Running into a Friend

Posted on Sat May 10th, 2014 @ 1:10pm by Lieutenant Commander Rosaleen O'Donnell & Lieutenant Vilgi Morr

Mission: New Frontier
Location: Pratheus: Shearters Pub

Among the sea of new faces that constantly barraged Rosaleen, every once in awhile an old familiar one would present itself. This evening was to be no different. She had made her way planet-side for a breath of fresh air (no pun intended), and after a day of touring the city she decided to visit what many had told her was the best pub in town. Walking in, she decided to leave the cowl of her cloak in place...it was quite a large and noisy crowd in the pub. As she made her way through the place, she noticed a familiar face towards the back of the room. She quickly made her way to the table, happy to see a familiar face for the first time that day. "Commander Morr...fancy meeting you here."

After several days of being arm deep (figuratively) in shuttlebay redesign and construction and ensuring the steady supply of incoming materials reached the places it was needed. Vilgi figured he deserved a break, the surface seemed to beckon. So there he was in the midst of a busy pub, pint in hand, when a familiar voice hailed him. He grinned at the cowled and cloaked figure, "Rosaleen O'Donnell and looking all mysterious there, unique as ever. I needed to clear my head a bit. This seemed about the best place." He responded rising from his seat to greet her, figuring that the use of her first name might be a prompt for less formality.

There were a few reasons for the cowl, but one of the biggest was about to be revealed. As she removed it, a silence started flowing through the room as heads turned her way. After a few almost unsettling moments the conversations resumed, although in a much more subdued tone. She studied her surroundings for a moment before speaking again. "Red hair is not a native trait on this planet. In fact, there are quite a a bit of mythology and superstition surrounding it." After testing the room a bit more, sensing no danger she finally took a seat. "The perils of inter-species interaction. Who knew that I would ever be mistaken as a goddess."

The effect of Rosaleen removing her cowl was surprising to say the least. Silences in a pub were usually followed by two things a return to normal or a fight. The later possibility had Vilgi quietly adopting a particular grip in the stool, nodding as the reasons were explained he murmured. "I've heard about holding a room before....." He relaxed as people went back to normal, sort of, as he took a seat again himself opposite, there was something about her that made him feel a little more at ease. "No kidding, that's the beauty of space travel. You can never be quite sure what to expect. That said you always did have a certain presence, I guess that comes from knocking round the boss for so long, or is that the other way around."

Before she could answer, a young girl approached to take her order...very timidly. "May I...what would you like, my lady?"

"I'll have..." She looked over at the glass Vilgi was holding. "I'll have what he is having." The girl quickly departed. "This is going to take some getting used to. Anyways, where was...oh, yes. Kathy and I grew up together. From the same colony. Been in and out of many services together, although I went civie for a bit which put me behind the curve for my own command. But, I wouldn't trade it for any ship in the fleet. Besides, my adventures led me to learn quite a bit about who I really am. Well, Kathy too." She paused as her drink arrived. "Thank you...bottoms up!" She took a huge swig of the mystery drink in the glass...

Fire. Her throat was on fire. She forgot all decorum...reaching over to the table next to her and grabbing a glass of water just delivered there, downing it in an instant. Still, her throat burned. "For the love of...what in the hell are you drinking?" She sniffed the glass...it smelled like...

"This is real alcohol!" A sheepish grin had spread across Vilgi's face. "I...oh...my apologies." She had turned to the table where she had procured the water glass from. They were still laughing. "It's no problem." The gentleman replied. Turning back to Vilgi... "You..."

"Hey you were the one that jumped in and downed it." Vilgi mildly protested with both hands up but still with a grin, he had tried to say something just before she downed the drink, although he probably could have tried harder. The reaction though was priceless, and worth any backlash. "That's why this is the best pub in town." He continued with still with a grin before offering. "Another? "

"Absolutely not. This stuff is..." She trailed off as a weird feeling crept through her. Suddenly the temperature in the room started to chill. Nobody yet really realized it for the most part, and those that did didn't realize that she was the source. "Uh...Vilgi. What exactly was that?" She was throwing up every mental barrier that she could muster, but it was having no effect. She couldn't control the slow cool-down that was surging through her.

'Concentrate Rosa...you can do it...Get yourself under control.'

"It was just a local brew......Rosaleen your not allergic to real alcohol are you?" Vilgi responded with a shrug a growing falling of unease and the sense he might have just put his foot in it big time was creeping up on him as was the cool chill. "Rosaleen......"

"Rosaleen..."

'Rosa.....'

The surging pulses slowly started to dissipate...like the wake created by tossing a pebble into a pool of water...the wavelengths growing longer and longer. Rosaleen pulled every bit of mental energy she could find, and slowly managed to get herself under control. The temperature moved toward normal. Things were coming....

She opened her eyes and glared at Vilgi. "What the hell was that."

"Like I said its a local brew, a spirit type drink, not that strong." Vilgi reiterates now she appeared to be on a slight more even footing again. But from the glare he guessed she was not impressed, deciding to go on the offensive so to speak he took a slight firmer line in response. "Don't forget you downed it with out asking or warning. I honestly had no clue it would have that effect."

She softened a bit. "OK, I'll give you that. But you could have said something when I ordered it. You almost gave these folks something to back up their superstitions."

"Yeah your right." Vilgi admitted with a sigh and a slight guilty look, which he tried to mask. "I probably should know better by now.......tell you what drinks on me for the rest of the night. They do synth, don't worry." Vilgi offered with a grin in the hopes that would make up for his slight faux pas. "I'm guessing the chill in the air was you then, is that what you mean by backing up superstition? If you don't mind me asking?"

She stared at him for a long moment. "I'm sorry...I thought that you knew that I shared the same gifts as Kathleen."

"Not specifically no. Although now you mention it the fact you were from the same colony and we're close early on makes that more likely." Vilgi comments carefully, eying Rosaleen before deciding a little more explanation was needed. "I know Kathleen has certain unique abilities, but she never went into specifics with me and I didn't push the issue. I wanted too......but she's my Captain so.....It didn't feel right asking, then again neither did not asking."

"Neither of us speak of it very much, as we are both still learning about them." A thin smile. "You would think after this long we would be a bit more knowledgeable, but..." She trailed off. So much had happened in the last couple of years, and her life had essentially been turned upside-down. But she was an adapter...always had been...so she worked daily to make the best of it. Some days were more of a struggle than others though...

"Anyway, nobody is yelling 'burn the witch', so I think we are safe this time."

"Well that's a plus." Vilgi responded hoping to sound supportive. "I guess as well with unique abilities, I guess you learn by using either intentionality or unintentionally or when someone don't thing and gives you proper booze, which I guess is difficult to do when the result is uncertain at best."

Rosaleen cooled a bit once again. "It's a struggle some days...keeping control. I honestly don't know what I am truly capable of. I'm afraid to really push my boundaries to see." Suddenly she pulled her cowl back over her head. "I'm not the person I appear to be. Outwardly, I put up a facade of strength. Inside..." She trailed off and became silent.

"Strength to put up a facade of strength take strength itself." Vilgi responded with smile, the overuse of the word was unintentional but hopefully would lighten the mood. Rosaleen putting her cowl back on was an indicator she was still uneasy. "But that's probably a chat we can save for another time." He flagged one of the staff down and order a couple more drinks, making sure one was synthetic. "More importantly what do you reckon to the rest of the command staff, or the pair that have the reins for the time being anyway?" Vilgi asked side stepping to a different subject entirely.

She looked up a bit so that Vilgi could see her face. "Masters knows what she's about. That is one good officer, and will compliment your shop very well. As for Jeh...there's something about her...I can't put my finger on it, but I don't trust her. Not one bit. Something just isn't right."

"I've already met Masters, we hit the ground running. Between me, her and Adria we've got the expeditionary front all sorted I reckon. Captain Chey, there was something.....she seemed overly concerned with her privacy and didn't really have anything to say about the Frontier or the reason were here. Although she is a a doctor, so probably just another self concerned consultant-types. We were bound to get a few of them being on a starbase." Vilgi commented in return with his own opinion on the pair that had been sent there way to help tame the Frontier.

"I'm going to be keeping a close eye on her." She finished off the glass of water, then pulled her cowl back down. "From what I can see, Masters is a good addition to your band of thieves. I doubt Kathleen will have any worries as far as Logistics Ops here, and that will be a huge load off her back...and mine."

"We'll be out showing the flag again in short order, no question about that. Once I get me Curry and me pair of Aerie's here and up to spec, all the better." Vilgi stated firmly with a grin, his usual response to a statement of confidence. Then changed tack slightly, showing a side that had started to develop since hearing the details of the assignment. "Actually I'm looking forward to taking a more active role building and making something instead of just fighting and defending, not just the station I mean hands on support of the colony's and settlements in this sector. It's going to be an interesting change of pace at times."

"I'm just happy to have solid ground beneath my feet on a regular basis. And in such an exotic land." She signaled down a waiter carrying several glasses of water and procured one...deciding that it was the best option for her at the moment. She looked at the glass that Vilgi had bought her. "Sorry, friend. I'm not taking any more chances this evening."

She downed the water before continuing. "There were a couple of small projects that have been requested by the Continental President that had not been announced as of yet, one of which we are going to need to start straight away. A new hydroelectric dam. Were you aware that they had banned all power generation systems except natural ones here? Wind, water, and geothermal sources are the only types allowable. Their system is becoming over taxed here, and we are partially responsible for that. So...we are building them a dam."

"That little piece of information escaped me I must admit. But I can hardly blame them an idyllic setting such as this is something you fight for. With troops or with laws and regulations." Vilgi agreed with the stance they had taken and went in to facilitating mode. "And given our commitment not just to the Frontier but this area in particular its only right we pull our weight. Right how far along are we in the process, has a site been selected and scouted? I will allocate a number of industrial replicators in proportion to the size of the task."

"Another surprise for you apparently. You know how the Aerie has large multi-deck modules? Well on was delivered to us with a construction module. Multiple replicators, tool bays...you name it. They are custom built for the Corps."

"The Aerie I knew about, and that it was going to be modular, but it's the first I heard about a construction module. Makes a tonne of sense though, we can deliver a unit on site and hit the ground running, assuming it still has the Polaris support craft we'll be able to rotate crews, ship specialist officers and crews, even extra equipment in and out as needed." Vilgi explained more for his own benefit working out the basic details as to how it could be used, pausing and with a grin and a shake of his head. "First rate resource, from a first rate lady. As ever." Downing the dreggs of the local brew he turned his attention back to the project. "So are they picking the site or are we?"

"It's already been selected. A valley 230 kilometers north of northwest of here. The upper area opens up nicely, and is totally undeveloped so there is no worry about relocating people. In fact, the government in planning on making the resulting lake and surrounding lands into a recreation zone." Rosaleen remembered the moment she first saw the plans and artist renderings of the new park. She immediately wanted a home there.

The Bolian's face brightened noticeably, beyond his usual cheery grin, with the brief description of the site selected and the happy yet distant memory's it evoked. "Mountains, lakes and hills now your talking. Don't get me wrong beach-side towns are nice and all, and the errands to the planetary offices are going to be something of a perk. But you can't beat that hilly out of the way setting to truly relax in." Vilgi commented with a contented sigh.

"I couldn't agree more. But this will be a pretty big job for our first one. It's not just the dam and the recreation zone, but roads and a rail system connecting to it, landing pads, power grids...it's going to be quite the deal."

"The more the merrier, should be an excuse to pull in multiple departments and get us working together. A dry run on or doorstep. Besides no use slapping up a dam I the middle of nowhere and then turning round and expecting them to do the rest. Nah we do a proper job, all tied off and working, show we mean what we say. Can't wait to get me teeth into it to be honest."

"Me either. After all, this is what I signed on for." She finished off the water, then pulled her cowl back into place on her head. "Well, it has been a pleasure, but I must get back to the ship for some rest. I have a State reception tomorrow that I wasn't able to talk my way out of....another thing to thank my father for. I'll see you soon." She stood to leave. "Don't get carried away with that poison."

"The joys of being a command aid." Vilgi commented with a rather-you-than-me expression which gave way to his usual relaxed and friendly grin on the mention of this particular bars home brew. "Yeah that ships kinda sailed. I'll have one or two more then back to the station, to pound the decks bright and early.

Rosaleen turned and headed toward the door, acutely aware of all of the eyes upon her. As she entered the street, darkness once again became her friend.

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Lt Cmdr Vilgi Morr
Chief of Logistics

& Lieutenant Rosaleen O'Donnell
Commodores Personal Assistant