LtCmdr. Talos Dakora - Starfleet Origins
Travis
((Yem-tukh Nar-tor’i, Second Promenade - DS224))
Seated in the spartan Vulcan eatery, Talos had just tucked into the citrusey-salad dish that Salkath had suggested. The food was good and the conversation was even better, as the topic shifted to their own personal histories.
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.
She smiled in that sort of obligatorily modest way that many people did when they were being complimented.
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.
Nodding, Talos shrugged. Both Vulcan and Betazed had been core Federation members for a very long time, so the idea of being the first of your race to earn an achievement or goal did seem especially novel.
Dakora: Who knows? Wouldn't surprise me if one day some young Edo with stars in her eyes reads about you and feels the same way.
There was a lull in the conversation as each of them took a moment to enjoy their respective meals. It was nice, Talos thought, to enjoy some time with his crewmates without the threat of death, doom or other impending disaster for once. It felt like it had been a while since that had been the case.
Jovenan: What about you two? What made you apply to the Academy? A childhood dream, curiosity, rebellion?
He was glad that the question had been about the Academy and not about why he'd enlisted in Starfleet in the first place. That was a darker story and one that, thanks to CloQ, the majority of the crew were already familiar with.
Dakora: Well… ::He finished chewing his bite of food.:: I enlisted in the Marines as soon as I was old enough. Never really thought about the Academy until I was in for several years. I guess I realized I wanted more out of my life l, but also couldn't really see myself out uniform.
He shrugged, grinning.
Dakora: I guess it was a smart choice, in the end.
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.
Talos listened as he worked on his lunch. The former Intelligence Officer in him found it interesting how different the paths they had each taken to reach where they were, while also noting more than a few points of commonality in them..
Jovenan: Oh? Do I understand that you had a career before entering the Academy as well?
Talos’ brows perked up. He often had to remind himself that the long-lived Vulcans always seemed younger than they actually were.
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.
Grinning wryly, he looked to Salkath.
Dakora: I think we can all agree that our mission parameters are far from highly sedate.
Jovenan: Sounds like we’ve all made some right decisions on the way, since we’re all here.
Having finished his lunch, Talos removed the napkin from his lap and placed it on the plate before him, settling back into his chair as he did.
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.
Jovenan: As am I. And thank you for sharing your stories! And introducing me to Vulcan food, of course. It was delicious.
With a warm smile and a nod, Talos added to the mutual back-patting session.
Dakora: I agree! We'll have to make a point of doing this more often!
Salkath: Response
Talos had been finished with his meal for all of a few seconds when the efficient wait staff swooped in to clear his plate. Again, there was no small-talk or exchange of pleasantries and even his sheepish grin to the waiter went unanswered.
Once they had gone, Jovenan continued.
Jovenan: If I may still ask one personal question, how are you planning to spend the rest of the shore leave? Do you have any interesting hobbies, or will you be meeting with someone here?
Talos cocked his head slightly, recalling what few plans he had that didn't involve catching up on work he'd fallen behind on.
Dakora: Me? I really just plan on taking it easy after these past few missions. ::His face lit up as he recalled something:: Oh! But I'd like to hit up our old friend Gabe Osuna for some holodeck surfing. He's still around here somewhere! How about you?
Salkath: Response
Jovenan: I’ll be continuing my tour around the station. I think I’ll at least go and check out the arboretum later. It’d imagine it is much larger than what we have on the Artemis. And… I’d like to meet up with, um, some other crewmembers later, but nothing has come up yet.
He felt her mind do something just a little funny as she spoke the last sentence, but he didn't pry. Instead, he clasped his hands in front of him on the cleared table.
Dakora: Well that all sounds like fun. ::He cast a furtive glance at the maitre’d who kept glaring in their direction.:: but I think we'd better clear out before they forcibly eject us for inefficient use of dining space.
He laughed, but also shot a questioning glance at Salkath, wondering if that was an actual possibility.
Salkath: Response
Jovenan: Response
Talos pushed back from the table, bowing his head to each of them briefly.
Dakora: Thank you– both of you– for a great lunch! But I should probably get back and knock out some of that PADDwork backlog before I have any more fun.
Salkath/Jovenan: Response
As he began to walk away, he turned back one last time.
Dakora: Enjoy the rest of your shoreleave!
End scene for Talos!
LtCmdr. Talos Dakora
First Officer
USS Artemis-A
O238811CD0