Lost in Transmission

Posted on Tue Mar 26th, 2024 @ 4:25pm by Lieutenant Commander Kevin Lance & Captain Mira Rodale

Mission: Blood wine and vengeance
Location: Admiral's yacht
Timeline: Current

on:
{Admiral's yacht, USS Lionheart}

Kevin and Mira were enjoying a meal together. They were still a couple of days away from Qo’nos and were spending as much time together as possible. Kevin thought that they were being sufficiently discrete but the three enlisted crewmen were sharper than he gave them credit for.

Something had been bothering him for the last week. Mira had said that she had gotten his message the morning they departed Starbase 364, two days after he had sent it. She also said ‘that wasn’t in the message’ but everything he had told her had been in his message. A check of the copy of the message on his PADD confirmed what he remembered.

“I have a question,” he said between bites, “when we had our talk on the flight deck the morning after we departed. You said that something I told you wasn’t in the message. What was it that wasn’t in the message?”

"Well you told me here you wanted to a be dad like you and I never got to have. The message i read made it just sound like you never wanted to be A father. And while the time stamp send it was send I think 2 days before I got. I did see it in my messages that was odd normally I am good at reading my messages but unless it's from cousin I don't normally get person message. " she took a sip of her ice tea. I should be able to access it." She pulled out her PADD then found what she was looking for Read it quickly before wincing and handed it to him.

MESSAGE : Lt.Commander Kevin Lance

Mira. I wanted to apologize for the way that I responded in the Mess Hall today. The complications surrounding Kolar’s parentage are well known to me, of course, but the sudden and shocking revelation of his DNA or rather my DNA left me confused and frightened. In that state, I am afraid that I acted very poorly.

I never wanted to be a father and I am inadequately trained and equipped to successfully engage in such an endeavor. But if duty and honor require, I will.

The decision to bring Kolar to live with you is yours alone I know that. I will stand by you. As your Executive Officer. your Friend. Kevin

She shrugged "I don't what you to think it is your duty or that your honor will make you have to do anything. I didn't tell about him for that. I Just didn't want you to find out later and get mad I was hiding it from you." She sadly.

Kevin looked at the transcription of the message that he had supposedly sent. The gaps in the message were glaring and he felt the heat rising in him. "This has been edited," he said and he pulled out his own PADD.

Scrolling to the copy of the message that he had recorded. Pressing play, he set the PADD down in front of Mira.

The recording was dark, as if it had been taken at night but Mira recognized the subdued lighting of her former quarters as Executive Officer. From the darkness, she heard Kevin's voice.

“Computer, Prepare a message for Captain Rodale.”

“Mira. I wanted to apologize for the way that I responded in the Mess Hall today. The complications surrounding Kolar’s parentage are well known to me, of course, but the sudden and shocking revelation of his DNA or rather my DNA left me confused and frightened. In that state, I am afraid that I acted very poorly.”

“I never wanted to be a father and I am inadequately trained and equipped to successfully engage in such an endeavor. But if duty and honor require, I will do my best to be the father to Kolar that neither you nor I ever had.”

“The decision to bring Kolar to live with you is yours alone. Whatever your decision, know that I will stand by you. As your Executive Officer. As your Friend. And as…well…whatever we are becoming to each other.”

“Loving You, Kevin”

“Computer, end message.”

The playback of the message ended with a timestamp almost thirty-two hours before Mira had received it. Kevin cringed inwardly. "Now that I hear it," he said, "it does sound rather obligatory."

Mira raised an eyebrow, "but the one I got was different." Picking up her PADD, she typed in a code, then frowned."It was in the communications hub.....then deleted.....then retrieve... copied and then edited..... and sent. " Mira bit her lip "who ever did this had the last Operations Officer code......" Mira sighed. "That person is no longer on the ship and hasn't been for a few months. Who would do this. It was edited in such away that it was very hurtful."

Kevin too was a bit hurt by the clinical way that she was reacting to his actual message and profession, albeit stilted, of love. Was this was it was like when he went into analysis mode? Pushing down his feels, he too addressed the alteration with determined, cold logic. "Someone is trying to keep us apart."

Mira nodded.

But who? Ensign Rodriguez immediately jumped to the top of his list but a more rational answer was someone outside the ship. Mira had plenty of acquaintances aboard Starbase 364 and some of them must bear her ill-will. Interference from J'pok Okac or one of his sponsors was also a possibility. And then there was Kevin's own mystery man in black.

Mira was very confused she picked up Kevin's message and played it again. A smile played on her lips. "I am glad you want to be in my life and Kolar's as much as I want you in my life and his. We will give him everything we needed growing up and didn't get." She kissed him. "If this happens again, we come straight to each other and say what up?" she grin. "I love you. I am so happy you came after me." Her hand took his.

"You are a treasure and a blessing. There are few I trust but you, Mira Rodale, I willing give my heart and my life." Kevin kissed Mira back. The ship's Operation tech did her best not to intrude but couldn't hide the smile on her face.

:off

Lieutenant Commander Kevin Lance
Executive Officer
USS Chuck Norris

and

Captain Mira Rodale
CO
USS Chuck Norris