“Well enough.” She confirmed but paused as the waiter walked back over with her drink. She glanced at Rallid to make sure he had something too, then returned her focus to Zedd. “I’m here this evening to discuss the recent promotion of your woman, actually.”

Well that cat was out of the bag, it seemed. That didn’t take long. But he paid no mind to it and continued. “Yes, she brings a lot of experience and I came to realize she could bring more to the table than she had been. She’s been very helpful in the data and route analysis as well as going back and forth to the docking rings. She’s quite a veteran and we’re fortunate to have her here.” Zedd took a sip of his drink, allowing the flavors to linger for a moment before continuing. “Do you feel she shouldn’t quite be in the new role or?”

Tiraa listened to his justifications while she took a sip of her wine. The smile she had worn from the beginning remained. He wasn’t wrong in the woman’s qualifications, but he was also lying to himself if he tried to honestly say that had been the only motivating factor. “I feel that I should be included in the conversations before you decide someone needs to be in a position that will directly affect how I am working. I understand that certain… events… can cloud judgment and make someone have a snap decision, but I will not be able to work with someone who is ruled by his desire before his mind.”

Zedd wasn’t entirely sure how to take the statement. There certainly was a level of presumption and undertone in the judgement of his choices. But instead of responding right away, he sat for a moment and swirled his scotch, finishing it before signaling to have another brought to him. All the while maintaining eye contact with Tiraa. Not in any aggressive manner, but more of one trying to figure out her intentions and what to say next. He was never a fan of undertones in conversation.

“While it is true certain events have taken place…and possibly sped other decisions up, I would agree with your statement of you needing to be included as part of any conversations or decisions that are going to affect how we operate at our level. We have hardly figured out what that will be just between the two of us, adding a third party would make it much more difficult. And whether I have solid justifications or not, and no matter how long I may have been having those considerations, it should’ve been something brought up with you beforehand.” He looked over as the young man took away his empty glass and set a fresh one beside Zedd and whisked away once more.

Tiraa had been prepared for a much more emotional reaction from him and when it didn’t come she was quite surprised. Mild annoyance was fine, natural even. As he focused on the root problem of him not speaking with her about Lindsy instead of straying into something else, she found herself more at ease to be slightly less guarded around him. She took another sip of her wine while considering what to say.

“As I said when we met, Zedd, this is your ship and of course you get final say, but I also said I work with you, not beneath you. We haven’t really had the opportunity to do the ‘with’ part at this point in time. I do understand of course you have been busy seeing to getting this ship in working order as well as selecting your companion for the time being, but I hope now that both matters are settled we can turn toward our own working relationship.”

Her tone was conversational and easy, and there seemed to be no judgment in them where other species would have spoken with more underhanded tones. To Tiraa, this was normal if not mildly inconvenient.

Zedd had learned when to pick battles and when to not. It kept him alive this long, and sitting across from someone that, while having separate agendas of her own, needed him as he needed her. In order to get the ship to being something of a success, he would need her help. That was for certain. She had also already provided resources and assistance to the ship and proven she had an investment in what was going on. He knew better than to rock the boat unless it was absolutely necessary.

“I am sorry for not talking to you about it before. I agree focusing on things forward is our best course of action. I know that you had a lot of reasonable concerns with where we are looking at going, and hopefully everyone’s plans do their best to put some of those at ease. I also think we should meet up in a formal capacity at least once a week just in case, to go over anything we didn’t have a chance to figure out otherwise and also go over any big decisions. Knowing you have run things for….whatever your organization is at the top level…I’m certain you have a lot to provide and help out with as well.” Zedd had more minor leadership roles in his past, but nothing at quite this level. He was glad he only had a total crew of forty at the end of the day. Less to worry about overall.

“I agree that a weekly meeting would be beneficial, but don’t be a stranger outside of that meeting.” She let her eyes drift and looked out of the window to New Ferenginar below. “Lindsy is qualified, you chose well enough. Rallid has also been by my side for many years; he can serve in the same capacity as liaison if Lindsy’s other duties are occupying her time.”