The Formal Dinner (part 1)

Posted on Sun Jul 31st, 2016 @ 5:04am by Commodore Samantha York & 1st Lieutenant Kara Melo & Colonel Damon Raine & Lieutenant Commander Jennifer Tate & Lieutenant Mara Cross & Lieutenant T'Pral & Lieutenant Arnon Barak MD, PsyD & Captain Cameron Bourne & Lieutenant Illise Hale & Lieutenant JG Victoria Drani M.D. & 1st Lieutenant Leroy Mangalia & Keelan

1,161 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Shadow Dance
Location: Royal Palace, Jenefra
Timeline: Evening

ON

The away team beamed down to a large reception area in the Royal Palace of Jenefra. The floor was an opalescent marble as were the walls. Heavy drapes and colorful tapestries of ancient rulers covered much of the walls while thick woven rugs decorated the floors. Ornate chairs and tables with vases of flowers or sculptures dotted the walls.

A dozen men, led by a man wearing a golden crown, stood at one end of the room. "Welcome! I am King Mrowen, ruler of Jenefra."

"Thank you," Sam said, stepping forward. "I am Samantha York, commander of the USS Calypso. We are honored to meet you." She was dressed in her formal white uniform, although she would have felt far more comfortable in more casual clothes -- or even a traditional gown. But Starfleet would not permit it.

Standing near the end of the line; as an advisory it was his place, Keelan was dressed in his more formal robes. The Vazeer is a position that has lineage going back to the first king and counsil; though not always passed down by blood there is a kinship between the Royal Vizier and his king.

Keelan noted the Commanding Officer in her white uniform; he had to think of all the things she has to offer with this visit and how she could be very integral to the plans for Jenefra as a whole. He liked the idea that a woman would be a part of this plan; the Humans of the Federation were very diverse in their choices. Yes he had to commend the Federation in their choice; a woman would be perfect for the planned events with the Federation.

Damon stood beside Samantha and smiled at the delegation. He wore his Marine Blues with his medals proudly displayed. He often thought them a bit ostentatious, however, they were a part of his service history and he wouldn't dare demean it. He stood quietly by his wife's side and waited to be introduced.

Standing to the left of and just behind Sam, Cameron quickly, and as covertly as possible, surveyed the area they had beamed down to. He was dressed in his Marine Dress Blues with his ceremonial sword strapped to his belt and his cover under his left arm. Although he was hoping that everything would go smoothly, he was prepared for the worst.

Kara stood beside Cam, there not only as his wife, but as his backup if anything went awry. She looked around, quickly assessing the room and the occupants.

Arnon was in the Commodore's party in his dress whites. He did a quick perfunctory scan of the Jenefran party. They seemed in basically good health, though some could use some more exercise and maybe a diet with less rich foods in it. Emotionally they ran the course from open and excited to see the Federation envoys, to guarded and unsure what to expect.

Victoria had worn her dress uniform with her hair worn up with bangs left down on the sides. She had a million questions to ask the council as she regarded with member individually. They seemed nervous but that was to be suspected she supposed, regarding the circumstances. She then noticed one of the councilmen regarding her. He was heavyset and seemed to wear an insignia on his upper right chest. From what she could tell of what she knew of Jerenfran Culture, he appeared to be a doctor. 'Must be head of medical," she concluded.

Standing towards the back of the away party, Mara stood dress in her white dress uniform – just like the rest of the away party. The approaching individuals were blocked to her view by the other members of the away party so she took a moment to look around the room. She noticed others in the party doing the same but she assumed that quite a few of them were doing it for other reasons than she was.

T'Pral remained at the rear of the group, content to observe. Her dress whites were immaculate, owing to Vulcan attention to detail. She stood with her hands clasped neatly behind her back, scanning the assembled groups. Being new to the Calypso, she was watching hew own crew with equal measure to the Jenefrans.

Illise stood with the rest of the group, also in her formal whites. She had chosen to put her hair up in a tasteful twist. While the others also looked around the ornate room, she quickly made note of the rather obvious lack of technology, although it was impressive enough without it. Perhaps this was an older building? Illise took in the sweeping lines of the tall windows as they met the ceiling far above, appreciating the architecture. But not wanting to look disinterested, she quickly turned her attention back to the delegation that was there to greet them.

Sam began to introduce her crew to King Mrowen, beginning with Damon.

When she was done, the King introduced his Counselors. "And now, please join us in the banquet room where my daughter, Princess Kalikana and the women await us."

Leroy looked at Cameron as the King asked them to join him in the banquet area. His chest jingled with his various medals and awards, and his NCO saber strapped to his waist. He hadn't received the new officers one, and had been denied the right to forge it himself. "You ever wonder why they put us in these things? I can barely breath past the collar and if it comes to a fight this thing is ripping like old silk." Glancing around, he tucked his cover under his arm, looking for anything that was flying over. "No fly zone? Or are they keeping the birds hidden?"

"Commodore!" Jennifer Tate called out as she rushed across the lavish ballroom towards the familiar Federation uniforms. Like them she had also changed into her formal dresswear prior to leaving the ship. Once she had caught up with the team she stopped for a moment as she placed her hand on her chest to catch her breath. "Pardon my tardiness ma'am. I had some last minute details to work through before I could get down here."

King Mrowen raised an eyebrow at the woman running up to their group. "And you are?"

"Lieutenant Commander Jennifer Tate," Sam said. "She is here on special assignment." Sam would have a private conversation with Tate later about proper protocol and decorum, two things the woman clearly lacked.

(To be continued...)

Commodore Samantha York
Commanding Officer

King Mrowen
King of Jenefra

Keelan
Head of the Jenefran Council/King's Vizier

Colonel Damon Raine
Chief Strategic Operations

Captain Cameron Bourne
Marine CO

2nd Lieutenant Kara Melo
Alpha Platoon Leader

Lieutenant Arnon Barak
Chief Counselor

Lieutenant Victoria Drani
Chief Medical Officer

Lieutenant Mara Cross
Chief Operations Officer

Lieutenant T'Pral
Chief Engineer

Lieutenant Illise Hale
Chief Science Officer

1st Lieutenant Leroy Mangalia
Flight Leader

Lieutenant Commander Jennifer Tate
Intelligence Officer

 

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