Core Wrap

Posted on Wed May 27th, 2020 @ 10:59am by Captain Enalia Telvan & Lieutenant Mona Gonadie & Emergency Medical Hologram (Adam Power) Mk X & Ahreva Malana & Az'Prel & Baroness 3rd Class Sarika & Commander Rita Paris & Lieutenant Commander Mnhei'sahe Dox & Lieutenant Commander Thex sh'Zoarhi & Lieutenant Commander Sonak & Lieutenant Samuel Clemens XV & Lieutenant JG Haruna Mizuhara & Lieutenant JG Tovanna Mah & Ensign Tanaak Sado & Lieutenant Tyra Ironhooves & Ensign Weiaex & Ensign Briaar Gavarus & Ensign Fiona O'Dell & Petty Officer 2nd Class 'Big Ethel' Jablonski & Petty Officer 3rd Class S'Rina Wil'I'Ams & Petty Officer 3rd Class V'Nus Wil'I'Ams & Jaeih Dox-t'Aan
Edited on on Wed May 27th, 2020 @ 1:49pm

Mission: Return to the Core
Location: USS Hera, Deck 10, Ten-Forward
Timeline: 2397

As Doc Power, the Hera's EMH added the finishing touches to his latest fruit art masterpiece, Mont Saint Michel of France made from an array of unusual fruits, a Federation News Network stream was playing in the background in Ten Forward about a brave Romulan pilot that rescued a Starfleet crew. He and several other patrons were listening to it while they were enjoying some afternoon refreshments. Stepping back, he beamed slightly as he surveyed the parapets. "That doesn't look bad at all, does it?"

"It looks good enough to serve to our customers, at least," replied one of the barkeeps as he took a holo of the fruit art and the proud artist. "I just hope it tastes as good as it looks."

"I guarantee it'll taste twice as good," replied Doc Power with a dashing grin. "Besides, I think something like this will cheer everyone up after our recent... You know what."

Just the reminder of where the ship had been in the most recent mission sent shivers down the spine of more than just the snarky barkeep. It seemed most had at least one nightmare they preferred to forget. "Yeah, we could all use something to boost morale around here. Doctor's orders then."

The doors slid open as the ship's chief engineer and her anear quadmate stepped through the doors. The pair were dressed for Orion dancing and judging by the sweat the two had really be pushing themselves. A broad smile was on Thex face as her white other half leaned on her slightly. That had been good. Just letting themselves go and getting lost in the music. " Barkeep two Andorian ales and make sure their cold." She said with a happy tone in her voice the whole ship could use.

"Coming right up!" came the quick reply from the bar as they rushed off to prepare the order.

Dr. Mah came down to Ten Forward to check if the whispers she heard about Dr. Power's newest fruit project were true. She snuck up on Adam and peeked over his shoulder "Did you use all my weird fruits in your project?" She giggled about her interesting challenge, "Its amazing by the way." She stepped back with a huge smile proud of his amazing ability.

"Thank you," the ship's holographic medical officer replied with a grin. "I had some difficulty here and there, but everything is in there. I had to use the black sapote as a compote, for instance. Very tricky to work with. Thank you for the inspiration."

The next to arrive were Commander Paris and Lieutenant Commander Sonak- the blue and the gold, logic, and emotion, intuition, and intellect. The pair were an unlikely couple- she was headstrong, brave, sometimes rash and impulsive, but far and away an emotional woman guided by her passions. While he was Kolinahr, the pinnacle of emotionless logic, a dizzying intellect and a powerful mind whose every action was dictated by a philosophy whose foundation was laid while Mankind was still forging bronze tools. Yet in that difference was their strength- she could grasp and understand logic, and while he possessed none, through her he had learned to deal with emotional beings and to make sense of them.

Off duty, the two were quite comfortable with one another, and relaxed. They would wear casual clothes, and openly display affection for one another through actions, body language, and of course words. But in public, about the starship upon which they both served, you would never know they were a couple. Professional demeanor was the order of the day, even in a somewhat less casual setting such as this. Long ago they had set those parameters on their relationship- professional on duty, while behind closed doors they could feel free to be more intimate. It had served them well for a number of years, and as they arrived in the lounge, it might have almost seemed coincidence that the Chief Science Officer and the First Officer arrived together.

Surveying the scene, a half-smile formed on the lips of the human time-tossed temptress- something of a default expression for her. Exchanging a silent glance with Sonak, she rolled her eyes slightly, as if reacting to a conversation, then she stepped forward. "Fascinating display, Doctor. What have you named the piece?"

"Thank you, Commander. It's good to see both of you." For a moment, the EMH just smiled and stared off into space as if the question hadn't even occurred to him, which indeed it had not. "It's a stylistic recreation of Mont St Michel of France on Earth in various fruits gifted to me by the lovely Tova... So I think I'll call it Melo St Tova of the USS Hera. Please, feel free to have some. Every bit of it is perfectly edible."

The Vulcan inclined his head a fraction.

''This offering of fruit is most appreciated, Doctor. Since alcohol is poisonous to Vulcan physiology and synthehol offers no suitable replacement, as it still retains the unappealing taste of alcohol, there is usually no logic for me to come to this section of the ship. But such a situation distances me from my shimates, something which is not conducive to proper relationships, and is thus detrimental to efficiency. Today with this gathering, what you have done fills this gap for me. This effort of yours shall thus be honored as it should.''

He looked at the fruit creation from different angles and nodded.

''It is indeed reminiscent of that peculiar structure of Earth; an ancient fortified place on a steep hill surrounded by water like an island but only part of the time; a metaphor of the ebb and flow of what links us all together despite the barriers we may erect to protect our selves? Interesting... would you agree, Commander?''

"I may not know art, but I know what I like. And I like it..." Paris replied, redirecting her response to the holographic physician. "Quite the accomplishment, Doctor. Although I'll hold off on eating any of it until everyone has had the opportunity to view it in its pristine form. After all, part of the precious nature of this particular form of art is that it is designed to be temporary- a moment in time that will not be the same in a few days. I think that impermanence adds that much more value to it all, as well as to the artistic statement. Nothing lasts forever, so enjoy the fruits of your labors while you can, hm?" As admitted, Rita didn't know much about art. But that didn't mean that she couldn't appreciate it.

"Thank you both for your kind and generous words," Doc Power replied with a slight bow and smile. "It's my hope that everyone this evening is able to enjoy the... ah... fruits... of my labor, if you'll excuse the pun. Not just artistically, but culinarily as well. I just ask that everyone save the ceramic tray for our crew with more robust digestive systems. When I said everything is edible, I meant it."

The next to arrive was Ahreva Malana, the civilian biologist literally made of living stone. A soft smile graced her features, which were starting to look a little more rounded for some reason. It was as if she were consuming much more than normal and refusing to dispose of it. However, the floor sensors registered very little increase in her weight, relative to her mass. Either way, as she approached the bar and requested her usual empty plain ceramic mug, she chose to stand rather than strain one of the seats. After all, she had completely flattened the padding and warped one of the bar stools last time she had used one.

Not long after, the new mothers' Mona and Mnhei'sahe arrived, arm in arm and looking like they needed a night off from being new parents. "It looks like everyone else is looking forward to an outing as much as we are," Mona quipped with a grin, leaning in to give her bond-mate a quick kiss. They'd left the chicks hopefully sleeping with their grandmother, Jaeih, for the evening after a long day of work and watching them do their best to fly around their quarters. "At least they didn't get hurt or break anything today, right?"

Leaning over, Mnhei'sahe returned the quick kiss. As a general rule, they worked to maintain a professional air to their relationship, but Mona moreso than her Romulan wife tended to forgo that formality where public displays of affection were concerned. Of course, here in the ship's lounge, they relaxed a bit more than not.

"Today." Mnhei'sahe replied with a slight grin. "But tomorrow is another day and the cribs have lids for a reason. But at least we have a few hours to relax as Mother seems to be getting quite good at putting them down for the evening. Plus, in all reality, I'd prefer our two Romulan guests not knowing that I have children. That's... not information I want making it back to the Senate, all things considered."

"Would you like something to drink? I'm going to get a sserayl tea." Mnehei'sahe changed the subject slightly as she asked her brilliantly plumed, Miradonian wife.

"Hmmm... One of those rainbow surprise cova fruit frappe drinks if they can replicate it, otherwise I'll have the same. I'll grab a table for us near the windows." With a wink and a squeeze of her lover's hand, Mona couldn't help but smile like sunshine was pouring out of her.

Returning the smile, Mnhei'sahe made her way across the room, taking a moment to watch the FFN video playing on the large screens and smiling slightly as a clip of Ensign Fiona O'Dell ran, telling her part of the story for the galaxy to see. The story of a brave Romulan pilot that saved a Federation Starship and three Warbirds. Below the screen, watching was the pilot in question and the commanding officer of the three Warbirds, guests of the Hera.

Stepping up to the bar, the Hera's flight chief had ordered her and Mona's drinks and waited. As she did, Commander t'Rekt stepped over next to her. "Jolan tru, Lieutenant Commander."

Looking over, Dox nodded politely. "Jolan tru, Commander t'Rekt. Are you enjoying the evening?"

"As much as one can, wondering her crew has a future? But I am... hopeful that your Ensign O'Dell's plan is one that will aid our return to the hearthworlds," t'Rekt said, her arms behind her back and standing at near attention. The woman had a short-cropped head of light brown hair and was a solid few years younger than the Hera's red-headed Romulan pilot.

"By now, the story has made its way to the quadrant, I would imagine," Dox said, looking up at the slightly taller woman in the uncomfortable looking black and gray uniform. "And the senate has every reason to go along with it. It has the benefit of being true, and will make them look benevolent and wise to shower you with praise for your efforts."

"Or, at the very least, listen when it's explained that you had no knowledge of Rendal's dishonored status." Dox continued.

"That is my hope as well. Everything I have done in this mission has been to save and now protect my crews. Your Captain said that you are kin to a Senator? That you have a voice there?" t'Rekt asked plainly, maintaining her professional posture. 

Listening, Dox stiffened slightly as her two drinks came from the back. "If the Senator wishes to speak to me, I will tell her what you and Captain Garnak did for us here. I will tell her that you and yours had no knowledge that this mission wasn't authorized by the Senate."

Then Dox offered a light bow as she turned to where Mona had found a seat near the windows. "If she wishes to speak to me on the subject. You have my word. Jolan tru, Commander."

As Dox walked away from the bar, the doors slid open again, and the blue-clad Ensigns of the Research and Development department, Fiona O'Dell and Briaar Gavarus walked in like they owned the place. On the towering Tellarite's rotund hip, was the smiling Minotaur toddler, Minerva. 

"Check it, Fee! There's your bit on the screen! Look at you! You looked AWESOME!" The portly porcine said with a wide smile. "Don't your Mum look awesome, Minnie Moo?"

"AAHSOME!!!" The giddy, brown-furred babe in the little denim overalls squealed with excitement.

Dr. Tovanna Mah smiled at the little girl she met called Minnie and waved to her as she walked over to her mothers to introduce herself. She approached Fiona O'Dell and Briaar Gavarus as well as little Minnie, "Ensigns O'Dell and Gavarus, I'm Dr. Mah, I don't believe we've had the pleasure. Your daughter and I had the most wonderful game of hide and seek, she is a quite beautiful, bright and delightful child, quite sneaky too." She smiled at Minnie, "Was it okay that I caught you, Minnie?"

The miniature Miontaur was looking the ship's doctor up and down with an anticipatory expression and scrunched eyebrows before reaching to the El-Aurian physician with her trademark grabby hands, "Lolly?"

It was abundantly clear that the promise of treats was why she let herself get caught so easily in their past game.

"Alreet noow, what did we say aboot sweets, aye? Y'ken ye canna hae a lolly til ye been a brave girl fuir the Doctor, aye? She's under nae obligation ta reward ye joost because ye see her, hm? Hm? There ye go." Looking up from her somewhat abashed daughter, Fiona O'Dell looked up at the new Chief Medical Officer, who was only a full head taller than she herself. Sticking out her hand, O'Dell grinned, a mischievous affair.

"Yoo must be the Doctor Mah Miss Minnie here keeps goin' on aboot, and yuir magical lollipops. I'm Ensign Fiona O'Dell, and this here's Ensign Gavarus. We're R&D, so we get a wee bit banged up from time to time. So ye'll probably be seein us in a professional capacity sooner or later." The little redhead, whose hair was a surprisingly large and unrestrained mass of crimson curls, beamed a cautious smile at the young woman who looked barely old enough to be a doctor.

Dr. Mah laughed, "So you didn't give it your full potential little Minnie? We will have to play again at some point but, only if you give it your all got it and we will play for lollies again." She looked at Fiona, "I think your daughter is wise to my lollipop collection which she may have with her mothers' permission only." She looked pointedly at Minnie, "I will be happy to see you lovely ladies anytime you need. After 30 years of private practice, Starfleet is turning out to be quite fascinating."

Little Minnie pouted slightly on Gavarus' hip at her current lack of a lollipop before her attention was eventually pulled back to the large screens all playing a repeating clip of her redheaded mother talking with her trademark smile.

"Yeah, hopefully, we don't see you too often, Doc. But it's the nature of the beast that sometimes the crap we're experimenting with don't always work perfectly the first time, ya' know?" Gavarus replied to the smiling physician with a smile as she bounced Minnie on her hip. "Wait, thirty years?  What, did you graduate from Medical school as a baby?"

"Aye! Christ, Doc, ye look younger'n me! Thirty years ye say?" As the physician had been chatting, O'Dell had been to the replicator and back, bearing a chocolate milk for Minnie, a Guinness for herself, a bottle of Tellar's Prime for Gavarus, and a tumbler of Sangria with some fruit chunks for the doctor. As she distributed them, O'Dell glanced about furtively. "Dinna know if this is an official function or nae, boot I figure if I'm on the news, it might joost slide, aye? Handing out the drinks, she ended by handing the tumbler of sweet wine and fruit to the ship's Chief Medical Officer, having taken a shot at what they might like.

Dr. Mah laughed, "I'm only a little over 65, barely over a baby in my people's years. I have thousands upon thousands of years to live. My many greats grandmother saw my father not long before I enrolled in the Academy. She is in fact over 2000 years old and is part of the reason I joined. If El-Aluria still existed I would not be allowed to leave like this for another few hundred years despite my skills." She shrugged because to her it was a normal part of life in some ways. "At least you'll have a familiar face for a long time in sickbay or until I'm transferred. Now you know why I might be able to track down little Minnie during her hiding games, I'm not human. It could be handy if she ever gets hurt while hiding." She smiled at the ladies while taking a drink still feeling around herself to become familiar with people's energies.

Thex had been quietly listening in as her ship family talked and laughed. It brought a smile to her own face. She didn't want to tell them, but this would be the best time. "I'd like to tell you all something. I'm taking a leave of absence for a month so if you have and engineering issue you'll have to let my team know."

"This is the first I'm hearing of this, Thex," the first officer mentioned, then redirected. "So where are you going, if I may ask? Which, since you announced it publicly I assume you don't mind us knowing?"

" I'm heading to Andor to get try and get some answers. The only place that's likely to have them. " Thex repled fidgeting the drink in her hand a little. It had been a lifetime since she'd be on that world.

Listening, the Hera's Romulan flight chief ran her hand across Mona's leg, shooting her a quick smile as she put her tea down and walked over to the center of the room where Thex had just made her announcement. The blue Andorian and she got along well, but rarely socialized outside of work. And with Dox having only returned to the ship herself after almost two weeks away, whatever has going on with Thex, she was oblivious about.

"Answers... about what?" The Andorian Chief Engineer's tone was troubling and there was a tremble in her voice that Dox wasn't used to hearing. All the cues told Dox something was deeply wrong. "Thex... what's going on? Is there something you need help with?"

" About who I am and this mess that caught up with me. On why there appear to be more than one of me running around this galaxy. Enalia has gotten me a ship and crew who can get me to the only lead I have which is in the Andorian northern ice sheet." Thex replied still fidgeting with her drink.

Setting little Minnie down, as she had started to get good enough in groups to not run completely amok, Gavarus took a sip of her drink and cricked an eyebrow as the tiny tot walked over to hug on Fiona for a moment. Remembering her conversation with the chief engineer while the ship was trapped in the Undrheim, the towering Tellarite asked a question, perhaps a bit more tactlessly than was required for the tense moment. "What? Is this because you found out you and that chick on Risa are, like, clones or something?"

" Yeah, it's regarding that. My Thavan's in a comma so I only have the data he sent me to help. Means I'm going to the Andorian northern polar region. " Thex replied her fidgeting easing off slightly. Talking about her plan seemed to be helping.

Listening, Gavarus felt a little bad for blurting it out like that. But the portly porcine was immediately more preoccupied as to what Thex being off-ship would mean to her workload as she hoped it wouldn't mean a temporary reassignment back from R&D to Engineering like had just occurred during the Hera's recent emergency where extra hands were needed. Worrying about THAT, she took a massive swig of her beer.

"What's in the Northern Polar region? Or... what do you hope is there?" Dox said, in a concerned tone.

"What I'll be there for is the Ushaan ritual at High Mountain Park! Nothing like a brisk duel out in the middle of a mountain glacier!" Sarika exposited as the cybernetic woman came up alongside the others with a glass of Andorian ale in one hand. "Our ship will be here in three days and I've arranged passage through Andorian customs. That's as far north as we can normally beam in."

" Something that the Andorian government believes is worth killing over. A bunch of students on the Uzaveh expedition found something there and they've tried to cover it up. Has the heavy-duty ice driller I've replicated been loaded on the ship? " Thex asked the cybernetic woman.

"It's on my shuttle and ready to transfer to the ship that'll be taking us," Sarika replied with a nod. "They're an old group of fighters and contract salvagers I've worked with before that are used to working on frozen rocks and I trust them. They normally work with the Federation Merchant Marines but take on the odd exploratory mission now and then when their interest... and the pay... is high enough."

"While what you do with your leave time is up to you, and you certainly have plenty saved up," the old-fashioned first officer offered, "I'm curious why you're going as a private individual and not as a Starfleet officer, Thex. Andoria is a founding member of the Federation, and you say the Andorian government is killing students? This sounds like an official investigation is called for, with the full resources of Starfleet."

"But your plan... that you just sprung on us," Rita muttered under her breath, "is to take the Artan adjutant, and some roughnecks, go to the ice wastes of your home planet, alone, to investigate an investigation into your people's deity, which you say your government is covering up, which has something to do with you being a clone? Am I getting all of this? Because on my planet, this is how you set up a horror movie."

"And if someone happened to say, get injured or discovered vital DNA information it might be helpful to have a a medical team around. Just a thought," offered Dr. Mah quietly as she took another sip of her drink.

" I know my plan sounds like one of the old horror holo programs my ch'te and th'se enjoy so much, but I have my reasons. My thavan didn't send the data I got this through regular channels. He's was worried, someone would find it if he sent it that way. Maybe he's just over paranoid, but maybe someones listening into the comms beacons. " Thex said as she began to fidget with her drink again.

" And I don't want to drag you guys into this in case it does go badly. I need someone here to keep my girls and my quad safe." She added

Her eyes narrowing slightly, Dox's voice dipped slightly as she interjected. "Considering that you and a good portion of this crew underwent reconstructive surgery and risked your lives to help me escape from the Tal'Shiar on Romulus, I would think that you would know full well that none of us would hesitate in risking ourselves to help you, Thex."

"But as Rita said, we have very official resources that can be brought to bear to help you uncover the truth here, with far less risk. We put our lives on the line for the Captain's family. You all crossed into Romulan space for me and my mother. We went to Mariposa to help Fiona and her family." Dox finished, somewhat declaratively, "That's what we do. That's what Starfleet does. When there is a need, we hold out our hand and say 'what can we do to help'."

For her part, Rita Paris tried to restrain a smile of pride, because this wasn't the time nor place for it. But Dox had succinctly given voice to her own thoughts, and in that moment she was proud of the redheaded Romulan. because she'd come a long ways, and it was clear the lessons she had learned in the past year and a half of service on the USS Hera had most certainly made a difference in the formerly shy, overly self-conscious young pilot who hadn't realized what Starfleet was all about. This.... was a Starfleet officer who stood for something, and in that moment Rita's heart swelled with pride at her protege.

"She's right, Thex," Paris added in gentle tones. "If this is something you are determined to do as a private endeavor, we won't try to stop you. But you're Starfleet, and that means you're only alone if that's what you want."

Thex was silent for a second as she tried to think of the words to say. " I just don't want you guys to get hurt because of me. You guys are more family than my own family. Your part of my life as much as my quad is. " She said with a weak smile on her face.

"I can help fix injuries, doctors are for more than just lollipops. Just sat the word and you'll have help," offered Dr. Mah.

Sarika reached up and rested a hand on Thex's shoulder. "It sounds like they're volunteering to help you out. They'll be a lot more willing to help you than some scrubs on an asteroid breaker anyway, right?" With a soft smile, the cybernetic woman finished off her ale in one gulp. "The plan is still sound and I'll still go with you if you like though. I've grown fond of you 'fleeters and I want to see how you fight before I go back to the fortress for a while."

As the Trill captain of the USS Hera, Enalia Telvan entered Ten Forward, she discreetly reached behind the bar and pulled out a random glass and a mixing spoon, tapping the glass several times to produce a ringing sound throughout the room to get everyone's attention.

"If I may have your attention please? I'd rather do this in a more personal setting rather than as a ship-wide broadcast." Pausing, she looked around the room and for the first time found herself a bit intimidated. This was not only her family, but the one she chose.

Steeling herself, Enalia began. "We've been through a lot over the past few weeks. We've lost loved ones, gained friends and allies. We got stuck in what we now know is a realm of sleeping elder nightmares called Undrheim. With the invaluable aid of our new friends, we've survived. Not just as a team, but as family. Their brave actions are now known across not only the Federation, but reports are coming in that the story has spread to the Romulan and Klingon Empires, the Dominion, the Ferengi Alliance, Cardassia... Even the Breen Confederacy has publicly distributed the report to some degree. Embassies that have not been active for decades are receiving inquiries about it."

"And I suspect that while your return across the neutral zone won't be without incident, my guess is that it will be with far more pomp and circumstance than we had suspected." With a wry grin towards t'Rekt and Garnak, Enalia continued. "I've received word that the Romulan embassy is in a fluster and they're scrambling to find you a proper escort home."

The spotted woman then turned more serious and her demeanor slipped into a more regal posture. "In other news, the heir to the Artan throne is ready to take her place upon it and I will be retiring from the Artans as soon as that happens. Elysius knows my vision for the Empire and is in a far better position to lead it to where it needs to go. When that happens, Baroness Sarika... I'm sorry, but I will no longer need your services as Adjutant. Please support her as you did me."

The cybernetic woman was slightly taken aback at the declaration - she had been expecting it, but nowhere near this soon and she felt like she was scrambling for an excuse for Enalia to remain her Queen. "What? But... You'll really give it all up to that... After fighting so hard for..."

"For a better galaxy. For freedom. For everything she wanted that family to stand for." Dox said, putting an arm around her silver-haired friend, doing her best to comfort her. "It what she fought for in the Tribunal and what we all fought to help her achieve it. This is a moment to celebrate, 'Rika."

"But what we are doing here and now. Getting these people home safely. Building bridges between people that have been at odds for centuries. That's something that a Starfleet Captain can do maybe a little better than a Queen." Dox added, deciding this wasn't likely the best time to point out to the Silver Haired Baroness that she had also deferred her duties in the Artan Empire to someone else that she trusted as well. 

Turning back to Thex slightly, Dox brought Enalia's announcement back to the topic of the Chief Engineer's plight. "But that's Starfleet. That's the culture the Captain wanted to bring to the Artans. That's what makes a family out of all of our different peoples. We are all of us stronger when we have each other's back. And we have your back, Thex. No matter what."

A smile spread over Thex's face. She should have expected this. "Okay then. Anyone who wants to help is more than welcome! Just make sure you pack some very warm clothing. Even by it's normal standards, Andoria's northern pole can freeze your blood in your heart." She said finishing the old saying of Andorian ice carvers.

"We have some wonderful exploration suits, and they have adaptors for low-temperature outings," Rita Paris interjected, giving the shy Andorian girl a shoulder hug. "We'll be fine, Thex. Thanks for not shutting us out. You're one of us... Starfleet takes care of its own."

"Staarfleet also takes care of its friends- leastways as best we can," Fiona O'Dell said quietly as she and her little family stepped in behind Garnak.

As the discussion with the higher ranking officers continued, Gavarus and O'Dell slowly and quietly wandered away with little Minnie and the uncomfortable looking Romulan pilot a bit closer to the bar.

Looking back at the assemblage of the Hera's senior staff members for a moment, Garnak seemed slightly relieved to be with the friend he had made out in space. "I will admit... until I had met with more of your crew members and the others on the Persephone, I... had wondered if all human's matched your stature, Fiona."

Then he looked up at the towering Tellarite who was taking a swig of her beer and he raised an eyebrow, "But to see so many different kinds of people on one ship is... so unusual to me. But please, forgive my ill manners and my ignorance. I am still learning."

"This is... the family you spoke of, Fiona? Briaar... Gavarus. And little Minerva?" He asked O'Dell with a slightly nervous smile that still seemed slightly alien on his severe face.

"Aye," the redheaded firecracker said softly, the fondness in her voice for the subjects just as evident as when she had spoken of them in space, the day before. "This here, of course, is Miss Minerva Moo Mary Margret Mona O'Dell. Say hello to Captain Garnak, sweety. He helped your mum when she was all alone oot in space, and he kept her from freakin oot and goin off the deep end when ye and yuir mum... weren't there."

It was unusual for O'Dell to be subtle, but she was learning to self-edit for the wee one. Minnie, for her part, stepped over and hugged the Romulan drone who had somehow been thrust onto a greater stage, even as an image of him displayed onscreen with the FNN story.

"Thank yeeeee!" Minnie squeezed a bit, and the alien pilot was surprised by the strength of the child, even as the largest of the trio peeled the horned and furry child who bore no resemblance to her elfin mother whatsoever, save for perhaps her accent.

"A'course, this here's Briaar Gavarus, me partner. I toldye she was a big girl, aye?" O'Dell grinned as she nudged Gavarus with her shoulder, planting it into the tall Tellarite's hip.

Looking up, Garnak's eyes went a bit wide and it was clear, along with his questionable knowledge of humanity, that the Romulan pilot had never seen a Tellarite before. To say nothing of a toddler Minotaur. "Jolan'tru, Miss Gavarus. I am in Fiona's debt for her efforts toward my aid and the aid of my people. As such, as her partner, that debt extends to you and to your child."

The overly serious declaration had Gavarus raising a brow and taking the last swig of her beer. Noticing that the bottle was empty, the slightly uncomfortable engineer muttered slightly. "Uh, yeah. Whatever. You helped her while she was out there too, and the both'a you is why we're all even here to talk about it, so... we're even."

"Hey, another beer, here." Gavarus said as she held her empty bottle up to the bartender. "Oh, hey. Garnak. What are you drinkin'? You like that blue stuff?"

"Yes, I would enjoy a glass of Kali-fal if available, please." Garnak replied, a bit surprised at the offer.

"And a Romulan Ale for our buddy!" Gavarus called back.

"Sooo. I dinna ken if our wee scheme will save ye and the Commander over there and the crews and alla that. But twas the best plan we had, so we gave it a shot. When ye get home ye joost might be a bonafide Romulan hero, Captain Garnak." Fiona grinned at Garnaks sideye at that, as it still worried him when people called him that.

"I hope we get to meet again someday. I'd like to meet your wee one and yuir partner, aye?" With that, the drinks arrived, and Fiona offered the pale blue ale to the Romulan sublight hauler pilot who had somehow been swept up in events since the voice of a leprechaun had come through his speakers, and talked him out of self-destructing. he had helped save the fleet, thousands of lives, and the woman had taken it upon herself to paint him as the hero of the day, all in an effort to save his life.

As he sipped the best kali-fal he had tasted in his entire life, Garnak had to admit. The Federation didn't seem so bad, at least to him.

It was a dangerous thought, he realized. But it was his and he would remember his experience here, with these strange people who accepted him and showed him that the galaxy was truly bigger than the view he had been shown from his home. But it was a home he knew that his new friend would likely never be able to visit.

"I would like that as well, Fiona." He said, taking another sip, knowing that it would be all but impossible to ever see his friend again, but glad for this moment. "I would like to see you all again."

Once again resting on Gavarus' prodigious hip, the fuzzy, horned child took a massive swig of her sippy cup of chocolate milk and let out a rather deep burp for such a small child. "BRRRAAAAAPPPP!!!"

Half the room paused and turned to look at the source of the minor disturbance for a moment as the brown-furred bovine babe giggled excitedly in response, proud that her action had gotten her so much attention. 

"I think that's Minnie here agreeing with you, Garnak." The portly porcine said, blushing slightly.

"I've no illusions about what might be waitin' for ye when ye get home, Garnak," Fiona admitted quietly, then looked up, large emerald eyes bright and wide with hope. "But I made good on me promise to ye, and we can hope, aye? Besides, if we make it a plan, then maybe the universe listens to such things, too? So someday, I hope we meet again... your family and mine. So we can break some bread together, have some drinks and some laughs, and catch up on our lives... like distant friends do, y'ken?"

"So for now, we'll raise a glass..." O'Dell scampered up onto a stool, then nimbly climbed up to stand on the bar, and raised her pint of bitters.

"OI! I propose a toast!" the squeaky-voiced O'Dell's voice didn't carry extremely well. But this was a small gathering, and it was easier to catch people's attention from up on the bar. "Here's to our new friends... we came together in a crisis, and we helped each other out of a jam. We trusted one another... and in that trust, we all found salvation, and we kin raise this glass in celebration. So here's to friendship, and the people it can save- you and me. Slainte!"

A resounding cheer went through the crowd as everyone followed suit, followed by the bar finally opening up the dining part of the fruit castle art that Doc Power had constructed for the occasion. Without hesitation, Enalia rested a hand on the midget Mariposian's shoulder.

"Fiona, without a doubt, you're going to make a great starship captain."

"Cap'n!" O'Dell replied, a stricken expression on her face. "I thought ye liked me, why would ye say sooch a terrible thing?!?"