and began to move towards its destination. After a while the lift came to a stop with the doors opening up, Nilah exited and headed for the Gate Inn as she had yet to try that place and felt it was a good time as any.

Walking into the Gate Inn Cynndle after another long night shift in Operations he felt a bit out of his depths on the station. It felt odd to him that, he had lived here for a year when he was in the academy and loved it but even after 3 months of being back something was missing. He didn’t usually come to the Gate Inn due to the gimmicky nature but at times it reminded him of the small pubs back home and the owner Terry is always friendly. He looked at the menu trying to figure out what he wanted and decided that it was a bit early for a beer and couldn’t decide on food; maybe a cup of tea would do the trick – he had heard there was a type from Trill that was meant to be good. 

Walking over to the counter he smiled at Terry. “How are you doing Terry? Could I have that tea, I cannot recall the name, it’s from Trill” Cynndle said as he looked around. The bar had more people in than he first realized leaving him very few options on where to sit. He turns back to Terry and nodded as the man handed him a large cup of tea before seeing an empty table. He quickly walked towards it trying not to spill anything. Just as he got there and began to grab a car he looked up and saw a young ensign in an operations uniform grabbing the chair beside him. “Oh, um.., my apologies Ensign” he stammered a bit taken back having not realized someone else was going for the table and breaking his train of thought about the station. He looked at her and smiled, “Please the table is all yours” as he gestured towards it.

She didn’t realize another person was going for the same table, she let out a chuckle and smiled. “Guess we had the same table in mind, you can join me if you like? I don’t mind,” she replied with a soft smile looking at him. “My name is Nilah Virahl I am an Engineering Officer working in shipyard construction currently,” she extended her hand towards him.

Seeing this Cynndle smiles and nods, “Thank you Nilah, that would be nice.” He reaches over and pulls out a chair for her and gestures, “After you.” 

Smiling she took a seat, “thank you.” She replied thinking he was being such a gentleman.

He pauses for a moment and lets Nilah sit before sitting across from her. “I’m Cynndle Oin’sun, I am an operations officer here. I have only just been reassigned here.” He pauses and looks at the menu and then at you. “Is there anything I can get for you? Terry has a great selection.”

She looked at the menu thinking for a moment, “I’ll have the Shirley temple.” She replied as it sounded good, though she wasn’t a big drinker only on occasions.

“I think I can get you one of those” He stands up, heading to the bar before quickly returning with the drink. Taking a seat he slides the Shirley temple in front of you.

Taking a sip of his tea, pausing for a second as if considering the flavor before nodding and setting it down. “Do you work in the shipyards? I must say I do enjoy seeing the ships as they come together. What is it like taking part in that? I sit up in Ops and it feels like I am just chasing reports and people endless in a circle at times.”

“It’s been a wonderful experience so far, have learned a lot being down there. Though I don’t always get to work on bigger ships, mostly been smaller ships and shuttlecrafts, though I am working my way up there.” She replied as she took a drink, “what is it like in Ops?” She asked as she hadn’t been to that part of the station yet.

“Well Ops, is different. Keeps me on my toes helping to oversee the management of the station so it changes every day.” Letting out a little laugh, “Well, sometimes I get to do that, most of the time it is overseeing coms and senors but with a station, this big and the traffic outside it can get pretty busy. The operations deck is pretty impressive, I am pretty sure I could take you up there for a quick peek if you like?” Looking down at his cup he smiles and takes another sip. “I spend about half my time in Ops and am moving between other departments for the other half at the moment at the recommendation of the counselor – gets me out to meet more people after my last posting.” 

“That would be cool, as long as you don’t get into trouble though I doubt it as I am in engineering and surely can go up to ops.” She said with a shrug and a chuckle. “I can agree this is a huge station, but I do love a good challenge why I asked for shipyards right out of the gate, though I didn’t think they would give it to me, the shift leader signed off on it. Though he bet that I would be back to him in a couple of weeks it’s been a couple of months and I haven’t.” She said with a chuckle as she took another drink.

“My only understanding is only the best end up working the shipyards, I have no doubt you have earned it.”  Taking another drink of his tea Cynndle leans back and casually looks around the bar before looking back at Nilah. “How is the drink? You enjoying it?”

“It is good, well needed been crazier than normal today,” Nilah replied with a smile.

“Oh, how come? Interesting crazy or ‘OH I WISH THAT NEVER HAPPENED’ crazy?” Cynndle says with a questioning look on his face. Wondering in part as he is meant to do a few shifts in the yard coming up.

She chuckled a bit, “oh just a craft giving me trouble though I am sure I will figure out what is wrong with it sooner or later.” She responded looking at him.

“I am on duty in ops tomorrow, unless something comes up I usually grab lunch at 13:30. Pretty sure if you come up then I can show you around.”

“That would be great,” she replied with a smile as she enjoyed making new friends.

Smiling, he nods and takes another sip of his drink. ‘Glad I decided to get out and talk to people. I guess Heriah was right after all.’ he thinks to himself. 

“That has made my day actually, usually I just grab a sandwich from the replicator and return to my station but if you will come up might take the item to get away from it for a proper lunch break.”

“Sounds great,” Nilah replied with a genuine smile as she enjoyed meeting new people and making new friends. Looking at the time, “oh it’s getting late and I need to get back to work for a few more hours.” Nilah replied as she stood up.

“Hope the rest of your shift goes well Nilah. Send me a message if you ever want any company.” He says as she stands and he gives her a slight wave bye.

“Thanks,” she replied as she headed out of the bar and headed back towards the construction yard. She was thinking as she walked trying to think of what was going on with that craft that she just wasn’t seeing. Then something came to her she picked up the pace as she headed for her destination.