It had only been a matter of weeks since Kaavi and Mira had graduated from the Academy, and the two ensigns were still enjoying the relative freedom that they’d been allotted before meeting up with their first assignment, the USS Impetuous. They’d become fast friends at the Academy, as both found themselves judged by their heritage — Mira for being half-Cardassian, and Kaavi for being Orion — and were quite thrilled to be assigned to the same vessel upon graduation.
They were to meet up with the Impetuous in a week’s time when the Saber-class vessel docked at Deep Space 9, but until then, they had a bit of leave time to burn, and Mira was intent upon using it to her best ability. However, it seemed as though her attempts to do so were being thwarted at every pass.
“I don’t understand how one holodeck program could be so difficult to acquire,” she said. She rubbed one of her eye ridges idly between thumb and forefinger as she considered a way to get what she wanted.
“What’s so special about this program again? I mean, there have got to be thousands of flight simulation holoprograms,” Kaavi said. She flagged down one of the Ferengi bartenders at Quark’s, and gestured for him to bring two more drinks over, before turning her attention back to her companion.
“It’s one of the most challenging programs available. It’s not produced by Starfleet, that’s why it’s hard to gain access too. Some programmer gained access to the navigational systems of numerous starships, and made an unauthorized simulation that’s rumored to be even more realistic than anything Starfleet produces.”
“But you’ve flown a real starship, I mean, surely this program can’t compare to that?”
Mira shook her head, “No, it doesn’t. But there are maneuvers that you can perform in this simulation that simply aren’t taught or condoned by the Academy.”
“Like the Kolvoord Starburst?”
“Oh, everyone knows the Starburst, we’re just not allowed to actually perform it. No, I’m talking about maneuvers that Starfleet says are impossible, using full starships, not just fighters.” As she spoke, Mira became more animated, until she realized that she was drawing the attention of the patrons at the neighboring table. She flushed slightly, lowering her voice as she continued. It was bad enough when she attracted attention because of her unique heritage, the last thing she needed was to go out of her way to provoke stares. “All sorts of combat evasive maneuvers that you need to override the security controls on a starship to actually perform.”
“Well, what good is that going to do for you? It’s not like you could actually use these maneuvers in a combat situation in the line of duty.”
“Well…”
“‘Well’ nothing, you just couldn’t. Certainly not as an ensign. Perhaps when you make Chief Flight Ops you could consider something like that, but let’s be realistic, even on a Saber you’re years away from that.”
Mira scowled. “That’s irrelevant. The more practice I have, the better of a pilot I’ll be.”
“Granted,” Kaavi said. The Ferengi returned with their drinks, and Kaavi took a sip of hers before continuing. “So what do you need to do to get ahold of this thing?”
Mira pointed to a Bajoran man seated at the bar, and after a moment, Kaavi took a look in his direction. Though his style of dress was hardly flashy, Kaavi could tell from the fit of his garments, and the materials they were crafted from that he was at least moderately wealthy. “He clearly didn’t replicate those,” she said.
“Nope.” Sighing, Mira drank from her own glass, cringing slightly. It certainly wasn’t synthehol, and she made a note to stop soon while she was still ahead.
“Well, did you try to purchase it from him?”
“He wants a 5 strips of gold-pressed latinum for it,” Mira frowned.
“That’s a bit rich for our blood,” Kaavi said. “I suppose he doesn’t give a Starfleet Academy Graduation discount?”
“Actually, his exact words were, ‘You’re lucky I’d sell it to you at all’ if I remember correctly.”
“Why would he…” Kaavi started, but immediately realized what Mira was speaking about. “Oh. Cardassian. Gotcha. Well, you are half-Bajoran?”
“If anything, that makes it worse,” Mira said, waving her hand around. The patrons at several nearby tables made valiant attempts to hide the fact that they’d been staring, but ultimately gave up.
“That’s why you don’t like walking around Deep Space 9 out of uniform,” Kaavi said, recalling an earlier dispute.
“But you insisted.”
“Yes, yes I did,” Kaavi said. “Sorry.”
“You know, I had a thought…”
“I distrust you when you use that tone of voice, Mira,” Kaavi said. Subconsciously, her arms crossed over her chest.
“You could go talk to him for me.”
“I could… why?” Kaavi asked, but before Mira could explain, Kaavi grasped just what exactly she was getting at. “You want me to try and seduce it out of him?”
“You’re not in uniform, he doesn’t need to know you’re not a…” Mira struggled to find a friendly term.
“A prostitute?” Kaavi supplied. She shook her head. “Three minutes alone in a conversation with me and he’ll know I’m not precisely an animal woman.”
“Less than that. You’re wearing far too many articles of clothing.”
Kaavi grinned, “There is that. Besides, he has the right combination of money and unattractiveness that would insinuate he’s all too familiar with Orion women.”
“True,” Mira said, giggling a bit. Then, catching herself, she quickly bit her lower lip. She was a Starfleet officer now. Giggling seemed somewhat inappropriate.
“You know what,” Kaavi said, downing the rest of her drink in a single swallow. “What’s the worst that can happen?”
“Famous last words,” Mira said, nodding sagely.
They were to meet up with the Impetuous in a week’s time when the Saber-class vessel docked at Deep Space 9, but until then, they had a bit of leave time to burn, and Mira was intent upon using it to her best ability. However, it seemed as though her attempts to do so were being thwarted at every pass.
“I don’t understand how one holodeck program could be so difficult to acquire,” she said. She rubbed one of her eye ridges idly between thumb and forefinger as she considered a way to get what she wanted.
“What’s so special about this program again? I mean, there have got to be thousands of flight simulation holoprograms,” Kaavi said. She flagged down one of the Ferengi bartenders at Quark’s, and gestured for him to bring two more drinks over, before turning her attention back to her companion.
“It’s one of the most challenging programs available. It’s not produced by Starfleet, that’s why it’s hard to gain access too. Some programmer gained access to the navigational systems of numerous starships, and made an unauthorized simulation that’s rumored to be even more realistic than anything Starfleet produces.”
“But you’ve flown a real starship, I mean, surely this program can’t compare to that?”
Mira shook her head, “No, it doesn’t. But there are maneuvers that you can perform in this simulation that simply aren’t taught or condoned by the Academy.”
“Like the Kolvoord Starburst?”
“Oh, everyone knows the Starburst, we’re just not allowed to actually perform it. No, I’m talking about maneuvers that Starfleet says are impossible, using full starships, not just fighters.” As she spoke, Mira became more animated, until she realized that she was drawing the attention of the patrons at the neighboring table. She flushed slightly, lowering her voice as she continued. It was bad enough when she attracted attention because of her unique heritage, the last thing she needed was to go out of her way to provoke stares. “All sorts of combat evasive maneuvers that you need to override the security controls on a starship to actually perform.”
“Well, what good is that going to do for you? It’s not like you could actually use these maneuvers in a combat situation in the line of duty.”
“Well…”
“‘Well’ nothing, you just couldn’t. Certainly not as an ensign. Perhaps when you make Chief Flight Ops you could consider something like that, but let’s be realistic, even on a Saber you’re years away from that.”
Mira scowled. “That’s irrelevant. The more practice I have, the better of a pilot I’ll be.”
“Granted,” Kaavi said. The Ferengi returned with their drinks, and Kaavi took a sip of hers before continuing. “So what do you need to do to get ahold of this thing?”
Mira pointed to a Bajoran man seated at the bar, and after a moment, Kaavi took a look in his direction. Though his style of dress was hardly flashy, Kaavi could tell from the fit of his garments, and the materials they were crafted from that he was at least moderately wealthy. “He clearly didn’t replicate those,” she said.
“Nope.” Sighing, Mira drank from her own glass, cringing slightly. It certainly wasn’t synthehol, and she made a note to stop soon while she was still ahead.
“Well, did you try to purchase it from him?”
“He wants a 5 strips of gold-pressed latinum for it,” Mira frowned.
“That’s a bit rich for our blood,” Kaavi said. “I suppose he doesn’t give a Starfleet Academy Graduation discount?”
“Actually, his exact words were, ‘You’re lucky I’d sell it to you at all’ if I remember correctly.”
“Why would he…” Kaavi started, but immediately realized what Mira was speaking about. “Oh. Cardassian. Gotcha. Well, you are half-Bajoran?”
“If anything, that makes it worse,” Mira said, waving her hand around. The patrons at several nearby tables made valiant attempts to hide the fact that they’d been staring, but ultimately gave up.
“That’s why you don’t like walking around Deep Space 9 out of uniform,” Kaavi said, recalling an earlier dispute.
“But you insisted.”
“Yes, yes I did,” Kaavi said. “Sorry.”
“You know, I had a thought…”
“I distrust you when you use that tone of voice, Mira,” Kaavi said. Subconsciously, her arms crossed over her chest.
“You could go talk to him for me.”
“I could… why?” Kaavi asked, but before Mira could explain, Kaavi grasped just what exactly she was getting at. “You want me to try and seduce it out of him?”
“You’re not in uniform, he doesn’t need to know you’re not a…” Mira struggled to find a friendly term.
“A prostitute?” Kaavi supplied. She shook her head. “Three minutes alone in a conversation with me and he’ll know I’m not precisely an animal woman.”
“Less than that. You’re wearing far too many articles of clothing.”
Kaavi grinned, “There is that. Besides, he has the right combination of money and unattractiveness that would insinuate he’s all too familiar with Orion women.”
“True,” Mira said, giggling a bit. Then, catching herself, she quickly bit her lower lip. She was a Starfleet officer now. Giggling seemed somewhat inappropriate.
“You know what,” Kaavi said, downing the rest of her drink in a single swallow. “What’s the worst that can happen?”
“Famous last words,” Mira said, nodding sagely.
