Official Opening - Part 5

Posted on Sat Mar 30, 2019 @ 9:02pm by Commander Caoimhe O'Connor M.D. & Lieutenant Raleigh MacKenzie & Anzhelina Walker
Edited on on Tue Sep 17, 2019 @ 6:59pm

1,635 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: First Unity
Location: Langley Station - Level 38 - Function Room !

ON:

Caoimhe was very aware she was running late. She could have tried to make an excuse, but if she was honest she wasn't very near to being bothered. The dress uniform felt a little tight, and if she thought about it a little further she may have realised that nerves were beginning to build. She had never wanted to give a speech, but an order was an order. What choice did she have>

Grabbing a glass of champagne from a server who walked by, the commander headed for the room perimeter to try and avoid as many people as she could manage.

Raleigh spotted the gorgeous blonde Starfleet officer making the perimeter of the party room and smiled, sipping his dirty martini. Gorgeous. He grabbed a glass of champagne and made his way over to intercept her.

“You looked like you could use another,” Raleigh said, flashing his best smile at the woman as he held out the flute of champagne. “Raleigh MacKenzie, from the Canterbury,” he introduced himself.

Before turning to greet the man, Caoimhe took a big sip of the remains of her drink as she tried to brace herself. This was the worst part, polite chit chat. Not even bothering to fix a smile to her lips, the commander turned to the officer and folded her free arm across her abdomen before placing her empty glass on the board of a passing server. "Canterbury. That's Anderson's ship, isn't it? I thought that you weren't expected for sometime more."

Raleigh though the way her arm was placed lifted her breasts quite nicely. His eyes dipped before he brought them up again. “We have been around for a few days,” he said. “I’m still getting a feel around for the station, though. You have any suggestions?” he asked. “Maybe a nice place for a date? Maybe you could show me some night,” he offered.

Caoimhe blinked as she realised that this individual was outright flirting with her. "There are many eateries and bars to choose from, Lieutenant, but I'm not quite certain that my scheduling would allow me time to show you around. I'm quite certain that you yourself will find yourself busy over coming weeks."

“Perhaps, but I’m always willing to make time in my schedule when I’m on station for an attractive young woman,” Raleigh said. “Surely you need some time to relax. At the very least, time for a meal. Perhaps I could make you something,” he offered.

“Attra...” Caoimhe did a double take and took a deep sip of her drink as she took another look at the man and tried to formulate a response which didn’t result in her slapping him in the face.”There’s rules against fraternization with superiors officers for a reason, Lieutenant. Your behaviour goes beyond the boundaries of acceptable.”

“Ah, but you are not my superior,” Raleigh pointed out with a grin. “We aren’t in the same chain of command. And everyone knows Starfleet is rather...loose with those regulations. And I merely complimented you, sir,” he said deferentially. “Hardly an infraction. May I get you another drink?” he offered.

Caoimhe looked at her empty glass for a brief moment, trying to remember back to when she had actually emptied it. Looking back at the insufferable man, she wondered might it be an opportunity to distract him to allow her her escape. "Sure, but I question your understanding of loose with regulations. Regulations are there for a reason. A captain sleeping with his or her subordinates is not a done thing to keeping a crew in check. Same goes for department heads. You have a role of responsibility for a reason."

“Yes, but not on this station, and not under you,” Raleigh said with a smile. “Much as I might desire it.”

Caoimhe felt a flush of red pass across her cheeks as perhaps for the first time in her life she was rendered speechless. "I...you..." Grabbing another glass from a passing server, the woman tried to save face by taking a mouthful of the new drink before trying again. "I assure you, Lieutenant, that whatever it is you are thinking of hasn't a chance in hell of happening."

“Obviously. It would be heaven.” Raleigh grinned. She was rather attractive when she blushed. “May I ask you something, Commander? What makes you so afraid of a compliment, that someone might find you someone they might wish to spend an intimate evening alone with?” he asked, sipping his champagne.

“Is everything alright, Commander?” Ron interrupted, having overheard the conversation on passing. It seemed like the attention being given to Caoimhe was not particularly welcomed, and for some reason this gave Ron an uncontrollable urge to intervene.

Caoimhe felt her face redden further as the grip on her drink tightened and led to the glass suddenly shattering as shards and liquid fell across the woman’s uniform and the floor at the gathered people’s feet. The look on the woman’s face only slightly changed as she registered a sharp stabbing pain and instinctively cradled her hand in against her chest.

Nehini couldn't help but feel Caoimhe's sudden emotions of pain, and walked quickly toward her. "Commander Caoimhe! Let me take you to sickbay to get that looked at?" she offered as she looked at her kindly.

Raleigh looked a bit surprised as the glass shattered. He looked around and spotted a passing waiter, stepping up to grab the towel on his arm, but by the time he turned back to the lovely Irish woman a crowd had formed, separating them.

Noticing the commotion, Anzhelina walked over to see what was happening. "Hi. Can I be of assistance?" she asked.

Everything was happening so quickly, and the crowd seemed to press in within seconds. Hawk addressed the closing crowd with a loud, booming, authoritarian voice. “Let’s everyone give her some space! Carry on about your business, please!” He turned to Nehini and Anzhelina together and addressed them firmly but kindly. “Thank you for your offer of assistance, ladies. Would one of you mind replicating the Commander a new dress? She won’t be wanting to perform her speech blood soaked.”

Nehini quickly stepped away and went to find the commander a new dress, returning some moments later with a clean uniform, and hopefully by then Commander Caoimhe would have healed from her small cut. "Here you go, Commander. Would you like me to assist you?" the counselor offered, in case she needed assistance.

Caoimhe felt the pain in her hand, but it brought her more comfort than one might have have realized. As bodies and voices continued to press in on her, the pain was a focus where the rest was acting as an almost stresser. As she forced her breathing to regulate, the woman shook her head as instinctively she reached out to take the offered dress in her left hand before realizing that there was still blood escaping from the wound.

Hawk then turned to Raleigh. “If you wouldn’t mind, could you fetch me a dermal regenerator from the nearest med kit?” Finally he turned his attention to Caoimhe. “Commander, quite a state you have gotten yourself into. If it’s okay with you, I would like to take you out into the corridor. You can get a bit of peace and quiet there whilst I patch you up. I don’t think there is any need for sickbay just yet, do you?” His eyes cast back over to Raleigh. “Meet me outside with the regenerator.”

“Of course,” Raleigh said, handing over the towel. “Wrap her hand in that.” Then he slipped through the crowd toward one of the emergency panels, taking down the medical kit. He brought the entire kit wit him as he went out into the corridor after Caoimhe and Ron.

As Caoimhe felt the pain increase momentarily as the towel was wrapped around her hand but the pain wasn’t enough to dampen the uncomfortable feeling of being hemmed in, the space and air growing thinner. People continued to press in to see what was happening. The crowd triggered something that sent a flash of panic through the woman’s eyes as instinctively her hand tightened around Ron’s and her breathing quickened just ever so slightly.

Ron felt the hand grip his, and for a moment this threw him. It had been a long while since someone had held his hand in such a way. This moment passed as quickly as it came, when he realized that it was probably just shock that caused the woman to grip him so tightly. He yelled out to the crowd again; “Clear some space!” Then he started guiding Caoimhe toward the door. “It’s okay, Commander,” he said softly. “Let's get you out of here.”

Allowing Ron to lead her, Caoimhe kept her hand in his as an anchor, drawing up closer as she fought to keep his pace instead of being left behind. Her eyes glanced around at the people who surrounded the two as instinct caused her spine to straighten even as her body fought to control her breathing. “I’m sure that you all have something better to be doing than standing around staring!” The words were abit hitched, but stood to reaffirm the woman’s sole semblance of control, to at least control the situation and refuse to show a weakness despite all else that may have been happening.

OFF:

CMDR Caoimhe O'Connor M.D.
Director of Research
Langley Station

LT Raleight MacKenzie
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Canterbury
[PNPC Megan]

Anzhelina Walker
Pilot
Langley Station
[PNPC Anahera]

LTJG Nehini Naix
Chief Counselor
Langley Station

LTCMDR Ronald Hawk
Executive Officer
Langley Station

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