Capernum: Watching From Afar

Posted on Mon Aug 18th, 2025 @ 4:17am by Lieutenant JG Ken Kudo {Meji}

Mission: Stellar Problems
Location: USS Capernum
Timeline: Current

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Kudo had finished his shift while the USS Capernum was warping towards the star system BXN-553. An odd set of numbers for a designation, but according to the mission summary, colonists had come up with it. He wondered what it had been before then, the Starfleet probe data did not say. Setting himself up at the bar in the lounge, palm PADD in hand, Ken began to do some light reading while he sipped the pineapple juice he had ordered. He and Ejo always seemed to be on the same shift, but they hardly ever spoke. To this day he called her Commander or Chief when addressing her, never being told anything otherwise. AN inward shrug and those thoughts moved on. Kudo's mind kept going to Ro, as he missed her greatly, especially now that he knew she was pregnant. He hoped this mission would go fairly quickly and that Captain Taavis would take Capernum back to 69, if for nothing else, to park and await their next assignment. Once Yui was born Ken knew that his mindset would change back to a more work focused intent.

An ensign came in and stopped at the doors for the lounge, glancing around and wearing a red shirt. A runner, probably working admin for a certain department since he was Command Division. Just when Kudo went to pay him no mind the younger man's eyes landed on him.

"Ah, Lieutenant Kudo." He approached and held his hand out, closed, with palm down. "I was told to deliver this to you, Sir."

Ken held his hand out and a jump drive was dropped into it. "What is it?"

"I have no idea. A personal message is all I was told. From Captain Green and a woman named Kara. I've given it over so have a good evening, Lieutenant." The man turned and walked back out.

Getting the bartenders attention, Ken asked if she had any earbuds for public use, which she did, handing him a small case. He then asked her to plug the drive into her sound system and connected it to his PADD, putting the buds in. A music video came up, and to his surprise, it was Ro doing some kind of lounge show for Bliss. He smiled like a little kid. Pulling an ear bud out Ken spoke to the bartender asking if she minded some old music from Earth. It was quiet as a morgue in the lounge so she said she would love some music. Kudo shut his PADD down and told her to play the video on all the screens in the lounge and play it with lounge volume. So, she did, with everyone seeing the screens coming on and then the music being heard as they watched Captain Green performing. Next thing that he knew he saw the lounge guests tapping feet and moving their heads and shoulders to the beat. Pocketing his palm PADD, Ken leaned back in his chair and watched his lover play for Bliss, enjoying the music she was playing for them. He would sleep much easier tonight just seeing that.

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