Subject: Grail: The Great Brightness - Arda

"On Your Shore"

Lt Arda Kaje

"Strange how I falter

to find I'm standing in deep water

Strange how

my heart beats

to find I'm standing on your shore"

-"On Your Shore", Enya, "Watermark"

Arda had set her alarm early that morning. She figured to take

her time getting ready for the meeting at 11. As she did, she noticed a

message. That was when she saw the meeting had been changed to 9. She

blinked. 9? 9 am? She glanced at the clock. 8:15. Damn!

Now, she was rushing. She had to get herself ready, *after*

feeding Kaede, get Kaede dressed, drop her off at the nursery, then run

back up to the Bridge and the Observation Lounge. She walked in,

breathing a little heavier than usual, and took her seat. Luckily, she

wasn't that late. A stolen glance at the clock indicated that she wasn't

late at all. She was impressed by herself.

She noted that she was the sixth to enter. Already present were

Tony Verde, Jhari Ryes, Logan Castle, Jarel Deschaine, and Eve Mallory.

She caught Epic looking at her. He turned, seeming to

contemplate something, but she had already seen him. She tucked a loose

piece of hair behind her ear in response to feeling as if someone was

looking at her.

Lt. Major Brinn took her place to Epic's right. Corvette Hunt

did not sit, opting instead to stand by the door. This made Arda a

little nervous, but she said nothing to the Ops chief. Dr. Ramius sat

silently studying a padd. It must have something to do with the virus

that Epic had issued the GQ for. Counselor Tzavaras whispered something

to him. He nodded. Alison Donucci sat near Kaje, the similarities in

their departments putting them near each other in position. She did not

speak with the other pilot, but instead watched the room. Lt. Fionn

entered and stood opposite Corvette Hunt at the door. Kaje sighed. It

gave an almost prison-like feel to the room, not that the ship didn't

already have that feel. She waited for them to hold PhasERs on their

sides like sentries. Janice Hargen and Kait Brennan were almost the last

to enter. Epic smiled slightly at Janice, which she pleasantly returned.

Finally, the two Ambassadors, T'Nek Destazio and Kyp Firespray, escorted

by En. Kwan Lo Pan and En. Tifa Charr entered.

Epic stood then, bringing the subdued murmur of nearly a score of

people to an end. He nodded, and spoke.

"Thank you all for your attendance. Before we continue with

reports and anything else, I would like to formally introduce you to

Ambassador T'Nek Destazio of the Torrilion Empire. It is my hope that

the Empire and we, the Ambassadors of the United Federation of Planets,

might find in one another a common ally.

"But the Ambassador brings us news of Kerestia. None of it good,

apparently. I want you all to give him your attention as he explains

their plight.

"Ambassador?" All eyes turned to him.

Jessica-Lynne Sullivan

-+=+- anuther viktum uv the publik ejukashun sistum -+=+-

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