Faith And Allegiance I

 Episode Name:  Faith And Allegiance I

   Written By:  Starfleet

         Cast:  Albertz, Crayn, Foster, Gwen Poole, Harris, 
                Havaris, Hurley, Lanie, Malloy, Medes, Palra, 
                Starfleet and Takamura.

  Produced By:  Starfleet

  Directed By:  Poole

     Aired On:  Fri May 21 15:13:16 2004

     Stardate:  54109

Time: Fri May 21 11:54:03 2004

Stardate: 54108.7

Havaris arrives from the mall, the entrance's double doors sliding silently closed behind him.

Havaris has arrived.

The Neutral Zone, the typical spacers bar out on the 'frontier,' has been made up for the party. There are decorations of all sorts, many terran streamers and the like, but several from other Alpha Quadrant cultures as well. It's just enough to brighten the mood, but not do so garishly or take away from the seriousness of the party's reason for being. There is a buffet set up in the 'dark corner' of the Zone that the sullen loner types usually hang around in, probably meant to make sure those loner types can't be alone, and the bar is open. Poole is standing near the door, playing greeter for the moment.

Crayn makes his way in slowly, taking a gander around. He's in his dress uniform, at least trying to fit in. The party's not for him, but nothing was said against coming and congratulating the others that have surpassed were you seem to flounder. He nods and flashes a smile to Gwen before making his way over to the bar.. Oh look.. a dark buffet table with his name all over it.

A group of Orion traders start a drinking song amongst themselves.

Lanie arrives from the mall, the entrance's double doors sliding silently closed behind her.

Lanie has arrived.

Foster arrives from the mall, the entrance's double doors sliding silently closed behind him.

Foster has arrived.

Medes places her hand in Kusto's just after stepping through the door into the Neutral Zone. She looks vaguely uncomfortable and vaguely distracted, as if she's thinking about everything she has to do later, but manages to glance aside and give Havaris a vague sort of smile.

. o O Medes thinks "Why do we always have to do these things? Why do I feel obligated to be here?"

. o O Medes is uncomfortable, and eager to return to Engineering.

. o O Lanie thinks "We look goofy. Matching pips. Matching uniforms. Matching rings. I hope my hair looks alright."

. o O Foster thinks "I wonder where everyone is. I mean, we're here to honor people who got promoted. Well, I suppose that's Lieutenant Medes. And, if I know Poole, probably Kait too. She's evil like that."

Lanie's right up next to Foster as they enter, though she's too busy fussing with her hair to hold hands with him. Otherwise, by the way she's beaming at him, it might be just what she'd be doing. Her eyes veer around the area briefly before returning to Foster, head tilted in toward him so she can quietly murmur, "Have I ever told you that I'm partial to men in uniform?"

The clink of glasses can be heard from a far corner.

Poole nods to Crayn as he passes, raising her hand in a wave. Then as Havaris and Medes enter, she bows her head. "Welcome, Lieutenants. And congradulations, Lieutenant Medes." She glances aside at Foster and Lanie enter, then straightens up at her 'post' at the door.

Havaris doesn't look distracted at all, really. He looks, if anything, wholly and entirely invested in the whole 'out with wife, celebrating' thing that he's about. Poole is the recipient of a cheerful grin, "Afternoon, Commander." He consults Medes for a moment before leaning in to smooch her cheek chastely. "Congratulations, indeed. I don't wear my whites for anyone, you know."

"You may have mentioned that once or twice," Foster replies, just as quietly. He looks perfectly comfortable in his dress uniform, but then, he's never really had any difficulty with that aspect of Starfleet life. Or non-Starfleet life, for that matter. He's comfortable in any 'skin'. "Good afternoon, sir," he says to Poole.

Crayn gets a drink from the bar and finds his way to the buffet table. he grabs something small, and then walks up to a wall and takes up his position as a support.

"Thank you, Commander," Medes returns, nodding her head once, and then turns her attention to Havaris again as he kisses her cheek. Her expression solidifies and lights up at the same time. Okay, here now. Invested in being here, suddenly. "I know. It's been a while," she murmurs back to him, hazel eyes lit up. "You look.. scruffily dignified. I like it."

. o O Medes's thoughts turn from constructing self-propelled torpedoes with dekyon shielding units to Being Here With Kusto. It's a profound shift of mental paradigm.

Poole smiles, just a little, at the affection between Medes and Havaris, right before she turns her attention to Foster and Lanie. "Glad you both decided to show up, Cadets."

Lanie grins at Foster, then turns toward Poole as she speaks. "Commander. Hope we aren't late" Voice drops a little. "Did you need help with anything?" She's finally stopped playing with her hair, smoothing it away from her face one last time. "Oh, Lieutenants," she says, greeting Havaris and his wife with a nod before shifting a bit awkwardly next to Foster. Her eyes veer toward him slightly and she glances away with a tiny hint of a blush tinking her cheeks. Yeah.

. o O Gwen Poole thinks "Things can't be the way they were, Gwen. Just forget about it... Ah. Good, Kait. Wouldn't do to miss one's graduation, would it?"

A Tellarite makes his way past. The exit parts for him and he disappears into the mall.

"Scruffily dignified, as is the manner and practice of my ancient and venerable people," Havaris agrees with a grin, adjusting his earpiece just so with a wink to the wife. "Really, what it comes down to, is that I have to spend half an hour pinning on the medals. Invariably, one's crooked. Have to do it all again. I'm joking." He sighs elaborately at the jest and offers yet another wide grin to Lanie and Foster, "Mister and Missus Mister Foster! Good afternoon, both of you."

"Don't worry," Foster murmurs to Lanie, "I'm /your/ scruffily dignified husband. Lieutenant Havaris is Lieutenant Medes'." He chuckles at Havaris' comment, commisserating, though, of course, his take less than a minute to do. "Good afternoon, sirs," Foster (the male one, that is) replies. "Good to see you."

Crayn watches the two couples converse from his post, holding up the wall. He decides to stay there for the moment. You never know when a wall may decide to collapse in.

Albertz arrives from the mall, the entrance's double doors sliding silently closed behind him.

Albertz has arrived.

"That's what you have me for, so that pinning on all your medals doesn't take /hours,/" teases Medes. The tiny Engineer then nods toward Lanie and Foster, her hand still in Havaris'. "Mister Lanie. Mister Foster. Congratulations on your nuptials. I admit, I've been up in Engineering so much that I completely missed that for weeks."

Blutox escorts an overly drunk patron out the door, then returns.

"Only because you actually own a carpenter's square," Kusto protests, "though it did make lining things up a bit simpler." He mimes moving his hands along a line, pinning things. Then shrugs through a chuckle, nodding his agreement with Medes' well wishes. "Congratulations, indeed. And before you ask, no, being newlyweds is not a substitute for PT." He blinks innocently at that. Will he get away with it?

"Mister Albertz, welcome," Poole says from the door. She's playing greeter at the moment, though there seems to be a knot of people near the door still in Havaris, Medes, Lanie and Foster.

"That's all right, sir," Foster says. "I still go to PT every morning anyway, and workout almost every night." He smiles, skin wrinkling around his eyes as he tries to make it sound as if he's answering that as seriously as was supposedly asked. He glances around, and asks, "So, how do these parties usually work? I mean, is it just a generally social thing, or do we end up calling up all the people who get promoted individually so that everyone can clap and they can be embarrassed?" He's only sort-of half-joking, even. He hasn't been on the station that long, after all.

Blutox escorts an overly drunk patron out the door, then returns.

Albertz steps into the bar, all dressed in his nicely pressed whites. "Afternoon, Commander" the Scot returns Poole's greeting with a smile. "Not a bad turnout, I see."

Crayn stands quietly over to the side, watching. He takes a sip of his drink.

"As expected for mid-day," Poole replies, letting her smile out just briefly. "Congradulations, Lieutenant, on a well-deserved and well-earned promotion."

Medes's ears turn bright red, followed by the back of her neck, and her scalp. She coughs a few times at Havaris' joke and looks absently off into space. Tum te tum. "Generally speaking, we socialize, and then people get called up. Of course, last time there was Captain Balin, and tar and feathers, and Miguel Alarcon wishpering racy comments to his wife. Poor woman. She was mortified, what with all the Andorians there and all."

"Ta!" Albertz grins at Poole, though there's a twinkle of amusement in his eye. Whatever it is, he's not telling and the Scot makes his way to the bar, that smile still on his face. "Scotch, neat, Milara. Some of that twenty-one year old if ye still have any."

"Ta!" Albertz grins at Poole, though there's a twinkle of amusement in his eye. Whatever it is, he's not telling and the Scot makes his way to the bar, that smile still on his face. "Scotch, neat, Milara. Some of that twenty-one year old if ye still have any."

"Tar and feathers, sir?" Foster pauses. "I'm not sure I want to know, really. And who is Miguel Alarcon?" Showing his age, he is.

A Tellarite makes his way past. The exit parts for him and he disappears into the mall.

"No tar and feathers this time.... I refuse to make a mess I can't clean up myself," Poole murmurs as she takes a glance out the doors and then turns, heading over towards one of the tables by the viewports, collecting something from there.

Crayn decides to walk around a bit, legs getting tired.

Harris arrives from the mall, the entrance's double doors sliding silently closed behind him.

Harris has arrived.

"The Operations Department thanks you, Commander," Havaris replies solemnly on the matter of that particular mess. Dutifully ignoring Medes' blush, Kusto turns to face her with a smile. "Primarily, however, I think we should probably head up to the bar. At least for now. Celebrate, and all of that. With friends and fellow officers, and so on." He widens his smile for a moment and slips away from Medes to give Foster a pat on the shoulder, "Let's leave the wives to say unkind things about us. I'm buying."

Lanie's cheeks flush a bit as she gives Foster The Look and then smiles at Medes and Havaris. "Thank you," she says to both of them in regards to their mention of the wedding. She reaches out toward Foster's hand to give it a quick squeeze of farewell as Havaris commandeers him. Then she goes back to being perkily awkward.

Takamura arrives from the mall, the entrance's double doors sliding silently closed behind him.

Takamura has arrived.

A be-dress uniformed Harris, sans his wife, passes through the doors from the mall. He stops just inside the door, shifting lightly from foot to foot as he looks over the crowd, looking for... something.

The lights on the jukebox flash.

Crayn checks the time and puts his glass down, heading for the exit.

. o O Harris thinks "I guess Meg isn't at this one."

Crayn heads out and into the Mall.

Crayn has left.

"Aye, aye, sir," Foster says, not quite saluting. Starfleet officers don't salute... often. But hey, the bevy of dress uniforms and all can get to you. "You have a preference, sir? Drink-wise, I mean?"

Albertz, scotch now in hand, takes up station by by the bar. He gives Havaris and Foster each a nod as they approach.

Harris settles on a course of action, turning slowly for the bar and heading that way.

"Before we get too far into the celebration and back-patting, I was hoping to have everyone's attention," Poole says cheerfully, raising her voice so it carries. "You've all received your new pips already... save for a few who are still waiting on an answer from sector." She smiles and adds, "However, I have two people to add to the congradulations list, if no one minds me doing so."

. o O Medes's highly distracted now. Brain... fusing.

. o O Medes thinks "... primarily..."

"So, I guess we're supposed to talk about the boys while they're off drinking," Lanie says to Medes, slowly turning her eyes toward Poole's direction. In passing, her eyes veer over Harris, she shifts them back for a doubletake and a wave in his direction, then it's back on Poole her attention focuses.

Takamura manages to slip into the Neutral Zone just as Poole begins her speech. He makes his way towards the bar as unobtrusively as a man his size can. Pulling up behind Foster, he pats his teammate on the shoulder.

"I've a genetic predisposition to Springwine. Yourself, Mister Foster?" Havaris pauses in his trip to the bar at the fellow's side, opting instead to turn and regard Poole at her pronouncement. His eyebrows lift slightly in question.

Medes shrugs her shoulders slightly at Lanie, and idly adjusts one of her medals after the fact. She tilts her chin up towards Harris, and then turns her eyes toward Poole in silence.

. o O Medes feels completely neutral toward Poole. Empty of reaction.

. o O Lanie thinks "Medals medals everywhere. Good thing I'm medal-less. I haven't the chest to hold any up."

Albertz turns his attention towards Poole. He leans against the bar, rather than sit down and raises his glass, taking a sip.

The lights on the jukebox flash.

The cadet near the bar with the Lieutenant(s) turns to look at Poole at her pronouncement, but it doesn't stop him from greeting Lt. Takamura. "Good afternoon, sir." He prepares to respond to Lt. Havaris, but pauses. It can wait.

Harris pauses in his quest for the bar, tugging on his jacket as he turns to face Poole.

"The first is Lieutenant Brin, who doesn't appear to have made it to the afternoon party. Perhaps he'll make the evening one," Poole says, fidgeting with whatever is in her hands briefly before putting it in her pocket. "Word has been received that he will be receiving his doctorate this cycle, so... I encourage you to call him Doc Brin and give him a pat on the back when you do see him today."

Albertz sits down at The bar.

Harris nods approvingly, clasping his hands behind his back.

Takamura nods in silent reply to Foster, as he focuses on Poole's words.

. o O Lanie thinks "Brin? Wow. He didn't say anything earlier. And where /is/ he?"

As she lets those words fade, Poole draws herself and drops her smile, intoning, "And as for the second... Cadet Lanie, front and center."

Havaris smiles at the news, bobbing his head in acceptance of the news. His eyes travel across the room to his wife, where they settle for the duration.

Foster nods at the news about Brin. Good guy, that. His smile widens even further, almost to a wicked grin, when she announces the second name. He called it, yes he did.

A Tellarite makes his way past. The exit parts for him and he disappears into the mall.

Malloy arrives from the mall, the entrance's double doors sliding silently closed behind him.

Malloy has arrived.

Palra arrives from the mall, the entrance's double doors sliding silently closed behind him.

Palra has arrived.

Uhm, did Lanie miss something? She glances over at Foster blankly, then at Poole. Maybe she heard wrong. "Me?" she asks, mostly to herself as she brushes her palms onto her uniform absently and takes a couple steps forward toward Poole. "Commander?"

Malloy chooses this very exact moment to make his entry, rather hurried actually. Hair still slightly wet, in the process of closing the collar of his dress uniform. Muttering into his non-existant beard. Someone's running late..and apaprently under a tight schedule.

. o O Lanie thinks "She wants me to be up there when Caleb's called up?"

. o O Malloy thinks "Too late too late too late. Dammit. I feel like the bloody white rabbit. And ain't got much time, either. Figures that AJ's not got the time for lab work. So. In. Shake hands. Congratulate. Out. No stalling. Party tonight, Craig, not *now*. Be nice. And stop thinking pakled."

Palra moves into the Zone heading straight for the bar, he takes a seat looking around trying to see what is going on.

Palra sits down at The bar.

Medes stands where she was left by Havaris, Foster, and now Lanie, all alone in the middle of the floor, watching. Her arms fold over her stomach for a moment, and then she links her hands behind her back.

Albertz smiles. Always good to see someone in the department moving up in the world. His eyes shift from Poole to Lanie and he raises his glass again.

"Straighten up Cadet," Poole instructs the young one, then says, "I have been instructed, and have the immense pleasure of informing you, of the success of your cadet cruise. I also have the distinct honor of being the one to inform you that you have graduated Starfleet Academy." Her eyes sorta shine when she says that, but she continues, "Because of the personnel need in this sector, in lieu of normal graduation exercises, I will ask those in this room to act as witnesses to Cadet Lanie's Starfleet Oath... should she, hopefully, decide to accept her commission."

. o O Malloy thinks "What you do not want to say now is 'no', kid. But you'll stutter anyway."

Medes spocks an eyebrow slightly, but doesn't otherwise move.

. o O Medes thinks "Ahh. She has another protege."

A group of Orion traders start a drinking song amongst themselves.

Takamura's eyes widen at the announcement Poole has just made. Smiling madly, he glances towards Foster and comes to attention.

Malloy shakes his head with a silent, private smirk, then walks over to the bar to join Albertz, whom he claps quietly on the shoulder.

A brilliant smile comes onto Harris' face -- a bright spot of sunshine has found him today.

Lanie just... stands there. She /does/ straighten up a bit as Poole said to, but otherwise she just stands there looking at her. Finally finding her voice, she asks, "Me--?" Her voice lowers and she leans in a tiny bit toward Poole. "But Caleb..." She nods her head a tiny bit toward his direction, then clears her throat. "I'd be honored to, uh, anyone who would wish to witness it. Sir. Sirs." Stammer. Stammer. Just don't fall over. Or trip. That'd be bad just now. Her face is flushed enough already.

Foster's grin widens even more. Yep, he was just thinking that when he arrived. That Poole was evil enough to do this to Kait without warning. It's fun. "G'wan, love. You've got an oath to take." He makes shoo'ing motions. "Go, go."

. o O Lanie thinks "I'm gonna be sick."

. o O Malloy thinks "She looks like she'd show us her breakfast in a sec."

Havaris chuckles softly, excusing himself from Foster's side in favor of returning to his wife's, given the occasion and the fact that he's left her alone. He slips up beside her and reclaims her hand easily.

"I take that as a yes?" Poole prompts Lanie, unchanging in expression even as the girl stammers. "Please repeat after me, if you would?"

Palra finally realizing what is going on, looks on with a curiosity having never witnessed a Federation ceremony. His expression borders on confusion, whats with all the riguramole.

Albertz starts ever so slightly at the hand on his shoulder, only enough that Malloy would notice it. He turns to the doctor gives him a nod and a smile, then turns his attention back to the oath-taking. His drink is placed atop the counter and he straightens up, no longer leaning against the bar.

Lanie gives a quick little nod of her head, finally snapping out of her shock. "Yes, sir," she says, standing up nice and straight, finally managing to relocate the color in her face to where it belongs rather than pooled into her cheeks as it was.

An Andorian patron contemplates the anomaly in silence, then orders another drink.

"I, Kaitlyn Arlene Lanie, do so solemnly swear to support and defend the Constituation of the United Federation of Planets and the Charter of its Starfleet," Poole starts.

Medes slips her hand back into Havaris's, leans her head on his shoulder, and watches. A broad, soft sort of smile slides over her face.

. o O Medes thinks "I remember taking this oath. It meant everything to me. And I remember taking the only one that means more. This is very nearly a perfect moment."

Lanie repeats, her voice kinda low, "I, Kaitlyn Arlene Lanie, do solemnly swear to support and defend the Constitution of the United Federation of Plantets and the Charter of its Starfleet." Wow. So far she hasn't messed it up. Or fainted. She shifts her weight a little, unlocking her knees from how she'd been standing. Nope, she's not planning on fainting. Now now.

Foster just sits there, watching, beaming with pride. Maybe even a little jealousy, but mostly pride. Of course, he's going to have to be saluting Lanie just to annoy the heck out of her for a while.

"That I will bear true Faith and Allegiance to the same; That I take up this obligation freely and without reservation; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of my commission as a Starfleet Officer, and of the subsequent offices which I will enter through that commission," Poole says and looks to Lanie.

"That I," Lanie echoes, clearing her throat a little. "That I will bear true Faith and Alleciance to the same; That I take up this obligation freely and without reservation; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of my commission as a Starfleet Officer, and of the subsequent offices which I will enter through that commission."

Malloy gets into position, that is, he looks ready to move forward as soon as Lanie is pronounced wife to her new husband Starfleet. It's rather likely that he is under time constraints, considering how often he checks the door.

Poole smiles then and reaches a hand into her pocket, removing a small felt box. She says, "Please stand still a moment..." and she mutters something under her breath about tall people, then opens the box to remove a singular, circular golden pip.

A small maintenance drone drifts by the window.

. o O Lanie thinks "Am I even going to remember what I'm saying? Or is it all going to be a blur? I think it's going to be a blur. All I'm going to remember is not falling or doing something stupid. I hope. There's still time. It's too late to take it back isn't it? Oh no. It is. What if I just made a mistake?"

Palra watches the ceremony for several minutes then he turns to the counter shaking his head and orders a drink.

Lanie is told to stand still. So what does she do? She moves. But just to look over her shoulder a bit, seeking out Foster to give him a quick nervous smile before turning back to Poole and remaining really still. Like a good girl. Good cadet--er, non-cadet.

As Poole takes the pip between her thumb and forefinger and reaches up to switch it with Lanie's cadet pips on the woman's collar, she says, "As of this stardate, you are now a fully commissioned officer of Starfleet with all the responsibilities, rights and duties therein." Settling back on her heels, she offers her hand, "Congradulations, Ensign Lanie... Station 419's new assistant training officer."

Foster grins, and just flips Lanie a 'thumbs up'.

A shrill rebel yell escapes from Harris' lips, and he pumps his fist in the air. Bloody 23rd century cowboys in space, anyway.

Malloy is not far behind with the rebel yell. And it's all Harris' fault. Really. After all, Malloy's from a civilized part of the..Shenandoah Valley. Right.

Foster doesn't do the rebel yell thing. He's too busy grinning with pride. Again, for something he didn't do. But if he's not going to be proud of his wife, who will be?

Blutox glares at a patron who is getting overly friendly with Milara.

Once the pip is pinned on, Takamura begins clapping loudly with a smile almost as wide as his shoulders.

Lanie, Ensign Extraordinaire -- or at least until this little high wears off she'll /pretend/ that she is -- reaches a hand up to play with the new pip. Sure, feels pretty close to the old one, but... "Thank you," she manages to get out, unable to stop smiling that goofy grin that hasn't been seen in... well since she walked in with Foster and admired him in his uniform. "Thank you," she says louder to everyone around the area.

Medes slips her hand out of Havaris's long enough to applaud, nodding her congratulations to the newly-made Ensign. She appears content, and proud in the way almost all officers are proud to see 'one of their own' do well.

. o O Medes thinks "Was I ever that young?"

Havaris lifts frees his hand from Medes' in order to applaud in the prescribed Bajoran fashion, back of one hand against the palm of the other. No loud shrill shrieking or cheering or similar. Just a stately and sedate little show of support, that.

Albertz stifles a laugh at Harris and Malloy's whooping. He simply puts his hands together and applauds, not nearly as raucous, but just as heartfelt.

Poole grips Lanie's shoulder and turns her about to face the bar, leaning in to briefly whisper something to her and then prompting her gently forward, "Go say hello to the family, /Ensign/."

Gwen Poole whispers to Lanie, "It's been .... life altering... to see how you've progressed these past months. You've given me hope about my own situation."

Harris quirks a grin at Malloy before he whoops again.

Foster just sits, watching. No clapping, no whooping, just that simple smile a pride. His brow furrows slightly, though, as if he's thinking about something.

. o O Harris thinks "At least -someone- around here has a sense of tradition."

. o O Foster thinks "How can I ever take that oath if I'm not a member of Starfleet at all?"

. o O Harris idly wonders if Malloy makes a decent mint julep.

Malloy winks at Harris, but, instead of whooping, starts to move up to Lanie. Taking his time though.

Hurley arrives from the mall, the entrance's double doors sliding silently closed behind her.

Hurley has arrived.

Takamura continues his applause, waiting beside Foster and watching Lanie glow.

Lanie smiles and reaches toward Poole's hand on her shoulder to, Commanding Officer or not, give her hand a quick squeeze. "Thank you," she whispers to her before heading toward her family at the bar, including that handsome scruffy guy in the dress whites. No, not Havaris. She's only got eyes for Foster.

Milara darts among the dirty tables, cleaning them up.

Harris folds his arms over his chest now that the yelling is done, although he continues to grin like a fool -- even all by his lonesome in the middle of the bar. At least that situation he can correct; he resumes his course for the bar.

Malloy is one of the party poopers apparently, as he rushes past Foster, nudges Lanie's left biceps. "Congrats, kid. Go, hug and kiss your man, I have to run, didn't want to miss it though. Gotta get back to the lab." With another wink, he's off towards the doors.

Medes, now finished with her applauding, folds one hand back in Havaris's, smiling up at him. She leans in, speaking quietly. Medes whispers to Havaris, "You know, I was just thinking. Remembering taking that oath. How important it was to me then. It was the most important thing in my life. And then I remembered taking the only one that's more important to me than my Starfleet Oath."

Malloy heads out and into the Mall.

Malloy has left.

Leaning back a bit, then, she shrugs, glancing over at Lanie, then back up at Kusto with a broad grin on her face.

Quietly, Christine Hurley slilps, well, bouncily slips, into the Zone, tugs at the bottom of her dress jacket, draws in a breath and heads towards the bar herself with a bright smile already painted across her lips.

The applauding over, Hamish leaves Ensign Lanie to it and picks his drink back up. Spotting Harris approaching, he waves to the old man. "Rab! Good to see ye. Come alongside and share a dram wi' me."

"And while I'm up here... I would like to add a heartfelt congradulations to all who were promoted or recognized this cycle, and encouragement to those who were not. Station command is confident that all of our officers will be recognized for their talents, contributions, and their growth, in the next cycle," Poole speechifies and then gives a brief terran-style salute to those at the bar before adding, "Enjoy yourselves today, you've all earned it." And with that, she walks off slowly in the direction of the Zone's bathrooms.

Foster continues to sit on his stool, making his senior officer (keyword 'his') come to him. But, not to beat it into the ground, but he could hardly be smiling any wider than he is right now. He doesn't have eyes for anyone else, but anyone who knows him might be able to tell something IS bothering him.

Lanie is too busy moving toward Foster (as instructed by Malloy), throwing her arms around him to realize that Poole's taking her leave. "I-- can't believe it!"

Takamura beams as Lanie hugs Foster. He glances towards Poole, but decides it is best not to intercept a pregnant woman making her way to the head.

Blutox looks on the assembled crowd with a stoic expression.

The remaining cadet isn't going to settle for just a hug. After all, Lanie was ordered to hug AND kiss him. So, if she doesn't, he does. Yes, he completely ignores that it might not be seemly to be seen kissing a superior officer right here in public, but DAMN the rules! Full speed ahead!

There is a gale of hearty laughter from some of the traders near the bar.

Lanie giggles and makes with the kissy kissy with Foster for a minute before shyly glancing around. "Caaaaleb," she says quietly, giggling a little as she straightens up. "Now, is it just me or did someone say something about drinking?" As she speaks, her fingers slip down Foster's arm and seek out his hand.

"Hamish," Harris greets as he settles onto a stool next to the Scotsman. "How's things?"

"Yes, sir, I believe someone did," Foster says. Already he's starting. "Now, what was it? What would you like to drink, sir?"

Albertz takes a seat beside Harris. "Oh...just basking in the glow of all the incredibly beautiful and fabulously beautiful people. Kindae makes me wonder how I managed tae sneak under the velvet rope." The Scot laughs and motions for a refill from Milara.

Takamura chuckles as Foster calls his wife, sir. Turning towards the bar, he orders a mug of Endilev to share in the drinking.

Harris sits down at The bar.

Harris grins wearily. "I just shot my way through the crowd."

Hurley pauses and watches the happy couple for a moment. Fairly brief, but her eyes flicker in that direction long enough to cause her smile to falter just slightly. But, just beyond them is a perfect target. And, dress uniform or not, the cunning Ensign sneaks up behind the older Harris, bright eyes shining mischeviously.

Havaris glances aside at Medes for a long moment, his grin decidedly lopsided. His head shakes a little from side to side, rueful. "You," he says to her quietly, "Are very nearly the perfect woman." He winks at that, leaning in to give her a quick kiss to her lips. "I wasn't thinking of that at all, myself. Now I am of course. Primarily." He snickers, and returns his attention to the bar. "I'm so sneaky."

The clink of glasses can be heard from a far corner.

Albertz looks at Harris with eyes narrowed in a perfect deadpan. "Aye, that'd be what all the shouting was about then."

Lanie nudges Foster. "Quiet, Cadet," she teases before leaning in toward him a bit. "So, are you going to give your wife some of whatever it is you're having or does she need to get her own? In fact, get me something and let me see what--" she turns, glancing toward the spot where Poole had been, but not seeing her. "Well, I guess maybe she's getting her own," she murmurs. "So, I wonder if this means I get the rest of the day off."

Unaware of his impending doom, Robert offers a shrug in reply. "Old habits die hard, I suppose. It was different than shooting my way out, though." He could be reporting the weather for as interested as he sound. "Got to carve a few more notches in the grip of my phaser, though."

Foster opens his mouth to reply, but then closes it. He points to his glass. Or actually, the lack thereof, since he's pointing at the bar.

The attack is quick and merciless. Christine throws her arms around Harris' neck and plants a quick kiss on his cheek before he can respond to return the hug or throw her over the counter.

Milara makes a sneering face at a patron who is getting a little too friendly.

Albertz grins as Harris is submarined. "Didnae see it coming, Rab. Honest."

Even hard-nosed little Engineers blush. This one does, it seems, only by command of one Lt. Havaris Medes Kusto. Thea eyes Havaris for a long moment, then tugs on his hand once. "Primarily?" she wonders, eyebrows rising slowly. "You are. You're very sneaky. Lieutenant Fox."

Takamura thanks the server for his drink, then takes a sip as he watches Hurley attack Harris. Shaking his head, he chuckles softly.

Lanie loops her arm through Foster's and heads toward the bar. "Come on, Mr. Foster, it looks like we have to save a friend of ours from attack." She grins and nods her head toward Harris. "Plus, I spy Lieutenant Takamura. And I need to go ask him if he's got any good gossip to tease you about. And then we need to go back home and I need to get a message off to my parents. My mom probably already knows. She's gonna be mad she wasn't here."

"Traitor," Harris replies lightly before he lifts his voice. "Ensign Hurley, did you know that it's a violation of the UCMJ to attack a superior officer?" The sparkle returns to his eyes, and his smile waxes brilliant.

Foster keeps his mouth shut, fully willing to follow along. Nope, he says not a word. Nada. Nothing. Not that he knows who is under attack and all. And Tak'd never share gossip about him! Mostly because there isn't anything to gossip about!

"Indeed it is," Christine responds with a quick nod, slipping around the old man and hopping onto a bar stool. "It says nothing about gloomy Grandfathers who still owe their granddaughters a pny, though. I intend to contact Starfleet Command about that sometime this week. I can't believe they forgot such an important detail." Flashing a quick smile towards Albertz, she winks, then grins brightly again to her grandfather. "I'm sure you can state your defense later."

Returning from far and dangerous lands, mainly the Neutral Zone's women's bathroom, comes Gwen Poole. Her shiny booted feet take her back towards the bar and to a seat, where she leans against the counter, brushes a lock of hair back and murmurs to herself as she looks down the line of people there.

Lanie leans Foster along, leaning in toward his ear for a moment as they head toward Harris et al.

Lanie whispers to Foster, "Spill it, love, what's bothering you?"

Noting the approach of the newly commissioned Ensign, Takamura raises his glass to her in salute. "Congratulations, /Ensign/ Lanie. I suppose Caleb will have no excuse for not following your orders now."

The din of the bar gets strangely quiet. Then someone laughs, and the silence is broken, returning the Zone to a counterpoint chorus of voices.

Hurley sits down at The bar.

Albertz keeps smiling, clearly amused by the dialogue between granddaughter and father. He nods slowly, "Sounds like yuir both guilty. Courts martial all around."

"They're fresh out at Headquarters. I -asked-, even." Winking at his granddaughter, Harris shifts on his stool before he grins at Albertz. "I'd welcome some brig time. I haven't been in one in at least 83 years."

Harris adds, lightly, "I hear they're much nicer now."

Foster just smiles at Lanie. He pulls out his PADD and types something into it. Then he adjusts it so that the font size is easy to read for ANYONE nearby. He turns it towards Lanie. It reads: "YOU TOLD ME TO BE QUIET, SIR."

Gwen Poole whispers to herself, "I wonder how many will fall."

Lanie's com badge chirrups. "Lieutenant JG Mulwray to Ensign Lanie."

Havaris nods slowly and certainly aside at Medes, "Primarily." He turns about very carefully and precisely and takes Medes' hands, leading her back, with great care for the crowd around the Zone, towards the Juke Box of all places. He frees a hand to poke at the controls, summoning up some canned Bajoran clavian music. Airy and alive, that sort of tune. Kusto then considers Medes with all due seriousness, "May I have this particular dance, Alethea?"

Lanie smacks Foster against the back of the head playfully, laughing as she does it. "That's it, /Cadet/--" Her com badge goes off and she holds up a finger. "Hold that thought."

Lanie taps her com badge. "Ensign Lanie here."

. o O Lanie thinks "That sounds so weird. /Ensign/ Lanie."

Hurley rolls her eyes ever so slightly as she leans across Harris to speak to Albertz, "Because, of course you know, in *Grandfather's* day, they had to walk to the brigs uphill both ways and through 10 feet of snow year round because the climate controls didn't work right on the ships yet." Grinning back to Harris, she nudges him, then finally looks towards the bar, "I hear someone say drinks. I'm all for that!"