The First Conversation
Posted on 03 Nov 2025 @ 10:09pm by Captain Sabrina Corbin & Commander Suzanna Batenburg
1,509 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
After Tarvik
Location: Starbase 369 - Steep Space Tea House
// Starbase 369 – Steep Space Tea House //
The turbolift eased to a stop at the promenade level, and Captain Sabrina Corbin stepped out into the soft hum of midday traffic. The flow of civilians and off-duty officers parted easily around her, a quiet current of motion beneath the station’s steady pulse. Her padd rested in one hand, thumb tracing absently across the profile displayed there.
Commander Suzanna Batenburg.
Corbin had read the file three times between the Arawyn and the station. It told her almost nothing about the woman herself, only the outline of a story shaped by survival. The rest she would have to read in person.
She’d sent a short invitation through station channels: Informal meeting, off-duty. Tea?
And she’d asked Merrick to find somewhere “quiet, but not funereal.”
He’d returned an hour later with a faint smirk. “Steep Space Tea House, ma’am. Near the retail ring. You’ll like it, no uniforms, no noise, and the best oolong this side of Bajor.”
He hadn’t been wrong.
The storefront was modest, its glass etched with tiny constellations that caught the light like frost. Inside, the air carried the layered warmth of citrus, herbs, and spice. Rows of hand-labeled jars lined the back wall, and a Denobulan behind the counter offered a smile as the door chimed softly at her entrance. The sound was delicate, fading as quickly as it came.
Corbin took in the space with a slow breath. It was elegant without pretense, the sort of place where formality would feel out of place. Just what she’d wanted.
A table by the viewport stood open, its polished surface bathed in soft bands of light from the distant stars. She crossed to it and set her padd down, glancing once more at the file as she waited.
Served under Admiral Blokpoel. Requested demotion. Recalled to duty after the Battle for Earth. Has trained her staff well. Declined multiple offers of promotion.
Corbin closed the padd. There were pieces of herself she recognized in those lines, choices made for the sake of steadiness, the instinct to hold ground rather than climb.
When the door chimed again, she looked up.
Suzanna, for her part, approved of the location; she had been an avid tea drinker after her father had introduced her to the various Earth variations. And although she had tried many extra-terrestrial versions, her favourite ones were still from Earth. Perhaps it had to do with the memories of having tea sessions with her father.
Her Vulcan half was well in control; it had taken several long meditation sessions, but it had worked. She wanted to come here with an open mind, as open as possible.
With that in mind, she looked around and noticed Corbin sitting at a table by a viewport. Suzanna nodded in greeting as she approached. “Captain Corbin, it is agreeable to meet you.”
Corbin rose as Batenburg approached, returning the nod with quiet respect.
“Commander Batenburg,” she greeted, her voice steady but with an ease that softened the formality. “Thank you for taking the time to meet. I wasn’t sure how your schedule looked, so I appreciate the flexibility.”
She gestured lightly to the table before taking her seat again. “I thought something informal might suit us both better than an office.”
A small curve touched her lips, almost wry. “Besides, I’ve learned more about people over tea than through any briefing file.”
Her gaze flicked briefly toward the counter, where the Denobulan proprietor was already arranging new jars along the shelf. “They have quite the selection here, something for every mood, apparently. Shall we start with tea before we get into the rest?”
Corbin folded her hands loosely on the table, posture relaxed but attentive. “I’m partial to oolong, though my Yeoman Merrick swears the Andorian Ice Brew is worth the risk.”
The faintest trace of humor threaded through her tone, an invitation rather than an order. “What’s your preference, Commander?”
"Agreed on both counts, Captain," Suzanna sat down at the table, "I have tried many varieties, but my favourite is still the Terran Darjeeling."
Corbin’s smile deepened slightly as she nodded. “Darjeeling it is.”
Her fingers brushed across the small ordering panel embedded in the tabletop, the interface blooming softly to life beneath her touch. She selected Suzanna’s choice first, then her own usual oolong, confirming the order with a muted chime before the display faded again.
She leaned back slightly, posture easy, the faintest trace of steam already beginning to curl from the recessed service port at the table’s edge. “I can imagine this has been overwhelming,” she said, her tone light but sincere. “Being called up without warning, not knowing the Fleet Commander would be waiting, let alone what she was going to ask of you.”
Corbin’s eyes held Suzanna’s with quiet empathy. “If our positions were reversed, I’d likely have needed an extra meditation session myself before walking through that door.”
Her mouth curved again, just enough to break the tension of the thought. “Hopefully this feels a little less like an ambush and a little more like a conversation.”
Suzanna raised an eyebrow, "Your effort is appreciated, Captain. It was unexpected, to be sure." She took a deep breath, "I was not expecting to be asked for a position on a ship, let alone one on the command team."
Sabrina nodded, trying to tread carefully, but also be truthful. "I know. I read the history, and I don't know how I would react either."
Their tea arrived and Sabrina used the moment to dress it up with some milk a sugar, stirring it as she thought how best to proceed.
"What can I answer for you? I'm an open book for this. If either of us doesn't feel like this could work, then it probably won't."
She added some milk and sweetener to the tea and stirred it, "I wanted to get to know you, as a person, and your command style. I will be out of my comfort zone, at least to start with.."
Corbin considered the question, then nodded slightly. “Structured,” she admitted. “I like order, preparation, knowing what’s ahead. It’s how I keep the ship steady.”
A small smile tugged at her lips. “But I’ve learned the hard way that control only goes so far. I rely on people who see what I miss, and who’ll tell me when I’m wrong.”
She met Batenburg’s gaze evenly. “That’s what I value in a second. Balance.”
Suzanna nodded as she listened, her expression neutral, as would be expected of a Vulcan. “That sounds… logical, “ she commented, “all three are essential.” The Starfleet ships were all mixed species, that added enough of diversity to not being able to control everything. Not to mention that on a ship, one never knew what one would encounter. “What is your first reaction when unexpectedly under fire?”
Corbin gave a quiet chuckle, "Raise the shields," she said first, then hint of amusement clear in her tone.
"Then asssess, stabilize and act. Panic is not an option we can afford." She lifted her cup again, eyes steady over the rim. "Everything after that depends on the situation, what our is able to react to."
A sparkle crossed her eyes as Suzanna listened; some humour was always good, something else she had learned from her father. “Do you have any questions for me, Captain?” she asked before taking another sip of her tea.
Corbin smiled faintly, setting her cup down. “Just one,” she said. “Do you want this, Commander? Not because Fleet Command asked, or because it’s expected, but because you’d want to be there.”
Her tone stayed gentle, but her eyes were steady. “The Arawyn needs someone who chooses it, not someone assigned to endure it.”
It was a fair question, and probably one she would also have asked if roles were reversed. It was also something she had meditated on over the last few days. Suzanna let the silence linger as she gathered her thoughts on how to best answer this, taking another sip of the hot beverage. “I would not have asked for, or chosen this assignment myself. Having said that…” she paused again before continuing, “I cannot hide in Admiral Blokpoel’s service forever. After two decades, it’s time I face my fear and do it anyway.”
Sabrina's expression softened, genuine respect in her eyes. "That's more than fair, Commander," she said quietly. "And honest. I can work with that."
She gave a small nod, thoughtful about the interaction. "Fear doesn't disqualify anyone from command, it just means you still care about what happens next."
A faint smile returned as she lifted her tea again. "For what it's worth, I'm glad you said yes. Facing it together seems like a good place to start."
Commander Suzanna Batenburg
Executive Officer
USS Arawyn
Captain Sabrina Corbin
Commanding Officer
USS Arawyn
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