Common Ground

Posted on Wed Jan 24th, 2024 @ 10:56am by 1st Lieutenant Kes Th’relnal & Lieutenant Commander Keishara Davaris

0 words; about a 1 minute read

Mission: Year One: Whispers in the Wind
Location: The DMZ
Timeline: MD013 - 2030 Hours

Kes walked into The DMZ as the doors slid open. He looked around quickly, trying to locate the Security Chief. He hated to admit that most species looked the same to him, so he looked down at his PaDD once more to get an idea of her appearance regardless of species.

The DMZ was getting too quiet, far more than she liked it. During the war it was bustling with those looking to lose themselves in drink and conversation, or arguments... it depended on the night. There had been a recent resurgence with the new crew pick up but 12 years was a long time to be on any ship and not see changes.

In walked an Andorian. Not hard to spot, pretty easy to stand out in a sea of 'pink skinned' people as a certain Commander Shran used to call them. Irony being not a lot were actually close to being 'pink' at all.

Kei sighed. She'd worked with marines before, and a lot during the war. She had a lot of respect for them but still they could be pushy and overbearing when it came to operations, or social activities. Matewa was just about the only one she could stand and have a conversation with but she was trying to be better. Evelyn had been pushing her to not be such a bitch to people as well as Koaruh.

The bar propped her up at the moment and she smiled at the Andorian, a half smile, and looked back down at her drink.

Kes walked over, taking the smile as an invitation, and stood next to Kei. He motioned to the bartender. "Saurian Brandy my good man."

As he waited for his drink, he half turned to Kei. "Lieutenant Commander Davaris correct?" He was sure, mostly, she did match the picture on the profile he had. "I'm Kes Th'Relnal. I thought a meeting was in order."

His drink came, and he took a sip of the warm liquid. It had an exotic spice to it that tickled his tongue. It wasn't his favourite as he was a traditionalist when it came to drinks, but it was nice to have something different once in a while.

"Keishara." she said to the man as he looked at her a little confused. "Yes, I am Lieutenant Commander Davaris, but I am off duty so Keishara is fine." she added as the man's drink was placed down in front of him. "Do you often have your meetings in bars?" she asked taking a sip of her own.

Kes chuckled a little. "Some of the best meetings I've had were in bars." He leaned on the bar with his elbow.

"Besides, if we're going to be working together I'd much rather just have a chat and break the ice before we get down to business."

He tapped the PaDD with his finger, turning it off from her profile. That was the official report, but a lot could be gathered from just talking as opposed to that.

Kei noticed his PaDD and the quick flash of her image disappearing as he spoke. He wasn't wrong, sometimes the best place for a meeting was an environment where tongues were a little looser, and behaviour a little more relaxed.

In her mind she was going to reply with 'he was free to chat with whom he pleased', it was a free ship, mostly. There was a sense of irony to his words about breaking the ice given his home world was made of it. "My Starfleet profile not exciting enough for you?" she asked.

In truth they only knew of half of what she'd done in her life, and if they knew some of the rest well... she might be in a different colour, or place altogether.

"I find it weird to be talking to someone with their service record at my finger tips. I'd rather hear the story from them." Kes smiled and took another sip.

He leaned against the bar and glanced around them before continuing. "Besides, this isn't an interview. Just trying to find common ground between colleagues."

"My story is over 200 years in the making and shows no time of ending soon." Kei replied. "I'm not really that interesting." she lied. However, he would give him a glimpse, but only just enough.

"I've been in Starfleet for about 25 years, went to the Academy in the 60's, and have only ever served on two ships. That is a rarity for that long I know but the Oban and the Moore have been good to me. As for the Moore I've been its Assistant Chief and Chief of Security since 73 and recently appointed second officer." she rolled her eyes. "Not my idea I can promise you." she took a drink.

"You don't strike me as a typical Starfleet marine. You don't carry yourself like one." she commented. He stood a little straighter, looked more guarded than most of marines she'd met. She had an inkling he'd not been in Starfleet all his days.

"I'm what you might call an officer exchange." Kes said with a nod. "I'm usually serving the Imperial Andorian forces, but I've worked with Starfleet Marines during the Dominion War and was just recently transferred back."

Kes got down to half a glass full and nodded as he considered her story. " If it helps, you don't look a day over 100. I'd like to pick your brain every now and then, we'll need to work together so the more I can make sure we're on the same page and understand each other better and you've got more experience with Starfleet than I do."

All that he said was true, especially the part of her not looking a day over 100. Hells, she didn't look a day over 30 in her opinion but she was rather biased. She had him pegged as an Andorian Imperial Forces man but it was always nice to be proven right.

"I think that's a good idea." Kei offered in response. "On the ship it is my show. If your team can supplement, assist mine in times of great need that would be great and we can work on an integration process. The previous marine CO was an asshole, we did not get on and he kept to his corner of the ship." she sighed and waited to hear his reply or any additions he wanted before moving on to planet-side operations, or away teams.

"Sounds fair." Kes replied, his antenna weaving back and forth. "My crew are trained so running some defensive or boarding simulations with security will keep them in a good mind set and keep the rust from setting in."

"I will try not to be too much of an asshole. At least where it comes to the ship." He offered with a wink.

"Are you going to be an asshole when it comes to away teams, or more specifically planet side missions?" Kei asked. It was almost a tease at the man knowing marines liked to flex about ground missions but she got the impression he was not a boastful man.

"Only to the opposing force I think." Kes replied playfully. "But they usually deserve it."

Kes finished his drink and smiled. His antenna scanned the room before he continued. "Also, if any security would like to join us for some planet-side training, the more the merrier."

"Well I am glad I am not seen to be an opposing force just yet." Kei replied with a smirk. "And I can promise you that most on this crew would think I am an asshole so..." she shrugged. "Better to be feared than liked in my opinion."

It was strange for marines to want to share their secrets but Kei wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. "Thank you, I'll say to my staff. If they want to join you, I'll send you the names."

"It sounds like we have a way forward." Kes smiled in return, his antenna taking a more relaxed posture. Which was a relief. He'd dealt with his share of pompous Starfleet officers in the past so this was somewhat refreshing to deal with officers who weren't full of themselves.

"You almost seem surprised?" Kei picked up a stray emotion from him. His relaxation was clear to see but the flare of surprise was noticeable also. "I'm not as bad as people make me out to be you know."

 

RSS Feed