Determination, Not Divination

Posted on Tuesday, 26 May 2020 - 9:36pm by Captain Barret Stillwater & Commander DeVala Victrix Ph.D & Commander Soral & Lieutenant Ryan Rose MD & Lieutenant T'Lanna Vali & Lieutenant Talarn Zilth

Mission: Operation: Recall
Location: Prairie
Timeline: MD 13

OOC Ray: We can start on this. Make it a continuation of where we left off. Maybe towards the end of fixing the mill and lecturing the Klingons? We will transition this into heading home and then that damn knock on the door with Victrix and some crew.

ON:

Talarn rinsed his hands at the water pump, eyeing the Klingon's that were standing around him. "Look..." he said sternly. "Just bring a few Targs with you every day. You can stake them close to mill. That will at least keep the beavers away. Your other option is to spread Targ shit all over this area and maybe the beavers will think they're down here. You'd have to do that after every rain." His tone was serious and firm.

Ko'rus a juvenile Klingon who had taken his first rite of ascension, but had yet to taken a second, was the one that looked at Talarn. These creatures were strange, but the the warrior lad had a knack for dealing with Human colonists of Prairie, or as the Klingons called it mok'kesh, which to the best of Barret Stillwater's understanding of the Klingon tongue meant that it was new land of sorrow and disappointment. Apparently, a name that stuck regardless of how successful the Klingon colonies were. "Beh'vers," the Klingon adolescent replied.

Stillwater approached and placed a hand on Talarn's shoulders. "Thankfully, they have lives here long enough to acquire Federation Standard and some Romulan as a second and third tongue," commented the man. He pointed to the stream "Yes, Beh'vers tohzah. Beh'vers bIQ Mev!"Stillwater said in terrible and broken Klingon, but the teenage Klingon seemed to understand enough.

"St-op," Ko'rus replied with equally questionable language attempt. It worked though. "Wuh-ter st-op," he added.

Stillwater clapped his hands and shouted "Qapla!'" at the boy. He turned to Talarn. "I think he understands that the beavers make the water stop. Take his targ over towards where the beavers are, let the damn thing go crazy. I'm sure as it scents them it will go hog wild and the beavers will skedaddle. Maybe that will help demonstrate what they need to do?"

Talarn sighed. He was a little irritated that they didn't just get it, but there was nothing to be done about it. He marched up the hill a way and actually managed to quickly snag a rope and a targ. He pulled the beast back down to where the group had gathered next to what was left of the beaver dam. All of this took a little bit of time, but Talarn managed, even with the protests of the Targ keeper, an older Klingon named Krox. Krox actually followed him down the hill, yelling at him in Klingon, since Talarn had just hijacked one of his charges. "See... Targ. Targ will chase off the beavers. Make them go..." There were gestures that went along with his short speech demonstrating how the Targ would chase the beavers.

As they stood there, the male Targ, who got bored just standing around, started to explore to the extent of the rope that Talarn held him on. He quickly caught scent of the beavers, or the Prairie version of the Earth's beaver. The aggressive Targ was not so happy about the beavers. It was sort of uncertain whether the Targ wanted the beavers for eating or if he was just angry about them being in what he considered his territory. He went to the beaver mound and started to root roughly through it, making angry Targ noises. Pretty soon he was flinging debris into the air with his tusks as he angrily tore down the mound.

Talarn, at this point, let the rope go. "See... Targ hate beaver... beaver gone... water go again."

Stillwater stood there giving a slow series of claps. "Excellent work, Talarn. You have successfully taught the Klingons the food chain and the science of an ecosystem," commented Barret Stillwater. "Now, the Romulans can wait another day. I want to get back before it gets too dark outside. We need to get dinner ready when we get back," added Stillwater.

Talarn turned to look at Barret and the expression on his face said everything Stillwater needed to know. He wanted nothing more than to go home and cook dinner. Klingons were frustrating. He wanted to be in their house, in dry things with Barret.

With some parting grunts and words of glorious accomplishment, Barret Stillwater and Talarn began to pack up and prepare to ride off bound for home. They had as politely as possible declined some blood wine. What they did not know was that guests would be waiting for them when they arrived home later that evening.

Talarn let his horse walk next to Barret's as they headed back home. He was quiet for a long time. "What do you want to have for dinner?" he finally asked, glancing at Stillwater.

"Anything but gagh," replied Stillwater as they rode off with the sky turning a gorgeous blend of oranges and pinks.

**********
The USS Fontana had been in orbit of the planet Prairie for a while scanning it extensively and launching a probe to help locate where Stillwater was. The planet had more than it's share of Humans so that was of little use; however Lieutenant Kingsley's plan to needlepoint scans for crystalline composite of gold, microfilament, silicon, beryllium, and carbon-70 lead to the coordinates.

Lieutenant Commanders Victrix and Soral lead an away team to the surface of the planet, just outside of the coordinates Kingsley had provided. Materializing, Victrix found herself looking at the structure. It looked as though they had beamed down to a farm and there sat a farmhouse. She went for her tricorder and scanned for life signs "Chickens and other animals, but nothing humanoid. Not presently at least," she reported aloud.

"Indeed." Soral looked around. "To quote a human saying. There ain't nobody home but us chickens," he delivered in his dry manor.

“Oh I wouldn’t say that...” T’Lanna turned to look behind them taking a few steps closer to the outer rim of the main farm area. “There are people coming, I can feel them.”

Sunsets were rumoured to be gorgeous on this planet, a natural beauty reflective of vistas often unseen on other worlds. It wasn't Earth, but from what he'd read about the planet it wasn't all that far off given the picturesque horizon. Rhydian was thankful he wouldn't be needing his shades much longer, as rays of sunshine began to gave way in favour of calmer oranges and purples.

Sam smiled, her face at the sun, but her eyes closed. If Away Missions could be like this, she wouldn't mind them. She took in a deep breath. Yes, real air. She could smell grain on the air as well. A small grey tabby started rubbing and circling her legs, a deep purr rumbling from its chest. Sam reached down to pet the animal between the ears. She realized she wasn't paying attention to the rest of the Away Team, and pulled out her tricorder, just to look like she knew what she was doing.

"This should be fascinating to watch then," he said to T'Lanna's comment.

"Cat seems friendly," commented Victrix. "I prefer not to be seen when they arrive. If it's Stillwater and he sees us, he may flee," she explained as she walked up the steps of the porch and crouched at the front door, pulling out a Bobby pin from her hair and contorting it to fit her needs, sticking it into the keyhole.

The door opened from the inside. Soral stood on the other end of it. "A window was open. It seemed more logical an entrance." He'd headed that way when he'd seen Victrix going towards the door.

Victrix looked up at Soral. "You are upstaging me, Commander," she said. "I do not have much usefulness, this was supposed to be one," she teased.

"If you wish I can close the door and wait inside while you try to pick the lock," he teased back.

T’Lanna grinned. “Either way we’d better hurry up because they’re getting closer!”

Sam had listened to their verbal byplay, but hadn't commented. She was the only enlisted among them, and it was always weird with officers. She was busy admiring the house. It fit the natural environment, but looked to have modern amenities as well, and the view was spectacular.

"Alright, inside" said Victrix gesturing to the others. "We will wait for Stillwater to arrive. Then, we will make ourselves known when he walks in. Lieutenant Vali and I will take the lead."

"May I point something out? If he is armed and we jump out and yell surprise he would quite rightly assume we broke in and if he is armed...it could post a problem. Phasers on stun. He told the group.

"What?" Sam snapped. She had had just about enough of following ridiculous orders. Career be damned. "Look you already ordered me to illegally enter a private citizens home, I'm not going to shoot a man! Phaser or no phaser." She pointedly unholstered her phaser and laid in on the coffee table. A quite nicely crafted coffee table she noted.

Being on this mission was another story, if Rhydian could have recommended anything it wouldn't have been this. A large away party with senior officers which may well have put any sane retiree on edge. Particularly if they were being recalled. But he wasn't the one giving orders, merely brought along. More likely a pat on the shoulder for a 'good job' on his visitation than anything.

Shuffling into the residence much to his own displeasure from the near breaking-and-entering (from his perspective), the cadet took up post along the far wall. "Having weapons out will only escalate any stress this visit will likely already draw. It is best if we do not corner the Captain, let alone in his own home. No doubt seeing the lot of us may already be enough to send one on edge to collect a single person."

Victrix was in agreement. "The Cadet is correct," she said swiftly. "T'Lanna and I will handle this, the rest of you should head upstairs and wait. Let us handle Commander Stillwater and defuse the situation before it gets out of hand. When it's appropriate, the rest of you can make your way back down. Stillwater's not likely to shoot two unarmed women even if they are trespassing."

"Excellent decision," the cadet re-affirmed, shifting his stance as he began to make his way for the stairs without any further objections.

Sam was shocked at the capitulation, but she wasn't about to ruin a good thing, she hurried after Rhydian.

Victrix gave a nod to Lieutenant Vali and they headed into the kitchen. "I'll see if they have coffee...or something. If not, I'll put water on for tea."

T’Lanna nodded as she looked around from where she was standing. “Perhaps waiting outside would have been the better option, although being faced with just the two of us should help to calm the situation.”

Barret Stillwater and his bonded companion, Talarn had arrived at their home, slowing down to see a light left on that Stillwater was certain he had not. He had given Talarn a small type I phaser earlier when at the Klingons' property. Stillwater looked at Talarn "We have unwelcomed visitors," said Stillwater. "Keep that phaser somewhere accessible. It might just be our asshole Romulan neighbors," said Stillwater.

He himself approached their carriage, accessing a side storage area and retrieved the old family Remington that bad been passed down through generations of Stillwaters. He loaded it and proceeded up the porch and towards the front door. He was a peaceful man, but it wouldn't be the first time he chased one of those green blooded demons off his property or a rowdy drunken Klingon fool.

Talarn kicked his horse into a gallop and headed around to the back door. He jumped off the horse, landing heavily and took the back stairs quietly, despite his heft. He knew where every squeak was, so he was an expert at avoiding them. It was partially his home after all. He pulled the phaser and stood close to the back door, waiting for Barret's whistle, singling he should enter or that everything was okay.

Barret Stillwater could hear feminine voices coming from inside. What the hell he thought as he opened the front door did a quick look left, and a quick right. He gave a loud whistle as he approached the kitchen, a whistle for Talarn to come in through the back where the kitchen was.

Talarn burst through the back door rather dramatically. He had a key, but he knew the lock would give at the right place. He held the phaser out in front of himself with all seriousness and took careful aim at the two people at his kitchen table. He made a low growling noise, the light on the implant over his right eye, blinking rapidly.

Stillwater entered the kitchen and immediately there sat two women, the lighter skin one vaguely Romulan or Vulcan looking. The darker skinned woman with the traditional symbol of Risa adorned her forehead.

Lieutenant Commander Victrix had a Cardassian behind her and Stillwater with a shotgun before her. She sat at the table taking a sip from the handcrafted mug that read: #1 Husband. "Your coffee tastes like ass," she said in nonchalantly deadpan.

"You get used to it," replied Stillwater. "That's my mug," he grumbled.

She turned it in her hand and read the writing. "Oh. I'm sorry, I didn't know you were married. Is your wife around?" asked Victrix.

Stillwater jerked his head indicating the Cardassian. "That's my husband with the phaser. I wouldn't make any sudden moves, he just got pissy with some beavers."

"I'm still damp..." Talarn, the Cardassian, growled, his body stiff, in a ready-for-action stance. "Tell us there's a good explaination for you being in our home, quickly."

"At ease, Commander" Victrix said, standing up and pressing downward on the barrel of the man's shotgun. "I'm Lieutenant Commander DeVala Victrix of the USS Fontana, and this is my Ship's Psychologist, Lieutenant Vali."

T’Lanna nodded politely from where she stood sipping her own drink. “A pleasure Commander.” She looked to Talarn. “From one Ex-B to another you can tell I’m not a threat, and neither is Commander Victrix so you can lower your phaser.” She looked to Victrix and Stillwater. “As Borg the collective links us, as individuals we still get a sense of each other from the remains of that link.”

Talarn lowered the phaser, but he didn't put it away. In many ways Starfleet could be considered an enemy, to both of them. Females or not, ex-Borg or not, these people could still be a threat. His posture remained defensive and tense. He was not sure he could trust those feelings. Starfleet had done them both wrong, Barret and himself.

Stillwater looked unamused. "I wish I could say I'm glad to see you ladies, but that would be a lie. What the hell do you want?" he asked as he heard creaking of the floorboards upstairs. "Who did you bring with you?!"

Talarn's eyes shot upward at the sound of the creaking boards. It was infuriating that they felt that it was alright to just come into their home and invade their space. He caught Barret's gaze briefly and looked at the ceiling again, essentially asking Barret if he needed to go handle whoever was upstairs.

Victrix spoke calmly. "It's members of my crew. I assure you, Commander Stillwater, you needn't be concerned," she said. "Commander Soral, you and the others can come down now," she added.

Stillwater looked at Vali. "Ship Psychologist? What's this about and how the hell did you find me? Nobody comes to Prairie. It's grains and chickens... and apparently a beaver like creature."

“Actually, that was partly my doing.” T’Lanna looked at Stillwater. “I profiled you, it’s part of my duties as Psychologist. Commander Victrix tells me that I’m one of very few Ex-B’s left in Starfleet since the synth attack.”

"Some people do not wish to be found," Stillwater responded. "What is this? Some sort of camping expedition. You want to build a bonfire, toast marshmallows, and tell stories about days of death and despair?" He shook his head. "In all likelihood, Counselor, you are one of the few who hasn't been forced out or lying dismembered and disassembled in a chop shop."

“So I’ve been told,” T’Lanna looked at Victrix then back at Stillwater. “You are needed Commander. I, for one, would prefer a Commander like yourself instead of one who wouldn’t appreciate what he has.” She motioned to Victrix.

Stillwater replied simply yet assertively, "I am retired."

Lieutenant Commander Victrix dug into the satchel she had brought with her, retrieving a PaDD that she presented to the man. His eyes looked through it and he muttered a few choice words.

He began reading aloud: "United Federation of Planets service of Starfleet code ten subsection 688... Under regulations prescribed by the UFOP Secretary of Defense, a member described in subsection (b) may be ordered to active duty by the Secretary of Starfleet or Starfleet Marine Corps concerned at any time... yada yada yada," he continued reading and shook his head.

Victrix touched the PaDD and brought up more information: Stillwater's reactivation clause from his retirement paperwork with his signature and personal authorization code. He was not pleased. "They are reactivating me?! Under what grounds. The Romulan Empire is no more. We haven't had any issues with the Dominion, and the Klingons have been mildly behaved. Starfleet hasn't used this reactivation crap since the days of Christopher Pike and James T. Kirk. We aren't at war," he countered.

“Maybe not in a conventional sense,” T’Lanna sighed. “Starfleet... isn’t what it was many years ago. There are those who distrust the newer Starship Captains coming through these days. We need a Captain willing to stand up for what he believes in and that man is you!”

Soral and the rest of the merry team members made their way down and into the kitchen. Soral kept his hands away from his phaser hearing that conversation was in progress.

"I have a life here on Prairie, and it is not one I can just walk away from," replied Stillwater. "Talarn and I more than live here. We work this farm. It may look small to you all, but it plays an important part on Prairie. We all play a part here, Romulan, Klingon, Human."

Soral studied them. "Commander Stillwater, if I may."

"Proceed due diligence," said Stillwater.

"I am honoured to meet you. While I understand your... hesitation of returning and I share an understanding of that hesitation, you are needed. Starfleet is full of disgrace and it will take captains such as yourself to elevate it back to what it was. If we are to weed out the disgusting and disgraceful we need the strong and honourable. Few men are worthy of that title, but from your records you are as worthy as Pike or Kirk."

"Thousands of starships, millions of crew, several hundred starbases and stations," replied Stillwater. "One Captain and one crew cannot make a dent," he stated. "I can make a difference here with my husband."

Talarn, still angry about the invasion of their privacy, closed the gap between himself and Barret. He placed himself firmly between the crew and his husband. "We're not going anywhere," he stated firmly. "This is our home, which you have violated. I think this discussion is over." He knew that Barret was probably going to correct him, but he wanted to make sure that the Fleeters in front of him understood his displeasure. The light on the implant above his right eye continued to blink rapidly with his anger.

Sam, filled with righteous indignation over their breaking and entering, had not let that stop her from snooping around, or eavesdropping. She's gone through the farm's records. 'Amateurs,' she muttered. When she heard an opening, she was, however, cautious when raising her voice and making her appearance. "Well, it's not that much a difference. You are losing 20 to 25 percent efficiency with your management style." She had their private records in her hand, but there was no need to hide that fact now.

"I know Ferengi females have tiny lobes and a reputation for big mouths, but I'm not seeing lobes on you," he said to the woman. "If you can do any better, stay with us. We have the space," he said to Sam.

The thought hadn't occurred to her until he mentioned it. But it clicked into place as if meant to be there. She'd run away from home for all intents and purposes, thinking it was the farming life she hated. But it wasn't. It was the lack of ability to manage it herself. "Okay," she replied simply.

"Oh?" countered Stillwater, surprised.

Victrix looked at Stillwater. "If you agree to go with us back to the Fontana, I'll personally see to it that your husband gets to stay aboard with you." She looked at the Cardassian.

Talarn growled. It infuriated him that his comments had been ignored. "We're not going anywhere, least of all back to Starfleet."

Victrix looked at the woman. "Did I hear you correctly? You would leave the crew to live here? You're married to my Chief Medical Officer."

Soral, at this point, was happy to stay out of it but he noticed the Cardassian's pleas going on deaf ears. "Commander Victrix you can do better then that. I believe that allowing Commander Stillwater's husband to merely stay aboard can be termed as insulting. He was stripped of his rank and commission for no reason but being an ex Borg. Can we not get him re-instated?"

"Commander Soral, enough," she replied sharply giving him a look he had not likely seen before. "You are a Lieutenant Commander, my first officer, not an Admiral. We are not giving away anything we do not have the authority to do."

She returned her attention back to Samantha Rose.

The fighting was nerve racking, but she had a goal now, finally something concrete that felt right in her life. "Separated. I'd rather be somewhere where I can be useful." Sam also gave Talarn an apologetic look. She wouldn't want to be in his position. But she had her own battle to fight, so rather selfishly left him to his own.

Soral stepped back. He shook his head. He wanted to point out that the poor Cardassian was talking but nobody was listening or talking to him.

Displaced and quiet amongst a gathering of officers, Rhydian hung in the background as he read tension from the situation. He wasn't an empath, nor a telepath, but it was quite clear there was more than dissatisfaction. "We may not have the authority. But if it eases tensions here, I happen to know someone who does," the cadet finally spoke, looking to Victrix, then back to the senior-most commander.

"Respectfully, I didn't develop the search algorithm to waste my, or the corps' time." He wasn't fond of the first officer, nor most Vulcans given their disposition, but in the least this one had a point. If rudely put. The entire family should be taken care of as a unit, rather than a commandeering activation. That would only sour relations.

Talarn had finally had enough of being ignored. He bowed up and took an aggressive step towards the Starfleet officers. "NO ONE IS FUCKING GOING ANYWHERE!" he shouted. "If you think for a moment that Barret is going anywhere without me... you are sorely mistaken. I think it's time you all get out of our house. I'm not asking."

As if they had been on the same wavelength for a while both Victrix and Stillwater raised their voices to a synchronized "Shut up!" and looked at one another.

Stillwater yielded to Victrix. "We are getting nowhere here and way too many voices in one home," she said aloud. She tapped her commbadge. "Victrix to Fontana. Lock onto Lieutenant Commander Soral, Lieutenant Vali, and Cadet il'Vastam's signatures and beam them aboard. Maintain orbit and wait for further contact," she said swiftly. "Victrix out."

Soon, the specified individuals were whisked away. The farmhouse had a sense of stillness returned to it as the kitchen was occupied now by only four individuals: Victrix, Sam, Stillwater, and his husband.

Stillwater had say his ruffles down and moved to stand by Talarn. He took Talarn's hand. "Prairie was supposed to be our piece of paradise, but paradise isn't Prairie. It is wherever you are with me. If we don't do this, these people may leave but others will come. We'd be forced to leave here anyways. I think we need to accept that."

Talarn turned to Stillwater and seemed to fold. He closed his eyes tightly and buried his face in Barret's shoulder, wrapping his arms around the other man. The pain was physical. He was pretty sure that these were the times that people were supposed to cry. He tried to take a deep breath and found he really couldn't, hitching through it until he could get air. "They can't take you away from me, can they?" he asked in a frightened whisper. He was starting to feel his resolve crumble.

"Not without killing us both," he said reassuringly his husband. "We come as a package deal. I don't know if you can get his rank reinstated, but if I'm taking command of this starship of yours, Talarn is coming with."

Victrix made no promises she couldn't keep. "With everything bin my power, I'll keep you together."

Stillwater nodded. He walked over to the counter picked up the keys and tossed them to Sam. "I cached weapons in the basement along with some dated tech. I'm taking my shotgun, but the rest is yours. There's a map in the upstairs bedroom if you didn't already see it. You'll see where our property ends and where the nearest neighbors are."

Sam caught the keys, feeling a peace settle over her

He took his shotgun and the coffee mug Victrix had been using. Victrix had the Fontana lock onto Stillwater and Talarn, taking them away up to the ship.

Now, it was just her and Sam. "You're really going to do this? Give up Starfleet and the Federation to live here?" Victrix just wanted confirmation. "I'm not going to stop you, but once we leave, you may not see a Federation ship or Starfleet crew for years, Samantha."

Sam nodded. "Yes. I don't want to see Starfleet again, Can I just send a quick message for Ryan?"

Victrix nodded. "I don't blame you. Part of me wants to ask you if you need a roommate, but my 'out' is my desk back on Earth. Don't expect to go gently into the void like Stillwater did. I may not command a starship after today, but I'll check on you when I can."

Sam nodded with a smile. She quickly wrote her note. "Thank you. Take Care ma'am."

One last tap of her communications badge. "One to beam up."@