Tanta Marie Bakery.

[wesleycrusser]

Wesley wake up in his room. He has yesterday his graduation.
He was very happy that he has a Academy ribbon.

When wesley Crusser left his room. He wanted to go the bakery. He had heard of this famous bakery on Starbase Conqueror. The bakery had a picture of every graduating cadet class and of their instructors. As he walked into the bakery. The smell of fresh bread brought back home of his mother and her cooking. As he walked in he saw those famous protrais on the wall. There were many of them, but Wesley did notice that some were a lot smallet than others.

Wesley orders by Uncle Max a cup of coffee and a fresh bread. He sit down on a chair and drink his coffee.
He must wait for his assignments on a ship.

< Tag All >

[Deleted]

"I'm not very fond of this place. The last time I was here, someone was attacked."

Wesley looked a bit confused.

"It was quite awhile ago, and I don't really wish to discuss it now. It's not important, and I am already upset at myself for bringing it up. --- What is important, is you are now an Ensign!"

<Crusser>

"I'm sure the Personnel Department will take care of you. The last time I had to do something, an Admiral... El-.. Ero... .. well, an incredibly helpful Admiral took care of my situation." The situation was, her assignment on Outpost 1.2.9 was canceled, although that was already seeming like ages ago.

"Well Mr. Crusser - it seems as a tactical officer, you have some piloting skills. You did quite the job back on the Hanson to get us back here. Where did you learn to fly like that?"

<Crusser>

[wesleycrusser]

"It was quite awhile ago, and I don't really wish to discuss it now. It's not important, and I am already upset at myself for bringing it up. --- What is important, is you are now an Ensign!"

"I don't now, there was a ataack in the Bakery. "said Crusser.

Crusser stand up en salut to the Lt.Commander.
"Yes,Sir. Im now a Ensign." said Crusser.

"Well Mr. Crusser - it seems as a tactical officer, you have some piloting skills. You did quite the job back on the Hanson to get us back here. Where did you learn to fly like that?"

"I have some Lesson of Piloting in a sim back home. My uncle fix it for me for my 18 birthday." said Crusser.
"Sir. Can I get you a Coffee."Said Crusser.

<Tag Konal Monto/ Tag All>

[Deleted]

As Konal took a sip of her tea, Wesley's com-badge was activated. He was commissioned to the USS Jefferson, he explained, and had to leave.

"Well good luck Ensign." Wesley was truly a unique character; a very colorful personality. He had come a long way in his training, and certainly deserved his new posting.

Mr. Crusser left, and Konal sat alone at the table, trying not to make eye contact with the Andorian sitting at the booth on the other side of the bakery.

[crystal]

Crystal walked the upper corridors of Conqueror. She wasn't headed anywhere in particular, just out and about. She disliked spending much too much time in her quarters, she found them grim and boring. Crystal didn't particularly care for the Promenade either, which meant she spent a fair amount of her time going into shops or restaurants. Unfortunately that didn't always work. Crystal stopped at one, fairly large such place, thinking she would stop to grab a bite to eat, and as she glanced around The Showroom she knew instantly that she'd made a mistake. There were no real walls. Just...a lot of windows. Crystal hurriedly ducked back into the general promenade area, since at least that way there were some walls. She watched her feet for a good half-minute, before she started to feel a little calmer. At least she wasn't shaking anymore.

Still slightly disturbed by the unwanted exposure to the outside view, but more able to walk without inadvertently bumping into something, Crystal hurried up a deck and down a few corridors, and then she was back by the academy instructors quarters. Now far away from any outside views, Crystal took a few deep breaths, forcing herself to find calm. Her fear of the stars was...irritating, but Crystal wasn't about to let it ruin her life, or even her day. But she would let it make her avoid The Showroom in the future.

When Crystal was ready, she took the turbolift to Tante Maria's bakery. At least she knew she would be good there, having eaten there once before. Crystal entered the bakery, and saw one of the other Hanson instructors sitting at a table alone. “Hi,” Crystal said, since she was feeling in a sociable mood. “Do you mind if I join you?”

<Tag Konal>

[wesleycrusser]

Scene: Tante Marie Bakery, Starbase Conqueror.

NPC: UNCLE MAX, TANTE MARIE.

Uncle Max saw that Commander Shinsei entered the Bakery, and she sit down at the table with Commander Konal Manto.

He walk to the table were the two commanders sitting on.

"Goodmoning, Can I get something for you Commander Shinsei." Said uncle max.

< Tag All >

[Deleted]

"Not at all, Commander." Konal moved around to the far side of the table. She was starting to enjoy company, especially after the last mission - being stuck with so many Cadets for so long. It would be nice to converse with someone of similar disposition in life for once.

A portly fellow walked over to the table, and asked if the two girls wanted anything to drink.

"I think I'm good right now, how about yourself,.. Crystal? is it?" Konal was horrible with names, and this officer was not one that she spent a lot of time with prior.

<Crystal>

Uncle Max ran off, coming back a few minutes later with Crystal's order.

[crystal]

“Yah, it's Crystal,” she replied. “I'll take...a chocolate covered strawberry? And a glass of water?”

After confirming that the bakery had her selections, Crystal turned to the other commander. “Would you rather I call you Konal or Commander Manto?” Crystal asked. She herself couldn't care less what people called her, as long as it remotely resembled her actual name. But some people could be...particular about this sort of thing.

Konal was answering when Crystal's food arrived. “Thank you,” Crystal said to the Andorian who served her. Crystal took a small bite of the strawberry, in order to see if it was any good. This left the choosing of the topic of conversation with Commander Manto.

<Konal>

[Deleted]

"Either is fine, Commander." Konal didn't ask what Crystal would like to be called. She was a younger officer than Konal, and Konal felt awkward addressing her by her first name. Especially since she was higher in rank.

Crystal ate the chocolate covered strawberry, having to pause to chew before answering questions. It was all small talk, however, as Konal's attention was focused on Shraka, who had regained his position across the restaraunt.

Konal leaned in, "Can you keep a secret?"

Crystal leaned in, whiping her mouth. She licked her lips- either from the prospect of a juicy story, or from some stray strawberry juice.

"That man over there... Don't look!" Crystal almost turned around, but stopped at Konal's sense of urgency. "He used to work with me on Outpost 1.2.9. I think I've told you about that before..." Crystal shook her head no. "Well - it was the botany outpost that I used to head. It was closed down by a mining consortium that found a large dilithium deposit beneath the facility. Some of the members of my outpost were sent on undesireable jobs afterwards," she motioned her head toward the Andorian, Shraka. "He was sent to a refuse refinery on Earth... horrible job for such a good scientist. Anyway, they put together somewhat of a revolt, of what I understand. The last time we were in here, Tante Maria was attacked. Shraka there is a part of that revolt. They are against the big consortium, and apparently Uncle Max had some ties with them. It was a warning to him if they continued..."

Konal was stopped short by the yelling of an Andorian woman. Tante Maria was going ballistic, either in terror or in jibberish, because the translator did not translate. Shraka, being the target of the yelling, fled from the site. A few minutes later, security arrived.

Konal laid low, continuing her story to Commander Shinsei while the officers were getting Tante's story. She was pinpointing him as her attacker from previous. She didn't know his name, but the face... the face was unmistakeable. A few security officers left in haste to try to catch up with the Andorian figure.

"He told me he didn't have anything to do with that... that it was one of the others." Konal was deeply disturbed. She didn't want to be a part of all of this in the first place, but as time went on, it seemed the sequence of events kept sucking her back into the fold.

Konal, as a Cardassian, was not one to show fear or anguish, but Crystal must have noticed something, for she handed her a tissue.

"Thanks, Commander." Konal called over Uncle Max. "I think I'll have a strawberry too... but no chocolate on mine." Her face remained in a constant frown, while, and after, ordering.

[crystal]

As Crystal was handing Konal a tissue she thought about the situation. She'd learned when to leave things well enough alone. If her life had taught her nothing else, she at least knew there were times to not discuss what made a situation awkward. But she couldn't just pretend nothing had happened, security had come, and from what she could tell, Konal's acquaintance was involved in illegal and immoral things.

Crystal didn't really know what it would be like to turn in a friend, or even just someone she had known and worked with. She hadn't exactly been in this kind of situation. But she had been in situations where her friends were put in danger because of some of her actions—and some of their's. Still, it didn't quite correspond, and Crystal wasn't quite sure what she could really add. She felt like saying something encouraging, but...

“Do you want to talk with security?” Crystal asked, trying to make her tone convey the fact—that it was just an option that Konal may or may not wish to follow. “You might help?” Crystal did feel, for once, that there was something that should be done in this situation, that would make the situation better, and was also the 'moral thing' to do. Crystal might not have that strong of an opinion, but since Shraka had revisited Tante Maria's, that implied that he might be planning on trying something again.

<Tag Konal>

[westgate]

Although Timothy Westgate, MD, PhD, had been on Starbase Conqueror for only a few days now, it seemed a lot longer to him. Born and raised in Soddy Daisy, Tennessee, the former doctor turned counselor had spent his professional formative years as a country doctor in Dismal, Tennessee, alongside the wonderfully natural ecosanctuary of the Dismal Swamp. The people there were simple, homey and predictable, and Westgate was tempted to make that kind of life his own for as long as he lived.

But the stars called to him, and as the John Masefield poem declared, it was a "wild call and a clear call that may not be denied." So although already a licensed physician, he left his practice and enrolled in StarFleet, graduating with a doctorate in psychology. He was then assigned to the USS Ursa Major, a Sovereign-class vesel located in the Ithassa region, and there he became CMO and then Ship's Counselor for a number of years.

But alas! as he recalled now, sitting in the Tante Marie Bakery nursing a cup of morning coffee and a cinnamon-orange scone, how little he realized he'd miss his home. After his brother's accident, which had left him paralyzed, Westgate found just how divided his loyalties were.

He took an extended LOA, returned to Dismal and cared for his brother, Earl Dean Westgate, until such a time as a sister, Bobbie Sue Westgate Mimms, could permanently arrange to replace him.

But the stars called again, and once more Westgate found himself needing and wanting a home aboard a starship. He cancelled his LOA, contacted StarFleet Command, and was put in touch with an Admiral Drew, who was the Academy Commandant in Section 47, and who just happened to be looking for a Counselor Instructor aboard the USS Hanson, one of the training vessels. It was arranged for Westgate to report to Starbase Conqueror to await the return of the Hanson from its current mission, at which time he would be welcomed aboard to begin his new life as an Academy Instructor.

He was excited, and had promised to write to Earl Dean as often as possible, and that would be his link to his home. So here he was, ready to go, awaiting the next phase of his life. He was older now, and maybe wiser, too, and felt he had a lot to offer. That remained to be seen, of course, but he was here, enjoying the comforts of a base that was nearly one hundred times the size of Dismal, and not nearly so predicatable.

"Reckon I'll make the best of it," he said to himself, as he drained the last of his coffee. "Cain't hardly wait to get a-goin.' Wonder where that Hanson's at?"

He gathered his things, and as he glanced up toward the door, he espied a bright looking young lady bouncing in, a Cadet by the look of her. He smiled his best smile, walked over to the timid young lady and said, "Hey, there. I'm Doctor Westgate. Waitin' fer the Hanson?"

<Tag any Cadet>

[anderson]

Joan had heard a couple of rumors, and hoped the one was true. She bounced into the bakery deciding maybe to pay one of her favorite people a visit. She felt a little guilty since she hadn't been around the bakery in awhile. Maria seemed to notice her, and she was about to choose a table when some guy came over smiling at her.

"Yes, Doctor Westgate, I know who you are. I am Joan McCormick, and I do believe there is very little that goes on here I don't know about," she said and noticed he was a little surprised.

"Let me guess, you thought I was a good deal older. Don't worry, everyone does that, so I'm pretty used to it. Perhaps a table over here, it is close to the door in case any cadets do wander in here. I am going to get something to eat though. I'll be back in a few minutes," Joan said smiling now. Things were looking up. She went up to the counter and waited her turn in line.

"Hello, Maria, how are you? Things going well here? Oh, I guess I'll take one eclair and a small mug of hot chocolate," she said noticing Maria was giving her a look.

"Things are going pretty good now that we got that mishap taken care of. I'm doing well, but you youngin' are in trouble again. Can't you remember to call here more often?" the lady behind the counter said getting Joan's order put together.

"I promise I will be a regular. Just don't start complaining when you get sick of me," the girl commander said making Maria laugh. Joan took her order and went to the table she had mentioned earlier.

[westgate]

Westgate was most assuredly surprised when the young lady spoke. He'd supposed her to be a Cadet, by her youth, but her confident manner of speaking belied that. And even though he had already had coffee and a delightful scone, he sat at the table she'd indicated, and waited for her to return.

He took the opportunity to watch her interaction with the woman at the counter. There was a familiarity in it that made him think that the young lady had been here many times before. Definitely not a Cadet.

She returned to the table bearing an eclair and some hot chocolate. So much choclate, so early, too! But it wasn't perhaps any worse than cofffee, he supposed.

He looked at her expectantly as she sat down. She took care as she laid out her things. He liked that in people, that care they took with things. No rush, just pleasure in the simple things. He could see it in her face, in the way she moved her hands. And such a young'un, too. He was impressed, mighty impressed.

"So, Ms. McCormick, tell me right. I mistook you fer an ensign when first I laid eyes to you, but I can see plain enough that it ain't so. Ye're an officer, right enough."

<Joan>

"I see. Are ye a part of the Hanson crew, then? Waitin' fer her to come on back here?"

<Joan>

Westgate laughed. "Ye seem to know all enough about me. Been assigned to the Hanson as a Counselor Instructor. Waitin' fer her to glide back in. Pretty excitin'."

<Joan>

"Well, now, seen any Cadets round about here? Hard to tell, with so much people goin' about here an' there."

<Joan>

"Well I am most anxious to get goin'. Been on leave a while, an' got that sea itch again, if you know what I mean. Few more weeks? Seems a long time. But then I can make time to familarize myself with things, people, the way it is out here in Section 47. I hope we'll be able to talk more."

<Joan>

<Tag anyone>

[Deleted]

It was the last stop on her trip back to Earth- the Starbase Conquerer. Veronica was tired of jumping starbase to starbase, and could not wait to be back home.

Walking through the Promenade, she gazed in all of the shops. The scientist, pretty in the face - but a rather homely figure, lingered from shop, to shop, to restaurant, to bar, with nowhere particular to go. Still unnerved by the incident on Starbase Assailant, almost a month's time in the past, she thought she would just eat, and return to her room. The lack of contact would minimise the potential for problems that could keep her from going home.

Tante Maria's Bakery looked like a safe place. Funny, the sign read "Tante Maria" - but she was almost sure that the computer console she'd previewed before her meandering said "Tanta Marie". Someone must have typed in wrongly into the computer system.

Entering, she ordered a chocolate eclairs, since the propped up padd on the counter said "Best chocolate eclairs on the base", and sat down - pondering how many other places the bakery was in competition with for that title.

She had been alone for the last two months that she almost didn't know how to respond when someone... a Starfleet officer no less, approached her.

[anderson]

Joan chuckled. "Yes, I am an officer. I live on the base, and do my best not to be too much of a pest. Although, seeing my mother would be nice."

She took a few bites listening to him. She liked hearing his accent, and remembered what she read about where he was from.

"No, I am not part of the Hanson crew. I have been aboard the ship several times though, even trained there as a cadet. They have a good crew. What was it like in Tenessee?" she asked watching him. She wasn't sure how much he knew about her, but it didn't seem like a lot. He made her laugh again with what he said next.

"Yes, its my job to know about you, or at least I would think so. I am the Assistant to the Academy Commadant. I think they gave me the job to keep me out of trouble, or at least my mother might say so," she said chuckling a little before taking a sip of her very hot chocolate.

"Oh believe me, the cadets seem to find me easily enough. You aren't the only one who mistakes me for a cadet or ensign," she said smiling. She noticed a woman enter the place and get something to eat. There was something about her, but Joan wasn't sure what.

"Yes, I would like to talk more. If you have to be going, I understand. I stop in here for breakfast, and promised to do so more often. I also like the other shops. I have a friend here on the base with a shop, and sometimes visit it. I think she is pretty busy with her family lately," Joan said trying to see if he was staying or not. She sighed noticing the lady sat alone.

"If you will excuse me, I hate to see people sit alone," she said and got up leaving her breakfast where it was. She walked over to the table and noticed the didn't acknowledge her.

"Hello there, I am Joan McCormick. Who might you be?" she said hoping she wasn't being a pest like usual.

[Deleted]

"Typical Starfleet Officers, being pests as usual," Veronica thought as she put her game face on and gave a false-pleasant smile.

"Hi- the name's Veronica Chapman. Dr. Veronica Chapman." Against her better judgement, she asked, "and who would you be again? I didn't hear you." The older officer sitting at the table where the younger woman had come from was chattering loudly with Tante Maria, causing everyone to have to be a bit louder just to be heard.

It had been so long since she had a non-work related conversation, that Veronica realised she actually enjoyed the company. Her attitude of faking pleasantries turned into exchanging true pleasantries as Joan's politeness wore onto her.

"This is where the training ships for Section 47 reside, no?" Veronica had remembered hearing that the last time she was aboard the Conquerer. It was a few years back, and she was on her way to visiting a botany outpost as a part of her research of a herbivorous race of ancient humanoids they'd uncovered on Vulcan.

"I thought I saw a few Cadets around," was all Veronica said after Joan acknowledged. As if on cue, a Cadet was seen stopping in front of the bakery, making a quick assessment of whether to enter or not. A queue slowly formed behind the Cadet- some Cadets and officers that were waiting to enter. The Cadet sidestepped to let the others by as a decision was being made.

"There's some now." Watching the cadets and officers, Veronica remembered she was glad she didn't take the Starfleet route. There were so many discoveries to be made on Earth, Vulcan, and other known planets that there was no need for her to search the galaxy for gratification. Planetside, where it was safe, was her favourite place to be.

[Crystal Rose]

Crystal hadn't been on star base long but was all ready getting the urge to do something. She knew it was mostly nerves about when she was going to receive her assignment. She knew from pass experience that there were two ways to burn off such jitters, one was to go out for a really long walk preferably somewhere remote and the other was to eat something sweet.

Given that a long walk on Conqueror would involve going round in circles she set off along the promenade looking for something sweet and sticky. She followed her nose and soon found herself jostling round a crowd of people outside a place signed 'Tante Maria Bakery'. The place seemed busy. Crystal stood for a moment then deciding her sugar needs weed pressing stepped round the rest of the crowd and entered the bakery.

She inhaled deeply enjoying the home cooked smell and then walked to the counter and made her order. She balanced a mug of hot chocolate topped with cream in one hand and a plate bearing a large icing topped sticky bun in the other. As she looked at the swirl of cream on her chocolate Crystal had the beginnings of an idea she hurried to leave and completely failed to notice the occupied table in front of her.

The table wobbled as she bumped into it. Crystal saved her hot chocolate but the drinks of the table's occupants sloshed on to the table.

"Sorry, sorry" Crystal said, her voice rather higher than normal as the people at the table turned towards her.

<tag: anyone in the bakery>

[Crystal Rose]

The table's occupants stared at Crystal and one of them opened their mouth to say something. At that moment the PADD in Crystal's pocket buzzed. She pulled it out and read the message on it. Then she read the message again. She gave a slight yelp of surprise.

"Sorry again, I've gotta go, my assignment has just come in and I've have to be somewhere else yesterday. Here, hope you have time for this." She put the sticky bun that she knew she wouldn't have time to eat on the table and left the bakery as fast as she could bolting her hot chocolate and trying not to burn her tongue. She had to grab her things, fortunately still packed in her room and then get to the transport. She didn't want to be late.

(OOC: sorry to bolt like this but Crystal has to be elsewhere)

[westgate]

Mindful. That's what he liked about her. She was mindful.

Many people considerd that Westgate wasn't the brightest star in the night sky, generally owing to his dialect and vernacular use of language. The fact was, though, that he was brighter than most, and had a prodigious appetite for learning and study. He was eclectic too, studying not only medicine but religious philosophies, literature, cultural anthropology, psychology, military tactics and other things. It was in his studies of religious philosophies that he had become convinced, years ago, that mindfulness, the ability to be completely in the present moment, with all of its textures and sounds and sensory inputs, was a deeper part of connection to everything, whether it be deity, friend, enemy or lover. The simple laying out of a chocolate eclair, attending completely to a conversation, looking at the buttons one was pushing on a console, these all and more were a part of being mindful, of being available and connected.

The young lady, deceptive in her looks, was the Assistant Academy Commandant. Certainly not an Ensign, by any stretch. That was very impressive, and yet she was mindful enough to care for the eclair she ate, mindful enough to see that the person who had just seated herself at a nearby table might not wish to be alone, mindful enough to engage that person in a conversation that, within a few minutes, had changed the facial expressions of the newcomer from boredom to excitement.

Westgate liked that.

He also liked being joined, shortly, by the woman from behind the counter, who introduced herself as Maria, the proprietor of this fine bakery. She sat, they talked, he found that they had some things in common, he liked her way of taking time even though she had none, as busy as the bakery was. There was a lesson in that, making time, which he thought he might put to good use later.

And as she rose to go back to work, he thanked her, and promised he'd stop in again.

[Deleted]

Veronica must have faffed around too long after Commander McCormick and Cadet Rose left, because she had attracted the attention of the older officer sitting at the table by the bulkhead. Noticing that Maria was walking away, he continued his stories in Veronica's direction without skipping a beat.

At one point, Dr. Westgate - as he would finally get around to introducing himself as - stopped to take a drink. Veronica used that moment to interject her own topic.

"I'm a Doctor as well, but not in the traditional sense. I am a Doctor in anthropology. Mostly Earth digs and whatnot. I have a few more days here on the base before my transport comes."

Veronica tried to continue, but talking about Earth spawned a whole new topic of conversation that Veronica had not intended to start. It seemed she would be here for a bit longer. When Tante Maria made her way back around, Veronica noticed a scar with minor bruising on her neck. A mental note was made to question what happened. In the meantime, she ordered another eclair.

Westgate didn't notice- not even acknowledging that the world was going on around him as he continued his monologue.

At this point, Veronica could only wish someone... anyone!... even a Cadet! ... would rescue her.

[wesleycrusser]

Information: Tante Marie Bakery, Starbase Conqueror.

NPC: Uncle Max, Tante Marie.

Establishment Owners/Race: “Tante (Aunt in French) Maria and her husband, Andorian.

Employees/Positions: Just two, Tante Maria and her husband “Uncle Max”. They are both elderly. Frequenters to her establishment had difficulty pronouncing her Andorian name. Some said it sounded like a Frenchman saying Tante Maria and thus, the nickname stuck and she named her bakery after this common mispronunciation. Her husband helps on the business side of the shop’s operations. Before retiring, he was a skilled shuttle pilot and can still be called upon in an emergency in spite of his advanced years. His given name is Mehyatkumthn which thankfully he’s shortened to “Uncle Max”.
The bakery had a picture of every graduating cadet class and of their instructors.

[Deleted]

Sandy Louise left her quaters for the bakery she had heard so much about. She hadnt had breakfast so it was an ideal chance to grab some.

As she entered she noticed how full it was, Sandy Louise walked up to the counter and ordered some Tomato soup and freshly baked bread, the aroma of the bread was lovely. Sandy Louise went over to a seat and sat down to enjoy the soup.

Se quickly finished it, and couldnt help noticeing that one of the Civs looked in need of rescuing from a much older man. Sandy Louise got up from her seat and walked over to her and asked "Excuse me, may I have a quick word?".

(Veronica Chapman)

[westgate]

"...and as I was a-sayin', by the time they got that ear of corn out of the ground, got grabs on it, you know, with hay hooks and whatnot, well, by the time it come up out of the ground, it done left a well thirty foot deep, already rocked up, and as the summertime went on, why..."

Westgate stopped to take a drink, and, winking at the young lady he saw sitting near, stopped and said, "Name's Dr. Westgate, by the by. Counselor Instructor on the Hanson, that is. Pleased to make your acquaintance, I'm sure."

The young lady replied, "I'm a Doctor as well, but not in the traditional sense. I am a Doctor in anthropology. Mostly Earth digs and whatnot. I have a few more days here on the base before my transport comes."

Westgaste's eyes got big, when he heard about Earth digs. "That reminds me--almost forgot--seems like it was down in North Carolina somewheres, I believe, mighta been Rocky Mount or Boone, or somewhere like that, you know, but there was this King down there--right handsome King too, by all I heard--but he was sad. Yes, sir! Mighty sad! Seems his daughter had got herself bewitched somehow, and that King called in ever'body, and asked what could he do, and finally he let out a declaration that anybody could get the enchantment off his girl could marry her. Well, there was these three boys, you know, Tom and Drew, Admiral Drew, that is, and the least'un, what was that boy's name? Westgate, I'm thinkin'. Well, anyways, that first boy he went to his Mam, says to her, says, "Mam, I'd like fer to get me a chance at that King's girl." And she says to him all sweet-like, says, "Son, it's time you was a-gettin' married. And that King's girl sure is pretty. Awful pretty! So go on over there to that old witch's house, and see can you get the enchantment off."

Westgate was in his full stride now, and then another girl came over to the table. She looked like a smart one, too, by the way she carried herself. Looked like a Cadet.

Came right up to the table where that other young lady was at. "Excuse me, may I have a quick word?".

Westgate smiled. His plan to get people who didn't know each other to start talking was working. He quickly stopped his story in mid-stride, and waited to hear what these two young ladies might have to say to each other. He sat back in his chair, eminently relaxed and thinking that the day was off to a pretty good start.

[Deleted]

After a long pause, Veronica responded.

"You've already said a few, I don't see why a few more words wouldn't hurt." Veronica, uncharacteristically, smiled. It had been one of the first sincere smiles since she arrived on the dreary base.

The Cadet sat down, and Veronica prodded for answers out of curiosity.

"I see you are a Cadet... " She glanced the uniform up and down. "What are you studying?"

<Black>

Westgate's vocal chords needed a break, it seemed, because he was perfectly content listening to the conversation going on at the table before him.

[Deleted]

"I see you are a Cadet... " She she said as she glanced at the uniform. "What are you studying?" she then added.

"Operartoins, just waiting to be assigned to a ship though, seems to be a legthy wait at the moment" Sandy said, then she noticed the bloke that the Civ had rescued from had gone to the bar.

"I noticed from the look on your face that you were in need of rescuing" Sany Lou then added.

(Chapman)