“–hope you found the tour of our warp engine room informative, conductor,” Taes said. She emphasised ‘informative’ in a congenial tone. That tonality came out of her like muscle memory, a mask that’s lost its borders. Reminding herself to smile, Taes swept an arm out, inviting Conductor Kyelen into the wide-set corridors of the USS Almagest.

The Sutherland-class research cruiser was generously equipped to host academic conferences –in stark contrast to the utilitarian streak of the Constellation— which made Almagest the most suitable host for a diplomatic reception. The K’ritz starship Phravik remained under repairs, and Captain Taes had invited her K’ritz counterpart, Conductor Kyelen, over for dinner in hopes of gathering any further small insights into the shelkvan competition.

Stepping into the corridor beside Kyelen, Taes said, “My chief engineer will be available to answer any of your questions over–”

Boxing Kyelen in between them, Flavia waved her hands in a slashing motion. Her floor-length dress looked as if it were made of molten gold, the way it dripped down her body and swirled around her as she scurried to keep pace. Compared to Flavia’s shining vibrance, Taes felt particularly utilitarian in the muted colours of her dress uniform.

Flavia interjected dismissively, “Before we were interrupted by tedium, you were telling us where you’re from, conductor. Were you hatched on the K’ritz homeworld?”

Taes folded her hands behind her back and squeezed her wrist tight. This was going to be an arduous evening if Flavia insisted on proving the Romulans were better friends to the K’ritz than the Federation.

“In the ocean of Kaan’she, yes,” Kyelen replied, her crab-like mandibles clicking rhythmically as she spoke. When she nodded, her lustrous white mohawk bobbed with her. “Being home meant being enveloped in an orchestra of the deepest frequencies, interspersed with delicate percussion and distant echoes.”

Watching closely, Taes studied the subtle shifts on the jagged edges of Kyelen’s jaw.  She hadn’t yet deduced the meanings of those expressions. There was a casualness to Kyelen’s timbre when she spoke to Flavia; it stung that Kyelen remained so formal with Taes. Especially when Taes kept grasping for that depth of rapport.

“It must have been a difficult decision,” Taes said, “leaving all that for a life among the stars.” She winced slightly at the imposition of the question, meeting Kyelen’s compound-facet eyes. It was a decision –a choice– that resonated between all of them.

Kyelen shook her head, offering an expression that more obviously suggested amusement. “There was no decision, captain. From very young, I was taken by the purpose of the navigator’s guild. Astrogation, diplomatic ritual, cultural preservation. What other life can there be, eh?”

“Saying that,” Taes said, pitching her voice in a hopeful lilt, “perhaps you can have both.”

As the double doors opened before them, Taes welcomed Kyelen into the cetacean ops hub. The multi-deck facility was structured around a transparent rotunda, entirely immersed in water. Dolphins swamp past the bulkheads on the opposing curve of the compartment. Most of the LCARS workstations in the hub were darkened, piled high with great platters of food. Fundamentally, the room had been converted into a reception hall. Members of the Phravik crew mingled with Flavia’s scientists and Starfleet officers in their dress uniforms.

Stopping at the threshold, Kyelen tilted her head back. Despite their differences, Taes recognised the genuine awe in Kyelen’s manner. It struck Taes all at once. Kyelen was an authentic explorer at heart, taking in the technological achievements of Starfleet.

“The ships in your squadron are a great wonder,” Kyelen said, practically whispering in a reverent tone. “I promise to guide you through my own ship once the engines are repaired. I cannot offer this magnificence, but she carries us from star to star all the same.”

Rounding her shoulders humbly, Taes replied, “My first starship, the Dvorak, was much the same. She bore a similar profile to this one, but… not so magnificent.”

Striding into the thick of the reception, Kyelen posited, “It must require a great deal of maintenance to keep all of… this functional.” Looking to Taes for confirmation, Kyelen pointed out holographic LCARS projections, a sensor cluster, and the airlock into the underwater chamber.

“Captain Taes oversees a great responsibility with such a massive crew,” Flavia offered. If Taes didn’t know better, she perceived a swell of admiration from Flavia. But it couldn’t have been that.

Flavia added, “You’ve benefited from the expertise of Starfleet engineers for yourself.”

Bobbing her head from side to side, Kyelen said, “I suppose that explains it.”

Taes could feel her smile crack. “Explains what, conductor?” Her stomach lurched at the thought she had missed something vital.

“The ones who met me in the transporter room,” Kyelen explained, nodding to those within sight, gathered around a buffet table, “These were your most trusted advisors?”

“My senior staff, yes,” Taes said, still not hearing a definitive question.

Staring at Taes with greater intensity, Kyelen said, “I find it puzzling that your crew is so… functionary. Your advisors are all experts in the starship, rather than the mission. When the crew’s luxury requires such complexity, the needs of the starship begin to eclipse the reason for the journey, it seems.”

Shuffling deeper into the chamber, Kyelen accepted a couple of glasses from a server. She handed one to Taes and the other to Flavia, not taking one for herself. Taes’s hand tightened around her glass. The flush of shame running through Taes interfered with her Deltan empathy: she couldn’t feel if Kyelen was mocking her or if that was simply how Kyelen perceived the universe.

“I don’t– I couldn’t–” Taes sputtered, struggling to compose herself. “I’ve never thought of it that way. In fact, I think there’s been a misunderstanding. Operating the ship hasn’t eclipsed our mission of diplomacy and exploration.”

“I intend no offence, captain,” Kyelen said, visibly stiffening. “Your squadron is worthy of great pride and care. That’s why your chief advisors are experts in laws, defensive tactics, engineering, pilotry, communications. My chief advisor is a historian. The further we travel from home, the greater perspective we gain on our own people.”

Flavia raised her glass, as if to toast. “That’s an admirable area of focus. My own crew is much the same, conductor. A botanist, a historian, a painter, an anthropologist. Our home world was lost in a supernova, and now our research allows us to rediscover what it means to be Romulan without our home world.”

“You understand,” Kyelen said, grasping at Flavia’s forearm. “You truly do.”

Flavia was watching Taes’s eyes for just a flicker, watching for Taes’s reaction. She knew what she was doing. Every moment of closeness between Kyelen and Flavia demonstrated how well Flavia understood the K’ritz. It also meant Flavia was opening new avenues to learn how to excel in the competition on behalf of the Romulan Free State only.

Sounding more brittle than she would like, Taes added, “Starfleet’s mission, too, is to explore ourselves as deep, more deeply, than the new worlds and civilisations we encounter.”

Flavia added, “Starfleet graciously hosts my crew and resources our research. The Romulan Free State is still rebuilding its capabilities for external exploration. We hope this partnership can serve as a model for greater peace between our governments.”

Shaking her head, Kyelen’s eyes searched both of them for context. “What is the nature of the conflict between your peoples? You’ve hosted my crew in lovely harmony.”

“There was war,” Taes said, “centuries ago.” Taes licked her lips, feeling her throat going dry. She didn’t want to lie, but she wouldn’t have chosen to discuss this ancient history.

Nodding, Flavia showed uncharacteristic diplomacy in saying, “The old Earth Starfleet had expanded into Romulan space. At that time, we only wished for isolation and did not make ourselves known. It led to… miscommunication.”

Taes added, “The very forming of the United Federation of Planets came so soon after the war. I fear it became part of our identity.”

“You could say,” Flavia said harmoniously, “the Romulans inspired the Federation. And all these years later, they came to our aid when our homeworld fell. For a time.”

“Taking to heart our attempts at unity,” Taes said, “you’ll find we’ve prepared Romulan ingredients in Deltan cooking styles and Deltan produce in the style of Romulan dishes.”

Kyelen affirmed, “I hope this becomes a tradition of such dinners between your peoples.” Then she smirked, and in an undertone, she added, “I’m not supposed to say so until you’ve been victorious in the shelkvan, but I hope this is the first of many with my people too.”