Lt Zenno - Pure Authentic Bajoran Flavor

[Cobalt Penumbra]

((DS33 Temporary Lodging))

With his small collection of things stashed away, Zenno cleaned himself up and changed into the dreaded Dress Whites. He never liked how he looked in them, but there was no option. 

But at least they were back on Deep Space 33. He knew Chief Serinus was away, but he hoped to get to see T’Lyra while he was here. They had been working on the alien personal cloaking technology together for months, but it had all been remote. There was nothing like a real time in-person collaboration. That would be his next order of business after this ceremony was completed. 

Checking his uniform one more time in the mirror, he headed out to…

((DS33 Arboretum))

Mostly everyone was here already, and with the ship being in cold standby for disinfection, mostly everyone meant mostly everyone. Nodding his hellos to everyone as he passed, he headed towards the bar. He was parched, as he wanted no delay in getting his Water Sculpture collection safely secured and he didn’t stop for any hydration. He finally caught the eye of the bartender.

Zenno: An Altair water. With limes. Lots of lime. Please.

He wasn’t sure where he developed the taste for slightly fizzy water, but it always satisfied. And if he spilled some on his uniform, it wouldn’t show, so it was a double-win. And this first sip did not disappoint. But he had better move, as others were crowding the space… including the Chief Engineer who had just made his presence known.

Dewitt: One Bajoran Pale Ale, please.

Zenno: ::joking:: Is it authentic? Made with real Bajorans? Does your partner approve? 

Dewitt: Well, it's basically 99% water, so I expect you to approve. ::pause:: And I think I earned it after those last-minute notifications with the cleaning crew.

Zenno: If you enjoy it, that’s all the approval that is required. But you are correct, you have earned it. This has to be a stressful time with all the work to be done on the ship.

Dewitt: Who knows what you guys brought from that moon colony. Any questionable places you visited while you were down there? A kitchen, a hydroponics bay?

Zenno: It is my opinion only, but the whole Moon Base was questionable. They had been strip mining a planet with their own people on it. So I was not particularly impressed with how they ran things. I was glad that we got out of there without any issues. ::beat:: But I’m told the Away Team on the planet had a much more colorful experience. You’d have to ask them about that though.

Dewitt: Speaking of the last mission, I see that you let Lacy off the hook.

This was a common misconception that Zenno had run across frequently and he always wanted to correct it straight away.

Zenno: Security doesn’t let people off the hook. And we don’t put people there. ::shrug:: They do it to themselves, one way or another. They get what they earn. 

Of course, Zenno would not reveal any of the multiple conversations he had had with his team or the Command Authority about Ensign Lacy. But the general thrust of his comment carried the truth of it.

Dewitt: She did well during the last mission. ::pause:: I just wanted you to know that I overruled the perimeters you have set with reason. I think she's up to it - or maybe we are.

Zenno: That was entirely your decision to make. My team isn’t trained to assess the fine engineering details that she was working on anyway. She could have blown up the ship or programmed cat videos play on repeat on all the screens. We wouldn’t have known the difference. But if she’s free of that now, it’s because whatever she did, she earned at least that much.

Dewitt: Responses?

Zenno: I’m only an observer to this, since her previous actions at this command were before my time. But if she stays here for now, I think the largest challenge may not be for her. It might be for those who have already have strong negative opinions about her. If the arm is skeptical of the hand, we are going to have a hard time as a crew. Time will tell.

Dewitt: Responses?

Zenno nodded his agreement and then spied the Captain heading up onto the podium.

Zenno: It looks like we are about to get started. I hope your Bajorans were refreshing.

Dewitt: Responses?

Zenno smiled and headed towards a seat.

Tags/END for Zenno

LT Zenno

Acting Security Chief

USS Arrow

A240006Z13