Mess Hall

Posted on Fri Aug 20th, 2021 @ 5:36am by
Edited on on Sat Jul 9th, 2022 @ 1:06am

Mission: Jumping Right In
Location: Main Mess Hall
Timeline: MD 2- late
1635 words - 3.3 OF Standard Post Measure

/// ON ///

It was dinner time on the base, and most people were heading into the mess for food. Already groups were forming around the base.

Lieutenant Keller shifted along the hall avoiding eye contact and her nose was buried in the book she was reading. She glanced up and found a seat at a long table by the wall. She set her book down and contemplated the line of those getting food. Sighing she stepped into line and waited her turn.

"Hey thanks for hooking me up with the extra gravy! I owe ya," Spoke up a man in fatigues spoke up to the enlisted dishing out the primary cooked warm course.

"No problem, sir. We assumed most people may want to drown their potatoes a bit more," the enlisted replied loud enough to be heard over the vent fans which was keeping it somewhat bare able for the servers next to all the heat lamps and other devices keeping the food at least warm. The food was prepared in their main kitchen and then brought out to the staging area. But there was a flat top grill which was also running with a cook preparing wraps and burgers at the request of people as well.

"Yeah, the instant stuff is basically like tasting paper in your mouth," the colonel smirked before looking over at the Lieutenant reading a book. "Some light reading?"

Mouse looked up "Ah yes Sir" she said straightening up.

Jennifer made it to the line lost in thought, a cheerful smirk plastered on her face as always, as she stared blanky ahead. She was even playing mindlessly with her ponytail with one hand. Since she had not been paying attention, her ears only caught onto the word 'gravy' and that was enough to snap her to attention. "Uh oh! Save me some gravy too!!" She called out and took a step forward without thinking bumping into Lieutenant Keller. "Ooops, sorry, did not see you there. Oh hey Colonel, how's the gravy? Is it any good?" She asked holding a apologetic smile on her face, looking slightly embarrassed and shifting her gaze from Keller to the Colonel.

"All good" Mouse muttered stepping back so the superior officer could talk with the Colonel.

"Hey don't leave!!" Jennifer held out a hand towards the Mouse. "Name's Jennifer, you can call me Jen."

"Ah.. Lieutenant Keller" Came the hesitant reply.

"Oh crap, we're doing ranks. Call me Your Glorious Magnificent Captain Simms then." Jennifer chuckled and winked at Mouse. "No worries Lieutenant Keller, you're among comrades here, you can relax."

As he moved along the line a little more, Raynor looked back at the others. "Yeah stick around. The more the merrier. And to answer your question, yes the gravy is good enough to eat and cover the taste of instant mashed potatoes.," he admitted. He grabbed a piece of pie and smirked. "But the pie... now that is where it's at."

Looking at the Colonel, Jennifer smiles and motioned to the enlisted serving the food. "Mashed potatoes and lots of gravy please!!" As she said that, she also picked a piece of pie and placed it on her tray chuckling. "Anything is better than MREs honestly."

Standing further back in the chow line, Jason was busy reading through the personnel files of those on the base starting with those assigned to his team. he figured if he was to work with them, he might as well know something about them beforehand. Overhearing the discussion about gravy, Jason looked up to see the three officers clustered together, two he recognized from the files, one he didn't. A Colonel, a Captain, and a Lieutenant all in a mess hall, kind of sounded like the start of some really bad joke. Still too far back in the line to interact with them, he returned his attention to his IPad while he waited for his turn in the chow line.

Lucas had already found his food earlier and was sitting down at one of the tables, his focus was on a medium-sized notepad, in it he had scribbled down information on the unique staff weapon that Cpt Andrews had placed in the armory and shown him how to disassemble it. Each part had a dedicated page with a detailed illustration, details of what it was made out of, and the basic function. At the moment he had the focus page up and was trying to design the mechanism, he wanted it to be a dial that she twisted on the controls that open and close the focus more or less, this was to tighten the discharge of energy, giving the less powerful projectile far more 'bang for it's buck'. He also wanted to see if simple attachments could be made, something she simply clamped on to steady the staff, maybe a comfortable pistol grip, perhaps even shoulder support to make it more comfortable and stable. Granted, this would make it more unbalanced when shooting from the hip. Oh well, he put some food into his mouth as he continued to muse on the problem.

Jess arrived at the table with her usual strange variety of food, and sometimes she had to compromise between what Jess wanted to eat, and what Salara wanted to eat. Both Symbiont and host had an accelerated metabolism as well. Especially when she sat down with a chicken sandwich, a taco with pasta sauce instead of salsa. a waffle with a side of eggs, and Buffalo Sauce.

Lucas looked at the new arrival to his table, glancing at the food she had decided to eat. "Fascinating choice of food."

Jess spoke. "You try compromising with a Tok'Ra symbiont over what you want to eat. And Salara's cravings tend to get odd. Also, I'm eating for two of us."

The Gunnery Sergeant nodded. "Makes sense." The whole idea of symbiosis like that was still very weird. But he didn't judge people by appearance and pre-first impressions. The action of a person spoke more than reputation. "Isn't there a middle ground between the two of you?" he asked calmly.

"More like a sharing of the body actually. However Salara rarely speaks. She's entered the contemplative phase of a Tok'Ra's life. The final Two to three hundred years of their lifespan." Jessica mentioned. "So that is why sometimes Taco night is also Italian night."

"Yeah..." the Colonel sat down near the talking members and looked over the captain. "...how does that feel having a uh... yeah that in your neck? Seems a little weird." After taking a moment to look the officer over while playing with his fork, he moved the small dish with the pie and smirked. He pulled the plastic covering off and cut a piece off with the fork. "Pie... oh the true food choice of the gods."

Mouse had gotten her food and slipped into the seat where she had placed her book. She looked down at it and shrugged. "Chocolate is food for the gods." she said as she moved to eat her chocolate pudding.

Jennifer took her tray and sat down in front of Mouse, looking at her pie before daring to take a bite. "Mm... not bad honestly, not bad. So, Keller, what are... were you reading there? If you do not mind me asking?"

"Its a translation text of goa'uld" Came the reply from the linguist as she ate and read the book. "Be useful to know really." she added almost absently. She was slowly tuning people out as she read.

Craning her neck forward to look at the book Jennifer blinked a few times thinking intently. "Erm... think you can teach me what you learn there one day? And how come we have books about the language of the snakes already?"

"Captain Andrews gave it to me" Keller replied. "And sure once I learn it.

Aiden was standing tall enough in the mess hall. The line was ushering along just fine, as he slowly moved along. Eyeing the usual cafeteria assortment of beverages, drinks and salads and sandwiches. Reaching for the container, Aiden placed a wrapped PB&J and milk on his tray. As well, a protein bar, an apple and a glass of water.

Placing a hand at his chest, he rubbed his white tee-shirt, his stomach was grumbling inside and he could feel the hunger. "Hi." Aiden, slipped up to the mess table. Not one to sit by himself, nor to be left out of anything being discussed. "What's up gang?" Ensign Webster pulled up a seat, and opening his milk carton, finishing the whole thing with a quiet burp, he then crushed the milk container and sat it to the corner of his tray.

Keller wrinkled her nose at the sound and calmly kept her gaze on her book.

Stealing a glance at Aiden, Jennifer shook her head and returned her attention to Mouse, after a course getting a few more bites from her meal. "I want to learn all the swear words if possible. And what is the equivalent of flipping the middle finger. For, erm, communication purposes."

Aiden looked at his PB&J sandwich. The Ensign wasn't hungry, although everything looked edible. Webster carb-loaded not too long ago. Turning to Keller, Aiden raised a brow. "Excuse me for the burp. And for interrupting just now." Aiden set his five fingers solid on the melamine tabletop mess hall surface, emphasizing the severity of utters. "Keller. Gang. Should SG-1 learn Goa'uld swears and gestures? What happened to we come in peace?" Webster shrugged with a friendly smile.

Looking at Aiden, Jennifer grinned. "Come in peace? They didn't come in peace, why should we? I am here to make sure they can never hurt us again. No peace in my mind when it comes to Goa'ulds."