Posted by Civilian Halai Cosgrove (Head of Science and Terraforming) in Maza’s Kitchen- Lunch

Posted by Civilian Astrid Rousseau (Head of the Judicial System) in Maza’s Kitchen- Lunch

Posted by Civilian Astrid Rousseau (Head of the Judicial System) in Maza’s Kitchen- Lunch
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Halai exhaled as she smiled slightly. “Well, the full story is one I’d love to share with you, but it probably too long for our lunch. But for now I’ll say I had a deeply spiritual experience during my a previous assignment with Starfleet and ended up taking a leave of absence to go home to Tyrellia. While I worked on personal things, the position eventually came up and… it spoke to me. Something about it just seemed like it was the right thing for me, so I applied, if hesitantly. But I was still a Starfleet officer, so there were things to work out in the beginning. For several years it worked well to do both, but now I’m content being a civilian and working on what I feel is lifelong work,” she said quite openly.

Halai Cosgrove, Head of S&T

Astrid finished the last of her food and smiled. “Isn’t that the way? I think Star Fleet inspires people with passion. Leaving it is hard to do given the myriad of opportunities service can give you. My brother and sister will likely be lifelong Star Fleet officers. I could not be more proud.” She paused, looking out at OED, or at least the limited amount she could see from this vantage point. The Government Tower and surrounding area were on a hill which meant that there was at least some to be seen. “I hope that I make them proud too being a civilian.” It was a worry she felt keenly. Her siblings and her were close but now that they had all gone their separate ways, she couldn’t help but wonder.

Rousseau, HotJ

“Everyone has their own path,” Halai said with a serene smile. “If you are listening to yourself and are pursuing that path, you will find what you need to. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always result in the people you care about seeing it how you wish them too. I know that all too well. But I hope they are open enough to see you succeed on your path and be glad for you.”

~Halai Cosgrove

“I think they will be. My brother and I love each other very much, but we aren’t as close as my little sister and I. I practically raised her the last years of our lives in New France and was her only family in San Fransisco, Earth. I think we all feel pretty lucky that we are no longer on New France and have lives of our own. No matter what comes our way, we will always be there for one another.”

Astrid Rousseau

Halai nodded, ignoring the pang of both longing and guilt she felt. Soon though, soon she would remedy at least one of those. “What are they up to these days now that yo have all gone in your own directions?” she asked curiously.

~Halai Cosgrove

She sensed the longing in her friend and a touch of the guilt too and wondered at it. Astrid had not grown up on Betazed so she was not much into prying into peoples affairs on the level that is common for the Betazoid people. “Oh. Matthieu is in Star Fleet Command working on things he can’t talk about. He seems very at home there and he is well liked and hard working. My sister Marguerite is currently serving on the USS Europa as an Ensign in the Science Department. She graduated last year with distinction. Her specialty is biology and biochemistry. Given that so much of her family is in law or government, it is a wonder her love for science was not stifled.”

Astrid was obviously proud of both of her siblings, but was especially so for Marguerite. Matti had left them… for his own sanity, sure, but he had left them and there was still some resentment on Astrid’s part for having been made to be the responsible one. She knew and understood his reasons, but it didn’t make her life or Margie’s any easier.

Rousseau, HotJ