Jacqueline entered the room a bit nervously. This was about as far from her preferred world of mathematics and solitude as she could get. She took moment to fiddle with some nonexistent trouble with her jumpsuit. Having done so, she made her way over to Iita. "Thank you for organizing the party, ma'am. Very thoughtful of you" she said.

The song reached its chorus, many voices sang in unison;

(queue the music of "Age of Aquarius")

This is the dawning of the Age of Empire
Age of Empire
Empire! Empire!

The music was deafening. Iita put her hand on Jacqueline's shoulders and brought her closer to whisper with a hoarse voice :

"No ma'am! No titles, no ranks! This is Fool's Day and the crew lets off steam after the captain's speech! Think of how we could play pranks on our fellow officers! And take some drink, taste the different cocktails - there's a competition!"

Iita, it seemed, had already started to taste the different cocktails combinations.

Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Data crystal revelation
And the mind's true liberation
Empi-ire! Empi-ire!

Jacqueline giggled, a sound few of her crewmates had every heard. "I wouldn't mind a cocktail or two ma- Iita. I don't... I don't do a lot of pranks"

["Half-Way Party", Planet Iruku]

     About a half-hour into the party, Ishakhi walks through the community center doors, into the party that's just starting to ramp up.

     Ishakhi is dressed in the required ship's jumpsuit--in the pale-blue of the Small Craft Operations division--but he's wearing a flight jacket over it.

     The flight jacket is space-black with a dark-red trim, and is cut in a Vilani style--the right-of-center zipper, high collar, and close fit, being indicators.  A variety of colorful patches adorn each sleeve, from shoulder to wrist, and there is an image of a lethal-looking aerospace fighter craft displayed upon the back.  Abouve this image are printed the words "Vampire Squadron" in large letters, with "IFFC-2322 -- 133rd Fleet" in smaller letters beneath that.  Under the image of the fighter are the words "FL-128 Rampart Fighter" and "Death Out Of The Void" printed below that.  A white nametape with "Lt. Kimpasherki" printed in black is located over the right breast, on the front of the jacket, with the word "Dagger" embroidered in bright yellow, below the nametape.

     A very non-Regulation silver band ear clip with three strands of tiny dark-amber colored beads--matching the color of his eyes--dangles from his left earlobe, while a subtle application of an orange-tone eyeshadow both highlights his amber eyes, as well as compliments his swarthy skin tone.  On his feet are a pair of--again, very non-Regulation--soft, moccasin-like Vilani 'house boots' which, though their reddish-brown color clashes a little with the pale-blue of the jumpsuit legs that are tucked into them, look to be very comfortable.

     Around his waist circles a narrow, dark leather belt with a fine-link steel chain looping down over his left hip, from which dangles the large, sheathed knife with the odd-looking grip--there are four small metal 'rings' on it, which look like the fingers of the hand holding it must be put through them--(extremely non-Regulation) which Ishakhi never seems to go anywhere without, hangs.

     As Ishakhi looks around the chaotic scene, a handful of people, all wearing pale-blue Small Craft Ops jumpsuits, suddenly raise up their glasses towards him and call out "Dagger!"

     Ishakhi smiles and waves to the group, in acknowledgement, then starts towards the bar.  Ishakhi moves through the mass of moving bodies with a lithe, almost dancer-like smoothness.  And, though the move is subtle, about halfway to the bar, Ishakhi makes a change of direction which places him standing at the bar--right next to Iita.

     "My compliments, Chief Engineer," Ishakhi says when he arrives, leaning in and speaking just loud enough to be heard over all the revelry,

     "This is quite some celebration you have organized."

     Ishakhi turns away, slightly, and addresses the server on the other side of the bar,

     "A flute of Meem, please." he requests, then starts to turn back to Iita--only to stop when he notices the puzzled look on the server's face.

     With a heavy sigh, Ishakhi adds, "Fine.  Give me a glass of whatever you have that's brewed, alcoholic, and on-tap.  Thank you.", before returning his attention to his fellow Department Head.

Gvoellaekh's presence at the party was both imposing and staid, the former because it could hardly be helped, and the latter because his duty uniform suited him better than anything informal; he was slightly more relaxed in his mannerisms, at least. There was even a smile or two - something rarely seen when on duty!

"Mister, um, Kimpasherki" Jacqueline said awkwardly. "Nice to see you" She selects one of the cocktails and sips it gently. "It's been a very long time since I've been to a party."

In reply to Jacqueline Yune (msg # 54):

     Ishakhi accepts a glass filled with what he assumes is beer or ale--despite it's muddy-brown color--from the server, and takes a sip before responding to Jacqueline,

     "Please, SubLieutenant," Ishakhi says, surprised at the good, malty flavor of his beverage, "We are Crewmates.  In social circumstances, please, call me Ishakhi.  And, may I call you Jacqueline?"

Iita took a relaxed attitude.

"Oooh Ishaki is right, let's use our first names. What would you think of calling you Jackie, Jacqueline?", she asked with a hint or irony. "By the way, Ishaki - always the ladies' man, eh? - if you are using her social circumstances name, you may as well drop our ranks for tonight and stop the "Chief Engineer this and Chief Engineer that"...", she giggled.

The Chief-Engineer winked at him, and winked at Jacqueline, telegraphing "let's prank him!".

"My my, Ishaki, what an impressive display of patches and indicators", said Iita while caressing those patches... Vampire squadron, Rampart Fighter, "Death Out Of The Void" - I suppose this is the squadron's motto? And tell us about your code name "Dagger"? It's linked to... the knife I presume, or something else under your belt? Is it a family heirloom?"

She considered holding the handle of the knife in a very suggestive way, but thought better against it, as instead of being aroused, the uptight pilot might feel a tradition breach...

Then she would ask questions about the ear clip and tease him...

In reply to Iita Tsetsegma (msg # 56):

     "Merely acknowledging a fellow Division Head." Ishakhi replies, raising his glass to Iita,

     "As for the rest," Ishakhi sips from his drink, then nods in agreement, "You've pretty much harvested the groats.  My previous assignment was as a Rampart fighter pilot, and a member of Vampire Squadron..."

     Ishakhi's grin slips a little,

     "Until my fighter got shot out from under me." he takes a large draw from his drink, " 'Least I saved the Troop Transport...and got roasted half-to-death..."

     As he says this, his left hand--his free hand--moves to rest on the sheath of his dagger,

     "As for Dagger," Ishakhi says, the grin returning, "That's my Callsign.  The guys in the squadron though it was amusing to call me that, since...y'know...it's actually my name.  My CAG, Commander Lord Emillio Ashford--he took me under his wing."

     "After I got out of medical recovery, he recommended I rotate into a Staff position for a tour-or-two, and then switch over tp Command track--since I couldn't fly fighters, anymore.  This..."

     Ishakhi pats the sheathed dagger,

     "This is actually an award, tied to a Commendation I got for saving those Marines.  Commander Ashford had it forged from a salvaged piece of my Rampart's crystaliron armor,  in a traditional kiikag style.  The award includes a Uniform dispensation, allowing me to carry it at all times--well--unless it would be inappropriate."

     "Like, I wouldn't wear it in bed, for example--unless I was expecting my bedtime to be...strenuous..."

     Ishakhi's grin widens, as he takes another drink.

Iita listened with attention and felt a raising admiration towards Ishakhi; the pilot had really risked his life in the line of duty, been heroic, seriously injured, and yet he remained humble and casual.

The engineer led them to the strip-tease club and freed a private booth of its occupants, and had Ishakhi sit on the couch. She then took Jacqueline back to the counter.

"You have tasted the cocktail #12, the one with the most proportion of local booze as basic component.", Iita said while consulting her pad and asking for the astrogator's appreciations.

"Now, we need more notes for the #7 mix, which contains The Olde Liquor we bought in Beacon. Come on, drink it. Now Jackie, listen : Hrolf, who you meet daily at the Gym, where is he now? I did not see him having a word with you at the party tonight. Stop waiting for him to break the ice. Don't you think we deserve a recreation now, after all those days repairing this piece of junk, stressing, and fearing our repairs would provoke an irremediable or catastrophic damage ? It's been months without romance! Now, our colleague Ishakhi looks like a nice fellow. Let's flirt with him, turn his head between the both of us, have fun as women conquering... the galaxy... and contemplate a one-night-stand without consequences. Tomorrow we'll feel satisfied and rejuvenated!", she smiled.

Iita remembered how frustrated she had felt months ago, when a dialog full of double entendre had aroused her but led to nowhere. She needed a belated sexual relief so badly.
Since the Chief Engineer also knew that - to put it crudely - sleeping with someone from her own department would lead to conflicts and suspicions, Ishakhi it would be. He was less likely to resist to a threesome proposal, and would be less attached to any of the women than if he focused on a single one.

She went back to the booth they shared with the native of Gadzoe, her hands full of "cocktail samples to evaluate". She closed the curtains, put one generous glass in the ex-pilot hand, sat close - her leg touching his - and got her head closer to examine the ear clip, spreading her recently-reapplied perfume under the nose of the war hero.

"Now now, Ishakhi, jewels on a man and makeup... On my homeworld, this would scream 'I'm gay!'. Are you hiding something from us?", she quipped.
"Or have those colored beads also a history?"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:28, Sat 19 June 2021.

In reply to Iita Tsetsegma (msg # 58):



     "Um...so...I'm leaving, already?" Ishakhi asks with mild amusement, when Iita grabs hold of both him and Jacqueline and starts dragging them through the dancing mass of fellow Crewmates--making him raise his glass of--beer?--up to where it won't be spilled.

     "I mean, I only just got here .... I was hoping to have a few more drinks .... maybe hang out with a some people I know ....do some dancing, perhaps .... uhhh .... maybe foment Rebellion .... contemplate the overthrow of the Imperium .... Can you even hear me ....?"

     As Iita silently drags Jacqueline and himself outside, and then towards the nearby strip-club, Ishakhi raises an eyebrow in curious contemplation--then decides to just shut up, smile, and allow himself to be...dragged along.


     Ishakhi flops down onto the couch with a casual grace--not even upsetting the beer he's holding--then he looks up at Iita with a grin and another questioning raised eyebrow.  When Iita then grabbed Jacqueline, turned, and headed towards the bar, Ishakhi frowned for a moment, then shrugged his shoulders and took another sip of his beer--Porter!  That's it!  The color might be off, but the beverage definately tasted like a Porter!


     Ishakhi takes the offered drink with his free hand.  With a drink now in each hand, Ishakhi smirks at Iita,

     "Never really thought of myself as a two-fisted drinker, but..."

     With a shrug of his shoulders, Ishakhi raises a glass to each of the pretty women he's with--toasting Jacqueline with the half-empty glass of porter, and Iita with the fresh cocktail--and then sips from the cocktail.


     "No, not hiding anything..." Ishakhi answers, placing both his drinks down on the table, then turning a puzzled look towards Iita,

     "At least--I mean--I'm not trying to hide how happy I am, if that's what your asking.  Why?  Is...is expressing happiness a male taboo, on your homeworld?"


     "This?" Ishakhi asks, bringing his left hand up to gently swipe at the strands of tiny amber beads dangling from his left ear,

     "Well...I have had it for a long time.  I think it highlights my eyes.  But--wait--you said something about a man wearing jewelry and makeup!  Do the men on your homeworld not accessorize their appearance?  Oh.  How...dull...the men of your homeworld must always look..."

"You may, Ishakhi" Jacqueline replied, a touch awkwardly. "One of my friends called me Jackie" she admitted. At least I thought he was my friend. "It was a while ago, though."
She listened to Ishaki's story, seriously impressed. "Most valorous."
Jacqueline took a bigger than normal swallow of her drink as Iita spoke to her at the bar. Her eyes went wide when Iita told her to stop waiting for Hrolf to break the ice. "I, I wasn't- I mean, not that I'd be opposed-was I so obvious?" she responded, flustered. She had always been better with mathematics than people. Had she been more blatant than she thought, or was Iita sensitive to these things?
"I'd be worried about my reputation" Jacqueline whispered shyly, blushing, both at the striptease atmosphere and Iita's suggestion to sleep with Ishaki. "And what my father would say when he finds out"
Having finished her drink, she takes one of cocktail #7 and follows Iita. "Fomenting rebellion? Dashing rebels are very impressive" she manages.

"Why would he know? And maybe he'll be relieved that his little pumpkin has finally blossomed", Iita replied with surprise, while trying not to spill the glasses.

The Engineer wondered if she sounded to Jacqueline as a little demonic temptress driving an innocent soul into carnal sin... Iita couldn't understand some people reluctance to do sex. She herself had lost her virginity with a teammate at age 15 while they were on a computer maintenance shift and bored so much with watching the progress bar crawl that they had to try any activity. Afterwards, she had concluded that it was no big deal, and could focus en her tech skills.


The cultural confusion, and Ishakhi's face made Iita burst into laughter, and she rolled into the couch. Her eyes filled with tears, much however being due to stress and the fatigue of organizing the party. When she stopped laughing, she swept her eyes and put her hairdo back in place.
"Oh Ishakhi, you're so funny, and clever seducer, you know a woman who you make laugh is half-way into your bed, don't you?". She kissed the pilot hero on the cheek. "Jackie, did you get the joke, or is the meaning of "gay" as... basic on your world?"

She then proceeded to explain the other meaning of the adjective, and replied to the question about the fashion of her homeworld.

"Ah Ishakhi, you want me to speak about myself... thanks for your interest", she teased. "Indeed, belter's men on the asteroids of Long Shot - The Narrows Subsector, Corridor 3106 - are dull and never leave their work clothes. That's because they work to survive, to fill the production quotas, pay the taxes and finance the import of essential goods. They don't have time for fantasy, accessories and makeup, nor do the women. That's why I find your Vilani sophistication fascinating... may I borrow your ear piece?", she added while her strong archaic Solomani accent trotted out again.

Wearing the ear clip, the tall woman [1m73/5'8"] went to a pole bar near and began to dance lasciviously to the beat of the muffled music oozing from the party dance near.

[let's see... DEX 8, no perform or carouse or even athletic skills, and a little tipsy, the Chief Engineer "geek dance" faces a -3 malus.
ita Tsetsegma rolled 5 using 2d6-3. At least, she's sincere.]

"How sophisticated do I look, Ishakhi?" she laughed, exhilarated by the exercise. "Will you two leave me to dance alone? Come on, Jackie, join me for the pole dance show!"
This message was last edited by the player at 09:26, Sat 26 June 2021.

Jacqueline finished another drink. "He would find out. And he wouldn't be amused; he expects me to comport myself properly." she replied.

"Um, yes, I got it" she responded awkwardly, trying to play along with the joke but doing it badly. "The men I know dress up a lot, but not jewelry." she added.
"I, I guess I can understand why you joined the navy" Jacqueline said to Iita.
Jacqueline hesitated, then followed Iita up. She admired the taller woman's bravery and she'd had more to drink than she usually did. Still, Jacqueline had never seen pole dancing let alone done it herself and she wasn't brave enough to, so that was out, although a part of her wondered if Hrolf would like it if she did that. Instead, she tried to dance one of her old cheer routines from her high school days, doing a good job despite not having done so in quite a while and being tipsy.

23:21, Today: Jacqueline Yune rolled 8 using 2d6+1.  Dance.

"Yes. When my family - independent Belters have an extended family structure, almost like a clan - thought that I was clever, they discharged me from mining duty, left me to learn by reading, IA teachers and practise, and paid for my Engineering studies. Now I send my salary back to them, trying to get my kin out of debts and indenture, and may be finance one of my nieces' career, who in turn could also provide an income.
Of course, I have found a new family in the Navy and by the geeks of my Department - including this unlikely geek -" she pressed her index on the belly of the Smallcraft 'Ops Commander - "who I have designed a new ship detection method with."
-----------------------
Iita realized that Jackie was a better dancer than herself, and tried to join and sync with the cheer routine - because the more you are, the better. She found that "folk dance" hilarious.

I guess she feels like Jack Black in : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9OfrQnijM4
This message was last edited by the player at 06:08, Sun 27 June 2021.

In reply to Iita Tsetsegma (msg # 63):

     Ishakhi didn't flinch when Iita removed his ear clip--while he'd had it for a long time, and it was one of his favorites--Ishakhi was confident that it would be safe in Iita's possession.


     "Magnificent!" Ishakhi calls out, raising a toast with his glass of--whatever the cocktail is, that Iita had given him, "The most enticing woman on the stage!"


     Just barely hearing the soft-spoken Astrogators comments, Ishakhi leans closer,

     "The Veddas say that, to respect and honor ones Family and Traditions is an admirable thing, as is consideration of the guidance given by ones parents, when deciding ones actions in later life." Ishakhi quietly quotes to Jacqueline,

     "But to believe that ones Family expects some kind of slavish obedience to any such things, especially when that would interfere with the joyful living of ones own life--that is both unreasonable and unworthy.  So Say The Veddas."

     "Only You can decide how to Be You, Jacqueline.  The ultimate goal in ones Life is simply to Be Happy.  Your Parents are likely very proud of who and what you are, and desire only that you are happy."

     "But if, for some reason that isn't true, then forget their attitude, pay no attention to their expectations of you, and be happy with those around you who are happy that you are happy.  Those who do that are your true Family."

     Ishakhi looks to Jacqueline and catches her shy gaze,

     "So...Be...Happy...Jacqueline.  Everything else is just annoying detail."

     Ishakhi straightens back up, as Iita returns to the couch,


     Said finger immediately encountering rock-hard abs, of course....

     "Delighted to be included in such lofty company, Iita." Ishakhi says, with a wink.

Although physical training was mandatory, The Engineer was a geek who considered it a chore, and she also had been too busy that week to comply.

So the little dance made Iita sweat, and her hair were wet and sticky. She reached to the little fridge in the booth and extracted cold bottles of booze. Negotiating the price  post-bibendem would be complicated, and make a dent into her grant to the family, but the hint of guilt made the sin more enjoyable.

On her way back to the couch, she locked the access to the booth. They wouldn't be disturbed.

Iita laid bottles with droplets before her friends, took a sip of her bottle and exclaimed : "Wow! I had the time of my life there! But I'm sweating, so since we're friends, I hope you won't mind..."

With her eyes modestly lowered, Iita opened her jumpsuit, and pulled off the upper part to her navel. Her #1 seduction issue had always been her skinny frame and little chest - the #2 being her pale complexion - so she had come prepared with a red lace bra, using CosmoBra ^tm tech, providing both stuffing, tightening and pushing up.

Yes, Ishakhi had fallen in a carefully planned ambushed...

Easing herself again on the couch, the spacer avoided her friends' gaze and asked innocently "Now Jackie, I'm intrigued. What kind of father do you have? What is his occupation? And what about your mother?"

Bringing up the shy woman's parents was probably not the best way to have accept to sleep all three together, but Iita was grasping at straws.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:08, Mon 28 June 2021.

Jacqueline finished her cheer routine and returned with Iita to the booth. "That sounds wise" she told Ishaki, her voice quiet. His words made her smile softly, but she added "I... I don't think it would work for me, though."

Jacqueline watched, wide-eyed, as Iita seduced Ishaki. There was a lot Iita seemed to know about how to these things that Jacqueline clearly did not.

Jacqeueline paused suddenly what Iita asked about her father, and took a moment to speak. "My, my father is Sir Aldo Yune" Jacqueline responded, flustered. "He's a Baron. My mother is Sasha Yune... but her relationship with my father is purely financial and political. She takes very little interest in me."

Iita was enthusiastic, "Wow, your father is a baron? Does he rule a planet?"

She commented the mother-baron relationship : "a political marriage, then. I thought this was something from the past. Do you have siblings? Is your older sibling trained to inherit the domain/title/responsibility?"

"We're working hard in Long Shot, but our family ties are strong. Everybody cares about everybody and knows about them. Gossiping is intense, you can imagine.", she laughed. "At least you've got a new family here, people who care! Come on, give me a hug! Hishakhi, give a hug to Jacquie. And don't forget to give me a hug too!"

Iita gave long, warm and tender embraces to her colleagues. She sniffed both bodies' perfume as if they were the subtle emanations of liquor. Her natural body odor was enhanced and transformed by the perfume named Irresistible. At least, that's what the Beaxon saleswoman had said.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:39, Sat 03 July 2021.

In reply to Iita Tsetsegma (msg # 67):

     "Well Iita," Ishakhi says, returning her warm and tender embrace, "Being a Rock-Hopper certainly goes a long way toward explaining your exuberant free-spiritedness.  Every Rock-Hopper I've ever met would throw a party just for getting access to three cubic meters of open room to stretch in!  Such keen, carefree enjoyment of living is invigorating."

     Ishakhi turns to Jacqueline, but instead of giving her an embrace, he simply reaches out and puts a friendly, comforting hand on her shoulder.

     "Growing up in an Aristocratic family--I can only imagine what that must have been like.  On my world, our society is very Elitist--but with the Vilani cultural mandate for Formality, we treat each other with respect and equality--even towards personal rivals, whose guts we want to spill out all over the pavement."

     Ishakhi shrugs his shoulders and grins,

     "But still...We are our Family, and our Family is Us.  Again...So Say The Veddas.  But that's still no reason not to enjoy your own life!  Life is meant to be enjoyed, Jacqueline, not endured just to maintain your Family Image."

Jacqueline tensed up when Iita hugs her, obviously unused to it. Still, she appreciated it, and hugged back. "Thank you, that's very kind." she said sincerely

"I, um,... I'm the only child" she admitted. "That sounds really nice" she added when Iita talked about her own background. "It... it is good to have the crew around."

She nodded at Ishakhi "Well, I did show up to the party. It's, um, very different from the parties I'm used to. I hope I'm not in the way."

Iita nursed her "Cocktail mix #11" while pondering the Astrogator's answers.

Jackie was obviously conditioned by her education, and the only daughter of a baron would unlikely err away from the path drawn by her class. Also, the Baron would be very unhappy if someone drove her daughter down the path to "depravation".

Iita could label it as "sexual freedom", and Ikhashi may call it "one's way to happiness as written in the Veddas"; however wrong the perspective of the Baron may be, he probably had a long arm and a network of relations who, ultimately, would hamper Iita's advancement (at best. At worst, he would send his retinue to find and execute Ishakhi and herself...)

Talk about a cultural clash...

Iita filled the glasses again and toasted "To our ways of life!"

She drank again and everything became hazy...
This message was last edited by the player at 21:13, Tue 06 July 2021.

In reply to Iita Tsetsegma (msg # 70):

     "Sigage, Jacqueline!" Ishakhi uses the Vilani word for 'foolishness',

     "You're with us!" he continues, reaching out to wrap an arm around each woman, and giving them a quick hug, "And when you are with us, you can't be In The Way--because you're Leading The Way!"

     Ishakhi raises up the glass with what's left of his cocktail, at Iita's toast,

     "To our ways of life!" Ishakhi chimes in, then finished off the cocktail.

     "Ladies, now I'm ready to dance!" Ishakhi declares, as he puts down the now-empty glass,

     "But the only place to do so, here in this club, is up on the stage--where I suspect that it was only your memorable performance, Iita, which prevented the Manager from objecting.  Plus, even though I'm a Fighter Pilot--I'm not that brave!"

     Ishakhi reaches out and grabs the almost empty glass of local beer he'd brought from the party, next door,

     "Besides, I need to return this glass..." he says, draining the last of that drink, as well,

     "So...let's go dance...then see where the night takes us."

Jacqueline nodded, slightly tipsy. "Dancing, I can do that, I think." Hopefully, she wouldn't stumble in to anyone.

Iita giggled when Ishakhi gave them a hug. But her spirit went down when the pilot offered to dance instead of the activity she had planned. She got dressed again. The Vilani wanted to return to the beer draft, so she followed him through the strip club show room, where the stage and the poles were dark and empty; people were still expecting a surprise visit from the Captain-Baron.

The women followed the pilot a few meters through the cold to the local community center. The music was deafening, the DJ having re-recorded Zeng's classic hits with a lot of drums, and AI-assisted composition. This gave the feeling the target to the thumping sounds were, in fact, robots.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GTn4HS3i2E (L O U D)

The lyrics resonated in her head, but she couldn't make sense out of what she perceived

It's just a question of time
Before they lay their hands on you
And make you just like the rest
I've got to get to you first
It's just a question of time

Having drank a lot, Iita excused herself to go to the bathroom. In the crowd, she noticed Hrolf Standarsson chatting with the piloting crew (talk about a closed circle!) She modified her trajectory to pass by the burly blond pilot, and shouted in his ear to be heard : "Jackie Yune talks a lot about you. You miss her. She's over there". Then she proceeded to record her appreciation for the cocktail mix competition she didn't care about, check about the party going smoothly, and getting ready to leave early.