Delicate Moments

Posted on Sat Nov 19th, 2016 @ 7:18pm by Colonel S'er'in'e & Captain Liarra Von

Mission: Shadows and Whispers
Location: Flight Operations

The Flight Operations Center was an area of the station that Von knew very poorly. In all the years she had been serving on the station in her various roles, it was never an area that required a lot of attention from her. For the most part, the fighter pilots, their flight crews, and the rest of the support staff was well attended to by the aerospace group's commander.

Even on this occasion, when she found herself making her way through the control tower, she knew that the department was in good hands. She had an immense amount of respect of the group's commander, Lt. Colonel S'er'in'e, and after their recent ordeal, Captain Von thought they had grown even closer. But ever since they had returned to the station, S'er'in'e had seemed to be avoiding her. It could have been for any reason, and Liarra knew that speculation running rampant was not going to be good for either of them. Instead of letting her imagination get the better of her, Von knew that she needed to confront him directly.

Making her way through the jumble of consoles, she sought out the first officer that she recognized. "Lieutenant," Von called out, trying to gain the attention of a young blonde woman wearing a flightsuit.

Lieutenant Mason looked up from the master patrol display to greet the voice calling out. "Skipper. Welcome to Flight Ops. We don't see you around these parts too often. Is everything alright?"

Liarra approached, dismissing Lynsi's concerns with a wave of her hand. "Everything is fine, Lieutenant. I was actually hoping to speak with Colonel S'er'in'e. Could you tell me if he's available. I know I'm dropping in a little unannounced."

"I'm sure he won't mind, ma'am," Mason replied. She turned away from the console and gestured towards a door on the far end of the room as she started in that direction. "He's in his office going over some flight reports. If it was me, I'd welcome the distraction." Mason pressed the chime next to the office door.

S'er'ine sat at his desk reviewing reports and pilot evaluations from those that recovered enough to return to duty. His department was jokingly short on pilots and craft and there had yet been no word about resupply and that was some time ago now since he put the request in. Since his return to the station with the Captain he'd been quiet, kept mostly to himself unless with his Mate and spoke little unless it warranted it.

"Sir, Captain Von is here to see you," Mason announced through the door panel's speaker.

"Send her in Lieutenant." S'er'in'e stood up and the doors opened. He bowed as required to Von when she entered. "Captain, is there something I can do for you?" He asked wondering what would bring her all the way from Ops to down here in his realm of work.

Von nodded towards Mason to thank her for her time, and stepped into S'er'in'e's office. Without waiting for an invitation to sit, she took one of the chairs across the desk from him. "I just wanted to get away from my office for a change, though I do have some good news. Starfleet has approved the request for more fighters. Unfortunately the rate we'll be getting hardware and the rate that we'll be getting pilots may not always be the same. Or constant. But I've been promised that they're coming."

S'er'in'e mentally sighed, he'd already got planes but lacked pilots and Starfleet in it's infinite wisdom opted to send more planes instead of pilots. "I suppose I should be grateful, it is something at least." It was obvious that S'er'in'e was not overly enthused by the development given what he knew about the state of the department. He'd not spoken or seen Liarra since they were rescued, his recovery was away from her because of scent but the events of that final night plagued him deeply, events she knew only partially about.

"I know it's not exactly what you asked for, but we're working on it. The issue with the Gorn is sending a lot of resources towards the Klingon border. But I've been making the argument that we can't ignore the Ritorian threat." S'er'in'e looked like he was upset or uncomfortable with her, but she wasn't sure if it was because of the news, or if it was her. "I haven't seen much of you in a while, S'er'in'e. In fact, I don't believe we've spoken since we got back to the station. Is everything going alright?"

"My duties have kept me busy, understaffed with pilots is putting strain on the department and it's objectives. Volunteers from the Marine department have raised CAP to 71% but that is as you know, a limited short term measure." S'er'in'e avoided the question she meant with an answer of his own. While the answer he gave was true to a point she would no doubt know something was amiss with the famed 'woman's intuition'.

"That wasn't exactly what I meant, but good to know." Von leaned back in her seat, trying to take a more relaxed approach. "I know we went through a lot together down there, and I know I had to rely on you a lot to keep us alive. I just hope that you don't have any ill will towards me."

S'er'in'e visibly eased in posture, it seemed she knew something beyond the obvious. "It is not you that is the cause of the issue Captain, but myself." He paused briefly. "It will not hamper my duties as CAG I assure you."

Liarra was relieved to know that she was not the source of the problem, but she still had some concerns. "I'm glad it's not me. It's not your duties that I'm worried about, S'er'in'e. We went through a lot down there, and I'm not sure you've said three words to me since we got home. If I'm not the cause of the issue, then what is the problem?"

"I am." S'er'in'e spoke as he walked to the window overlooking the hanger bay and everyone within it. "When we were on the surface we lived day to day, you experienced my ways forcefully because of you're injury. You saw me at a time of my worst and after I'd just slaughtered someone." He paused as he watched pilots prepare for a CAP rotation. "When you see me you first see what I am, a feline, a predator. You know what I am capable of and that night I had to use what I was to buy us time. I became the very thing that my kind has fought for so long to have others look beyond that. I then was forced to ask for your undergarment, a female.....for her undergarment....regardless of what I needed it for the shame of it is irrefutable."

"My actions, went against everything my kind has tried to achieve, against the image we have fought hard to create for Caitians." It was obvious that his troubles were deep. "I see that Human male every night, I see what I did to him. When I look in a mirror or a reflective surface I do not see a proud Caitian but an anaimal, a killer....when I look at my Mate I fear, I worry for her safety because I know what I could do, because I did it to that Human on the surface."

Liarra stood and approached the window, but didn't stand right next to S'er'in'e. She didn't to make him feel more uncomfortable. "What you did to that human you did to survive. Not just to protect me, but to protect us both. I know you wouldn't do something like that unless it was absolutely necessary. And I'm sure your mate knows that too. How could I think less of you when you fought to save my life? An animal wouldn't have carried me up that mountain. An animal wouldn't feel this much grief over something it did. The fact that you do have so much remorse only proves that you're not an animal, that you're an intelligent being that only killed because you were being hunted. Because I was being hunted. That's not a savage beast. That's a noble warrior. And a noble warrior that I would be honored to have fighting at my side."

"You're words are kind Captain." S'er'in'e replied. However they did little to ease the troubles within him. "I apologise if my situation has troubled you, it was not my intention." He watched the next batch of fighters launch for the routine CAP. "I have already spoken to the Counselor regarding the issue."

"I'm glad that you've been speaking to Doctor Lantry. I've been chatting with her as well." Von shook her head. "And there's no need to apologize. Traumatic experiences can take a lot out of a person. I have no doubt that this will affect our ability to work together, but after our time alone down there, I did hope that we could continue to be friends. We're in all of this together, whether we want to be or not. But I do want you to know that whatever happened down there does not change my respect for you. You are still one of the finest officers to ever wear that uniform."

"Again, you're words are kind Captain. I would guess having to endure my ways personally it gives you a broader perspective into why I am how I am and why I do what I do around people." He observed the last fighter deploy for CAP and turned towards Von. "I have in storage some fabric I returned from the Homeworld with, if you wish you may have some attire made from it to replace that which I...had to uh....."

Liarra had to stifle a laugh. The undergarment in question had only been one she had replicated. When they got back, she had simply recycled it and replicated a replacement. "That's not necessary, S'er'in'e. But if it would make you feel better, then I would be happy to accept. Maybe some other garment would make you feel less...awkward...about the exchange."

"As you wish." S'er'in'e replied. He thought about the time on the planet, stranded as they were, living day to day and the things he did. He didn't want to tell her that his close proximity to her had caused other complications, he knew they were unintentional but none the less it happened. He acted to save her life, but it nearly cost him his own. He hoped that little detail was kept out of medical records, but that was anyone's guess in light of her position as Master of this station.

Von studied S'er'in'e a moment. It was clear something was still on his mind, but she wasn't quite sure what it was. She started to comment, but her communicator chirped. "Talelle to Captain Von."

Liarra tapped the badge on her chest. "Von here, go ahead."

"Sir, you're needed in ops. There is apparently an issue with berth assignments. The freighter captains involved request to speak with you."

Von sighed. It seemed there was always some trivial situation blown out of proportion that required her intervention. That was just her life now. "On my way, Yeoman." Liarra tapped the badge again to shut if off as she rose to her feet. "I'm sorry, S'er'in'e, but duty calls. Perhaps we can speak again soon."

"As you wish Captain." S'er'in'e replied and watched the Captain leave once again leaving him to his solitude and silence.