Opening Ceremonies, Part 2
Posted on Sun Oct 12th, 2025 @ 3:02pm by Captain Remy Johansen & Commander Maxun Spello & Lieutenant Commander Nash Winters & Lieutenant Daynah Ral & Lieutenant Alexandra Blackstone & Lieutenant Ryan Keel & Ensign Tenzi Sh'reyva & Ensign Iozhara
1,764 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Peril at the Unification Accords
Location: Barisa Prime Conference Center
Timeline: MD 08: 1700 Hours, After Part 1
Up on the mezzanine, Vice-Proconsul Rethel stood apart from the glitter and the glow. Her robe was made of a plain, navy cloth that carried no insignia, no shimmer. Her hair was braided into narrow rows that ended in precise knots at her nape, the style functional and severe--even for a Romulan. Her features were sharp in that same Romulan way--cheekbones like chiseled planes, eyes steady and unblinking, a face for vigilance. She did not mingle, did not drink, did not smile. Her gaze combed the crowd, catching patterns others missed. She eyed the waitstaff, the restlessness of some diplomat's Andorian aide, the scratch of a Tellarite's ears. All of it was seen and marked.
A shadow approached, a younger Romulan officer in black and grey, who stopped and raised her palms together before parting them outward like a book. The gesture was simple and austere. It was the formal greeting of a Qowat Milat.
Rethel returned it without looking away from the hall.
"No concerns," the officer said quietly. "Only a Ferengi diplomat who drank more than his fill. He is confined to his quarters."
"Good," Rethel answered. Her eyes tracked a Trill moving too fast through the buffet. "Remain vigilant."
The officer hesitated, then said, "Vice-Proconsul, I can relieve you. I will stand here in your stead."
Rethel gave a fractional shake of her head. "No. These accords are my qalankhkai. My charge. My truth to uphold."
There wasn't anything to argue with. The officer pressed her palms again, opened them like wings, then stepped back into the crowd. Rethel returned the motion. Alone again, she settled into her watch.
Alex watched the officer depart from Rethel with a raised brow from where she sat leaning against a half-wall, sipping champagne as she herself surveyed the room and watched. She had the slightest itch in the back of her mind at being around as many Romulans as were present and to some degree she recognized Rethel but could not place a name to her and so she simply watched and waited.
"Quite the scene, isn't it?" came a soft voice from behind Alex.
Alex half turned towards the voice. "Oh, yes. It is something that is... somewhat unexpected in some ways. I am hopeful that it will last and create a new status quo for the galaxy however."
Iozhara slipped in beside Alex, her dress uniform straight and pressed. She still smelled faintly of sterilizer--proof she'd only just come down from the conference's med station. Her eyes swept the crowd once, taking in the diplomats, the glitter, and the sharp-dressed servers weaving through the reception.
"I'm hopeful too," Iozhara said, her eyes fixed on the Astrea's marines at their post near an outer door. "I thought I'd change and see what the ceremony looked like, now that my shift has ended."
"Quiet so far; I am on standby myself for the med station. Figured that I'll be the first on scene if something happens here." Alex gave her nurse a soft smile. "I am impressed with the work you do, by the by. Certainly one of the finest nurses I have had the pleasure of working alongside." She swept her gaze back toward the room after a moment, an air of vigilance about her though she masked it from her visage well.
Iozhara let the compliment wash over her with only a tiny tug at the corner of her mouth. She held her glass low, untouched, her hand brushing a crease in her dress uniform trousers.
Daynha hated events like this, truly hated. It was more than the feeling that most officers felt about these situations. However, she knew that if she did not make a showing at an event this historic it would be arguably the biggest mistake of her life. So, she slipped into the conference center and took a seat. Her gold dress uniform made the situation even more uncomfortable. Daynah hoped that no one would notice her. So, she could slip in and out without any hindrances.
Nash felt invigorated and refreshed after some well deserved family time. He needed to decompress and getting the love and support from Sarah and the children made him feel better. Duty called, however, and he was expected to make an appearance at the reception. The dress uniform was uncomfortable and stiff, but Nash didn’t want to disappoint his Captain, and friend.
He made his usual small talk and mingled a short while with Captain Johansen. He noticed Lieutenant Ral, Chief Ops Officer, sitting alone at a table. Nash could tell she looked as uncomfortable as his dress tunic. He cut his conversation with Remy short. “If you’ll excuse a moment, Captain. There’s someone I need to see. Try not to overdo it, alright? I’ll make sure Sam looks after you,” Nash said. He gave her shoulder a friendly squeeze and made his way toward Ral.
“Lieutenant…Daynah? Mind if I join you? Figured you’d be talking and mingling,” Nash said politely before sitting down to join the operations officer.
Maxun stood of to the side, in quiet discussion with two other ambassadors. When they finished, he excused himself and began moving through the large room, greeting and talking to any who wished to speak to him. All the while, his El Aurian senses were taking in everything happening around him.
Mingling with the delegations, Keel made a circuit around the room, scarcely having time to drink from the bottle of water clutched in his hands. The energy was generally good in the room, thought pockets amongst the quieter Vulcan and Romulan members had him worried. As he worked the room, he attempted to gather as much information as surreptitiously as he could.
"Lieutenant Keel," a booming voice called out from a few meters away, that could be traced back to an older man seemingly too small in stature for his large voice. "I was hoping to find you here tonight," Commodore Sural wore a jovial smile on his face as he closed the distance between himself and Astrea's Diplomatic Chief. "Let me get you a drink."
'Commodore,' Keel acknowledged with a smile as he extended his hand, furiously jogging his memory as to where he'd met him before. 'I'll have what your having,' he said, stalling for time as his memory failed him. 'Seems to be proceeding OK for the first day,' he said.
"We sure have attracted some heavy hitters to the conference, wouldn't you say?" Sural stated. It wasn't so much of a question, but an observation. "Though such a topic of discourse isn't anything that any major power in the quadrant wouldn't be interested in. I don't think anyone ever expected the Romulans to bend a heel to the Vulcans."
"That's your First Officer - the El Aurian, right?" Sural asked, gesturing to Spello. "We were surprised when Johansen elevated him to rank so quickly, but it was his second career in Starfleet. He's been around a long time. Introduce me?"
'Of course,' Keel smiled, memory finally clicking into place. He hadn't met Sural, he had merely been briefed about the Commodore. He caught Spello's eye, and beckoned him over. "Commander Spello, Commodore Sural was hoping for a moment of your time."
Catching eyes with young Lieutenant Keel, Maxun nodded and stepped closer, seeing that Ryan was standing with a Commodore that he had met in passing, decades earlier. "Commodore," he dipped his head respectfully, offering his hand in greeting. "We've actually met before, though it was in passing, nearly twenty years ago. It was during Admiral Alistar's retirement party, do you remember, Sir? You were a young Ensign at the time, and was the Admiral's aide, I believe?"
"Why, I... You were at the Admiral's retirement party?" Sural asked. "You must have a fine memory to recall a young Ensign, or I did something to make a fool of myself perhaps. You weren't active service then were you? You've only recently rejoined the ranks?"
Maxun grinned softly. "It's difficult to forget someone with such a smooth baritone singing voice, Sir. I do believe there were several wet eyes following your wonderful rendition of the Admiral's favorite song." He took a sip of his drink, then continued. "And no, Sir, I was in the inactive reserves at the time. Amanda Alistar and I were old friends," his smile faltered slightly, as he remembered the Admiral, having just passed away a year prior.
Stood to one side, Keel made mental notes on the conversation to store away for later use. Unexpected connections were a blessing in his line of diplomatic work. They were more of a blessing when they had been cultivated too, but he was smart enough not to insert himself into a conversation between old acquaintances with some contrived comment. Instead, Keel flagged down a passing attendant, and helped himself to a non-alcoholic Cestus whiskey.
"Ah, I wasn't aware you were close," Sural's voice dropped slightly as he picked up on Spello's change in mood. "You must know quite a few people who will be here this week, I take it? Starfleet's unofficial role here will be tricky to navigate."
Maxun nodded slightly, as he replied. "A few, Sir. Yourself included of course." He grinned politely. "So tell me, Commodore, do you still sing with that smooth voice of yours?"
"Mostly to my dog, but she's always been a captive audience," the Commodore replied humbly.
~tbc~
Commander Maxun Spello
First Officer
USS Astrea
Lt. Commander Nash Winters
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Astrea
Lieutenant Daynah Ral
Chief Operations Officer
USS Astrea
Lieutenant Alexandra Blackstone
Assistant Chief Medical Officer
USS Astrea
Lieutenant Ryan Keel
Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Astrea
Ensign Iozhara (& as Rethel)
Nurse
USS Astrea
Captain Remira Johansen as Sural
Commanding Officer
USS Astrea
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