Coffee and Do Nots

Posted on Thu Oct 23, 2014 @ 9:41pm by Lieutenant Cassandra Kennings & Fleet Captain Rhea Kennit

1,436 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: All this has happened before...
Location: Cassandra's Office

OOC: The burden of command ;)

"I really don't give a flying rat's ass if they want to give us the supplies or not.." Kennit said into her comm badge as she walked down the corridor. "We need the additional components for on-board repair stores and they have the components available, which means we're taking them. Remind the station Quartermaster of the chain of command, and that he does not want me to have to address this issue again."

Signing off the comm, she realized she was at her destination and paused a moment, took a deep breath to cleanse the low simmering irritation from her thoughts and then rang the door chime.

Cassandra was sitting in her favorite armchair, across from a high-backed leather armchair, a steaming pot and two cups on the table between them. She checked her compact when she heard the chime, then looked to the door. "Come in, Captain," she said pleasantly.

Entering the office, the Captain said, "thank you. It looks like you've managed to get settled in well enough."

Cass smiled and looked around. "Well I don't need much, and I've made an art form out of unpacking." She poured a cup for each of them and gestured to the seat across from her. "I hope you like Brazilian coffee," she said. "Real beans, not replicated."

"Real beans.." the Captain said as she accepted the cup. "I'm impressed. You carried this a long way, thank you for sharing."

"My pleasure," she said, smiling. "This far from home, a little touch can go a long way. I have some supplies from Earth, Vulcan, Rigel IV, a few colony planets as well. Most of the staff should be able to find comfort in something." She added a pinch of salt and took another sip, sighing gently. "In point of fact, I was hoping to ask a favor. I was wondering if I could start a garden on board."

She handed the Captain a padd. "The smaller, auxiliary cargo bay on Deck 8 currently has most of my supplies, as well as the ship's hydroponic equipment and so forth. With a little cargo rearrangement, we could devote that bay to a recreational area for the crew that could also provide oxygen-rich air and even food supplies in an emergency." She pulled up the schematics for her. "What do you think?"

Looking it over, after a moment the Captain said "I'll have to run this past the chief engineer first to make certain that these modifications don't pose a strain on the ship's systems but, pending his approval I don't see why not."

"Wonderful," Cass said, brightening, the blue jewel in her headband glowing brighter. "Hopefully I can make it a place where the crew can relax and recreate. Perhaps even a place to foster a romantic evening or two." Her eyes twinkled a bit. "Commander Hunter was rather coy about that subject, but I understand why."

"Coy?" Kennit echoed. "I can think of many terms which could be used to describe Commander Hunter but 'coy' is not one them.."

"Well," Cassandra said, "a more accurate term would be dissembling and belligerent but I was trying to be polite." She gave the Captain a bit of a grin. "I don't think he appreciated my insinuating there was something more personal going on between you two." She shrugged a bit and smiled wider. "It's nice to see two people so much in love though."

"Is that so?" the Captain answered smoothly.

Cass grinned wider and had to keep herself from laughing. "Yes, that's so," she said, her eyes warm with amusement. "Bear in mind, it's my job to notice how people react to each other. I was watching you in Sickbay, and I'm watching you now. Your eyes change when you hear his name, and your reaction was the same as his. It's adorable really," she teased.

The Captain didn't answer, just gave a little shake of her head and took a sip of her coffee. "This is quite good." was the only comment she made.

"The real thing usually is good," Cassandra said. "It's important to have things that relax you. A cup of coffee, a kind ear." She eyed the Captain. "After all, this is the one room on the ship you are not only allowed to talk about anything, but it's practically required. So please don't feel you have to put on appearances."

"Appearances?" the Captain laughed. "Is that what you think I'm doing?"

"Isn't it?" Cassandra said evenly. "Captains act like they're indestructible, and dissembling is within your repertoire if I may say so." She gave the Captain another smile. "And you're quite good at it."

The Captain just smiled at that, taking another sip of her coffee.

She sat back and crossed her legs. "But I know some Captains don't care for doctors, especially counselors. So you tell me: are you putting on a brave face? Or is absolutely nothing bothering you at all?"

"Of course things bother me.." the Captain answered. "Even Vulcan's are bothered by some things, though they would likely rather die than admit to such an illogical concept. I'm in command of a starship, assigned to a part of the galaxy very few from the Federation have seen.. there's a great deal to bother me."

"That's the job," Cassandra said, nodding, "but I mean the things you don't want to discuss on the bridge. The things that make you look daggers at someone you would've rather been able to hold the hand of." She reached to the side and picked up a bowl full of small brown morsels, popping one in her mouth and offering them to the Captain. "In short, Rhea, is everything okay?"

Shaking her head, the Captain said, "things are as to be expected after a crew shakeup like we've just come through. The sooner the repairs are completed and we're able to get back into space where we belong the better."

"I could not agree more," Cassandra said. "But that doesn't alter or answer my original question," she said. "I just want to make sure you're clear, focused and free of distraction."

The Captain shook her head, "If I wasn't up for the job.. I wouldn't have the job. Of course there are things which bother me. Things which nag at me and frustrate me. Such details come with the job description and the pips I wear. I have a top-notch crew, officers aren't sent to this ship without passing a rigorous selection process.." she added, giving the Counselor a slight nod in acknowledgement that the other woman had just in fact passed that process. "We're in the Delta Quadrant. If we get into trouble out here.. help is a long time coming. It's a lot to keep up with for all of us, not just me."

"I never said you weren't up for the job," Cassandra said. "I just don't want you feeling you have to shoulder everything alone. Especially when you have such a 'rigorously selected' counselor at your disposal." She gave an impish grin and put her cup down. "Between myself and Commander Hunter, you always have someone to turn to, remember that."

A little smile crossed the Captain's features at that. "As I said.. my officers and crew are chosen with care.."

"Well, you and a certain Admiral I know think very much alike," she said. "Thank you for dropping by, Captain. I hope this won't be the only time. I'll keep you updated on my progress with the garden."

That put a slow, extremely self-satisfied smile on Captain Kennit's face, and she laughed just a little. "It was my pleasure Counselor. I'm sure it won't be the last..." Rhea paused, then added softly "As for that certain Admiral.. " and she laughed again, though there was very little of any humor in her eyes. "I would never go so far as to speak for an Admiral of course.. but.. I think he would agree that.. our thought processes are the result of our experiences...and the reason we are both still alive to give one another headaches from time to time."

Cassandra's expression didn't change, and the smile didn't leave her face, but in the back of her mind, a warning bell went off. She stood up and gave a small nod, walking the Captain to the door. "Be well," she said. As soon as the doors closed behind the Captain, she sealed them and folded her arms, taking stock of what she may have just learned.


Joint Post

Lt. Cassandra Sanders
Chief Counselor

Captain R. Katrijn Kennit
Commanding

 

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