Trophies & Tokens
Posted on Tue Aug 5th, 2025 @ 2:39pm by Lieutenant JG Jean-Baptiste Dorsainvil & Lieutenant Xalanth & Lieutenant JG Fulvia
Edited on on Thu Sep 4th, 2025 @ 8:47pm
1,492 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Peril at the Unification Accords
Location: Chief Operations Officer's Office, Deck 5, USS Astrea, Barisa Prime
Timeline: MD006, 1610 Hours
Xalanth was still trying to get his recent promotion through his head. A promotion up to head of security. A smile escaped his lips even amongst the unlimited chances of the fleet, the universe found a way to surprise even his usual lifestyle.
Sending the message that he requested to meet this human in his office, the red lizard leaned back in his chair, stretched, and looked around his office. The dragonians personality was on full display with some of his weapons, trophey's, artwork from across the homeworlds of his mates and numerous tokens of his family. A reflection of his soul.
JB paused outside the office door, his thumb brushing once over the seam of his uniform. It was a small gesture and done mostly out of habit. He drew in a breath, let it rattle around his ribs, and stepped forward.
The door slid open silently, revealing a room that felt more alive than most corridors on the Astrea. Trophies, artwork, small tokens, they all gleamed with family pride--each piece seemingly carrying a pulse of its own.
He moved inside, careful not to let his gaze linger too long on any one object. Coming to a stop a few paces in, he planted his feet and brought his shoulders back.
"Lieutenant JG Jean-Baptiste Dorsainvil reporting as ordered, sir."
The words left his mouth smoothly and evenly, but his eyes stayed sharp, tracking the Dragonian across the room. He waited.
"Take a seat, Lieutenant, and please, Xalanth will do fine in here." The red lizard said, gesturing to the seat opposite his desk.
JB hesitated for half a heartbeat--just long enough to feel the old instinct curl and unspool in his gut--then moved forward. He settled into the offered chair with care, as if the seat might splinter beneath him if he dropped too much of his weight all at once.
"Xalanth, then," he echoed, voice low but threaded with that clipped precision he always used when attempting to keep the edges of himself from spilling out. Again, his gaze flitted across the trophies and tokens scattered about the room, like small embers of someone's life story rising from the fire that was the Dragonian.
He drew in another breath, deep and steady, and let his hands rest loosely against his knees. Even seated, there was a tension in him--like fishing line just shy of snapping. He met the Dragonian's eyes at last.
"Now I know this situation isn't what any of us expected. " Xalanth stated. "But I intended to make the best of it. I hope you'll have my back as my second in command."
He nodded to the Chief of Security, full deference given. "If you're referring to that little spiral my career has taken, don't worry--I'm here now. I'll back you just as I would anyone else on this ship. I can promise it, Xalanth."
JB had never met a Dragonian before. It caught him off guard, seeing one here, wearing a Starfleet uniform, carrying the weight of a department on those broad shoulders. Not because he thought they didn't belong--he wasn't that kind of man--but because no Dragonian had ever signed up before. For Xalanth to stand here now, holding rank and responsibility, meant he'd fought for every inch of it. And it meant the captain trusted him deeply, maybe more than most.
"I'd like you to know," JB continued, voice lower now, "that while I intend to serve the Astrea to the best of my ability in this role, I would hope my experience in Intelligence might be more useful here than raising shields or firing phasers."
"I have no intention of wasting your skills on pushing buttons Jean. " Xalanth replied honestly. " I want you to work with Lieutenant Fulvia to make sure our security has the best intelligence in the fleet."
JB nodded in agreement. "Not a problem, Xalanth. I'll liaise with the Lieutenant when necessary and offer my skills whenever required." He paused a moment before changing the subject. "How long have you been aboard Astrea?"
"Three quarters of a year. " Xalanth replied calmly. " I'm grateful to the captain for giving me this chance. "
He smiled slightly, hoping not to come across as too relaxed in front of his direct superior. "How are you enjoying this posting so far?"
"So far, I'm loving it. Being the second in command was fulfilling, but I'm glad that I'm able to take the reins. I have a few ideas from the legion that i hope to implement. I want the Astera to have the best security division in the fleet." The lizard explained with a grin forming on his reptilian face.
"The legion?" JB asked curiously. "The Dragonian Legion?"
He'd read about the Dragonian-Yor war, of course. Not to mention the near-fatal first encounter between the Federation and the Dragonians.
Xalanth nooded. " The very same. I served like all adult dragonian's do. They have a few tricks i'd like to integrate into are security forces."
JB tilted his head slightly, as if absorbing the words with his eyes. "What did you have in mind?"
He knew from his time in Intelligence that whenever he liaised with Starfleet Security, there was a feeling they were thinking in minutes when some cultures would think in terms of years, or decades. Perhaps that's what Xalanth meant--a different approach. And JB was definitely on board with that.
"For more up-front matters, I intend to bring in some of the legion's tactics on breaching and boarding into are own security training. They proved very effective during my people's brief conflict during are first with the federation." Xalanth explained. "I'd also like to start brainstorming ideas, looking at new tech and tactics that we may encounter in the future. I don't want my team going in blind or being behind on tactics."
JB leaned forward a little, enough to show he was interested.
"That makes sense," he said. "You don't win tomorrow's fight using yesterday's instincts."
He didn't mean it as a platitude. It was just a truth that had been carved into him over time, like water from a spring wearing down stone. You get smart or you get broken. And sometimes you get both.
"Exactly. I'd like you to take a look through the roster and see who would be most suitable for an anti-boarding team," the lizard said, interested to see what the man's response would be.
He nodded at the Dragonian, his response ready. "I had a lot of down time on Barisa and found myself reading through personnel files," JB said, leaning forward. "Off the top of my head, I'd say S'Niri, Kleinschmidt and T'Rur. All are proficient in hand-to-hand and their periodic reviews indicate they're capable of making quick decisions."
"All good choices. " the lizard responded. "I'll contact them and see if they're interested. Don't see why they wouldn't."
He nodded once, slowly. "Understand. If that's all, I'll reach out to Lieutenant Fulvia in Intelligence at the beginning of my first duty shift." He stood gingerly and absently straightened his uniform. "I should say, though--my departure from Intel wasn't clean. I left fast, and I left with damage. Some of that damage may have followed me here."
JB met Xalanth's gaze with a slight apologetic look. "If that complicates your plans, I get it. The important thing is that we have a good relationship with them."
"Of course. If anyone can help you with anything intelligence, it's Fulvia." Replied Xalanth letting the pride he had in his mate slip through.
He paused a moment, tilting his head slightly. "Xalanth, you're the first Dragonian I've ever met. And you're the only one in Starfleet, to my knowledge." He offered a sincere smile. "Maybe we can get a drink sometime--I'd like to learn more about your journey. That is, if you're willing to share."
"Of course. I'll see if I have any free time and let you know when I'm available. Though my girls do take up most of my free time. "the lizard replied with a grin at the mention of his children.
JB gave a quiet nod, a corner of his mouth twitching into a smile.
"Understood," he said. "Family first. That's universal."
He stepped back from the desk, sparing one final glance toward the trophies and the strange, storybook clutter that felt more like home than most Starfleet walls ever did.
"Thanks for the time, Xalanth," he added. "I'm looking forward to working with you."
" I'll see you around the ship." Xalanth said a grin upon his reptilian face before he returned to his work.
Lieutenant Xalanth
Chief Security Officer
USS Astrea
Lieutenant J.G. Jean-Baptiste Dorsainvil
Assistant Chief Security Officer
USS Astrea
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