Fear, Reputation & Reflection

Posted on 19 Jul 2026 @ 12:30pm by Lieutenant JG Lyra D'Tan & 1st Lieutenant S'earr

2,179 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: General Sim Postings
Location: MCO's Office

The Marine Commanding Officer's office aboard the Akira-class U.S.S. Tomcat was still missing the subtle signs that it belonged to someone.

No personal photographs. No trophies. No decorations.

Just the faint hum of the ship's environmental systems and the glow of holographic personnel files suspended above the desk.

For 1st Lieutenant S'earr, that was perfectly acceptable.

The towering Caitian sat behind the desk that looked noticeably smaller beneath his massive frame, golden eyes moving steadily across line after line of service records. A steaming mug of Caitian Tea sat forgotten nearby as he continued working his way through the personnel roster of the Ninety-Fifth Marine Expeditionary Unit.

His predecessor had left detailed readiness reports. S'earr appreciated thoroughness but reports only told part of the story. People were more complicated than numbers. The holographic display shifted as another file appeared. 2nd Lieutenant Elora Rykov, Executive Officer, recently promoted.

S'earr's ears twitched slightly as he reviewed the recommendation letters attached to her file. Strong leadership evaluations. Exceptional logistical aptitude. Repeated commendations for initiative under pressure. More interestingly, every report seemed to describe the same trait.

Reliability.

When situations deteriorated, officers trusted her. Marines followed her. That was worth more than most decorations.

The Caitian made a brief notation before moving on.

The soft chime announced the arrival of an unexpected guest. As the door slid open a young female Betazoid entered. Her dark turquoise eyes held apologies for interrupting the MCOs work. She smiled gently at him from her place in front of the door. The scent of lavender skin cream and honeysuckle perfume and something else more spicy but subtle marked her presence as well.

"I was wondering if you had a moment to spare for me." She asked kindly. Her head tilted ever so slightly with the inquiry. "I am Lyra D'Tan from the counseling department." She was about to step forward and offer her hand to him, then remembered something she had read whilst going through his service jacket. Something about asking permission to touch. "I'd like to shake your hand if you are comfortable with that." She offered.

S'earr stood when he saw a female at his door, custom had to be obeyed. He bowed his head, righted himself then spoke. "Ma'am." He listened to her request to shake his hand. She'd like, a desire to, a female wanted something from him, his choice didn't matter. He put his hand out to shake hers being mindful that hes claws were out of the way lest he cut her. "As you wish."

For a creature of his size, his shake was remarkably gentle, firm and mindful. "S'earr, 1st Lieutenant, Commander of this detachment." When the handshake parted, he put his hand and the other to clasp them behind him. "Is there something I can do for you ma'am?"

The moment he stood up she began to understand part of the hype. He was magnificently large. His hand was soft and she didn't miss how careful he was being to not hurt her. What a shame that he had garnered such a unfair reputation. "Good to make your aquatence. I was hoping to just get to know you a bit. See how you are adjusting, and let you know that I am available to talk to and help in anyway I can." She offered, "Can we sit and talk? That is if you have the time." She asked her eyes going to the data pads on the desk. She had another thing to cover while she was here something less pleasant but no less important.

"Please." S'earr spoke, the two chairs in front of his desk were vacant. "May I offer you something?" He asked, trying to play host to his female guest that had taken the time out of her day to visit him, he had to respect that.

"Oh, no thank you. Please make yourself comfortable." Lyra said as she slid into one of the empty chairs offered. "I guess I should start by informing you that we might be needing to pull Ensign Shalk from active duty for a time. He might come to you to oppose this, however it is quite necessary. He is using his work to avoid his recent trauma and I feel strongly that he needs to take time to handle himself before he has a breakdown."

"I will have my new Executive Officer make the required arrangements." S'earr spoke. He did expect from blowback from it, marines didn't like to be relieved of duty, especially the eager ones.

"Thank you for your support in that." Lyra nodded appreciatively. "Now, let's talk. How are you adjusting to your new assignment?" She asked with genuine interest. She wanted to see if he knew what an effect he was having or not. "Do you feel as though you are connecting with your new detail?" She hoped that was the proper jargon.

"It is early days, I am still learning names, skills and certifications. Coupled with the arrival of my new Executive Officer there is much to be done before I feel familiar enough with them." S'earr responded, observing the female before him.

She observed him in return. He certainly did not strike her as the man eating tiger type at all. Not that she had believed for even a moment that it was even possible. She nodded in response to his words. "Indeed. How about outside of work? Do you feel like you are settling in okay?" Lyra asked.

"Well enough." He answered. S'earr was a naturally private individual which was why his answer was devoid of detail. "Still unpacking."

Lyra crossed her legs and relaxed back into the chair a bit more. "I see. Well what are some of your interests? Maybe I can direct you towards some off duty activities or something to help get you socialized and integrated into the crew better?" She offered.

S'earr could see what Lyra was trying to do, her job. However it was still early days on board and he was still trying to establish his presence and routine on board. He also got the impression that Lyra was not the sort to back down and yet, she had asked the question, he had to answer. "I enjoy cooking, reading Caitian literature, calligraphy and keeping with my workout routines, mostly on the Holodeck."

"I like to cook myself and I especially enjoy the gym. If you're ever in need of someone to try your creations or just someone to go to the gym with you could ask me." Lyra offered. She wanted the opportunity to get to know him better. She found she enjoyed being around him. She felt relaxed and her mind lingered on the feel of that soft hand shake.

A female had expressed an interest. "I fear you may find Caitian food...strong to the pallet. Caitian food can be...rich, or strong in flavour depending on the meal and mostly meat or fish based." He recalled fellow marines trying some of his cooking on a whim...only once. Yet a female has offered "As for the gym, I am sure I have a program that would suit I can share with you."

"I have tried Caitian food before. 'Shi'Meh' I believe it was called. It was a fish dish rubbed with herb served raw with a sauce. The Mathews family use to frequent the kinder classes and often brought different meals for the children on culture appreciation day. I rather miss the taste." Her smile curved up ever so much. 'I'm flirting' she came to realize. She bit her bottom lip a moment. A habit from her childhood, as she let the thought run through her mind again and assessed it before deciding to continue. "If you're not busy I tend to have every fifth day off. We can plan accordingly."

"If you wish, I can provide various recipes of varying strength, perhaps you might find one you like. It would not be the same from the Homeworld but an acceptable approximation at least." S'earr replied, pleased that he was upholding his ways, honouring the female by action.

"Only, if you promise to try them out with me and let me know if I am doing a good job or not." Lyra returned enjoying the idea immensely. "I would want your constructive critique on it." Her eyes sparkled at the thought.

"As you wish." S'earr spoke, culture and tradition dripping from his reply in being subservient to a female and what she wanted. It was in part, strange. He expected that he'd face more of a challenge in abiding by his ways on a ship made for combat, in a setting that sat in the home of many marines. He wondered how others would view him if they knew, would they respect it, or look at him differently as a result?

He wasn't sure.

Lyra tilted her head ever so slightly. Her smile turned warmer and comforting. She couldn't read his mind, but she didn't need to be able to, enable to understand what he was feeling. It was in his eyes. "The Tomcat. It is not like any other ship. Captain Somers might be tough as nails, but she has made this ship a home for many. I think you will find it's a good place to remember just what's worth fighting for and just why you chose to wear that uniform, They will adapt. They always do." She offered to that look.

'I have learned Counsellor, that adapting, is not the same as accepting." S'earr replied. "When people see me they first see what I am, from that they assume. I am a predator true, but just because I appear to be something doesn't mean I act in such a manner. Home, is what you call Cait, I fight for that, I wear the uniform to uphold my beliefs and traditions in a way I am trained do before, and after leaving the Homeworld." Though there was something in his voice that perhaps lacked the conviction he was intended. Clearly something had happened in his past where judgement and assumption played apart against him.

Lyra leaned forward to close some of that distance between them. "They will accept you. Maybe not everyone at first. Part of accepting is adapting. It should be a source of comfort for you to know that you are not the first Caitian assigned here. As long as you treat them fairly and as a good Commander should they will accept you for who and what you are."

"I shall endeavour to do so ma'am." S'earr replied, his hopes riding that he would be accepted like any other regardless of species or capability.

"Your biggest enemy here is fear. I am told though that Marines are good at dealing with that." Lyra stated. "It is easy to fear what one does not understand. My suggestion would be to make sure they understand who and what you really are then."

"And such things require time." Which was a commodity that he had plenty of. "Do you have any other recommendations?" Keen to see what other ideas she might have as someone who's meeting him for the first time.

"Well.." Lyra said her eyes cast down a moment as she considered her next words. "There is always the Games." She said not sure if Cassandra had left her predecessor any information about them. It was Afterall a in-crowd secret of sorts. one could only be invited into the games. She knew that at least some of the security was in on it now, and engineering. "I know many of the men are anxious that you might put a stop to them. They have become something of a tradition hosted by and controlled by the Marines. I am not sure whom the game maker is anymore. I suspect it was Mathews. There are likely more than one though. Perhaps talk to her about it she is on the Churchill. It's worth a call, I think. I only know of them second hand. I know they have been a huge boost in ship moral and have improved inter department cooperation and relations."

"I shall attempt to call, Cassandra, and discuss with her these games." S'earr answered, wanting to do something to help fit in but also help keep progress going forward.

Lyra hated to go. She however knew that she had appointments coming up fast. She stood. "Well, if there is anything else I can do please do not hesitate to get ahold of me." She spoke. "Do not forget we need to get together to do that cooking."

"Yes ma'am." S'earr stood at the same time as her, bowed again. "My thanks." Then S'earr stood upright again.

Lyra let herself out. She found herself already thinking about when they might meet again next.

[OFF]



&

Lieutenant JG Lyra D'Tan
Medical Officer
USS Tomcat-

 

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