I wrote another thing, based on the
2302 Captain's Logs for USS Enterprise-B
As a warning, the following contains content that is emotionally super gay, so if that's not your thing... > : V
(Also it is really hard to find appropriate Trek music for this bit so I gave up because I'm like, p tired right now)
Captain Ka'Sharren Gets Married
USS
Enterprise, Stardate 20762.3
At 35, Enterprise Captain Nash Ka'Sharren is a seasoned Starfleet officer. She'd done and experienced much. She's fought Klingons and Romulans. She's been places that no living being has ever been, she's seen wonders that most cannot imagine, she's even been inside a world as it shattered and died.
But until now, she'd never been married. It was not exactly what she expected when she woke up that morning, nor what she'd expected when she agreed to host a diplomatic gathering in
Enterprise's formal lounge.
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Captain Nash Ka'sharren stands resplendent in her black and crimson Starfleet dress uniform, ribbons and medals pinned across her chest, and a ceremonial Ushaan-tor blade of her people clipped to her waist, shining in the
Enterprise's light.
She stands together with her XO, Commander Maryam Ajam, making small talk with the head of the Federation delegation to the Amarkian Sovereignty. "Good to see you again Ambassador Tharn. I take it that your mission to Amarkia has been successful so far?"
"Oh, very, The Amarki Sovereignty is a delightful combination of aggressiveness and xenophilia."
A Human aide smiles and leans in, "Many Amarki have already begun to apply to the Academy as associate candidates, they're real eager beavers!"
Nash smiles and nods, she's never heard the term, but she can gather the meaning, "Yes, I've experienced that… eagerness and Xenophilia first hand during our first contact. The Amarki seem remarkably curious about the outside galaxy for a people with such a militaristic history"
Nash's XO takes a sip of something blue, "They are very friendly if sometimes unpredictable people. I think they'll make good candidates for Federation membership."
A familiar voice comes from behind, "I'm pleased to hear that, Commander Ajam." Admiral Aelin comes from the direction of the buffet table, plate of chilled fruit in his hands, "I'd recommend we join just for access to these vegetables, Amarkia's food can be dreadfully dull"
"Well, I'm glad that our proposed trade agreement covers such things then," says the Human aide earnestly.
Captain Ka'Sharren tries not to roll her eyes; Ambassador Tharn had been adamant that she behave herself tonight, "So, Admiral, how are you enjoying your visit to
Enterprise?"
The alien officer swallows a hunk of apple. "I'm enjoying her buffet spread almost as much as I enjoyed her chasing me through the rings of Karakia"
Ambassador Tharn looks briefly worried, before the Amarkian Admiral continues, "Which is to say, I am enjoying myself a great deal, I can't remember if I told you how much fun it was fighting
Enterprise, I've never gotten such a good fight." he chuckles, "It might not have looked like it at the time, but, well, I don't like losing, especially in front of my best friend's daughter."
The
Enterprise's Captain perks up, her antennae focusing on the Admiral. "Speaking of Senator Leaniss, I had expected her here tonight, I remember seeing her name on the guest list."
"I had been wondering that myself," added Ambassador Tharn as the human aide and Commander Ajam nodded in agreement.
A sly look passes across the Admiral's face, "Ah, well, I'll let that stay her surprise."
The Andorian diplomat keeps a neutral smile on his face, as he glances up and sees one of the Amarki dignitaries step away from the drinks table. "I hope you don't mind Captain, Admiral, but I need to have a word with Proconsul Alaero."
The Admiral nods, "By all means Ambassador, I think I'll pick Captain Ka'Sharren's brain on starship tactics." He shrugs at the diplomat's retreating back. "Ahh, well, I like Ambassador Tharn well enough, but he hasn't beaten me in ship to ship combat yet."
"Speak of the De- I mean, speaking of the Senator," Commander Ajam says, looking across the room as the twin doors slide open and Senator Leaniss glides through, resplendent in a low cut green dress with golden filigree and lacework. Clipped to her side is the sixty centimeter long ceremonial blade of the Amarki people.
"I almost feel underdressed now," whispers Commander Ajam to her CO, unconsciously tugging at her crimson dress uniform.
The Senator walks across the room towards the small group, the other attendees parting as Senator Leaniss smoothly glides through the crowd.
"Ah, Uncle Aelin, Commander Ajam" Leaniss nods deferentially, before looking at Captain Ka'Sharren with what the Andorian will later describe as a 'Predator's Grin,' "Captain Nash Ka'Sharren, I am so pleased to see you again."
The Captain grins back, remembering her shore leave on Amarkia, "As am I, Senator Leaniss, I regret that our time together during
Enterprise's first visit was far too short."
Commander Ajam keeps a carefully neutral expression and decides that now is as good a time as any to inspect the quality of the buffet table.
"As do I, Captain, in fact, I'd like to do the honourable thing because of that." Leaniss clears her throat and straightens up to her full 190cm height, back perfectly straight, and unclips her ceremonial blade. "Captain Nash Ka'Sharren of the United Federation of Planets, I offer you my blade and my honour, may our lines be ever friendly into eternity"
The lithe Amarki holds out her blade, held upon her upwards facing palms, and the Andorian woman takes it after Admiral Aelin nods at her with a wide grin on his face.
From over at the buffet table, Commander Ajam frowns as she picks over the collection of cold meats and cheeses, something from her memory is trying to get her attention, something from the diplomatic briefing earlier.
Captain Ka'Sharren smiles, confused, as she takes the Senator's blade, "Thank you Senator Leaniss, I, ah, also wish for our two lines to be friendly into eternity."
Commander Ajam freezes, the gears in her head turning, as she watches Admiral Aelin prompt Ka'Sharren to reply in kind with her own ceremonial weapon. She notices that all the Amarki delegates have stopped whatever they were doing and are now intently watching the Captain and the Senator.
Something clicks, and the Human officer all but runs back to her Captain.
It's too late though, and the Amarki begin politely clapping as Leaniss leans in to kiss a surprised Ka'Sharren.
"Ma'am!" says Commander Ajam stridently, "Ma'am!"
Captain Nash turns to her XO with a bemused look on her face as she gently tries to pry the Senator off of herself. "Sorry, Commander, I seem to be busy at the mome-"
Ajam cuts the Andorian off. "Ma'am, that was a wedding."
"No, you need four peo...ple...", Ka'Sharren's trail of thought suddenly derails as the full import suddenly sinks in, "Ohhhhhhhh," she says.
Admiral Aelin places a hand on the Captain's shoulder, "Congratulations, Captain Ka'Sharren, you are a very lucky woman, the Leaniss line is very prosperous and very powerful. Senator Leaniss was perhaps the most eligible single woman on the planet." He smirks. "And I can't think of a more worthy spouse for the Senator." He bows stiffly. "Now if you will excuse me, the buffet tables calls". The Admiral steps away, headed back towards buffet table and the cold fruit tray, leaving the newlyweds to their own devices.
Captain Ka'Sharren looks helplessly at the Admiral's retreating back and then between Commander Ajam, and surprised but pleased Ambassador Tharn, before settling on an extremely smug Senator Leaniss. "I think we should talk," she says.
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Captain Nash sits on the small couch placed in her quarters, she's made it up as a small bed, with starfleet insignia-ed blankets carefully tucked into its cushions.
She's still wearing her dress uniform as she speaks to the
Enterprise's computer, it has been a very long day. "Captain's Log, Supplemental, USS
Enterprise, Stardate 20764.6" she pauses carefully choosing her words, "Things have ... progressed in ... let's say, other than expected directions."
Senator Leaniss slides onto the couch beside the Andorian, she's shed her formal dress, for something… lighter, and places her chin on the Andorian's shoulder as she wraps her arms around her new wife, "Who are you talking to?"
The Starfleet officer makes a hushing gesture with her hands, "Leaniss, shh, these are official logs. Now, as I was saying-"
"Are you still trying to divorce me?" the Amarki woman asks, as she pulls away from the Captain angrily.
"Senator!" Nash sighs, " Computer, we'll resume later.".
The Captain turns to face the senator and gently grasps her arms, looking directly into her unexpected wife's eyes, "Leaniss..." she starts.
The Senator huffs, "You can call me Larai now, Nash. We're married, you may use my heartname."
The Andorian lets out a breath. "Okay, Larai… this is what I want to talk about." She pauses, looking for the right words. "I wasn't ready for marriage, I'm still not"
The Senator moves backwards angrily crossing her arms. "Then why did you treat me like you did? Why did we-" she starts to tear up.
Ka'Sharren tries to think fast, she's beginning to wonder how much of this sort of thing Kirk's had to deal with, the legends never talk about Kirk going through this sort of thing, "Leaniss -Larai, I never intended to court you for marriage, I apologize if that was the impression that you got." she takes a deep breath, "and marriage, to only one person… That's quite the commitment, a traditional Andorian marriage is a full quad." She pauses for a moment, pointing first to Leaniss, "Just you" then points to herself, "and me. That's a big scary step" she puts her arm around Larai. "That's not to say that I don't like you, or that I just wanted to use you. I do like you, but… well I have
Enterprise, my responsibility is to her and her crew, not to myself."
Leaniss Larai closes her eyes and sighs deeply, "I think deep down I knew that" she opens her eyes and leans into Captain Ka'Sharren, "I just… as a Senator, marriage is a political tool. I was stuck having to choose between a dozen boring, dull, dependable suitors"
The Amarki sits back up and looks into the Captain's eyes. "Then you come to our system, and it was so Romantic… you were interested in me not as a political tool, but as a person. And you're so dashing and adventurous, the sort of person that I would never be allowed to be."
The Starfleet officer chuckles slightly. "It's almost more trouble than it's worth sometimes."
Larai sniffs, and takes a deep breath. "Still, I would have liked to see everything that you get to see." she giggles slightly, "I guess that I was a little mopey after you left, and Uncle Aelin tried to cheer me up, he suggested that I look into a marriage with someone from your Federation… of course that would just be another type of political marriage"
She turns her head to smile at Ka'Sharren. "Then you came back… I realised what an opportunity I had, no one in the Sovereignty could deny your importance or your desirability as a marriage prospect. And I knew that you didn't see me for my power or my wealth, and well… I guess I deluded myself into thinking that I could marry you and go on your adventures." She smiles weakly. "It would be like a child's fairy tale, so Romantic and so Daring."
The Amarki separates herself from her wife, "I'm so sorry. I can talk to some people about divorce, or whatever else you want " She hugs herself. "I can understand if you don't want to speak with me again. I can go -"
There are tears forming in the corners Nash Ka'Sharren's eyes as she reaches out to pull the Senator into a hug, "No, don't… don't beat yourself up, everyone has those days when you do something silly." She pauses. "Or rather, not silly but uh... " She sighs deeply. "Okay, Larai, I admire your boldness and confidence, I think we can work something out… you can stay as a liaison to Starfleet, I might even be able to swing a commission, maybe as a Diplomatic officer?"
The Amarki blinks heavily, trying to push tears away, "Really? You can just do that?"
"Not easily, but I think we can work it out, like I said, you're definitely officer material, you have diplomatic and leadership experience, and Starfleet is always eager to let new peoples into the Federation, this would be a good example of, uh, 'mutually beneficial cooperation' between us."
The senator smiles broadly, her tears are gone and she's become very excited, "This is almost everything that I wanted! I used to dream of exploring space as a little girl."
Nash Ka"Sharren smiles. "Same." Her face becomes serious. "However, Larai, if we do this, I need you to know some things. We do have to divorce, and if you are on my ship, we cannot maintain any sort of relationship."
The Senator and future Starfleet Officer nods slowly. "I understand, I may not be military, but my people are, we understand about such things."
"That doesn't mean that I won't be fair to you as a Captain, or that I won't be your friend." The Andorian smiles lopsidedly. "That doesn't even mean that we can't try this again someday if we still feel that something is there. But I don't want you to keep a torch for me just because of... All this. It wouldn't be fair to you, you should keep your options open." Ka'Sharren grins, pulling her wife into a close hug. "You are quite the catch after all."
"That I am." She lowers her voice to a sultry growl. "However. Tonight you're still my spouse, Mrs Leaniss-Ka'Sharren," says Larai, fiercely pushing Ka'Sharren back into the couch cushions.
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(Honestly, this is 50%+ keeping Ka'Sharren unattached for moar Kirk-like action > : P )
