Names and Faces
Posted on 20 Nov 2021 @ 4:38pm by Commander Calliope Zahn & Captain Corvus DeHavilland & Lieutenant Theodore Winslow & Major Declan Finn
Mission:
M2 - Sanctuary
Location: Planet Obsidian, Kalara, Seed Vault Reception Hall
Timeline: MD08 ~18:30
1392 words - 2.8 OF Standard Post Measure
Theo looked around where the seed vault and marvelled at it and the people that were filling the entrance hall and talking among themselves. It would have made most people lonely or uncomfortable but Winslow just observed and watched the interactions around him. He was a watcher and this was a perfect place for him to do so.
It was not often he got to go down to the planet that was just below them and it was even less often that he wore his dress uniform. He could not remember the last time he had worn it if he was honest, it was a blurry memory but it could not have been important if he could not remember it. He blinked as someone called out to him from behind making him react and turn.
Colonel Rutland was watching with the casual curiosity of someone who might well think himself better than most in the room, occasionally glancing at Major Finn sipping experimentally on a dark purple wine that was of no interest to him. He could see the Admiral talking amongst a group including the recently arrived Pope, a few other senior officers talking with both Kalaran and Starfleet staff, and the stations own Captain not too far away. None he was too familiar with, only that he knew by reputation.
"Lieutenant," Finn called out, turning the Colonel's attention. "Good to see you," Finn smiled, shaking the hand of a man Rutland hadn't met yet. Declan wasn't generally a social person, but standing about with the Colonel and the star system wide gap in social conversation between them wasn't his idea of fun. So he'd grabbed the first familiar face to walk by - Lieutenant Winslow of OC's Security.
Theodore stopped dead as he realised who had called out to him and wished he had just not reacted and carried on walking. He barely knew the man. "Major. Colonel." Theo greeted shaking Finn's hand and then introduced himself to the colonel who stood there. He might be confused by the man calling out to him but he had a lot more social decorum that most gave him credit for. "How are you finding the evening?" He said
"Lots of new faces to remember," Rutland smiled, "Conall Rutland," he offered in greeting as he'd not met this man yet. "I'll be taking command of the Marines here at Cerastes," he smiled. Eventually, he was going to have to make his way about the locals and get to know the names and faces of the local leaders he would potentially run into during their training exercises. "Are you a part of the Obsidian Command crew, or based here on the planet?"
"I am Obsidian Command's Chief of Security Sir," Theo confirmed. "I will forgive if you forget the faces." The man said lightly. He knew he was good at remembering names and faces but not everyone was.
"Good to meet you, then. I'm glad to hear the Marines are fully out of your Department and Starfleet's standing on its own," he smiled. He had to credit Finn for dealing with that so well. He wasn't sure he would have fared so well.
Calliope took stock of the faces with Finn as Corvus led the way to his little knot of conversation. She didn't know the Marine Colonel, but she found herself relieved to recognize Theo. He'd been kind to visit with her during her most difficult days in recovery, and she was sorry she hadn't connected with him since she'd found her feet.
"Good Evening Sir," Theo said ducking his head in greeting to the woman. He was glad to see her out and about after the events. Her thought reflected his own, he should have made a better effort to check on her once she was released from sickbay but he had been so busy he had not overly connected with anyone other than the barman at the out of the way bar he had a beer at and the girl at the coffee shop. It was not a way to live at all, he needed to change that urgently.
"Nice to see you, Mr. Winslow." Calliope returned warmly.
"Evening all," Corvus offered everyone in the little grouping. She smiled politely at them all and noticed Finn carefully edging away from the group as best he could. Or was he trying to get clear of Calliope. Their last meeting, the three of them, hadn't exactly been the best.
Sensing she was repelling Finn, Calliope's lips pursed and twisted. The man bled greener figuratively than she did literally, and yet got all hot under the collar and weird with his feet shifting when she came into the circle. She reminded herself it wasn't her exactly. She was just the catalyst that made things weird. Well. It wasn't going to get less weird studying the ceiling or making her own undue retreat. Not only did she have to learn to self manage. Everyone would have to learn to self manage around her. She knew if there was any way she could make it not be the case, she'd take the hypo for it right now. But there was no such option left to her any longer.
"Congratulations, Major Finn." Calliope didn't offer a hand or make any move into his space, just leaned into her cane and twisted it a bit back and forth. "I hear you're posted to the station."
Finn tried to smile politely but really only managed to nod as intended, "Yes, ma'am," he answered. "I'll be managing the resident Marines aboard the station. Shouldn't get in Starfleet's way too much." At least so he hoped. Given his interactions with everyone, he was perfectly fine to hole up in the Marine decks and not come out. He had already considered turning the CP into a bunk for himself, even if it meant giving up the plush Starfleet accommodations.
"How's Cerastes coming along, Colonel?" DeHavilland asked.
"Ah, quite well," Rutland beamed, nodding fervently. "Supplies are on station, equipments on station and personnel are on station. We're just starting the process of unpacking and preparing it all for Obsidians' harsh environment. We'll be ready within the week, I think," he smiled proudly.
"When you unpack," Calliope said," I'd be keen to borrow one of those Chieftains Major Finn recommended for the mountain trails."
Rutland laughed, "Local fauna are a bit dodgy," he grinned. "I'm sure we could arrange for it if you needed a ride here or there," he added. Not that he was particularly looking forward to meeting the local critters, but he couldn't blame her for wanting to do so in something nigh impenetrable.
"Yeah, I ran across a herd of those oversized decapods with the meter long pincers. Luckily the rover I was in at least had some great handling on the mountain passes. Have you seen those monsters? They're hardly even the scariest things I've heard tell about either." She motioned to where Admiral Indri was talking with some Kalarans. "The Admiral says just about everything in the wild on this planet will try and eat you. I hope she was exaggerating."
"And they say everything in Australia's trying to kill and eat you," Rutland smirked, clapping Finn on the back firmly. "You should be right at home here!"
Finn nodded, offering a fake smile in reply, "Too, right," he said.
Corvus stood there, smiling politely as they chatted, realizing reluctantly that there wasn't much choice in the matter. If Calli was going to have her chance with Rutland, she'd have to isolate him, and the only way that was happening...
"Major, if it's alright with you, I have a couple of housekeeping things to go over with you. If you'd like to grab a plate?" Corvus asked, gesturing to the table. "We could talk as we go."
Any other time, Declan would have politely declined. The last thing he needed right now was alone time with DeHavilland to create more awkward tension. But given the option of remaining with Rutland, who seemed innocently oblivious to just how awkward things were, he took the lesser evil. "That'd be great," he nodded. "If you don't mind, sir," he added to Rutland though he didn't leave him the option. He just gestured to the table and headed that way with DeHavilland.