LtCmdr Jovenan – New friends, new topics
Jovenan
((Second Promenade, Deck 227, DS224))
The Edo moral philosophy was simple and easy to apply, regardless of the circumstances. The Law had been passed down generations since the Chaotic times and had been, at least until the more recent developments, unchanging and inalienable. Actions that violated the Law, be they intentional, negligent or accidental, were all condemnable and punishable. It had kept the population safe and largely content for uncounted years. It had only been the contact with the outside world that had forced them to review their legal and cultural ideas. For Jovenan, leaving the God’s Claims had made the world much more complicated.
Jovenan: I couldn’t have known, no, but there would have been no damage done if the Fleet Formation hadn’t been as sinister as it turned out to be, except maybe for my conscience. As it turns out, my… moral compass is somewhat flawed.
She twisted her lips. From the point of view of the ethical thinking she had inherited from her ancestors, she had done nothing wrong. The Starfleet regulations and the Federation laws agreed with that sentiment: disobeying an order set by the admirals of the Starfleet Command might have seen her disciplined, maybe even court-martialled. Except, in this case, the consequences of committing a minor crime would have prevented a more major crime and calamity from ever taking place. She didn’t feel like thinking the philosophical implications of the realisation, as the thought that she could have saved the lives of many of her colleagues if she had chosen otherwise churned in her stomach. If only she could snap her fingers, go back and see the path not taken…
Something touched Jovenan’s shoulder. She turned her head to find Talos’ hand patting her. He was shaking his head.
Dakora: I don’t think I agree with that. Your moral compass is right where it should be. We aren’t expected to be clairvoyant and we certainly shouldn’t be distrustful of our friends and allies by default. Maybe this time– this one time– it didn’t pay off, but I don’t think you should change who you are because of an evil plot. That’s how they win, even after they’ve lost.
Jovenan remained silent for a while, as did the others. She wanted to believe he was right, again. The Borg Queen had lost, dead, finally, if all they knew was correct, and they shouldn’t give her spirit, if one existed, the gratification of driving a wedge between each individual Starfleet officer and crewmember. Starfleet was not entirely incorruptible, but she wasn’t going to lose her trust in the good will of her superiors because of a few admiral whose orders should have been questioned. Something similar would likely never happen again.
After a while, she sighed and turned to Talos. The mood of the discussion had shifted rapidly, but perhaps she could redirect it back to where it had been. She needed a distraction.
Jovenan: Unless there’s something more we need to discuss, sir… ::turn to Salkath:: Talos and I were about to go look for a place to eat. Would you like to join us? ::quick glance at Dakora for confirmation:: I’d like to learn more about you, as a person. That could help us avoid such, um, miscommunications in the future.
Salkath: I... I would not wish to impose on your social event.
Jovenan found it interesting that they had managed to get their Vulcan colleague to falter in words. Vulcans, as she knew it, did have feelings and could act upon them despite the attempts to suppress them, so maybe there were also shy Vulcans – granted, she didn’t know enough about Commander Salkath to make that diagnosis. Meanwhile, the grin had reappeared on Talos’ lips.
Dakora: We’d love for you to impose on our social event. ::He laughed.:: And I too would like to get to know you better, Mister Salkath.
Salkath: If you are certain that my presence would not disrupt you further, then I am amenable to joining you.
Jovenan: Absolutely certain.
She allowed a smile to come to her face. Despite their relationship starting off with an ethical dilemma, she hoped that she could help Commander Salkath grow more comfortable with her, Talos and the rest of the crew.
Salkath: I assume that you are both familiar with Deep Space 224, or at least more so than I? Our limited opportunities to visit here since I joined the Artemis means that I am not used to the ::waving hands absently:: crowds.
Jovenan looked around. After long spells in space, returning to the civilization felt weird to her, too. She had visited some more crowded places in the past year, notably Paris during the previous shore leave, but it was too easy to forget during the long voyages without returning to port. They weren’t even on a planet right now, which made the experience even more unfamiliar.
Dakora: No matter how far we go, we always seem to end up right back here. Believe it or not, it’s been long enough that I missed these crowds.
Jovenan: It’s good to see some new faces occasionally. On a ship, you don’t really get to see how diverse and lively people can be. ::to Salkath:: But as for the station itself, I’ve only been here a few time before, so it’s almost as new to me as it is to you.
Salkath: Considering that this station has a strong scientific mandate for the region, it must hold a certain appeal for you, Commander Jovenan.
She shrugged. Despite her initial reaction to being assigned to a region with such a reputation as the Borderlands, she had grown to value the opportunities for exploration it had provided. Getting reassigned, even to the station in the region, had rarely if ever crossed her mind.
Jovenan: I of course appreciate the scientific community present at the station, and I’m often in contact with them when it comes to research projects and sharing of results. However, I joined Starfleet to see new worlds, and the researchers posted here don’t get to do that as often. ::pause, smile:: It’s still an amazing place to visit and finally meet other scientists from the region.
While Jovenan and Commander Salkath had been discussing the other matters, Talos had apparently considered the options for a place to eat.
Dakora: Now that you mention it Salkath, there is a place just up ahead that might work well for all of us. A little place called: “Yem-tukh Nar-tor'i.” I’m not sure exactly what the name means, but it’s a well-regarded spot, as far as I’m aware…
Salkath: Response
Jovenan: Sounds good to me. I typically eat vegetarian, so I’d like to try out the variety that other like-minded cultures have to offer.
Talos shrugged. She remembered the amazing delicacies he had grilled in the garden of the Captain’s ancestral home, so she guessed his preferences may be somewhat different.
Dakora: I’m not vegetarian, but I don’t have a problem with a vegetarian meal now and then. You’ll have to give us some recommendations, Salkath.
Salkath/Dakora: Response?
((Yem-tukh Nar-tor’i, Second Promenade, DS224))
The Vulcan restaurant had been easy to find and had proven a quiet oasis in the bustling promenade. Jovenan eyed the menu, trying to find something she might like. Her knowledge of the Vulcan foods was lacking, so she found it difficult to pick anything without asking assistance from the colleague who had to take the role of a “local guide” to the two other Lt Commanders.
Jovenan: Here’s something called gespar. Would you know what it is like?
Salkath/Dakora: Response
Jovenan nodded. She was less concerned with food as to finding something that could guide the discussion to topics that would help them know each other better. With Commander Salkath, whom she didn’t know much about yet, it felt more natural to talk about work, but considering the awkward discussion earlier, she wanted to avoid some of those topics, not to mention they may appear somewhat dry. Perhaps if she asked something from his career path, they may get to more personal topics with time?
Jovenan: Do I remember correctly that you joined the Artemis only after our shore leave to Betazed? So, this was your first visit to the Borderlands, or had you been here before in your previous assignments?
Salkath/Dakora: Response
((OOC: Greetings from 2025! Happy new year when you get here!))
TAG/TBC
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Lieutenant Commander Jovenan
Chief Science Officer
USS Artemis-A
E239911J11