The Family is in Town (Part 1)
Posted on 15 Dec 2025 @ 4:08pm by Captain Threlox & Ensign Kivara
1,028 words; about a 5 minute read
Mission:
Opening Transmission
Location: Various
Timeline: Stardate 1826.1 - HR 2019
Tags: Threlox, Vexil, Grevak, Family, Proteus, Captain Threlox, Proteus, Starbase 12, The Forgemaster's Table, Forgemaster's Table, Tellarite, Tellarite culture, Kivara
"Captain's personal log, stardate 1826.1. Ready Room, time twenty-nineteen. I'm sitting here rubbing my thumb across my mother's - the Tellarite when I'm thinking per usual. I have met several of the Proteus's crew throughout today with my Academy contemporary-"
[ USS Proteus ]
[ Captain's Quarters, Deck 2 ]
The computer chirped, interrupting the captain mid-sentence, and a light turned on the captain's terminal, indicating an incoming intership commlink. The information on the screen stated 'BRIDGE: COMMUNICATIONS STATION'. Threlox pressed the accept incoming hail.
The Caitian communications officer, Ensign Kivara's friendly purr greeted the Captain as the camera pointed upward to the officer's feline features, "Good evening, Captain. I have an incoming transmission coming from Starbase 12. Audio only."
Both of his thumbs encircle the rings on both hands, "Acknowledged. Pass it through to my quarters."
The captain's connection to the bridge disconnected as Ensign Kivara switched over to the audio-only transmission from Starbase 12.
A deep, gravelly voice came over the commlink, and before Threlox got the chance to greet whoever the ensign connected him to, "So you're not going to tell your Mother that you've made Captain? Too busy being important?"
Grevak squealed.
Threlox's thumb slipped off his Denobulan ring; the other thumb remained placed on the Tellarite one as he heard his mother's voice filling his quarters, "I've been quite busy overseeing the transition of command, Mother."
"Bureaucracy is no excuse to not call your mother!" Grevak exclaimed and continued, "Vexil and I are here on company business. Saw the Aryabhata docked. Met your Commander Foster—practical woman, good head on her shoulders. Your father would be thrilled if you took her as your second wife. You have my approval. She's the one who told me how to reach you, by the way."
"Commander Foster is a subordinate and a colleague, not-"
"What? She's capable. She clearly respects you, and your father would appreciate more grandchildren. What's the problem?"
"Professionalism, and we've only just met earlier this afternoon. Only a mother would hear wedding bells, Grevak."
"You just met her this afternoon-so what? That's how it starts, son! Your father and I started with a debate about medical protocols versus engineering efficiency-"
"Grevak," her eldest son Vexil interrupted her midsentence, "Threlox is now a starship captain. He doesn't need his potential romantic entanglements micromanaged and his lack of children scrutinized by his mother."
Grevak released a snorty huff. "I'll stop 'micromanaging' once Threlox calls home more than twice a year. Is that too much to ask? Anyway, Vexil and I were hoping you'd join us at the Forgemaster's Table for our evening meal?"
"I have already eaten-"
"You don't eat enough. This isn't an invitation, this is a mother's peroragtive, an order."
Threlox's thumb withdrew from the Tellarite signet ring, and his Denobulan smile came across his face. He did miss his mother and brother.
"Threlox," His mother addressed him. "See you there in fifteen minutes. Mother out."
[ Starbase 12; K-type Orbital Facility ]
[ Deck 27: Promenande Levels, The Forgemaster's Table ]
[ An Hour Later ]
Boisterous laughter filled the restaurant's dining hall. Tellarite drinking songs are sung in their native language at a high level - the decibel level would be deafening for human ears. Several Tellarites standing by the bar swung their mugs of ale. We close onto Grevak, Vexil, and Threlox sitting in a booth in the corner away from the crowd of Tellarites. Various plates of various levels of consumption for their dimsum-like Grath'tal.
Vexil took on more Tellarite genetic features from his mother than his Denobulan father. He could pass as a Tellarite on passing, but if you looked closely, you could see markers of Denobulan facial ridges along his hairline. He had eaten more than the three of them while his mother looked over.
"You order what you eat, Vexil." Grevak sat between her two sons. She nudged him in the shoulder while she nudged Threlox with the other, "And you, you have barely eaten anything. Eat."
"Yes, mother," both sons said in unison while they served themselves. Vexil placed spiced tusk dumplings on his plate while Grevak dished him up some roasted root crisps and pickled vegetables.
"Don't forget to eat your vegetables," Grevak stated in a hoarse motherly tone.
Threlox's hand reached for the last molten cheese pocket with his hand while his mother slapped it away, "You aren't following proper table etiquette. Are you looking for an argument on who the last cheese pocket should go to?"
"No, Grevak, I don't want to argue about who can have the last cheese pocket if you want it; it's yours?"
"Maybe you should have offered it to your brother, as the plate has been removed from his reach. You always seemed to hog the cheese when you were children, Threlox. You keep forgetting your lactose intolerance."
"Oh, I didn't forget. I simply love cheese, regardless of the effect it has on my digestive tract," Threlox said, his analytical side showing. He picked up the plate and placed it in front of Vexil, "Yours."
Vexil quickly grabbed the molten cheese pocket and popped it whole into his mouth, chewing enthusiastically, still with a full mouth, he stated, "Still very warm but so good."
[ Starbase 12; K-type Orbital Facility ]
[ Deck 27: Promenande Levels, Corridors ]
Captain Threlox escorted his mother and brother to the Turbolift. The door swooshed open, and he gestured with his right hand for Grevak and Vexil to enter first. He followed them inside the turbolift while his mother issued it a command, "Vexil and I have a gift for you onboard the Phlaan."
The Grath'nar-type deep space cargo freighter Phlaan was the flagship of the Ironhull Shipforge cargo fleet that transported ships across the known quadrant, "A gift?"
Vexil couldn't contain his excitement, "I want you to have the Barzahhan-type long-range shuttle, the first of its line. I designed and built it with my own hands."
To Be Continued . . .
OFF:
Captain Threlox
Commanding Officer, USS Proteus
featuring special guest stars
Threlox's mother,
Grevak
Master Shipwright, Ironhull Shipforge
And his older brother,
Vexil,
Shipwright, Ironfull Shipforge
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