Bring Them Home

Posted on Fri Nov 27th, 2020 @ 11:41pm by Commodore Keiben Haistro & Captain Melody Jones

1,105 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 1 - Phoenix From The Ashes
Location: USS Merlin - Ready Room
Timeline: Prologue Mission Day -1 @ 09:29 Hours

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The last few days had probably been the most trying of the Betazoids life, more so then when he lost his family. That had hurt beyond measure but time heals most wounds and this one had over time hurt less and less and instead he could look back and feel blessed that he had met his wife and been a part of his daughter's life. This however was something different. It felt as if he had been violated, traumatised, as had the rest of his crew. Every single one of the eighty crew members he had known and now only sixteen of them were still with him. He needed to find his strength, especially now.

He stepped onto the bridge of the Merlin, it was like a cavern in comparison to Copernicus. Redundancies after redundancies with the different stations. Copernicus had one for all of the major departments with the exception of medical, and most of the minor divisions had been rolled into one of the larger divisions. This felt more like a cathedral rather than a starship bridge.

"The ready room?" he asked of a Cardassian Officer who simply tilted his head in the direction of a door. "Thank you!"

He could feel from most on the bridge their sympathy for his situation but non of them voiced it, thankfully. He approached the door and pressed the chime.

Melody looked up from her desk. "Come in!" She called out.

The doors parted at her behest and he stepped into Commander Jones ready room. Again it was immense in comparison to the Captain's ready room, as it had been, to the one the commanding officer of the Copernicus was permitted.
"Commander Jones, firstly can I just extend my thanks from not only myself but from my crew... If you hadn't have arrived when you did this would have been a very different ending for all of us".

"Don't' mention it, Commander. Please have a seat." She gestured to the sofa as she got up from behind the desk and went over to the replicator. "Primary systems on the Copernicus should be back online by the time we reach Starbase. Would you like a drink?"

"If you have a decent single malt programmed into that then I'll have a double!"
He jested as he dropped down into the chair on the opposite side of her desk. "I'm surprised your teams have managed to achieve so much. I thought she would have been a write off!"

Melody moved passed the replicator to a locked cabinet. After she entered her personal access code it opened and she took out a bottle and two glasses. "One single malt, not replicated. 2245, A very good year so I'm told. Someone gave me this as a gift. She poured two large measures and placed the bottle back in the cabinet. She handed one glass to Keiben. "Cheers." She smiled as she clinked his glass and took a sip. "She's a tough little ship, it looks like you took a hell of a beating."

She sat back down. "I've made a few discreet inquires. Officially, the Romulan government is denying all knowledge of any attack on the Copernicus. Unofficially, I don't think they have a clue what's going on. Since the destruction of Romulus, many different splinter factions have appeared trying to grab power. The major one we have very little information on, but I'm betting they were responsible for the attack. It just brings us back to the question of why. Was there anything remarkable about the Romulan ship you found?

"In all honesty Commander this doesn't feel like a strike by the Romulan government...or whats left of it".
He raised the glass to his lips and with one swift motioned downed the liquid in one. The sting of the whisky hit the back of his throat and it was glorious. "A very good year!" he commented, turning the glass in his hand before placing the empty glass down on the desk.

"As for the Romulan ship... We couldn't get to it. It was several miles below the surface of the largest ocean on the planet. We had off loaded our Hunley Shuttle in favour of an extra class nine shuttle. If we get the chance, depending on who ends up with command of the Copernicus, I would like to go back so we could finish our survey of the planet and get the Hunley below the surface to investigate... All of this will need to wait until that tough little ship is fighting fit again".

"I'm afraid those desicions are out of my hands. Also, the Merlin won't be able to stay long at Starbase, new orders have comes through from Starfleet Command. It's going to be a tight turn around." Melody mused. "Still I'm sure we'll run into each other again out there somewhere. Who knows, maybe you'll be rescuing me next time." She added with a wry smile. "Why don't you get some rest and enjoy our hospitality. I'll contact you when we're appraching Starbase."

"One other thing just before I get out of your hair... Would there be any chance I could borrow a few of your crew?" he asked tentatively. "None of your key officers, I just may need a few to help us get things ship shape. I will return them at the first convenience. I know Ensign Vernona and Chief Stoun have been instrumental in restoring the Copernicus to the operational state its in now".
He had stood and moved around the chair as he was asking the question. He just hoped it wasn't an imposition for the Commander.

"I don't see any problem with that Commander, In fact, I believe those two were eager to get a chance to work on the Copernicus." Melody replied.

"In which case, once repairs are finished... whenever that may be, with your permission I may offer them permanent positions on Copernicus... If that is not an imposition to you?"
He had met both in passing and had taken a liking to both and whoever ended up Commanding Copernicus would benefit from their presence.

"It would be an opportunity for them to advance their careers..." Melody considered for a moment. "Very well, if they are willing, I'll approve the transfers.

"Thank you Commander... Now, I'm sure you have far more important matters to address with this flying city of yours... I'll get out of your hair"
He smiled at the Commander, a very striking women both in appearance and strength of character. He did hope he had more opportunity to speak to her in the future.

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