Posted by Civilian Bezre Myrh (Diplomatic Attaché) in Officer’s Mess - Getting To Know You… And You (Tag XO, Diplomatic Attaché)

Posted by Commander Shedda Mal’athar (Executive Officer) in Officer’s Mess - Getting To Know You… And You (Tag XO, Diplomatic Attaché)

Posted by Fleet Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Officer’s Mess - Getting To Know You… And You (Tag XO, Diplomatic Attaché)
Posted by… suppressed (9) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Cochrane walked into the Mess at 1650, ten minutes before the dinner with the XO and the new diplomat and their aide. He walked over to the kitchen doors and said “Harv! Did the new attaché’s aide give you their dietary needs?” A gruff voice sounded from the kitchen and said “Yeah yeah yeah. You can unclench now. I got it.” Cochrane shook his head and grinned. “Thank you, Chef.” he said and the made his way towards the back of the dining area.

A table had been set for four and water glasses sat filled on the table. Cochrane, wearing a pair of black slacks with a deep red, button down shirt took a seat at the chair furthest from and facing the door.

Cochrane, CO

Shedda arrived just a moment later and moved to the back table. She was wearing wide legged, dark gray pants with a lilac blouse that was cut wide enough to give a hint of collar bone, and a hem that flared along her hips. Her hair was out of it’s typical bun in a delicate Avarian braid, and it reached well past her shoulders.

“Good evening, Captain.” She took a seat at the table, next to Cochran, where she still had a view of the room without having her back to the wall.

Mal’athar, XO

Bezre and their aide arrived fashionably late which wasn’t late by any rude standard, but neither could it be called punctual. For a brief moment, when the doors slid open to allowed them, it was possible to catch a cold and stormy look on Bezre’s face. The expression seemed to melt away as they turned away from the impassive Serras and stepped into the room. Dressed in a shimmering purple leotard and knee-length black boots, their body was covered by layers of gauzy white fabric that wrapped around them like delicate flower petals. A silver scarf wrapped around their head and neck, the ends folded into a neat bow at the side of the neck. Serras wore a sharp black and tan suit in the popular fashion found at many Federation gatherings.

Cochrane shot a glance at the XO that said Did you catch that too? as he stood and greeted the pair of new arrivals. “Good evening. Please. Sit.”and he gestured to the chairs opposite himself and the XO.

Shedda’s head nodded slightly returning the look. She had. She stood next as Cochrane did and greeted Bezre and her aide.

“Captain Cochrane and Commander Mal’athar, please excuse our tardiness, my student seemed to have misplaced his good suit and did not realize until it was time to get ready.” Bezre breezed into the room and took their seat at the table. Serras not to far behind, a subtle smirk playing at the corners of his otherwise expressionless face. Bezre was fond of calling him their student when displeased with him.

Bezre Myrh, Diplomatic Attaché (And Serras)

Cochrane waved off the explanation. “Barely noticeable. I and the Commandet just arrived ourselves.”He looked at the aide to Myrh and said “Mr. Serras. A pleasure to meet you. Welcome to the Manhattan.”

Cochrane, CO

Shedda caught the by-play between the two as well as she resumed her seat. Curious. “It is a pleasure, Mr. Serras. It’s good to see the Federation realizing that the attache isn’t just an aide to Ambassador S’Tek, but they need an aide of their own. It is a monumental job you have both taken on. I hope your accommodations are acceptable.”

Mal’athar, XO

Serras inclined his head in greeting, “Thank you for the welcome, Captain, and thank you for the dinner invitation,” He slid gracefully into his seat beside Bezre. In almost every way he seemed to be Bezre’s opposite, the differences all the more stark when compared side by side. He tall and broad shouldered with sharp, angular facial features and an aura of calm control. Serras repressed his emotions as a Vulcan would, letting them flicker across his face the way a snake would flick its tongue to taste the air and hunt for prey. “More than acceptable, Commander. To be perfectly honest I would have been comfortable anywhere, even a storage closet. And I am very grateful to the Federation for that myself. Miss Bezre took a great risk taking me on as their aide and student.”

Shedda thought saying he would be comfortable in a storage closet was laying it on a bit thick, but she didn’t know the man’s history, so it could very well be true. She simply inclined her head in acknowledgement. She was equally curious about this supposed risk.

At the mention of risk, Cochrane cocked his head slightly to the side. “Oh really? Do tell.” he said with a slight smile.

Bezre shook their head, “He’s being dramatic, there were no risks involved. The truth is that I saw his potential as a diplomat and did not wish to see that talent squandered. Serras has a gift for organization and efficiency that I am jealous of.”

Serras smiled, showing teeth, “Miss Bezre brags about my supposed talents far too much. I simply give voice to my thoughts, no matter how unconventional.” Beside him, Bezre tensed before forcing a laugh.

“My student is still learning tact,” They said, “Please be patient with him.”

Bezre Myrh, Diplomatic Attaché (And Serras)

“Patience we have, but I haven’t seen much call to exercise that yet.” Cochrane said. “So tell me, Mr. Serras. How did you come to be in the employ of the Federation Diplomatic Corps?”

Cochrane, CO

Mal’athar, XO

“An easy question,” Serras folded his hands together and leaned forward, as thought talking with good friends, “I have always been fascinated by the mechancis of government. Our lives feel so seemless and carefree, often ignorant of the many gears and moving pieces that come together in harmony to form the backbone of our day to day lives. My first experiances within government began on Vulcan. The Agricultural department, as humble a begining as any could imagine, but I gradually worked my way up until I was a statician for the Department of Information Dissemination. News and such, the things that inform the people of going-ons of the world and Universe around them.”

“Were you part of the reunification movement, Mr Serras?” Mal’athar asked. Her anthropology background was quite curious about the split of their peoples and how they were reconnecting again. It was a fascinating subject to keep apprised of.

Mal’athar, XO

“Me? Oh no, I’ve have had no part of that movement,” Serras said, shaking his head adamantly. “Now, it is a very interesting and important movement but one that never interested me personally. I wish all those involved luck the Vulcan and Romulan people are very different.” Too different in Serras’ opinion. He ignored the questioning look Bezre sent his way before they spoke again. Blessedly bringing the topic away from Reunification.

Bezre inclined their head in thought, “You were a part of the committee that analyzed and reported on the data of criminal activity and crime within the sector, correct?” Serras was quite skilled at reading and understanding raw data and calculating statistics and likelihoods of events. His committee received data from Vulcan and Federation authorities and repackaged it for public consumption.

Bezre Myrh, Diplomatic Attaché (And Serras)

Cochrane nodded in appreciation. “That shows a solid career trajectory. Well done.” He took a drink of water and then looked at both of the diplomats. “So how did you both wind up in the Delta Quadrant? I know the Ambassador on Event Horizon Station pretty well… he doesn’t let just anyone fill this role.”

Cochrane, CO

“Both of us have achieved many accomplishments in our time serving the Federation Diplomatic corps,” Bezre stated, “I was an attache to the Trill representatives of the Federation Council. Later, after being joined with the Myrh symbiont I was offered a place among the Council’s diplomatic delegation. There I was apart of many diplomatic missions and even once served as a special envoy on behalf of the Federation at the Amaxar V negotiations.” A very tense negotiation surrounding the unlawful sale of arms of mass destruction. Bezre succeeded and was awared a metal of peace for that mission.

Serras added, “My acheivements are quite minor compared to Bezre’s, nothing that ever earned me reward but I have served dutifully for many years with a specalization in criminal law and policy and statistics. Before Bezre took me in I had served as an aide to several Federation prosecutors. My job was to advise them on interplanetary conflicts in laws and regulations.”

Bezre Myrh, Diplomatic Attaché (And Serras)

Cochrane nodded in appreciation. “Quite the pedigree, I must say. Although I do hope that we do not have need to make use of your criminal law experience.” and he chuckled. So tell us… what do you you both see as the largest gap in our diplomatic capabilities?” Cochrane had his own ideas, but wanted to get their expert perspective.

Cochrane, CO