Social challenge

"I think you look dashing. Don't you agree Lyrya?"

"Quite true, my dear Tyvya."

"You two are definitely partial in your judgment," growled Captain Kheren as he entered the Ceremony hall with both his new wives each side of him. 

They did make quite an impression the three of them; the former commanding officer of the late, great starship Artemis, his athletic frame cut sharply by the white short vest, slim black pants and dark blue shirt of his formal wear. Similarily, both Andorian women each side of him wore a similar dress uniform, except for the white shirt of the pale-skinned Aenar counselor on his left and the red one of the towering giantess Tyvya to his right, and both of them wearing long skirts that clung to their shapely legs with each step they took.

Kheren still grumbled as he looked straight before him so as not to cross the eyes of anyone.

"This shirt is the same hue as my own skin. It is like I am half-naked, bare-chested under this too short vest." 

"Like I said; dashing," repeated Tyvya.

Lyrya only giggled. She could only perceive colors with her antennae, her facial eyes being utterly blind. But she had no problem looking through her mate's own eyes. Since their mating, the mental link between her and the other two was now constant.

Although he kept his dignity as best he could by looking straight ahead, he missed none of the details around him. The honor stand with the ships prominently diplayed brought a sudden wave of sadness to his heart as he instantly spotted the banner of the USS Lotus, the first ship he had served on, now to be retired with all due honors... and that of the Artemis, the last ship he had served on... now lost forever in a blaze of glory.

The feeling struck his Aenar wife and she squeezed his arm gently, sharing the feeling with Tyvya as well.

"Not to worry," the giantess whispered, "they will give you another ship soon enough, you'll see."

"It will be a fighter shuttle, if I am that lucky," said Kheren."Fitting... In this outfit, I look like a bad holonovel space pirate."

"Like I said..."

Tyvya was interrupted by the approach of the handsome chief medical officer of the lamented Artemis, Doctor Elliago Nasaro-Myth, quite elegant in his own formal uniform. His dazzling smile and sparkling purple eyes did nothing to alleviate Kheren's discomfort. And the charming but always mischevelious Deltan knew it quite well.

"My, but ain't we look dashing tonight, Captain Sir!"

Kheren just closed his eyes as both his wives giggled anew.

"You mind if I borrow one of your ladies for a dance or two?" inquired Elliago with that charm of his that even Kheren could not ignore.

"Please, Doc... take both of them."

"We're never far from each other anyway," Lyrya reminded them all as she lowered her antennae to him before she and Tyvya took the Deltan's arms and went with him to sample the buffet. The rest of Kheren's senior officers where also there, nodding to him in greeting.

Kheren sighed and shook his head; but there was more than mild amusement in his eyes and the curve of his antennae. Even he would have dared to say even... contentment... and peace.

His four oculars then caught sight of several other officers now also present in the stateroom. He first went to the one he knew best and from his very first days as an officer of lotus Fleet, greeting him in the traditional Human-borowed Starfleet way of shaking hands.

"Captain Summers. Glad to see that you have recovered from your ordeal on the Spectre."

"Captain Kheren," the Half-Betazoid answered, his handshake warm and energetic. "Indeed my friend, I am, and thanks to no small degree to my First Officer. I beleive you haven't yet being formally introduced to Commander David Rogers here."

The Andorian offered his hand to the slightly taller but broader man who's hazel eyes stood sharply in contrast to his dark hair.

"Ah yes... the infamous naked man. Glad to finally meet you Commander... and in uniform. You look... dashing."

Remembering the embarrassing incident from the previous fleet meeting, David blushed slightly and extended his hand to shake the offered one from the large Andorian.

"Please Captain, the incident shall remain in the past. And I am most pleased to meet you in person, Sir. Your reputation precedes you."

There was no telling from the well-controlled tone and expression of the man if this reputation he was refering to was good or bad; as the captain of the starship that first discovered the Azimuth Horizon anomaly or as the one who lost his ship in there... But the truth was in both anyway so, Kheren did not dwell on the comment but followed suit.

"As does yours, Commander. Thanks to you, the Spectre and your captain, my long time friend, came back home through both cosmic and enemy fire. We owe you much.

"None more than me," aknowledged Daniel Summers with a genuine smile and a nod to his First Officer. "But I have already been told that the Spectre and I will be reassigned to patrol the Klingon border following our latest confrontation with them. Unfortunately for me, Commander Rogers here will be reassigned to a more prestigious and, unfortunately for him, less easy duty. If you're lucky, Kheren my friend, you will get him along with your next command."

"I will certainly need a lot of luck fort either," admitted the Andorian with a heavy sigh. He then looked again at Rogers. "Any thought about your next assignment or career plan, Commander?

"Honestly, Sir, I was field promoted to commander and Spectre's XO position by Captain Summers so fast... and death-defying missions rushing at us one after another at warpspeed... This is the first time I had since coming to the fleet to even pause and think... And all I draw is a blank!"

"Beleive me, I know the feeling," the Andorian said with obvious sympathy in his voice. "Well, the fleet is in a major changing phase at all levels, from personnel to ships to assignments... even the starbase itself I heard. I guess there will be a lot of work and choices for an officer of your accomplishments to inspire you."

"And what about you, my friend?" Summers asked pointedly. 

It took a moment for Kheren to put his thoughts into order and then into words.

"That is a rather good question."

His four oculars went to the Artemis display to his two wives at the buffet table before seeing his first officer in the room being met by Lieutenant Ke'Leysha, the Illithyrii woman. He thought about going to them, but it would have been rude to intrude; besides, they were probably going to speak of things even him with his university degree in cosmology would not be able to follow. 

But he needed to move away from a conversation he definitely didn't want to have... and for more than a few good reasons.

If you will excuse me, gentlebeings, I will take my leave of you and move to my assigned place. That might speed up things a bit so that you may get as soon as possible all the credit you are due after this operation."

Summers coud easily perceive through his Betazoid half the uneasiness of the Andorian. He could not read his mind because of the Vulcan disciplines Kheren had learned before joining Starfleet, nor would he have dared to without his consent. But his feelings were evident even to someone without his powerful empathic abilities, so the captain of the Spectre didn't press the issue. On the contrary, he offered his support.

"Good idea, my friend. I'll do just the same."

They all took leave of each other and Kheren went straight to the table assigned to the senior officers of the Artemis. He was not much into socialities anyway. And so, he just stood there, once again feeling the connection between himself and his lost ship, enjoying it one last time. He accepted a glass of prune juice from the tray of a passing waiter, curious to taste what the Klingons found so extraordinary in the fruity Earth beverage.

But first, he lifted it towards the holodisplay of the Stalwart Guardian of the Federation he had been blessed to command her resurrection... and cursed to send her to her final, well-deserved resting place. 

" Here's to you, My lady." he simply murmured.