Ensign Meris - Were You Born to Tactical?
Meris/Brian
(( Molly Malone’s Irish Pub – First Promenade, Deck 225, Deep Space 224 ))
The J'naii officer listened as Lieutenant Storm corrected their dining etiquette.
Meris: ::nodding again, less emphatically:: I understand, Lieutenant Storm. I will try to better understand and respect such customs so that I do not give offense. And perhaps, in the process, I might learn which customs are flexible... and which are like the rules of flight - non-negotiable.
Storm: That sounds very wise. ::Alex pushed the honey mustard back over to Meris:: But since you’ve already enjoyed this one, you can feel free to finish it off while I have another chicken wing.
Alex picked up a second chicken wing and dipped it in the spicy sauce before eating it.
Meris looked at the honey mustard sauce and licked their lips. It was tempting, but they thought it best not to indulge following the correction from the Lieutenant.
Meris: Thank you for sharing your chicken's wings with me, Lieutenant. I will resist sauce fingers for now, but there are no promises about dessert.
Beside them, the Betazoid wiped their mouth and hands on their napkin before smiling at the J’naii’s statement about dessert.
Storm: That’s fair.
Meris: May I ask, Lieutenant, what your assignment is aboard the USS Artemis? And how long have you been stationed aboard? I do not recognize your image from the review of the ship's duty roster which I performed while en route to Deep Space 224.
Alex took a sip of her drink. She then crossed her legs and held her drink in her lap as she noticed Meris had turned their focus on her. She swiveled her barstool in their direction to answer their question.
Storm: You probably didn’t see me because I’m still new here - like you. Today’s my first day, and I’m a tactical officer. What about you, Meris? You’re wearing red. Are you a helms... person?
The J'naii was excited to hear that Lieutenant Storm was also new like they were and their eyes lit up with this knowledge. It seemed the Artemis was picking up quite a few new crewmembers during its stay at Deep Space 224.
Meris: Indeed, yes I am. ::thinking:: So, as a Tactical Officer, you report to Lieutenant Silveira. I have not yet had the pleasure to make his acquaintance. Nor have I met Lieutenant Vailani, the Chief of Operations - my immediate superior officer. Have you met either of them?
The tactical officer nodded as she listened to Meris speaking.
Storm: Response.
Storm: Were you born to fly - if you know what I mean - or is flying what you were best at in your Academy aptitudes?
Alex uncrossed her legs and leaned forward slightly as if genuinely interested in the J'naii's answer.
Meris: No, I was not 'born to fly'. In fact, I had never piloted any type of craft prior to attending the Academy Flight Workshop the summer before my first year at the Academy. I had sought opportunities that might take me off the J'naii homeworld. Those opportunities are generally few and far between. Starfleet was one such opportunity and, after meeting with a recruiter, they suggested I take a series of aptitude tests to see where I might put my talents to use in the Fleet. I achieved high marks for spatial awareness, reaction time, and situational judgment. Based on my scores, an Academy Counselor suggested I participate in a Flight Workshop in the months before I started my first year. It was there that I learned the principles of flight and had my first opportunity to fly a training craft.
Storm: I’ve never really known any J'naii. I've only ever interacted with one other J'naii, Meris. Why don’t you tell me a little about your people? I’d be interested to learn about them through your eyes.
Meris: ::thoughtfully considering the question:: Well, Lieutenant, J’naii society is... efficient. We have no gender, which confuses some species who cannot imagine conversation without 'he' or 'she.' We simply use 'they' for everyone. Romantic relationships occur, but probably not in the manner you're familiar with. These are always between two J’naii. Anything else is seen as a dangerous deviation - which, I suppose, is our version of a strong "no entry" sign. Families are structured around shared responsibility, not biology, and no one argues over who the 'real' parent is. Our disagreements are usually about who forgot to water the hydroponic plants. In short - we value harmony, shared purpose, and societal balance. It works for us... most of the time.
Meris then mimicked Alex's posture, leaning forward slightly to convey their own genuine interest. It brought their faces closer to one another in a way that might have been considered uncomfortable by some.
Meris: What about you, Lieutenant? Were you 'born to Tactical'?
Storm: Response.
(( Tags/TBC ))
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Ensign Meris
Helm Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240207M14