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"Admiral's Ball"
Previous post "New Alexandria"
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"The self-indulgent man craves for all pleasant things... and is led by his appetite to choose these at the cost of everything else."
- Aristotle

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Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Section A, Level 6, Admiral Koniki's Office
Stardate: 30149.0800

"Good morning Admiral," Allyson, the blond haired receptionist and secretary to the high ranking officer said with her now famous smile and joyfulness.  "Here are the reports from the USS CLEOPATRA and USS MA'AT.  Commander Wallace has pushed back the readiness date on the USS BASTET once again stating that there have been unexpected complications with the installation of the Quantum Slip-Drive."

"What about the USS ANUBIS?" the aged Admiral inquired as he made himself comfortable behind his imposing black onyx desk.

"According to the last report sent by Captain Morningstar, everything is under control," Allyson replied as she neatly deposited several PADDs in front of the Admiral.  "He expects the ANUBIS to be heading back in a couple of days following their recuperating the crafts, whole or in parts, from the surface of the moon."

"Leave it to Erik to turn a simple training mission into a matter of galactica stability," Koniki half chuckled knowing very well that the Native American had never been one to overstate the importance of anything or to downplay matters that should not be taken lightly.  "Were the flowers and dresses made available to Doctor T'Leia?" the Admiral inquired as he began to read the content of the first PADD, as if the question had been perfectly normal.

"Commander Quint was able to make a wide variety of designer dresses and flora available," the blond haired woman replied, her answer matching the Admiral's nonchalant tone.  "Doctor T'Leia selected the Efrosian Snowfall dress as well as the lilies and roses as you had expected."

"The Efrosion Snowfall dress, really?  I did not expect that, I will have to look into that selection a little more closely.  That said, please extend my thanks to Quink," Koniki said as a grin flashed over his lips.  "He never ceases to amaze me as to just how fast he is able to get the items we ask of him, regardless of how strange or weird they may be."

"I will be sure to pass along your thanks to Commander Quint Admiral," Allyson confirmed.  "Will there be anything else?"

"No, thank you Allyson," the aged man stated, his attention having been absorbed by the report contained within the second PADD that the blond haired receptionist had placed on his desk earlier.

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Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Section A, Level 6, Administrative Reception Area
Stardate: 30149.0830

"Good morning Lieutenant Commander Rue," Allyson offered as the Trill woman dressed in the colours of the Science Department entered the main reception area.  "May I offer you a refreshment or a copy of the latest Scientific Journal from VULCAN?"

"No, thank you Allyson," Tirina replied without thinking twice about the blond woman's insatiable need to please those who came to see the Commanding Officer of the NEW ALEXANDRIA Complexe.  "Is Admiral Koniki available? I need to ask him a few questions about this 'ball' idea of his."

"I am sorry Commander, but Admiral Koniki is currently reviewing sensitive material," Allyson explained, her beaming smile never having vanished from her lips.  "Maybe I could interest you in one of the new holodeck novels that we have received, I believe that you would find them very much to your liking."

"No, thank you Allyson," the scientist repeated with a slight tone of frustration.  Although the Trill possessed several life-times of experiences thanks to the Rue symbiote, the woman had found out very difficult to understand why the Admiral had suddenly called for a formal ball to be held.  It was true that Charles M. Koniki had been known for his occasional indulgences, but those had always been limited to involve himself and maybe a few others.  Invitations to this ball had been sent to anyone possessing a rank of Ensign or higher, an oddity that the scientist found impossible to explain.

"I am sure that you will be able to ask the Admiral about his reasons for the ball at a later time," the blond haired receptionist offered while her fingers flew over the console at a dizzying pace.  "In the meantime, I will inform the Admiral that you where here to see him."

Tirina sighed as she bit her lower lip.  The Admiral had been up to something, as he always was, but what the Trill found truly frustrating though had been her inability to even come close to figuring out what the man's plan had been.

"Plans within plans," the scientist said to herself as she made her way out of the Administrative Reception Area, certain that even if she did manage to corner the Admiral he would find a way to evade her questions, as he so very often did.

--==(/\)==--

Francois Charette

Captain Erik Morningstar
Commanding Officer
USS ANUBIS, NCC 18501

AND

Lt. Commander Elan Fairborn
Robotics Engineering Officer
NEW ALEXANDRIA