Saratoga Corridors
3:00 PM
Kirk and Syle walked through the Saratoga's corridors. After unpacking she had taken him up on his offer of a tour.
Usually it was the First Officer who gave tours, but Kirk preferred to be as hands on as possible, even with guests.
Chenaris had opted out, intending to send the time in his quarters going over preparations for the upcoming
conference with Keetals assisting him.
"I doubt you'll see much of Zordain during this voyage," Syle was saying. "He's difficult to pry away from his work
even at the best of times."
"I can understand that," Kirk answered. "Commaner Thelin always seems to be everywhere on this ship at once,
even during Gamma shift. I sometimes think that man is allergic to leisure. Speaking of which, I hope you and
your staff found your accommodations comfortable."
"They're fine, Captain," she answered.
"I understand that they may be smaller than you're used to."
Syle chuckled. "Captain, I'm used to smaller ships, I prefer them in fact. The largest ships ever made on my world
were no larger than the Saratoga and they were only used for our Defense Fleet. The rest of our ships are much smaller;
our largest transports are only 90 meters long with a crew of twenty. My people are not quite as obsessed with size
as some. When much of your world is a desert and every resource precious, you learn not to waste anything, including
extra space. We've also learned that smaller things tend to be the most valuable."
Kirk smiled. "I've come to learn that as well. The Saratoga's class is smallest in the Fleet but she's my baby
I wouldn't trade her for..."
"Are you a Queen?"
Kirk startled at the unexpected voice and saw, peeking out of one of the corridors, three year old Trisha Deerhorn,
daughter of one of his Security officers Lieutenant Monica Deerhorn.
"Trisha!" Danielle Matthews, the ship's civilian meteorologist hurried up behind her. "I'm sorry Captain, Ambassador.
I don't know how she got…"
The ambassador was smiling. "It's alright. I enjoy seeing children, they are the hope for the future."
She moved closer to the three year old. "You asked me something little one?"
Trisha was well known on the Saratoga for her energy, and absolute fearlessness. She looked up at the noted
ambassador and repeated her question. "Are you a Queen? You look like one and everybody's been saying
you're important."
Syle chuckled. "No child, I'm an ambassador. That's a very important position but I'm not a queen.
My home planet, Nlia, never had kings or queens; our leaders are regarded as servants and protectors
of the people, not rulers."
Trisha's face brightened. " 's where Shylea's from."
"Shylea?"
"My friend, Shylea L'Naym. She works in botany."
"Well, I look forward to meeting her."