Let's Get This Party Started

Posted on 08 Feb 2026 @ 6:52pm by Captain Brynhild Kleim & Commander Kristiana Petrova

1,192 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Unity

Like most fighter pilots, or so it seemed, Brynhild had never been especially fond of wearing her dress uniform.

It was stiff, particularly since it was infrequently used until she ascended to commanded, and it never seemed to fit her as well as a flight suit or her normal duty uniform. She'd been to the tailor more than once, yet it seemed that the problem was more in her head than in the material. Or so they implied.

Either way, she was stuck in it for tonight. A formal affair had been scheduled here on the station, celebrating the new station as well as the Sal'kiirans joining the United Federation of Planets. There were plans for the ships within the convoy to take the occasion to recognize their crews with promotions and commendations as appropriate.

Thus, all of the Starfleet folks were stuck in the spiffy suits and holding court over their individual crews as all the ships' personnel mingled with each other and the Sal'kiirans.

Properly and unhappily attired, Brynna headed out to meet her first officer so they could walk to this thing together.

"At what rank do you start liking these?" Petrova was poking and picking at her own dress whites. She wasn't a pilot, had never flown any ship outside of a shuttle in training (part of command training was showing the ability to do at least that) but other than that, she had never sat behind the controls of any starship, big or small. What she was, was security. Security that didn't do well with fancy to-do, froo froo and frills. Just your basic uniform would do her fine, thankyouverymuch. "From your expression and body language it's not Captain," she intoned as Brynna approached. "Better hope you've got some acting skills, we're supposed to be all comfy and happy to be here and such."

"I suspect once you reach around admiral and get issued the stick up your--" the captain began to mumble before she caught herself. Or was it really something that just slipped out? She'd never tell. She glanced sidelong at Petrova with a faint smirk. "I don't think anyone ever likes these. We just put on a good show, which I am capable of doing, thankfully, since I'm not actually unhappy about the event. Just the dress code."

"Turns out that back in the day on Earth naval officers did get a stick issued to them," Kris muttered, straightening her dress uniform to a standard she decided was 'good enough for government work' and turning her full attention to her captain. "I can think of better places to put them though," Beat. "They should bring that back, honestly. Starfleet issued official canes for officers."

That afforded Brynna a brief smirk and chuckle. "I don't think they'd allow any officer in or coming from certain departments, like security and fighters, to have such things," she said. "For fear of what havoc may be wreaked with such."

"Why d'you think I want one?" Kristiana replied just a bit too readily, her mood seemingly lifted. One final tug on her uniform before putting on a more serious, officious expression, standing just that bit more straight and tall. "Alright, game time I suppose. Lead the way, Captain."

"Bold of you to assume I know where I'm going," the captain replied with a glint of humor in her dark eyes. Truth was, a good pilot had their course marked out when the destination was known in advance. She started walking. "I at least have it on Commander Myan's authority that while this event will officially be a blend of UFP and Sal'kiiran, that since the Arrkun have mostly had the Sal'kiiran part and they apparently don't have any customs, it will be mostly familiar for the Starfleet attendees."

"A people without customs? I find that hard to believe. Still, beats having to wear a fish or recite an eight hundred year old poem in a language the human voice box is not built for," Kris mused, falling in step alongside the younger, taller, prettier and higher ranking woman. That still stung her a little bit, though she wouldn't admit to it. "Semi related, have you ever seen Taliborn in dress whites? That alone is almost worth the price of admission. Great big giant fluffy marshmallow."

Brynhild's dark brows rose slightly. "I will admit that I have yet to spend a great deal of time with Commander Taliborn, but I think... I can imagine it." She paused and tried to do so, and then she looked slightly sidelong at her first officer. "Have you actually told him directly that you think our chief engineer looks like a marshmallow in dress whites?"

"I have not," Kristiana admitted. "Not that I think he'd take offense; if anything I figure he'd see the humor in it. It's just - " she paused a moment, seemingly trying to find the right words. "Not something you bring up in every day conversation or professional situations like staff meetings and department reports, you know?"

"Granted," the captain agreed, "but you are the ship's first officer. If anyone could try it and form a trend instead of a problem, it would be you."

"Is that your official request-slash-recommendation as my commanding officer, Captain?" Kris quirked a brow. She knew she was a bit strict and firm, but she still considered herself approachable. If she were not, she wasn't aware of it. She wasn't keen on attempting to cultivate a more friendly, even more open culture aboard the ship - that just wasn't her style, and she knew it. She'd leave that to personable officers, like Taliborn and Veera.

Brynna gave a slight wave. "Not at all," she said. "Simply perspective on the benefits of rank, where you can simultaneously get away with more and less at the same time." She paused. "Much like being able to call your chief engineer a marshmallow but can't get out of wearing a dress uniform."

"To be fair, it's a hell of a - " Kris was interrupted by her comm badge going off.

"Commander, El-tee Johnston here. I'm getting a security alert in the sector directly north-east of the conference hall,"

Petrova muttered a curse in Russian, shoulders slumping. "What kind of alert?"

"Unspecified. The sensor grid up there isn't fully working yet."

The executive officer cast the captain a look, it was obvious she was very deeply annoyed. A moment's hesitation before she replied. "Thank you Johnston, I'll check it out," Being the person with a security background and qualifications closest to the conference hall - at least, that wasn't currently occupied with securing the hall itself - it was just easiest for her to go herself.

"It's probably just a sensor ghost, a false positive. I'll go check it out, should be back before the ceremony proper starts," she nodded at Brynna before stalking off, semi hurried.

Brynna nodded once in acknowledgement just before the executive officer hurried off. She watched her go for a moment, hoping that it wouldn't be anything too serious, before heading onward to the ballroom...or whatever they called it on this station.

 

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