Artan Family Ties

Posted on Mon Jan 7th, 2019 @ 10:03pm by Captain Enalia Telvan

Mission: Section 31-B
Location: Captain's Quarters
Timeline: 2396

It had been a long day and all Enalia wanted to do was relax, listen to some soft music, and snuggle with her wife... But fate had other plans for her this evening as an incoming transmission with her family crest came in and was routed to her desk terminal. Only a few people in the Artan family even had this frequency so either it was an emergency or something was wrong. Clicking on accept, her heart sank as the image of her domineering mother appeared on the screen.

"Mother. To what do I owe the pleasure?" Enalia asked somewhat coldly. She'd never gotten along well with her mother - with them it was more of a student-teacher relationship with Enalia never quite living up to the Pirate Queen's expectations. Her late sister, on the other hand, had excelled at every task the woman had set before her. If she had only trained her sister to take over the family instead... But those were pointless thoughts now.

Arenara Artan ignored the cold nature from her daughter and pressed on. "Your presence at the fortress is required at your earliest convenience. I've arranged a meeting so you may provide the family with an heir."

That wasn't entirely unexpected. With her father and sister both deceased, Enalia was the only one left that could carry on the Artan lineage and Maica wasn't exactly the best for that. "I've told you before, I'm working on that..."

"Yes, with that hologram of yours. Why you insist on playing house with a sex program I will never understand, but you have duties to the family that must be upheld. I've found several suitors that should be compatible..." Arenara was as obstinate as she was blind to her daughter's feelings, as always.

Enalia couldn't take any more and had to interrupt her mother. "Mother, I'm married to a sentient artificial life form. She has equal rights under Federation law. She and I are compatible.."

"Did I raise you to interrupt me?" Now her mother was mad. Rather than listening to the tirade she already knew by heart, Enalia clicked the mute on her terminal and nodded in mock apology for several minutes as her mother continued ranting. It seemed every time they talked this happened.

Eventually she seemed to be spinning down so Enalia unmuted to catch the end of the tirade. "...which you wouldn't have done if your father hadn't gone off and gotten himself killed during your kidnapping. It's a good thing your younger sister was so reliable even back then, rescuing you on her very first mission. I swear I have no idea where your rebellious streak comes from, turning your back on the family and denying your own heritage."

"Yes mother, I'm sorry." Enalia interjected as her mother was taking a breath for another round. "You were saying something about suitors?"

"Yes! I've arranged several suitors for you to look over." Arenara got back on track to why she called, still obviously in a foul mood. "You don't have to marry any of them, or love them or anything like that. Just pick one and donate some genetic material. I'll use you and them to make an heir and raise them myself since you can't seem to be bothered, out there playing with your fancy Starfleet rules and science. Probably putting good privateers in prison as we speak."

So that was her game... Her heart sinking even further, Enalia wondered if the day would soon come when she would have to arrest her own mother. Smiling her best 'Starfleet' smile, which she knew would piss her mother off even more, she hovered her finger over the disconnect button. "Alright, the next time we have shore leave scheduled, I'll send you a message. Captain Telvan out." With a protest forming on her mother's lips, Enalia tapped the disconnect button, ending the transmission.

Leaning back in her chair, she sighed heavily. "I think it's time for a stiff drink... Computer, please inform Commander Paris that my family problems may be coming to the USS Hera. Include a copy of this communication."

 

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