Certifying, Part 2: Getting to Know You The Right Way
Posted on Thu May 1st, 2025 @ 7:19pm by Lieutenant Commander Rebecca Bluegarden & Lieutenant Commander Damien Maillet
1,559 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission: Season 1, Episode 2: War, Peace, And All That Jazz
The deck that housed the station's security apparatus, including the armory and firing range, also housed a replomat, the ideal place for the two of them to sit down and talk for a few minutes with coffees or similar drinks.
The place was empty. It was that rare time of day where most on-duty station crew were hard at work but not yet due for a health break. Rebecca Bluegarden and Damien Maillet, however, found it the perfect opportunity. After his recertification but before either of them had further meetings.
Damien walked with Rebecca to the replomat food slot and let her go first in selecting what she wanted.
Even though the invitation was for a cup of coffee, Rebecca opted for a more athletic snack; consisting of a protein drink and a cup of fruit. Rebecca selected the "tropical fruit" option, which included things like pineapples, watermelon, cantaloupe, a few grapes; something she would find at a Publix back home. Though Rebecca did decide to indulge herself a little bit and include some bananas in the cup.
Once her order had been processed, Rebecca grabbed her selection and made her way over to an empty table, taking a seat as she waited for Damien to make his selection. Rebecca cracked open her protein drink and took a good sip of it. She had selected the mocha flavored protein drink, so it was technically still along the lines of coffee...
Damien still wanted coffee but was inspired by her food choice, so he programmed the food slot for a caramel latte and an assortment of fruit that was more his style. Slices of apple and pear with a warm caramel sauce for dipping. Tray in hand, he followed her to the table. "So what led you to join Starfleet?" he asked as he took his seat.
"If you can believe it, a racing accident." Rebecca responded. "My mama, she, uh... She died in a last lap crash when I was a little girl. Well, once I got the car all fixed up, they let me compete. That was until this one time I got into a wreck at Talladega. The wreck really did look spectacular on the replays, and it scared my daddy to death, because I'm sure in that moment, he thought he lost me too. Next thing I know, he's comin' home and tellin' me to forget all about racin' because I was going into Starfleet, whether I liked it or not."
“But…Starfleet is famously dangerous too,” Damien observed. “We’re out here, on the fringe, light-years from a safety net, a few centimetres of duranium from vacuum, and close to the territory of a people that want to see us all dead. If I were risk-averse, I’d say auto racing is the safer option!”
"Well, a man who lost his wife many light years away and nearly lost his daughter under similar circumstances is bound to make some irrational decisions." Rebecca said as she forked a piece of pineapple into her mouth.
"Anyhow, there's something I ain't got a chance to mention yet:" She continued, shifting the subject matter. "You see, in addition to me replacing that crazy Chernobyl lady, I've also been assigned to replace a May Hopkins as this station's First Officer. Commander Vincent's told me I need to take a less than six hour crash course on both the Eifie Republic and Rheuysian Reich. I've already met with Lieutenant Michaud and met the ambassadors for both powers, but I was told you was one of the people I needed to speak to as well. Maybe you could help me fill in some of the gaps from my time with the Lieutenant?"
"Well what gaps do you have?" Damien asked before sipping his coffee. It would do her no good to just start rambling on about the Eifie and Rheuysians. He had also met them and studied them, and could go on for hours on either, but she seemed to have specific questions.
"Well, for starters; the Rheuysian gal didn't seem too interested in talking:" Rebecca explained. "She and Lieutenant Michaud got into an argument which led to her kicking us out of the Rheuysian embassy. I suspect this had something to do with the 'unfinished business' the Lieutenant had with the ambassador... Which means now I need to ask Commander Vincent about what happened the first time Michaud and Barkh met..."
"From what I can tell there was an argument about being studied like labrats," Damien said, trying to recall details. "Followed by an agreement to seek permission to discuss history. And bowling?" He shrugged. "Apparently their national sport is similar to Earth ten-pin bowling. I regret I have yet to examine the rules too closely. It's taking most of my attention to learn their language. In some ways it's far simpler than English or French, but then there are odd grammar rules that when you break them at best it you look like an idiot or at worst you insult someone's family line."
"How do you figure it's simpler than English or French?" Rebecca asked. "From what I heard of it, it sounded something like German but with more gargling."
"That's just the phonetics," Damien clarified. "Any linguist worth their degree can master those, even the sounds that don't appear in our mother tongues. It's the grammar rules, knowing how to compose a sentence, which are easy...until they aren't."
"So, from what I'm getting here is that I may have caught Ambassador Barkh on a bad day, and should visit her again by myself to get a better idea of who she is as a person?"
“It’s probably not a bad idea,” he agreed. “Or maybe she’s horrible and your second meeting will be as bad as the first. But you’ll know, at least.” He took a bite of another slice of apple dipped in caramel, the sweetness replacing the poor taste of thinking of the Rheuysian ambassador.
"Okay..." Rebecca muttered, taking another bite of pineapple. "So this next thing was brought to my attention when I met with the Eifie ambassador; and that seems like there ain't been much communication between the Eifie and the Rheuysians. Like no general 'getting to know your neighbors' kind of thing. Seems to me quite odd for two civilizations looking to join a Federation that's all about communication and the sharing of knowledge."
“Oh yes, that will be a problem,” Damien agreed. “There ought to be a lot of diplomatic activities happening on the station and elsewhere. Trilateral and larger multilateral meetings. Receptions. Even just seeing each other in public spaces. Some kind of group activity, having the diplomats get to know each other as people, might help reduce tension. After all, it’s important to respect the negotiator, even if you dislike their government.”
Rebecca was about to ask about what they could do about it, but then another idea popped into her head:
"So, you said something about the Rheuysian national sport being a... Bowling variation?" She asked.
“Yes,” Damien answered. “Lanes, pins, large balls. The rules are different but the basics are the same.”
"Well, you've been around on the station longer than I have;" Rebecca said. "Have you seen the Rheuysians hold open bowling invitations? And if so, do any Eifie show up?"
“I understand that they participate some of the time,” Damien replied. “But I’ve not seen it myself. I don’t know the dynamics on the lane, as it were.”
"Okay..." Rebecca stroked her chin. "So, sounds like the next order of business would be to sit in on one of them Rheuysian bowling tournaments. See if they really do bring Eifie and Rheuysians together."
“It probably won’t by itself,” Damien pointed out, finishing the last piece on his plate. “But it could with a bit of prompting. Watch a game or two. See if there’s something you can do to bring them together. Mixed teams, friendly wagers. That sort of thing.”
Rebecca nodded as she finished her last piece of fruit as well.
"At the same time, it needs to go both ways." She said. "Is there any kind of Eifie sport or something that the Rheuysians could get involved with?
“Oh, good question!” he exclaimed. “Leave that idea with me. I want to get to know the Eifie more anyway. I’ll find something and report back to you.”
"Alright, well I think it's mostly out of my hands now..." Rebecca said as she looked over to the chronometer on the wall. "And seeing as we've both finished our snacks, I think it's time I start preparing my notes for the talks."
“Let me know if you want me to go over them with you later,” Damien offered. He collected Rebecca’s tray along with his own to bring them to the recycler.
"I think that would be a good thing to follow up on." Rebecca responded. "Er... With the whole Eifie thing." She quickly clarified. "Though, if I manage to get the notes together in time, maybe we could go over them before the talks begin?"
"I'd like that."
**
A mission post by
Lieutenant Commander Rebecca Bluegarden
First Officer
Chief Of Security
Lieutenant Commander Damien Maillet
Second Officer
Chief Communications Officer
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