Relaxing

Posted on Sat Oct 8th, 2022 @ 11:17am by Lieutenant JG Louis Bordeaux ( Barclay de Tolly ) & Ensign Mrera Sr’au & Lieutenant Sapphire Morgan [Lalor] & Lieutenant Scott Gregory [Taylor] & Lieutenant Samaire MacBride-Reece [Lalor] & Ensign Lorelei Lee ( Barclay de Tolly )

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Lounge
Timeline: After Sr’au’s First Shift
1736 words - 3.5 OF Standard Post Measure

Ensign Mrera Sr’au sat at the table with her fellow Operations officers. She was glad to be included to the after shift stress relief. She wondered if this happened each shift or if it was because she was new aboard ship. Perhaps it was arranged for her benefit. She did need to get to k ow those with whom she worked beside.

She ordered a frozen, non-alcoholic fruity drink. She had loved these in San Francisco, while she made her way through the Academy. The others all ordered and the server left the table to retrieve the drinks.

“Thank you for inviting me,” Mrera expressed in a soft purr. “This is perrfect after my first shhift!”

Scott sat next to Sapphire, "You 're a member of the Operations department. You are supposed to be here. "Scott said with a smile. " By the way, How did your first shift go?"

“Not sso bad!” Mrera said with a grin. When she grinned, her small pointed canines could be seen. “Just a normal communications day. I would imagine the more Interessting shifts would take place upon the bridge once we’ve left port.”

Scott grinned at Mrera's excitement. "Oh, it will get busier. Just wait until you're listening to Klingon ship to ship transmissions and the names, they call each other."

Ensign Sr’au giggled, her tail seemed to dance. “You mean like ‘petaQ’?”

Scott nodded and grinned "Yes, something like that."

The drinks came and Mrera took a small sip to try her drink. It was frozen. It was fruity. I had no alcohol. A small purr of contentment escaped her lips. She turned her attention back to the team.

As much as she enjoyed the conversation with Lieutenant Gregory (she wondered if he and Lieutenant Morgan were dating), Mrera didn’t want to hog the entire conversation. “What about everyone else? How did your shift go?”

Sapphire sipped her drink "I have been assisting science with their inventory. I am so avoiding that department after this week."

A voice joined the conversation as another brunette officer joined the group. "Aww come on Sapphire they can't be as bad as that"

"Like you would know Samaire, You seem to get the easy work."

The brunette, identified as Samaire smirked "You can help Engineering anytime." She grinned at the Ensign. "I am Samaire McBride. Welcome to Ops."

The news of possible cross training perked up Mrera’s ears. “Thank you,” Sr’au responded with enthusiasm. Her curiosity peaked, she added, “I’m not ssure about engineering, but Science might be nice. Discovering new thingss, I think I would enjoy that!”

Lt. Napoleon Bond walked in as he felt upbeat. His sister Francesca just gave birth to a little boy for which she named him Napoleon. “Greetings everyone. It is a glorious day. My sister just gave birth to a little boy. I have three authentic Cuban cigars as well as an actual bottle of cognac. Any up for a smoke or a shot of cognac?”

The alcohol didn’t appeal to Mrera. Caitian digestive systems couldn’t process the alcohol. It tend to drive most Caitians mad, even kill some. She had never had a cigar and wasn’t sure she could handle it, although they were shaped in a familiar fashion. She gave a toothy grin at the thought. Wide eyed she looked to the others after offering congratulations.

Sapphire smiled at the ensign. "So tell us Ensign, about yourself."

Scott spoke to Napoleon even as Sapphire was talking to the new ensign. "Hey Nap. I'll take one of those cigars and I'll smoke it later and congratulations." He finished with a smile.

“There iss not much to know about me,” Mrera stated. “I wass raissed in a typical Caitian family. I wass one of a litter of three. My mother raissed uss and my father iss a local leader. I just finisshed the Academy. I am curiouss to know what iss out there.”

Ensign Sr’au turned her attention back to the cigars. “Maybe I’ll try one. I’m not ssure how. I might need lessonss on what to do. I have never had a sseagar before.”

Napoleon handed Sr’au a cigar. “Nice story Mrera. What is out there young lady is the universe and it is waiting to be explored. What do you do Mrera besides Starfleet?”

Mrera sniffed the cigar almost as if expecting catnip. The scent was strange, but she thought she’d try it later in her quarters.

“I enjoy being outdoorss,” Sr’au expressed, her face seeming to alight and her tail bobbing. “Climbing, iss mosst purrfect! I enjoyed taking weekendss away from the academy, climbing the rockss and cliffss in the mountainss.”

“I like climbing like top-rope climbing, lead climbing and bouldering,”Napoleon answered as poured a few shots as he maintained eye contact.. “Trick is your feet, landing on them especially. I may not be as agile like you but I do manage.” He licked one of his fingers that he accidentally poured some cognac on it.

The reference of “falling on your feet” Mrera understood. Once, she had fallen six meters from a rock face. Her bodily instincts took over and she was able to manipulate herself, turning and landing on all fours. Her legs absorbed the impact of the fall. How high she could endure a fall, she wasn’t sure.

Ensign Sr’au was surprised to know someone else who enjoyed climbing. She had climbed by herself up to this point. Her eyes took in Napoleon. He seems like he’d be strong and agile enough to keep up with her. It might be nice to climb with another being.

Grinning, she responded to Bond, “We will have to climb together sometime.” She took a sip of her frozen drink.

“I will like that very much,” Napoleon answered, “Just us or should we get a group?”

Mrera coyly over her glass as she took another sip. “Whatever you are up to Lieutenant.”

“What about everyone elsse?”Mrera asked. “What do you enjoy doing?”

“I think we can coerce others to climb with us,” Napoleon said as felt he had a frog in his throat as he felt she was signaling him. “I bet I could get a few Engineers to climb with us unless you rather just the two of us,” he said in a gentleman vocal tone.

Mrera gave Napoleon a soft smile. Two experienced climbers could handle a tougher challenge. However, Mrera did realize that being new to the Elysium would be difficult unless she surrounded herself with new friends.

“The more, the merrier!” she purred. “Who elsse iss in?” She looked at the others enjoying their libations.

“Yes I agree,” Napoleon nodded, “More the merrier.”

Scott nudged Sapphire, What do you say Sapphire? Want to do some rock climbing?"

“Sure,” Mrera suggested, “come along Sapphire!”

Sapphire nodded. "Sure sounds like fun."

“Purrfect!” Ensign Sr’au added with a grin. She looked at Bond, “I’ll be ssure we have the propurr equipment ass long ass you plan our adventure.”

“I will look forward to it,” Napoleon says genuinely thrilled to be doing something with crew members. “So tell me more about yourself Sr’au, if you like.”

"There iss not much to tell," the ensign returned, a frown upon her face. "Growing up on Cait wass boring. I descided I wanted adventure in my life. So, I esscaped to the Academy," she said with a grin. "What about you, Lieutenant?"

“Lots to tell,” Napoleon answered, “I was into robotics as a child, Eagle Scout, canoeing, mountain climbing, scuba diving, kayaking and a whole bunch of extra curricular activities. I earned fifty-four merit badges. As far as love goes, seems every girl I date just wanted to have a few dates. Most of them were dainty, so never a good fit. Love to cook. I always volunteered to be patrol cook.”

Mrera smiled and her eyes seemed to twinkle at this information. Her first full day aboard, and already she had met someone with similar interests. Lieutenant Bond seemed to be pleasant and sincere. He was handsome by human standards. Mrera thought that this was the beginning of a good friendship.

“I love being outdoorss,” Sr’au admitted. “To get to the good climbss, you have to camp out. If you cook, I’ll hunt.”She enjoyed stalking and hunting. It seemed part of her instincts.

“I have a feeling,” Napoleon says with a steady breath and heartbeat, “You and I are going to become great friends. I do like Holodeck simulations but nothing beats the real deal. There are many camping areas around Bozeman on Earth. The primitive raw energy of roughing it in the great outdoors has always appealed to me. If others are willing, I would prefer an actual true life camping trek.”

Sr'au purred, joy in getting the opportunity to know others. She looked to Scott, Sapphire, and Samaire. "Camping and climbing!" she mused. "I look forward to it! Are you up to roughing it for a few days?"

“I am up for it,” Napoleon replied first. “Getting away from it all is the best therapeutic exercise I know.” Napoleon sent a message to the other engineers to see if they were game.

"Roughing it?" Sapphire asked "Sure no worries."

Samaire gave a shrug "A few days without husband and children, sounds relaxing."

“Purrfect!” Ensign Sr’au responded, finishing up her drink. “I can’t wait! I’m going to start getting supplies together.” She stood, then added, “But right now, I think I’m going to get to know the resst of this big ship.”

Napoleon received a message from Louis Bordeaux that he and his significant other Lorelei Lee will like to come on the camping trip and they will be bringing a new engineer on the ship as well.

Napoleon smiled at Sr’rau. “Yes, get to know the crew. Still have not met all the Operations and Engineering officers.”

Mrera turned the dark slits of her green eyes to Bond and warmly smiled. "Purrhapss Lieutenant, if you have the time, you could give me a tour."

“I could give you a tour,” Napoleon answered. “This will help us both to get to know who, what and where is everyone and everything is on the ship.

Mrera's smile broadened as she purred, "Lead away Lieutenant!"

 

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