Getting Acquainted

Posted on Sun Apr 20th, 2025 @ 10:32am by Lieutenant JG Daisheliss "Lissa" Kerr & Lieutenant Anna Esquivias

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Mess Hall
Timeline: Just before Echoes of Zyndari
1245 words - 2.5 OF Standard Post Measure

Anna was sitting by herself for once. She hadn't gotten to know the other members of the crew as fast or as well as she would have liked, though she had definitely made a couple friends. Right now, she was eating a bowl of vegetable soup and looking vaguely wistful.

Lissa walked into the Mess Hall to grab a quick bite to eat. She often took her lunch breaks at unusual hours, and hasn't really made a habit of coming here for them, but she had started to realize the circle of people she knew on board was quite small. Understanding that was unlikely to change unless she made an effort she tried to implement small changes that would expose her to more people, especially those she didn't typically see on a daily basis.

Lissa picked up a grilled cheese and tomato soup from the replicator and scanned the room for a place to sit. She noticed a dark-haired Lieutenant who Lissa thought was either operations or engineering sitting alone at a table big enough for her to ignore Lissa if the officer didn't actually feel like talking to anyone. Lissa took a chance and sat at the same table across from her, leaving an extra seat between them.

"Good afternoon. Lissa Kerr. I don't think we've met."

"We haven't," Anna confirmed. "I'm Anna Esquivias." She took another bite of her soup, looking warmly at the other woman. Her nostrils flared briefly. "That grilled cheese smells delicious," she commented. "Now I wish I'd gotten one." She took a moment to take in the other woman. She was at least part Orion, Anna could tell, or a similar species. She had red hair and was quite physically fit. Her uniform said science but, if it hadn't, Anna might have guessed security.

"Take half," Lissa said sliding her tray over. "I don't need the whole thing or I'll be wanting a nap by shift change."

"Thank you, but it's ok," Anna said, holding a hand up. "I'll just get it tomorrow."

"Suit yourself," Lissa said sliding the plate back.

"I feel like I might have passed by you while you were working on something recently. Engineering or Ops right?" Liss asked.

"Ops," Anna said. "And you're science? Or medical?" That was a kind of science, Anna guessed.

"Science Officer. Assistant Chief technically, though I tend to get my hands in more of the hands on stuff and do less administrative word despite N'vok's initial vision for the department. Seems to matter less out here," Lissa said.

"We all have to pitch in," Anna said. "So you know N'vok well?"

"Ish?" Lissa responded with a shrug. "He's personable, and we do talk to one another quite a bit. I don't know that I would say that really know him-know him, like how you get to know a close friend or someone you have a lot in common with. Don't get me wrong, he has a lot of interesting things to say. I just feel like we're on different wavelengths. Could be me just being weird about authority or something. I don't know."

"Does that make it hard in an organization like Starfleet?" Anna asked. "Being weird about authority, I mean."

"No, I mean he can be very familiar with me when we have lunch or something. I have a hard time breaking from treating someone who is over me in my chain of command as anything other than a CO. I think I can be too formal, even when I'm being told to relax and be more casual. It's hard to take out the "Sirs" and and talk about anything that doesn't somehow relate to work," she explained.

"Ah," Anna said. "You don't lack respect for authority. You have, maybe, a bit too much of it?"

Lissa shrugged sheepishly. "I guess you could say that. It never occurred to me there was such a thing."

"I suppose it's cultural," Anna said. "Starfleet is a disciplined hierarchy but many Federation cultures tend to be egalitarian and individualistic. Different officers have different command styles. Some are very formal and by the book and others are more relaxed and like to be personable."

"As an Orion, I just always felt really lucky to be here. I didn't - don't want to do anything that would jeopardize that," Lissa responded. "Not that there is much that they could do with me out here, I suppose," she added with a cheeky grin, a bit of her sense of humor coming through.

"I don't think you have much to worry about," Anna reassured her. "We're all lucky to have you."

"And not like it's easy to get rid of me out here," Lissa joked. "Still, old habits die hard they say. What do you do for fun around here?" Lissa asked.

"Music, the holodeck, time with friends," Anna said. "What do you like, Lissa?"

"Yeah, the holodeck. I've always been a fan of water sports. Since being out here, that's been my main way to feign it. I like music and good company too. What do you listen to? Ever get into karaoke or anything like that? Just for fun of course," Lissa asked.

"I definitely could," Anna agreed. "Would you like to do karaoke? It works best with popular music. I don't think I could do Klingon opera."

"I would love to actually. I had a group of friends that liked to go at my old posting, we did at least once a month sometimes more." Lissa laughed. "It started with just a couple of us, but the group grew pretty quickly. Some people can be like really good, and others funny. It's a great way to blow off steam. Maybe we do need something like that around here."

"Do you know anyone else who might be interested?" Anna asked. Then she flushed faintly and glanced to the side. "I actually play a little too."

"What's the saying... If we build it, they will come. So what do you play?" Lissa asked.

"The Ardanan harp," Anna answered.

"Have you played in public here before?" Lissa asked. "I don't think I'm familiar with the instrument."

"I haven't, no," Anna answered her.

"But you would," Lissa prodded. "We need an open mic night. A talent night. Don't you think?"

"We could do that," Anna agreed cheerfully.

"Fantastic. So how long do you think we need to set something like that out?" Lissa asked. "You know to get the word out, and make sure people have time to make arrangements and such? Maybe if there's a space open four weeks out, we reserve it and get word out, and then just plan it in the interim?"

"Four weeks should be more than enough time," Anna agreed.

"Sounds like a plan then. I'll have to have you help me with picking out a song. Something that will be fun for the crowd," Lissa asked. "I think I know what people might know - at least from the Academy. I think that helps with crowd engagement. Oh, I wonder if I can convince N'vok to do something." The thought made Lissa giggle a little.

"We can definitely ask him," Anna said. "I like N'vok." She smiled, thinking of some of the interesting holoadventures she had had with the Vulcan officer.

"Great! Well, I should get back to the lab. If I run into N'vok I'll mention it. Message you later?" Lissa asked.

"Sure thing!" Anna said cheerfully.

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