LtCmdr Salkath - How Do You Like That Bluff?

[Salkath]

((Elysium Mezzanine, Deck 5 - USS Artemis))

LtCmdr Salkath had been sitting at the mezzanine of the Artemis' lounge, named Elysium, watching the world go by while seeking social contact. The right kind of social contact, mind you - he saw some civilian below harassing other officers of the ship regarding some dating service. His enhanced hearing was a blessing and a curse sometimes. What a highly illogical endeavor to harangue the crew over. Thankfully, another officer had come along and Salkath was able to engage them before that civilian could work her way up to the mezzanine.

Ensign Kel Solas had joined Salkath willingly enough at his suggestion, then Salkath had gone and brought up tough memories about their recent ordeals. Belatedly, Salkath realized that it was likely a touchy subject and decided to segue back into safer waters of conversation. 

Salkath: Did you ever learn to play Kal-toh? My solitary game is failing spectacularly.

Playing alone at the Vulcan logic puzzle during his time in the lounge, Salkath had indeed let his wandering mind fail at the game over and over. Honestly, any normal Vulcan would be embarrassed to allow another to see such ineptitude at this venerable pursuit. However, as a means to endear himself to another, Salkath was willing to concede his recent spate of mindlessness. 

Kel: Do I know how to play? Commander, I’m a born loser.

The mirth of the junior officer was unmistakable to the engineer, even if he tried to hide it. He allowed himself the merest hint of a smile, the twitch of a corner of his mouth, to let Solas know that he was a safe Vulcan to express emotion around. It was an unfamiliar thing to do all the same, so it could be excused if it looked more like a grimace of indigestion. 

Vulcans were not precisely xenophobic, they only seemed so due to their distaste in the actions of the more emotionally driven species that Starfleet and the Federation surrounded them with. The only people that Vulcans demanded pure logic and lack of emotion with more than others was with themselves. Salkath could only imagine how difficult that would be to reconcile for one such as Solas, who had two heritages warring against each other. After all, Bajorans were well renowned for being... spicy. He would understand if the young officer felt he had to try and hide his more emotional heritage from a senior officer who just happened to be fully Vulcan, but that was not the case here at this time. His extended length of service allowed Salkath the ability to tolerate and accept the emotional states of others more than more insular Vulcans would.

Salkath: Perhaps a competitive match will surprise us both with our skills, then. I would be honored if you would play me.

The two started divvying up the t'an sticks between them, resetting the Kal'toh board for a match. When they were finished and ready to begin, they looked at each other expectantly.

Kel: By all means, senior officers first.

Salkath scrutinized the board closely as he fingered his t'an. Kal'toh could not be won in the first round, but it certainly could be lost. Logic dictated that he not allow his earlier distractions to fail him so soon in this game. Yup, logic, not pridefulness.

Salkath: I almost expected you to rehash that old Earth saying, "age before beauty". Which I still would not be able to refute.  ::he placed his rod while rising a mirthful eyebrow towards his opponent::  Such distractions are a valid strategy, but I will not concede this game so quickly.

He almost sighed in relief as the board reshaped itself into a passable form, meaning he had in fact not been distracted into a mistake. That would have been embarrassing - er, illogical.

Kel: Don’t worry commander, we’ll ruin the board yet.

Despite his warning, Solas did not ruin the board with his next placement. In fact, compared to Salkath's turn, the board took on a much more geometrically pleasing shape than the senior officer had managed. It was becoming a possibility that the engineer had been 'sharked'.

Salkath: ::placing his next rod:: We are almost ready to deploy again, if the nattering rumors of the crew are to be trusted. How fares your department?

Despite helping to delegate the repairs to the ship, Salkath could not offhand state the readiness of any section of the Artemis outside Main Engineering. Lieutenant Hallia as the departmental head likely could, but Salkath was forced to be content with ensuring that his portions of the day to day delegations were up to date.

Kel: response

Both players were holding their own as they conversed, and Salkath took a moment to study his next move before responding.

Salkath: If you note any deficiencies that require extra attention from the engineering crews, feel free to contact me directly. I will ensure that they are made a priority.

This was no small offer in a bureaucratic entity such as a Starfleet vessel for non-critical requests. The normal chain of requisition meant that someone would need to bring a request to their direct reporting officer, who would bring it to their next in command, until it reached their departmental head. It might need to then be relayed through Ops, or exen the XO, before it made it to the head of engineering. They would delegate it down the ladder in reverse of the previous climb. Paperwork, amirite?

What was the point of befriending an engineer if they couldn't prioritize the malfunctioning replicator in the armory for you?

Kel: response

Finally, the distractions proved too much for Salkath, and though the game wasn't lost by his next placement, it definitely threw the board into a discordant shape. He could barely hide his disgust in himself from his face.

Salkath: That was suboptimal...  oO Poker face, you fool! Oo  ...for you. I have you right where I want you.  oO Smooth recovery, phew Oo

Kel: response

TAG/TBC

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Lieutenant Commander Salkath

Engineer, USS Artemis-A

A239111MT0