The game plan

Posted on Fri Nov 1st, 2024 @ 7:55pm by Commander Kevin Lance & Captain Mira Rodale

Mission: Starbase 364
Location: Starbase 364
Timeline: Present

on:
{SB364, docking bay 1}

Mira stepped off the Tal'Kir to the deck quite shaken. The Vulcan had been amazingly helpful, but there were far more problems to deal with than one session could cover. They had tackled the worst. By all that was holy, she hoped it was the worst of the places she had gone to because if things went any harder, then her time on Desnara. She wasn't sure her mind could handle it.

Montgomery was waiting with an iced coffee in his hand.

"Oh, please tell me that's for me." Mira asked, hopefully. She could really use a cup right now.
He gave her a nod, handing it over. An ice vanilla latte with whipped cream. "You are the best 2nd officer I have." He chuckled at her little attempt at humor, but he wasn't happy with how tired she looked.

"How did the treatment go?"

"Difficult and time consuming. He thinks 2 or 3 more visits, and we will have unlocked everything." Mira was honest with him.

Walking her back to her quarters, he contemplated how he was going to tell her Kevin was in the brig.

"How are the repairs going? Is everything ok?" Mira asked.

Well, that was his opening. "there was one problem. Not with the repairs, but...." he swallowed. "Kevin has been locked in the brig. You will probably see it on your PADD when you get home."

Mira raised an eyebrow. "Why? and stop making me drag the information out of you."

Montgomery nodded. "Rashard apparently made a comment about how he couldn't wait to see you again, and that was all it took to send Kevin after him. They fought at the dinner party."

Mira nodded, "I probably gave something away. Rashard was my tormenter on Desnara. I looked a lot different than I do now. Honestly, I am not sure how Walker recognized me. Black hair, dark makeup around my eyes. I looked like a Bedouin belly dancer."

Montgomery frowned "ah, by any chance, did you ..... dance for extra food?"

Mira narrowed her eyes. "Yes Kolar was always hungry. You were there? I don't remember you?"

"The one with the metal mask." Montgomery mumbled. He hadn't been able to get that thing off his face. Mira nodded, remembering him. "Captain Rashard was Rasha the cruel"

"God's, everyone wanted to kill him!" Montgomery added.

Mira nodded. "So he was the one pushing that anything we were forced to do to stay alive, and please the Masters, shouldn't be held against us. After all, it was just a dream world."

"But some people knew what they were doing and remember each reset." Montgomery stated, seeing the problem right away.

"Correct." Ok, so she needed a plan to get Rasha in trouble. "I can get Kevin out of the brig, but they might cut his rank. I can't control Proll on that, but I can always give the rank back. It's Rasha, that will be the problem....."

Mira tapped her fingers on her leg. "Fine." she took the PADD filled out the proper forms and signed them. "Get him out of the brig. I'll deal with Rasha. We need the two of them separated. Have Kevin confined to the ship for now."

"ok, he isn't going to be happy about that " Montgomery told her.

"Yeah." Mira frowned she wasn't happy with him leaving her or sleeping alone either, but.... "it's only for today. He can go visit whoever his new girlfriend is after I save his butt." She rubbed her forehead, trying not to cry. "I'll need to talk to the base engineer about redoing the walls again. They can put the wall back in Kevin's quarters. Give him a side entrance to his quarters. Make the Captain’s quarters the nursery, and I'll sleep in the sitting room, I guess. the couch is fine as my bed. i just don't want to walk in and see his new whoever in my space."

Montgomery frowned. "You don't really think he has left you, do you?"

Mira nodded. "look, I don't want to talk about this. Have a guard put on my kids just in case and ... keep a transporter lock on me."

Montgomery frowned. "I'll get you a security team."

Mira shook her head no. "I am just going to the Gym with all those star Fleet officers, what could possibly happen?" she patted his arm before changing direction.

Montgomery rolled his eyes. "Crap." Tapping his commbadge "Montgomery to USS Chuck Norris. Get a lock on our captain and keep her on our sensor. I think there will be a problem."
Looking at the PADD in his hand, he frowned. Ok, he could go watch her run around the track or get their XO out of the brig? Better deal with the XO.

{SB364. Brig}

"No, don't make me go tell Captain Mira Rodale that you're refusing to let her XO out of the brig," Montgomery told the Klingon officer manning the security desk, "If she has to come down here, you will probably be shoved in that locker over there. You do know she is Lady Mira Rodale Rasmehlier, the one that has a seat on the high council?" Montgomery told him in a lowered voice. He had no idea what Mira would really do, but he also didn't want her angry either.

He frowned at Lance as he was brought out. Kevin looked worse for wear from his night in the brig. His hair was unkempt, stubble sprouted from his chin and cheeks, his uniform was wrinkled and boots were scuffed. But it was his continance that most struck Montgomery. Kevin shoulders were slumped and he looked utterly defeated.

"Come on, Commander, you are to report to the USS Chuck Norris immediately, and you're confined to the ship."

Kevin nodded. It was better than he deserved. He had hoped that Mira would have been the one to rescue him but it was well within her rights to delegate the task to the Second Officer.

Montgomery waited until he was outside of Brig. "Man, you really know how to screw up a good thing."

"It's what I excel at," Kevin replied dejectedly.

"Why on earth would you dump the mother of your two children? She was so hurt that she has me making an appointment with the engineers to rearrange your quarters again to give you back your privacy because she believes that's what you want." Montgomery shook his head.

"I countermand those orders," Kevin replied firmly, "and I haven't dumped her."

Montgomery missed a step. "What?"

"I won't let anyone rearrange our quarters," Kevin answered, "I'll shoot anyone who tries."

Montgomery eyes narrowed, "There will be hell to pay."

"I know," Kevin said as he resumed walking, "At least it will be something from her."

They walked in silence until they boarded the tubrolift. "How did her appointment go with the doctor for her back?" Kevin asked him as the door slid shut.

Montgomery frowned. "She is having problems with her symbiont and not her back. She went to the first one this morning but has to go back again. if she can't link up properly with her symbiont, she will die. Guess she didn't want you spending time with her only because she might die. Medical reports are looking good, so I think this should work, but you're on the ship, and I need to make sure we keep a transport lock on her. She is up to something to help you." Montgomery shook his head, walking quickly to the ship.

Now it was Kevin's turn to pause. Mira might die? Problems with her symbiote? Keeping him away to protect him from the knowledge? It was a lot to process. "Cochran, this is a fouled up situation," he muttered.

As they entered the ship, Kevin asked, "Where are Kolar and Ashla?"

"Under guard in your...Mira's quarters," the Second Officer replied.

"Have them brought to the ship," Kevin ordered. He needed to make amends, starting with his children.

"Oh no," Montgomery held his hands up defensively, "I will ignore the Captain’s orders on the reconfigure but you are on your own in that."

Fair, Kevin thought. He tapped his comm badge, "Lance to Mariten. Are you with the children?"

=/\= "Yes. I am watching them while the Captain is out." =/\=

"Please bring them both to the ship." His words convened his expectation that the order would be obeyed.

{Mira's quarters, SB364}

Zimia looked around with a frown. Thier was a half drinken bottle was whiskey on the counter that she knew had been filled before she went to bed. Mira's bed hadn't been slept in, but a pillow and blanket were on the floor. She looked at the chronometer thinking Mira should have been back from her appointment.

Kolar needed a nap, and he wouldn't do it because Mira had told him she would nap with him. Now, it would seem Kevin wanted the kids on the ship? What was going on? Security was also outside to.

Zimia smiled at Kolar but answered Commander Lance. "We are on our way."

She bit her lip as she gathered a few things for Ashla "Kolar go get your bear. You are going to see Dada."

"But Mama said we nap then go on safari." Kolar told her as he picked up his bear.

Zimia nodded. "Mama is running late, so you get to see Dada, then your nap and later Mama will take you on ....safari" well that seemed to be the right thing to say because Kolar was waiting by the door.

{Family quarters, USS Chuck Norris}

Kolar went running to his father. "dada miss you"

Kevin dropped to a knee and enclosed his son in a hug. "I missed you too, Cub."

"Why didn't you come home?" Kolar asked.

Without releasing Kolar from his hug, Kevin said, "Dada made a big boo boo. He was in time out."

"Dada have a boo boo?" Kolar looked at his father with a serious expression.

"Yeah."

"Kiss and make it better?" Kolar asked.

If only it were that easy, Kevin thought with a sad smile. "Yes, a kiss from you will make everything better," he answered.

Kolar stood on his tippy toes and kissed his father on the forehead. Strangely, it did make Kevin feel a little bit better. His ruined relationship with Mira and impending courts martial weighed a little less heavily on him.

He stood and took a sleeping Ashla from Zimia. "Thank you, Yeoman," he said then asked, "Have they eaten?"

"Yes, sir," Zimia replied, "Ashla will need to eat again in an hour or so. Kolar needs to take a nap." The Yeoman stared pointedly at Kolar who merely giggled.

"I will see to both," Kevin declared, "Take a break."

Zimia nodded. She was a little surprised he was going to take care of both kids, but she really could use the time to relax. "I'll be on the ship if needed." She smiled at Kolar before leaving.

"Now, I believe that you are due for a nap, Cub," Kevin told Kolar as her gently laid Ashla in her crib, "I will read to you if you like."

"Mama said we go on safari after nap," Kolar stated, "Dada come too?"

Mira restricted him to the ship but she had the authority to alter that restriction. "We'll see what mama and dada can do."

:off

Captain Mira Rodale
CO USS Chuck Norris

and

Commander Kevin Lance
Executive Officer
USS Chuck Norris