Posted by Lieutenant Commander Zef Rollo (Counselor) in Officers Mess - Side Sim

Since Cochrane had sent word ahead of their arrival, the officers mess was empty and spotless. Harv was the only person present—just in case. Zef wondered what good a chef would be against a pirate, but she didn’t question the Captain. Besides, Kalig would arrive with a security detail, so there shouldn’t be anything to worry about. She scoffed at herself internally. How could she NOT worry when a man had traveled to the Delta quadrant to find her?

It had been almost seven years since she’d actually seen Kalig and she found herself wondering if he’d changed much. “Captain, I really don’t know why he’s here, but whatever the reason, it can’t be good. He’s the kind of man who rarely does something if there is nothing to be gained. He’s also very clever and a master of manipulation. I watched him interact with Broggs for years and even though they were brothers, there was constant competition and rivalry between them.”

Rollo paced a small area trying to work out some of her anxiety.

—Rollo

He watched her place and finally said “Then you better get yourself together, Counselor. If he is as you say, him seeing you like this will likely play into whatever he has in store for us.”

Cochrane, CO

Zef stopped pacing and nodded. She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths in an attempt to change her energy from nervous to calm. A moment later, she clasped her hands behind her back and stood ready to meet her brother-in-law, no matter what he had to say.

—Rollo

The security detail brought Kalig in, and his face lit up as soon as he saw Rollo, his arms stretched out from his side, and he would have embraced her if the security detail hadn’t stopped him. “There you are, dear sister, it’s been far too long.”

As Kalig reached out, Zef found herself taking an involuntary step backwards away from him. Luckily, the security team did their job and kept him from making contact with her.

To anyone who didn’t know him, the pleasure on his face would seem quite genuine, and the smile didn’t leave his face as he turned to the Captain. “And you must be the illustrious Captain Cochrane; I’ve been following your career very closely.” That was half-true. Before a few weeks ago he’d never heard of Alexander Cochrane, but when he’d found out that Rollo was aboard the Manhattan, he’d spend a great deal of time, and credits to find out everything he could about her new Captain.

Kalig Marrov.

Light eyes surveyed him in silence. He’d changed in the years since they’d last seen each other. His body had filled out and become more toned and his eyes were lit with intelligence and cunning. He wasn’t exactly different than Zef remembered, he was just ‘more’. She gave him a nod of acknowledgement while keeping her emotions in check.

Cochrane stood and nodded. “Mr. Marrov, I take it. Please… be seated. Refreshments will be arriving shortly.” and he sat down, his chair the only the facing the door. He gestured to the middle chair for Rollo and the chair opposite him, back to the door, for Marrov.

Zef would have preferred to keep more distance between them but the Captain was calling the shots now so she took the chair between the two men and forced herself to sit with a relaxed posture.

“So tell me, Mr. Marrov… what brings you to the Manhattan today?” Cochrane was cordial and polite, but professional.

Cochrane, CO

—Rollo, CNS

Kalig relaxed into the chair, and allowed the silence for hang for just long enough for it to become uncomfortable, before he talked suddenly and energetically. “A fine question Captain, what indeed?” His eyes locked on Zev. “You are no fool Captain Cochrane, so I won’t do you the disrespect of treating you as one, I am here to talk to your Counsellor about a matter concerning Bajeen tradition, and Bajeen law.” His voice was level, but Zev would know that by referring to both tradition -and- law, he was sending her a veiled message. -I know what you did- he was saying -but they don’t.-

Kalig Marrov

OOC: Zef, not Zev :)

White brows pulled down in a frown of confusion. Tradition…law? What was he on about? She returned Kalig’s stare. “I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about. What could possibly make you come all the way to the Delta quadrant and what does it have to do with me?” As she waited for his answer, Rollo searched her mind for something that might make sense, but came up empty.

—Rollo, CNS

Kalig grinned, but there was no light in his eyes. “Such hostility, dear sister, it’s almost as if you’re not happy to see me.” His tone didn’t change, but of course he know that that was because Zef was absolutely -not- happy to see him. He turned his gaze back to the Captain “Tell me, Captain Cochrane, do -you- in your position as a Starfleet Captain, believe in the importance of respecting native traditions and custom?”

Kalig Marrov

Cochrane looked at Marrov and said “As a Star Fleet officer I have a duty to respect the cultural traditions and customs of every race, Mr. Marrov… provided said customs and traditions do not run contradictory to Federation law. That is what each civilization agrees to when they sign the Federation Charter and become a member. Everyone has to give a little to get along.” Cochrane’s tone and words were still professional, but there was a certain resiliency in the way he said it that suggested he was not a fan of the question.

Cochrane, CO

The smile did not fade from Kalig’s face as the Captain spoke. “Spoke like a true paragon of the Federation.” He said, with barely concealed sarcasm. “It’s very human of you Captain, to say so much, and yet commit to so very little.” Everyone knew that the Federation often failed to live up to its own, self-proclaimed, morality, but Kalig wasn’t here to put the crimes of Starfleet to rights.

His eyes drifted back to Zef. “Back to the subject of laws and traditions. It is well known that you were married to my dear, departed brother.” Again his tone was mildly sarcastic, Zef would know that the brothers had never directly opposed each other, but there had been little in the way of fraternal love between them.

Kalig Marrov

She wasn’t willing to give even an inch of goodwill. “I doubt it is ‘well known’, Kalig. Besides you and your father, I doubt anyone even cares about it. Besides, Broggs is dead so what can that union possibly have to do with you being here?” Zef kept her voice calm—she’d had years to perfect a professional tone that sounded mildly interested. She wasn’t immune to emotion though. Watching her brother-in-law sitting there so confidently, made her anxiety level rise. He seemed very sure of whatever had brought him to the Manhattan and that kind of conviction made Zef wonder what she might not know.

—Rollo, CNS

Kalig smiled, enjoying the moment. He let it hang in the air for a second longer, letting her dwell on where he was going, on what he knew, knowing her well enough to know it would torment her. He savoured it. The smile didn’t leave his face as he leaned back and looked at the ceiling, before leaning forwards and banging the table suddenly and enthusiastically. “It’s thirty work this, Captain, any word on those promised refreshments?”

Kalig Marrov