Lunch with Sama

Posted on Mon Jun 8th, 2026 @ 9:33am by Lonian Royal Sovereignty & Captain Gary Taylor & Commander Kyle Reece & Lieutenant Camryn Shepard

Mission: Season 6: Episode 7: Crossroads of Destiny
Location: Elysium
Timeline: MD3
1409 words - 2.8 OF Standard Post Measure

As the luncheon commenced, people grabbed food and groups naturally began to form. Their guards melted into the background, silently staying out of the way as they kept eyes on their respective delegates. Sama grabbed some water and a small plate, really out of politeness over any actual interest in the food. She hoped to just blend in to the background and let the other Ladies handle the socialising, yet she couldn’t ignore the company who approached the table she chose to occupy. The two who stood near the commodore.

After having put together a plate of food from the buffet, Kyle made his way over to the table that held his name card. "Ma'am," he said with friendly grin as he lowered his large frame down into one of the chairs at the table.

"Lady Sama." Gary spoke respectfully as he moved to sit at the table with Sama and Kyle. "I hope you are finding everything to your liking." As he placed his plate with a variety of food on the table.

Sama returned the smile with a simple nod of her head. If socialising was inevitable... "It's acceptable," she replied simply as she watched them sit. "I am admittedly curious: are you two the same species?"

Kyle nodded and replied first. "Yes, Ma'am. We are both human. Our planet is called Earth."

"Indeed we are both human and from Earth." Gary added .

Sama faintly raised a brow. The same species, yet such dramatic height differences. "If I may ask, which of you is considered to be average for your species? It is quite a height difference."

Kyle glaced over at Gary, then grinned as he replied. "Well...I guess the Captain here would be closer to the average height of the typical Human male. However, we do vary greatly." He thought for a moment, then offered, "If my memory serves, the shortest adult ever recorded was a gentleman from the old nation state of India, who was just under fifty-five centimeters tall. Where the tallest...ummm..was a gentleman from somewhere in the old nation of the United States of America, the landmass that I am from, was nearly 272 centimeters tall."

"Humans both male and female come in all shapes and sizes Lady Sama. We are a very diversified species as Commander Reece just referenced." Gary added and threw a smile in for good measure.

The UT translated the measurements for Sama, and her expression conveyed a mild interest. Even she couldn't hide her cusiosity of these people. "You'll have to share that with Lady Relou. She would be quite fascinated," Sama responded. She glanced over to her colleague, who was chatting up a storm with some other officers, before returning her gaze to her table companions. "What are your roles aboard this vessel?"

"I am the Executive Officer ." Gary replied politely to Lady Sama's inquiry. "One of my duties is to act as a liaison between the crew and the captain in this case the Commodore."

"And I and the Chief of Security, Ma'am. I am tasked with providing security and law enforcement aboard the ship. My department also works in concert with the Marine detachment aboard to act as a rapid response unit, when enemy troops board the ship." He took a breath, then added, "I am also the ship's Second Officer, putting me third in line for command, begins both the Commodore and Captain Taylor here."

Sama nodded slowly as she thoroughly eyed these two. Then, her expression shifted subtly. The corner of her mouth faintly lifted in the hint of a smile. "I can't say I'm that surprised. Your stature would certainly have its benefits in such a role." To Gary, her head tilted slightly. "Did you used to provide security as well, Captain?"

Gary shook his head, "No Lady Sama, I did not, Early in my career I was an Intel Officer and doubled as a tactical officer. I found the position to be very challenging and rewarding. So, i did not provide security per se as i was not a security officer but I did provide security to the ship, crew and federation in my role as an Intelligence Officer."

A quiet and inquisitive 'hm' came from Sama. "Your lerai, the way you present yourself, is similar to the security officers."

Gary inclined his head in a short nod. "I'll take that has a compliment Lady Sama and say thank you."

Sama returned the gesture. "It is a compliment as well as an observation." She leaned back slightly in her chair; not relaxed, but a deliberate choice to invite conversation. "May I ask what your early career was like, Commander?" She said to Kyle.

After replenishing her plate with some food, Cam picked up her drink and moved among the crowd towards Sama's small group. Noting both Gary and Kyle, she quietly approached the tabled hesitantly while balancing her food. Offering a Lonian greeting, she paused before inquiring respectfully, "Your grace. Please forgive the interruption. Lieutenant Camryn Shepard, Chief Engineer. May I join the group?"

Kyle waited for Cam to sit, then replied to Sama's question. "Well, Ma'am, my career thus far has primarily been in the tactical field. I have shifted off to strategic operations on two previous assignments, and have served as security chief many times as well. In fact, on most of the ship's that I have served on, the positions of Chief Tactical Officer and Chief of Security were often a merged department. It is sepetate on the Elysium, due to her sheer size. However, with our diminished manpower, many of us have had to take on numerous positions in an effort to keep things running as smoothly as possible."

Gary nodded to Cam as the engineer joined them. Once she was seated Kyle replied to Lady Sama. As Kyle spoke, Gary slipped into the role of practiced observer, his eyes on Lady Sama, not in an accusing way but for gaining knowledge as he took in her body language and any facial expressions she might exhibit.

Sama noticed the newcomer approach and let her present company decide. When they welcomed her, Sama inclined her head slightly toward Cam before turning her attention back to Kyle. "I can imagine how difficult it must be to maintain a vessel of this size with reduced manpower. Lady Emeyr informed the rest of us of your story, how you're trying to get back to your homes. It is such a distance, and I'm sure not an easy decision considering the impact to your crew. Have you considered trying to establish yourselves here, in this galaxy?"

Gary spoke up before Kyle replied. , "Excuse me Lady Sama, I know the question wasn't directed to me per se but I would like to answer it. No, we haven't considered staying here. We're committed to getting home to our loved ones and friends in the Alpha Quadrant." Gary replied evenly.

That made Sama raise a brow. "Even with the possibility of never seeing them again? Your homes are millions of light years from here, and it would take even the fastest ships thousands of years to cross such a distance."

A tight smile crossed Gary's face. "Yes Lady Sama, for while what you said is true while there is a very real possibility of us never seeing home again there is also the possibility we will. It just the other side of the same coin and it is a chance we can't refuse to take."

Sama's brow furrowed slightly over the mention of currency, not seeing its relevance in a topic of FTL travel, but she also hadn't bothered to read through the database of odd sayings that Emeyr and Relou had been gushing over either. "Is it common for your people to prefer the option that has the lower chance of success? It just seems rather inefficient."

Gary offered a tight smile. "We're an illogical and tenacious lot Lady Sama and yes it is common for you cannot measure the chance for success in matters of the heart and this crew very much wants to return home and will do everything it can to achieve that goal."

Clearly, Sama mused. She was surprised that someone with an intelligence background would agree with such a statement, and ultimately she decided it had to have been a cultural thing. "Well, may the odds be in your favour," she replied.