Nesbitt, from the FNS Asimov , a young and very professional officer whom Carlisle had interacted with briefly on her journey from the Naval Academy on Old Earth to the Santana Nexus a few weeks ago, came into the meeting room and made an announcement.
"Admiral on deck!"
Immediately all of the Federation officers came to attention. Carlisle went over to stand next to Harris thinking she might be able to lean against the Lieutenant for support if she needed to. She pulled herself up straight as Admiral Kingston came rather gingerly into the room. The Admiral was using a makeshift cane fashioned from a short length of railing and appeared to be favoring her left leg. There were two marines in front of her and another two behind. Bringing up the rear was a short, young, slender male ensign who, at first glance, appeared to be of Old Earth Japanese descent. Carlisle was surprised to see a Spacer clan tattoo emblazoned across his left cheek. But that wasn't all, the young man also looked vaguely familiar to her. She filed that away and turned her attention back to the Admiral. Carlisle, having only seen Kingston while the older woman was seated behind her impressive desk back on the Santana Nexus Station, was surprised to see that the Admiral was actually a rather smallish woman, not a lot taller than Carlisle herself. The Admiral smartly returned the salute from the row of officers and said, "At ease."
Immediately the Federation officers went to parade rest.
"Lieutenant Harvick, " the Admiral began, "as the Federation Naval liaison to the Meridian Ambassador, would you please perform some introductions?"
Harvick was a federation officer who was trained as a professional diplomat and had been Admiral Kingston's personal choice to be the Federation liaison to the Ambassador's mission. From the experience that the Junkyard Dogs had with him so far, he was a bit odd, but very good at his job. Slender and just a few centimeters shy of two meters tall, he appeared to be of Old Earth African descent, with ebony skin; a broad, flat nose and short, kinky hair. With his deep melodious voice and his precise and cultivated speech patterns, he would have made an excellent video announcer.
"Admiral Harriet Kingston, may I present the Meridian Ambassador to the Federation , His Excellency Mohammad Saad Saladin and his wife the Lady Sondia."
The Ambassador was tall, athletic and, as was his habit, immaculately dressed. He was also immaculately groomed with short, neatly-combed black hair and a stylish pencil-thin mustache. His wife, standing next to him, was a woman of exotic and exceptional beauty. Her sleek shoulder-length black hair was classically styled, with the ends curved slightly inward and bangs straight-cut across her forehead. Her hair framed the perfect, light-olive skin of her oval face. The Ambassador and his wife both appeared to be of Old Earth Middle East origin.
The dignitaries performed the necessary rituals, including the slight bow required by Meridian custom.
"I would also like to present Commander Oskar Kresge, Dr. F.C. Talbot and Lieutenant Ryan Harris." Harvick paused for a second when he got to Carlisle. "I believe that Dr. Ensign Tamara Carlisle and you have already met." The Admiral gave Carlisle a dismissive nod and Harvick continued with the introductions. "Accompanying Admiral Kingston are Lieutenant Shirleen Nesbitt, acting Captain of the Asimov and her acting tactical officer, Ensign Massa Sukamoto."
Carlisle remembered meeting Lieutenant Nesbitt on her trip out from Earth to the Santana Nexus and, upon hearing the name of the young ensign, she suddenly remembered him as well. She had seen him in Admiral Loftgren's office back at the Academy while she was waiting for her new orders just over two months ago. He had been one of the fresh Academy graduates -- one of the honor students -- that Admiral Loftgren had requested an exit interview with. Carlisle had been forced to wait while Sukamoto and several
"Admiral on deck!"
Immediately all of the Federation officers came to attention. Carlisle went over to stand next to Harris thinking she might be able to lean against the Lieutenant for support if she needed to. She pulled herself up straight as Admiral Kingston came rather gingerly into the room. The Admiral was using a makeshift cane fashioned from a short length of railing and appeared to be favoring her left leg. There were two marines in front of her and another two behind. Bringing up the rear was a short, young, slender male ensign who, at first glance, appeared to be of Old Earth Japanese descent. Carlisle was surprised to see a Spacer clan tattoo emblazoned across his left cheek. But that wasn't all, the young man also looked vaguely familiar to her. She filed that away and turned her attention back to the Admiral. Carlisle, having only seen Kingston while the older woman was seated behind her impressive desk back on the Santana Nexus Station, was surprised to see that the Admiral was actually a rather smallish woman, not a lot taller than Carlisle herself. The Admiral smartly returned the salute from the row of officers and said, "At ease."
Immediately the Federation officers went to parade rest.
"Lieutenant Harvick, " the Admiral began, "as the Federation Naval liaison to the Meridian Ambassador, would you please perform some introductions?"
Harvick was a federation officer who was trained as a professional diplomat and had been Admiral Kingston's personal choice to be the Federation liaison to the Ambassador's mission. From the experience that the Junkyard Dogs had with him so far, he was a bit odd, but very good at his job. Slender and just a few centimeters shy of two meters tall, he appeared to be of Old Earth African descent, with ebony skin; a broad, flat nose and short, kinky hair. With his deep melodious voice and his precise and cultivated speech patterns, he would have made an excellent video announcer.
"Admiral Harriet Kingston, may I present the Meridian Ambassador to the Federation , His Excellency Mohammad Saad Saladin and his wife the Lady Sondia."
The Ambassador was tall, athletic and, as was his habit, immaculately dressed. He was also immaculately groomed with short, neatly-combed black hair and a stylish pencil-thin mustache. His wife, standing next to him, was a woman of exotic and exceptional beauty. Her sleek shoulder-length black hair was classically styled, with the ends curved slightly inward and bangs straight-cut across her forehead. Her hair framed the perfect, light-olive skin of her oval face. The Ambassador and his wife both appeared to be of Old Earth Middle East origin.
The dignitaries performed the necessary rituals, including the slight bow required by Meridian custom.
"I would also like to present Commander Oskar Kresge, Dr. F.C. Talbot and Lieutenant Ryan Harris." Harvick paused for a second when he got to Carlisle. "I believe that Dr. Ensign Tamara Carlisle and you have already met." The Admiral gave Carlisle a dismissive nod and Harvick continued with the introductions. "Accompanying Admiral Kingston are Lieutenant Shirleen Nesbitt, acting Captain of the Asimov and her acting tactical officer, Ensign Massa Sukamoto."
Carlisle remembered meeting Lieutenant Nesbitt on her trip out from Earth to the Santana Nexus and, upon hearing the name of the young ensign, she suddenly remembered him as well. She had seen him in Admiral Loftgren's office back at the Academy while she was waiting for her new orders just over two months ago. He had been one of the fresh Academy graduates -- one of the honor students -- that Admiral Loftgren had requested an exit interview with. Carlisle had been forced to wait while Sukamoto and several
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