Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻
<snip>

“OH MY GOD YOU SHOULD SEE YOUR FACE!!” he howled and fell back into his chair, sending it back against the wall. His laughter was louder than his, apparently, fake anger; and the man had tears starting to form in the corner of his eyes.

Cochrane, CO

His sudden change of demeanor caught the Diplomat completely off guard. She had expected a lot of things Had even braced herself for some kind of physical attack. But this.... this she hadn’t expected.

Her jaw actually gaped and she shook her head, her arms shifting from a stance of combative cool to a shifting, unsettled stance of confusion and embaressment. “I don’t…” she couldn’t even find her voice. She didn’t know whether to scream at him or kick him. Thankful the desk was between them, she chose screaming. But it wasn’t the hearty screech of a woman seeing a small insect. It was the low, growling voice of a woman fighting to keep her composure.

“I don’t understand, Sir… why would you do that. You KNEW I was angered by being taken away as I was. You didn’t deserve that. But I had thought you would be glad I was back?” She was fighting back her desire to storm out and go back to her quarters and cry. How could he do this to her? She bit her lip and waited for an explaination.

Raye
Diplomat

Alex kept laughing, but they subsided somewhat. Wiping away the tears, he caught his breath and said “Relax, Raye. I am super stoked to have you back.” and he chuckled again. “And I knew you were as pissed as I was. As I still am, actually. But…” and he pushed himself back to the desk and sighed, the smile never leaving his face, “… I want you to know I dont hold anything against you. And when I saw your orders, I knew that I needed to do something. Oh, not for you. For me. You, my dear dear Ms. Anders, are absolutely most welcome back. But I couldn’t just let you waltz back on board and not give you at least a little grief about up and leaving right after you got here… even under orders. I mean… where would the fun be in that?” and he smiled at her and winked as he opened a drawer in the desk and took out two glasses. He then retrieved a bottle filled with what looked like liquid sunshine… it actually had a luminosity to it. Pouring some in each glass, he handed one her direction, and the aroma of citrus and herbs was apparent.

Cochrane, CO

Her head was spinning. He had done it just to punish her in a round about way because she had left. She understood he was a man of control, and her coming and going like that had been outside that control. But it still kicked her someplace low to sense that, even for a second, he was furious with her.

Moving up to sit on the edge of the desk, she shook her head and took the offered glass. “Well, for my sake as well, I am glad to be back. I didn’t like the way they swooped me off, Sir. I promise you that. And I can also promise it won’t happen again. I am a civilian and not bound by a military contract. I told them if they pulled that stunt again, I would resign and go private and take my allies with me.” She winked to him, her former self slowly returning and relaxing, glad to be back in his company again. “So… to us, the ship and the powers that be that can kiss my nacelle,” she laughed, “a toast.” And her voice lowered slightly. “To being home, again.” She held her glass towards him. “I have missed you, Sir.”

She had to pause now and then not to use his familial name. It was professionalism that had brought her this far, she held on to that to keep her going.

Raye
Dilomat

“Welcome back, Raye.” he said in his much more familiar, friendly tone. As he clinked the glass to hers, he said “This is Cortiligan Sunset wine. Part of the ‘gifts’ from the Kazon Trade Delegation. After a very thorough screening by both Medical and Science, it was tagged safe for most species… except the Bolians, oddly enough. I thought they could literally eat anything. Huh.” and he shrugged and took a sip. “Reminds me of mixture of a mimosa and a really good scotch.”

Cochrane, CO

She took a sip and hummed in appreciation. “I thought they could as well,” she laughed. “This is great, Si… I mean,” she nodded her head and corrected herself. “I mean, this is great… Alexander. Thank you. It is indeed amazing. I’m glad the delegations are working all over. We had been afraid some faction or splinter would seek to ruin it for everyone involved. But I think if this is indicative of what we gained from the trades,” she winked, “I’m a firm supporter.” She took another sip and finally relaxed. She had missed talking to him.

“While I think about it, since you opened this.” She looked at him shrewdly, “When was the last time you ate?” She knew he was prone to forgetting, especially if on the bridge all shift.

Raye
Diplomat

“Hell if I know.” Alex responded and laughed. “I’ll holler at Harv. Maybe he’s got something available. Or I’ll just grab something from the replicator.”

Cochrane, CO

Soon as he said the magic words, she shook her head and set her glass on the desk after another sip. “I got ya covered,” she laughed and moved to the replicator. I don’t think we need to bug anyone right now.” She moved to the replicator and tapped a few keys. One reason she was so successful as a Diplomat was because she was observant.

A moment later, she set two plates on his desk. On her’s was a nice piece of boneless chicken in a wine sauce with mashed potatoes and asparagus. The plate she set in front of him would, perhaps, make him think twice before saying he wasn’t hungry. One of his favorite meals was there before him in open invitation to be consumed. “Now… I believe a meal is in order?” She laughed slightly and slid one of the chairs across his desk to the side so she could sit closer to him.

Raye
Diplomat

Cochrane looked down as she set the plate in front of him. “Green curry chicken, extra spicy, and rosemary and garlic chips… well played.” and he looked at her move close and said “How’d you know?”

Cochrane, CO

She laughed and winked as she took a forkful of her own dinner. “Now what kind of a peace keeper would I be if I didn’t know how to keep the peace in your stomach?” She laughed and pointed to his seat. “Now, sit down and eat your dinner.” She smiled and took a bite of her food to hide her laughter.

Raye
Diplomat

Cochrane smiled and said “Its not customary to give the Captain orders on his own ship…” and he began mixing the curry and the rice underneath it together. “But I’ll let it slide since you worked so hard on this.” Finally getting the mixture to his liking, he looked at Raye. “So how was your time aboard the Station? Anything interesting happen?”

Cochrane, CO

Raye tried to keep a straight face, “Yes, sir… of course.” She laughed. “I will do my best to remember.” As the question came up about her last assignment, she paused in her eating, took another sip of her drink and sat back to relax. She was about halfway thru the meal, having just realized how hungry she had been, herself. “Nothing really interesting unless you consider showing a new Ambassador how to say hello without sounding like a child begging for scraps.” She laughed slightly. “I think she’s the perfect choice for the negotiations, but I’m certain when dealing with a non Human race, she would be a serious liability. I’ve said as much in my last report.” Adding the last cause she knew he wouldn’t allow her to keep such an admission from her superiors.

Raye
Diplomat

Cochrane scowled slightly. “Thats… not good. Not only will she be dealing with non-Human, but species we have never even seen or heard of before. You’d think the DC would have selected someone a bit more… open minded.” and he took a drink.

“That could prove problematic. I trust you made some solid contacts on station that will keep you appraised of what’s happening? I’d hate to be caught with our pants down out here because some yahoo cringed whe shaking hands and pissed off a whole delegation.”

Cochrane, ever concerned that ship and the crew represented the Federation well at all times.

Cochrane, CO

She nodded. “It’s all right, Sir… I promise I have recommended after this rotation that she be brought back to Earth and limited to Earth, Mars and local Sol system human assignments. And yes, I am being kept apprised of the station situation. She is only there to negotiate mineral rights. The Fleet maintains an orbital station for scientific purposes to study local flora for medicinal purposes. It’s been non invasive so the locals are willing to let it be as long as they don’t strip the ecology and unbalance the ecosystem. But mining, on a large scale, is something they are hesitant about.” She took another bite of her dinner and sip of her wine.

“The good news is, they discovered a small section of the continent on the northern tectonic plate that could be mined for several years without affecting the inhabited areas. It’s cold and remote and the plate is stable enough not to let mining affect it either.” She was a bit embarrassed. “Sorry, didn’t mean to ramble.”

Raye