LtCmdr Salkath - The Appreciation of Good Company

[Salkath]

((Yem-tukh Nar-tor’i, Second Promenade - DS224))

As their meals were presented by a server who was silent, though not sullenly so, Salkath had the opportunity to consider the cultures of his dining companions. Many Vulcans chose to repast in solitude and quiet contemplation, hence the likely reason their server had remained silent. This was what he usually did, dined alone in his quarters or in a quiet corner of public establishments, though like now he had learned to be social when it was deemed advantageous. One of the benefits of opening his horizons this way was to see the customs and mores of others.

Salkath: ::pausing:: Do either of you offer thanks or blessing for your meal? Feel free to do so, you will find those around us accepting of your needs.

Dakora: I don’t have any specific customs no.

Jovenan: Nothing for me as well. We express gratitude to our God in other ways. ::pause, then with smile:: Thank you for your consideration, though. I appreciate it.

Salkath: If a meal is formal, there is sometimes a blessing that a Vulcan could give for their food. Since we are informally socializing, I believe I will go without. ::motioning subtly to their plates::  I hope you enjoy your meals.

They took a few exploratory bites of their meals, and once again Salkath was content that he made the choice he did. Though not the combination of vegetables that his own family chose for this dish, the pickling was conducted effectively and it satisfied his taste buds. It was a rare chance that he had to try traditional fare that did not come from a replicator. 

Dakora: Jovenan– if you don’t mind my asking– what brought you to Starfleet Academy? I understand there have only been a handful of Edo in Starfleet over the years.

Exaggerating her expressions, Jovenan swallowed her bite before responding.

Jovenan: You’re right, there aren’t many others. Leaving the homeworld hadn’t been even legal for that long before I left. I actually first went to the University on Hurkos III. That decision was… rebellious, I guess. Wanting to leave the stagnant little home town behind.  ::nervous laugh::  But Starfleet, as I said, was mostly from the desire to see the galaxy. Not many other jobs could offer such a wide array of scientific opportunities and places to see. In a civilian field, the best I could have landed would be some planetary outpost, I guess.

The engineer could certainly empathise with the sentiment, as he had followed the same train of thought in his own decision to join Starfleet. He gestured a little more livelier than normal, punctuating his statement visually, waving his chopsticks not unlike a conductor leading a tiny orchestra.

Salkath: It certainly is a strong benefit to joining Starfleet. Though we do need to fulfill a peacekeeping role time and again, the main mandate of exploration and discovery is a potent lure.

Dakora: A Chief Science Officer with as many medals and accolades as you… You just might be the most decorated Edo to have ever served in Starfleet.

Salkath raised his eyebrow in curiosity. Though Jovenan came from a small pool to draw from, being the preeminent officer of your people was an accomplishment worth noting all the same.

Jovenan: Almost definitely. Not that such things are not particularly important to my people. My old family doesn’t really care. ::puts some food in, raises finger and swallows quickly:: There are some accomplished Edo out there, though. I met our representative to the Federation Council in Paris just recently. He is… an inspiring person.

Salkath: I imagine that was a fruitful visit. Drawing inspiration from those who came before you can be a great motivation.

Though Vulcans were outnumbered in Starfleet by the other core member worlds by a significant ratio, there were still many notable Vulcan officers throughout the centuries for Salkath to draw inspiration from. He did not need to feel the burden of trailblazing for future Vulcans the way Jovenan might feel for future Edo.

Dakora: response

Jovenan: What about you two? What made you apply to the Academy? A childhood dream, curiosity, rebellion?

Dakora: response

It was intriguing to see the similarities and contrasts between the paths the three of them had taken to arrive at the same place at this moment in time. It was easy for Salkath to profess ignorance about the cultures of most all other Federation worlds; unless you were one of the exceedingly few Vulcan children raised in an ambassadorial or Starfleet family, one would live a relatively insular lifestyle with but the basics taught about the Federation charter and its member worlds. He knew objectively about the privations of Betazed during the Dominion War and the fact that Rubicun III was a very recent addition to the Federation, but had no basis to consider what those experiences meant for those who lived though those two distinct but pertinent upheavals for their citizens. He had not realized that he craved that knowledge about others until after he had already made the decision to ignore his family's objections and join Starfleet.

Salkath: My history draws parallels to Commander Jovenan's. Though rebelliousness might be too strong a descriptor, I too chose to discard the traditional Vulcan lifestyle and career path I had been on to join Starfleet, mostly to subject myself to more diverse challenges in the field of engineering.

Jovenan: Oh? Do I understand that you had a career before entering the Academy as well?

Salkath took a moment to finish the last bite of his meal before replying.

Salkath: I served a similar role to my current one on a Vulcan High Command vessel prior to my decision to enroll to the Academy. My post-secondary studies on Vulcan were too specialized for a Vulcan vessel, however; there was little chance for advancement if I so chose, and the mission parameters I expected to see were highly sedate. Those factors precipitated my choice to try Starfleet.

Holodeck and replicator programming were quite simple on Vulcan vessels, as one would well imagine. The opportunities to advance his work on matter-energy conversion systems were much more likely to be recognized off of pretty much any Vulcan ship. He looked to Talos, uncertain if he too had experienced a career before joining Starfleet.

Dakora: response

Jovenan: response

Ever the one to state the obvious, Salkath summarized their conversation thus far in terms of appreciation for what his two colleagues had shared with him. Besides, the meal appeared to be coming to a conclusion, and it felt prudent to express that gratitude.

Salkath: It is insightful to learn how we all took distinct paths to arrive in Starfleet, and to our current positions on the same ship. I am thankful that opportunity brought us to our meal today.

Dakora/Jovenan: response

TAGS/TBC

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Lieutenant Commander Salkath

Engineer, USS Artemis-A

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