A Quick Cortado

Posted on Fri Jun 19th, 2026 @ 11:34pm by Lieutenant Tuhjer Mil & Lieutenant JG Sienna Brooks

1,131 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 2: Mine of Taurus
Location: Mess Hall
Timeline: Current

Tuhjer stepped through the doors of the messhall, which wasn't as busy as he had expected. He did enjoy people watching so more people meant more interesting observation.

Once he had his Cortado, a Spanish coffee which he had grown to enjoy from his last assignment, he found an empty table and took a seat. He glanced slowly around the room.

Sienna was dying for one of Eliana's caramel mocha. She grabbed herself one and after chatting with Paislee for a couple minutes on the choice of strawberry cheesecake or the bowl of fruit the young Kellans mother had suggested, she looked around the lunch room. Sienna hated sitting alone and liked meeting new people. She headed over to a table which was occupied by a lone officer. "Excuse me." She said warmly. Care if I join you?"


Tuhjer looked up from staring into his coffee. " Please do. I much prefer company when drinking my coffee."

Sienna smiled. "I hate sitting alone. I am more of a people person." She looked at him and held out her hand. "Lieutenant junior grade Sienna Brooks."

He shook her hand. " Lieutenant Tuhjer Mil. Nice to meet you. I am also, very much a people person. I guess it's why I'm both in Starfleet and in Diplomacy." Tuhjer commented.

"I work in intelligence." Sienna replied. "An infiltration specialist." She paused. "I used to be a doctor but along the way I discovered it wasn't what I really wanted to spend my life doing."

"I see. Interesting. My grandfather was an ambassador for the Trill Home world I often listened intently when ever he told us interesting stories of his work with Starfleet. I guess that's what started my interest in diplomatic relations. Plus he got to meet a wide variety of different people from different planets. This interest of mine also influenced my decision to apply to be in the initiate program for the Symbiosis Commission and I was successful and am now joined with Mil"

"It's really important to follow our dreams."Sienna murmured. "I took a lot of heat from my family when I chose to leave the medical field but I stayed true to myself." She admitted to being curious to what it felt like to be joined to another but they had just met she didn't want to appear rude.

"Absolutely. I've had the desire to become a host to a symbiont since I was young child so so I made it a goal to follow my dreams and so, should I be joined, I could live a life that would enrich the life of the symbiont and the hosts that followed me. "

"It sounds like you are one of the lucky ones who knows early in life what they want to do." Sienna smiled. "Don't get me wrong I was happy for the most part as a doctor but events and time can change things and I've found so do what we want in life."

"I guess so, I apologise if I came across as boasting. I worked so hard to be where I wanted to be. I had serious times where it felt like things would come undone and fall apart. Ever so often I find myself in a state of self doubt. Not sure where it comes from but it can, if I don't do anything to avoid it, derail me for a period of time. Luckily I've not had one recently but they do happen. "

"We all have doubts."Sienna thought about what she had left behind."But im happy so i have to believe this was meant to be "

" Untill evidence suggests or points us in another direction, that is what should do I guess. "

Tuhjer replied.

"What a deep conversation." Sienna grinned. "I think we will be good friends."

" So do I. You are always welcome to join me at a table, whenever you see me. "

"Thanks!" Sienna said with a smile. It was good to make friends. "Please feel the same with me."

"Glady." Tuhjer responded.

"Have you met the command staff yet?" Sienna inquired.

" Only the Captain so far I think. " Tuhjer replied.

"It is a good staff." Sienna said seriously. "And our chef is top of the line." She smiled. "Her daughter Paislee will introduce herself to you sooner or later. She is a bundle of energy."

"Oh, is this a normal part of joining the crew? A greeting from the Chef's daughter? "

Tuhjer enquired.

"On this ship it is." Sienna murmured. "She embraces meeting everyone."

"Then I look forward to meeting Paislee. I enjoy meeting new people. "

Sienna grinned. He had no idea what it was like to experience Paislee. She was a bundle of energy and had a million questions and even more ideas of things to do that she considered to be fun.

"I am guessing, by your expression, that there is far more to meeting Paislee than you are telling me." Tuhjer replied.

"Indeed." Sienna smiled. "But in a good way." She paused. "But being a diplomat, I am sure you will find her entertaining."

"I hope so. Tell me more about the Chef. You said they were very good. Do they know any traditional Tril dishes? Perhaps Yirnor Soup?"

"Eliana prides herself on serving food that caters to all the crew." Sienna said with a smile. "She is very approachable. Just stop by her kitchen and I am quite certain she will be able to make that dish for you."

"Thank you. I hope so, as it is my favourite soup. Depending on your level of spice tolerance, you might like it. It is similar in spice to an Earth dish from India called a Vindaloo, but this is a soup rather than a curry."

"I'm always up for new experiences." Sienna smiled. "I am not picky and I do like a kick to what I eat."

" In that case, I will happily share some if Eliana makes a batch. " Tuhjer replied.

"If you don't get to her first." Sienna replied. "I will ask her and let you know. I stop by to say hi to Paislee almost every day." She paused. "It can be a bit lonely for a child on a ship until they make friends."

"Well, I will endeavour to make friends with Paislee. As I said, making new friends is something I enjoy. Good friends are like the stars. You don't always see them, but you know they are there."

"True enough." Sienna nodded. Her comm beeped. "Looks like duty calls." She stood up and held out her hand. "I am glad we met."

Tuhjer stood, taking her hand. " Likewise." He smiled.

"Have a great day. "Sienna said and she turned and headed on her way, already thinking about the day ahead.

End

 

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