Topic: In an office chair on M'Raa...

[KAT Chuut-Ritt]

M'ress you mangy Bastard, good to see ya!

To keep you up to date

Things are pretty much Dyna as usual although we managed to pull off a victory in AOTK II. 

P.S.  the old KATFLEET site URL is bad, very bad actually unless you like the anacronym MILF.  I trust someone else took over that addy and you weren't responsible 

[Soreyes]

Good to hear from you again MRess

If you ever come back. I swear that there will be a MDC or two in the Yards

[Commander Maxillius]

wow, good read!  Don't know how I missed it the first time...

[KAT MRess]

M’ress closed the com link.

Chuut had a way of making everything seem like high Priority. The conversation had been brief, it was just a reminder of certain supplies that were needed. We he had asked why Chuut didn’t remind him before his last mission to save a trip, he was reminded the mission was covert and he hadn’t filed a plan or landing permits.

M’ress winced. That was true. So much for his expediency.

Looking over the upcoming mission schedules he noted that there were several non-critical ones in the area of Stars End. Hmmm this would be a good chance to run some escort and break in some new crew.

Including a certain potential paramour of his younger sister. M’ress smiled at himself, drone duty on Karbins ship was certainly tempting, but far too cruel. However, drone duty on his own ship…

He smiled. That idea had much appeal. But then the thought hit him. What to do about Tr'rin?

She had proven to be quite efficient after all. But after two failed assistants he wasn't in the mood to take chances.

A plan started to formulate.

[KAT MRess]

After issuing the orders to transfer the young officer, M’ress looked up the comlink address for Kayleen. It was actually in the same city as he was now. That would explain why she contacted him. He started to tap in the address but then he paused.

What would he say? What would she say? What would he wear? Did she know what path his career took? Unconsciously his paw wandered up to his patch and started to rub the outer socket with the palm. What would she think about this?

He sat, staring at the comlink, with the address half entered. Doubt filled his thoughts. It had been ten years since he even went out on a date. What was it like? How much had things changed? Did the males still pay for everything or had female rights progressed to the point where it was choice now? What should he wear? He only had uniforms and fatigues now.
He started to understand how the young officer he had just transferred must have felt. He was caught between a t’kzintar and an offal. Here he was Patriarch of an elite Military fleet with hundreds (maybe dozens) at his command and he couldn’t even make a decision about a date. His mind searched for an answer.

The idea popped into his head that he could call her and set the date which would give him time to get something casual. Yeah, that would work. He finished entering the code and then added the option for voice only.

As he waited for the connection, he saw the PADD with his itinerary for the next couple of days. Oh sthondat! He suddenly realized that he had no openings for a dinner date over the next couple of nights. He was reaching for the Comlink disconnect button when a soft feminine voice floated over the channel.

“Hello?”

[KAT Chuut-Ritt]

<Start mood music>

*Boom shiki Boom, shiki Boom, shiki wawaaa, Boom skiki Boom, skiki Boom, shiki wawaaa>

 

[KAT MRess]

He was mortified. Kayleen had answered his call before he had chance to hang up. As a result he had to agree to a dinner tonight, in about 2 hours. He slumped in his chair.

“I’d rather face a hundred Hydran Hornets.” He thought to himself in despair. “Or a dozen Klingon B10’s. Even Kroma in heat! No… strike that. That would be too much” The only clothes available were in that duffel bag that Tr’rin had removed. The dress uniform he kept on hand in his office would certainly attract too much attention. He looked down at his day to day uniform. While it had rank, insignia, and designation, it did not have the rest of the decorations he’d earned. They were on the dress uniform.

It would have to do. Not too noticeable, but yet it displayed who he was. Yes that would be good. He drew deep breath of relief… and then held his nose. No it wouldn’t. He tapped the console.

“Tr’rin, can you bring back that duffel bag?” There was a pause.

“Ummm… no sire. It was just picked up by the cleaner.” M’Ress swore under his breath. “Pardon me sire?”

“Nothing. Don’t worry about it.” And he closed the channel.

Great. There he was about to have his first date in ten years and he didn’t have anything to wear. There was only one thing left to do.

[KAT MRess]

Precisely 5 minutes after M’Ress had called back, Tr’rin proceeded down the outer hallway to his office.

The callback had been most unusual. Not in the sense that it was the second call, he was after all a busy officer with a lot on his mind, but moreso what he’d asked her to do.

1 hour cleaning service that delivered? But she had already sent out the duffel bag.

The door hissed open. Sitting on top of the desk was a badly folded heap of clothes. A pile that looked very familiar. She confirmed her suspicions when she lifted the top garment. That meant… Off to the side of the office, she could hear the ultrahigh whine of a sonic shower start up.

She hesitated. Looking at the clothes in her hand and then to the door, she wondered. She had recognized at least one name on his itinerary. Dewey, Cheetum and Howe, the notorious divorce lawyers. Her she was, in the office of a high ranking officer who was practically single and naked! What to do? After all, he was pretty good looking (except for that patch) and in good shape.

She shook her head. What was she thinking? He was her boss. She hefted the pile and went back to her desk.

[KAT MRess]

Just to let everyone know...

I haven't forgotten or abandoned this story. I write the entries from work and my regular workstation, where the file is stored, hasn't been available.

But I am curious, are you are interested in finding out who M'Ress wound up with? After all the figure wasn't identified.

What do you think? Kayleen or Tr'rin?

[Bonk]

More space battles and death, I hate it when sci-fi goes all lovey-dovey and sappy.... 

[Hexx]

I'm holding out for the "surprise twist" where Kayleen and Tr'rin
turn out to be Kroma and J'inn.
Assuming (and hoping) they don't though, I think it's
been a while since the last jello wrestling scene.

..And of course if it's in space, and to the death then Bonk will
he happy as well.
(He's a bit of a sick puppy...)

[KAT MRess]

Oh there will be intrigue... that's what I'm building toward.

and yes (although it was going to be a surprise) there is a battle and violence involved. And maybe another trip to Kroma's...




M’Ress arrived a full 15 minutes early for dinner. He was so nervous that he paced outside for 5 minutes and was still early. Tr’rin had pulled off a minor miracle and not only had his casual uniform cleaned and pressed but she had managed to conjure a suitable afterscent. (Ever known a Kzin to shave?)

The maitre’d was just inside the door and immediately stiffened at the site of the uniform.

“Reservashun?” the maitre’d asked in a snooty overtone that was unmistakeable. His heart sank, in all his blundering he had forgotten all about reservations. And this maitre’d didn’t look like the friendly accommodating type.

In reality the maitre’d hated the appearance of military types. They were usually pushy and threw their weight around, trying to force their way in without a reservation. This officer didn’t look so sure of himself, however, and actually looked nervous.

“I… uhhh, don’t have… one.” M’ress faltered. “How long… ahme… until a table could be… uhhh… ready?”

If the host was surprised, he hid it well. (In fact he was totally shocked. This officer was actually being polite.) He was very experienced and accustomed to handle such situations. With a great exaggerated sigh, he took his time perusing the non-existent waiting list.

“I might hav somzink for joo in a ‘our.” If his heart sank before, it downright bottomed now. The maitre’d  took out his pen. “Namuh please.”

“M’ress.”

The maitre’d froze. There was no mistaking the hesitation this time. Something alarmed him.

“Cum agin?” Even the look of disbelief couldn’t be concealed.

“M’ress.” He repeated. The maitre’d muttered something that sounded like Damn. then he looked up and said,

“Rright ‘zis way. Your table iz waitink.”

[Laflin]

KAT Mess?  Chuut how'd you manage to dredge up this fossil? 

[KAT MRess]

Fossil?

FOSSIL?!?!

Hey I resemble that <breaks wind> that... uh... remark.

[KAT Chuut-Ritt]

You gonna fly with us for Klingon Civil War Goose?

No droners, but we got Gook, Furocious, and J'inn returning for this one flying under the House S'uhn'ih banner, as well as other assorted old timers from other races, just bring your own walker as the loaners are already checked out, I think Sandman got the last one.

Let me know.

[KAT MRess]

<sprays air freshener>
<holds sound horn up to his ear>

Eh?

I'll need more info. Like when and what updates i need.
I'm so out of practise I might accidentaly shoot J'inn...

It's also VERY dependant on my schedule. One of many things that has happened during my absense was a change in jobs. I do shift work now. When I'm on rotation I literally dissappear for days.

And now...




Table iz waitink?!?!

The maitre’d fumbled for a second behind the screen for a brief moment. Then he lead the way into the restaurant.

M’Ress didn’t follow, it was his turn to be stunned. After a moment the Maitre’d reappeared and cleared his throat. M’ress started to follow slowly.

With his warrior senses alerted he became very aware of everyone and everything in the dining area. From the stiff backed waiters taking orders, to the overdone busboys cleaning empty tables (there were too many empty tables to have a “waiting list”), to the clink and rattle from the kitchen, even to the soft  live musicians off to one side playing an old but favourite song (what was it again? “Isn’t it romantic…”, hmph too bad the feds butchered it with that screeching they called singing). Above all that he noticed that most of the males, the ones that weren’t with mates, all seemed to be trying to inconspicuously oogle in the same direction.

It wasn’t until he was halfway across the restaurant that he realized the maitre’d was leading him in the direction they were staring wistfully. He rounded a rather large decorative, and fake, plant and saw what they were staring at.

It was her.

[KAT MRess]

It was as if he had gone back in time twenty years. He recognized her immediately as she had hardly changed at all.

Her long dark fur was teasingly brushed over to one side, partly covering one of a pair of large bright blue eyes. Her ears were smallish (or was it a trick of the fur styling) with rounded tips. Since she was sat sideways at the table he could her figure and legs fully. He stopped. It was almost a sure bet that even twenty years later, she could still wear her high school modelling clothes. In fact he thought he could vaguely remember seeing this particular dress before. He looked closer. Yes, one could not forget the way it slit partway up the thigh.

Kayleen was fussing with the napkin from the table and not paying attention. Obviously she was nervous too. So nervous that she seemed completely oblivious to all the stares she was attracting and to his approach.

It suddenly struck him how awkward he felt. Even though his uniform was pressed, he was freshly cleaned and had used his breath freshener, he still felt very awkward. She had never seen the uniform, or the eyepatch or the scars that adorned various visible areas. How would she react?


* * * * *


As far as M’Ress was concerned, the rest of the evening was a disaster. It was his turn to be as nervous as Tr’rin was during her interview. He even had a glass of water shoot out of his hand and almost into Kayleens’ lap. However, he did feel much better when she did the same thing immediately after when she jumped to avoid the projectile water.

That seemed to break the ice a bit, but the rest of the evening was still strained. Despite the candid conversation like old times and a welcome familiarity, there was still an underlying sense he could not shake.

Fear, from both of them.

[GDA-Agave]

I'm so out of practise I might accidentaly shoot J'inn...

No worries.   Hell, I might shoot J'inn just to get in some practice.

Where is that old flee bag these days anyway?   He sure did entertain me.   I think I might actually miss him.  <pause>   Nah!  That couldn't be it.   Could it?


<to M'Ress, more story please>

[KAT MRess]

The next 4 days were busy. Organized, but very busy. Tr’rins itinerary held up rock solid under the pressure of constant updates, revisions and scrutiny.

As promised the first day was reading and resting. Progress reports on the war and homeworld security were all waiting for him in chronological order. They alone took most of the day just to read. The evening was consumed in answering or evaluating. Sleep came easy that night.

Day Two were all the high ranking meetings. He hated these meetings. They were so mindnumbingly boring that they sapped everything right out of you. Most of the information contained within these meetings he already knew. He was just there as a formality to verify how things were operating. If it were possible he would have painted an eye on his lid to fake paying attention while he slept.

It was during this lull that his mind wandered to his dinner date.

When the waiter reached the table, he stood beside her for a moment and then cleared his throat. Kayleen had been staring at the napkin and hadn’t noticed his approach. She looked up from under her eyebrows, and if she hadn’t been so nervous, it would have been very fetching. When she looked over to him her eyes widened as they roved over the uniform and came to rest on the patch.

M’ress could stare down the most hardened of Warriors. But the minute her eyes fell on him he became very self-aware of the patch and unconsciously turned his head to block the view. Sensing his apprehension she looked away and offered her hand in greeting.

 Awkward was a very generous word to describe the situation. She too was recently divorced and struggling to rediscover herself. She had heard he’d entered the military, but admitted she didn’t understand the insignia. When he explained, she was incredulous. When he described how he got the patch, speechless.

The talked for a long time, well into the night. While he found himself enjoying it immensely (especially after the spilled drinks), there was still the underlying tension.

“What do you think Sire?”

The question snapped him back to the present. Fortunately he had heard enough of the conversation to provide and answer that didn’t make it look like he was daydreaming.

Day Three was certainly easier as it was all briefings, so he started on updating orders. Including a flight path to Stars End. This was where his plans for Tr’rin started to take shape.

[KAT MRess]

Sorry about the incredibely long delay in this one. I was waiting for the actual story to happen so i could write about it, it just took over a year to play out.

Shall we pick up where we left off?





The best part about working for the Patriarch was that she could set her own hours. Not that she would skimp and cut them short. But if she needed to adjust for a day due to an appointment, it was easily accommodated.

However, when he was in the office, it was the busiest time she’d ever known, so many people coming and going and so much paperwork. The different races astounded her, she’d read about them and heard rumors, but never actually seen any of them.

The Hydrans were still a mystery. Due to their environment suits she still hadn’t actually seen one. But they were polite enough.

She could not believe the Romulans though. Even when they stood right on front of her, they still denied they were even there.

Humans were interesting. Their ways were completely baffling to her and what was with that smiling all the time? On M’Raa,  a challenge like that could get you killed.

The biggest surprise were the Gorns. Did they really all wear those gaudy Tutus?