The Turbolift Mazurka of Auvray and Andersen

Posted on Sun Sep 13th, 2026 @ 6:01pm by Captain Philippe Auvray & Lieutenant Commander Eirly Andersen

1,873 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Maintenance and Recovery
Location: Turbolift
Timeline: November 1, 2389 - 1430 Hours

The turbolift descended toward Deck Fourteen, carrying Captain Philippe Auvray and his escort, Lieutenant Commander Eirly Andersen. The turbolift had stopped numerous times all the while Auvray had spent the better part of the journey speaking about Vienna.

He had been to the city often enough to speak of it with deep proprietary affection--especially so for a man who had never lived there. The Musikverein, he explained, was among the greatest of concert halls on Earth, and the Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's Day concert was among the great rituals of his life. Every January 1st, he explained, while less-cultured individuals were still asleep or recovering from whatever debauchery they had gotten up to the night before, the Philharmonic gathered beneath the chandeliers of the Golden Hall and played Strauss--and other Austrian composers.

"I have attended thirty-three of them," Auvray said with a proud smile. "Well, thirty-two. I missed one."

"Only one?" Eirly queried as she turned the ring on her finger around and around out of habit. "I haven't been to Vienna in quite a number of years, but that sounds like it would be a beautiful event to attend."

"Oh, you must make the time to visit Vienna during the holiday season, Ms. Andersen." He sighed wistfully, gazing into her eyes. "How painful it was to miss Maestro Karlos Kutschera's mazurkas in 2366!"

Philippe seemed to be under the false impression that the omission required an explanation--or that Eirly even cared.

"I was in the field," he began to explain.

There was something peculiar in the way he said the field, as if he'd spent that particular day in 2366 personally defending the Federation's border with the Klingons rather than performing his duties like every other young Starfleet officer.

"Thirty-three years," he continued. "Do you know what that means, Commander? Continuity! Civilization depends upon continuity. There are very few things left that offer the proper respect and observance of rituals."

Eirly nodded her understanding, "I get that, and if I'm understanding correctly, the way I can relate to your thirty three years in the field, which might I add is longer than I've been alive for, is that each generation of my family has always produced at least one doctor: my brother, my father, grandmother, both of my great grandparents and so on and so forth."

She knew that her superior officer was being pompous and self-entitled, and the whole experience was leaving a sour taste in her mouth, but Eirly kept the smile on her face and held her tongue. "Like you though, sir, I do like continuity and regimented order in life, but I can appreciate the more... whimsical things in life too."

"The first time I attended, I was twenty. I can recall the room more clearly than I can the performance. Gold everywhere. The chandeliers! The balconies! That extraordinary ceiling. You can feel the centuries casting its gaze down upon you." He smiled at the memory. "And then the orchestra begins..."

Auvray let the last go unsaid as he drifted back several decades into the memory of it. After a long moment, he snapped out of it and turned to look directly at the Second Officer.

"I've already made arrangements for this year. On the First of January, I have reserved balcony seats a the Musikverein. Black tie. Champagne." He looked directly at her now. "I have an extra ticket, mademoiselle."

"Oh," That was the last thing Eirly had expected to be said, and it left her at a loss of words for a moment. Even still, her smile didn't faulter. "You'd like me to join you? That would be absolutely lovely, and I don't think I could picture a better way to start off the year, but I would have to check a couple of things first to make sure it lines up, if that's okay?"

The Captain smiled. "Absolutely, my dear. You would be very welcome."

The turbolift seemed to slow before the doors parted. Jean-Baptiste Dorsainvil stepped inside.

"Deck Thirteen," JB said to the turbolift.

Auvray's face changed before JB had uttered the words for his destination. The warmth disappeared so completely that it seemed almost to have been switched off. JB noticed it. Of course he noticed it. He knew when others had stopped bothering to conceal their feelings around him.

"Lieutenant Commander," JB said, acknowledging Eirly's presence.

"Captain," he said with a slight nod to Auvray before clasping his hands behind his back while the turbolift started to move again.

JB decided to face the doors rather than the other two occupants. It felt easier that way.

Auvray regarded JB's back for a silent moment before looking back to Eirly.

"There is a curious thing about institutions," he said, a cold smile appearing on his face. "They occasionally produce talented individuals who see proximity as an accomplishment."

"Hello, Lieutenant." Eirly said with a grateful smile that hid the potentially big mistake she'd made by agreeing to go out for a night with the Captain next to her.

"Captain," she started, feeling as uncomfortable as ever, and she put her hand on his arm in a friendly manner, “Institutions don’t create talent, Captain. People do. And some of them carry it quietly.” She hoped that JB wouldn't stoop to Auvray's level and take the bait he'd set out.

Jean-Baptiste continued his silence and remained staring at the door.

The Parisian Captain continued. "A young officer can be clever. Very clever, de temps en temp. Clever enough to be noticed by the right people. Clever enough to be invited into the big rooms where the big decisions are made. And if that officer is fortunate, they may even convince themselves that the invitation into these rooms makes them somehow important."

JB said nothing.

"But intelligence without judgment is a dangerous gift," Auvray said. "A person can become very good at understanding the inner-workings of a machine without ever posing the question whether the machine ought to be running in the first place. C'est le genre de personne capable de passer toute une carrière à confondre l'analyse et la sagesse." ("That's the kind of person that can spend their entire career mistaking analysis for wisdom.")

Thankfully, the turbolift slowed and halted. The doors opened and JB turned back to Eirly and Philippe with a neutral and calm expression.

"I hope you enjoy the remainder of your stay aboard Astrea, Captain." He then turned to Eirly and offered a professional smile. "Commander."

He then disappeared into the corridor, leaving the Frenchman and Eirly in the turbolift.

A breath in and out through the nose from Eirly after she nodded and smiled to JB as he left, presumably to find the redhead that was his girlfriend, Ensign Wrenleigh Reed. JB was such a nice guy, why did Auvray have to be such a dick to him?

"Captain," she turned to face him, "With all due respect, I'm not even going to pretend I know what your angle with the Lieutenant was, but I expected more from a man, such as yourself, who holds a high position. Belittling crewmembers who are lower rank isn't really a good look on you, no matter the situation."

Auvray lifted his chin a fraction, taking in the Second Officer's admonishment. For the briefest of moments, he felt the need to explain to the beautiful Eirly Andersen how Dorsainvil tarnished his own reputation by turning against Starfleet Intelligence.

"Perhaps I should have told you more about my love for Vienna."

The turbolift ride continued in silence for what seemed another ten seconds before arriving at their intended destination. The doors opened and the Captain struck an overly animated pose, offering Eirly to exit the lift ahead of him.

Eirly inclined her head and smiled as she exited before the Captain. "In everything I've read, it certainly does seem like a beautiful place, even if it is less than two hours from my homeland of Denmark." It had been too long since she had really stepped foot back on solid ground and home soil, and she missed it more than she cared to admit.

A small tremor started up in her left hand and she quietly tried to hide it with her other hand, massaging it to make the slight pain go away. "Deck 14, that's where the Cetacean Ops crew used to be. Why are we here, out of curiosity?"

"I've been recalled to Starfleet Headquarters," Auvray said as they moved through the corridor toward the transporter room. "It would have been wonderful to say goodbye to Remy in-person, but I fear she has more pressing concerns with her debrief on the starbase."

"Oh, I'm sorry you've be recalled, it's been a pleasure having you on board." Eirly feigned the sincerity with a grimace. "I was going to ask if you would like to go out for dinner if you had time, but it appears it might have to be raincheck. As for the Captain, I'll be sure to pass along your goodbyes, if you wish."

Philippe's face visibly sagged at hearing this young woman having to scrap a dinner with him, but such was life in Starfleet. In any event, he didn't wish to remain anywhere near Astrea, Barisa Prime, or Starbase 773. He was all too aware of the storm that was coming.

"My heart is breaking, Commander." He meant it, but even a date with this blonde beauty wasn't worth remaining.

They passed through the doors to the transporter room to find a female crewmember manning the transporter controls.

Auvray addressed the crewmember with an air of authority. "One to transport to the USS Grissom, please."

The transporter crewman nodded and began entering the coordinates into her system. Auvray let his bag slide off his shoulder and to the floor. He turned to Eirly and with a fantastical smile, reached for both of her shoulders pulling her close to him before she could pull away. He planted two kisses--one on either cheek--before stepping back to look at her.

"It's been a pleasure to have you accompany me over the last few days," he said.

Even though she respected the customs of the French, it was still a bit alarming to be manhandled the way she was, but Eirly covered the slight discomfort with a smile again.

"It's been my pleasure, Captain." She nodded and clasped her hands in front of her while taking a step back.

Captain Auvray picked up his bag, slinging it over one shoulder and made his way to the transporter pad. He turned back and offered a thin smile to Eirly before dematerializing away.

---

Captain Philippe Auvray
Senior Starfleet Security Liaison
Starfleet Security
(NPC of JB Dorsainvil)


Lt. Commander Eirly Andersen
Second Officer
USS Astrea


Lieutenant Jean-Baptiste Dorsainvil
Assistant Chief Security Officer
USS Astrea

 

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