Station: Paperwork and Sour Apples

Posted on Wed Aug 27th, 2025 @ 9:22pm by Commander Kehlani & Lieutenant JG Gavin Lasso {Honorary KDF}

Mission: The Inner Flame
Location: M-69
Timeline: Current

ON:

The Fleet Captain office door slid open, with Lasso behind the desk as he was doing what Captain Green had asked of him. Coming into the office proper was Commander Kehlani, that typical Klingon swagger of hers in full bloom.

"Ach! Go figure." Said Kehlani, a crooked grin on her face as she approached the guest chairs in front of the desk. "I leave you alone for five minutes and you get desk duty. What happened, did Captain Green find out you pissed in one of the potted plants the other night?" She gave a light laugh.

"First off," Lasso replied wearing his own grin. "That never happened so the answer is no. Second, she was in a quite a hurry and was taking her X-wing. I feel there may be more to the story once she returns. You know that focused gaze she gets?" Kehlani nodded that she knew it well. "That was her expression. All business with very little personable bullshit."

Kehlani had sat down and leaned way back in the chair, the pose like the Queen of Sheba. "Must be Meji business." She waved it off casually. "Anyway, I assume the message you sent for me to come see you has something to do with all that?"

Gavin gave her a knowing look. "Correct. She said if I needed assistance to call on others if I needed them. So, Commander, I've called on you to assist with Fleet Captain reports. If you're willing, of course."

Kehlani sat up. "What!?" She rolled her eyes. "Paperwork! Gah! I'm a Klingon and that is not high on our list of priorities."

Lasso gave another grin, the knowing look remaining. "Even paperwork to the High Council?"

Kehlani immediately came back at him. "That's different," she smiled with mirth in her eyes, baiting her brother-in-law and friend.

Giving a laugh at her antics, Lasso broke into a smile. "Really? How so?"

"We're Klingons," she said simply with a shrug. "We report what needs to be said. Starfleet files a report every time someone finds a sour apple slice in their salad. Two different things."

"Did you find a sour apple slice in your salad, Commander?" Lasso asked with a big shit-eating smile on his face. He could tease her right back.

"I did!" Kehlani responded, feigning being insulted, and being overdramatic on purpose. "It was bloody horrible! How dare they!" They both laughed.

"Can't blame Starfleet for the places you choose to eat." Gavin said. "However, if you need to, I'll take the report and file it." He got a wry look. "No? Remember, you're Starfleet, too, Sister."

"And, damn proud of it." Kehlani responded. She loved her people and culture, but her love for Starfleet and the Federation was equal. However, Klingons would always be slightly higher on her priority list due to her status as a House Matriarch. Loyalty to the Empire first was not to be taken lightly and it could destroy her House by order of the High Council if House Kehlani did not respond as expected. Loyalty that was usually paid for in Klingon blood. "Alright, I'll help you file sour apple reports, and read through all the others. We also need to maintain our own departments. This partnership has worked well so far."

Lasso nodded along, his face showing both joy and friendliness. "I agree. Captain Green did mention that she needed to talk to me about something. What it is I have no clue, she was in a hurry to leave. It didn't sound ominous, however."

Kehlani stood up. "Ro's brain works at milliseconds per minute. There's no telling what she has in store for you. But, with you babysitting a desk I shall see to our stations out in OPS. There's an unfamiliar face at your FC command console, a Lieutenant JG. I mean, I've seen him around over the past six months but he didn't seem like he had much to offer."

"Ah, yes." Gavin said, getting to his feet and coming around the desk as he spoke. "Lieutenant Devlin Dunbar. First name Rockmond, but he prefers his middle name. Good man, Irish to the bone, and a serious extrovert who's not afraid to speak his mind." They began a slow movement towards the office door. "He's been here a while but when the last rotation for new officers happened I lost my Chief Small Craft pilot. So, with Dunbar's credentials I promoted him to the spot. His brogue is always present normally, but he does prefer to pour it on thick at times. He can even speak without it but he knows that it tends to attract the ladies."

"So, he's a whore?" Kehlani asked with a teasing tone and a Klingon giggle. "Sorry, had to. The look on your face was worth a barrel of bloodwine."

It was his turn to give her a wry look. "Up yours, my lady."

"Haha!" Kehlani laugh-spoke out at him, slapped him high on the back, and then walked out, tossing over her shoulder. "You wish." The door shut between them.

Shaking his head with a grin, Lasso turned around and headed back to the desk.

OFF: