[Mission Prologue] Commodore V'Airu: The Farewell

[Tony Colella]

(( Captain's Ready Room, Deck 1, USS Nashira ))

The first thing that Ossa had noticed upon entering the Nashira's ready room for the first time was how clean everything smelled. The room looked clean, too, and the hum of the ship -- what little there was -- sounded pristine, with every component and system in perfect alignment. But it was the smell of the room, the mix of the subtle nothingness of the self-cleaning ship and the almost-but-not-quite smell of some spice, that reinforced that this was, truly, the ship's first time out.

She wondered at that spice. How could the ship's designers pick a single spice? Especially given all of the requirements of the beings that would share the ship. No one could be allergic, for one, and cultural taboos were even worse -- nothing that smelled too much like Bajoran funereal incense, for example, or the gentle brine of Trill symbiote pools. A totally innocuous smell, but one that would be as attractive as possible to all possible officers and crew. A tall order, indeed.

While musing, however, Ossa had completely missed that the ready room was not as empty as she had expected. Someone had beaten her there: Her former first officer, who would be following her to the Nashira -- right after she broke in the Thor's senior staff for this tactical exercise.

She would miss the commander terribly. It had been years since they had served separately.

V'Airu: It ought to be you. I'll eat this poor young man for breakfast.

Commander: Response

V'Airu: (with a sigh) Yes, I suppose so. But without both of us, well. He might have a chance. (beat) What will you do in the meantime?

Commander: Response

That produced a smile that was really more of a smirk. Somehow, she had expected something like that.

V'Airu: It's a shame I can't keep you aboard, even if you're off-duty. I'm sure these Thor officers will need a taste of discipline.

Commander: Response

V'Airu: Oh, I'm sure I can. It'll just be a matter of doing so and making sure they follow orders. Everything I've read about this ship of late -- well, either they're very unlucky, or they're very lucky, I can't decide which.

Commander: Response

She met and held the commander's gaze for a long moment. Neither of them said anything, but they didn't need to. They could speak entirely without language these days. Not because of Ossa's latent Betazoid telepathy, or even that from her Vulcan side -- she'd never been good with either, and had neglected training both -- but because they knew each other so well, they could speak only in looks and glances.

V'Airu: I'll miss you, old friend. No matter for how short a period.

Commander: Response

Tags! and TBC!

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Commodore Ossa V'Airu
Commanding Officer
USS Nashira
V238208LV0
she/her/hers (character) & he/him/his (player)