Part of USS Mariner: M1: Into The Gamma Quadrant and Bravo Fleet: The Lost Fleet

13) Among the Flock

USS Mariner - Mess Hall
March 2401
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It had already been a good few hours since the communication with the Dominion had ended, and people were trying to get their heads around it. How far was their Captain willing to go with this mission? How far will she put her crew in danger to expose them to the potential savagery of the Dominion? Did the twins accept the offer to come on board to help them or to entertain themselves? Many questions were hanging around, but the frustration of the ways Captain Kobahl was handling was rising. 

“So I had to bind Kampola's hand again. I am starting to think he is hurting himself on purpose to get to medical by now,” L'iera spoke, taking another bite from her food. “What am I supposed to do? And no, Kee it is not because I am a Deltan. I have that under control" L'iera eyed Keeyiro, who wanted to say something, and looked back at her food.

Taking a bite from a purple goodie. “If it is perhaps profitable, you should consider the options of Petty Officer Kampola's intention, L'iera” Asipa takes another bite from the dish, and you could see her enjoy it from ear to ear. 

Keeyiro looked at Asipa's food which looked like insect parts were sticking out. It made her shrug and she looked back at her food shoving it forward. “I just lost my appetite. But Kampola is a nice guy. He might be …as tactful as Asipa said, be interested in you L'iera” Keeyiro leans back and hears another crack looking at her side at Asipa. “Just what the hell are you eating…”

“This?” Asipa looked at her food and held up a piece of insect parts. “Beetle purée, the best in the galaxy can give” She takes another bite hearing another crack of the shell break. “That juice that pops is the best” Asipa was in her happy space.

“Oh freaking disgusting” Keeyiro gags at it as she looks at L'iera trying to hold her stomach.

Patting her arm “There there…if it comes out it shouldn't be stopped” L'iera said with a reassuring smile “No pressure on holding back there Kee”

“Are you seriously using your medical skills on me there L'iera…." Looking annoyed at L'iera, Keeyiro blinks at seeing K'Nala approach. 

K'Nala took a piece of the beetle piece and ate it before sitting. “That is quite tasty, has a ground aftertaste thought" She looked at her food chow that made her drool before she noticed the other 3 looking at her. “What? Do I have something on my face?” She panics and touches her face a bit.

Shaking her head “It is not really that, but last time I checked the records you are not a junior K'Nala” Asipa bluntly stated. “You were promoted after your actions in that Blood Dilithium operation” 

“What Asipa here is trying to say is it is an unwritten rule that juniors sit with juniors, enlist with their enlist buds, and seniors sit at the high table.” Keeyiro nodded at her side in the direction where some Lieutenants were sitting. “So it is awkward for you to sit ….here?” 

L'iera shrugged and placed her hand on K'Nala's paw. “Don't Worry about it, hun. You can sit where ever you want. Your transition from junior to senior was quite sudden, so it takes time to get used to different settings.” L'iera looked t both Asipa and Keeyiro with a raised brow.

“Yea…just sit where you feel most comfortable” Keeyiro quickly recovered waving her hand a bit above the table with Asipa nodding.

Her ear lowered a bit as she took a bite of her chow. “Well, the events of Delta Quadrant were quite life-changing for anyone that was parrrt of it” K'Nala took another bite “So awards and promotions were given for people that acted in braverrry in the field” 

Giving a nod in the direction of K'Nala in agreeing “Damascus crew have faced odds that no other crew would have faced. I do read reports Kee” L'iera could feel Keeyiro surprised look.

“Well reports don't tell the whole story in my fair opinion” Keeyiro pointed out “So Lieutenant, tell us…what is the Captain like in the heat of battle?” Looking with curiosity at K'Nala who took another bite.

Nomming on her food, she carefully thought about the question. “Well, Captain Praugol …that was her name beforrre she had that joint symbiote thingy” K'Nala waved her spoon around. “Is by nature a true scientific …well nerrrd I guess" She blinked at her own answer. “But in the heat of battle, she can switch over to give considered orderrrs that would lead to the best outcome if that makes any sense” 

Another crack came from Asipa's side as all looked at her. “Well, Damascus had to endure some hefty load of stress. I heard you guys had to face a few Devorrre Imperium ships while being damaged” Asipa took another spoon as she felt a hand on hers and looked at Keeyiro.

“Please for the love of whatever god is out there, stop. I will barf this whole mess hall if you continue with this dish” She looked a bit greenish and not well.

K'Nala saw Asipa putting her spoon down. “Yes, that is correct. We have faced a few Devorrre ships. Commander Valerio's skills held the ship together and Drata had a piece of it also" Taking another bite of her food as the words of Keeyiro and Asipa were still plaguing her. 

A loud laugh came to Keeyiro. “Drata being useful, that idiot can't hold up his tools without lurking at women that pass him by” She suddenly leaned forward in agony as her eyes looked in the direction of L'iera and shrugged “Aww…”

A solid kick was given by L'iera who looked at Keeyiro. “Oh Kee dear, is your stomach hurting?” Her facial expression was quite pissed off in Keeyiro's direction. “I told you many times not to eat unhealthily”

But Keeyiro knew the reason behind the kick and shrugged again. “Yea…I am sorry….aww why so hard” She placed her head on the table. She took a deep breath. “But does ….pfff” Taking a breath out “Does it justify the behavior that Captain Kobahl is currently showing?” She moved her head to the side to see K'Nala. “I mean, she has us at the mouth of a beast waiting to be feasted on”

“I don't know. The Captain has been a reserved person afterrr the Blood Dilithium operation. It has taken a great ordeal out of anyone. No one was the same afterrr that” K'Nala pointed out. 

Nodding to that Asipa took another bite. “This mission is more than anyone could handle. There is no value in facing the Dominion here” The juices popped in her mouth as she enjoyed it. 

The three looked toward a chair shuffling as K'Nala stood up with her empty bowl. “Thank you forrr yourrr quality time. It has been enlightening forrr me. But duty calls” K'Nala gave a weak smile and nodded to them all before taking her leave. 

Hearing behind her them still talking. Another crack from Asipa taking a bite of her food, Keeyiro making barfing sounds and L'iera still trying to comfort her friend. Maybe time really had changed for K'Nala, maybe she needed to grow up. 

Comments

  • Nice to see the tension the deception and the Vorta have created, and the doubts it has created in the crew about their captain. I'm not sure Kobahl made the right choice, keeping things as quite as she has for as long as she had. It made sense when they were first slipping into the Gamma Quadrant, but now the game is kind of up. The longer she keeps holding back from them, the more this will manifest. I think it's a nice touch that you're layering in multi-mission continuity, having the crew extrapolate back to Blood Dilithium. It creates the feeling that this is a crisis of confidence that has been growing with time, and she is just continuing to make it worse.

    May 28, 2023
  • Unknown Author

    I always like these character development posts. No plotting. No action,. Just a good conversation amongst friends. Loved the part where everyone is disgusted and she's, "What? Do I something on my face?" Lol

    May 28, 2023
  • Always like the good story involving character development. Great to see these characters interacting just living their life no plotting no action. I especially thought it was funny when everyone is disgusted and she's," what do I have something on my face? "

    May 28, 2023
  • Great character post. I like how you’re continuing to weave in the distrust of the captain among some elements of the crew, but at the same time having some try to find some logic in there, or reassure themselves of her command ability. And the beetle purée just made me smile, that thread all the way through definitely grounded the piece!

    May 30, 2023
  • Lovely chapter for K'nala, it's interesting to see her moment of realisation towards the end that perhaps there is a reason the seniors and juniors don't spend time together. Her relationship with the captain was forged in a dangerous situation but she was thrust upwards in the ranks (rightly so) quickly, maybe she's having some doubts? This chapter is a nice glimpse into the difficault middle ground for crew we rarely see in Star Trek, it's usually either the senior staff or the lower decks.

    June 8, 2023
  • K'Nala

    Chief Helmsman
    Officer of the Watch

  • L'iera

    Medical Officer
    Hazard Team Medic

  • Asipa

    Communications Officer

  • Keeyiro Cho

    General Officer
    Hazard Team Operator