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<div><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><div><div></div><div class="h5"><div style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80);"><div><div><div style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80);">
<div><div style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80);"><div><div style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80);"><div><div><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(80, 0, 80);"><div><div>Marcus
was looking for a seat, he wasn't eating, hadn't been intending to stay
long at all, he would eat and drink back in his own room later. But he
had promised the counselor he would attempt to interact with others;
indeed, he had promised himself. Then he spied K'ylana and couldn't
help the brief smile that he flashed her way. He moved a couple of
steps to the right and saw she was sat with <span>Wilkinson</span>. He
gave it just a moment of thought and then walked quickly with large
purposeful strides, towards their table. "I hope I'm not interrupting?"<br>
<br>"Hello Marcus. Of course not," she lightly kicked out a char,
"Would you like to have a seat?" She glanced to Kat, "Have you had the
pleasure to meet Doctor Katerina Wilkinson?"<br><br></div>
</div> Kat looked up when she heard the Captain speak to commander <span><span><span><span>Saladin</span></span></span></span>.
she recalled meeting him shortly after he came aboard but hadn't seen
much of him since. she looked in his direction. "no you're not
interrupting Commander , you're welcome to join us if you'd like." she
said. </span><div>
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<div style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80);"><div><div><span>- Hide quoted text -</span></div><div><div><div><span style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80); font-size: 9px;">- Hide quoted text -</span></div><div style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80);">
<div style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80);"><div style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80);"><div><div><div>Marcus
nodded, "That would be nice, thank you." He smiled warmly to the two of
them, "I had a few minutes and thought I would try and not be alone for
that time." He looked between the two of them, "All of the crew are on
edge, as can be expected, and I am no exception, this should do me some
good." He had said a little more than he expected to, but so be it.
Truth was truth.<br>
<br></div></div></div><div> Kat slid over giving the commander a seat.
"I can understand that, I mean the not being alone." she remarked. "I
purposely try not to be alone especially lately." she added. she knew
if she were alone for too long her mind would wander and rehash what
she'd been working so hard to put behind her. <br>
<br></div>Vilqa shifted her seat to the left a bit, "Relax a bit
Marcus." Fully words coming from K`ylana who since donning the four
solid pips did not heed those words that often. There was a time where
a bottle of rum or whiskey would be in hand and shared with a group but
those days were long gone with the Erinys. Perhaps there were shades on
the Audax but never on the Vimy Ridge; perhaps death and war had simply
thickened her core; or perhaps she had simply 'grown up'. Leaning
forward she took a bite of her meal after her stomach grumbled in
complaint from the lack of repast.</div>
<div style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80);"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80);">Marcus looked to Kat, "Have you been a part of the Vimyridge for long?"<br><br>
Kat had taken another bite of her meal and quickly washed it down with
a sip of her drink. She looked back at Marcus "I've been a part of this
fine crew just over a year and a half." she told him. "My previous duty
was aboard the USS Scylax." she added with a smile. </div>
<div style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80);"><br></div></div></div></div><div style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80);"><div style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80);">Saladin
gave a nod, "Well I hope that because of your time here it's difficult
for people not to notice if you're struggling." He smiled, "The best
part of being around a crew for so long is that everyone begins caring
for one another right?"</div>
<div style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80);"><br></div></div><div style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80);">Vilqa smiled, "There are many here I've known since I was an Ensign."</div><div style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80);"><br></div>
</div></div></div><div style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80);"><div><div style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80);"><div>Marcus
gave a slight smile. "I also, you being one of them." He continued
smiling and then turned back to Kat, wondering if she had something to
add.<br>
<br></div></div></div><div style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80);">"I
hope you're right." Kat remarked about being noticed as she poked at
what was left on her plate with her fork. "that's what I've heard
though I wasn't a part of the Scylax crew long enough to find
out....you see that was my first assignment out of the academy." she
added.<br>
<br></div>"The first assignment is always an awkward one Commander,"
Vilqa said with an air of knowledge, "The learning curve is steep and
the work can be punishing until you learn to balance duty correctly."</div>
<div style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80);"><br></div></div></div><div style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80);"><div><div></div><div class="h5">Marcus listened to the <span>words of truth</span> that the the captain offered. "I do remember wondering if I would ever have an hour free ever again."<br>
<br></div></div> Kat nodded at the Captain's words. "it was awkward but also fun at times." she stated as she took another sip of her drink. "this one's has had it's moments too. although I wouldn't call them awkward." she added. "some challenging while others have been quite amazing." she smirked at that last comment remembering some pretty amazing moments. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></span><br>
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