Command Performance

Posted on Wed Feb 5th, 2025 @ 8:55pm by Commander Kevin Lance & Captain Mira Rodale
Edited on on Thu Feb 6th, 2025 @ 1:17am

Mission: Starbase 364
Location: USS Akira
Timeline: Current

on:
{VIP Quarters, USS Akira}

Mira entered the VIP quarters she and Kevin had been assigned aboard the Akira. The quarters were huge compared to the modified Captain's and Executive Officer's quarters aboard the Norris. Kevin wore his dress uniform pants and an under t-shirt as he put the final spit shine on his boots. He looked up at Mira and asked, "You got the kids settled with Zimia?"

Folding her arms around her stomach as she leaned a hip against the desk. Mira let her eyes roam over him, taking him in. She smiled. "Yes, I asked her to take them for the night. I thought perhaps we could have some alone time?" Her voice was soft, almost an asking tone to it. Mira had been surprised he had come over from the ship to join her for dinner. For awhile there, she had thought she was going to have to accept Montgomery's offer to go with her. He was going anyways, but still, it felt odd. The clothing he had sent her on vacation, that bikini, and a few other things. Mira wanted to keep him at a distance.

“You know, you don’t need to wear your dress uniform.” Mira smiled. He looked good, too good. “it’s a casual dinner.” Mira had changed her clothing when she found out he was coming with her. A green silky slip dress. She slipped on her heels.

"An invitation to dine with a Captain aboard his own ship always feels like a formal occasion," Kevin replied as he pulled on a boot. "Besides, I feel more comfortable in uniform during a social event with strangers."

"You look beautiful," he said. Which was silly. She always looked beautiful even when wearing a baggy sweat suit and drenched from a workout. Of course, he might be biased.

Mira smiled as she stepped closer to kiss him. "I have to warn you, our son is telling people that Zimia and I are calling him an itchy tail." she giggled. "I called him a Snitch, and Zimia called him a tattletale."

She smiled as she went into his arms.

"Dinner should be wonderful. the company? Meh." She held her hand out and tilted it back and forth. Like it could go either way.

"The invitation spoiled my own plans for the evening," Kevin groused.

"Oh," Mira answered, "Did you have a double date with Tracey and the warp coils?"

"No," Kevin smiled at Mira's gentle ribbing. He had been spending quite a bit of time aboard Norris helping the Chief Engineer run diagnostics. "I was hoping for a candlelit dinner alone with you followed by a stroll in the arboretum and a bath."

"Perhaps Captain Taylor could be enticed into adding a bath into the evening's festivities," Mira teased smilingly. Kevin's only response was a dissatisfied grunt.

Mira turned thoughtful. "I am not sure I have met Captain Chris Taylor before, but he seemed surprised I had a family." She bit her lip. "There is something about him that seemed familiar." she gave a little shrug. "We will be at Beta Antares by morning. Then we need to decide what our plans are for our time off."

Remembering Shadow's admonition as he pulled on his dress uniform tunic, Kevin said, "Perhaps we could visit Thor and his family on Earth."

"If that's what you want." She said slowly "I am just worried about public transportation. That didn't go so well for me last time I took a vacation." And then there was that whole Orion problem. She smiled despite her worry. "Ok we go to dinner and then our walk in the arboretum and then we can take a bath." She wrapped her arms around his neck and ran a few kisses from his neck to his chin.

Mira wished she was one of those woman that lied about having a headache to get out of going to the dinner completely. It would be rude she told herself. Taylor was doing them a favor and cutting a huge amount of time off their travels. The least they could do was have a dinner with him.

"Once we reach Beta Antares then we can look into transportation. Thor might have a ship in the area or perhaps one of the Rasmehlier vessels? I mean if I am stuck being lady Rasmehlier I might as well ask for perks." She gave a little shrug. Something would work out she was sure.

They departed the VIP quarters and Kevin offered his arm to Mira. "I certainly hope that we don't have to resort to a Rasmehlier ship. The Norris isn't what I would call 'family-friendly' but it is an amusement park compared to a Klingon warship"

Slipping her arm around his as they walked, she smiled. "Perhaps I should do something with the Harbinger?" It was hers after all. Mira nodded as her mind worked out a few plans that could make the ship more comfortable. The Harbinger was a D7 cruiser with a warp 9 capability. It would be better for the meetings with the high command than to keep asking for the Admirals ship. OH, yeah she can see it now. 'YOU want to do WHAT to the ship?'

She hid her laughter, but none of that could be done in the time frame they needed. Then there was her plans for the USS Chuck Norris. IF she could get all the upgrades she wanted on the ship the ship would be amazing!

{USS Akira, Captain’s dining hall.}

Walking in, Mira smiled as the smell of roasted meat filled the room. It actually made her mouth water.

"Good Evening, Captain Taylor." Mira said politely as she held out her hand to shake his.

"Chris, please. You look amazing out of your uniform."

Mira frowned slightly. What did that mean? The only reason she was not in her uniform was because she had a chance to dress up for Kevin. Her arm was still locked in Kevin's. Montgomery held up his drink by a way of greetings.

Mira nodded to Montgomery then looked back at the Captain. "This is my fiancé, Commander Kevin Lance."

"Fiancé?" He looked Kevin over once like he was sizing him up. Then, he shook his hand. His eyes going back to Mira." I was told you had two children." He let his eyes roam over her thin figure. "I never would have guest." He seemed to realize, perhaps, it wasn't something he should have said. "Drinks? Samarian sunset?" He asked her.

Mira shook her head no. "I prefer Whiskey." Mira smiled up at Kevin "What would you like, my love?"

""Whisky as well, thank you," Kevin replied while fixing Captain Taylor in the eye, "Our children's conception was, I will grant you, rather unusual but why would you have 'never guessed'?"

Chris had the good grace to flush at being called out. "I...um...only meant that I...rather Captain Rodale would not have..." Chris stammered incoherently then he was finally able to gather himself, "It is unusual for a ship's captain to start a family abroad ship."

"Our children were conceived without either of our consent," Kevin responded curtly, "but once they were born we felt compelled by love and duty to honor our commitment as parents."

Mira stiffened at how Kevin said 'without either of thier consent.' It was true that Kolar was completely out of thier control in bring him into thier lives but she had memories of Ashla. Finding out that she was pregnant in that viking world and how wonderful KeVin had been about finding out they were having another child. It melted her heart just thinking about it, but Kevin had no memories about that time.

Mira could see the tightening muscles in Kevin's neck and jaw. She deftly swept a glass from the tray offered by the Captain's steward and handed it to Kevin. "Your drink, my love," she said, sweetly. "I am certain that Chris meant no disrespect." The Akira's captain nodded vigorously. "Besides, we are all friends here. Aren't we?" Well, more like colleagues she amended.

"Yes. Indeed," Chris replied.

Kevin glared at Chris but remained silent, taking a drink from his glass instead.

Mira frowned thoughtfully as she sipped her drink. "So, you think that because I am a Captain, that I should not have children? OR that children shouldn't be on ships? Because there are 1000s of families on many ships all over the galaxy." She added to prove a point. Her eyes went to Kevin. "I may not have planned to have a child that quickly but it was one of the best things that have ever happened in my life."

"Oh no, that's not it. I was born and raised on a ship. It's more like, well, you don't look like you have kids at all." He looked to Kevin then back to her. "What do you mean not conceived without either of your consent?" He looked confused now and Mira frowned at Kevin for letting that bit of information slip.

"Our son was conceived and birthed by a Q using our genetics," Kevin cut in. He left out the part where Ensign Rodriguez was the original source of the father's DNA. "Our daughter..." He looked towards Mira.

Oh yeah, she didn't want to talk about their personal lives. "We were in the Matrix."

Chris nodded slowly. "So, neither one of you are together because you wanted to be."

Mira choked on her drink, making Montgomery laughed.

"No, they are together. It's just taken them two years to get to this point." Montgomery chuckled. "AND, for Mira, she has been married to Kevin in 6 lifetimes. Pregnant in 4 lifetimes and ........ Well their committed."

Kevin glared at Montgomery as he said, "We had formed a bond before it was known that I was the genetic father. The knowledge of our son's genetics only strength that bond." As had their off-book mission to rescue Kolar from a Klingon overlord.

They were saved by the food being put on the table.

"But not married and no ring even off duty?" Chris asked as Kevin pushed in Mira chair.

Damn the man to the Void, Kevin thought as he took his own place to Mira's left. "Not all cultures insist on parents being joined in matrimonial union," he replied as dispassionate as possible, "Besides with patrolling the Shackleton Expanse and missions to the Klingons and Romulans there has been little time."

Mira took the cloth napkin off the table and placed it on her lap. "I am confused. Do we know each other Captain Taylor?" Mira raised a delicate eyebrow in question. "You seem far too interested in my sex life and my lifestyle choices. So why the interest? Were you in the Matrix? Have we ever met before?" Mira's voice was firm and taking on a commanding tone.

"I do apologize. Just curious as to why someone hasn't snatched you up yet. Humans believe in marriage, rings, commitment." Chris smiled. "Since you’re dating a human I thought....."

Mira cut him off. "That you’d stick your nose into my business?” Her voice was sweet. "Snatched me up?" She frown. "That's an odd concept. Is that similar to courting? Becoming best friends? Earning a woman's trust? Spending one's lives together for the joy of it? Or is that just the idea of taking someone off the market? Like ownership?" Mira asked as she cut into the meat on the plate.

Taylor cleared his throat. "Are you saying you don't believe in marriage or that you don't want to be married?"

Mira laughed. "interesting. You never answered any of my questions yet you keep asking more." she nodded seeing she would need to explain more.

"I have spent several lifetimes with Kevin in the Matrix. We have had a few marriage ceremonies. Lived in a few different worlds and in a few different times in history, and in some worlds, I pray, were completely made up. I have died in his arms a few times. He has died in my arms. We have a far more committed relationship then you can even understand."

Mira turned to the steward. "This is wonderful. Please, give my compliments to the Chief."

The man nodded moving away.

Chris chuckled. "So in this lifetime he hasn't asked?"

Mira frowned. "No, that's me giving you all the information I plan to give you. Any thing else does not concern you. Stop now, before you get me angry. I can assure you that you don't want to see my angry."

“Yes. When she gets angry, people tend to die. Lost of blood, explosions, and screaming.” Montgomery added, with a Chuckle.

Mira gave him a side-eye glance, frowning. “Not helping.” Mira said.

Montgomery just shrugged.

USS Akira's XO walked in and frowned. "Is there something wrong?" He said as he approached the table. Mira looked into the man's black eyes. Betazoid, she thought. What was the man's name? Lt commander Akonil So?

"The food is wonderful, the inappropriate questions? I could do without." Mira smiled.

The Akira's XO gave his captain a severe glance. "What is the old Earth saying?" he asked, "Curiosity killed the cat?"

Kevin didn't know which cat this was supposed to be. The only one that he remembered was one that was in a closed box and both alive and dead at the same time.

Akonil So looked over the assemblage as he took a seat across from Mira. "I trust the repairs aboard your ship are proceeding well."

Kevin nodded, "Diagnostic checks of the control systems are almost complete." The information shared with the shipyard engineers would cut days off of the repair schedule.

"Appears that you will be a Captain without a ship," Akonil So smiled at Mira with no trace of malice, "What do you plan to do with your time." As he waited for Mira to answer, he detected a strong reaction from he fiancé. Was that guilt or regret tinged with anxiety?

Mira paused, putting her fork to her mouth. "Vacation." She nodded before continuing with her meal.

Akonil smiled. "You both need it. Perhaps you to can get a few things done that you haven't been able to?"

Mira glance up at Kevin, then at Chris. "I am sure it will be a very enjoyable experience."

Akonil snapped his fingers. "DS15"

Mira picked up her glass. "What about it?"

Akonil laughed. "that's where we first met you at. Only, you were with this huge Klingon. He gave Chris a black eye." He said still chuckling about it.

Chris frowned "Oh! That was you!" He looked astonished.

Mira frowned, still not placing them both but if Kolar punched Taylor in the eye? He deserved it.

Kevin considered this exchange as he ate his salad. If Kolar had only punched Taylor in the eye it must not have been much of an insult. A passing comment of the color of her dress or a slight against a distant relative. More egregious insults to a Klingon required a more terminal solution.

Akonil's eyes narrowed as they snapped to Kevin. The Norris' XO had his head down but his own eyes darted between Mira and Chris. The urge to protect runs strong in this one, Akonil thought.

"The Defiant-class are hardy little ships," Akonil addressed Kevin, "What happened to break yours so badly."

Kevin looked up at Akonil, annoyed that he was being drawn away from the interchange between the two ships' Captains. "The Defiant-class was designed for short-range missions," he pointed out, "but Fleet Command has seen fit to assign us missions that should go to larger vessels."

"Since the destruction of the Utopia Planitia shipyards on Mars," Akonil continued, "We have all been assigned missions outside of our typical profile."

"Of course," Kevin conceded, "but this feels more...personal."

"Personal?" Akonil's eyebrows shot up, "How so?" Although not trained as a counselor, his empathic insight into other's feelings was tempting to explore.

"Captain Rodale is a well-known figure amongst Star Fleet captains," he waved a fork in the direction of Captains Taylor and Rodale, indicating former's recognition of the latter that was not reciprocated. "She has many friends...and enemies... in high places. Seems I can't turn around in my own quarters without running into someone she knows or knows her."

Mira frowned thoughtfully as she gave Kevin an side-eye glance. “Well, if they’re in our quarters, you should know them.” She tried to make light of a huge problem she was having. “And, I believe, I have more enemies than I do friends.” She gave a delicate shrug of her shoulder. She really couldn’t understand why she had made so many enemies. It wasn’t like she ran around punching people in the face or was power hungry. She actually played down her looks and presence as much as she could, but trouble did seem to be attracted to her.

Akonil smiled. “You have far more friends than you know, Captain Rodale.” He looked to Lance. “It’s her beauty. That long, curly, Auburn hair. The deep, blue eyes and spots. People can’t help but notice her when she walks in a room. There is a deadly grace about her when she moves and yet people still feel a need to protect her. Not to be rude, or anything, but it is intoxicating and you’re one lucky man. Captain? don’t add.” He gave Chris a look. “ I think I have embarrassed Captain Rodale enough with my compliments.” He turned back to Rodale. “Sorry, I had no idea you didn’t see yourself as others do. We where at the academy at the same time. Even then, you impressed those around you. You learned a new language like most women shop for shoes. I remember when this ambassador was visiting the Academy. He spoke a language nobody knew and everyone had to use the translators to converse with him. But not Rodale. The next day, she walked up to him and greeted the older ambassador in his own language and it impressed everyone. You Graduated earlier and your first posting, you weren’t a cadet. No, you went all the way to Ensign and was the Chief Communications officer of a Starbase at age 19.” Akonil chuckled. “Very impressive. We all thought you would end up being the youngest captain in Star Fleet history, but you turned it down a few times. The diplomatic core even tried to get you to join them. Then you ended up the lady of a greater Klingon house while still serving as an XO on a base.” He shook his head.

Mira frowned. “I had thought he was only a captain at the time, not a powerful Klingon on the high council.” Mira frowned. It wasn’t like he lied to her about his position. He just hadn’t told her, but still, it had been a fight. Seeing that he had saved her life she found it hard to stay mad at Kolar.

Captain Taylor nodded. “Then you just disappeared.”

Mira closed her eyes and stopped cutting the food.

Akonil frowned. “Ok, Chris no more. I am so sorry, Mira. I didn’t know what you went through in those years.” And now that he could see her eyes tearing up, well crap.

Mira put her fork and knife down. The dinner had lost all its taste to her. Picking up her glass she down it in one swallow, then held it out to the steward for another.

This dinner couldn't end fast enough for her.

:off

Commander Kevin Lance
Executive Officer
USS Chuck Norris

and

Captain Mira Rodale
CO USS Chuck Norris