"Colony Supplies, Pizza Not Included"

[Guest Laarell]

"Colony Supplies, Pizza Not Included"

Ens. Tristan Xenatos and Lt. Laarell Teykier

April 26, 23--

 

Tristan sat, hands moving over the console. His eyes were set on the star-lines streaking past as they moved towards the distant gem of Avalon.

 

"The shuttles should complete their transfers of materials by oh-seven-hundred tomorrow," Laarell said, reviewing the PADDs in her hand. "The way that the equipment is being transferred down, however, is in such a way that we can begin assembling the base before all parts are sent down. Welding equipment has been sent down first, followed by the preliminary frame construction materials."

 

Tristan looked from the stars to the Orion in the copilots seat. "Efficient," he stated, simply. "Reading the reports leading up to the colonization, it sounds as if everything has been well planned out. Even the smallest details were not left to chance."

 

"No," she replied, still looking over the PADD. "Nothing is left to chance in an operation such as this, Ensign."

 

He looked back to the stars. Her use of the word 'ensign' was almost chiding. Amazing ... definitely not your typical Orion...

 

"Of course, Lieutenant."

 

Teykier smirked slightly. She seemed to have a way of intimidating young recruits, half of the time without even intending to. "So, do you have anything to add to our plans?"

 

"Well, since you ask..." He looked up at her. "The plans for the housing quadrant in section A-5 should be shifted in the construction priority behind section A-6."

 

"What makes you say so?"

 

"Section A-6 will be needed before A-5. He nodded at the PADD in her hand. "Section B-3 is directly connect to A-5. They are interconnected. A-5 will have to be completed before construction can even begin on B-3."

 

Raising an eyebrow, the Orion glanced at him. "Interesting proposal. We'll take it under advisement." She didn't plan to let an ensign get a victory in so soon, but she'd be damned if he didn't have a point...

 

He knew very well this conversation would never be repeated, but he really did not care. The point was ... he had made his point. He went back to the task of flying the shuttle, mundane as it was.

 

Laarell smiled at him, feeling a little bad for the wet-behind-the-ears scientist. "So, what brings you to Excalibur, Ensign Xenatos?"

 

"Frankly?"

 

"Indeed, I do prefer that to cloaked romanticisms."

 

He found her use of the word romanticisms interesting, if slightly odd. "It is the latest new frontier." He motioned outwards to the stars around them. "This is a whole new quadrant; a whole new set of challenges. Races we have never met. Worlds we could have never dreamed of." His eyes stayed focused on his task as he spoke. "It is something different. Something with a bit of challenge to it."

 

"Challenge." Laarell chuckled slightly, her laughter mirthless. "It's a challenge, sure." He'd not had any encounters with the Al-Ucardians, or their giant scorpion friends, for that matter. Poor, innocent boy. "Have you actually read any of our recent reports?"

 

"I have studied them extensively."

 

"Interesting," she said, her voice trailing off as she switched gears. "You said you were Elasian, no?" she asked, curiously.

 

"That is correct." His voice was dry, emotionless. He moved a few stands of his chestnut hair from his eyes.

 

She spoke again, her voice not changing from her earlier statement. "Interesting." Curious as she was, she did not wish to probe further. "Is this your first posting?"

 

"In Starfleet, yes. I was posted to a few ... envoys. Yes, I believe that is the correct term, Diplomatic envoys."

 

"To what planet?" she asked, her tone not betraying her interest.

 

"The most notable was my visit to the United Federation of Planets Council. I believe that connects to your question as to what brings me to the Excalibur."

 

Laarell nodded. "Fascinating. My father is a diplomat. His father, and his father before him. My brother as well."

 

That was just eerie, and Tristan decided not to provoke the inherent conversation. Instead, he commented, changing the subject fluidly. "Yes, my father is a diplomat of some accomplishment on the Homeworld," he said. "Your family sounds very ... non-typical for Orions" he transitioned, bluntly.

 

She smirked. "And if they were, I wouldn't be sitting here right now."

 

He nodded; she had a point. He regretted the subject immediately, he was not a prier. Again, he fell silent, focusing on the mundane task of flying the shuttle.

 

"Your homeworld of Elas?" she asked. They were dancing around each other, bordering between mutual respect and ludicrisy.

 

"Elasia," he said, annoyed at the mispronunciation. "We are nearing Avalon." There was a slight lurch as Tristan gently placed the shuttle in a standard glide slope approach, the other shuttles following flawlessly.

 

"Excellent," she commented, nodding. "Your skills as a pilot are more than satisfactory."

 

" 'More than satisfactory'. I shall take that as a compliment."

 

"Do, Ensign." She sat back, glancing out the viewport gathering up the PADDs she'd been reading.

 

He moved his hands over the console as he spoke. "Entering final descent." The shuttle made a gentle, downward motion, leading the pack into the upper atmosphere of the planet.

 

The blue green gem swirled under them as they burst through the lower cloud layers. "Construction site locked in, final approach ... approval received."

 

The shuttles arrowed towards the construction sight, which was already bustling with personnel.

 

As the short-range vessel landed, Laarell blew a column of air out her mouth. "Nice flying with you." Politely, she pushed the shuttle hatch open for him. "Let's get this equipment to good use, shall we?"

 

"Of course," he said, picking up the case that contained portions of the welding equipment. As he exited the shuttle, his hair was immediately blown down and around his face by the wind whipping around the hatch.

 

Tristan began walking behind the Orion, as he was becoming accustomed to, hands folded behind his back. They approached the group of workers and scientist already assembled.

 

"It was a pleasure, Miss Teykier. 'Til we meet again." He nodded slightly. Then he turned, and was lost in the virtually beehive of workers around them.

 

"Elasians..." She muttered, smiling as she shook her head. "What an interesting species..."