Dinner Among Friends (open to all)

[Ezac]

"Very well" Kirok replied.  "It has been some time since I commanded a ship, but I am happy to serve wherever I am needed.  That said, it is a fine ship and the crew is top rate" he added.

Truth be told, he was very excited about the prospect to serving with some of his old shipmates.  There was one in particular that he was eager to see again.  One who he hoped to repair his relationship with.  That person being Revek.

"Well that is ideal. I am content serving aboard the Columbus temporarily while a more permanent assignment is found. Perhaps the possibility exists that I might find myself aboard the Phoenix!"

"Thank you Sir." Replied Howell, moving and taking a seat next to him. "How are you?" Dan politely asked?

Ezac peered around Kirok to see who was talking, and then wondered to himself, Hmm, an engineering officer. I wonder who he is.

[Kirok]

"Thank you Sir." Replied Howell, moving and taking a seat next to him. "How are you?" Dan politely asked?

"Mr. Howell, the is Ezac.  Ezac, this is Mr. Howell.  I thought that you might have known each other.  If not, you have both been assigned to the Starbase and thus will be serving together" Kirok said by way of introduction.

"Well that is ideal. I am content serving aboard the Columbus temporarily while a more permanent assignment is found. Perhaps the possibility exists that I might find myself aboard the Phoenix!"

"That is entirely possible.   It is also possible that I get transferred to the Columbus.  Or that we both get transferred to a different vessel all together" Kiork replied.  He picked his utensils back up and began to eat again.

[Ezac]

"Mr. Howell, the is Ezac.  Ezac, this is Mr. Howell.  I thought that you might have known each other.  If not, you have both been assigned to the Starbase and thus will be serving together" Kirok said by way of introduction.

"I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Howell. If I can ever be of any assistance, then let me know. I am always happy to lend a hand, especially to our engineers."

"That is entirely possible.   It is also possible that I get transferred to the Columbus.  Or that we both get transferred to a different vessel all together" Kiork replied.  He picked his utensils back up and began to eat again.

Ezac watched momentarily as Kirok began to chew his food, and he found himself wondering if Kirok knew something or if the Vulcan in Kirok was merely guiding him through a list of possibilities. Ezac chose to assume the latter.

"Ultimately, Kirok, I trust that we will be in good company no matter where we end up; however, I look forward to the day that we can once again face the enemy together."

[Jamie McConnell]

Cayden gave the Doctor a quizzical look at first, as she seemed to be looking him over. Shaking it off, he gave her a nod and gestured towards an empty table.

"It would be my pleasure." He said, heading towards the empty table and taking a seat at it.

"Thank you!"  Jamie smiled and suddenly felt nervous as if she were going on a first date and not just talking shop with a fellow Starfleet Officer.  A higher ranking officer, but nonetheless an officer.  "How about over there."  She pointed to a small out of the way table which seemed to be springing up as more people arrived.

She headed that way before she remembered, "Oh, one moment I'll meet you there."  Jamie disappeared back into the food area and returned after a while with a tray of cheesecake and coffee.  The medical ensign set it down as gracefully as the most experienced waitress and grinned, "Sorry I took a bit, I thought you'd like some dessert, but if you want something more solid to eat I can get you something, sir?"  She straightened and put the tray away on an adjacent table.

"After all you are taking your time from lunch to talk to me."  Jamie sat down and studied her coffee for a moment before turning her green gaze up.  She gave him a shy look but steeled herself a moment later.  "It feels different to finally talk to the real you."  Jamie chuckled, "I did make a holodeck version of you.  Did you know?"  She shrugged and took a sip of her coffee which tasted perfect, "Do you mind?" 

[Cayden McConnell]

"Thank you!"  Jamie smiled and suddenly felt nervous as if she were going on a first date and not just talking shop with a fellow Starfleet Officer.  A higher ranking officer, but nonetheless an officer.  "How about over there."  She pointed to a small out of the way table which seemed to be springing up as more people arrived.

She headed that way before she remembered, "Oh, one moment I'll meet you there."  Jamie disappeared back into the food area and returned after a while with a tray of cheesecake and coffee.  The medical ensign set it down as gracefully as the most experienced waitress and grinned, "Sorry I took a bit, I thought you'd like some dessert, but if you want something more solid to eat I can get you something, sir?"  She straightened and put the tray away on an adjacent table.

"After all you are taking your time from lunch to talk to me."  Jamie sat down and studied her coffee for a moment before turning her green gaze up.  She gave him a shy look but steeled herself a moment later.  "It feels different to finally talk to the real you."  Jamie chuckled, "I did make a holodeck version of you.  Did you know?"  She shrugged and took a sip of her coffee which tasted perfect, "Do you mind?"

Cayden watched the Ensign as she sat down with her coffee and cheesecake.

"I'm not much of a dessert person. Thank tou though and it is good to finally get to talk to you face to face. I trust that you are enjoying your appointment on the Athena?"

As he watched her eat her cheesecake, he thought about her creating the holodeck program with him being a centerpiece of it. Starfleet Intelligence had contacted him when she had begun querying his logs and personnel files, most of which were still classified. He wondered how the holodeck representation had turned out.

"I did know that you had looked into my personnel file and some of my logs but I did not know that you had created a holo-program. I hope that there was enough information available to create a similar likeness of me, albeit, incomplete."

He looked around as the other officers began to file in and the room filled with a low din, as multiple conversations took place, simultaneously.

"Excuse me for a moment." He said, rising and walking over to the beverage table. Not seeing any Darjeeling or Earl Grey, he opted to get a coffee and added cream and sugar to it.

Taking a sip and satisfied with the concoction he had created, he walked back over to the table the Ensign was sitting at. Taking a seat, he sipped his coffee and watched as the Ensign enjoyed her dessert.

"So, how is your project coming along?"

[Kirok]

Ezac watched momentarily as Kirok began to chew his food, and he found himself wondering if Kirok knew something or if the Vulcan in Kirok was merely guiding him through a list of possibilities. Ezac chose to assume the latter.

"Ultimately, Kirok, I trust that we will be in good company no matter where we end up; however, I look forward to the day that we can once again face the enemy together."

"I think your trust is well placed" Kirok replied honestly.  Despite the recent bad history of the fleet, the half Vulcan truly believed that those dark days were behind them and that the fleet was much better now.  "I look forward to that day as well" he added.

[Ezac]

"I think your trust is well placed" Kirok replied honestly.  Despite the recent bad history of the fleet, the half Vulcan truly believed that those dark days were behind them and that the fleet was much better now.  "I look forward to that day as well" he added.

As memories of battle alongside Kirok--now much crisper than before--once again flooded the focus of his conscious mind like grains of sand through a funnel, Ezac slowly slid his chair back and stood up. He glanced down at his friend as he stood tall in an effort to stretch out his back after sitting.

"It is now that I must bid you farewell, Kirok. My attention is needed elsewhere, but rest assured that crossing paths with you has been the highlight of my return to Starfleet."

Ezac took a couple of steps toward Kirok, but once he stood adjacent to Kirok's chair, he couldn't help but stop. Kirok was one of only a few comrades upon whom Ezac would impart the title "brother." Now he stood there, awkwardly as he saw it, with two portions of his psyche fighting over an opportunity to shape his actions. He crouched his legs slightly until the side of his helmet was close to Kirok's head. After a brief moment, Ezac spoke. "If you ever need assistance, call me, and I'll be there..."

Ezac stood tall, drew a deep breath, and let it out slowly.

"...brother."

He didn't know how Kirok responded, and to an extent, he wasn't concerned. He knew that the gesture would be received as intended, and in that moment, that was his only concern.

With a sense of relief, Ezac strode swiftly toward the door.

[Kirok]

As memories of battle alongside Kirok--now much crisper than before--once again flooded the focus of his conscious mind like grains of sand through a funnel, Ezac slowly slid his chair back and stood up. He glanced down at his friend as he stood tall in an effort to stretch out his back after sitting.

"It is now that I must bid you farewell, Kirok. My attention is needed elsewhere, but rest assured that crossing paths with you has been the highlight of my return to Starfleet."

Ezac took a couple of steps toward Kirok, but once he stood adjacent to Kirok's chair, he couldn't help but stop. Kirok was one of only a few comrades upon whom Ezac would impart the title "brother." Now he stood there, awkwardly as he saw it, with two portions of his psyche fighting over an opportunity to shape his actions. He crouched his legs slightly until the side of his helmet was close to Kirok's head. After a brief moment, Ezac spoke. "If you ever need assistance, call me, and I'll be there..."

Ezac stood tall, drew a deep breath, and let it out slowly.

"...brother."

He didn't know how Kirok responded, and to an extent, he wasn't concerned. He knew that the gesture would be received as intended, and in that moment, that was his only concern.

With a sense of relief, Ezac strode swiftly toward the door.

Kirok placed his utensils back on the plate as Ezac stood.  "I understand and I share the sentiment completely.   But duty first" he replied.

He had started to stand, but Ezac approached him before he could do so.  Before he knew it, Ezac had dipped his head closer to the half Vulcan.  He had never seen the Breen do this before, but responded in kind by dipping his own head closer to Ezac's.

The feelings of comradery that came off of Ezac was easily received by Kirok's telepathic senses.  It was in that moment that Kirok knew with absolute certainty that he had made the right decision by returning to Star Fleet.  But again, the Breen was a bit quicker than Kirok.

So, Kirok simply sent back a message.  One he hoped would relay his thought properly.  .

[Daniel Howell]

"Mr. Howell, the is Ezac.  Ezac, this is Mr. Howell.  I thought that you might have known each other.  If not, you have both been assigned to the Starbase and thus will be serving together" Kirok said by way of introduction.

"I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Howell. If I can ever be of any assistance, then let me know. I am always happy to lend a hand, especially to our engineers."

Mess Hall
"Daniel Howell, call me Dan off duty. Thanks for the offer, engineering always needs people." Turning back to Kirok, Howell said "So how has starfleet been surviving whilst I have been on Earth?"

[Jamie McConnell]

Cayden watched the Ensign as she sat down with her coffee and cheesecake.

"I'm not much of a dessert person. Thank tou though and it is good to finally get to talk to you face to face. I trust that you are enjoying your appointment on the Athena?"

"Um..sorry, food didn't really come up with your holo image.  Still, how can someone NOT like cheese cake.  Two great foods, cheese and cake."  She chuckled slightly, feeling nervous and stupid for offering the dessert.  She should have known that, but as she said, it had just not come up.

As he watched her eat her cheesecake, he thought about her creating the holodeck program with him being a centerpiece of it. Starfleet Intelligence had contacted him when she had begun querying his logs and personnel files, most of which were still classified. He wondered how the holodeck representation had turned out.

"I did know that you had looked into my personnel file and some of my logs but I did not know that you had created a holo-program. I hope that there was enough information available to create a similar likeness of me, albeit, incomplete."

"Actually."  She began as she stabbed another piece of cheesecake, "Your image is very forthcoming with it comes to unavailable information."  Jamie grinned, "It seems that your holo image likes to solve mysteries and enjoys clarification."  She lifted the speared dessert brought it to her mouth.

He looked around as the other officers began to file in and the room filled with a low din, as multiple conversations took place, simultaneously.

"Excuse me for a moment." He said, rising and walking over to the beverage table. Not seeing any Darjeeling or Earl Grey, he opted to get a coffee and added cream and sugar to it.

Taking a sip and satisfied with the concoction he had created, he walked back over to the table the Ensign was sitting at. Taking a seat, he sipped his coffee and watched as the Ensign enjoyed her dessert.

"So, how is your project coming along?"

Her eyes followed him, watching him closely and comparing the real man to the image and finding there was very little difference in the way they moved.  Their voice was the same, their looks but there was a difference.  It was in the way he looked at her and while the holo image made her shiver slightly, the real man made her burn.  When he returned and asked her a question it took her a few moments to figure out what to say.  Normally, she would begin her speech, excited to tell someone about her work, but she suddenly found her throat dry.  Quickly, Jamie took a sip of her coffee and nodded as she responded, "It's coming along well, thanks to your input.  However, there are so many restrictions with nanites and having to find solutions for each restriction is proving difficult."

She leaned back and tried to look relaxed instead of the nervous ensign she truly was.  "I would like it if you'd visit the lab on my ship.  I'd like to show you what I've come up with." 

[Alexander Wu]

John stood up and walked up to his old friend and stuck out his hand. "Alex how the heck are you my old friend??" he said happy to see one of his oldest friends.

Alex shook John's hand gladly, waving him back to the table. "Eh, I'm doing well. It's been a long and strange trip, let me tell you that." The downside of a replimat was that there were never any waiting staff to take orders. On the bright side, there were many replications close at hand to order from, and Alex took advantage by obtaining two large sythales. Placing one infront of John, he clinked his friend's mug before taking a small sip from his own. "Never matches the real stuff, this." Alex commented, sitting down. "How about yourself? Keeping busy?"

[Cayden McConnell]

"Um..sorry, food didn't really come up with your holo image.  Still, how can someone NOT like cheese cake.  Two great foods, cheese and cake."  She chuckled slightly, feeling nervous and stupid for offering the dessert.  She should have known that, but as she said, it had just not come up.

"Actually."  She began as she stabbed another piece of cheesecake, "Your image is very forthcoming with it comes to unavailable information."  Jamie grinned, "It seems that your holo image likes to solve mysteries and enjoys clarification."  She lifted the speared dessert brought it to her mouth.

Her eyes followed him, watching him closely and comparing the real man to the image and finding there was very little difference in the way they moved.  Their voice was the same, their looks but there was a difference.  It was in the way he looked at her and while the holo image made her shiver slightly, the real man made her burn.  When he returned and asked her a question it took her a few moments to figure out what to say.  Normally, she would begin her speech, excited to tell someone about her work, but she suddenly found her throat dry.  Quickly, Jamie took a sip of her coffee and nodded as she responded, "It's coming along well, thanks to your input.  However, there are so many restrictions with nanites and having to find solutions for each restriction is proving difficult."

She leaned back and tried to look relaxed instead of the nervous ensign she truly was.  "I would like it if you'd visit the lab on my ship.  I'd like to show you what I've come up with."

Cayden sipped his coffee and nodded

"I'm just not big on desserts. I do enjoy the occasional dessert but normally it's after a large meal."

He looked around and watched his surroundings. Though he knew many of the officers, he didn't know some and that caused him a bit of anxiety.

Looking back to Jamie, he watched as she seemed to enjoy her dessert.

"I would love to visit your lab and see what you have come up with."

[Kirok]

Mess Hall
"Daniel Howell, call me Dan off duty. Thanks for the offer, engineering always needs people." Turning back to Kirok, Howell said "So how has starfleet been surviving whilst I have been on Earth?"

Kirok's right eyebrow arched slightly.  An eyebrow which was now broken by a wide scar.  How to accurately answer that question.  Especially in such a public area?

The half Vulcan was silent for a long moment as he consider his response.  "There have been many changes since you were last with us" he said diplomatically.  "But I truly believe that the fleet is stronger than ever.  And better now that you have returned" he added as he lifted his glass as if to toast.

[T'Lara]

Alex shook John's hand gladly, waving him back to the table. "Eh, I'm doing well. It's been a long and strange trip, let me tell you that." The downside of a replimat was that there were never any waiting staff to take orders. On the bright side, there were many replications close at hand to order from, and Alex took advantage by obtaining two large sythales. Placing one infront of John, he clinked his friend's mug before taking a small sip from his own. "Never matches the real stuff, this." Alex commented, sitting down. "How about yourself? Keeping busy?"

T'Lara watched as Wu and Harriman sat down near her. Finished with her meal, she took a sip of her drink and moved a little closer. Making eye contact with both of them she spoke.

"May I join you?" 

[Jamie McConnell]

Cayden sipped his coffee and nodded

"I'm just not big on desserts. I do enjoy the occasional dessert but normally it's after a large meal."

He looked around and watched his surroundings. Though he knew many of the officers, he didn't know some and that caused him a bit of anxiety.

Looking back to Jamie, he watched as she seemed to enjoy her dessert.

"I would love to visit your lab and see what you have come up with."

"Alright, Commander."  Jamie smiled at him and made a gamble.  "Would you like to go right now, or..."  She looked around at the other officers, most of whom seemed to know Cayden well.  "...would you prefer to chat with some old friends."

She turned towards him and grinned, letting him know that she would not be upset if he decided to stay.  "We could just do a raincheck on it, though, I'm not sure when the Athena will dock here again."  She shook her head, "We don't have too, I could just send you all the information if you'd like. "

Jamie hated to give him an easy out, but then again she didn't want him to think she was trapping him either.  So, if he really wanted to go, then it was because he did, not because he felt obligated.  However, she had a feeling that if he just didn't want to do something, Commander McConnell just would not.