Presenting Arms (Harukei)

[Zarkan]

    Aurora Vienneau ran her fingers in slow circles for several moments before removing them and lowering her eyeglasses back to their perch on the bridge of her pale slightly upturned nose. Shifting in her seat she ran her eyes across the bridge of the Hyperion one of the newer Armitage-class cruisers apparently as she understood the first to be assigned to the fourth fleet. The woman grimaced her gritty tired eyes closing for a moment as she took a long sip of tea from the bottle in her hand before slowly opening her eyes once again. Perhaps this, she mused, was why Admiral Talion was so interested to inspect the Hyperion before she joined his fleet. Once again surveying her bridge her eyes flicking from crewmen to crewmen she slowly started to smile. It was good to be back on a ship and off that damnable station and the Hyperion had a good crew despite how green much of the staff were.

    "Captain." Broken from her musings aurora snapped her head to the left where a gangly young man operated the sensor station. "We've detected a ship arriving into our sector it's broadcasting a Republic IFF code."  Aurora gave what she hoped was a gentle encouraging smile to the new comm officer before turning to the older bearded man sitting off to her right side. "That's probably our guest now, contact Major Kreva to meet me in the shuttle bay with an honor guard." Commander Davion gave a slight nod. "Thank you, you have the bridge now commander." The taller man gave her a crisp precise salute which she returned though without the grey-haired man's mechanical precision. Standing stiffly Aurora straightened her dress reds before, taking another sip from her tea she exited the bridge.

    Making your way essentially from one end to another end of an active cruiser wasn't the easiest affair even at the best of time and on one buzzing with preparations to receive an admiral was a fairly arduous journey. Still, the bustle made aurora smile, it was a far cry from the slow pace of the defensive station the troops here had an energy that is drained out of a crew when stationed on a glorified gun over one of the Republic's most defended worlds. She chuckled softly under her breath as she passed the forward armory the sound of some poor private or corporal being stripped down by a sergeant drifted down the hallway. 

    She smiled and returned the soldier's salute as she reached the entrance to the shuttle hanger. "Good Morning, Ma'am." Aurora glanced quickly at the man's armor before returning the greeting. "Good Morning, staff sergeant has the Honor Guard and Kreva arrived yet?"  The white and dusty red armored man gave a sharp not of his helmeted head before replying. "Yes ma'am, you just missed the captain by a minute or two." Giving a nod of acknowledgment aurora moved between the two armored soldiers and through the gateway into the ship's smallest hanger bay. 

    Stepping into the shuttle bay she was greeted by the sight of several Skippers resting in their docking cradles on the other side over the hanger across the yawning mouth of the hanger opening as well as a line of Republic troopers. The ten troopers were polished to as much shine as one could expect from the matte plasteel armor major kreva was easy enough to spot in the group the small spitfire of a woman being nearly a foot shorter than any of the other troopers and pacing energetically from one side of the line to the other.  Aurora stepped in front of the rapidly moving woman who nearly plowed into her before noticing her. She bounced on the balls of her feet snapping a quick salute which aurora returned. "Captain, I was beginning to worry you wouldn't arrive in time ma'am"  Aurora could practically hear the wry smirk behind the woman's helmet. "Yes, well we aren't all puggles on a sugar high major. Is your team ready I'd rather the Admiral's first impression of the Hyperion not be one of the troops tripping over their feet."  The woman let out a huff before replying. "Yes, ma'am these are the best I have. If not" she gave a slight shrug. "Well, we'll have plenty of volunteers to mop the hangers." Aurora nodded and gave a short affirmative reply before looking over to the opening in the bay as a buzzer blared. 

    "Well, it looks like our guest is here now." Folding her arms behind her back Aurora watched the sleek form of the U-19 slip through the hanger's force field. As the Skipper alighted gently on the hanger decking she could hear the major barking orders to the guard to fall in line and present arms. Aurora brought her left hand up to her brow in a salute as she heard the front ramp start to drop. 

[Harukei]

In the endless void of space, there was nothing. No light of stars would reach these desolate area with its full strength. Only the remnants of formations, sentient-made satellites and other celestial bodies that had drifted away from their orbits lay here, separated often by millions and even hundreds of millions of kilometers from each other. 

It was then when such a subtle peace was halted for a brief second. There was a flash and the elongated silhouettes of ships emerged from nothing. As the vessels returned into normalcy, they would return to their correct length, one by one drifting with a hidden purpose, until another vessel, larger then the handful that had emerged was made apparent. The city sized objects picked speed as they headed towards a rendezvous, maintaining an orderly formation. 

---

Saul was content. His eyes moved, perusing the information about the jump and the deployment that battlegroup Aurek had successfully completed. Rising from his command chair, he walked about his bridge, hands folded behind his back as he observed the ensigns and lieutenants do their work, coordinating with the vessels that had come as an escort of the Anenke as it moved close to the location of the Hyperion. The contact was done in seconds as the IFF code was transmitted through the secure channels. 

"We have hailed the Hyperion, sir, they are awaiting you."

A young ensign said, turning to meet his gaze before returning to her console. The Admiral was susprised, for not only Captain Vienneau had come earlier than him, but it seemed that she was quite prepared for his arrival. It was good to see someone so prepared for something like a routine check. 

"Good, send a message to the Hyperion, I am on my way. Captain Gavros, you have the ship until I return."

Saul said with a commanding tone, the Captain, a duros assumed his temporal command as he left the bridge. The travel to the flight deck was not a long one, after all he had lived in this ship for a considerable amount of time, and everything was in a perfect synchronization after he had assumed command of this vessel and of the Fourth Fleet. 

As the U-19 Shuttle left the Anenke the pilots did a flight around the vessel until the shuttle became flanked by a flight of interceptors. Within short minutes the shuttle had trespassed the force field that held the atmosphere within the hangar, and with the sound of hydraulics whining, Saul Talion, Admiral of the Fourth Fleet, stepped into the hangar of the cruiser, being met by the captain and an honor guard. 

The Admiral walked straight towards the woman, standing before her before returning the salute in kind before relaxing and looking at the pomp that had been gathered. He was still unused to that after all this years. 

"Captain Vienneau. I appreciate the ceremony but next time a rifle platoon would do just as well." He said with a warm smile as he looked at the troops and who he assumed to be their commander. "Please lead the way, I would like to know how the Hyperion operates."

[Zarkan]

Aurora let out a small breath she hadn't realized she had been holding as the Admiral came to a stop before her and snapped his hand up in a crisp salute. A slight smile ghosted across her lips and her eyes crinkled slightly as she lowered her arm. "I'll try to keep that in mind for the future Admiral I felt for the first meeting it was best to go all out." The captain nodded to the admiral as she clasped her arms behind her back. Turning she gave the assembled troopers a smile playing out across her face. "Well done, major you and your men are dismissed." Major Kreva gave a soft yes, ma'am before snapping a quick bouncy salute at Aurora and saul before quickly snapping orders at the troopers and motioning them out of the hanger all the while waving her hands and bouncing on the balls of her feet. Aurora then turned the man motioning for him to follow her before turning and slowly moving across the hanger floor towards the exit.

As she moved a group of four crew moved past her on their way to the shuttle moving to the Admiral's shuttle to inspect if for any needed work. Aurora gave the men a somewhat tight smile and nod as they moved past. "Well" Aurora began "the Hyperion as you know is an Armitage-class cruiser." Her brows drew down slightly as she looked over her shoulder at the older man. "Honestly I was rather surprised when I received our orders." Aurora looked back ahead again. "The Armitage was designed for heavy patrol and escort not direct line battle."She stopped and turned her body to face the admiral at an angle as the door to the hanger slid open. "The Hyperion's sister ships have all been assigned to the 7th and 16th patrol fleets and I had anticipated a similar posting."

[Harukei]

Saul heard the woman speak as he walked behind her. In many ways he had already taken a liking to her attitude, for if he had ever been in her shoes before, he would have done the same. The fact that the news came as a surprise to her was of course, no surprise to him. Many Captains would have reservations specially with a ship like the Hyperion. Well funded but still he had wanted to see that eagerness to prove herself. 

"Captain, I am well aware of the limitations an Armitage-class Cruiser has." He said in a nonchalant tone. "But when I seek to make new additions to my fleet, I look more than just the ship, I look its commander."

He said as both crossed the threshold that led from the hangar into the innards of the ship. He found the same style of construction and layout that must ships within the Republic had. He turned to Captain Vienneau again with a serious face. 

"I read the report concerning the Battle of Coruscant. I have to say you more than just well, taking in consideration the forces at your disposal and the enemies."

And this was also part of the point that he was trying to make. A good commander worked with the limitations their afforded, using them on their favor in order to win an encounter with an enemy vessel. 

"Certainly, being assigned to patrol fleets is a noble and worthy task, but I would think it is wasted on mere pirates. And if you were looking for just patrolling, take heart knowing that there is plenty of just that within my fleet."

[Zarkan]

The bespeckled woman clapped the trooper to her left on his plasteel pauldron to acknowledge his nod before turning back to the admiral. She nodded along with him before blushing slightly as the light complement a slightly sheepish smile gracing her lips as he continued. Aurora's eyes gained a slightly faraway look as the admiral spoke about the battle of Coruscant and she grimaced images of the Elria pouring air and men out of rents in its hull as it broke appart still crystal clear in her memory.

The captain pulled her lips into a small somewhat strained smile before speaking. "Take you for your vote of confidence admiral. I do appreciate it, but I didn't do it alone. Aurora swallowed hard her jaw muscles clenching before releasing. "A lot of good men and women died in that attack including the entire crew of the Elria." She gave the admrial a weak smile before starting to walk down the hullway. "You'll have to forgive me that I'm not in a great hurry to reattempt that particular tactic." Aurora gave the admiral a shurg as they neared the elevator. "Frankly even policing shipping lanes is an imporovement over seeing on a kuat defence platform."

Aurora pressed a button on the wall and the dor to the lift infront of the pair slid open. She slipped inside and turned to face the admiral before speaking again. "We will head to the bridge next and you can meet my on duty operational crew."

[Harukei]

"Not to worry, I won't make you try that again." The admiral said in a soothing tone as he followed the Captain. He understood well that it meant to lose people under his command. He also understood very well that desperation tactics well good and all, but wouldn't work twice. Saul wasn't going to try his hand again into ramming his own ship unless he had no other choice, and even so, he would think that the Sith Armada that would find him attempting such a risky move to open a line, would not be as stunned as the one he had faced during the Battle of Caamas. 

"Like I said, there will be plenty chance to patrol shipping lanes in the Republic-Imperial border." The Admiral answered. "Privateers and smugglers are in most cases unworthy of our trust. Corsairs and Pirates running amok, hitting cargo freighters destined to reinforce the troops stationed at the boarder are becoming a problem."

And such was true for most the the Expeditionary and Patrol fleets. The stretch of the border was long and treacherous, mired with several anomalies and pockets of stars that made it necessary to jump to other sectors, instead of simply going through them. That's where they hid and planned their attack runs. 

"But I like to think commanders such as yourself will be more than up to the task."

Once more the Admiral said in a calming tone as they both reached the Hyperion's bridge. As he had expected it was smaller than the Anenke's. Having taking command of that ship years earlier, he had grown accustomed to the large bridge with multiple stations that coordinated not only his own vessel but the fleet at his disposal as whole. Nonetheless, this bridge resembled his in many ways. All the Ensigns present snapped at both Vivienne and Saul, as a bridge officer called them. The instant raise and salute made him crack a smile at the thought of the stop of such a well drilled crew. Of course he could note that by their youth and manners, these were inexperience. 

"Most of your crew are recent graduates from Naval Officer School and the Naval training centers, correct?"

He asked leaning to a side so she would be able to hear his whisper. 

[Zarkan]

Aurora nodded pleasantly to the admiral as the humming lift moved between floors smiling slightly in relief as indicated his dislike of her needing to repeat the stunt over Coruscant. Aurora's feet carried her quietly and softly out of the lift and down the short hallway to the bridge. The door to the bridge slid open nearly inaudibly, but despite its quite movement, it was enough for the jittery young gunnery chief to see it and call out officers on deck. The captain sighed quietly and quickly returned the salute to the crew before leaning in close to better hear the admiral.

Her eyes scanned the fore bridge as the admiral spoke of her crew's experience. Aurora wore a polite smile as she answered the admiral's question in similarly hushed tones. "Yes, considering the current state of the navy that was hardly surprising and I'm grateful for the few veterans command could spare." Aurora leaned back straight and gestured to her second in command her eyes crinkling at the corners as her smile become more genuine as she spoke at normal volume. "They're a good crew admiral committed, and very determined we've been ruing combat simulations almost every day since we left Kuat." Aurora would freely admit this was a bit of ego stroking, but she knew scuttlebutt would carry her praise across the ship, pride and moral where vital commodities on a warship.

"I feel confident that the crew is every bit as ready as the ship is, but." Aurora paused as Gregori stepped up and saluted the admiral. "I'd like you to meet my second Commander Gregori Davion he's been in the navy nearly as long as I've been alive and we might all be lost with out him." she spared the man a grateful smile. "It's a pleasure admiral." Commander Davion spoke with his typically rough and deep voice. Gregori's face was, as usual, a mask, but Aurora had noticed that the slight flare of the nostrils and squinting of the eyes was a clear sign of amusement from the man. "Thank you for your high praise captain I'll be sure to remind of it when you're compiling the crew's performance reports."

[Harukei]

"The pleasure is all mine, Commander Davion." The Admiral said while offering his hand to the Commander. 

"A good commander is only as good as the people he or she chooses for his command staff." Saul said with certainty behind his words. Of course he knew that first hand, for he had served as an executive officer and had most of his formation to command a vessel of his own thanks to that, although he supposed that by having a man as experienced as Davion, most instances could be solved by his guile and his instinct which served someone like Vivienne just fine. 

He maintained his eyes on the way that the command deck crew operated and all he saw made him nod in approval. True, they were still green but what he saw was promising. Crews like this, that were groomed slowly but surely, would often make most of the difference during actual combat, and this was exactly what the whole of the Republic Navy needed. 

"It's a smooth operation if I have ever seen one, Captain. How many combat simulations have you placed them through? And how much actual combat they've seen?"

[Zarkan]

Gegori returned the admiral's handshake with his customary bone creaking grasp before releasing it and stepping back towards the front of the command dais. Aurora smiled at commander Davion before sweeping her eyes over the crew again to make sure everyone was still occupied before turning back to the admiral as he spoke. She nodded and smiled at what the admiral she had been taught the same sentiment as a child and her own experiences have only reinforced it.

"Take care of the crew and the crew will take care of you." The young woman smiled warmly as she quoted one of her father's favorite sayings. She laughed lightly almost more of a giggle before catching herself with a slight blush and reached her left hand up to rub her thumb just under her left eye. "My father has told me that for as long as I can remember." Aurora cleared her throat before replying back to the Admiral's statement. "Thank you, I'm sure they all appreciate it they've worked hard to get to this point."

Aurora sighed and rubbed the back of her neck with her left hand she knew these questions were coming and couldn't say she was particularly fond of the answers she had for them. "Since we left Kuat a month ago we've had seventeen shipwide drills and another seven bridge drills. The other departments are similar save the guard detachment who have had nearly twice that, Major Kreva is prone to boredom." Aurora smirked "I actually fear I might get a strongly worded letter from Naval logistics with how much material we've blown through." Aurora paused the smirk falling from her face as she adjusted or republic reds.

"Unfortunately our shakedown cruise has been rather uneventful and we've not had much opportunity to fire our guns in anger. We had a short run in with a Corsair cutter about a weekend where we got a couple shots off from our turbolasers before she bugged out." Aurora sighed before continuing. "The pilots have gotten a little more action running down pirates on a couple of occasions and the troops have done some boarding inspections, but other than that I'd say the Hyperion's combat record is essentially none." She shrugged her face turning into an expression of bemusement. "Silly of me to complain about an easy cruise I suppose, but it is what it is."

Aurora looked over her shoulder at one of the command screens off to her left to check the chronometer for the time. "Admiral if you'll follow me I asked the department heads to meet us in the conference room for lunch." She gestured for the admiral to follow her before turning and beginning to take soft measured steps towards the rear entrance of the bridge.

[Harukei]

"Then lead on, Captain." Saul replied. 

Although he would have desired to stay just a bit longer, specially to see how the command crew behaved, he appreciated that Captain Vienneau followed a tight schedule and ran the ship as efficiently as he would like. At the very least the trip to the conference room would give him time to shake the numbness induced from Commander's Davion grip. He had to recognize that whilst his hands had not been soft in decades, the commanders might have been made of pure granite. If Davion had trained in hand to hand combat, he would hate to be the one at the receiving end of those fists. 

The trip to the conference room was not a long one. The layout of the ship was as he had remember from the many times he had boarded other Arquitens-class Cruisers. In there a long table with space enough for the leaders of each section as well for the commander of the vessel and several more guests. The Admiral sat on a seat close to Aurora, deciding that the seat was hers and he would not trample on her authority over her crew. The room slowly filled with the leaders of the different section of the ship and the sweet scents of warm food slowly entered the room. 

"I wasn't expecting a lunch, I am pleasantly surprised."

[Zarkan]

Aurora absentmindedly hummed to herself as the door to the bridge opened and she stepped out into the plain grey and white utilitarian hallway. The captain's mouth curled into a slight smirk as she looked over her left shoulder at the admiral. "I'd be a rather atrocious host if I didn't offer my guest at least tea and cookies." She glanced ahead to make sure the path ahead was clear before laughing and continuing. "My mother would never let me live it down." She turned fully around walking backward as she spoke to the admiral her face alighting into a grin. "You can thank the ship's cook for not having dried combat rations." Aurora giggled starting to loosen up now that she was getting more comfortable with the admiral. "The cook may have chased me out of the galley with a butcher knife so I'm afraid I'm not privy to our lunch menu today." Her face did turn to a bit of a grimace as she thought of the ships Mon cal chief cook and his unhealthy obsession with sea critters. "I hope you're not allergic to shellfish." She said with a sigh before turning back around breifly before reaching the conferrence room door though which she could certainly smell fish at the very least.

She stepped into the room and quickly motioned for her overly ridged cheif engineer to sit down before moving towards the head of the long faux would table offering her customary seat at the head to Talion.. "Admiral Talion I'd like you to meat my department cheifs." she said jestering to the first woman seated at the table. "You've beifly had the plesure already, but this is Major Lianna Keva commander of the Hyperion's guard detachment." The red-headed woman now in her republic dress uniform snapped a quick salute to the admiral. She continued up the line one by one up the the table. Raila Uryln the blue haired Zeltros head of medical, Willis Vander the towering hard faced gunnery commander, Elias Yanith the smirking young air commander, Yannis Hith the bald cheif engineer with his cybernetic left eye, and Umi Yana the waifish fresh academy grad who got stuck running sensors and communications. Each of them returned their own greetings in time as Aurora softly set in her seat and jestured to the seat to her left for the admiral as one of the kitchen staff set a cup of tea on her left side.

[Harukei]

"I shall thank your mother then for your manners, and for your cook to prepare a great meal." The Admiral said after her words. 

He had noted the humming the the woman had, if it was a coping mechanism to the rigors and the stress of command. Even he fell to such a trope, taking with him an old smoking pipe carved out of a piece of woshyr tree, that had belonged to his great-grandfather, fiddling with the heirloom as he attempted to find concentration during a battle or a mission, even daring to chew on tip of the pipe to ease his stress. However he decided not to bring the issue, something as minor like that. 

After being introduced to each chief section, Saul took his time to shake their hands, going around the table and sharing but just a few words with each of the men and women of the crew, getting an idea of how they were, and how they acted. Some seemed experienced, having served on larger ships and ultimately spending their last years in the Navy on the early voyages of the Hyperion. Others were taking their first steps, getting their experience before going on to serve in what would be a more prestigious post. 

Finally done, he sat next to Aurora and awaited for the meal to arrive. 

"They seem like a lively bunch."    

[Zarkan]

Aurora smiled fondly at her crew before answering admiral Talion. "Yes, I'm quite thankful for that it's a refreshing change from the worn down and nearly retired group I was in charge of before this posting." She paused looking up as the door slid open with a waft of warm and unfortunately fishy scent. Aurora could already see a bit of green creeping onto Major Kreva and chief Hith's faces. The head cook Algun swept in followed by several members of his staff setting plates down in front of the officers a wide mon calamari grin plastered across his blue-green mottled face. Aurora's smile turned pretty wane as the plate's gelatinous purple occupant giggled disturbingly.

Lianna picked up her fork and hesitantly poked the blob of flesh. "Is this even edible?" Aurora's thoughts were much the same as the looked out of the corner of her eye at the admiral. "That's rude Kreva, I'm sure Algun planned this quite carefully." In jumped doctor Urlyn always the peacemaker though, Aurora noted she didn't seem to be in any greater hurry to try the concoction than the major. "What.." Commander Yanith started before turning to give a hesitant look at the chef before finishing the question. "What is it?"

Aurora could practically see the mon cal's eyes glitter as he told Elis that the globs were sections from an aquatic worm native to the marshes of Alderaan. "Thank you, Mr. Algun." The captain spoke trying to cut off anymore less professional comments in front of the admiral. Swallowing a lump in her throat Aurora chose to take one for the team and cut a small wet slice off the mass before quickly shoving it into her mouth at which point she quickly realized two things first being captain has some serious downsides and second, she didn't have nearly enough tea for this. With a substantial effort, she swallowed the soft salty mass. "It tastes quite interesting, but I'm sure you have other dishes to attend to please see to the crew." As soon as the chef turned his back Aurora made a hasty grab for her tea draining the cup in a few short sips. As she placed the cup back down and looked at the plate she just barely caught Willis saying he'd rather have dried rations a sentiment Aurora quite agreed with. She sighed at least Umi appeared to be enjoying playing with her food.

[Harukei]

Saul could not say that he was knowledgeable with Mon Calamari cuisine. In fact, it could not even remember hearing about any particular dish that was labeled as a delicacy. The Admiral frowned at the dish filled with the gelatinous tentacle that awaited either to be eaten or to attack him. In the end he sighed, taking knife and fork cutting through the soft flesh with a popping sound as he began to carve in bits that seemed more edible at the very least regarding the size of the portion. 

With a stab of his fork he would slowly bring the piece of flesh into his mouth, slowly beginning to grind the meat that melted into his mouth, leaving a vile taste behind that almost made him spit it. Drinking a glass of water the Admiral would swallow the first bite and winced as the bite felt with a plop into his stomach. He looked again the the full portion that was left, still untouched and still as disgusting as it had looked. He should've boiled it at the very least. Saul thought before leaning back, gasping for air. 

"Interesting." He muttered after a cough. "Unfortunately... I am afraid I have been feeling unwell for some, but quite the delicacy."

He did not had a problem with a Mon Calamari chef, he only could hope that the food the male normally served was more edible than this. Also, he hoped there was not a desert that involved a living animal. 

[Zarkan]

Umi was still playing with the strange gelatinous blob after the conference room's door slid shut behind Algun. Aurora let out a slow sigh after a few minutes looking down into her empty teacup. She was sadly enough daydreaming of the dry room temperature gruel that passed for republic emergency rations she had sequestered away in her personal quarters. Aurora straightened her collar before slowly standing now that she was confident that the chef was long gone. "Admiral I believe you will agree that when faced with foes such as these." she said gesturing to the purple and blue blob on the plate before continuing. "That a timely retreat is the best course of action."

Aurora moved to the door and waited for the admiral for a few minutes before exiting the conference room and beginning the long trek back to the fore shuttle bay. "I'm afraid I must admit that the serving of lunch wasn't entirely a matter of being a good host," she said after a few minutes of silence a light blush dusting her cheeks. "There was a bit of an ulterior motive. Frankly, sir, crew morale is beginning to fray I have no doubt that Algun is a technically skilled chef, but.." Aurora grimaced as she pressed the button for the lift. "He is seemingly unwilling to take the concerns of the rest of the staff onboard."

Trying to be as appealing as she could she gave the admiral a small smile as the lift doors opened. "After central denied my polite requests for reassignment I felt more desperate measures were necessary."

[Harukei]

"I agree." 

Saul finally said, pushing his plate still full of the rancid tasting flesh of gelatinous texture. He had more than enough for one lifetime. He could not this against the Mon Calamari, they had their culture and he respected said culture, but he could not say that he would ever visit Dac to taste some of the meals the locals prepared. His eyes scanned the room and he saw the rest of the chiefs of each section of the ship feeling about the same as he was. 

When the Admiral finally left with the Captain, he would simply listen to her and nod in agreement with most that she said. He would notice the slight blush, it had to be of embarrassment for the situation and he felt sympathy for the predicament she was facing. It was hard already to be an unbiased commander, even more so when it concerned to food. 

"And so you saw the reassignment of the Hyperion as a chance to ask a favor of me?" 

He said with a warm smile. It was unusual and in any other situation he would have denied such request. It was something than an Admiral had to remain unconcerned from, but after tasting the food he had to agree with the Captain. A change needed to be made. He wasn't sure of any cook that was remarkable in the fleet. The usual meals he received in the officers lounge were good enough and enjoyable. But he could pull a string or two. 

"I will have my requisition's officer to take a look and see what would fit best before making any approval. Hopefully by the time you take the Hyperion close to the patrol lanes, you will have a cook that caters to all tastes on board."

[Zarkan]

    Aurora's face was still red as the admiral replied to her statement her lower lip caught in her teeth, but slowly a small smile of relief spread across her face. "I'm aware this is highly unusual admiral, but I don't exactly want to join the list of captain's who's crew mutinied over bad food." Aurora stepped lightly into the lift before gesturing for the admiral to join her before beginning to speak again. "Honestly admiral even if a replacement isn't available I'm sure the assistant head cook can handle things for the time being." She paused a moment reaching out to tap the button that would take them to the bottom deck. As the lift began to hum she turned and began speaking again. "Thank you for concern and consideration captain."

    Aurora's stomach jumped as the lift came to a halt and the door opened up with a hiss. She continued to speak as she stepped off the elevator her smile twisting into a smirk. "Truly the crew will hail you as a hero for vanquishing the sea beasts beset upon us by the poor chef."  They were closing in on the end of the hallway now just a few feet away from the main doors to the fore hanger. "Cheif engineer Hith will probably want me to deliver a whole case of his best home brew." she said before snapping a quick salute to the hanger guard. "But alas." She said turning back to the admiral "I fear those drinks will have to wait for another time your aide was quite specific that I get you back to the fleet promptly with a less than kind message so I suspect we should get you back to your ship before some of our suppiles go missing."