Dinner with the Commodore
Posted on Thu Jan 12th, 2023 @ 8:06am by Captain Iy'dan Brell & Commodore Dazad & Captain Kiala MD & Vincent Sinclair
2,981 words; about a 15 minute read
Mission:
Short Treks
Location: Deep Space 12
Timeline: 2399-09-20
ON
What better way for a person to get to know someone than inviting someone to dinner? Vincent was curious about the man who will be running the station, and figuring out a way for himself to be useful. This was a whole new ball of wax but Vincent felt he was up the task of adjusting. He hoped this station doesn't get sucked into the past unlike DS21. That though did make for some interesting details to attend to and also made Vincent realize that if he could survive that, he's quite capable to survive other things. Now Vincent just hoped that the Commodore liked what he was cooking for dinner. Good heavens! Vincent had no idea if the man was a wine drinker or not. Giving a slight sigh, he sent a message to Commodore Dazad.
"Sir you are invited to dinner, at Commander Brell's Quarters, my name is Vincent Sinclair, if you would be so kind and join us at 1800, also are you a wine drinker?"
He then sent Iy'dan a message as well. "Love, I have invited Commodore Dazad to our quarters to dine with us this evening. It is already in the oven. Hope you don't mind, and I know it is a sudden decision. It just came to me after you had left for work, and I would like to get to know the man who is over the station Dinner will be 1800~ Vincent"
Commodore Dazad sat alone in his Office aboard Deep Space 12, already wondering if this had been the best choice for him. After having had a long conversation with Vice Admiral MacCray following the change of command ceremony his concerns for this posting had only doubled if not quadrupled. Starfleet was diverting resources to this region, but with all that was happening out here and the growing threats that had been reported. With what few ships they had out here he really doubted they'd be able to keep the peace if it came down to it.
"We're not going to be gone long," Captain Kiala reassured from across subspace. "The Hippocrates is only traveling to Nepenthe long enough to drop off supplies then we'll be back."
Dazad sighed, "I'm not exactly thrilled that you're going out that far with a medical ship."
"I command a medical ship, remember?" Kiala reminded. She smiled lovingly, "Anyway you should remember that. You're the one that arranged for me to command it in your sector. I'll be back in one, two days tops."
"Nepenthe," he said questioningly. "You're going out there to bother Riker for pizza aren't you?"
She looked off screen for a moment, "Sorry. Subspace interference. Sounded like you were accusing me of accosting a civilian?"
He brushed it off, "Never. Say hi to Deanna for me."
"Will do," she reached forward, "oops. Love you."
"Love you too," the Commodore tapped the control and deactivated the comlink. Pulling him his messages he started to scroll through them. They were all fairly basic. Traffic notices, a few reports on Cardassian activity, more fallout from Jean-Luc's interview. There was one message internally. Tapping the control he played it.
"Sir you are invited to dinner, at Commander Brell's Quarters, my name is Vincent Sinclair, if you would be so kind and join us at 1800, also are you a wine drinker?"
The Commodore searched through his own memories and did not recall the name Vincent Sinclair. Then again on a starbase such as this there were thousands aboard and he, surely, would not remember all of them. Pressing the control he replied, "Hello, Mister Sinclair. I would be happy to join you for dinner. I am not a wine drinker, but, please, do not let that stop you." He tapped the control to send the message, realizing that 1800 hours was only a little over 30 minutes away.
"Guess I better get ready," he mumbled to himself.
The day had gotten away from Iy'dan with all of the strategic data he had called in from his old friend Commander Horn over on Deep Space 21 in his attempt to update the stations database with current fleet movements and intelligence reports, something Starfleet Command had not seen as a priority for the aging station, no matter how rapidly the refit had been progressing.
His quarters seemed darker than usual as he stepped inside, his uniform still stained with coolant from the minor repair he had assisted with in engineering.
"Computer bring the lights up to full illumination" his nostrils catching the scent of something delicious. "Vin, whatever that is, it smells wonderful!"
The final message appearing on his profile was even a message from his Husband.
"Sir you are invited to dinner, at Commander Brell's Quarters, my name is Vincent Sinclair, if you would be so kind and join us at 1800, also are you a wine drinker?"
"Computer, time" he called.
'The time is seventeen forty six hours'
Panic gripped him, why had he not been paying closer attention to his inbox? Why had Vincent not called him? Had the Admiral even replied?
"VINCENT?"
Vincent had been concentrating on dinner that he hadn't turned on the rest of the lights. He was busy! I'ydan's shout startled him as he was finishing up the final touches on the Arugula salad, almost sending the salad flying.
"WHAT!" Vincent shouted back, "Welcome home love, dinner is about done, and I take it you got my message. We're going to have company for dinner." He placed the salad into the fridge with its Lemon walnut vinaigrette dressing.
"I've got cold duck chilling as the commodore doesn't drink wine.." he went up to his husband and noticed I'ydan's expression. "Are you okay? We've got to get ready. And most definitely you need a shower looks like you've been rather active."
"Hmm" Iy cooed, drifting from terror at entertaining the new Admiral to realising that his Husband was the light of his life. He kissed him gently on the lips.
"In that case I had best go get showered and dressed for dinner!"
"Most definitely." Vincent gently turning Iy'dan around " Now scootch." giving his husband a playful pat on the rear sending him towards the bathroom, before he headed back into the kitchen. While I'ydan was getting cleaned up, Vincent took one more look at the table setting, the dishes prepared and checked the time on the duck. It was time to pull it out of the oven. A quick glance at the timepiece he had on the wall, dinner was ready, just needed the guest to arrive.
Commodore Dazad had always hated to be late. As an El-Aurian he had a natural affinity for time, but that was not a trait that his wife or his children had ever seemed to master. At one point when they served on the Enterprise Dazad had gone as far as having the computer reset each of the chronometers in their quarters to being 10 minutes ahead so that they would be on time. It worked for a few days until they realized that the clocks were set ahead and they just adjusted themselves to that realization. He couldn't help but smile about the time that Doctor Crusher had admonished her for being late for surgery. Problem was Worf had gotten after him about it too.
Unfortunately, his tardiness couldn't be helped. Starfleet Commander Clancy had contacted him regarding recent activity in the adjoining sectors. With Starfleet needing the materials of the Maelstrom to assist with the fleet's rebuilding Starfleet was pumping a lot of resources into DS12 to try to augment the region. Problem was that still wasn't enough. Even now Commander Brell had been trying to get some information from his counterpart on DS21. Maybe that meant he'd be late too?
Reaching the door he tapped the chime.
Vincent looked up at the timepiece it was ten minutes after, he gave a slight sigh then dismissed it, the timing had come perfectly as it gave the duck time to rest for him to slice it. Wiping his hands on a cloth he went to the door and opened it greeting the commodore, "Ah Commodore, welcome to our humble abode." Vincent giving a warm congenial smile. "You are just in time." leading the way to where the dining area was at, "Please have a seat and I will be right back." instead of bellowing at Iy'dan, Vincent walked to where the bedroom door was and called out, "Iy'dan our company has arrived."
The Commodore entered the First Officer's Quarters with a smile, although he had never excelled at the after hours type responsibilities of his role. Despite his long career in Starfleet and Federation service he still felt like a fish out of water, almost wishing he could prescript out the entire night so that he did not say or do the wrong thing. "I didn't realize that Iy'dan wasn't ready for my being here. I can come back if that works better?"
"No please, I'm here now!" Iy'dan emerged from the bedroom and ensuite still buttoning up a crisp white shirt, his hair still damp from the quick shower he had managed to grab.
"Please Commodore or may I call you, Dazad, do not leave- See, you didn't have to wait very long." a warm genuine smile. "I appreciate you indulging my desire to meet Iy'dan's commanding officer." Vincent also noting the man's tell tale markings of being uncomfortable. "I know, it was out of the blue. Thank you for coming though. Besides, this will allow me to show off my skills. Yes, I am bit of a show off" he joked.
The Commanding Officer of the Station looked around graciously, "I appreciate that you invited me to join you this evening." He realized that he had still been holding a bottle of wine in his hand. "I learned a long time ago to never come empty handed to a dinner party," he handed over the bottle to Vincent. "It's a bottle of Chateau Picard, from the 2286 vintage, very rare. Admiral Picard had given it to me from his private reserve when I was promoted to Captain. I figured this was a better gift than the bloodwine that Captain Worf had given." He realized he was name dropping and pulled back, hoping they liked the 113-year-old bottle.
Vincent accepted the wine. "Thank you, oh and you've met Captain Worf? Marvelous, marvelous indeed, I've never had the pleasure though. Especially since I am not in StarFleet but, who knows maybe someday? And Admiral Picard. What did you think of those two men? Did you like them or did you dislike them." To Vincent this was a keen interest to him. "You hear of legends but what were they truly like?"
"I was lucky to serve with both for many, many years aboard the Enterprise. Worf I worked with the longest though because I also served on Deep Space Nine while he was there during the Dominion War. I later was his Operations Manager and, briefly, XO while he commanded Enterprise." He realized he was answering like he was interviewing for a job than giving a genuine answer. He thought carefully for a moment about the two men, remembering the good and the bad. "You expect larger than life people to be larger than life," the Commodore answered, "but they were really just ordinary people."
Iy'dan couldn't help but smile at the Admiral's clipped replies and the name dropping. He could always trust his Husband to interrogate anyone that came in through the doors. The Trill was also thankful that Brell, the Symbiont nestled within him was also able to give the opportunity for a few name drops, the only thing being, his name drops would be historic legends and probably a tale for another time.
"Honey, would you stop interrogating the man and let him relax!"
Vincent looked at Iy'dan then back at Dazad. "I do apologize if I was interrogating you. I like to find out about people, and it gave me great interest, as to hearing people's histories. I have found, well in my own experience, great people still put their pants on one leg at a time when standing. In sitting they can either do both legs or still one leg at a time. I know I am sounding nonsensical but it at times keeps things in perspective. Okay dinner is ready gentlemen, lets go enjoy the food. I will warn you though Dazad I may end up quizzing you about the station and as to what I can do to contribute to things here. And this will give you a chance to quiz me." breaking into a quiet laugh.
"I wondered if there were an ulterior motive to my being invited to dinner," it was meant to be an innocent comment, but came across as more accusatory than friendly. "Sorry, that came out a bit inappropriate as well. My wife would be smacking me by now."
"Obviously a wise woman!" Iy'dan teased with a wolfish grin before catching himself and tightening himself back into a professional manner. "Sir!"
Vincent just rolled with the comment Dazad made, he didn't take it as anything accusing. He just laughed. "Ah you are onto me, Dazad." He had noted Iy'dan's reaction. "Good heavens gentlemen, just relax, I truly do not think we're going to have fur flying here. Eat, Eat!" Vincent having risen up to bring over the platter which had the sliced duck on it. "And the salad is right there. "nodding towards the table. "I can dish it up for you or you can help yourself." giving a warm smile.
"I'd be happy to serve myself," the El-Aurian answered. "My people have always lived by the adage that food and drink unite us; well that and that we're a race of listeners." He prepared his salad as he spoke, thinking about the history of his people and how they were scattered now due to the Borg. It made his skin crawl for a moment as he thought of the weight of that. "So, where are you all from?"
"If you are meaning from whence I came, there are two answers I can give you." Vincent placing the duck on the table for the others to dish up their own. "One is I am from San Francisco originally and the other one is, we came from DS21. I was running a gym there along with a healthy smoothie bar healthy living and massage therapy." Vincent sat down after dishing up his own food.
The Commodore nodded along as he was finishing up loading his salad, when the realization of what was just said hit him. "You know DS12 isn't exactly on the beaten path, but we do have a large Concourse that we would like to revitalize. Perhaps you could setup a shop there?" He glanced at his XO for thoughts after making the proposal.
"Not to do a er self selling here, I do have a few skills I can utilize for benefit of the station. I am a little bit of an over achiever." giving a wry smile. "I am also a certified medic. so if needed I can assist in medical as well. However, I could set up a shop to help revitalize the area, even look into the aspect of fine arts and social events." he paused, blushing slightly realizing he was being a bit overly eager. "Guess you can say I am rather eager to help." he added apologetically.
"I'd be happy to have someone help with this," he glanced at his First Officer, "Normally we would have an election amongst the Concourse's shop owners and other entrepreneurs but, as far as I can tell, we don't really have any at the moment. President of the Concourse Merchant's Association is yours if you want it."
"I think thats a wonderful idea... The station population is only going to grow over the coming months now that we are online and operational... Another alternative would be Morale Officer as well sir. They could be accountable for the concourse and maintaining the civilian population freeing up the Counsellors to focus on Mental Health and the like!"
Iy'dan pitched in after a moments thought on the matter.
" I do like that idea, Morale Officer." Vincent mused aloud. "President of the Concourse Merchant's Association, would be a bit much. I'm not looking to be in such an auspicious position. I am just here to help out that is all, nothing more, nothing less. That is what I do best and Iy'dan knows me quite well in that regard."
"Well it's settled then," Dazad sat back in the chair, "Computer, recognize Dazad."
"Identity confirmed."
"So note in the Station Log that Mister Vincent Sinclair is hereby appointed Morale Officer of Starbase Deep Space Twelve effective immediately. Authorization Dazad Alpha Four Beta Seven." The El-Aurian directed with a polite nod.
"Command confirmed. Deep Space Twelve's Morale Officer is now Mister Vincent Sinclair."
Vincent's eyes widened, it was official he had a position and well, he hadn't really expected it to truly come to fruition. " A toast with non alcoholic drink is in order. I thank you, for this opportunity, Dazad and Iy'dan." the man just beaming with delight at this opportunity. He poured drink for those at the table and raised his own glass, "A toast to a new and wonderful beginning, may we continue forward into this new wonderful phase we are in, a new path, new horizons and Exploration!"
"Here here," the Commodore agreed in celebration.
"I couldn't have put it better myself!" Iy'dan smile, taking Vincents hand and gently kissing the back of his hand.
Vincent smiled softly at his husband, giving his hand a squeeze. Tomorrow was a new day and a new job.
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