<snip>

Akane grinned, appreciating a fellow sweet tooth. She sauntered over to the dessert array and cut a large slice of cake for each of them before walking over to the replicator and ordering a water and a green tea. “Thank you Ensign,” she replied as she popped the cake and water in front of her guest and noticed Ka’Sora peering at the bonsai tree. She smiled and plucked it off the shelf, popping it down on the desk. “It’s called a bonsai tree, it’s a traditional Japanese art form that my father taught me,” she said proudly, smiling at the memory of herself watching her father painstakingly prune and shape the delicate trees in their greenhouse.

Oh, she was so going to investigate the tree later! “I’ve never seen such a tiny tree!” she said, her gold eyes alight. “Back home, well, ours are very tall.” they had to be in order to live up in the canopy.

“So how are you settling in?” Akane asked as she popped a piece of cake in her mouth.

• Lt Sakai (Counselor)

She wobbled her head back and forth as she scraped a bit of the icing from the cake with her index finger and popped it in her mouth. She beamed in delight. “I haven’t been here very long and only just started doing the rounds for my check-ins, but so far I’m very grateful for the accommodations to my dwelling. I think it’s going to work out well. I still will find it hard to live alone, but I managed at the Academy and on my cadet cruise, so I know I will here too, even if long-term I know it will be lonely.”

~Ensign Ka’Sora

Akane smiled and studied Ka’Sora with interest. It was always exciting to meet a new species and she was always fascinated to learn about new cultures. “Well I’m sure you’ll make friends quickly. I’m new here myself as well but everyone seems very friendly, and my door is always open if you start to feel isolated.” She added with a warm smile.

Ka’sora nodded and smiled back, but it didn’t quite touch her eyes. It was a common sentiment, and one she most definitely appreciated, but it was hard for those unfamiliar with communal life to understand that even the separation of rooms in a dwelling (with a couple exceptions), was isolating.

Taking another bite of cake, she sat back in her chair and crossed her legs. “So tell me Ensign, what made you choose star-fleet? I don’t know of many Zaharans in the fleet, in fact I haven’t met any of your species before.” She admitted as she took a long slurp of her tea.

• Lt Sakai (Counselor)

“I’m the first, in Starfleet,” Ka’sora said. “The only other Zaharan to serve on a Federation starship joined through a civilian exchange as my people got to know the Federation better. Her name is La’kia and she is now an ambassador.” How could she fully explain her decision to not just try for a civilian exchange position but join Starfleet. “I have an advanced degree in Sociology, what you would classify as a doctorate. I study social interactions and how different variables shape those interactions and lead to the formation of mores and customs. I had the privilege of meeting La’kia once and… well, long story short, as my people venture farther out in the galaxy, it’s important for us to learn from others. What better way to find our place amongst you all but to join an organization where we can serve together formally? It wasn’t an inevitable choice, or even that I would get into the Academy, but it’s important. Someone from my world had to be the first. Why not me?” she said with a tiny grin, her gold eyes lighting up as she took another bite of her cake.

~Ensign Ka’Sora

Akane smiled warmly as she listened to Ka’Sora speak. “You have a wonderful outlook Ensign, and I think you’ll find life on board a starship fascinating. Each posting is unique and you’ll certainly learn a lot about different species and customs from all over the federation. I imagine it was quite a culture shock when you first joined the academy though. How did you adapt to being in such a different environment?” She asked curiously as she took another mouthful of cake.

• Lt Sakai (Counselor)