The Wyatts

Posted on 07 Apr 2016 @ 7:03pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Commander Luke Wyatt

805 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 7, Observation Lounge
Timeline: MD 90 - 1245 hrs

[ON]

Two crew evaluation reports had now been completed, and as Oren left the observation lounge, Lirha took the opportunity to go to the nearby replicator and procure herself a mug of her favorite chocolate drink. The frothy cup materialized in front of her and she clasped it in her green hands, but not before summoning her next officer who was in need of his annual performance evaluation.

"Mister Wyatt, report to the observation lounge," she requested through her commbadge before turning to walk towards the window and stare back out at the majestic planet of Jupiter in all its swirly glory.

Luke was repairing the damage to his room, his hand bandaged instead of dermal regenerated as to teach him a lesson not to go around picking fights with hardened bulkheads. Setting down his picture frame back to its rightful place he walked out of the door and proceeded towards the observation lounge. "On my way" He said.

Stepping onto the observation deck which was surprisingly quiet for this time of day he spotted the green skinned Orion standing not to far from him with a mug in her hand. Thinking a cup of hot chocolate was a good idea he hurried over to the replicater, got himself one and stepped up alongside the admiral. "Admiral" He said simply, indicating his presence.

"Mister Wyatt," said Lirha who turned from her view of the gas giant to observe the tall and muscular lieutenant enter the observation lounge. "Thank you for coming on short notice. How was your shore leave?" she asked. "Have you had a chance to relax for a few weeks?"

He nodded, "I think I got off to a bit of a rough start but once I let go of certain things I think relaxing was the word I'd used to describe me leave" Luke admitted, "Yourself?" He asked returning the question politely.

"It was fun," she admitted with an unusually casual assessment. The beaches of Risa had been a great opportunity for her to relax and indulge outside the confines of Starfleet protocol. "I suppose it was almost too much fun," she admitted with a sheepish grin before returning to the subject at hand.

"I called you in to assess how you are doing. I...know the loss of your daughter must have been difficult. You have my utmost condolences."

Luke stiffened before taking a breath and once again relaxing. "I am coping, she isn't really gone though is she" He said his tone was sharp and a tang of bitterness and sadness crept out with his words.

A long silence passed while Lirha understood and contemplated the meaning of his words. Certainly the arrival of the new Abbey into this universe and aboard Galileo had complicated matters, and she wasn't sure how the junior lieutenant was handling it. "I suppose not," she confessed.

"How do you feel about her presence on board? Have you had a chance to speak with her?" Lirha then asked.

He shook his head "I have had it in my mind to speak to her but call it cowardice or what you will I haven't been able to bring myself to confront her" Luke admitted.

"It might be difficult but I think the sooner you approach her, the better," she said. It was no doubt a terribly difficult situation for Wyatt, but it was a necessary step. "She has approached both Captain Holliday and myself and wishes to serve aboard Galileo," she then revealed. "You will run into her eventually if you stay on board. If you take the initiative, it would make it less...awkward, perhaps?"

Thinking for a moment he gave a curt nod "I think I would have to agree with you" Luke remained silent for a moment longer before looking the Admiral, his friend in the face. "What made you let her stay? You must have seen some good in her otherwise she'd be shipped straight off to Earth."

That was a complicated question that Lirha wasn't sure she had time to answer in full. But she could explain her brief thoughts to the best of her ability to help make Luke understand. "She is a strange woman," she began, pursing her lips for a moment while she paused to think about how to answer. "She seems to desire a different life from that of the Terran Empire. She has been honest and open with both myself and Captain Holliday about her life and has expressed a desire to serve in Starfleet. I may be mistaken, but I believe that she perhaps feels regretful about the things she has done and wishes to atone for them."

[TRUNCATED]

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RADM Lirha Saalm
Mission Advisor
USS Galileo

LT Luke Wyatt
Strategic Operations Officer
USS Galileo

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