The sign dangled dangerously low over the entrance as the maintenance crew worked at detaching it from the wall. The words "Rat and Parrot" didn't really give the feeling J'nala wanted her customers to have when they walked into her establishment, so she asked a little help from the operations team to replace the sign. The new sign would read "The Royal Duchess." No specific reason, just sounded a lot better than "Rat and Parrot."
J'nala stepped back inside the small pub, and began unpacking the decorations and dishware from the crates spread about the floor. She set up three or four tables, and placed the five stools in front of the bar. She went over every surface with a damp cloth, then set out to wash the dishware.
A half-Klingon woman approached J'nala and told her they were done with the sign.
"Thanks, uh..."
"N'Garen." She said quietly, and opened her mouth as if she had more to say, but instead left J'nala wondering what was on the cadet's mind.
J'nala cracked open another crate, and was surprised to find it empty. She leaned over and checked the label on which it had contained. Cereal and rice were missing from the container. J'nala glanced over both shoulders to make sure she hadn't already unpacked it. She had hoped she could serve small meals at breakfast, and rice with some of her dinners. She planned to make mostly human food, being that she was on a Starfleet station, and she had the most experience cooking human food, but sadly, the items were nowhere to be found.
She huffed to herself, and considered the possibility of theft. Not a day into her life on the station, and she had already been robbed. There wasn't any proof, just the only possibility at the moment. First, though, she decided she had better check in with lost and found luggage on the station, but if that proved useless, she'd have to go to security to report the ridiculous crime. It had no material value, just rice and cereal. It was just worrying that there could be someone who was potentially starving enough to steal.
Thirty Minutes Later....
Lost and found was no help, and J'nala had finished writing up the weekly menus on the board,. She would open tomorrow morning. Four tables, each seating four, and five stools at the bar. It was small, but homely.
As luck would have it, J'nala spotted an officer near the funky candle shop that belonged to the Starfleet counselor, and risked walking up to introduce herself. She was either Security or Operations, J'nala couldn't tell. At least she could direct the way to the Security office if she couldn't help.
"Excuse me, I know your probably off duty, but I'm hoping you could help me with a small problem." J'nala began. The officer introduced herself as Tara Carmichael, and J'nala began explaining her minor predicament. "I hope I'm not bugging you with this, it's just that I'm new here, and. . ." J'nala paused, hoping Tara would be a receptive person.
"'To protect and serve,' that's our ancient motto," Tara said happily, noting to herself that the 20th-century motto of the Los Angeles Police Department--adapted centuries later by Starfleet Security--wasn't exactly ancient to her. "What can I do for you?"
"Some of my inventory appears to be missing," J'nala said. "Nothing valuable, really--"
"If it belongs to you, and it's missing, it matters," Tara interrupted. "Let's have a look."
J'nala showed Tara the empty shipping container that was supposed to contain oats and rice. "Hmmm," Tara said, scanning the container with a tricorder. "It appears that the contents were transported out. Have you checked your messages yet?"
"No," J'nala said. "I was just getting set up."
"You'll probably have a message from New Canada Customs. They place all agricultural commodities on automatic detention to avoid contamination of the local ecosystem. All you need to do is show them your business license for the station and they should release it, no questions asked."
"Thanks very much!" J'nala said as she went to her message console. Sure enough, there was a text message from the Customs authority informing her of the detention. "You've been a tremendous help!"
Tara looked around the restaurant. "This little establishment looks rather intriguing. I may have to pop in later unofficially," she said, smiling.
"You're welcome anytime!" J'nala said with relief. She'd transmitted her business license and gotten automatic notification of the release of her shipment. Moments later, the containerized oats and rice beamed into her replicator receptacle.