Captain Talia
USS Adagio - NCC-99691-B
USS Adagio Captain
'Strength and Honor"
Posts: 1,752
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Post by Captain Talia on Jun 26, 2011 18:22:59 GMT -5
Indeed this was the one job that Talia dreaded most of all since the first time she ever commanded a starship. It was an assignment loathed for many centuries and in many cultures down through the ages since the very first time someone else had to lead others of their kind into battle.The one task aboard ship she could delegate...
This was her duty and hers alone...
The night shift had dimmed the lights and she had long since stood down her crew and seen to their berthing either aboard the Adagio or in temporary accommodations aboard the shipyards. Only those personnel required for minimal security and to assist the shipyard engineering teams remained posted on duty board her crippled starship.
Young Lieutenant Tracey had insisted on taking the first shift after returning from sickbay. She had argued that her 'skipper' was long overdue for a night of rest.
A night of rest, Talia could only smirk as she sat there in the twilight darkness.
She had spent most of the night visiting each member of her crew that lay in the ship's sickbay or down at the medical facilities of Andoria. She let those she could know how proud she had been of each of them, how much she respected each of their efforts...
Even now as she sat alone in the dark, in her ruined and scorched Ready Room aboard the Adagio, she still felt a surge of pride in this crew. Something about their spirit and their courage made them so very special to her.
She had righted her desk and her chair then slected a few PADD's. There in the quiet of the night with no noise except the soft cooing of the computer system she began to compose letters to the families of her crew who had fallen in battle.
"Dear Miz'Viralea, Brood Mother of Zyvir, I was your son's commanding officer. You will have been informed by now, I am sure that Zyvir has fallen in battle. While this is small consolation for the grief you must feel, I wanted you to know that your son died performing his duties in a manner befitting the fine officer he was. He in short died quickly and did not suffer...he will be remembered by the shipmates he cared for and by those who's lives he saved..."
"Dear Stril and T'Peli, as you know I was your daughter's commanding officer and close friend. It is logical to believe that you have already been informed about the situation in regards to Solia and I know though it would be illogical to expect this would be any consolation..."
"Dear Robert and Rachel, I was your son Mark's commanding officer. I know by now that you both have been informed about.."
"Dear Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, I was your daughter's commanding officer...."
"Dear Keth Leader Krel K'Gal, I was .."
"Dear Mr. Abbott..."
As she wrote on into the night, personally composing each letter of the over one hundred of her crew...her shipmates, the images of those who had been lost came back to her. In her mind's eye she could see the noble Zyvir, crumbled in a ruined hallway trapped under a fallen I-Beam as he fought to reach a wounded shipmate. She could see the ruined body of a spunky young tactical officer laying on the floor of sickbay, struck down as she fought to rescue her fellow starfleet officers. The crumbled body of Ensign Wilson laying on the deck of her bridge...before her own command chair...
These images were perfectly clear and joined the multitudes of images she had acquired throughout the war. To the responsibility of commanding a ship, she had long ago added the haunting and frightful baggage of remembering those who had been entrusted to her care and had died.
In all of her studies, all of her training both Imperial and while attending Starfleet Academy, nothing ever prepared her for this. She knew each commander was always left to deal with the images of their dead in his or her own way.
"Dear Mr. and Mrs...."
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Post by Commander John on Jun 27, 2011 17:09:19 GMT -5
The bond between ship and engineer is kin to that of parent and child and it is said that when a ship is lost no one person is more profoundly affected than her chief engineer. It is as if a part of them selves has been lost. The feeling has been described as one similar to when a child dies before their parent. You want nothing more than to trade places with them, to give your life so they may continue on. You find yourself wondering where it is you went wrong, what it is that you did that brought their time to an end. Even if you had nothing to do with their fate, you never stop blaming your self.
The almost demonic breathing echoed through the helmet of the EVA suit. John stood alone in the darkness of what was once a place of warm memories. As he stood at the jagged edge of a corridor on deck 12 looking out at the shattered remnants of the port nacelle, thought of how he had failed in his duties filled his head. He blinked his eyes hard fighting to control the tears as the pain built inside.
As a two meter jagged and scortched piece of hull drifted by he turned and slowly lumbered down the darkness of the corridor. The only light came from the lamps in his helmet and the padd in his hand. The echoing breaths remained ever present as a reminder to him that he was still alive. It made his pain ever more present as he moved through the corridor void of any signs of life.
A flash of light through a partially open door caught his eye and he lumbered towards it as he could. For a moment his thoughts leaped to the possibility of a survivor. The breathing fells silent for a moment as he strained to force the door open. After a moment of force it broke free and slid into its slot. John quickly stepped forward, but found nothing beneath his foot. The breathing grew rapid as he quickly flailed his arm’s to grab something, anything, to keep him from drifting away into space. Managing to grab some loose cabling he pulled him self against the battered ship and watched as his padd tumbled through space.
As he watched it his mind filled with thoughts of all the people who had been here working, doing their duties as the section was ripped from the ship. “Why wasn’t it me” he thought. “Why did they have to suffer for my failure”. The flicker of light caught his eye again as a worker bee spun around catching a piece of debris in its arm. He realized that must have been the light he saw through the cracked door.
Drawing what small bit of mental strength he had left, he refocused on finishing the damage report. With each comment and detail added to the report it became evermore a statement to just how much he had failed his ship, his crew, his love. With the magboots of his suit reengaged he sat against the wall opposite of the open door. “This can never be forgiven” he thought as a single tear ran down his cheek. He moved his hand to wipe it but it only struck the side of his helmet snagging the locking seal of his glove.
An alarm filled the helmet blocking out the breathing, “Warning depressurization detected”. He sat motionless just looking at his hand, “Maybe it is best if I die, at least then no one else well ever have to suffer because of my failures.” He looked back out at the space beyond the door as the warning message repeated it’s self for a moment before he pressed a button on the suit silencing it. In his mind the idea of simply fading away grew more present, “Its better for everyone” he thought as a light begin to flash on his suit. He knew what it meant, yet simply ignored it.
Talia’s familiar voice filled the helmets, and his heart seemingly stopped for a moment. “Commander, I’ve been assigned a temporary office, you may deliver your report here when it is finished.” Johns eyes began to fill with tears as he struggled to respond with a simple “Yes Captain”. As another light began to flash on his suit the tears came streaming form his eyes. All control had been lost as he could tell the air had grown thin and he slouched over.
A sudden feeling of strength found its way into his mind and he knew all to well what it was. His face became blank as his mind quickly processed it and in a sudden realization he grabbed as his wrist to relock the seal. “I can not hurt anyone else” he though. In that moment he remembered the bond, remembered she had to know what was going through his mind in this moment. Tears still filling his eyes, his mind fell into the realm he knew as a meditative state.
Surrounded by white he quickly found his emotions becoming less dominate, they became easier to control and manage with each breath. He stood and looked around for a moment wondering what had tripped his mind into a state which normally took hours for him to reach. “John” his name rang through the air echoing around him. He spun around looking for the voice. A figure began to emerge in a smoke wisped haze. As it grew more solid John quickly recognized the figure, finding himself in a state of shock. He name softly fell off his lips “Talia”
The figure smiled at him as it walked closer taking his hand. “You must be strong my Warrior”. John looked at her, his eyes dancing about her face as he tried to comprehend what as happening. He felt a cold soft hand on his chin as his head slowly began to droop. “John, I need you to be strong for me, I need you to be strong for us.” John’s eyes locked on hers as he looked deeply into them feeling the connection between them grow ever stronger. He slowly put his forehead to hers, “I will try”. She softly replied, “That is all that I ask”.
John’s eyes shot open as a bright light shined into them, he quickly moved his hand to block it. The light was angled down and as his eyes focused he could make out figure moving down the corridor too him. As it approached he could make out it was an Andorian officer. John looked curiously at him for a moment as he pointed to the back of his helmet then to his ear and then shook his head no. Some how, John found amusement in all of this. He motioned for the officer to turn around and saw something had damaged the officers EVA suit. Spinning him back around John shook his head no this time. The Andorian was attempting to mouth something out to John but it only confused him more, and the Andorina became very agitated and John could tell what he was now saying was anything but polite.
John decided the officer must have gotten lost and something had struck his helmet disabling his radio. He motioned for the officer to follow him and they headed into the darkness of the corridor ahead. John still found his thoughts lingering in the destruction he was sure was his fault, but somehow his emotions were under a tight short leash.
The once demonic breathing now soothed him as he went over what just happened in his mind. Not trying to make since of it, but wondering if it was simply his mind saving its self again, or if he and Talia were truly that connected. He remembered having stumbled into her dream once before, and he could not help but wonder if something similar was able to happen under her control.
The words though few severed to remind him he did his duty as best he could. Even if he had failed, the true test would be if he stood by them, or took the easy out. John still wished he had died instead of them, still wished he could trade places, but he had to accept that was not the case, and things could not be changed no matter how much he wished for it.
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Captain Talia
USS Adagio - NCC-99691-B
USS Adagio Captain
'Strength and Honor"
Posts: 1,752
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Post by Captain Talia on Jul 3, 2011 22:48:18 GMT -5
Slowly but surely she walked through the darkened rather large chamber. Beyond its white hued crystalline walls a brisk summer snow storm wailed and howled, a soft yet serene unearthly symphony.
She passed row upon row of cots, families huddled around one another sharing a meal, sending subspace messages to other far off families, or merely finally at rest. Among them a dark robed Andorian Relief worker pushed a cart of food and medicine.
Doctor's checked on children as a sprinkling of Starfleet officers moved here and there confirming names off of a checklist.
Tali was somewhat reassured now that she had made it down to the vast chamber her people had set aside for the Cernon refugees and some of the other displaced persons the Lady A had rescued from the occupation zone in Pi Canis.
"What was the name again Captain?" the soft spoken Aenar woman said.
"As I explained I do not know the name of the boy...nor his age" Talia's eyes never left each cot as she moved them from family to family, her arms clasped behind her back as if she were reviewing crewmen for an inspection. The only hint of her true feelings regarding this visit were her rapidly twitching antennae/
"I see...and this image I see through your eyes?" the Aenar inquired. "This is the young man you seek?"
Talia nodded "Indeed it is"
She stopped as she said it, there to her right sitting on the edge of the cot was the very boy she had been looking for. A little more tired and skinny than before but this was beyond a doubt the young human she had been looking for.
On the cot who's edge her was perched on was an older woman, pale but with the same color hair as the boy. As she watched the young boy reached over her and began tucking her blanket tighter around her.
"Its okay Mommy, Daddy will be right back" He said bravely. "He went to the 'chowder line' to get some food so you can take your medicine"
Talia watched with a degree of admiration for the young boy, the Aenar also observed quietly seeing through Talia's eyes.
"He is a brave one" the Aenar observed softly.
"He HAD to be" Talia nodded.
A older version of the boy arrived with a tray with three bowls of food and drinks. He smiled and said something to the boy that they were unable to hear. The boy however was less quiet than his father...
"She is still asleep daddy I was watching"
"Sssh Eric...don't wake her" His father admonished as he began to set up their tray.
"Eric Hamden..age 7...Father William and Mother Karen" the Aenar whispered to her "There is the one you sought Captain"
Talia nodded "I will just be a moment" she walked over, her hands still held behind her back as she approached the small family with a military like formality.
"William Hamden?" She said crisply.
Startled he looked up "Um ....Captain is it? Um..yes what is it captain? Can we help you?"
She looked to his wife and back to him "Your mate...she is being looked after well enough?"
William, still a little startled rose as little Eric sat closer to his mom as if to protect her from this tall blue stranger. Talia allowed herself yet another small thin smile as she noted that.
"Um yes....very much so...the strain of it was hard on her heart but yes she is expected to fully recover...she is just resting the doctors here gave her something to let her sleep..."
"Good" Talia nodded..."May I have a word with you son sir?"
William frowned slightly but found his curiosity won out and he nodded "Of course...he hasn't done anything wrong has he?"
"Me? " Eric stammered a little looking up to the big blue woman "You want to see me?"
Talia nodded her tone a little softer now "Yes indeed...I am in need of your help...will you help me" she remained standing, feeling that kneeling to this boy would be condescending and he might just resent it.
Eric's face lit up "Me ...help starfleet? Wow!" he stood and declared "Starfleet helped my mommy and daddy! Hows can I help?" He felt three times bigger than he actually was.
"I think I may have found something that was lost and wishes to be returned home" Tali said in a tone as if she was instructing an away team leader...though the tone was much, much softer.
William folded his arms over his chest as he watched this curious encounter with the Andorian officer and his small son.
"Okies! " Eric nodded over and over again "I promise if I can help I....I will try really really hard Capt'n..I promise"
Tali allowed a simple warm smile now as she said "You know a promise is a very big word...it is a very important word"
"Oh yes my Daddy tells me this all of the time..my Daddy says a promise is forever until you keep it"
Tali nodded "My fathers told me this as well young one...and awhile ago i made a promise to you..." she pointed a finger down at him."...To you, Eric Hamden"
He big brown eyes opened like morning glories "ME?" He gasped.
Behind Talia the older Aenar woman smiled.
Talia nodded, her antennae swishing to and fro now as she regarded the young boy. "Indeed...I believe young man this belongs to you" with that she extended her right arm with a cleaned up and repaired Teddy Bear in her hand.
Eric's eyes watered a little and his bottom lip trembled as he stared in shock at his old friend, a friend he clearly had thought forever lost.
"Bear bear?" He said as he lunged for the lost toy to reclaim it in a powerful hug. "OH YOU FOUND HIM... YOU FOUND HIM!!!"
"Eric" his mother said sleepily "What is wrong?"
"Mommy look Bear Bear is back!" Eric showed her the cleaned up but obviously love-worn bear.
"Oh Honey I am so happy for you" she reached up and hugged her son as tightly as he was holding Bear bear. Her eyes found Talia standing there, almost regal in her pressed uniform and skirt, she mouthed a silent 'Thank you' and added a weary yet relieved smile.
Talia nodded and turned to go thanking the older Aenar woman as she passed her.
She got a few rows away when she heard...
"Captain....Captain?"
She turned to find William stadning there, he had run after her.
"Yes Mr. Hamden?" She canted her head to the side as she regarded him.
"It was you, wasn't it? The one who commanded that ship....the one that came after us all?"
Talia hesitated but eventually nodded ever so slightly.
"I am ...I mean..I..." William fought for the right words, a speech he had perhaps prepared now gone in the moment. he surrendered and just added a choked. "Thank you...for my family...all of us ..I...mean.."
Talia held up her hand and smiled a little "I will pass that on to my crew sir...you have a brave little boy and a beautiful family...and right now they need you."
William nodded "Yeah they are terrific aren't they?" he added with a soft chuckle.."Still though...thank you Captain"
Talia smiled softly and bowed her head and dipped her antennae to him and then turned and walked outside into the soft summer snow.
William watched her until the doors closed, he shook his head after a moment and smiled, returning to his wife and son. Eric was already showing off Bear bear to his friends, happy his friend had returned and very proud of the Starfleet symbol of the 22nd Mobile Fleet patch the bear now bore on his tummy to patch the repair work after his recovery on Cernon.
Outside the shelter a soft blanket of summer snow began to fill in the footprints left just outside the door. The wind continued to howl its soft yet ethereally beautiful chorus as the Sun began to set just above the high glaciers.
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Captain Talia
USS Adagio - NCC-99691-B
USS Adagio Captain
'Strength and Honor"
Posts: 1,752
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Post by Captain Talia on Jul 9, 2011 8:04:53 GMT -5
"Computer Time please" Lieutenant Jessica Tracey said as she entered into her temporairly quarters located in the resident wing of the Andorian Shipyards.
"The time is currently 0230 hrs..." The simple monotone female voice droned back to her.
She skirted the coffetable in the center of the living area and just dropped down onto the couch with a weary sigh. She unzipped her uniform jacket and kicked off her boots, pulling her legs up to rest beside her as she got comfortable for the first time in many long hours.
"Ugh 230 in the very very AM...God .." she reached up and lightly rubbed the bridge of her nose. It had only been two weeks since their return and her wounds had healed though her shoulder was still stiff. Her watchesnow seemed to take forever as the Lady A...or more to the point what was left of her was in her final days of inspection prior to her final disposition.
Jessica could not help but to feel what theothers were leaving unspoken. The grim mood of the remaining crew said it enough. They were basically all still in mourning. She had envied most of the crew, though they had not been offically released by 6th Fleet Command, their captain had ordered shore leave restricted to in system for the majority of the crew who were not required for this 'skeleton watch'.
She leaned her head back and tried to close her eyes but the sounds and sights of the last 2 months awaited her. So short a time that had felt like ages...another life now..two full months of combat duty behind the lines...no support...no reinforcements...
Just them...she smirked and repeated a phrase many of the crew kept uttering. "You need the impossible done?....by when?"
She chuckled to herself in the dark for most crews it would've seemed a dark joke..but for the crew of the Lady A...well just point them in the right direction and they would return with 'impossible' wrapped up in a nice pretty bow.
She sighed, so many lost though this time. How does the captain deal with this she wondered. As sleep tugged at her once more she turned to the screen on the end table nearest the couch.
"Computer any messages, Tracey, Jessica?"
"One Message"
She smirked "Please return to the bridge...yes sir Mr Scott sir...or Yes Captain..." she giggled at her joke that only exhaustion would make amusing. "Computer play message"
She looked up at the ceiling of her room as her thoughts drifted to what might happened to her if either of those two had heard her little joke when the music began..a simple guitar and drum beat...so agonizingly familiar she wiped her head back down to the screen...
Simple words greeted her : For Jessie...
A simple Picture, a freeze frame of her beloved sat facing her as the music began..
I'm comin' home, I've done my time Now I've got to know what is and isn't mine If you received my letter tellin' you I'd soon be free Then you'll know just what to do if you still want me If you still want me
She blinked and clasped a hand over her mouth as she felt the corner of her eyes sting as the simple picture of him disolved into a video tour of their apartment back in San Franciso...
Tie a yellow ribbon 'round the old oak tree It's been three long years Do you still want me? If I don't see a ribbon round the old oak tree I'll stay on the bus Forget about us Put the blame on me If I don't see a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree
She felt a sob choke off in her throat as the video tour moved out to their balcony overlooking Angel Island and part of the bay. a soft morning mist was rising off of the water. She reached out and touched the screen lightly with just her finger tips...
Bus driver, please look for me 'Cause I couldn't bear to see what I might see I'm really still in prison, and my love she holds the key A simple yellow ribbon's what I need to set me free I wrote and told her please:
The balcony shot disolved into an old child photo of herself from elementary school. The very first day with her mother beside her holding her hand, then to a summer vacation where she was being taught to dive by her father. She next watched as a prom picture followed by her in her high school graduation cap and gown. She felt a single tear slip down her cheek as a proud first year cadet stared back her followed by a shared picture of both him and her at their first jazz festival.
She shook her head in disbelief with both hands now folded before her she watched on...
Tie a yellow ribbon 'round the old oak tree It's been three long years Do you still want me? If I don't see a ribbon round the old oak tree I'll stay on the bus Forget about us Put the blame on me If I don't see a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree
She could feel her soft tears but she was beyond caring as more pictures of her life passed by on the screen, her best friends Donna and Lisa, 'Crewman' Skipper sent home by her prior to the mission to keep him safe, a pizzaria she used to go to all of the time while at the academy....and then her jaw dropped..
Now the whole damn bus is cheering And I can't believe I see
The screen exploded with cheers and applause from a rather large group of people out in front of their shared apartment complex. He was right there in the middle of her mother and father, her father had Crewman Skipper on his red leash and as she watched she could pick out Donna and Lisa...their neighbors and his fellow coworkers, even the owner of the pizzaria, his wife and a few of her employees...all of them cheering and clapping...
A hundred yellow ribbons 'round the old oak tree I'm comin' home
It took but only a second to finally recognize each and everyone one of them was holding a yellow ribbon tied into a bow. Her eyes fell into his as he stood there surrounded by everyone they knew as he stood there with a hand painted sign that simply read :
"WELCOME HOME JESSIE!"
tie a ribbon round the old oak tree tie a ribbon round the old oak tree tie a ribbon round the old oak tree
She laughed and touched the screen, her tears running down her cheeks freely now.
tie a ribbon round the old oak tree tie a ribbon round the old oak tree tie a ribbon round the old oak tree
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Captain Talia
USS Adagio - NCC-99691-B
USS Adagio Captain
'Strength and Honor"
Posts: 1,752
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Post by Captain Talia on Aug 2, 2011 4:33:06 GMT -5
I hope you all enjoy this Final Goodbye to the Lady A This Piece of Music is to accompany the following scene >[/i] Talia stood in the center of the now cold heart of yet another beloved ship. Her consoles were now dark and silent, their seats as empty as the crippled cruiser now was. The proud Andorian sighed softly, her antennae drooped gently as she let her eyes roam across what had yet again been her only world. The vicious dark scars of the Lady A's long ordeal and desperate final battle still marred the steel gray walls of the once mighty bridge. The bridge's lights were dimmed now to conserve power and cast soft, silent shadows over a place where her defiant and noble crew had fought to save lives, to strike deeply behind enemy lines and disrupt the Klingon war effort. Her crew had long since departed as her once lovely lady of the stars now rested in her final berth. "To be decommissioned in lieu of a refit..." , the final orders had read. Surely it was a fitting fate for such a proud and noble lady of the stars, sent out to accomplish the impossible and overcoming all odds to return her crew home. She had valiantly soared through the dark of space, to explore, to defend...to protect. Talia slowly walked around the rail of Ansari's tactical post, running her fingers over the darkened arch, the shadows whispered to her, the echos of her commands and orders from missions past. She could hear the red alert sound in the distance, many times over. She thought, if she tried hard enough she could almost even hear the voices of her crew, responding bravely in the heat of combat. "So often we called upon your grace my dearest lady" Talia whispered to the dark with no small amount of pride in her voice. "You were always there, without fail for us" She slowly walked around to stand behind her broken captain's chair, leaning on its broken back gently, her antennae curling inwardly "You never let us us down...never once. You fought with the feorcity of a Toar'taugh, always with the grace of swan" Her eyes fell upon the darkened view-screen before her and she closed her eyes, softly reciting an old poem she had once heard. With love burning in her saddened heart she shared her deepest feelings with yet another fallen beloved fallen lady, just one more time... I dreamt it last night, Your last farewell So real Still now I feel your kiss on my lips Your hand warm as it cups my cheek Fingers ghosting, that Familiar trail of heat. My memories of you are few Slowly fading away. The words I want to use seem selfish And I have no others to say With my silence you turn You have no reason to stay Passion shadows your footsteps And mystery guides your hand I want to ask you to stay But you were never mine to have Too much too soon Unfortunately too late To wake from this dream And realize it's gone...
"Captain" A gentle voice called out from the shadows behind her. "It's time" She opened her eyes, though keeping them fixed on her empty bridge. "I ...know" A mighty fist closed tightly around her heart as she whispered to the shadows of her now silent bridge, a single silent tear fell from her eyes. "Thank you my lady...On my honor, I shall never forget" She then drew a single breath to compose herself and turned to face the young Cadet, her face proper and stone now. "Shall we?" Acting Ensign T'Ruri solemnly nodded. "Yes Ma'am, your runabout to Earth awaits." Talia nodded and then turned to stroll stiff, yet proudly to the turbolift, waited for the Vulan Flight Officer to enter beside her. T'Ruri waited a moment before canting her head slightly observing her besfore she inquired softly "Captain are you..." Talia smiled, her voice strong yet laced with a gentle sadness "Lay her i' the earth: And from her fair and unpolluted flesh, May violets spring" With a raised eyebrow T'Ruri asked curiously. "Ma'am?" Her Captain looked to her as she added quietly "Laertes, Hamlet act five scene one" T'Ruri frowned slightly and inquired "Shakespear?" Talia drew yet another breath, and tried not to show the shiver running through her as she merely nodded and called out "Shuttlebay" The turbolift doors slipped close with a hissing snap, carrying away its passengers to their destination, leaving the bridge only to silence, and to memory. < ...And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. Horatio, Hamlet Act V Scene II Goodbye to yet another beloved Lady- Talia >[/b]
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Captain Talia
USS Adagio - NCC-99691-B
USS Adagio Captain
'Strength and Honor"
Posts: 1,752
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Post by Captain Talia on Aug 14, 2011 5:19:57 GMT -5
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Captain Talia
USS Adagio - NCC-99691-B
USS Adagio Captain
'Strength and Honor"
Posts: 1,752
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Post by Captain Talia on Oct 11, 2011 4:20:38 GMT -5
She stood silently in the stygian darkness that surrounded her, bathed in shadows of her ready room. Soft blue-ish light illuminated what it could from the various LCARS displays still running around her, as if striving to reach out to her as she stood silently by the room's only window. Out beyond the darkly reflected surface, her eyes swam in the vast emptiness that surrounded the old Cardassian station. Her mind unable to focus as she battle the tumultuous emotions that swelled deeply within her. She had returned from a duty she had embraced without question and had performed as she always had and returned home with her mission accomplished. She had left under a great deal of emotional stress, torn between several factors since the rescue of her once beloved Teros, her strong and confidant mate, the only of the three she had lost to return alive to her. Though culturally and emotionally still tied to who he once was and may yet become, it had sent ripples of emotion throughout her new life, threatening to sever ties with one she had come to love...shutting doors on other possibilities... She returned to this as she had expected too, only to discover more had been taken... So, we'll go no more a-roving So late into the night, Though the heart be still as loving And the moon be still as bright.
Her beloved Lady A was retooled and restructured and now had to be restored. She in her heart understood the need of the Admiral's mission and knew this was necessary for the war effort to stall the Klingons offensive attempts, yet she could not bear to see her lady gutted once more as the repairs began to restore her to her former grace... More to this her Executive Officer was now gone, the Strong Young officer she had chosen from the ranks to stand beside her , to learn to lead and grow into Command. The very officer who had rode into battle during the Pi Canis operation beside of her was now gone...transferred to another command...to another fleet. She forced her eyes shut tightly and drew a deep breath. She understood the reasons behind this, understood its necessity and yet could not conceal the rage within her, to lose something else so dear to her...to have something else taken...to know both Chase and her littlest crewman Melody was sure to follow... More loss... For the sword outwears its sheath And the soul wears out the breast And a heart must pause to breathe And love itself have rest. So many taken from her even in their return, she can still see the metal grafted to his skin even now as she mentally pictures Teros from long ago, the thought that Sharen and Shrell may be out there now ..forever trapped within a cube... How could she not go to look? Try to rescue her loves, if one still breathed then surely the other two might. She trembles as she holds her place in that window, knowing full well it is the one thing she can not do... She is needed here...she now belongs here. It is why she is not beside Teros as he lays in coma in the rehabilitation center, it is why she does not go to John to assure him....or dash his dreams of a future. It is why she does not fight Scott's transfer... She is needed here...she now belongs here. Her place is beside the Lady she commands, the very lady that requires her presence, to provide for her crew, her beloved keth. They must come first, they must be seen too first and never see their captain's rage nor regret. This is where she belongs... She opens her eyes finally to return them to the stars beyond and takes in each star, knowing each one was a whispered promised future of happiness or escape. Possible futures she can have no part in, no matter how tempting they sing to her. She is needed here...she now belongs here. Though the night was made for loving And the day returns too soon, Yet, we'll go no more a-roving By the light of the moon.
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Captain Talia
USS Adagio - NCC-99691-B
USS Adagio Captain
'Strength and Honor"
Posts: 1,752
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Post by Captain Talia on Dec 27, 2011 15:28:50 GMT -5
The was quiet tonight, as quiet as she had been since Talia had first taken command of the mamoth vessel. The cooridor lights were now dimmed to simulate the effects of the day night schedule to accomodate most of the species of her crew. A soft and almost sad reverence seemed to seep into the atmosphere around her as she returned to her quarters from her shift on the bridge.
For two nights now the Lady A had been docked at Earth Space Dock, returning as all of the other 'Defenders of Defera' had, to a hero's welcome. Such a welcome is indeed deserved Talia had thought with a small degree of matenal bitterness as she thought of the lives she had lost under her command. How bravely they had all fought....
It should be a hero's welcome, she had thought as she stood before her command chair. For we have paid for such a ceremony with our dearest blood...
She had waited to do this final duty of her command after the last of the wounded had been transfered to ESD for treatment or had been returned to duty. She had waited until the last of the fallen had been sent back to their families for their final rest. She had waited for the last damage control report from Lieutenants Meelok and Konmal.
She had waited until Commander Binet and the two had begun to repair her beloved Lady A and now with all under her command taken care of, her final duty as always awaited her. As always this was the one duty that she had dreaded. The final responsiblity of any good or decent commander who had ever lost men and women that they had lead into battle. Down through the centuries and across many worlds Talia now was bound in blood with this final act to her command kin.
For this was the one task that could not be delegated, nor handed off to her Yeoman as some officers seemed to be able to do. She had known these people, they were her keth, as much a part of her ship as the ship itself. They deserved ...no their sacrifice demanded such personal action from her.
This was her duty and hers alone...
The cooridors were largely empty at this late hour, she had placed the ship on half watch and long ago stood her weary crew down. Deep within the quiet ship her crew slept or found what rest they could as only those personnel required for minimal security and to assist the shipyard engineering teams remained posted on duty board her crippled starship.
Lieutenant Commander Ryan Carter had insisted on taking the first shift tonight, playfully adding that her 'Ladyship' was long overdue for a night of rest. She had barely caught the glimmer of humor in the hardened officer's eyes. He was in many ways much like an andorian himself, a harsh but fair officer. She had taken to him quikly after Kylan had transfered.
He had been correct though, it was time for her to stand down from watch.
A night of rest however... Talia could only smirk as she entered her darkerned quarters and moved to her desk. She sat there in the twilight darkness for a long moment as she recounted her last few hours of her watch.
She had spent most of the night visiting each member of her crew that still lay in the ship's sickbay and those who had been transfered over to Earth Space Dock's Hospital wards. She let those she could know how proud she had been of each of them, how much she respected each of their efforts. Even now as she sat alone in the dark, in her silent quarters, she still felt a surge of pride in her crew. The fire and determination of their spirit and their courage made them so very special to her.
She gently selected a few PADD's and began her sad final task. There in the quiet of the night with no noise except the soft cooing of the computer system she began to compose letters to the families of her crew who had fallen in battle.
"Dear Mr. and Mrs. Ackerman, I am sure by now you have recieved the dreaful news about the loss of your son Robert. I want you to know I was your son's commanding officer. You will have been informed by now, I am sure that Robert died bravely in battle. While this is small consolation for the grief you must feel, I wanted you to know that your son died performing his duties in a manner befitting the fine officer he was. Robert died protecting those who were unable to protect themselves. I wanted you to know he died quickly and did not suffer...he will be remembered and honored by the shipmates he sought to protect and by those who's lives he saved...I will never forget him. I had only known your son for short time..but those of us who did know him were always encouraged by his energy and his infectious laugh. He will be missed and you have my deepest condolences...."
"Dear Yvara, Haakor, Stavia and Bria, as you know I was your daughter's commanding officer. Our Keths are long time allies and close friends. It is important for you all to know that Yala died facing her enemies bravely and took many of them with her before she fell. I know such talk of bravery does not fill the deep loss you all feel for you daughter..."
"Dear Mrs. Roberts, I was your husband's David's commanding officer. I know by now that you both have been informed about.."
"Dear Mr. and Mrs. Washington, I was your daughter's commanding officer...."
"Dear Ambassador Ca'reth, I was your offspring's commanding officer..."
"Dear Mr and Mrs. Davenport, I was your son's commanding officer..."
"Dear M'tira, I was your younger brother's commanding officer..."
"Dear Z'ven Kala, I was your mate's commanding officer..."
"Dear Stonn and T'Rala, I was your daughter's commanding officer..."
As she wrote on deep into the night, personally composing each letter of the over three hundred of her crew...her shipmates, the images of those who had been lost came back to her.
In her mind's eye she could see the fallen body of a young medic, crumbled in a ruined hallway, her broken body cast aside by the Borg Intruders as she had fought to reach a wounded shipmate. She could see the ruined body of a laying atop a pile of bodies nd rubbe in from of her battle bridge, struck down as he fought to keep the Borg from entering the ACCI Command and Control Center. The crumbled body of Ensign Ackerman still clutching his phaser rifle, its power cell completely drained...
These images were perfectly clear and joined the many images she had acquired throughout her career as a Starship Captain. To the responsibility of commanding a ship, she had long ago added the haunting and frightful baggage of remembering those who had been entrusted to her care and had died.
In all of her studies, all of her training both Imperial and while attending Starfleet Academy, nothing ever prepared her for this. She knew each commander was always left to deal with the images of their dead in his or her own way. To ease what grief she could to those who had entrusted their loved ones to her...
...and to hope someday they and those who had died under her command could forgive...
"Dear Mr. and Mrs...."
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Captain Talia
USS Adagio - NCC-99691-B
USS Adagio Captain
'Strength and Honor"
Posts: 1,752
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Post by Captain Talia on Jan 9, 2012 5:01:14 GMT -5
It was finally over...
She had grown to hate and loath such ceremony, to dread the formality that such decoram insisted upon. It was necessary, she understood this, to reward the actions of bravery...of sacrifice. They had spilled their blood for her, many of them had paid the highest price.
It had to be recognized, it deserved and demanded respect.
For that reason she had always saw to it that each step of the awards ceremonies she had overseen for her crews had been by the book, and that each action was acknowledged and respected.
She too collected such ribbons, though deep down and late at night she found herself wondering if she collected them for the same reasons as the others.
For Talia, she collected them so she would never forget. even now here in her quarters she could see each of their faces. Each forever silent face gazing out at her from the deep shadows of her cabin.
It was for them she did this.
Each night after such a ceremony, she would await until the last of the celebrations. She would see to it all of the final watch were secure and on duty. It was only then that she would return to her cabin....to the book.
It was an old book, and though an alien one she found its words to be as strong as any of those in her native Andorian.
She fastened her tunic, smoothing the material of her dress uniform. Making sure each award, every ribbon and medal was in its proper place in the small wooden box on the table near her cabin's large window. Only then would she pick up the book, and read from a page long ago selected for this purpose...
There alone in the dark she recited the same words she had so many times in the past. Her soft words filtering through the dark shadows of her room as she read from the time worn page..
Have you forgotten yet?... For the world’s events have rumbled on since those gagged days, Like traffic checked while at the crossing of city-ways: And the haunted gap in your mind has filled with thoughts that flow Like clouds in the lit heaven of life; and you’re a man reprieved to go, Taking your peaceful share of Time, with joy to spare.
Her antennae swished lightly in the air as she carefully cradled the book in her hands. Her voice soft and reverent yet firm in its conviction.
But the past is just the same-and War’s a bloody game... Have you forgotten yet?... Look down, and swear by the slain of the War that you’ll never forget.
Do you remember the dark months you held the sector at Mametz– The nights you watched and wired and dug and piled sandbags on parapets? Do you remember the rats; and the stench Of corpses rotting in front of the front-line trench- And dawn coming, dirty-white, and chill with a hopeless rain? Do you ever stop and ask, ‘Is it all going to happen again?’
A soft tremble shuddered through her, her jaw now set as if stone as she looked from the page now, reciting by rote words long ao burned into her memory. A silent vow to those she had failed, those who she was unable to keep her promise to. Her eys held the glittering stars that danced distantly in the vast sygian darkness beyond the glass...
Do you remember that hour of din before the attack– And the anger, the blind compassion that seized and shook you then As you peered at the doomed and haggard faces of your men? Do you remember the stretcher-cases lurching back With dying eyes and lolling heads—those ashen-grey Masks of the lads who once were keen and kind and gay?
She swallowed tightly but continued through clentched teeth now, fiercely ending the poem, defiantly searing the words once more into her thoughts...
Have you forgotten yet?... Look up, and swear by the green of the spring that you’ll never forget.
She closed her eyes tightly as a single tear slipped free to fall across her cool cerulean cheek. She closed the book carefully and held it to her chest and drew a long deep breath. She lowered her head, and dipped her antennae in respect to those who had died under her command. In her mind's eye she could see each of their faces. She could recite the entire litany of names, more than three hundred of them this time.
She opened her eyes and returned her gaze fiercely to the star beyond and utterly a final promise to those she had failed.
"I will not forget...I will never forget"
With one more deep breath, she contained the surging force of emotion within her. Reigned in the violence her upbringing and nature demanded and refocused it to the tasks ahead that awaited her and her 'keth'and ship.
Talia permitted herself to look down at the old worn leather cover of the book...
"The Collected Poems of Siegfried Sassoon"
She gently closed the wooden box containing her vast collection of awards and closed the lid on them. Silently she picked up the box and moved to her personal safe and placed it within. With the care of handling an ancient relic she softly placed the old book atop the box and then closed the safe, securing it.
She paused only a moment longer and turned to prepare to turn in herself. It was done, the final act of a continuous play she was cast in. It was her job, to lead them out into the dangers of the stars, to lead them into such danger so others did not have to and they had fallen for the Federation... They had fallen for her ship...They had fallen for her.
The least she could, the least she could ever do was to never forget.
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Captain Talia
USS Adagio - NCC-99691-B
USS Adagio Captain
'Strength and Honor"
Posts: 1,752
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Post by Captain Talia on Jan 12, 2012 5:50:12 GMT -5
"Just a few moments if I may Doctor"
"Ofcourse Captain, please take as long as you need." Dr. Susan Simms said quietly, her tone as soft and reverent as if she were within a holy temple. She looked at the Andorian Zhen as she stared into the 'recovery' room door's only window. The Doctor was struck by the almost regal air of nobility and saddness that seemed to surrounded the Starfleet Officer. She had ofcourse checked the records of this officer when the offical notice had come of this 'visit'. So few made the journey out this far and ever fewer were cleared these days. Especially in light of the 'insurection' from a few months back.
Dr. Simms sighed softly herself, the fact that yet another stigma had been attaced to her facility caused her heart to tighten. She was aware of just who this patient was to the Captain, as much as she was aware of just how important an officer this Zhen was.
"I only need a few moments" The doctor's sigh seemed to have broken whatever trance she had been in. "Please excuse me"
"Ofcourse Captain, I can be reached through the primary nurses station" Dr. Simms added even as the zhen moved into the room.
Talia drew a soft breath as the door gently hissed shut behind her. Her antenna curled inwardly, rigid and tight. She slowly walked over to the silent form that lay on the room's only bed The only sound in the white chamber was the sound of the machine that maintained the patients life support played their soft electronic symphony.
"Teros" She breathed as much said the word as she reached out for his hand. "Im here" Her heart was tight in her chest, her stomach in knots. She loathed to see him like this, for he was always considered the strongest of her quad.
Teros was her protector, the quad's sword arm to her shield. She smiled as she recalled the names they had been given by Shrell. He had gone on to name her beloved Sharen as the heart and ofcourse he the brains...but she and Teros had always been the warriors.
All through the academy, Teros had looked after her. Ys it was true she thought. She always had Solia and Susan to go to as her friends but in the field excersises it had always been Teros who she had partnered with.
She smiled a little as she moved a bit closer, remembering how often they worked so well together, even going back to their days with the Imperial Guard, long before Starfleet.
She felt her eyes grow moist as she looked at each of the nuSkin patches all along his chest and arm, she followed one all the way down to the stump where his right forearm had once been. The patches remained still on his stong warrior facial features, marring what had once been her Adonis, her strength.
"Lor'Vela Teros" She swallowed. "What have they done to you....look at us now my lov..my dear" She lightly reached out to caress his cheek gently.
"I mean here you are....defeated and taken and yet when it mattered you still snatched victory out of defeat ....you beat them back for me" She closed her eyes as she remembered the titanic struggle he underwent on the viewscreen of the Adagio as he learned who commanded it.
"For your victory now....for months you lay like this....for me." She drew her breath. "And now look at me, a Starfleet Captain...yes me. The command of a wonderful...a beautiful Lady of the Stars."
Teros could only listen to her, she hoped as she continued "I am no longer what you once knew me as....that part of me died when they took you all from me....so what awaits you now? When you awaken what will you find after all of these years?"
"I have found someone else after all of you, someone who has stood beside me through all of the pain, death and victories since Vega...someone who tradition now has me hold at arm's length...but who is as dear to me as the three of you were"
She smiled "I think you would like him Teros, he is in many ways like you, even for a human. He is strong and a warrior...which he has proved many times in battle by my side"
"I've a new Keth, Teros-atar" she said her pet name for him softly as if a whisper to a slumpering love. "A new love more powerful than any we shared, one I do not regret...the very love Sharen always said she wanted....a starship."
She looked adoringly down to his prone form as she continued her deep confession. "I can not do without it...as if this has been what I have always been. I know this is not what I was when you ....before you..."
She swallowed as a soft tear slipped over her azure cheek "What you fought the Borg so hard for ....may not be what you saved. I am no longer the Zhen you sought to protect. Will you understand that if you wake up?"
She gingerly cupped his cheek "Can you understand that?" She lightly squeezed his cheek. "I know I am under tradition to remain here....to be by your side until you awaken...but I truly can not"
She swallowed tightly once more "My Lady needs me and Ive only so much time left before I must return to her. Know this however my dearest Teros...I paid them back for you...for the others and will continue to do so...as much as I am allowed."
"But I can not stay by you...I no longer live for just you, My Lady needs me as much as I need her. So I must say good bye again for now"
Tears now covered her cheeks, falling lightly across his white blanket. "I will return as much and as often as I am able while you lie in this state...but you must continue your fight alone for now Teros...you must find your way back"
She leaned down to lightly bestow a soft kiss across his lips, a kiss of farewell until she would be premitted to return. "I must go Teros...please understand...she needs me and I need her."
Talia reached into her tunic and brought out the small brown wooden box she had carried in. She opened it and took the red triangular medal from within. She softly laid her own medal on her mate's pillow, pinning it to the soft material. The Legion of Honor medal gleamed in the room's single light. She stepped back a little, her highest award was now her gift to him for his courage and bravery.
"I know it was not your fault, you are the bravest warrior I've ever known...this is for what you did for me and for my ship. I will never forget"
She then turned to walk out her heart thudding within her chest. She paused at the door for just a moment and whispered back "Fight on Teros....fight on"
Without another word she left the room and returned to her shuttle. While inside the little white room, the machine that kept her mate alive hummed and chirped gently.
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Post by Commander John on Feb 5, 2012 20:22:42 GMT -5
A Leader Reborn
Day 1 (Siku at Play)
The day had been long, emotions ran high, and it was with no small amount of self conflict that John remind by Talias side as the evening turned into night. Despite the captain headed towards a full recovery, there was still a since of concern in everyone's actions. John knew well enough that none of them would openly admit it, but to see their captain laying there, ran a shiver down there spines. Not long after he felt the ship leap into warp, a deck hand brought him the items which he had been striped of several long hours before. Without hesitation John holstered his pistol, and slid back the mechanism on his rifle to ensure a round was in the chamber and ready to fire. The sharp clink filled the room as the rifle chamber slammed shut. A few of the nurses were startled by the sound, but to John it was second nature. He leaned the rifle against the bed, and noded to the deck hand. "Thank you Crewman". The deck hand paused for a moment to look onto his captain before heading out to return to his duties. John never left, nor slept the entire time. His only change of focus was to fill out a report on his padd which he knew starfleet would require in the morning.
Crewman Ryan Diz, Jack Tanner, Krysty Ryan, Dean Tanner and Petty Officer Ricahrd Asleford stared out of the large window on DS9 as the Adagio creeped up to the docking pylon. The larger class ships did not often make a physical dock with DS9, in part due to there size, and the required skill it too to navigate such a large vessel though the holding traffic that orbited the station at any given time. Luckily for the Adagio, Ensign Truri was arguably the best pilot in the sector. With out much challenge at all, she guided the ship through the traffic and into position at the designated upper pylon. The five enlisted team members could not help but to marvel at the shear size of the ship. DS9 made most ships seem small, but not the Adagio. She was a class of her own, not bulky, but not slender either. She had a certain amount of grace that had been lost in more recent ship design.
Jack gaze out the window as the Adagio swooped overhead. "Damn that ship is big". he looked back to his brother, and you got lost at Fort Jackson. His brother just stared at him with a smirk. Petty Officer Richard Asleford bent down and picked up his duffel. "Okay grab your crap and lets go". The rest of them did, and they made there way to the lift across the balcony. The five of them stood in silence as the doors whined closed. Krysty eventually broke the silence "I heard that this commander we are reporting too was the chief engineer until recently, and that he is only the first officer because of his seniority" A smug expression flashed across Jack's face " Just what we need, soem grease monkey telling a soldier how to do their job". The others smiled and laughed, all of them except for Richard. Unlike the rest he did not say much. That in its self is why he was put in charge, not because he knew what he was doing, but more than he never objected to anything. He was a good member of starfleet by any definition, but that is not always enough. In fact it is never enough to jsut be a good member of starfleet if you serve aboard the Adagio. The ship, and a large part of its crew had been to hell and back, more than once. They had been stuck in other dimensions, ordered into enemy space on missions to their death, and even a Q had taken to them as a form of twisted amusement. To be part of the Adagio family, you had to be far more than a good member of starfleet.
From inside the docking pylon you could not imagine the vastness of the ship. You might as well have been in a large underground base, as all you could see ahead was more corridors. While the Adagio was far from standard on a technological standpoint, her corridors were laid out similar to any galaxy class. Krysty, who lived on one as a child, quickly found it familiar and took the lead "this way, we have to go down three more junctions then take a left, the trubolift at the end of the hall will take us to the lounge where they said we could wait" The others simply followed along, almost as if in a trance. For all the fierceness Krysty was as a soldier, she was not without beauty. It was in fact this beauty that worked as a distraction for her opponents. It was also something of a desire for the men of the team. She was quite open about it, and even told then what she wanted, but none of them could ever quite be the man she desired.
The lift doors swooshed open just in time for the team to file out and catch a glance of someone down the hall near sick bay. He was a tall man, he was out right filthy looking. No part of him was without some form of dirt or dust. Dean subtlety pointed with his hand "What kind of weapon is that?" The others continued to stare, Ryan noticing that Krysty had become a bit giddy as she looked onto the man. With officers and other crew becoming a bit agitated that the team was blocking the hall way, they moved on towards the lounge. Before any of them got close enough to see the mans face he disappeared back into sickbay. The mood in the lounge was one of high spirits, not moments before docking a ship wide broadcast was made letting everyone know the Captain was awake, and already demanding to leave. To the crew it meant everything was going to be fine. To the newcomers, they began to view the ship as some form of party barge. They were not use to this many people of different divisions and rank carrying on. At Fort Jackson, there was an enlisted mess, and an officers mess, and it was forbidden to intermingle. They managed to find a secluded table and all sat together looking out the large bay window onto DS9. Krysty showed up at the table with a few acquired drinks which she handed out before slumping into a chair. She stared into each of them for a moment, "Why cant you be like that guy?" she sucked on her bottom lip for a moment, "He could get me dirty anytime" Dean and jack almost simultaneously chocked on there drinks, Ryan simply smiled, and Richard looked a bit more serious. "One thing is for sure, that is the man we should be reporting too, not some damned", he paused for a moment looking around at the crowed lounge, realizing he needed to choose his words carefully "than some non com type." Ryan leaned forward, "Who ever is in that sickbay he cares for a great deal" Jack, not choking any longer, glared at him "One of your feelings again" he chuckled for a moment. Krysty glared at him, "well maybe if you had some feelings you could get me in bed too" Ryan simply smiled as Jack became pale faced, not knowing how to respond. While none of them knew for sure, rumor was Ryan and Krysty had known each other before basic training, and that there was something between them. Krysty often used it as a point to bring up when Jack became cynical of the others. She knew how much he desired her, and she knew because of it, she had a great deal of control over him. Dean, calming himself form laughing at his twin brother, made his own observation "Well what ever the case, were stuck with this guy, so we will just have to try and break him in as best we can"
While every Officer, and most enlisted crew headed for space had some type of training in other areas, that was not the case with this team. They had been destined for a life of gorund based security at one of starfleets offices on Vulcan or andoria or even earth. They were taught very specific skills, and those skills were focused in there mind. Its not that they thought themselves the best security had to offer, but what the hell did some engineer know about security or ground combat. They thought on it for silence, exchanging a few witty remarks here and there. All of them focused on the idea that someone else was going to be telling them how to do a job they had no understanding of. Eventually a few hours passed, and the lounge slowly emptied, returning to its normal compliment of a few dozen people. Jack mumbled, "Hey that reddie is headed for us". All of them turned and watched as a Ensign handed a padd to Richard. "The Xo asked i bring this to you" Ricahrd noded to him and took the padd.
The padd listed information on where the team would be residing, and their privileges aboard ship. It included a brief description of there assignment, and noted that they were to report to the hanger deck, in full combat gear at 0500. Richard had to read it twice to make sure, but it also stated that the Xo would meet them on hte hanger deck at 0600. Richard passed the padd around to the others. Dean stared at the padd before handing it on to the next. "If hes not going to be there to 0600, im not either" The rest of them agreed, and it immediately became the first moment of what was to become a grave underestimation of one Commander John Binet.
As John sat in the sickbay, typing out the message to the team he knew was waiting. it never occurred to him that the next morning at 0400 he would be stuck arguing with DS9 about several feild coils for their damaged Argo. He still had not been to his quarters yet, with a lack of sleep, and the all to familiar feeling of his combat gear, he did not even think about his appearance. It was only because Talia was now paceing around sickbay that he willed himself to leave. As he left it actually gave him comfort to see her so frustrated. It reminded him that she was fine now. After finally bribing the frengi with several bottles of authentic Romulan Ale, he secured the parts and was able to return to the ship. Realizing it was now well past 0600 he grabbed a loitering ensign in the corridor and sent him off with a message to the waiting team. At the time he did not thing twice about the message "I will be there after I shower". The waiting team found the message to only solidify there growing assumption that the ships Xo was in fact a moron. They dropped there gear in the middle of the floor, and began to throw around a ball one of them pulled from his pouch. Its thud rung though the hanger as it bounced from wall to floor, and floor to hand.
Siku, who had found pleasure in re arranging Johns shoes the previous night, was not laying rather comfortably on top of the uniform he had laid out on his bed. As John walked from the shower rubbing the towel vigorously over his head, he thought nothing of it. It had become a habit and a way of Siku telling him to stay and play. With sound similar to that of a growl and a moan combined, Siku eventually circum t john roling her over. He jsut shook his head. "Fine you can go with me". She immediately sprung form the bed and darted to the door. She stood starring at it, just waiting for it to open. Slowly but surely John found his misplaced boot and got ready to go. Padd in hand he headed down the corridor, Siku by his side prancing along like she was Queen of the universe.
As the door to the hanger swooshed open John looked up just in time to see something yellow bounce by. Siku had already heard it bouncing before the door opened. She darted thought to door after it, leaping through the air to catch it as it was on its way down to land in Jack's arm. Siku slid across the floor on her belly and came to a stop as she proceeded to know on the ball vigorously. John looked around trying to figure out what the heck was going on. "Siku" he shouted. She hoped up off the ground and came trotting over to sit at his feet and stare up him with her tail wagging against the ground. As john stared down at her she canted her head to one side and then the other.
It was now 0745, and John was not all that pleased with people playing on the hanger deck. "Why the hell are you people acting like children on my hanger deck?" Looking at each of them as they huddled to geather over there gear, he realized they could not be more than twenty years old. Before Ricahrd could speak on behalf of the group Jack had a witty comment spewing forward "We got tired of waiting on you" John squinted an eye briefly surprised at the comment and tone of the young boy. "Well since you feel that way, start running laps." he paused for a moment as they began to start running. "Stop!, put your gear back on" With some amount of mumbling John couldn't quite make out they put on there packs and began to run around the vast hanger. He watched them for a moment before Siku pawed his leg. He looked down to meet her stare that he knew meant "Play". John took the ball form her, which in its self was a challenge, and tossed it across the hanger. Siku bounded off after it. After a few repeats Siku plopped down next to John, who was standing by the wall.
The rest of the day was more of the same. The team did various physical activities, and John completed several reports, and tossed the ball for Siku until there was not much of a ball left. The team all the while convincing themselves there new commander was doing nothing but enforcing his authority. It had been Johns original plan to only have them do an hour of PT, as they would every day, but after the remark from Jack, he wanted to prove that actions had consequences. As the holo program ended, John saw that despite there attitudes they were in quite good shape. "You will report to the hanger deck and complete a three kilometer circuit at 0500, you will then report here at 0600 for combat simulations." The team murdered out what passed for a "Yes Sir" and John turned and left. He ignored it, still unaware the problem that was brewing. The problem that would be made apparent on the next day.
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Captain Talia
USS Adagio - NCC-99691-B
USS Adagio Captain
'Strength and Honor"
Posts: 1,752
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Post by Captain Talia on Feb 14, 2012 18:20:16 GMT -5
It was in the hours past midnight that had grown to be a favorite time for Talia. It was a time she allowed for herself to prowl the silent dim decks of her ship. She discovered long ago, she could move about freely in between the late night watches. She would run into few of her crew as she moved up and down its dimly lit corridors, walking slowly through an occasional compartment.
It was usually a chance for the Andorian Captain to spend time with her ship to freely attune herself to her beloeved lady's current state. To feel the true bond they shared as her lady sailed through the Stygian black of space.
She moved quietly through the dim soft hue of the night shift's lighting. Her mind and heart calmer now since the shift change had occured, leaving few crew to interfere with her most private time. Her thoughts drifted over the fears, concerns and hopes that had pursued her since they had left Deep Space Nine. The mournful thoughts of those she had led into battle and yet did not returnfrom it. It was moments like this that while offered no escape it offered the comfort of being home, reassuring as she strode through the decks of her ship, the dim corridors and the almost dark warm embrace of their shadows.
Tonight though her heart felt torn, there were two men in her life now as well as her lady. Though normally this would not be a abnormal situation for an Andorian circumstances ofcourse had made it quite difficult for her.
As she walked down the dimly hallways her mind drifted back to the still form of her once beloved Teros. She remembered his powerful image, his strength not only physical but emotional as well. He was a stoic image of Andorian pride and stubborness and yet not due to such strength he remained powerless. Rendered weak and lost in time due to his clash with the Borg, sleeping unknowing of the vast changes that awaited him should he ever recover enough to awaken.
She knew his pain well herself, two of their spouses now long gone, lost to the same Borg that stole him from her, turned him into a souless monster that sought only to selfishly destroy for the cause of the the Hive mind of his captors. He would awake to find his only surviving spouse was not only not the Zhen he had loved but someone now very different...
Someone who had found love once more after the loss of what she believed to have been all three of her spouses. Alone and embracing her new world of starship command, she had found love once more. He was as devoted to him as any Andorian quad, his love was powerful and true. His dedication to her and to the life they shared was unmatched, even by Teros himself. She had actually allowed herself to slip, to yield to the taboo this new love offered, even if it had endangered her command...
And then the unthinkable happened...Teros was returned to her, in an act of pure love he overcame the Borg Mind controlling him just long enough for her to strike at the Sphere he commanded. Her duty, her oath to her quad...she had not been released from it.
Her duty now clear to all back home, had grown into a chain that held her fast. Trapped now between two men who do not know how the other will react. In love with someone who is out of her reach and honor bound and devoted to one who sleeps due to his wounds. Wounds recieved in his attempt to return to her.
She walked through a door and stepped out onto the hanger's observation platform. The vast chamber seemed so much larger, its deep silence almost deafening this time of night. She gripped that rail and could almost feel the ship's engines purr as she moved through the eternal night.
For just a moment she and her lady were one as she closed her eyes. Moving through the vast ocean of darkness, surrounded by the far off distance specks of crystal light. It was here , with her lady that she always found peace.
She could almost hear the soft far off whispers of her crew, her Keth as they moved through her lady, safe now in her embrace as they slept and worked.
Soft beautiful words from her one love's home planet came to her as she thought of her beloved lady. Each time she saw her ship from orbit, each time she walked her halls as she did tonight the very same words floated through her own heart. Each time she thought of her, the same words came to mind.
Her eyes still closed she whispered them to her lovely lady...
She walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that's best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes: Thus mellow'd to that tender light Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
She smiled softly as she gripped the rail a little tighter... One shade the more, one ray the less, Had half impaired the nameless grace Which waves in every raven tress, Or softly lightens o'er her face; Where thoughts serenely sweet express How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.
She smiled now as she could almost see with her mind's eye her lovely lady in flight. Her swan like grace as she danced throughout the stars... And on that cheek, and o'er that brow, So soft, so calm, yet eloquent, The smiles that win, the tints that glow, But tell of days in goodness spent, A mind at peace with all below, A heart whose love is innocent!
With her final words spoken she opened her eyes and smiled as she enjoyed the momentary peace that filled her heart. A brief moment in which the pain and burders, the love and sacrifice she so willingly carried for her crew and for the two men in her life just seemed to be eased off of her shoulders. A moment where in this small bubble in all of exsistence it was just her and her lady. A small measure of peace to be shared with her love.
A small insistant chirp sliced through the moment. She smirked gently almost as if she had expected this.
"Bridge to Captain" Carter's vocie echo'd in the vast chamber.
She sighed and held onto that solitary peace for just a brief moment as she felt it slip away, like fine sand through her fingers.
"Yes Mr Carter" She asked hitting her combadge.
"Ma'am you asked to be informed when the final casulaty list had been finalized" Carter said somberly.
A tug at her heart, her antennae curled softly inward and she closed her eyes as she responded. She kept her voice even as always...
"Thank you Ryan, I shall be up presently"
"Yes Ma'am"
With that she was alone once more, yet the moment was over, she was once more needed for a task. A task she often dreaded yet one she must perform. Their sacrifice demanded nothing less. She stole one more look across the vast silent hanger and then turned and stepped back out into the hallway and returned to her world.
Around her, the Adagio swam through space with a silent grace as it kept formation with the other ships returning to Earth.
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Captain Talia
USS Adagio - NCC-99691-B
USS Adagio Captain
'Strength and Honor"
Posts: 1,752
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Post by Captain Talia on Apr 27, 2012 17:39:34 GMT -5
"Shavara Tri'Vellia Stoka Ree'tivers....."
Talia snapped out in her native tongue as she reread the message on the PADD handed to her.
Her Yeoman, a quiet mousey young woman bit her tongue nervously having been around 'The Lady' long enough to understand the dark meaning behind such an Andorian Curse.
Her antennae sharply curled inwardly Talia looked up, her eyes steel gray ice. "Stacey...these were confirmed as Valid?"
Stacey nodded her voice quivering a little "Yes...Yes Ma'am...twice once by Mr. Conroy when he recieved them and then again by Commander Arnimane though Strategic Channels..the orders are valid Captain"
With a small irritated toss Talia let the PADD skitter across the desk back at her Yeoman. "They do not make any sense..." She stood and strode evenly to her Ready Room's transparent aluminum window and stared out to the far off burning star of the Maiewski system.
"Shavara Tri'Vel..." She caught herself "How can..." she drew in a deep breath as she fought down her rage and confusion, her races deep emotions making such an act quite difficult as always.
The young Yeoman had served long enough with her captain to have already anticipated why she was so angry at the message yet chose wisely to remain quiet as she gently retreived the discarded PADD from the captain's desk.
"Stacey.....you are dismissed..." Her voice stone as she added "Standard Reply....encoded on the FleetCom Priority channel..." She slowly drew in another breath "and Stacey?"
The young woman turned halfway to the door "Yes Captain?"
A softer tone though she still did not turn around "Thank you...carry on"
"Yes Ma'am" She said before scurrying out the door to carry out her new orders.
Talia closed her eyes and sighed her antennae curled inwardly yet twitched here and there in agitation.
"Ada?"
"Yes Captain?" Came the usual bright response.
"How many ships out here in the Sector are currently making use of the ACCI system while monitoring the Klingon Border?"
"13, 8 of the ships sent here with us by Admiral Quinn and currently 5 of the 6th fleet, though that number of 6th Fleet vessels varies between 5 and 9 depending on their patrol routes...would you like a breakdown of such patrol routes Captain?"
"No Ada..thank you that will be all"
"Ofcourse..." a pause then a soft question "Are you all right Auntie?"
Talia smirked, usually the sweet banter with her neice often brightened her day, but not today. Not wishing to take anything out on her she got back to buisness.
"Ada inform your mother that the ACCI System is coming down at 1100hrs, send out warning orders to all ships currently linked to it. " she smirked now "When your Mother complains inform her I am waiting for her in my ready room....also get me a secured link for a message to the Command, 6th fleet"
"Ada Yes Captain" Ada seemed to sense her aunt's mood and zipped off to carry out her orders.
Talia turned away from her window and slapped her hand to her combadge "Captain to XO"
"Go ahead Captain" Commander Binet's voice filtered in around her.
"Have Lieutenant T'Ruri plot a course to Deep Space Station K-7...and stand by to execute it on my orders...Priority One XO"
A long pause before.."K-7 ? Captain..I.."
She cut him off "K-7 Commander, on my orders....have all decks prepare to make way, we are to stand down this station and deploy for K-7 asap...understood XO?" her tone carried with it her irriatation and yet also brooked no room for resistance in her tone.
John sighed his irritation as well and responded quickly "Aye Captain...we will be ready on your mark...all decks will stand by to make ready...We will begin to reel in the Valkyrie wings"
"No later than 1100hrs XO"
"Understood Captain..."
"Thank you Number One...Captain out"
She then stiffly moved over to her desk and dropped into her chair, her antennae still rigidly curled and twisted. She stared at her screen as she tried to mentally compose a polite explanation why she was moving off station and leaving 13 some odd ships on their own with little notice.
"Thirteen ships....there had better be a damn good reason for this..." She reached up and rubbed the bridge of her nose tightly as she fought off her headach now
"A damn good reason...." She opened her eyes and drew in a slow breath "Computer...begin composition....To : Admiral Marzz Razzor...."
Out beyond her ready room door, orders were being relayed, officers and crew scurried to and fro to get their Lady of the Stars ready to deploy to K-7.
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Captain Talia
USS Adagio - NCC-99691-B
USS Adagio Captain
'Strength and Honor"
Posts: 1,752
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Post by Captain Talia on May 27, 2012 13:56:17 GMT -5
Stardate 88953.22 (2 hours after the last phase of Operation : Thor's hammer)
She moved quietly amidst the hushed chaos of her busy sickbay, her antennae curled inwardly ever so slightly as she moved softly from bed to bed, from crewman to crewman. She was careful not to interrupt the care her officer or her crewman was receiving. The sharp smell of dust and blood still thick in the air as Orderlies and Nurses moved by her on their required tasks of healing.
She found herself kneeling beside those propped up against the walls of sickbay or beside those laying in the hallway just beyond those walls, treated by overworked medics and exhausted nurses busy preparing to move them from this haste-fully constructed triage to the surgeons waiting for each of them.
Her heart sank as she sat with four of her crew as the last of their life faded from them to join the others she had consigned to their final fate on the dusty planet far below her circling ship.
Yet she would not show it, only gently closing her warriors' eyes after they had slipped away. Then merely moving on after the medics or nurses arrived to attended to the recently fallen for the last time.
Her heart surged with a sad pride as a young member of her security department, injured when she was overrun by the little metal monsrosities they had been sent down to destroy, raised her slashed and bloody hand to her. She watched as she winced as she clasped her cool hand gently around hers. Her eyes closed tightly as her hoarse defiant whisper reached her ears...
"Strength and....Honor..Captain"
She had mustered a strong smile for her, nodded with pride and quietly yet firmly return with "Strength and Honor Lisa" she smiled with pride and respect for her warrior and whispered "Rest now Chief...they will see to you shortly"
Another of her crew met her with an attempt to rise despite his injuries. She placed her good hand on the young ensign's shoulders, recognizing him as Aidan's own junior officer.
"I can still fight Captain" The young wounded young man declared with a new found spirit of defiance. "Tell Mr Conroy I am still in this fight" his weakness due to his extensive injuries not a crushed spirit.
She shook her head to him "No Mr Patterson...the fighting is over..I need you rested...you can stand down now." sighing her antennae curling inwardly tightly as she eased the officer back down onto the cot, her voice softer "Mr Conory needs you rested..."
"Yes ma'am" His voice, weak now as a nurse arrived to assess his current pain level.
Row by row, from blanket to cot to treatment bed, she wandered as a ghost through the field of wounded she had helped create. Seeing and listening to each of them and making sure that each was treated.
Asiani.had her crew well taken care of, she and her teams moved with clipped precision from wounded to wounded tirelessly. Talia watched with great pride in her heart as she watched the doctor wage her own battle against the tide of death and pain, a battle she was winning. Her CMO had even ordered her to rest, yet she could not just yet. There was one more duty for to perform, as she often did after such an operation.
A duty she had always performed.
She stood in the cool and silent chamber of the room selected by the medical staff in the vain hope it would not ever need use. She had walked into the very center of the room and lowered her head as she passed each of the black plastic sacks that now occupied many of the cots that had been set up in this darkened room.
One by one she matched the name to each of the cots' now silent occupants to their names on the PADD she carried in her good hand. Each name she committed to memory while the medic who had let her into the room stood quietly back by the door.
At the very last occupied cot, she lowered herself to one knee and bowed her head, her antennae rigidly curled inward. Her eyes closed as she remained there repeating each name inwardly. It was a personal ritual she had adopted long ago on the Bolshoi, repeated on the Giselle so very long ago, one she had carried over to her command of the first Adagio...and one that now had found its home aboard her new beloved Lady A.
She finished as she had always done before a quiet vow to each of the dead that now surrounded her and three whispered words, three words that for her tonight, as they often had during such a time...became a promise to seal her silent vow.
A seal to such a vow to her fallen shipmates, a whispered promise to remember them ...to carry on in their names with..
"Strength and Honor"
With that final promise made, she rose and strode with a strong, more resolved stride out of the room, and handed the PADD to the medic who awaited her.
"Will you need anything else Captain?"
Her voice now once again even and strong as she looked up.
"Not tonight, carry on Denise"
"Yes Ma'am"
The young medic turned and headed back inside of the makeshift morgue to complete his report never seeing the last look the Captain gave as the doors closed on her. Alone once again she turned and strode back to her quarters to try and get the rest her C.M.O. had prescribed for her.
Soon enough she would be called back to duty, the Lady A still had a job to do, her crew had been seen too. Their wounds were being treated. Starting tomorrow it was time to begin to triage and treat what wounds she could for her wounded lady of the stars.
For once that was done there was still a hunt awaiting her. Talia smiled a little sadly as she recalled a poem she once heard from the Earth poet Frost. It was the last section line from that poem of his that she never truly understood until she chose to follow the path of command.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.
She stepped into her darkened quarters and closed her eyes as the doors hissed shut behind her. She stood there for a moment and whispered aloud...
"But I have promises to keep....and miles to go before I sleep"
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Captain Talia
USS Adagio - NCC-99691-B
USS Adagio Captain
'Strength and Honor"
Posts: 1,752
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Post by Captain Talia on Jun 2, 2012 7:08:20 GMT -5
She stared silently at the small worn picture in her hand, her thumb lightly caressing its edge. A small tear slipped down across her cheek onto that warm smile those rose up to her, as she almost lost herself in his deep green eyes.
"Computer ..resume playlist.."
Her heart skipped a beat as the song in her quarters began. A ritual for her, each time she could feel the worse coming. Starbase 39, Here long ago in Pi Canis, again right before the Defense of Defera and now once more in Pi Canis.
She drew in her bottom lip as she began to hum along to the shared song. His gentle voice in her mind singing along with her, as he had when they first met on that hill in the green back in San Francisco.
We'll meet again Don't know where Don't know when But I know we'll meet again Some sunny day Keep smiling through Just like you always do 'Till the blue skies Drive the dark clouds far away
He always understood when she had to leave him for months on end, ocasionally a year or more. Yet his love was always waitng for her to come home too. Always, just like the last time she and this crew had ventured into this sector of space.
He had been there for her, his strong arms waiting to draw her in as he had when she stepped off that Andorian shuttle, when she last came home from this part of space.
Her humming grew louder as the memory grew stronger.
So, will you please say hello To the folks that I know Tell them I won't be long They'll be happy to know That as you saw me go I was singing this song
So much of their life together enjoyed spent so much time apart, even after she had chosen to remain with the crew of the Lady A. She smiled as she even remembered the look on his face when he discovered that the Captain had remembered him from the time he tripped right into her new captain when she had been first assigned to the Giselle. While singing this very song to her...
She smiled softly as she remmebered the Captain chide him a little about his improved reflexes. A gentle sigh slipped from her lips as she ran a slender finger around his strong jawline. He was always there for her, in the good times and her worst and never complained when she had to leave...again
We'll meet again Don't know where Don't know when But I know we'll meet again Some sunny day
He always sang this with her before she signed off, her last call to her dearest..
"Its not good bye Jessie....its never good bye" He always said to her.
She had to fight back the tears..she knew he was going to sing it to her. She had to sing it with him, and smile to keep from losing it herself.
He was always so brave for her, yet she could see it in her eyes. The meaning of the song was unmistakeable. They may never see one another again.
She had added her voice to the chorus as it began, a smile on her lips as soft tears fell across her cheeks...
We'll meet again Don't know where Don't know when But I know we'll meet again Some sunny day Keep smiling through Just like you always do 'Till the blue skies Drive the dark clouds far away
She stood and began a soft turn as she danced to the beat holding his picture up to stare into his eyes as she danced just once more with all of her memories...
So, will you please say hello To the folks that I know Tell them I won't be long They'll be happy to know That as you saw me go I was singing this song
We'll meet again Don't know where Don't know when But I know we'll meet again Some sunny day...
She dropped on the edge of her bed once more and pulled his picture to her chest and dropped her head down. Praying to draw some strength from their shared promise of that last call...
A chance to once more see him again...her parents...a chance to..
Her reverie was disrupted by the cool edge of her captain's voice.
"All Hands This is the Captain...we are approaching the border! All decks commence combat operations..."
Her voice was replaced by the clipped professional voice of Commander Binet "Alpha Watch to the bridge at once!"
She collected herself instantly and turned her gaze to meet his smiling eyes just once more.
"...some sunny day my love...some sunny day"
Her whisper, both a prayer and promise as she rose and headed for the door. Each stride become more confidant and even as the young woman left her self indulgance and fears behind, they fueled her desire to go and make a stand with her shipmates.
She struck her combadge in midstride, her voice strong and even. "Lieutenant Tracey on her way"
The distant promise once made on a grassy green hilltop so long ago, and promised over and over again steeling her heart for battle.
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