From: Christine Fontaine
Date: Sun, 23 Mar 1997 19:57:53 -0500
Subject: USS REGENT / USS CHESAPEAKE : Long Distance Communications
<< NRPG >>
REGENTry: Just some stuff with StarWander and Catherine, certainly nothing
that is really relevant, unless you want to know what happened to your
former CMO.
CHESAPEAKEans: Just some interaction between Catherine and one of her
friends from the REGENT. Perhaps giving you a look at what she's like once
she feels comfortable around someone...
<< RPG >>
SD 90323.1955
Date: March 19th
Scene: USS REGENT: StarWander's Quarters
StarWander to-Vallrisa glanced about his quarters, his emerald green eyes
carefully appraising the room's decor. After a few moments of critical
examination, he arched his whiskers forward in satisfaction. Having imparted
his own personal touches to the room, StarWander now felt that these
quarters were indeed *his*. Up until now, StarWander had been living in
very drab quarters. Finally, he had decided to take some time to refurbish
his room.
Several of the room's accoutrements had been sent to the REGENT by
StarWander's mother, Rear Admiral StarWind to-Vensre, now retired, who had
been the Commandant of ALB. Those items included a matching pair of
usefuls, a kind of warm, beautiful blanket; a small set of hand drums; a
delicate, intricately carved reed flute and an incredible painting of a
Sivaoan forest, whose detail amazed the black-furred engineer. Along with
these gifts, StarWander's mother had included an isolinear chip containing
several new recipes that would appeal to the Sivaoan palate and a couple of
holos of their family. StarWander stared again in wonder at the holos,
which had been given a place of honour on his desk. Walking over to take a
closer look, he continued to marvel at the change in his younger siblings.
The kittens had grown considerably since he had last been home.
At that thought, StarWander realized that it *had* been a while since he had
last visited his family, who had been stationed at Armstrong Lunar Base when
StarWind had been Commandant. And it had been even longer since he had been
home to Sivao. Not that he had spent any great length of time there as a
youngster, for StarWander had travelled with his mother, StarWind, wherever
she had been posted. At the age of 14, however, a young StarWander had
returned to Sivao, living there for two years before completing his walk at
the age of 16. After successfully completing his walk, the black-furred
Sivaoan chose the name StarWander, and, following in his mother's
paw-prints, had applied for admission at Starfleet Academy. StarWander's
application had been successful, and he spent the next four years at the
Academy, majoring in Engineering and also studying general science.
Looking at the holo of his younger sibs again, StarWander's midnight black
tail curled into a tight helix. That appendage looped even tighter as the
Sivaoan recalled the playful manner in which the kittens had examined
Catherine's two Siamese cats, the evening that the vet had been invited to
the Commandant's residence for dinner. StarWander had been visiting his
family, and Catherine had just completed her holodeck training. The two
young officers, both newly-graduated Ensigns, had quickly become friends,
despite Catherine's inherent timidity. Travelling to Starbase ALPHA
together for assignment, they had both been delighted to find out that they
had both been assigned to the USS REGENT. At least there would be one
familiar face aboard ship!
Black tail curling into a tight helix at the memories, StarWander brought
his mind back to the present, where the thoughts that entered his mind
caused his midnight tail to droop. Catherine was no longer aboard the
REGENT, having requested a transfer. With her departure, StarWander had
lost a dear friend, someone who shared his love of music.
StarWander wondered how Catherine was faring about the CHESAPEAKE, where she
had been assigned as Chief Medical Officer. Deciding that there was only
one way to find out, he composed a quick message to his friend, asking
Catherine if she had some time to speak.
*** *** *** *** ***
Scene: USS CHESAPEAKE: CMO's Quarters
MD 03.2100 (aboard the USS CHESAPEAKE)
Catherine, after she finished reading her message from Rich, had composed a
message to send back to her love, detailing her recent experiences.
Concerned for Rich, she hoped that things weren't too difficult back home.
Wishing that she could be there with him, Catherine had told Rich that she'd
drop everything in a minute and return to Earth, if for any reason he needed
her there.
After sending that loving message on its way, Catherine had picked up her
book; she was still reading _The Once and Future King_. The vet was
completely wrapped up in her reading when a message for her came through,
indicating that there was a call for her from the USS REGENT. Taking in a
sharp breath, the vet wondered who the communication could be from.
Comfortable lying on her bed, Catherine didn't want to get up, but curiosity
overcame her lethargy and she made her way over to the computer terminal in
her room.
Once she saw who the message was from, a smile quickly lit up her face. Her
friend StarWander to-Vallrisa, an engineer serving aboard the REGENT,
wondered if Catherine had some time to talk. The ebony-furred Sivaoan had
been one of Catherine's few friends aboard that ship.
Being a cat-lover, Catherine had always felt comfortable around Sivaoans.
Although the vet *knew* that Sivaoans were sentient individuals, their
feline form just somehow made it easier for her to relax around when in
their presence. Perhaps they seemed less threatening than her fellow human
beings. Certainly, with their ability to discern an individual's emotional
state from their scent, they were often more perceptive.
Anxious to speak with her Sivaoan friend, Catherine immediately turned on
her viewer. "StarWander!" she exclaimed, forgetting all sense of propriety
at the sight of her Sivaoan friend.
StarWander's jet-black tail looped in delight. "Hello Catherine. Happy
Birthday!"
"You remembered!" Catherine exclaimed. Then, her cheeks coloured with a
rosy blush she added, "I'm sorry, of *course* you remembered. Not all of us
are so lucky to be blessed with a photographic memory."
Tail curling again, StarWander arched his whiskers forwards. " Catherine -
its good to see you." At the same time, the Sivaoan noted that his friend
looked tired and worn. And she was still thin - too thin in fact.
Then StarWander noticed the new hollow pip that lay nestled next to
the two solid pips on Catherine's collar. "Congratulations, Catherine," the
Sivaoan said, obviously very happy for his friend, "I see they've promoted
you to Lieutenant Commander."
Catherine nodded, not looking at all pleased with the promotion. Sighing,
she confessed to StarWander, "I kind of wish they hadn't promoted me."
Shaking her head, she added, "I don't feel that I deserved it. Can you
imagine me, a Commander?" A wry smile crossed the vet's lips, as she tucked
a loose curl behind one ear. "Admiral Jokinen said that it was overdue, but
I don't know what he meant by that..." Catherine trailed off, a puzzled
frown crossing her face.
Sighing, she added, "even though I would have probably remained a Lieutenant
for the rest of my career if I had stayed aboard the REGENT, well, I would
have been happy with that..."
StarWander, sensing that Catherine felt uncomfortable talking about the
promotion moved on to another topic. "So, how do you like it aboard the
CHESAPEAKE?"
That question brought a smile to Catherine's face. "I've met some very nice
people. The Chief Science Officer is very nice, and the Exec is very kind.
I haven't really had a chance to meet anyone else yet. There was an
officers' dinner my first night here, but, umm, I left early." Catherine's
cheeks turned a deep shade of pink.
"Catherine!" StarWander exclaimed, "you'll never meet new people that way."
The Sivaoan was well aware of the vet's shyness and knew that she felt
uncomfortable in social situations.
"I know, StarWander, I know... I just... Well, I miss the REGENT...
I miss you, I miss the crew, and I even miss the computer." A fleeting smile
crossed the doctor's face as she thought of the computer, Anna. It was
amazing how much one came to depend on the anticipatory computer system.
Then, as Catherine's thoughts turned to Rich, she added, "sometimes I wonder
if leaving was the right thing to do."
Catherine's voice now became a soft whisper, so quiet that even StarWander,
with his sensitive Sivaoan ears, had to strain to hear what his friends was
saying. "I just... I just don't know how I could have stayed aboard
without Rich..."
StarWander arched his whiskers forwards, knowing how close Rich and
Catherine had been.
"Sometimes I wonder if I should have resigned - gone back to Earth with
him..." the vet sighed, wondering if she had made the right decision.
"If things don't work out for you, that always remains an option,"
StarWander stated matter-of-factly.
Catherine nodded. "That's true," she said with another sigh.
"Have you heard from Lieutenant Commander Richard Francis Wilson?"
StarWander asked, using Rich's full rank and name in traditional Sivaoan
fashion.
A bright smile lit Catherine's face, animating it with beauty. "Yes,
today," she said softly, "he sent me birthday wishes. He wishes we could be
together right now, as do I, but..." Her voice trailed off quietly.
Arching his whiskers forwards, StarWander didn't pursue the matter further.
"So, how are things aboard the REGENT?" Catherine asked her Sivaoan friend,
breaking the silence.
"Well, things here have changed a bit since you left. Lieutenant Rix is now
the Operations Manager and you'll be surprised to hear that Lieutenant
Junior Grade Alexis Johan has been assigned as the Flight Control Officer."
"Really?" Catherine was clearly surprised.
Arching his whiskers forwards, StarWander nodded for good measure. "A new
CMO has arrived, but no word yet on a new counsellor."
Catherine nodded, taking in the news. "Oh! I almost forgot! There's
another Sivaoan aboard the CHESAPEAKE! And she's in my department! Doctor
DawnFire to-Ennien, and she's also a bard. Have you ever heard of her?" the
vet asked, knowing how Sivao honoured its bards.
"No, I'm afraid not." StarWander shook his head. "But then, I only spent a
couple of years on Sivao. There are many bards I have never met."
"That's understandable," Catherine nodded. "I do hope she'll honour us with
a concert at some point in time. I'll never forget the wonderful music that
you and your parents performed for me. It was the most marvelous music I've
ever heard."
"Thank you Catherine." If Sivaoans could blush, StarWander would be blushing.
"How are your paws?" Catherine asked, the doctor in her reasserting itself
once more. StarWander's paws had been burned several times, once severely,
and the vet liked to check up on them.
"Fine, Catherine, thank you."
"You know, you promised me a concert after those paws of yours were healed.
You never delivered," Catherine teased.
"I know, I know. I'll make it up to you," StarWander's tail looped in
response to Catherine's teasing. "Would you like me to send you some
recordings of myself and my family?"
"Of course!" Catherine exclaimed, delighted. "I didn't know you had any on
hand. I'd *love* to hear them. Please do send them along." A bright smile
lit up the vet's face. "Thank you StarWander."
"You're welcome," the black-furred felinoid replied as he arched his
whiskers forward. "I'll also include a little birthday surprise for you."
"StarWander, you don't have to," Catherine protested, her cheeks rosy.
"I know I don't have to, but I want to," the Sivaoan stated.
"Thank you."
"Well, I'm afraid I must be going," StarWander said, reluctance clear in his
tone of voice. "I just wanted to be sure I wished you a Happy Birthday."
"Thank you, StarWander," Catherine said with a smile. "Take care, my friend."
"Thank you. Make sure you take care of yourself as well."
"I will."
"Happy Birthday."
With that, the connection closed.
Respectfully submitted,
Chris Fontaine
LCDR Catherine Ledoux, DVM ENS StarWander to-Vallrisa
Chief Medical Officer Engineer
USS CHESAPEAKE USS REGENT
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