Oh, You Beach!!

Posted on Wed Jun 10th, 2026 @ 7:31pm by Lonian Royal Sovereignty & Lieutenant Zac Smithson [Taylor] & Senior Chief Petty Officer Emily Charles {Kelea-Salik} & Gunnery Sergeant Leilani Charles {Kelea-Salik}

Mission: Season 6: Episode 7: Crossroads of Destiny
Location: Jekasp, Niea IV
Timeline: MD4 Late Morning
2591 words - 5.2 OF Standard Post Measure

Jekasp was a very obvious coastal town. Boats were parked in front of homes, fishing supplies already packed. Several places served various kinds of seafood, and they emphasised that their food was freshly caught. Situated in the background were what the locals called the Spectral Mountains, a range known for its multiple colours. Grasslands sat to the north of the town, with shuttle bus tours advertising trips to nature reserves. To the south, humid rainforests, with ziplines and hot springs buried deep in the trees. Not far from the town was one of the planet's many beaches, with fine golden sand and the steady thrum of waves crashing into the shore.

Teevs had made some recommendations to Leilani and Emily when the met up the other day. He told them to avoid anything that looked like a chain restaurant and gave them a map with his favourite places.

Emily headed for the nearest restaurant that Teevs had suggested. Both she and Leilani were getting pretty hungry, so it seemed a good idea to eat now and explore further later on. Walking in they found a quiet corner to sit down, picking up a menu to look at what was available.

After a couple minutes, a server came over and put on a friendly smile. "What can I get you today?"

Leilani was looking curiously at the menu. “I think I’d like to try the Mori Pasta please.” She smiled warmly.

“The same for me please” Emily smiled warmly. “It sounds interesting.”

"Good choice," the server replied with a nod. "Anything to drink?"

“Erm I think I’d like some iced tea please” Leilani smiled.

“Same here please” Emily added with a polite smile.

Once the order was taken, the server informed that it would be a couple minutes before departing for the kitchen. A couple more tables were occupied, clearly the calm before a rush hour. The windows to outside were open to allow the saltwater breeze to enter.

“This is so nice, just to get some fresh air away from the ship.” Emily added as she enjoyed the breeze.

“I wish George was here to join us now, he did say he’d join us when he got chance.” Leilani responded as she too enjoyed the sea breeze.

Zac had finished some last minute work aboard ship and had transported to the surface. He used his combadge to locate Emily and Leilani (or at least the restaurant they were at) He arrived at the restaurant but didn't see them and stood looking like a lost puppy as he searched the patrons trying to find them.

Emily picked up on Zac the moment he walked in, standing up she gave him a wave so he’d know where they were. “Speak of the devil, here’s Zac now.”

A smile blossomed across Zac's face at seeing Emily, he gave an answering wave even as he moved toward her, Reaching her, he kissed her softly. "Hi darling, Hi Leilani. I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."

“Not at all Zac” Leilani smiled warmly. “Emily was just saying you were going to join us so you arrived just at the right time.”

“I’m glad you could make it, we’ve already ordered ours so have a look at the menu and get an order in.”

"Thanks." Zac answered easily. "I was updating the tactical systems and it took slightly longer then I thought." He took a menu and then looked at Emily and Leilani, :What did you both order?"

“We both ordered the The Mori Pasta” Emily smiled.

Zac nodded at what the two ladies had ordered. "I think I know what I'll have." He said as he got up and went to the counter and found the waiter. "Excuse me. I'm with the two ladies and I'd like to order the Keera and faal please and an ice tea to drink."

"Certainly. I'll add your order to the ladies. It will be a few minutes before it is ready." The waiter replied.

"Thank you." Zac answered and returned to Emily and Leilani. "There ordered." He announced.

“So what do you think so far?” Leilani asked curiously. “I’m quite enjoying being off the ship in the fresh air.”

Zac nodded, "It is a nice change of scenery to be sure." He agreed, "I could get use to this." He admitted.

“I’d like to bring the kids down but I thought I’d check it out first” Leilani smiled. “Besides I don’t usually get much time to myself so this makes a nice change.” Leilani smiled.

Zac nodded in agreement. "You are sooooo right Leilani. This is a nice and welcomed change."

The server brought out the dishes on a hovering tray. "Two mori pastas, a keera and faal, and three iced teas," she announced, setting down plates in front of each person. She did the same for the iced teas, then sent the tray back to the kitchen with a wave of her hand. On closer inspection, she was wearing a glove with silver threading, and specific hand movements made the tray do different things. "Enjoy, and let me know if you need anything else!"

“Thank you very much” Emily smiled warmly. “It’s looks delicious!”

The mori pasta looked a lot like the Earth lobster mac and cheese dish. The pasta pieces were coiled similar to campanelle, coated in a warm pale yellow sauce, with reddish pieces of seafood mixed in. It was garnished on one side with a sprinkle of sprouted greens and a curved line of some kind of crumbled nut.

The keera and faal was a piece of pale green fileted fish with a pile of orange rings that had the faint translucency of kelp tubes. The kelp rings glistened in the oil they were sauteed in, and with the rings were a few other complimentary vegetables. On the plate was a small cup of cream-coloured dipping sauce.

“Let’s get stuck in!” Leilani grinned before politely trying some of her dish. “Mmm” she nodded as she ate. “Wonderful.”

“No better recommendation than that” Emily smiled before starting her own dish.

Zac looked at his plate, "This looks absolutely divine and smells wonderful." As he prepared to dig into his meal. "Emily, Leilani would either of you like to try some of this?"

Emily shook her head as she was busy tucking into her food. “I think that’s a no thank you from both of us” Leilani added with a grin.

Zac couldn't help but chuckle at Emily as she was thoroughly enjoying her meal. "As you wish Leilani." He smiled and then winked. "I'd ask Emily for a taste of her meal but I'm afraid she'd stab me with her fork."

Emily grinned as she looked towards Zac. “Who me? Of course I wouldn’t.” She couldn’t help but grin.

Zac's grin grew and spread across his face, "Uh huh." He chuckled and "Well, no more than twice." He added before laughing and grabbing his glass of tea to take a sip.

Emily grinned giving Leilani a wry smile.

The server came back a few minutes later and gave them a smile. "How is everything?"

"Everything is excellent." Zac answered looking at Emily and Leilani to see if they needed or wanted anything else.

“Everything is wonderful, thank you” Leilani smiled warmly.

“I couldn’t agree more” Emily nodded in agreement.

Zac took another bite of his meal along with a sip of tea. "This is really good. After we finish here, where do want to go and see next?"

“Anything and everything” Emily grinned. “If I’m to bring my daughter down here I want to see what’s on offer for her.”

“Likewise” Leilani nodded in agreement.

"I think that is a very good idea to bring the kids down so they get to see and try something different." Zac answered.

Down the street, a pair of guards were drinking coffee outside a coffee shop. When the trio exited the restaurant, one of the guards glanced at a datapad in her hand before finishing her coffee. The other followed suit, and the two began their stroll to intercept.

"Pardon the intrusion," Paev began. "We're investigating an individual who arrived a couple days ago. Do any of you recognise him?" She presented the datapad, which had an image of Teevs on it, his name in several alien languages underneath.

Zac looked at the guards and then at the datapad before finally looking at Emily and Leilani. All done in a matter of seconds and he remained silent. He looked to Emily and Leilani again and winked, Ignoring the guard's question and instead saying. "What? What's the charge" Eating a delicious succulent meal?"

Emily gave Leilani a worried glance, before waiting for the guards to answer Zac’s question.

The Human phrase went well over Paev's head as she replied with, "no, we are investigating an act of treason committed by this individual and would like to interview anyone who may know him."

“Exactly what is this act of treason?” Leilani asked as she looked towards Paev. “Perhaps you should contact our ship and request a meeting to discuss matters.”

Zac nodded in agreement at Leilani's suggestion. "Why don't you have your superiors contact our ship and talk to our command team to discuss matters and come to some sort of agreement or understanding."

"That isn't necessary. The threat has already been mitigated," Paev insisted. She knew the prisoner was within Lonian jurisdiction, and Sama wasn't really in the mood to talk. To Leilani, she replied, "he collaborated with known terrorists and was found in possession of illegal assets. Our investigation is to uncover the motive. We're just hoping to ask a few questions, and any information you can provide would be most appreciated. Even confirming his identity if you know him would be helpful."

Zac listened to the guards explanation and something just didn't sound right. It sounded as if the guards knew more than they were letting on. "I'll repeat myself. Your superiors should contact our CO and XO and talk to them. So everyone knows what exactly is going on."

Paev turned her attention back toward Zac. Apparently, the resistance these people put up to following local rules wasn't a one-off incident. As she left for her shift, she overheard her colleagues talking about how some of their detainees had been pains in the asses. "We will pass along the recommendation to our supervisor," she conceded, keeping her expression politically neutral. "In the meantime, Lonian legal statute allows us to begin basic questioning for incidents like this."

“Exactly what does that mean?” Emily asked as she looked towards Paev. “We haven’t done anything wrong.”

Zac was getting a bad feeling about this whole confrontation. "I think they want to arrest us Emily and no we haven't done anything wrong." He looked at Paev, "That's it isn't it? You want to arrest us, don't you?"

A couple people passing by started to eye the confrontation, and Sama was strict in her orders to not cause a scene. But these three refusing to cooperate was suspicious. Paev recalled a similar confrontation an hour ago that some of her peers had to... handle. She'd be sure to pass along the word that this was, unfortunately, not a one-off event. Straightening her jacket, Paev addressed the three. "It seems like there is a translation error if you believe a simple investigation implies incrimination," she said curtly. "Maybe we will avoid further miscommunication if we do contact your vessel directly." With nothing more to offer, she and the other guard walked past them to leave.

Zac watched Paev and the other guard walk past them. To Emily and Leilani he said, "That was strange. We need to inform the Commodore and Captain Taylor about this. I'm sure they would want to know and I'm betting they will find it interesting as well."

“That’s a good idea Zac” Emily nodded. “Maybe we should get away from here?”

Zac took Emily's hand in his, "Come on Leilani, we're getting away from here. A change of scenery is needed."

As the trio continued, they eventually made it to an area with shops and souvenirs. A kid swung from the arms of her parents, her giggles causing some people nearby to smile in amusement. This time, there were no signs of guards... well, except for the lifeguard on duty on the beach. She sat in her tower, looking over the water and occasionally blowing a whistle when kids got too rowdy.

Zac relaxed but was still on edge as the trio found themselves in an area full of shops. He gave a look around but didn't see any guards. "I think this might be a good place to pick up some souvenirs and maybe later, walk in the surf. What do you think Emily? Leilani? Think you might like to get your toes wet?" He asked with a smile.

“You bet I do!” Emily grinned enthusiastically.

“Why not” Leilani nodded. “I just wish George was here with us.”

":Come on." He said taking Emily's hand in his as the walked down to the shore. "You can tell George about this Leilani, get him come down here, you know just the two of you."

Their route had them pass through one of the many side alleys between buildings. It was quieter, the sounds of people becoming almost muted and unintelligible murmurs. At the end of the alley was the beach; the waves couldn't be heard just yet, but their presence was felt, like it was beckoning them.

They weren't alone.

As they approached the exit, their view of the golden sand was blocked. Guards. They entered the alley, and one could have dismissed them as passing by, however the way they fully took up the width of the alley began to indicate otherwise.

*Guards* Zac thought sourly as he, Emily and Leilani drew closer. He decided not to make a scene or force an issue, so held onto Emily's hand and they continued toward the beach with Leilani close beside them.

Emily gripped Zac’s hand giving him a worried look.

Leilani stood alongside Emily, as a marine she knew how to defend herself if she had to though it was Emily she was more worried about.

As they got closer, it became clearer that the guards were not going to move. Behind them, three more guards entered the alley. The guards in front of them spoke once they got within 3 metres. "You need to come with us."

“No way!” Emily shook her head before she took off for the nearest place she could see that might give them a chance to escape.

Leilani quickly followed trying to raise the ship as she did so.

Zac spun, faced the guards as Emily took off, hoping to escape whatever the guards had planned for them. "Get away from us. We're going back to the ship and report your conduct."

The guards from behind used the distraction to close the distance and cut them off.

Zac's hand had gone to his combadge, Smithson to Elysium......." He started as the guards grabbed for him.

Before any of them could say more or even take another step, the guards each grabbed a person. The second they made contact they touched their communicators to initiate a transport. Moments later, they were gone.

The beach beckoned... for nobody.