Book Club: We Weren't Soldiers, Part 1

Posted on Sun Nov 9th, 2025 @ 1:11am by Captain Remy Johansen & Lieutenant Commander Eirly Andersen & Major Clay McEntyre III & Lieutenant Xalanth & Lieutenant Jean-Baptiste Dorsainvil & Lieutenant Ryan Keel & Lieutenant JG Leilani

1,521 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: The Menagerie II
Location: Espresso Royale, Deck 15
Timeline: [After / Well Into Next Mission]

A smile was on Xalanths face as he walked down the corridors of the ship. The red lizard looked rather bizarre out of his uniform and in the more rough-sewn garb of his people. At his side was his second, wearing one of the long flowing dresses of her people. He smiled as they stepped into the Espresso Royale and into the area where the book club would be meeting. Pulling out a chair for his mate, the lizard slid in beside her waiting for others to arrive.

Jean-Baptiste smiled faintly to himself upon finding a café wedged among a couple of cargo bays and a research lab on Deck 15. It wasn't the layout that had him feeling keyed-up; it was the prospect of engaging in conversation with his shipmates. This wasn't to be a briefing or a review. An actual honest-to-God conversation--the kind where you didn't have to parse the truth from the phrasing. It would just be people. People talking about a book.

The warm scent of coffee beans, the sound of low conversation, and cozy ambient lighting greeted his senses. It wasn't large, but it was inviting in a way that didn't try too hard. Around the kiosk, a handful of couches and low tables ringed the space, half of them occupied. A small placard marked Reserved sat off to the right. Lieutenant Xalanth, the Dragonian security chief--and JB's direct superior--was seated beneath a pendant light that made the red scales on his head glow. Beside him was one of his mates, their presence unmistakable.

JB approached with an easy nod. "Lieutenant. Ma'am. Glad to see you here," he said, setting a satchel gently at his feet.

'Hey y'all,' Keel said as he stepped into the cozy confines of the cafe. He had been delighted on his travels around the vessel that there was someplace as relaxed and laid-back as the Espresso Royale. It had been a nice bolt-hole when things got stressful when on duty.

Sporting jeans and a rough-spun pullover, Keel took a seat and flashed everyone a smile. 'I'm looking forward to this,' he said with obvious delight. It had been a pleasant surprise to see a flyer for a book club floating around the place, and he had resolved to take part. In his hands he had a physical copy of the book they were to discuss.

"Nice to see the both of you, and please, it's Leilani and Xalanth while we're out of uniform." Replied the betazoid with a warm smile upon her soft face.

Clay had a pile of books in his hands when he finally meandered into the cafe, though it was hardly not noticeable, giving his stature as he found the group, nodding as he took his seat at the table they selected.

Eirly had been the late addition to this little book club meeting and took it as a sign to mingle with everyone and get to know them better outside of work, in a place where ranks weren't an issue. Comfort was key to her so a pair of light blue leggings, a flowy top and a cardigan were the staple. Stepping into the cafe herself, she spotted a few people and walked up, a genuine smile on her face, "Hello everyone."

"Good day all."

Jean-Baptiste glanced around the gathering with a quiet satisfaction that he didn't bother disguising. It wasn't every day you got this many people into one room without an agenda--no briefings, no strategy sessions, no urgency dripping from a red alert klaxon. Just a handful of minds, a few hot beverages, and a shared text.

He stood just slightly, hands braced on the table's edge. "Alright," he began, voice warm and measured. "Thanks to everyone for showing up. I know schedules are tight, and reading a novel probably isn't in most people's standard Starfleet routines." His lips twitched slightly. "But I figured if the Astrea can rescue survivors from a lost ship and provide security for a politically-charged peace conference, we can handle a few pages of reading once a week."

The Captain lingered until she thought most of the book club attendees had arrived and then made her casual approach.

"Hello, room for one more?" She asked. "I completely understand if you don't want your Captain hanging around in your off hours, this was just something I had read a couple of years ago and really enjoyed so I thought I'd pop by." Remy held up a paper copy the book they had selected for their first reading.

Looking around the little group, and nodding at them, Keel turned back to Remy and nodded, 'sure thing, Captain, there's more than enough room.' He flashed a smile, 'what's the coffee order?'

Remy shrugged as she gave Keel a smile. She softly whispered "Thanks" to him as the server approached to take orders.

Jean-Baptiste had just removed five data PADDs containing the book, We Weren't Soldiers, and placed them at the center of the table--just in case someone had forgotten to bring their own copy. He had settled back into his seat when the café’s server approached, moving briskly. She was tall and grey-eyed, with an apron that had clearly seen better days.

"Alright, who's first?" she asked, flashing a perfunctory smile. "Unless you're looking for something replicated today, we've got Earth's Sumatran dark roast, a Denobulan iced chai, and a raktajino that'll dissolve your fillings if you're not too careful. And yes," she added, as if anticipating an unasked question, "we have that strange Vulcan mint tea. Don't ask me why."

Remy held her tongue on the Vulcan tea comment, though she thought of a few smart things to say, given her position she was worried that the barista might take the Captain too seriously, so she thought better of it. "I'll try the Denobulan chai. That sounds interesting."

" I'll take the raktajino." The lizard smiled politely. " And I'll take the Denobulan chai." added Lelani.

JB raised a hand. "I'll have a flat white with oat milk."

The server raised an eyebrow and fixed him with a look. "We only have replicated oat milk."

He nodded, adding, "That's fine. Thank you."

"A Black Coffee, Thank ya kindly" Clay was next to order, a simple order, for a simple Caitian.

'The raktajino for me too,' Keel piped up, looking from the bent pages of the book. Bending the spine so both covers touched, he was busy re-familiarising himself with its contents in readiness for the discussion. 'Do you have any sort of cake, or sweet treat?'

The server tapped her foot, squinting at Keel like she was trying to decide if he was joking or intentionally making her life harder.

"Cake?" she echoed, rolling the word around like it was a foreign concept. Then she gave a resigned sigh. "Well, we've got a Bajoran spice loaf that might pass for cake if you're desperate, a couple of stale almond croissants that have been reincarnated at least twice, and a tray of peanut butter bars made from a recipe that allegedly comes from Earth's Midwest but taste a little bland." She leaned in a little, her voice dropping conspiratorially. "My advice? Go for the spice loaf if you're feeling adventurous. It won't kill you. Probably."

Straightening up, she raised her voice to her normal level. "So--spice loaf? Or are you brave enough for the croissant roulette?" She paused for moment, thinking, then added, "Or I could just replicate you a slice cake."

'Why replicate it when you can have the real stuff?' Keel asked reasonably. 'I'll take a big slice of spice loaf if you don't mind.'

The serve let out a noise somewhere between a scoff and a bark of laughter, shoulders giving a small shake as she entered Keel's order on her PADD. "Big slice, it is," she echoed, her tone edged with mock solemnity. "Hope you've updated your next-of-kin forms."

She turned slightly, eyes scanning for the next holdout. Her gaze settled on Eirly, and she raised an eyebrow that suggested she had already resigned herself to whatever fresh absurdity might come next.

"And you, Commander?" she asked. "What's your poison?"

"I'll go for a chai tea and blueberry Danish, please." Eirly replied with a smile. She wondered momentarily what the quality of the Danish was going to be like compared to her own but then realised it was in taste to do so, pun intended.

The server paused, and gave Eirly a look that hovered somewhere between mild suspicion and begrudging respect.

"Blueberry danish"," she repeated, as if testing the words for stability. "Well. I can promise it at least looks like a danish. Might even taste like one if you close your eyes and believe in miracles."

She nodded once and lifted her gaze to sweep the entire table. "Alright, team book club," she said, turning on her heel. "I'll be back with your questionable pastries and beverages before you can argue over the first chapter."

~tbc~

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