Marine Corps Ball - Part 3

Posted on Fri Jan 23, 2026 @ 6:29am by Colonel Nicholas Means III & Lieutenant Commander Karzen Son of Arjune, Son of Ragan MD, MPH & Lieutenant Bronwyn P’ril & Lieutenant T'Lul & Captain T'Lisa Anderson - CO of the USS Canterbury & Lieutenant Carissa Holmes & Captain Brina Tracy-Hall & Senior Chief Petty Officer Alexander Rylan EMT-P & Sergeant Raylan Ch'Tol & Corporal Annemieke Rademaker
Edited on on Fri Jan 23, 2026 @ 9:36am

2,214 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Chicken Run

[PREVIOUSLY]

Alex chuckled. "Probably not," he said. "How about we finish this song and then go get something to drink and maybe something to eat?"

“That sounds like a much wiser plan,” she agreed.

[CONTINUED]

"The young ones look like they are enjoying themselves," said the gravelly voice of Lieutenant Commander Karzen from behind Lieutenant T'Lul. "You, too, should find some young, charming person to dance with. However, if someone possessing a modicum of the latter of those two qualities will do, I would be happy to stand in until someone with both presents themselves."

"IF you desire to dance with me, I have no objection," T'Lul answered. "However, I see no reason to seek someone as you have suggested."

"The night is young and so, if I'm not mistaken, are you," Karzen said. "Maybe consider it a social science experiment? Otherwise, forget I mentioned it, as much as any Vulcan can forget anything." Karzen chuckled, then held out is hand. "But if you'll grant this middle-aged but elderly-looking physician a dance, I would be honored."

"Young is relative, so without a frame of reference for comparison, I am not certain on your reference. As I said before, I have no objection to a dance with you." T'Lul reached out her fingers and let them touch Karzen's hand. "Please lead us to the floor."

Karzen led T'Lul to the floor. Karzen took a chance that she'd let him lead and began to do so as he led her around the floor. "You are an excellent dancer, Lady T'Lul," the old Klingon said as they danced. "Where and when did you learn?"

"I had some basic training on Vulcan and at the Academy. I learned quickly that my job as the female was to allow the male to lead in a heterosexual pairing. However, dancing is not something that I have done often. I suspect that my experience in Suus Mahna makes up for any actual experience in dancing. Therefore, it might be logical to conclude that our comment is either a pleasantry or a reflection of an estimation of your own abilities."

"What a coincidence," Karzen said. "I have also become proficient in Suus Mahna over the years. It must be why we are able to dance so well together. By the way, you are welcome to lead if you wish. It makes little difference to me. Just warn me first, so we don't trip over each other."

"I was trained to follow, so I will defer to your lead," T'Lul answered. "May I inquire as to why you took up Suus Mahna? That is not common for non-Vulcans."

"At first," Karzen said. "It was just the challenge. I was a bit over half a century old at the time and faced with at least 150 years to go, possibly more, as members of my mother's side of the family have lived to be 250 years old or, in even rarer cases, a bit older. I had just come off of a military career of around four decades and was attending university. There was a Vulcan professor who ran a Suus Mahna club on campus. It was mainly for Vulcans, but she would accept other students if they were willing to commit to the practice time requirements. I was, so she let me join. I had a good deal of experience with Klingon and Romulan martial arts already, so that might have been a deciding factor. It wasn't easy, but I stuck with it and learned. I continued to train in medical school, while at residency, and throughout my career. I got to spend some time learning on Vulcan when I taught at the Vulcan Medical Academy. As I said, at first, it was the challenge. Later, I simply enjoyed the exercise of the body and the mind, and the pride of doing a thing well. I'm proficient enough that I can blend the movements into my Mok'bara routines and vice versa, when practicing forms, at least. That's not to say that I am some kind of high action holo-vid martial arts master, but I do get by."

"I suspect that you are being too humble," T'Lul answered, as she continued to allow herself to be led across the floor. "I am curious, though, how does the study of Suus Mahna affect your daily life?"

"Thoughtful question," Karzen said. "Provides routine and teaches me focus and concentration. I find I can do many of the forms and routines without thinking about them. That allows me to just be in the moment, without intrusive thoughts and feelings disturbing my sense of self and sense of peace."

"Interesting," T'Lul responded thoughtfully as she continued to follow Karzen's lead. "So, is it your belief that thoughts and feelings get in the way of peace?"

"Not thoughts in general," Karzen said. "For example, I'm not suggesting that your thoughts and feelings get in the way of your sense of peace. How would I know one way or the other on that subject? However, in my experience, I find that intrusive negative thoughts and sometimes feeling often originate from a private logic I may subconsciously hold, one that is not necessarily logical or even rational, outside of my head. These thoughts and feelings can interfere with my peace of mind and more. The ability to practice clearing my mind and body of these intrusive thoughts through movement helps me to do so on the fly, as a Terran might say. It allows me to engage in positive, or at least constructive, internal conversations with myself, to process situations, thoughts, and feelings using logic that is more rational. Logic that that might do a better job of surviving outside of my head, when presented to another person, even if I never share these deliberations with anyone other than myself."

"Interesting," T'Lul responded thoughtfully once again. "Using logic to sort out emotions. I suppose that is what my job is, at some level." She allowed herself to be swung around the floor as she mulled her thoughts further. "You have given me something more to consider."

"Well," Karzen said, chuckling. "Feelings in and of themselves are not definitively illogical, or else the statement 'I understand how you feel' or 'I understand why you might feel that way' wouldn't really make any sense. Feelings in my opinion, have a logic of their own. However, that logic is often subjective. Therefore, while my feelings on a particular matter may not appear logical to others, they may make perfect sense to me." The music finished and Karzen brought their dance to an end. "Thank you, Lady T'Lul, for indulging me with this dance. It was and honor and a pleasure to dance with such an attractive, thoughtful, and intelligent young lady. Don't let me monopolize you for the evening if you have others you'd like to dance with."

T'Lul remained deep in thought. There was some logic to what Karzen said. However, she was not convinced that understanding why another felt in a particular emotion necessarily meant that emotions were logical. Yet, she could not discount it. "You are welcome," she finally responded. "I shall take my leave."

"Then so, too, shall I," Karzen replied with a slight, polite bow. "May the Great Bird of the Galaxy overcome the difficulties of smiling with a beak so they may smile upon you. Farewell until next we meet." And with that, the strange old Klingon wandered off into the crowd of partying Marines, Fleeters, and their dates.

T'Lul considered Karzen's words. She had to concede that there was some logic to emotions. After all, there were so many studies on their stimuli. However, predictions were more of an issue, as they tended to be statistically based and there was no way to predict every emotion or why it would appear, as one would have to know an entire person's history in order to more accurately predict emotional responses from an individual.

In the distance she spied Anson. He was probably the least logical being she met. Perhaps she could study him further. Thus, she made her way over to him.

----------

Captain T'Lisa Anderson arrived along with her XO. The Canterbury's CO was dressed a red dress that hugged her curves.

Commander Krorr Ga'Rel wore his dress uniform, his chest decorated with medals, including those earned during the Dominion War.

The Ursinoid had fought alongside Marines in search and destroy missions against Dominion forces, and he had developed a great respect for what they did. He had been honoured by the invitation to the Marine Ball and had readily accepted.

---------------

Corporal Annemieke Rademaker was dressed in her Blues, she'd been delayed. Due to the arrival of a new Marine.

The Marine in question was Sergeant Raylan Ch'Tol, the new Field Engineer. The half Romulan woman was now accompanying Rademaker.

Having just arrived Ch'Tol was still busily putting on her Dress coat.

Rademaker looked around for the Colonel.

Raylan watched as the two women left the men behind. She recognised one of them as Captain Brina Tracey-Hall, her superior when they served together on Poseidon Station.

--------

Carissa walked inside the cargo bay, her dress a dark hunter green floor length, her gaze was drawn towards the bar, to another woman in a green dress, and red hair, beside the woman was Colonel Means and a tall broad shouldered man. Her eyes drifted towards Colonel Means. before she made her approach. The other redhead in the emerald green dress, she had the feeling she knew the woman,

In Gaelic she greeted Brina, who turned around and gave a scrutinizing look then lit up.

"if you'll excuse us Gentlemen." Brina stated, as the two redheads left Nicholas and Nick behind.

"They will be back." Nicholas mused.

Means had just downed the last of his drink. "No doubt, the Captain probably wants to interrogate Carissa to see what she knew about my earlier request."

"Your earlier request, about what?" A quizzical expression in Hall's eyes. "How about clarifying that statement, if you would please." taking a drink from his glass. "I would like to know what my wife has up her proverbial sleeve, unless she is seeing if Carissa knows where Cara is concerned or just talking about the country they are both from."

Setting his now empty glass on a tray, "Well I guess you could say I blindsided her by asking her to be tonight's guest of honor."

Nicholas chuckled, "Well it looks like she's handling it very well. Cara certainly was quiet about this, guess she didn't want to spoil the surprise." his eyes wandered towards where his wife had disappeared with Carissa."

Hall's gaze halted upon someone who was being escorted in by another person. He uttered softly, mostly to himself "Well I'll be, she actually has arrived. Looks like Cara has connected with someone." The person whom he was referring to was David Scarlet. Tall broad shouldered man who carried himself like he was still in the marines. "Looks like she's getting over Fernandez."

Nicholas turned away to keep from staring at Cara and her date. He finished off his drink, then asked for another.

Means looked away as well. He had intended on asking Cara out but it turned out someone had beaten him to the punch. "Fernandez?"

"He was my XO back in the day when I commanded my own ship. It was obvious that something developed between Cara and Fernandez. It was an odd relationship, and she was loyal to him to a fault. Loved him deeply and he loved her. Just no--- normal signs. " he shrugged. "I had at one time, thought I'd get to know Cara on a more romantic level, that was before--Something about Brina just clicked. And is a Marine."

Hall took a drink from his glass, looking at Means. "You know, before I got to know Brina, I didn't like Marines at all. She changed my mind having shown me that there was depth to them." he lifted his glass towards Means. "Here's to the Marines and may they continue to be who they are."

No longer having a drink to return the toast Means bowed his he slightly. “I couldn't agree more. We are a unique breed that is for sure.”

Nicholas smiled, then watched as the two redheads returned.

Brina linked her arm with her husband then smiled at Means.

"Shall we find a seat? And where shall we be sitting?" Brina asked.

Carissa looked at Means and then to Brina and Hall, "Well a pleasure to see you once more." looking from one to the other. "I'll be going to find a table. See you later on?"

To be continued...

Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Alex Rylan
Independent Duty Corpsman
Deep Space Five
 
Lieutenant Bronwyn P'ril
Chief Engineer
Deep Space 5

Lieutenant Commander Karzen Son of Arjune, Son of Ragan MD, MPH
Chief Flight Surgeon

Lieutenant T'Lul
Chief Counselor
Deep Space 5

Captain T'Lisa Anderson
Captain
USS Canterbury

Commander Krorr Ga'Rel
Executive Officer
USS Canterbury

Corporal Annemieke Rademaker
Marine

Sergeant Raylan Ch'Tol
Field Engineer

Captain Brina Tracey-Hall
Marine XO
Guest on Deep Space 5

Nicholas Hall
Guest on Deep Space 5

Lieutenant Carissa Holmes
Assistant Chief Diplomat
Deep Space 5
 
Colonel Nicholas Means III
MCO - 21st MEU

 

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