An Early Christmas Present

Posted on 11 May 2015 @ 10:21pm by Commander Norvi Stace & Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm
Edited on on 12 May 2015 @ 11:52am

1,800 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 08 - NIMBUS
Location: USS Atlas/USS Galileo - Private Offices
Timeline: MD 02 - 1010 hrs

[ON]

Stace sat with one leg crossing the other on the bridge as she stared almost vacantly at the viewscreen. She hated waiting. And all she seemed to have done since her breakfast with Gyce in the morning was wait. By 1000 hours all departments had reported their readiness and now she sat idly awaiting the games to start. She had filed every last piece of paperwork she had and had double checked every deck personally to be sure. As she picked up her data padd, the external communication beacon reverberated around the bridge.

"Captain," Ensign Anderson chimed out, reading his control panel as his fingers danced lightly across the flashing lights, "I have Admiral Saalm on subspace requesting a meeting. Shall I put it through to your ready room?"

Stace looked up with optimistic eyes as the admiral's communique broke the silence of the bridge. "Thank you," she said as she stood up and made the walk over to her door. "Transfer it through." She disappeared through to her ready room and rounded her desk, activating the terminal with her access code as she sat down.

Suddenly, the blank UFP logo was replaced by the green visage of Lirha. "Admiral," Stace greeted her with a smile, "to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Miss Stace," smiled Lirha politely through the screen when she saw Norvi's familiar features through the monitor. "I hope I am not disturbing you," she prefaced. "There is a rather important matter I would like to discuss with you. Regarding the departure of several of Galileo's senior officers," she then added with a slight tilt of her head which subtly betrayed the intentions of their conversation.

Stace paused for a moment and then with a tilt of her own narrowed her eyes at the admiral. "Sounds ominous," she then said, shifting back in her chair to get a little more comfortable as she then interlaced her fingers on the desk before her. "Anything that I can help with?"

"Well...yes, actually. I assume you are aware of our recent crew departures by now?" Or was she? Lirha couldn't quite remember with all the commotion going on in her office every day.

"Departures?" Stace parroted with an emphatic downward smile. "I'm not sure that I am." She allowed the silence to linger as an indication for the admiral to fill her in.

"Yes..." replied the Orion with a solemn series of nods to confirm her words. "By order of the local admiralty, several of our officers have been recalled back to Starbase 84. Apparently there is a delicate situation brewing in the surrounding sectors regarding Romulan separatists, and the experience of our personnel was deemed to be 'necessary'."

Stace's reaction was one of shock and concern. That would mean that the Gally crew would need a major reshuffle and transfer influx in order to settle the balance. There were times when the politics of Starfleet almost baffled her. "So, what's the plan with the future of this mission, Admiral? Do we have something in place to compensate for the personnel loss?"

Taking a deep breath and reaching up with a green hand to push a stray lock of hair from her cheek and back behind her ear, Lirha softly sighed at Stace's very direct and pertinent question. "We do," she began, "but it will require a rather rapid change of personnel, many of whom will be put into new positions on short notice. Untimely and very short notice."

The Trill took a moment and looked off to the side of her Ready Room but then directed her attention back to the admiral with a widening of her eyes. The transient life of a Starfleet officer, she thought to herself as she pursed her lips and leant in a little. Bringing her hand up to her face, she added, "We've managed with worse, I expect. If we can successfully integrate new crew from the Venture after the Borg attack and move forward then I'm sure a couple of senior officer position changes won't weather us too hard." She paused again and a soft, pliable smile broke across her alabaster face. "What do you need from me, Admiral?"

"How would you like to become Galileo's new first officer?" asked Lirha without delay in a rather straight-forward manner. "Your colleagues all speak very highly of you and I believe both Captain Holliday and myself have been nothing but impressed by your work ethic aboard the ship."

Stace's silence conveyed her utter shock; not at the request itself but the implications to her future career. Her earlier promotion to Second Officer naturally meant that this was one day a possibility, especially in the field, but she hadn't thought for a moment that this would have become a reality so soon. Without skipping a beat, she cleared her throat, cocked her head to the side and smiled. "I would like that very much, Admiral." She flicked her eyebrows and again broke eye contact with the screen. "It would actually be an honour to serve yourself and Captain Holliday in that capacity."

Internally, Lirha out a sigh of relief that Stace had accepted the offer. In her past experience, some officers did not take well to being thrust into senior roles of command so quickly and without prior notice, and it was a gratifying feeling that the joined Trill was open to the opportunity. "I believe the pleasure will be ours as well, Miss Stace. And...congratulations," she said with a warm smile to the red-head. "As long as you do not mind paperwork and the other administrative duties which come along with the position, I believe you will enjoy yourself."

"I can't say that I'm not going to miss the Science department, especially on such a capable vessel as ours." Stace paused as the warm familiarity settled in her belly. "Command is what I'm used to," she added with a nod, "and as much as I have enjoyed the climb up here, this is where I belong. And where I want to be." As she spoke, she felt the Symbiont almost sing out that she was once again rising through the ranks of Starfleet. Her beaming smile betrayed her own pride. "Thank you, Admiral," she managed, welling up with emotions from her past. "I appreciate this opportunity."

Lirha tried to downplay the compliment and dismissively waved her green hand in front of the screen. "No need to thank me, Miss Stace. You have earned it. Consider this promotion to be an opportunity that you have worked hard for over the years. Both you, Norvi, and Stace."

"What do we need to now put into place, Admiral? I assume Commander Kohl will be invited to take over my old position or is Captain Holliday planning on bringing someone new in?"

"Correct," answered Saalm. "He is the most obvious choice and is not only a well-respected officer but has much experience aboard Galileo, especially in the science department. I...think he will enjoy his new position just as you will," she added with bright green eyes. "Chief science officer aboard a planetary science vessel is a very coveted position, after all."

"I remember," Stace replied with a flash of a smile. "And it looks like I'm about to give all that up." She winced another smile and scrunched up her nose. "But I think I'll be happy as ship's First Officer. Has a better ring to it."

Tilting her head to the side and inspecting Stace through the monitor, Lirha suppressed a soft chuckle. "And the red collar will match well with your hair, yes?"

"Better than the Christmas tree I looked like before," she chuckled back before she coughed as she realised what she had just said. "In fact," she added earnestly, a flush of crimson flooding her cheeks, "I preferred it. Red and green suits some people better, I think. Especially... well, especially in your case." She paused and then lowered her head with a grin.

The edges of Lirha's eyes crinkled as her lids lowered and keenly observed Norvi through the screen. "Are you saying I resemble an attractive Christmas tree, commander?" she said half-teasingly yet with edge in her voice. If anything, Lirha was a noble woman, not an ornament to be admired. Although some Orions did find themselves in such situations from time to time.

"Not at all, Admiral," Stace said, managing to compose herself as she looked back to the screen as her skin began to cool. "I was merely teasing myself until I realised what I'd actually said. I, uh, apologise."

"Hmm...very well," Lirha replied feigning a bit of offendedness. "In that case, I will have to inform you of my newest orders for you," she prefaced somewhat menacingly in return.

In the same mock offensive vain, Stace replied with a raise of both eyebrows, "Why do I feel like I have just dug my own grave?"

"Because of your promotion to first officer, it is not appropriate for you to hold your current rank anymore. I am promoting you to the rank of full commander, with all the rights and privileges therein. Congratulations, Miss Stace," she said, her best poker face breaking into yet another warm and congratulatory smile.

Stace's hand quickly flung itself up to her collar as she teased the onyx pip with her slender fingers. She said nothing but through the viewscreen, and her open mouth, conveyed her thanks. She beamed a smile before nodding, blinking emphatically. "I'm... Well, I'm speechless, Admiral. Truly speechless. I don't know what to say. Thank you. Thank you very much." She lowered her voice and nodded, having an almost internal conversation with herself. "I think my previous host would be very proud of what we've managed to achieve. Thank you!"

The Orion rear admiral looked at Stace through the monitor, this time scrutinizing her a bit more. "I thought I already told not to thank me?" she half-teased again. "Besides, you are now out of uniform. I expect to see you in your proper attire as soon as possible. Dismissed, commander," she added with the most subtle of appreciative green eye-smiles to the new Trill first officer.

Stace blinked and then nodded her goodbye before closing down the monitor. Stace was on the up and up again; moving quickly through the ranks. She had to wonder whether her ability came from her own determination or the drive from within her belly. But at this particular moment in time she didn't much care. She fondled her collar again and then beamed a smile widely.

[OFF]

--

RADM Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Atlas

AND

CMDR Norvi Stace
Commanding Officer / First Officer
USS Galileo

RSS Feed