The Next Day

Posted on Sun Apr 10th, 2022 @ 8:39pm by Captain Michelle Bartlett & Commander Rostra Tang & Lieutenant Commander Shaille Levine

Mission: Recovery
Location: Ready Room

After taking some time to rest, Michelle sat in the ready room for a bit, reading over the final reports. She looked over them again... It had gone quite well. Almost textbook until Prel showed up. What a shit show he turned that whole thing into.

She still wanted to hear from the away team's mouth what took place and had summoned Rostra and Shaille to the ready room. She punched a code into the replicator behind her, and took something small from them in addition to the fourth cup of coffee that morning. The small items would be for later.

As far as she knew, Prel was still in the brig... Whinging to anyone who would listen. And the two fighters who fired the shots were relieved of duty. The conversation with the planet's defence minister was... unpleasant but understanding.

She heard the door chime as she sipped her coffee. "Come." she called out.

The doors swished open, allowing Rostra's twin forms to enter the ready room. PaDD in hand, well one of her hands, the complete Dalacari entered and took up a spot near the Captain's desk. "Captain. My report, as requested." she offered the PaDD, though remained where she was. "I figured you'd also want an actual report." she gave a pair of smiles.

"And, you know, a conversation." her twin joined the conversation.

"My god, i hope you slept." Michelle said as she looked at the report and the volume of it. She reviewed it while she waited for Shaille to arrive. "I'm honestly surprised your craft made it back here without the planetary defence force firing a shot."

"There was a guard that spotted the troops. They were rendered unconscious and beamed out of the range of the downed fighter detonation. We transported them out..."

"... of the blast radius, and then returned them to the enemy patrol. I imagine that discouraged them from engaging." she postured.

Shaille entered the room, the darkness under her eyes visible. Like Rostra, she offered forth a PaDD. "Captain, Commander," she said with a nod to each of the other bodies in the room. "I don't know why they didn't fire," she responded to the words she overheard as she walked in. "But I for one am glad they didn't. Prel's still in the brig, for all I care the son of a bitch can rot there."

"Please, don't hold back." Rostra mentioned with a nod.

Michelle smirked a little. "Unfortunately, we dont get the pleasure. Part of the only reason nobody here is under arrest is because I agreed to hand Commander Prel and the officer involved in the attack on the surface over for questioning. Which we will need you to oversee." she paused before turning to Rostra. "And yes... I think the rescue of their downed crew member might have made them think a little before nearly responding to an act of war. For once i'm glad I'm not the diplomatic officer managing this. You both did good work with that. And I'm relieved that in addition to being cut off from the entire rest of the Federation, we now dont have a war on our hands. Not that we'd lose it. But... We can't afford more black eyes out here than we've already got."

"I'm just glad it didn't come down to frontier justice, what with you being cut off from your chain of command. If this were a Dalacar issue, I can just call up home." Rostra started. Her twin picked up, "Out here, you have to go with what your morals tell you, and so far I think we're on the right side of morality."

"I know it's silly to think of things in that respect, but I'd rather be able to look at myself in the morning." she paused, "And it's MUCH harder for a Dalacari. I mean..."

"... I'm right there, all the time." she motioned, "But for your people, I think mirrors are involved. And I think in this, we're all alright. Do you want me to handle the arrangements for..."

"... Prel's transfer? Most of the people in the home sectors out here know that Dalacari aren't known for violent traps and betrayals. Not saying the Federation would lay a..."

"... devious trap, just that they don't KNOW that you wouldn't. You're all a new power out here, and there's already something of a pecking order." she paused to catch her breaths.

"Sparing that one soldier sent a message that the Federation is an organization capable of mercy. Prel's actions also show that it's an organization capable of violence." a pause, a shift, "We need to send the message that we prefer one over the other."

"The Federation might be able to handle a war, but out here, it's just a small fleet waving a big flag. You aren't the entire Federation, so please be careful."

Shaille nodded slightly in agreeance. "Even more so while we're cut off, we need to foster all the good will we can, we never know when we might need the help. Our supplies are finite and if Command can't work out how to resupply us soon, we could be in trouble."

"Agreed." Michelle said. "And don't worry. I intend to be exceptionally careful. My aim is to make sure we're building actual alliances out here. And support. We don't know how long it'll be before we have access to a way home again. Or if we ever will. But, I know we'll get through that. The fewer people i have aboard like Prel, the better."

"Recognizing and removing people like Prel will go a long way towards building good favor among the good beings of the home sectors. Delta quadrant, as you call it." Rostra smirked.

"Nice of you to put your own home in the Alpha." she teased for a moment. "But, aside from that, as long as we continue to project and uphold the more positive virtues of the Federation..."

"... I don't think we'll have a problem at least getting re-supplies while you're all out here. I know a few places we can stop if we need specifics. I also know a few places..."

"... to *AVOID* so there'll be less complications. Might need to tune the comm array to pick up local chatter updates, Fera reports, market fluxes, that sort of thing."

She paused, "Yes, market reports. What, don't you have currency where you come from?"

"Not particularly. Some worlds use latinum as a currency but... Not us. That said, I'm sure we are happy to make sure we aren't taking food out of the locals' mouths." Michelle said. "And I look forward to seeing what you and your successor in Strategic Ops come up with." she added. "There are just... a couple other things." she said, placing a couple of boxes on the table.

Rostra looked down at the boxes, then up at Michelle, then back at the boxes. This was especially interesting since she did it in perfect harmony. "Now hold on a moment..."

Shaille looked at the two boxes on the table and offered a smile to the twin form of Rostra. "Looks like congratulations are in order Commander," she said fondly. "Very deservedly so."

"Oh there's more where that came from." Michelle said. "I've reviewed Captain Reynolds' assessments of you both. Very glowing reviews, indeed. And seeing how this played out, I can see his faith in you both was not misplaced." she added, handing one box to Rostra. "I've made a note in the ship's log that effective immediately, I am promoting you to the rank of Commander. And, if you accept, I'd like you to serve as First Officer."

Rostra accepted the box cautiously in her grasp. In the grasp of one form. She looked a little nervous, focusing her attention on the tiny box. "I... I don't know what to say. I mean, I KNOW what to say, and that's thank you." she finally found her words. She opened the box, and saw there were two little pips in there.

"You did read Reynolds' notes." she said with a smile, pleased that yet another Starfleet captain acknowledged her people's enjoyment, or rather almost a NEED.... for symmetry.

"And for yourself..." she added, pushing a box towards Shaille... "Captain Reynolds put in for you to be promoted as well. Congratulations yourself, Commander." she added.

"Oh, congratulations. This is so wonderful!" Rostra was beside herself with joy. No no, not like that. Figuratively speaking. Then the rest of the statement hit. "Wait, me? First officer?? I.." she paused, mulling it over, and then she gave a pair of nods, "I accept. Someone's gotta keep this ship on schedule." she giggled.

Shaille laughed openly before responding. "Thank you Captain, it is much appreciated," she said before offering a grin to Rostra. "I guess I better start being on time for duty shifts then?"

"I mean as long as you're late and bring an entire pot of coffee to the centre chair, I can overlook it maybe twice." Michelle added with a smirk. "And it seems you have both earned it. He really seemed to like the team he was assigned. My predecessor, that is." she said, taking a look around the ready room. "I've gotten an understanding as to why."

"I'm sure we can dissuade you of that illusion sooner rather than later," Shaille retorted easily.

Rostra gave a pair of smiles, "Sooner indeed. Ten minutes, tops." she giggled, "But honestly, I hope I speak for Sha... Commander Levine... as well when I say, we won't let you down." she corrected herself.

"I look forward to it." Michelle said. "Well..." Michelle replied looking to Rostra "You probably need rest, and I believe Commander Levine has a prisoner to hand over. Preferably in one piece."

"Then, by your leave?" Rostra cued.

Shaille nodded. "Indeed," she added. "If you don't require anthing from us right now though, I have someone I want to see."

"Of course." Michelle said. "That will be all then. Congratulations, and uhh... Make sure there's enough of your next appointment to hand over to the authorities." Michelle added with a smirk.