Cheesecake… it could change the universe

Posted on Sat Jun 27th, 2026 @ 7:55am by Lieutenant JG Amanda Clark, MD & Ensign Valerie Sheldon & Lieutenant JG T'Lar & Nis Meadows & Lieutenant Vincent Cavendish & Lieutenant JG Rhee Xiviu & Ensign Skye Vos & Master Chief Petty Officer Sparta Walker & Petty Officer 1st Class Mateo Wright & Crewman Avery Hawthorne & Crewman Vakra Kor & Gr'Thor

1,612 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Mission 4 - Siphoning of Stars
Location: 10 Forward Lounge | Deck 10 | USS Concord

Valerie Sheldon had invited some of the junior officers that she had the chance to work with for a drink in 10 Forward. As Valerie entered the lounge she waved and smiled at Jila, who was wiping down the bar. 10 Forward wasn’t as busy tonight as it often was, so it didn’t take her long to find a table that would accommodate all that were invited. There were also a few extra seats in case someone brought a guest or someone asked to join them.

Valerie took a seat on the window side of the table. You could see the Khalmari ship out of the view ports and a smile flashed on the Operations Officers face. The alien ship had some awesome technology and she could only dream about getting to work on it.

Amanda was the first one to walk in and since she was off duty this evening she took the time to put on a cocktail dress. “Hey bestie you knew I wouldn’t be late.” Amanda and Valerie had gotten very close in the months since the Concord arrived in the Delta Quadrant. “I’m glad we are getting to catch up” the two of them shared their bestie updates and waited for the others to show up.

"Oh yes..." Skye Vos moved straight to the bar, her black hair tucked behind a pointed ear, her deep blue jumpsuit almost as dark. "My kingdom for a drink!" she lifted a hand, winking to the barkeep who moved to get her usual...an Amaretto Sour. She made her way over to join them, sipping her drink before sighing softly with relief, taking a seat with them. "So much better..."

“Hey Skye, long day?” Valerie asked with a smile taking a sip that Jila had delivered not long ago. Valerie had gotten to know Skyr in a professional relationship as they both often worked the bridge together.

"It felt like 48 hours," Skye chuckled softly, settling in with them before sighing as she stretched her legs out and crossed them at the ankles. "Nothing bad though, could have been much worse. Or more stressful," she glanced to the view, wondering how much pressure that kind of responsibility would feel like.

T'lar entered next. Her posture perfect as always, yet there was a slight difference in how she moved into the room. She offered a polite nod to the other assembled officers around one of the larger tables in the lounge. "Greetings."

Amanda gave a quick wave with the hand she wasn’t using to drink her beverage.

"Ah, here comes the one in the thick of it.." Skye teased as she leant back in her chair and crossed her feet at the ankles. "Come on, T'lar, 'fess up, give us all the goss..."

Gr'Thor came in on all fours like he was the biggest and meanest thing in the room. ahe moved and found the two highest ranked individuals and sat. This was his salute as a Dog. It was a respect thing, how he was trained.

Sparta walked in calmly. He observed everyone in the room.

Vakra, his skin making him the palest Klingon most had ever seen came in and assessed the room.

Rhee Xiviu looked around the room as she walked in, her eyes going to the others. This wasn't something she...usually did. But she had worked with Sheldon and...well, it seemed rude to refuse. She spotted her, and the others, her dark eyes watching the others...and then looking at the Klingon who was clearly assessing the room too.

Valerie noticed a few of the crew she had invited and waved to flag them down. She hoped then had planned on joining them and she wasn’t looking like an idiot.

The half Vulcan raised a brow. "The Goss?" she inquired. "To which are you referring?"

"The gossip..." Skye chuckled softly at having to explain, stretching her back out with a soft sigh. "Tell us all the gossip from the top..."

T'Lar cocked her head slightly. "Vulcans do not.... engage in.... idle gossip, however; I can say that Security is preparing for a possible away mission. The department has been quite efficient in its preparations thus far."

Amanda giggled “I hear you and I will be leads for our department T’Lar.” She took a sip of the beverage she had “which reminds me I can’t stay to long I have to pay sickbay a visit before I meet the rest of the team in the transporter room.”

Skye sighed as she sat back heavily, shaking her head theatrically. "We need better gossip spies..." she tutted lightly, but there was a small smile on her lips.

And wouldn't you know it, someone who knew about every sordid affair of whoever came to her bar in Scotland, Nis happened to approach with a tray of shot glasses and set it in the middle. "Sadly, officers don't have loose lips. So I decided to occasionally ply them with free shots." She winked at the top officer. She still had to count pips, and she did try to study the crew manifest, and even now, hoped she winked at the right one.

“If you all will excuse me, I must prepare for the away mission” Doctor Clark gave a smile around the table and a nod to Sheldon before departing the lounge.

“Has anyone had the chance to meet one of the Khelvar” Valerie asked with curiosity.

Skye shook her head, but glanced eagerly around the table, hoping someone had some inside information. It was hard, flying the ship, eyes forward, not always knowing what the big picture was.

Nis figured they were tightlipped because she looked a bit too eager and wandered off checking on others in the bar, ears open for any juicy gossip. Oooh. She inwardly turned her ears toward a few tables over. Some sneaky rendezvous. Though, from what she understood, there wasn't anything wrong with it. Oh! Her best friend is his ex. That explains it. She apologized for the lack of non-replicated options, but they only gave her so much storage to bring real-to-goodness, grown on Earth alcohol. And those were reserved for special occasions. She supposed she could put together a still and use some plants they come across on their travels. That was an idea her grandmother encouraged and one of the things that actually excited Nis. She was no scientist compared to these guys with the uniforms, but it would be fun to see what she could do with ingredients that no human had even come in contact with, yet (that she knew of). Nis Meadows on a new frontier of Spirits!

Skye sighed as she glanced around the table, taking the resounding silence to mean that no one knew anything juicy. "Okay...do we at least know who's on the Away Team? So we can get the news hot off the press when they're back?"

“Well Doctor Clark and T’Lar, maybe they can spill the tea when they get back.” Sheldon and Amanda Clark had become pretty good friends. “I hear the Khelvari leader is well spoken and very intelligent. She is also very interested in the Federation and getting to know the people of the Federation.”

Skye narrowed her eyes dramatically at the words. "Suspicious..." she murmured, before shaking her head with a chuckle, only joking. Well...half joking at least. Truth was, they were alone out in the Delta Quadrant. They no longer had back up if these things went south.

"Whatever information is not classified upon return from the away mission may in fact be..... 'spilled' to use the Earth vernacular." The Half Vulcan replied with a Raised Eyebrow.

“Indeed” Ensign Sheldon agreed. “I just hope the Khelvari become allies. We can use all the help we can get here in the Delta Quadrant.”

Mateo walked in with the air of someone who clearly knew he was late and slightly embarrassed about it, but also good at...trying to hide it. He looked around, spotting Skye with some other familiar faces. He shifted for a moment before he walked over.

"That is...if they want to help us," Rhee said quietly and looked over at Sheldon before she gave a small shrug. "Even some allies have no real interest in...helping. Not if it inconveniences them."

“Join us” Sheldon smiled at Mateo, trying to shrug off that he was late. Which no one probably had no care. Sheldon assumed he was just tied up with duty. Then it was time to go back to talking about the Khelvari “well we can only hope our” she stopped as it was unclear if the Khelvari would be allies “the Khelvari are willing to share their technology.” The Operations Officer took a sip of her beverage and gave a soft smile, she knew it would be a great advantage to their mission.

"I guess it depends what we're willing to give them in return," Skye pointed out with an arched eyebrow, looking every part of her Vulcan half for a moment.

Nis side stepped back over, "At least a recipe exchange?" She knew there were more important things, but, "Actually, what about starting with that? Start small. Gain some trust before asking for big stuff like engines and whatnot." Maybe they've already done this. Maybe they decided it was a bad idea. But one thing she was encouraged to do was share ideas.

"Make it a recipe for cheesecake and they'll give us anything we want..." Skye chuckled softly, her features softening with emotion again.

“Cheesecake” Valerie smiled “it could save the universe.”

 

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