Posted by Commander Shara Calloway (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Post-Sim: Enai’s Quarters - Senior Staff Dinner

Posted by Lieutenant Patrick ‘Paddy’ McMillan (CNS) in Post-Sim: Enai’s Quarters - Senior Staff Dinner

Posted by Commander Siadra Enai (Executive Officer) in Post-Sim: Enai’s Quarters - Senior Staff Dinner
Posted by… suppressed (16) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

It had been a little over a week now since the Asimov had returned what they called “normal space”. Siadra and Liara had begun to slowly settle in on the ship. Their bags and moving boxes were unpacked. Siadra had reported in with her new Captain. They had dinner with Si’Rek and had already explored the ship. At least to a certain degree. Liara was slowly starting to be a little less anxious and to settle down a little. And Siadra was beginning to get used to her new duties as First Officer. Yet among all that, she noticed that she hadn’t even begun to really get to know the crew. And while she knew that that would take time, she at least wanted to make an effort sooner rather than later when it came to the senior staff. So without thinking about it twice, she sent out an invite to all of them that read:

Dear fellow senior officers,

as your new First Officer, I would like to get to know all of you a little better and hereby invite you all to dinner in my quarters. Two days from now at 1900 hours. Wearing your uniform is not necessary unless you feel more comfortable doing so.

Yours,
Siadra Enai

(snip)

Piper rang the chime of the XO’s quarters and waited to be allowed to enter. She was dressed in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and a pair of sandals. She wondered if she was under dressed.

COS

Less than a second later, the door swished open in front of Piper.

“Good evening Lieutenant,” Siadra greeted her warmly. “I’m glad that you were able to make it. Can I offer you something to drink?”

~Cmdr. Enai, XO

As Piper took a drink, the door chime sounded again. This time, the face of Counsellor Paddy McMillian crossed over the threshold, carring a bottle of 2379 Chateau Picard in one hand and a replicated bottle of pure Irish Whiskey in the other, “Hope I’m not too late?” He winked.

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-

“Not at all Counsellor. Come on in,” Siadra greeted him warmly. Before she could say more her daughter pulled gently at her skirt, trying to get her attention. Turning around, she crouched down so that she and Liara were almost on eye level. She could sense her nervousness and asked, “What’s wrong, honey?” Instead of saying anything, Liara simply wrapped her slender arms around her mother’s neck and nestled close to her. Kissing her cheek, Siadra held her close and rose to her feet and Liara wrapped her legs around her mother as well. She was getting too big for Siadra to carry her easily, but that was okay.

~Cmdr. Enai, XO & Liara

After placing the bottles down on a small table close to where the food was being set out, Paddy whirled on his heels, and came up to Liara with a warm smile on his face. Sensing she was slightly nervous, he tried not to get too close and kept his voice low and said, “Ahh, is this the famous Liara I’ve heard so much about? A pleasure to meet you m’lady.” He doffed an invisible cap as if trying to play the role of some nobleman from a time long before he was born.

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-

Liara briefly peered at Paddy through her curtain of curls before quickly hiding her face in the crook of her mother’s neck again. Rubbing her back gently while still holding her in her arms, Siadra looked at the counsellor and gave him and apologetic smile. “Don’t take it personally. She never found change and meeting new people easy. It’s a bit much for her at the moment.” Of course she knew in advance that this dinner party would not be easy for her daughter, yet she also didn’t want to wrap her in cotton wool. Liara needed to get to know the people on this ship, especially those Siadra was going to work with the closest.

~Cmdr. Enai, XO & Liara

Sara watched her crew interact. She smiled seeing people getting along with ease. Taking a moment to really drink in the feeling, and appreciate where she was, she was happy. She went over to greet Piper, who didn’t seem to be engaged with anyone just yet. “Good evening.”

-Sara Kiernan

Paddy grinned warmly, “That’s ok little one, you can come and say hello when you’re ready.” Leaning in slightly closer to the Commander, he quietly added, “If you need a hand babysitting any time, you know where to find me, I have a few tricks that will help her in overwhelming social situations like this.”

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-

“Thank you Counsellor. I may take you up on that eventually. Though as I mentioned during my evaluation yesterday, I think we should ease into working on her coping skills and while I believe that you’d be good with her and can help her, I think it’ll still take a bit till she’ll be comfortable again to be on her own with someone other than myself or Si’Rek,” Siadra replied just as softly. She was smiling but for a moment there was a flicker of concern and sadness in her black eyes.

~Cmrd. Enai, XO & Liara

Paddy gave the XO’s shoulder a soft squeeze and replied, “I serve at the pleasure of the XO.”

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-

The title ‘Intelligence Officer’ tended to trigger numerous connotations and stereotypes. Agents were sneaky, cryptic, and quiet. They stuck their noses where others thought they didn’t belong, followed trails of secrets wherever they might lead, cast shadows, and generally pissed people off.

Shara Calloway was all these things and more. So, so much more. Beneath the impenetrably gaze and often cool exterior was a woman full of passion, who loved as strongly as she hated, and whose loyalty was unassailable… so long as you were on the side she had chosen, of course. She could not be forced to do anything and people tended to have better luck appealing to her sense of logic and deep intelligence.

The beauty of having lived as long as she had so far was that you had a certain perspective that younger officers did not, regardless of rank. And having lived the kind life she had, well, you tended to not care much about what people thought of you, even as you understood how to move smoothly through a particular society.

Dressed in black trousers, grey sleeveless turtleneck and a dark brown leather jacket. She moved silently through the corridors after briefly stopping at her new quarter to drop off her few belongings. Over one shoulder was a small leather shoulder bag, over the other was a soft bodied guitar case and in her left hand she balanced a foil covered platter that was just warm to the touch. Manners dictated she ring the chime, but information told her it wasn’t necessary.

Shara stepped up to the XO’s door and triggered it to open. Stepping through, the older woman smiled warmly as she took in the surroundings. “Oh good, I’m only fashionably late,” she said, her voice full of confidence.

Moving over to where the food was being laid out, Shara slid the platter of (replicated) brownies onto the table and turned to survey some of the people she’d be working closely with. How she found out about the dinner given she hadn’t even been on board when the invitation went out, well… mysteries. She pointed to the dish she had brought. “Brownies, with chocolate chips too. Don’t worry, I didn’t bake them, my replicator did,” she said flashing a grin, her grey-blue eyes radiating mirth.

Commander Calloway, CIO

The arrival of the newcomer was a welcome excuse to take a step away from the Counsellor. Not because she didn’t like him, but simply because she didn’t much care for being touched, even in an innocent place as her shoulder, without being asked. With Liara still sitting on her hip and hiding her face in the crook of her neck, Siadra greeted Shara with a warm smile. “I know at least one person who will love you for bringing brownies,” she chuckled and then asked a little more seriously, “Could you remind me of who you are? I don’t think I remember reading your file. Then again I only just got here. So I may have forgotten. My apologies.”

~Cmdr. Enai, XO

Shara snorted and swung the shoulder bag forward and, lifting the flap, pulled out a PADD, holding it out in the direction of the Captain with a wink. “Commander Shara Calloway, Chief Intelligence Officer, newly assigned to the USS Asimov.” Tipping her head back, she cast her gaze to the ceiling briefly. “You know, that’s got a nice ring to it if I do say so myself.” The PADD she held out of Kiernan was her official orders from Starfleet Command. It was Shara’s first shipboard assignment in nineteen years and there was a note that access to her Intelligence file was possible but needed prior approval. Basically, someone had to decide there was a need to know before the knowing could happen.

But very quickly, Calloway’s demeanour shifted and the woman exuded a soft warmth as she gazed at the little girl on the XO’s hip. “So what you’re saying Commander, is that I’ve made my first friend here. Lucky me,” Shara said entirely sincerely.

Commander Calloway, CIO

Sara took the PaDD being offered, her mood somewhat soured by this turn. “How very kind of Command to notify me before transferring you.” She read and pondered. “Seems in order,” she turned her eyes up to Shara “so report to my ready room at 08:00 tomorrow. We have a few things to discuss.” Sara jammed the PaDD in her coat pocket.

-Sara Kiernan, spontaneously back on duty Captain

“No problem at all. I just boarded after coming from the Sol Sector, so morning works great for me,” Shara said, complete unfazed by the CO’s reaction. After all, it was hardly the first time her arrival was unexpected or met with little enthusiasm.

Paddy swung his head around at the sound of the snort with an arched eyebrow. Seeing the new CIO, the Counsellor grinned and stepped over to her, his hand outstretched, “A woman after me own heart, straight for the spread, Lieutenant Patrick McMillan, Paddy to me friends, Counsellor, at your service.”

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-

Shara shook his hand briefly with a firm grip. Her hands were like her: strong, slightly worn and used to hard work. “What can I say, I was taught to never show up to a gathering empty handed. It’s nice to meet you. I have a feeling we’ll be getting to know each other quite well. And let me guess, you brought the whiskey.” She leane towards him. “Is it real?”

Paddy grinned like a small boy who had just been caught doing something incredibly cheeky, “I feel you’d be disappointed if it wasn’t, care for a wee nip?”

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-

“I’ll gladly share some,” Shara said with a grin “But don’t think I won’t be judging you by its quality.”

While Sara and Shara had been talking, Siadra had whispered into her daughter’s ear and gently got her to stop hiding her face. After peering over at the dinner table that now held the plate of brownies along side everything else, she looked shyly at Shara. “Thank you,” she said softly. “I like brownies a lot. But I’m never allowed to eat as many as I like.” Lightly tapping Liara’s nose with her index finger, Siadra chuckled, “Because I don’t want you to get sick.”

~Cmdr. Enai, XO

“Mamas sometimes know things. Mine never would let me have more than one either,” Shara said. “And you’re very welcome Little Miss.”

A smile started to spread across her tawny features, bringing out all the dimples in her cheeks. And for once Liara didn’t hide her face right away again.

Shara moved over to a wall and slid the guitar case off her shoulder and set it the side along with her small shoulder bag. Once again she surveyed the quarters and then stepped back over to the XO, opposite the side she was holding Liara on. “I have a little gift I thought she might enjoy. Might I give it to her? And no is a perfectly acceptable option.”

Commander Calloway, CIO

“How-” Siadra started to ask, but then thought better of it. Shara was an intelligence officer after all, so that answered her question for her. “I’m trusting you that it’s nothing dangerous. So yes, you can give it to her,” she replied with a soft smile. She wasn’t usually one to say yes to such a question without knowing what the gift would be. Especially when it came from a complete stranger. But there was something about Shara that put her ease and made her trust her.

~Cmdr. Enia, XO & Liara

As he watched Liara begin to thoroughly investigate the guitar case, Paddy leaned into Commander Shara and whispered, “Well played Commander, I feel you and I are going to get on swimmingly.”

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-

Calloway just gave a knowing smile before moving over to her bag. When she returned she sat crossed legged on the floor, she had two small boxes in her hand. They were fifteen by fifteen centimetres and thin at only three centimetres tall. Holding them with behind her back she eyed Liara with a smile. “Blue or purple, Little Miss?”

Commander Calloway CIO

Piper watched the interaction with the little girl, she missed her nieces, she gave Liara her space, but she also was thinking about things that might help the little girl feel more comfortable. She walked over to the Commander “Pardon me Commander, I couldn’t help but notice that your little one has some trouble with large groups, would you mind if one day, I could take her to the holodeck and play some games with her. I have two nieces her age and I can get them involved via video.” She suggested.

COS