Meals and Motives

Posted on Tue Jul 15th, 2025 @ 11:01pm by Commodore Sureth & Captain Terry Kingston & Captain Shauna Vehn & Ensign Sovan & Jules Nadeau

Mission: Stellar Problems
Location: Jules Place
Timeline: Concurrent

Jules Place was thriving and this made the owner very proud. So much so he approached Commodore Sureth with a request to expand.

With some of the crew away Commodore Sureth decided to visit the establishment and made a call on Shauna Vehn to join him.

[ Commodore Sureth to Captain Vehn. ] Sureth called out as he tapped his com badge.

In her office Shauna tapped her comm badge. [ Vehn here Commodore.]

[ Have you had dinner?]

[ Not yet Sir ] Shauna responded.

[ Please join me at Jules Bistro on the Promenade. There is someone I would like you to meet. ] Sureth replied.

Shauna was intrigued. [ On my way Sir ]

< Jules Bistro >

Commodore Sureth and another gentleman eagerly awaited the arrival of Captain Shauna Vehn as they sipped a glass of the house wine.

Shauna was down on the promenade, looking around for Sureth she tapped her comm badge. [Venn to Sureth, Did you say Jules Sir? ]

[ I need you to meet me at Jules on the Promenade.] Sureth replied.

[ In that case I’m right outside ] Shauna responded as she made her way inside Jules. She smiled as she saw Sureth. “Commodore..”

Both men stood up from the table and Commodore Sureth replied. " Thank you for coming. Captain Shauna Vehn is my Number One and runs this base mostly. Let me introduce you two. Shauna meet Captain Terry Kingston an old colleague and friend of mine. Don't let his features fool you he is an old man." Sureth introduced.

" Captain Vehn it is my honor to make your acquaintance. Just call me Terry." Kingston replied with his hand out to shake hers.

“It’s nice to meet you Captain Kingston” Shauna smiled warmly as she shook Terry’s hand.

" Captain Kingston is a premier Star Fleet engineer. He is spearhead of the Quantum Slipstream Drive that was placed aboard the new Peel and brought his prototype Danube 2 class runabout for our mission to the Nebula. He is joining us on the 69." Sureth introduced.

" While all of that is true Captain Vehn I am just a normal guy from Earth. You are Trill aren't you? With a symbiont? I would know that glow anywhere." Kingston added.

Shauna nodded. “I only recently became joined, being only half Trill it alters things a bit, but all seems to be going well so far.” She smiled warmly.

" I served with many Trills over the years. Damn good engineers. Captain I am here to set up your Quantum Slipstream Drive program. This is going to be a big deal for your station." Terry replied.

“A QSD will be interesting to say the least” Shauna smiled. “I understand it can take some getting used to though.”

" Very true. I will work with your Dr Williams to get everyone ready for this jump. Being joined I would like to have you and your symbiont be our first volunteer. " Captain Kingston replied.

“Really?” Shauna gave Kingston a curious look. “Is that a good idea? How do we know what affect it will have on my symbiont?”

" Captain for everything there is a first. You of course can refuse. But when a leader steps up it shows you are not afraid to go first. This new Quantum Slipstream Drive is safer than a transporter and you no doubt have used one of those before?" Kingston replied.

“Of course” Shauna nodded. “Forgive me for being wary, but if anything happens to either of us the other won’t survive. I’m not normally one to shy away from anything but I’m not the same person I once was anymore.”

Sureth could see that Kingston's sale pitch of the new system was not working with his Number One.
" And thus this conversation is over. Captain Kingston the engineering department will help you in all capacities and you right is being set up.as we speak." Sureth added in.

Captain Kingston stood up ams lightly grasped Shauna's right hand.
" A pleasure to meet you Captain, Commodore thank you." he nodded.

Sureth then rejoined Shauna.
" This is good for our station. Having a faster egress from the Lagoon Nebula is a welcomed wish come true. What with the Remans and the Assul in this area of unknown space. Not to mention the black hole that just happens to be blocked by some alien Dysons sphere. You have changed Shauna or the symbiont has changed you. If you would like me to summon a Trill Duella to assist you with this I will. I will go to Trill myself if necessary. " Sureth replied.

“No Commodore, thank you.” Shauna offered a polite smile. “Maybe I’m just being over cautious, being a first time host has changed me, not that the old me isn’t still here.” She offered a wry smile. “Call him back, tell him I’ll do it.”

Sureth listened to Shauna's tone. With out a common frame of reference to draw upon he could not properly gauge her response. But he could draw upon his having children and surmised that she was nurturing the symbiont as a mother nurtured a child.

" I will meet with the Captain later. Ops is short handed with Nic Covenant and Salem on assignment. I will see you in the morning. We get to work a station together tomorrow." Sureth replied raising an eyebrow showing happiness.

“Then I will look forward to it Commodore” Shauna smiled warmly. “Sir, for what it’s worth I’m new to being joined. I never had the training that initiates have, so I don’t know what risks there are out there for symbionts. I intend to learn so that I’m more prepared in the future.”

" Which is why we should invite a duella to assist you. It might take a few weeks to get one here however." Sureth replied. " I have never mind melded with a Trill. That might also be an option. There is also Counselor Sovan if you prefer someone neutral?" Sureth replied.

Shauna paused. “Perhaps I should consider a duella, a mind meld might not be a good idea it could harm you.”

Jules the proprietor made his way to the table and sat down with Shauna.
" You have the whole world on your shoulder? You need pasta for that, no?"

Shauna smiled. “Most definitely, what would you recommend?”

" I bring you some food," Jules said as he kissed Shauna's right hand.

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