A page in history.

Posted on Tue Jan 30th, 2024 @ 3:37pm by Lieutenant Xalanth & Lieutenant JG Deezell Vox & Lieutenant JG Dr. Jeksenri Vale Ph.D & Lieutenant Leilani
Edited on on Tue Jan 30th, 2024 @ 5:35pm

2,357 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Episode 118 - "It's About Family"
Location: Promenade

Xalanth was a happy dragonian. After the nasty business with the mirror universe and the current mess with the shapeshifters, it felt good to catch a few moments of peace.

Now here he was sitting at one of the cafe's looking at the padd that his second had brought with her from her maternity scan. The first images of their next child. Another girl. She was going to look almost identical to her elder sister mostly a female dragonian with her mother's betazoid eyes.

Stepping out of the Turbolift, Dr. Jeksenri looks bewildered, taking in the sights about the grand promenade of Starbase 400. Truth be told, it had been quite some time since he'd been on a Starbase for longer than a layover. Not counting Earth Spacedock, this was his first time in about 8 years he'd been away from the Sol System, and it showed. The expression on his face showed his bewilderment as he strolled down the corridors, trying to figure out just where to go from here.

Security check in had been nothing short of horrific, constant scans and blooddraws extended what was usually a quick check in with the bioreaders. Now with the changling threat, what use to take five minutes now to about fifteen to twenty.

he held tight to his duffel, shifting it on his shoulder and adjusting his cardigan as he moved, heading for what he hoped was the Science Wing and his new duty station aboard 400.

Xalanth bid goodbye to his second tucking the padd into his pocket before heading off. His eyes watched over the promenade and all the people he was looking out for. One of whom was highly likely a dam-changling. His eyes shifted as he observed a new face in the crowd one that stood out like a sore thumb. Calmly walking over to the stranger he put on his best smile. " Excuse me sir may i see you id." he said politely.

Dr. Jeksenri nearly jumped, startled by the voice breaking him from his thoughts. He dug into his duffel, pulling out his identification padd and handing it to the large Dragonian standing before him in operations yellow. His ID would list him as the following:

Dr. Jeksenri Vale
SC-5451-7762-ALPHA
Lieutenant Junior Grade
Starfleet Historian
Starfleet Science

“I apologize, I must look like a fresh faced ensign, stumbling about on a starbase.”

" You do. " Xalanth said as he quickly ran the padd info. Everything seemed to check out and he'd just been blood-tested by the security station down at the arrivals bay. " My job to notice. Lieutenant Xalanth chief of security," he explained.

Jeksenri smiles, nodding with a soft chuckle. "Dr. Jeksenri Vale, Starfleet Historian."

He pasues and then looks like an idea popped into his head.

"Maybe you can help me get to the science section. I'm supposed to be reporting to Lieutenant Commander Coleman."

" Sure i can show you the way. We had to deactivate the computer guide feature in case the changling tried using it. " Xalanth explained as he began leading the way.

Jeksenri picks up his bag again, and quickly follows Xalanth down the promenade.

“If I can ask, how is life aboard the Starbase? Any dynamics I need to watch for?” He asks curiously. The academy rotated dynamics every 4 years or so with the constant changing of cadets coming in and out of the academy. Here, a Starbase was like a town or city, with its own cultures, customs and traditions, and interpersonal relations.

The lizard let out a chuckle. " Always something going on in this city amongst the stars. We have a near-permanent residency of 100,000 civilians, 8205 fleet officers, near 75,000 fleet crew and the 18,000 jarhead garrison. We're on the edge of the 'Triangle', where Federation, Klingon, and Romulan borders meet so multiple major trade routes come through here so we have nearly two thousand trading vessels every week with all the problems that brings. " Xalanth said as he slowly walked through the crowd.

" I've had to deal with everything from murders, trafficking, riots, bar fights and smuggling of anything you can think of. "

Jeksenri lets out a small whistle of amazement "So it's much as what I've been imagining."

He follows the dragon still, walking besides him.

"So, how did you come to be here? If you don't mind a Historian's curiosity"

" Oh, I've been here since we took the station back from the pact forces. Never got moved anywhere else so someone in fleet command must like the results I'm doing here. " Xalanth said pausing as they went through another of the security checkpoints. " Though I guess it easier to raise my family on a station rather than onboard a ship. Especially one as big as mine. "

Jeksenri tilts his head "I've haven't much had the chance to interact with many Dragonians, how large of a family are we speaking of?"

Jeksenri ask him politly, more from a curious perspective than anything else.

Xalanth chuckled again. " I'd be shocked if you had met more of us. Last time i checked I'm the one and only one in the fleet. As for my family, it's rather small by my people's standards. I've only found three of my mates and we have five daughters with the sixth on the way." He added before grinning at the look of shock on that man's face. " Yup, three is small by my people's standard family unit is nine and as many children that survive the incubators. "

" What about you any family?" he added.

"A Brother, Jeksyne, He's a Marine, stationed on the frontier."

Jeksenri commented.

"He was the one who always wanted to go where the action was, me, I wanted to be like my parents, Archivists and Researchers at the Starfleet Galactic Memory Bank."

" Nothing wrong with that. The priests and priestess of my people are valued as much as the hunters." Xalanth replied. The look on his face showed he meant every word.

Jeksenri nodded in agreement and kept walking.

"What can you tell me of the command staff? I'd like to go in to this assignment with as much information as possible."

" The command staff is of the highest standards of the federation as to be expected. Fleet Admiral Mike K`Wor Bremer runs a tight ship. Do your best and you'll get on well with all of the senior staff." Was the lizard's response.


Deezell, who was presently on a quick break, had picked up a large coffee from her favourite café and was now heading through the promenade, enjoying the atmosphere before having to return to work trying to put the station back together. She spotted Xalanth heading towards her, with someone new. She waved to get his attention.

Dr. Jeksenri looks curiously at the woman flagging the Dragonian down, tilting his head.

“I believe she is trying to get your attention there, Lieutenant”

" I see them." Xalanth replied. Lieutenant Vale this is Lieutiant Deezell Vox." Xalanth explained as he waved Vox over.

"Hey, Xalanth, who's your colleague? I see a new face. " Dee commented.

Jeksenri smiles, nodding his head in greeting.

“Good Day, Lieutenant Vox. I’m Doctor Jeksenri Vale. Historian, formally assigned to the Academy. A pleasure.”

"Welcome to Starbase 400, Doctor Vale. Historian you say? History is one of my interests, of which I have several, and some I have continued on from my previous hosts. 20th century Earth music, archaeology, Klingon Art, and traditional Trill cooking, to name just a few." Dee replied.

“My Doctorate is in Starfleet History, primarily 22nd-23rd century Starfleet history. Though I do also enjoy Classic Earth tabletop war games and Tabletop Role playing games as well.”

Jeksenri beams at the Trill

"I have good memories of the 23rd Century. My previous host, Azrel, was the Chief of Communications aboard the USS Midway NCC-1743 when she was rushed into service in 2268. A time when Command wore gold, engineers wore red and women wore less, as in skirts. Good memories." Dee commented.

Jeksenri chuckles.

“I’ve only read the reports and captains logs of the era. Midway was a good ship. My most recent paper was On Christopher Pike of Enterprise and J.T Carlson of the Excalibur.”

Jeksenri had a thought suddenly pop in his head.

“Did your host know the exploits of a Doctor named McEntyre, a Caitian?”

He asked excitedly

"Oh yes. I remember them very well. A very curious individual." Vox replied.

“I had thought about tracking their family lineage as well. I hear they still have descendants serving in the fleet. It’d be a fascinating case study of the blending of human and Caitian Cultures.”

Jeksenri says as he elaborated for Vox

"Indeed. I do often wonder about what happened to the family's of Azrel Vox. She had twins."

Vox commented.

“When I get settled onto the base, We should definitely meet up and go through the genealogy database and see if we can’t track them down”

Jeksenri says.

"We could but I am bound by strict rules regarding past hosts families and loved ones. It's called reassociation. I am not allowed to get involved with previous romantic partners from previous hosts. So we can look but I can't meet unless under exceptional circumstances and that only applies to families. " Dee explained.

“That’s a shame.”

He commented with a sad look.

"Platonic friendships without a romantic element are not subject to this rule and can be resumed, and in some cases have even been encouraged encouraged. I did seek advise with the Symbiosis Commission in regards to assisting the family of Raekwon Vox and is belongings still on the station. They didn't see it as a problem."

Vox added.

"I would love to have read of it sometime. If that's ok with you of course." Dee replied.

Jeksenri smiles, digging into his duffel and pulling out a hardbound copy, opening up the cover and just as quickly producing an ink pen to sign the title page.

“I think you’ll enjoy it. Most of the material was from their logs, interviews with their surviving crewmates and descendants.”

Jeksenri wouldn’t gloat, but the cover did it for him, with a scrawling “New Berlin Times bestseller” on the top of the cover with pictures of Captain Pike and Carlson on the cover.


"Sounds like I will " Dee replied. "If I can be of any help with that time period, let me know. I remember it as clearly as I remember last week. " Dee added.

Jeksenri smiles.

"I'll certainly keep that in mind. I am always looking for first person accounts of any era i study. The best sources of information is first hand accountings."


"Absolutely. If I can be of any help, please let me know. I do enjoy talking about the past." Dee commented.

" I can lead you a copy of my people's history codex," Xalanth added. " I'm afraid it doesn't translate into federation basic well though. I've been trying to write it up in Vulcan."

"Hmm...I could probably see if I can walk it through Gorn first. If I recall, Gorn and Dragonian have a similar language structure"

Jeksenri commented as he thought for a moment

" The main language used by the city dwellers of my people, but mine are from the deep desert. Totally different language." Xalanth explained.

Jeksenri nods, listening with his full attention, mentally taking notes.

"I'd love to take a look at it if you're not opposed to it, see what I can do to help you along with the translation"

Jeksenri kindly offers with a smile.

"If you will excuse me, gentlemen, I have to get back to main engineering. " Dee advised.

Jeksenri nods

"Good Day, Lieutenant. I hope we can speak more in-depth in the future."

"Absolutely. " Dee responded. She then headed off for the nearest turbolift.

Xalanth smiled as his friend left. " I'm glad you two got along. "

“I liked her, and I’m sure we’ll be friends before you know it”

Jeksenri says with a small smile

" I'm sure you will. If you follow me the lift down to science is this way." The lizard replied as he lead the way. Stopping at another security checkpoint they went through the same process. Though the security officers kept their cool the look that Xalanth gave the blond haired female who was running the checkpoint was clearly one of affection.

Jeksenri follows, submitting once more to the security screenings. He does notice the look that Xalanth gives to the security officer but says nothing.

" My third and mother of my third and fifth," Xalanth added noting the man's looks. " Don't mess with her she has a temper only an ex maga roma gladiatrix can hold." he joked as the two made their way to the turbolift running down to the science labs.

Jeksenri lets out a harty chuckle at that.

"i'll be sure to stay on her good side, though I don't have much romantic experience with women."

" Neither did i till i reached Starfleet Academy. Had no idea how i'd find the parts of my soul and start the incubation lottery my people use. Not that i need that given my daughters are live born." Xalanth responded as the turbolift began to move.

Jeksenri chuckles soflty again.

"I forget sometimes to make my phrasings clear. I'm not attracted to women, but I am glad that you found mates that fill your heart with warmth and makes your soul complete."

" Ah my bad, but thank you. I hope you find someone who makes your soul complete as well. " Xalanth apologised as the lift sped down the station.

Jeksenri nods “One day. For now, I’m focused on my research and teaching. I understand that the station has an Academy Annex aboard?”

The lizard nodded. " Never get down to it much, but i hear the results the academy is getting is excellent."

"If you ever do, I'm sure that you'll find my lectures on the golden age of Starfleet to be most enlightening."

" Who doesn't love the days of Kirk, Spock and miniskirt uniforms." The lizard joked.


OFF:

Dr. Jeksenri Vale
Starfleet Historian
Starbase 400

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