Diplomatic Luncheon

Posted on Wed May 20th, 2026 @ 6:29pm by Lonian Royal Sovereignty & Civilian Teevs Dosivi & Captain Gary Taylor & Commander Sthilg & Commander Alicia Kelea-Salik & Commander Rin & Commander Kyle Reece & Legate Andrinn Orin & Lieutenant Commander N'vok Holv & Lieutenant Anna Esquivias & Lieutenant Camryn Shepard & Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Major Mattias Richardson [Reece] & Consul Josephine Carlyle-Cragen & Captain Joshua Young [Taylor] & Petty Officer 1st Class Kara DeSotto & Avalon [ADMIN NPC]

Mission: Season 6: Episode 7: Crossroads of Destiny
Location: Diplomatic Reception Room
Timeline: MD3
2365 words - 4.7 OF Standard Post Measure

The doors to the main diplomatic reception suite parted with a soft hiss, revealing a room in the final stages of transformation.

What was usually a formal chamber of polished restraint had been carefully softened for the occasion. Long windows framed the stars beyond, while the lighting had been adjusted to a warm amber glow that reflected gently off crystal glassware and polished silver service trays. Along the far wall, a series of buffet stations had been arranged in an elegant arc—each one designed to offer choice without crowding, sophistication without stiffness.

At the centre stood Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson, hands clasped neatly behind her back as she surveyed the room with the practiced eye of someone who understood that diplomacy often succeeded or failed long before the first speech was given.

A steward adjusted the placement of carved fruit displays.

“Two centimetres to the left,” Phoenix said calmly.

The steward obeyed at once.

Her gaze moved to the buffet itself. Federation staples had been paired with carefully researched cultural dishes representing the visiting delegation’s preferences. Fresh breads, herb-roasted vegetables, delicate seafood platters, steaming covered trays, salads layered with colour and texture, and an assortment of desserts waited beneath warming lamps and cooling fields. Beside them, discreet placards identified ingredients and dietary considerations.

“Ensure the vegetarian selection remains separate from the seafood station,” she instructed another member of the hospitality team. “And keep replenishment staff rotating quietly through the side access doors. I don’t want empty platters becoming the focus of anyone’s afternoon.”

“Yes, Commodore.”

She crossed to the central seating area where round tables had replaced the usual conference arrangement. It had been deliberate. No long dividing table. No obvious hierarchy. Small groupings encouraged conversation, movement, and chance encounters—often more useful than prepared remarks.

A junior officer approached carrying a datapad. “Environmental controls are stable. Music queue is ready. Security teams are in position but discreet.”

Phoenix gave a small approving nod. “Good. Today should feel effortless. If our guests notice how much planning went into this, then we’ve done something wrong.”

There was the faintest murmur of amusement from those nearest her.

She straightened one final place setting herself, then stepped back to take in the whole scene once more. Every detail mattered. The welcome. The atmosphere. The first impression before politics entered the room.

Outside, somewhere beyond the bulkheads of USS Elysium, the stars burned cold and distant.

Inside, the Commodore intended her guests to feel only warmth. Her senior staff had silently arrived in their dress uniforms.

The chime at the outer doors sounded.

They had arrived.

Next to Orin was... well, a group of colourful hobbits, as some of the crew might describe them. The first one, Vanei, wore a golden beaded dress with cream-coloured accents, her curls pulled back by a golden headband and cascading nicely down her back. Next to her was Emeyr, who chose a teal dress shirt with a formal complimenting jacket and dark dress pants. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a twisted bun, her headpiece allowing her to maintain some of her personality despite the formal circumstances.

Behind Vanei and Emeyr, Relou wore a silver gown that had red undertones, her dark hair covered by an elegantly styled headwrap. The look was very modest, complete with a simple pair of red earrings. And finally, Lady Sama, in a dark blue and silver jacket and pants. Her hair was pulled back into a crisp bun, a decorative piece of jewelry resting on her forehead, the metal holding it wrapping around her head to disappear into the bun.

Each Lady had a guard, each one in dress uniforms matching the colour of their respective House. They remained a pace behind the four Heirs, close enough to offer protection as needed but not so close to be intimidating.

Teevs brought up the rear, stifling how awkward he felt in the presence of the four Houses plus the senior staff. He was invited and had every right to be there, but he never thought he would find himself in the same room as his people's leaders, let alone sharing a meal with them.

Alicia could sense how awkward Teevs was feeling, she offered a warm smile trying to convey some comfort and warmth. She just hoped all would go well, there was no reason to think overwise.

N'vok had chosen to wear his grey robes that marked him as a scholar of Vulcan, rather than his dress uniform, to show their guests some of the cultural variety of the Federation. He watched the arrival of the delegation with interest, giving Teevs a welcoming nod.

Rin watched the guests arrive, reminding herself not to look people in the eye. That was going to be...odd, for a dinner where people would be clustered around tables and expected to converse. The conversing part would be hard enough. She wondered if the implants were going to get tricky again. At least she had a semi-practiced response. It would be at least momentarily awkward. However, if one doesn't want an awkward answer, they shouldn't ask an awkward question.

Teevs felt like he was going to pass out from nerves as he stepped forward. He kept his hands clasped tightly behind him to keep them from trembling due to the pressure of making sure the introductions were done right. Did the collar of his formal attire get tighter? He wouodn't have minded if Vanei didn't make the request only moments ago in the transporter room. "Presenting the delegation in attendance: Lady Vanei, seventh heir to the First House of Administrative Affairs; Lady Emeyr, third heir to the Second House of Diplomatic relations; Lady Relou, fifth heir to the Third House of Culture and Innovation; and Lady Sama, fifth heir to the Fourth House of Defense and Security." Each figure gave a slight bow in greeting when Teevs introduced them. When he was done, he stepped aside to hopefully blend into something.

Gary stood to the right of Phoenix, like her he was dressed in his dress uniform. He stood silently, his hands at his sides as the royal delegation approached the dais. Then Teevs stepped forward to make the introduction of the royal delegation before them. He nodded respectfully to each member as Teevs introduced them.

As the Elysium’s Chief of Security and Second Officer, Kyle, the tallest person in the room, stood behind Phoenix’s left shoulder, his dress uniform crisp and displaying his considerable and a respectful amount of decorations and awards that he had earned during his many years in Starfleet. He remained stoic as the Lonian leaders approached his commanding officer.

Vanei took a small step forward ahead of the group. While they would occasionally get tall visitors to the planet, the most recent ones being an Endaran research vessel, it was still a surprise to see beings as tall as the one towering behind the commodore. "The Sovereignty humbly accepts this invitation from the Elysium," she said, crossing her arms in the Lonian greeting. Her voice was gentle, attuned to the desire to understand.

Josh stood silently in his dress uniform as he took in the proceedings with trained, practiced eyes. He was unobtrusive, blending in with the surroundings. Not that he turned invisible but he was motionless only his eyes moved to wash over both the guests and the Elysium crew and her diplomats.

Cam looked around the room as she entered with her group. With her dark blonde hair tied into a braided bun and dressed in a gold tinted black dress uniform of an engineer, she nervously tugged at her fabric. Weeks of getting the tailor to get her measurements right, she still couldn't get the neck measurements right. Some adjustments nearly choked her while other adjustments made the collar too loose. Tugging at the collar lightly while pulling her dress down, she quietly groaned as to not draw attention to herself. Looking among the delegates, she wondered if she needed to sit down or wait respectfully till they've been allowed the courtesy. Having never been in one of those diplomatic meetings in ages, Cam quietly hid her nervous energy and folded her arms behind her back.

Orin had been watching and listening, tapping into his mother El-Aurian abilities as a listener. It was something that he learned early on in his life and his diplomatic career. Listen first. React second. He looked around at all those in attendance and realized....this was one of the first diplomatic functions the ship had done in a seriously long time. No wonder why the air was a little thicker with anticipation and nerves. Orin could especially see it on the face of Teevs, the man who's people were coming onboard. When Orin got the eye of Teevs, he gave a small nod, as an almost calming measure by trying to say....thank you. Orin let the festivities continue as he moved between groups of people quietly.

Phoenix stepped forward with measured grace the moment Lady Vanei concluded her greeting, her posture relaxed yet unmistakably authoritative. A faint, warm smile touched her lips—not performative, but deliberate, chosen. She inclined her head in return, acknowledging not only Vanei, but each of the heirs in turn.

“Lady Vanei, Lady Emeyr, Lady Relou, Lady Sama… on behalf of the crew of the USS Elysium, I welcome you.” Her voice carried clearly through the room—calm, steady, and effortlessly diplomatic. “It is an honour to host the Sovereignty and its Houses aboard our vessel.”

She mirrored their gesture—not perfectly, but respectfully—bringing her arms in a subtle approximation of their greeting before allowing her hands to fall naturally at her sides.

Behind her, the senior staff remained a composed tableau of Starfleet precision, but Phoenix softened the formality with her next words. “We have prepared this gathering not as a negotiation table…” she gestured lightly toward the circular arrangement of seating and the open buffet beyond, “…but as a space for understanding. Conversation often flows more freely when it is not confined.”

Her gaze flicked briefly—reassuringly—toward Teevs, acknowledging both his role and his visible nerves, before returning to the delegation. “You honour us with your presence, and we intend to honour that in return.”

A slight shift of her stance opened the room to them, an unspoken invitation.

“Please—join us. Refreshments have been prepared with your customs in mind. Should anything not meet your expectations, you need only say so.” There was the faintest hint of something more personal in her expression now—something warmer. “Today, we begin simply… as hosts and guests.” She stepped back half a pace, ceding the floor without surrendering control of it—a practiced balance. "Please be welcome"

As the delegation came through, Orin wasn't too far off from Lalor. He said softly, but with the timber that could fill the room, "I've tried working with with Commodore Lalor, Teevs, and our crew to try and make sure that we'd have stuff that you would like and was within any of the dietary restrictions that your teams have provided. But, we tried to include several dishes, meals, and drinks from several species across our Federation that we thought might......peak some cultural interests."

Emeyr looked around the space, taking note of the layout. It was a nice change of pace from a long table, and maybe she could learn a thing or two from this gathering. She didn’t have to look at Relou to know that Orin's words left her anxious to go explore the various aspects of the alien cultures.

Vanei returned the smile as she dipped her head in a nod. "Thank you, Commodore, for your kind words, and Legate, for your efforts to coordinate this function. This is a significant occasion for us, as you are our first visitors from Deraka Laris Veneat, or as you call it, the Milky Way." Her attention shifted respectfully toward the rest of the room. "You all have travelled a great distance to be where you are today. Your vessel tells a story of struggle, but also of persistence and endurance. Our intention is to hear your stories and to share knowledge. I hope that when your ship is ready to continue its journey, that we become a part of your story the way you have become a part of ours."

The door slid open again as the ship's MD stepped into the room. Late due to his occupation. " I hope I'm not too late." He said apologetically as he buttoned up his uniform jacket.

"Not at all, Doc! But, Lady Vanei, I would love to hear the stories of your people and more about these holidays that I keep hearing about! It seems like it would be a fun thing to hear more about other holidays besides that one coming up," Orin offered up with a small smile.

" My people do love to celebrate. I will be more than happy to inform you of them." The old doctor replied with a warm smile.

Being at the back of the group meant that Sama also happened to be closest to the reptilian being when he entered. She admittedly tensed out of soldier's habit, but collected herself with ease, knowing the guards were watching her for instruction. It took a thorough scolding from Vanei to even pull her away from the desk instead of sending along her consul, but perhaps it was a wise decision if a late entrance made her tense.

Anna arrived a moment after the doctor and also quite late. She gave an apologetic smile and self-consciously adjusted her dress uniforms. "Apologies" she said as she moved to take her place, blushing.

The other Ladies turned their heads to see the couple latecomers arrive, giving them a polite nod. Vanei watched Sama for a second, disappointed that she was still in work mode despite the effort to get her colleague to relax, before turning her attention back to Orin. "Of course, Legate. May this gathering allow curiosity to flourish." To Phoenix, she offered a smile that recognised the room as hers. "Shall we?"