Tea Time Talk

Posted on 21 Jun 2018 @ 2:39am by Commander S’chqenr T’Jedf Tolkath (Jan 2389 - TRNSFR After Gorn War) & Lieutenant Commander Iria Taltos
Edited on on 24 Jun 2018 @ 1:47pm

Mission: Ne Me'e Laua Na Paio - Heroes & Villains
Location: Lounge
Timeline: Some time after "Almost KIA"

[ON]

[Deck 3 Officer's Ward Room]

After completing his Bridge shift Tolkath stopped by the Ward Room for dinner. He took a seat by the forward window, ordered his meal, a simple but spicy stew with Vulcan Redspice.

While he waited for his meal to arrive he perused a PaDD with the latest results of the science team's research into the Gorn torpedoes that had been used against the ship with such devastating effect.

He became aware of somebody standing near the table and looked up. It was the Structural Specialist from the Wyoming, Lieutenant Taltos.

Iria offered up a friendlier version of her cheeky smile as she met the science officer's gaze, "Would it be alright if I joined you, Commander?" She asked lightly curious, but she wouldn't be upset if he declined. It took much more than a negative response to her inquiry. Her small tray held a plate held a burger with mushrooms and cheese sweet potato fries and a frizzing drink.

Tolkath looked at the woman for a long moment then nodded and gestured to a vacant seat. He wondered about her presence aboard, how much had she known about her late Captain's plan to commandeer the Hawaii. Supposedly Carson had sent her to Engineering to assist with creating a Gorn- style energy signature. But could she have also been despatched to secure control of the warp core and life support controls?

Regardless of her real motivations, she might be able to assist with his research on Gorn ship designs.

"How long were you aboard the Wyoming, Lieutenant?" He asked as an opener.

Iria sat down with a smooth motion and regarded him with a cheeky grin, "A week and three hours, I was mostly on duty as back up damage control, before that I was assigned to Varient station. I was supposed to go back but I don't really mind, being allowed to join the crew here. Besides longer I am away longer the Station's Co gets to drive the car I made." her smile turned impish, before she took a delicate bite from her burger. and chewed carefully.

"I see" Tolkath acknowledged "Only a short time then." He noted the woman's smile, she appeared to do that often. It was still an odd concept to him.

He also became aware of an unusual scent, something different from the usual smell of humans but just then a Steward arrived with his stew. The bowl steamed gently, giving off a rich spicy aroma. "There you are sir, extra red-spice as ordered"

Tolkath nodded and gave the bowl a stir with his spoon, releasing more of the pungent aroma. He tried a spoonful. "Please inform the chef it is satisfactory" He asked the Steward after swallowing.

"Thank you sir" The Steward refilled Tolkath's water, checked they did not need anything else and took his leave. He shook his head on the way back to the kitchen, according to the chef the stew was rated at nearly four million on the Scoville heat scale and would probably peel the paint off a duralloy hull, yet the Vulcan Science chief ate it without even a hint of a reaction.

"That was an unusual tactic, to mimic Gorn energy signatures. Do you know where it originated?" Tolkath asked.

iria shook her head, "I was told I didn't need to know when I asked who started it, but if you look at the coding long enough it looks like it actually has some sort of morse code embedded in it."

"Really, a series of dots and dashes?" Tolkath confirmed "Did you try to decode it?

Iria nodded she pulled a PaDD from her pocket and offered it to him. "If you pay attention to the second line that's where the Morse is hiding, I haven't gotten to compare it past what is used with in the Fleet but it doesn't look like anything we use. Some of the code reminds me of Cardassian writing patterns." She gave a small shrug, "Or I am wrong but it's what it looks like at any rate."

"An interesting possibility" Tolkath acknowledged. "Perhaps you could forward me a copy. "

Iria nodded and put the PaDD back into her pocket, "I can do that no problem, Sir." she said lightly. She didn't after all know his name and she didn't like calling folks by their ranks unless requested to do so. After a nibble from her burger she raised her gaze to meet his and spoke lightly, "Do you mind if I ask your name or would you just prefer I stick to your rank or Sir."

"It is S’chqenr T’Jedf Tolkath" He responded, giving his full Vulcan name.

"Did you encounter many Gorn ships during the patrol? He continued.

Iria nodded her head as he gave his name, she then, frowned softly, "We passed by four, a fifth narrowly railroaded us for some reason but turned to starboard about two minutes before we would have had a collision." she said evenly.

"So a Gorn ship, that was within visual detection range of the Wyoming turned aside instead of attacking? That is somewhat unusual. Why do you think they did that?"Tolkath asked, intrigued.

Iria shook her head softly, "I have no idea, I was up to my elbows in a royally fouled up replicator at the time. Long story short as much as I love being an engineer and getting dirty. That kind of replicator repair I never ever want to see a repeat of." She gave a shudder as if the memory was most decidedly unpleasant.

"I would say checking the back logs would give answers. I know that the captain and rest of the command staff sent logs every four hours or so to fleet command. I don't know who got them but they were sent. I don't know if I can help beyond giving the dates unless you want to let me help read the back logs if you find them?" Iria gave a small cheeky smile, "I don't think I am allowed to go digging for that on my own but if you want help I will certainly be game for trying."

"Records of the Wyoming's reports would be retained at Task Force command." Tolkath said "It might be possible to submit a request for copies." He ate some of his stew for a while.

Iria nodded and nibbled on her own burger thoughtfully, and in between a few bites she took a few sips from her soda, it was one of her favorites, root beer.

Tolkath finished his stew, his sinuses full of the pungent spices, he slid the bowl to the side and finished his water. "Thank you for the conversation Lieutenant, it was... informative"

He got up to leave, as he did so he caught a faint whiff of a strange smell, something unusual, not a scent he believed he had sensed before. Perhaps it was just the red spice from his meal.

"Good day Lieutenant" he said and turned to leave

Iria smiled cheekily, "Feel free to call me Iria if you're inclined."

"I am not." He replied with Vulcan bluntness, but not rudeness.

As Tolkath walked away the scent quickly faded, he half thought it reminded him of a Vulcan Le matya, but he was more preoccupied with the possibility of examining the code for the engine modifications and gave the matter no more of his attention.

Iria finished her meal thoughtfully and clearly amused once she was done she gathered up her tray and turned over the empty dishes and set then on the reclamation station. Then she headed out of the room with a cheeky grin upon her features as she headed down the corridor...


[OFF]

Tolkath Cmdr SF
2XO/CSO

Iria Taltos Ltjg SF
ACHENG