Posted by Cadet K’sang Duras (Scientist) in Side Sim: A trip down to the Mess Deck

Posted by Cadet Joseph Rainns (Security Officer) in Side Sim: A trip down to the Mess Deck

Posted by Cadet K’sang Duras (Scientist) in Side Sim: A trip down to the Mess Deck
Posted by… suppressed (13) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Picking up a metal tray, K’sang scrunched his face in disdain as he stood in front of the replicator. “Klingon meal: Bregit Lung.. not a respiratory organ, a side of Gladst with granulated sodium crystals to apply, and a hot mug of Raktajino… No creamer.”

After the replicator whirred through it’s cycle, K’sang sniffed the plant matter on the side of his tray and paused. “Vinegar, white… One half teaspoon.” Collecting the added items to his tray, the Cadet looked around for an open seat near the observation window. It’d be nice to suffer though artificial means of making a reptilian dish with something to look at for his mind to wander. Pausing before his meal the Klingon bowed his head “May we never lack for food to satisfy our hunger, and may we never lack for challenges to make us hungry.”

(K’sang, Cadet)

A few tables away, Cadet Joseph Rainns sat, eating his meal, he had been reading a classic earth novel on his PAD, but the arrival of the Klingon in a starfleet uniform had caught his attention. Rainns watched his fellow Cadet find a table. He resumed reading his novel, but would occasionally look up to observe the Klingon, questions burned in his head. What would make a Klingon a scientist? While his intuitive side of his personality demanded he investigate and find an answer, his introversion left Rainns to sit alone, as he preferred, and simply judge the Klingon cadet from afar, without having to socially engage him, as impromptu conversations were not Rainns style nor skill set.

Cadet Joseph Rainns- Security

He was grateful to have added vinnegar to his selection after the first bite of Gladst. Boiled brussle sprouts would have looked more appetizing, even to K’sang. It wasn’t long before the Klingon resigned from his dish and took solice in the coffee like substance with tendrils hanging over the top of his mug. Something nagged at him however, that feeling you get when the hairs on the back of your neck stand up as though you were being watched like a Krada about to be put on a chief’s cutting board. He glanced over taking a quick assesment of the room: Security officer reading a data pad, two engineers talking about after shift, and several others seemingly having a good time.
“Hrm..” K’sang rubbed the side of his neck and dismissed the idea of prying eyes, “Must still be thinking about Lab 1.” The literal thought of smoked tellarite and his first meeting with Lieutenant Garth at least brought a smirk.

K’sang, Cadet

Mara made her way through the mess deck holding a tray of food. She stood there for a second wondering where to go, before deciding to sit opposite K’sang “Hello! I’m Mara Oxton… You?”

~ Cadet Mara Oxton {Engineer}

“K’sang” he replied, setting down his mug of Raktajino the Klingon turned his attention to the young engineer. “I had begun to wonder, if the smell of Gladst made for a natural, well.. everything repellent.” he glanced at the vegetable matter on the side of his plate for a brief moment before adding. “Are you new here as well?”

-K’sang, Cadet

The young woman nodded “Yep! And mum always did say I was sort of… Nose blind!” She giggled thinking back to the conversation with her mother about Mara’s lack of sense of smell. She looked around then picked up an apple, taking a chunk out of it “So, what’s your story?”

~ Cadet Mara Oxton {Engineer}

“My story?” K’sang paused to take a bite of the white and purple looking flower thing, ” If you think its about killing anything in my way and enjoying the taste of innocent blood, you’d be sorely mistaken. I’m here for the same reason any Klingon would follow their path. Honor above all things, in my case its part of an effort to show outsiders something other than our fierceness, our love of battle.”

He sighs, “but, that’s enough melodrama for now. I’ve been assigned here on the Challenger because of my expertise in the science fields, in particular Exobiology.”

-K’sang, Cadet

For a moment, Mara looked taken aback, like she had forgotten the prejudices against Klingons. “I-I’m sorry, that’s not at all what I meant… I don’t even think that way!” Mara looked down for a second, uncomfortably adjusting her position on the chair, sighing she sat up straight. “K’sang, some of us don’t care about species, you’re here with me. You’re my equal” she thought for a moment, and smiled “That sounds interesting!”

~ Cadet Mara Oxton {Engineer}

“Relax” he said with a chuckle, “I may be having a little fun at your expense.”
K’sang offered a hand in reassurance “It’s nice to meet you Mara, care for some Bregit Lung?” He motioned toward the white and purple mound on his plate, should she shake his hand. He would have a firm yet quaint handshake, if not he would simply return to his meal. “It tastes better when its not replicated, but its not the worst I’ve had.” Carefully, he worked his knife to pull away the hardened layers revealing soft pale meat inside. Unlike the Gladst this actually smelled considerably better and might actually taste -good- if it were breaded.

-K’sang, Cadet

She chuckled and took his hand, shaking it almost delicately yet nervously. Poor Mara had never been too good at communicating or making friends, she always took jokes a little too seriously. Probably because of her lack of knowledge on the threshold between joke and seriousness.
“I don’t think I’ve ever tried that before, I’ll definitely give it a try!”
Despite her lack of communication skills, Mara was a very open-minded woman with the capability to accept anyone for who they are. It perhaps came from her understanding that everyone is different and unique, yet created equal and required respect. As her mother always said ‘Treat everyone as you’d like to be treated’

~ Cadet Mara Oxton {Engineer}

The Security Cadet the next table over was now far too distracted to continue reading on his PAD. Rainns couldn’t help but overhear the conversation the Klingon was now having. His curiosity only grew with the Klingon’s remarks about honor and outsiders. He found the young engineers instant apologies annoying, Rainns was not one for social niceties and was annoyed whenever he saw people being overly courteous, a Klingon in starfleet was interesting and asking one why he or she was in a starfleet was a perfectly valid question, as Rainns knew that Klingons wearing starfleet insignia’s were few in far between. He simply could not keep his mouth shut any longer. Without looking up from his PAD, he spoke up just loud enough for the table next over to hear. “Why does a Klingon care about what others think? Empathy and social awareness aren’t exactly their cultural characteristics.” He then looked up at the occupants the next table over. “Just curious, hope that question doesn’t bother you.” He half expected to receive a lecture on politeness from one or both of the other cadets, but he couldn’t care less. He had a question that was reasonable, he was well within his right to ask it.

Cadet Joseph Rainns- Security

Turning his attention to Rainns he tilted his head a little, “Well, you’re partly right. At first glance empathy and social awareness do not seem to be the for front of my people; however, its nearly the opposite. Tiq is what guides a Klingion in nearly all aspects of their life and to be careless about social awareness could find you at the end of a Daqtagh.” Glancing down at his now empty mug he pauses, “But, that’s not the question that you want to ask is it? You want to know why I haven’t thrown my tray aside and challenged you to hand to hand for example? The simple answer is that I have a responsibility to be different, there are those above me in both the Empire, and Star Fleet who take vested interest in my time here.”

-K’sang, Cadet

The last sentence of K’sang’s response gripped Rainns with even more curiosity, as well as a slight feeling of suspicion. “Sounds fun, What kind of interests? political? personal?” Rainns replied inquisitively. “You seem to have a very interesting life my friend.”

Cadet Joseph Rainns- Security

“Both, if my time here serves as a success it might lead to a better foundation to bridge both sides into something new.” K’sang cut a portion of lung and set it aside for Mara, “You might try putting some sodium crystals on it first.” Motioning toward the salt with his fork he added, “Enjoy.”

“As for my own personal goals, I’m content in seeing where this venture leads me. Not every Klingon need walk the path of pain to seek their own achievements.”

-K’sang, Cadet

“Correct me if I’m wrong,” Rainns continued, “but there have already been a few Klingons in Starfleet and they have been successful officers, so I don’t think you are really trailblazing anymore.” The Cadet made a mental note to look into his interesting peer at a later date, his instincts were telling him something was slightly off, but he couldn’t see anything in the moment that would justify such a reaction.

Cadet Joseph Rainns- Security