Posted by Captain Chris Taggart (Commanding Officer) in Main Sim: Senior Officers’ Banquet with Colonel Malone
Snip

“Thank you, Mr Grey,” Kastarak replied quickly, reciprocating the head-bow. “It is often easy to understand what emotional state the captain is in. The difficulty is understanding why he is in that particular state. I do not understand why he is emotional now. We were only away for a few hours.”

William pulled the jacket of his dress uniform down, he didn’t like wearing the overly tight uniform and liked wearing it for this occasion even less. He only had the Medal of Valor and a Citation for Conspicuous Gallantry on his chest, the awards granted to many of the senior staff not long since.

CSO, 2O

Kastarak, Lt Cdr
First Officer and Navigations Officer

“It would seem to me, Sirs,” Dawson said sipping at his drink, “That the Captain was emotional due to display of camaraderie we had just now, Lt. Commander.” He said the title with a smirk. “Given the Captain’s apparent history with the Colonel, he likely anticipated the man being his repugnant self, and so seeing us rallying to your side struck a sense of pride in his crew and first officer that made him emotional. At least, that’s my theory anyway.”

“Thank you, Mr Dawson,” Kastarak said with genuine appreciation. While he was a trained psychotherapist, he was more versed in exploring together the client’s way of looking at the self and the world than analysing people from afar from specific situations. Humans, especially, were difficult to behaviourally analyse in a neutral position. Nothing made sense if doing so. Yet, for humans, humans acted rationally and logically. Dawson helped Kastarak contextualize the situation and allow a greater appreciation for the captain’s behaviour, and indeed, for the camaraderie that they as shipsmates just had shared.

It was about 20 minutes later when Chris can back with Colonel Tom Malone in two. Anyone, even a blind person could tell Chris wasn’t happy. They both shared a brief but fierce battle when Malone came on board. It was heated but Chris took the high ground and the talk became more manageable. Time will come when Chris will take the low road, but he always hoped that it would never come to that. He never wanted to stoop to Malones level.

As Malone entered, Kastarak felt a chill in his spine. He despised that man. He could feel how Malone despised him, too. Malone’s hatred was less personal than Kastarak’s, but more on a global level against all that Kastarak represented – a survivor of the Vulcan genocide and a follower of the Vulcan ways. But the man needed Kastarak’s respect. Kastarak was not hosting the banquet for himself, but it was a function steeped in tradition, protocol and regulation. It was a necessary act, and Kastarak wanted it to go well. He wanted to have the metaphorical high ground in any exchange with the bigot.

Kastarak got ready to rise ––––

Stepping in Chris put up his hand to not have anyone get up from their seats. “At ease everyone. For those that do not know, the person to my right is Colonel Tom Malone from Section 31. He will be our guest today and after the meal and conversation will head back to his lair.”. Colonel Malone was incredulous while starring at Taggart. “How dare you,” he spat with venom on his words, “tell these people who I work for!”. His anger was clearly boiling up like a pot getting ready to overflow.

Dawson stifled a chuckle at Malone’s outburst as if they all hadn’t already intuited his outfit from their meeting on Titan.

Chris smiled. “These beings are all here because they can be trusted and they have been written in and have signed NDA’s. I have no secrets with them all. Now sit down and enjoy our company Colonel or leave The Chernov. You’ll sit over there.”. Pointing with his good arm. Before sitting down Chris looked at all of the beings assembled. “Feel free to ask anything you want tonight and I will answer, even if it’s classified or personal. I keep nothing from you all except for that which Starfleet deems me to but even then I’m forthcoming with most of the information.”

“Now. Let’s eat, drink, talk and be merry.” He sat down while. Looking at everyone with his singular ice blue eye with affection and respect until his eye fell on Malone.

Kastarak nodded and signalled for the yeoman to bring the food in.

Captain Chris Taggart CO/ Colonel Tom Malone Storyteller

Dawson took a sip of his drink and then turned to the captain and Colonel in turn and said, “Well, sirs, I don’t know about the rest of my colleagues, but I’m certainly curious about how Starfleet managed to get a hold of a Romulan cloaking device. I’m sure they didn’t drop it off with a bow for Christmas.”

Lt. Q Dawson, CWO

Malone quickly chimed in with a sly smile. “I bet you would. We can’t reveal anything like that to the like of you.”. He was going to say more when Captain Taggart chimed in and interrupted him.
“It was stolen off a Romulan Bird of Prey about two years ago. The Romulan ship was hijacked from the surface of a planet near the boarder. I know all of this because I’m the one that stole it.” He smirked. That’s my specialty in Section 31 Mr. Dawson. I hijack ships of all kinds. Do you wish to know anything else?”

Malone about had a heart attack and his face turned red. “How dare you reveal such classified knowledge!”

Chris put up a hand. “Relax Tommy boy! Mr. Dawson was not part of the crew back then but all others seated with us know we’re on that mission. Some Intel guy you are. Now the food is coming out. Hush.”. Malone was livid with furry but realized where he was and calmed down some.

William frowned, that hadn’t been the most enjoyable mission of his life. He sometimes woke after nightmares of being on the Klingon ship still in that Romulan uniform, it had almost gotten bad enough to change his mind on seeing a psychologist.

Kastarak had devised a menu. It was the first time he was hosting a formal meal, and he was not entirely sure what to serve. Looking up the archives, Kastarak surmised that ‘Malone’ was Irish in origin, which inspired Kastarak to look for Irish-like food. He decided to skip the starter, as it often seemed overly pretentious to people like Taggart, and instead ensure there was a hearty meal followed by a good desert.

The yeoman brought in the main course. For the meat-eaters, which were most in the gang, Kastarak had ensured that there would be a lamb stew, consisting of rough cuts of lamb, potatoes, onions and carrots, and a base off Guiness stout along with herbs from north-western Europe. Wheat and rye bread were brought to the tables, with lumps of butter (or oil for those preferring that).

“This looks and smells great! My compliments to your crew of chefs and to you as well Commander Kastarak for picking all this out.”. Chris said with drool almost coming out of his mouth. Scooping a heaping portion on his plate he then took a few bites and washed it down with the wine from Greece. “Excellent choice Commander.”

Malone tried not to look impressed at the food from his home country. He gassed over at Kastarak with his steely have and tried to figure out how a Vulcan of all brings could’ve got access to his file and records. Clothing a bit before answering. “Well. Yes. This does look good.” But he intentionally left out the good job portion of his speech.

For the vegans, like Kastarak himself, there was an alternative, known as a Three Sisters stew, with a base of winter squash, corn, and beans, seasoned with tomatoes and herbs from the north American continent.

For drinks, Kastarak provided Irish stout, red wine from Greece (somehow, sheep and Greece went together in Kastarak’s mind), and kvass, as well as bubbly water (Kastarak’s favourite cold drink), normal water, and lemonade. They were in the Sol system, so Earth foods and drinks were a must.

Kastarak, Lt Cdr
First Officer and Navigations Officer

Captain Chris Taggart CO and Colonel Tom Malone Storyteller

William took a small portion of meat and sides and a glass of water, he’d never been much for excess and preferred a true bitter over wine or stouts. He eyed the colonel curiously, he wondered if the man realised that the Captains flippant attitude was simply there to annoy the man as much as possible.

CSO, 2O