Lt. (j.g.) Tahna Meru - The Starfleet Problem, Pt. I
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Meru Tahna
Jan 20, 2022, 6:06:31 PM1/20/22
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((Tahna’s Quarters, Deck 5, USS Gorkon))
Meru set down her mister, plants sufficiently watered. Shore leave would be coming to an end. Her quarters were slowly filling with plants thanks to Meg, she’d spent some time brushing up on her phaser and piloting skills, explored Earth, and met up with Ena. She’d crossed off most of the items on her itinerary and several that weren’t on there at all, like the disastrous tea party.
The PADD on her desk chirped with an incoming hail. She wasn’t expecting a call today, and she was out of uniform in a comfy crocheted green cardigan and slacks so she hoped it wasn’t some official Starfleet business that she’d forgotten about. She ran a hand through her hair as she walked to her desk and sat down to answer it.
Not Starfleet, worse: her family.
Tahna: Hanyu, marnah.1
Tahna Y.: Hanyu, ja'ral.2
Meru could count on one hand the number of times she’d seen her mother smile. This was not one of them. Meru took a sip of the raktajino on her desk, forgotten long enough that it was now just lukewarm, to brace for the awkwardness that was bound to crop up every time her mother called.
Tahna Y.: Renas was accepted to the Academy, I’m sure you heard.
Ah, so that’s what this was about? The one thing she hadn’t checked off her itinerary: talk her family into letting another one of their children go galavanting around the galaxy. Yani3 Aleni would be both proud of his son, and disappointed that he didn’t plan to stay and help his sister run the farm. Meru’s father supported whatever made them happy, even if it made him nervous. And her mother didn’t think Bajorans had any business going off-planet when they were still rebuilding their world from the Occupation. Nevermind that Starfleet had helped them rebuild, and aimed to stop other planets from experiencing occupations in the first place.
Tahna: First try, too. He’s really clever, he’ll do great there.
Her mother simply nodded, frown as stern as ever. The more Meru learned about Vulcans the more she thought her mother would fit right in with them, stoic and practical to a fault.
Tahna Y.: Too clever, maybe.
Tahna: Does he know what track he’d like?
There was a long pause as her mother took a sip of something, probably springwine. She’d drank everything out of mugs because she didn’t understand why you needed to collect a bunch of different specialized glasses for different drinks when they all hold liquid.
Tahna Y.: He fancies himself a captain. He’s the youngest and so used to being bossed around by everyone else in the family, I’m not sure how that will work out for him. ::She paused again, this time without taking a drink to cover the awkward silence.:: His transport leaves next week.
Tahna: Is he home?
Her mother nodded and stood, carrying Meru from her office down the hallway to the main room of their family home.
Tahna Y.: Aleni and Tara are out at the market, but Renas and your father are here. ::Calling out louder.:: Renas, Rej, Meru would like to speak with you!
Her father was the first to appear, his face smudged with paint. This was such a common sight that the paint had probably permanently dyed several spots on his skin, but it was always too present to know for sure.
Tahna R.: ::Smiling:: Meru, ja’lat!4 It’s good to see you. How’ve you been? Got your own command yet?
Meru had always believed in “opposites attract.” How could she not, when her parents were such a perfect example?
Tahna: It’s good to see you too, fa.5 I’m alright. Command is too much paperwork for my liking, but I am a lieutenant junior grade now. ::Renas picked that moment to join the family huddle on the other end of the PADD.:: Ren! Congratulations!
He’d cut his hair recently, no longer the long-haired wild child who left notes in the margins of Meru’s books pointing out all the inconsistencies. She’d always had a hunch he’d be the smartest of the cousins if only he would calm down.
Valis R.: Mer! Congratulations to you, Lieutenant!
Tahna R.: Congratulations!
Renas raised his hand in a salute and she giggled.
Tahna: At ease, Cadet.
He dropped the salute with all the formality of someone who’d been drilling that gesture for days, though even in his mock-seriousness the smile never left his face.
1 Bajoran: hello, mother
Meru set down her mister, plants sufficiently watered. Shore leave would be coming to an end. Her quarters were slowly filling with plants thanks to Meg, she’d spent some time brushing up on her phaser and piloting skills, explored Earth, and met up with Ena. She’d crossed off most of the items on her itinerary and several that weren’t on there at all, like the disastrous tea party.
The PADD on her desk chirped with an incoming hail. She wasn’t expecting a call today, and she was out of uniform in a comfy crocheted green cardigan and slacks so she hoped it wasn’t some official Starfleet business that she’d forgotten about. She ran a hand through her hair as she walked to her desk and sat down to answer it.
Not Starfleet, worse: her family.
Tahna: Hanyu, marnah.1
Tahna Y.: Hanyu, ja'ral.2
Meru could count on one hand the number of times she’d seen her mother smile. This was not one of them. Meru took a sip of the raktajino on her desk, forgotten long enough that it was now just lukewarm, to brace for the awkwardness that was bound to crop up every time her mother called.
Tahna Y.: Renas was accepted to the Academy, I’m sure you heard.
Ah, so that’s what this was about? The one thing she hadn’t checked off her itinerary: talk her family into letting another one of their children go galavanting around the galaxy. Yani3 Aleni would be both proud of his son, and disappointed that he didn’t plan to stay and help his sister run the farm. Meru’s father supported whatever made them happy, even if it made him nervous. And her mother didn’t think Bajorans had any business going off-planet when they were still rebuilding their world from the Occupation. Nevermind that Starfleet had helped them rebuild, and aimed to stop other planets from experiencing occupations in the first place.
Tahna: First try, too. He’s really clever, he’ll do great there.
Her mother simply nodded, frown as stern as ever. The more Meru learned about Vulcans the more she thought her mother would fit right in with them, stoic and practical to a fault.
Tahna Y.: Too clever, maybe.
Tahna: Does he know what track he’d like?
There was a long pause as her mother took a sip of something, probably springwine. She’d drank everything out of mugs because she didn’t understand why you needed to collect a bunch of different specialized glasses for different drinks when they all hold liquid.
Tahna Y.: He fancies himself a captain. He’s the youngest and so used to being bossed around by everyone else in the family, I’m not sure how that will work out for him. ::She paused again, this time without taking a drink to cover the awkward silence.:: His transport leaves next week.
Tahna: Is he home?
Her mother nodded and stood, carrying Meru from her office down the hallway to the main room of their family home.
Tahna Y.: Aleni and Tara are out at the market, but Renas and your father are here. ::Calling out louder.:: Renas, Rej, Meru would like to speak with you!
Her father was the first to appear, his face smudged with paint. This was such a common sight that the paint had probably permanently dyed several spots on his skin, but it was always too present to know for sure.
Tahna R.: ::Smiling:: Meru, ja’lat!4 It’s good to see you. How’ve you been? Got your own command yet?
Meru had always believed in “opposites attract.” How could she not, when her parents were such a perfect example?
Tahna: It’s good to see you too, fa.5 I’m alright. Command is too much paperwork for my liking, but I am a lieutenant junior grade now. ::Renas picked that moment to join the family huddle on the other end of the PADD.:: Ren! Congratulations!
He’d cut his hair recently, no longer the long-haired wild child who left notes in the margins of Meru’s books pointing out all the inconsistencies. She’d always had a hunch he’d be the smartest of the cousins if only he would calm down.
Valis R.: Mer! Congratulations to you, Lieutenant!
Tahna R.: Congratulations!
Renas raised his hand in a salute and she giggled.
Tahna: At ease, Cadet.
He dropped the salute with all the formality of someone who’d been drilling that gesture for days, though even in his mock-seriousness the smile never left his face.
tbc...
2 Bajoran: hello, my daughter
3 Bajoran: uncle
4 Bajoran: my dear
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