Scorched and Battered [BACK POST]

Posted on Wednesday, 22 July 2020 - 9:52am by Captain Barret Stillwater & Lieutenant Talarn Zilth

Mission: Operation: Jabberwocky
Location: Starbase 118
Timeline: MD 2

Commander Barret Stillwater and his husband, Talarn, were able to avoid brunch with the station commander, but what they could not avoid was the chaos that would eventually unfurl. Passing by one of the observation areas, an abrupt alarm klaxon thrilled through the entire station, and two starships off in the distance were becoming larger and larger with each second. The closer they got to the station the more identifiable their shape became: small Diligent class starships. A voice over the station's intercom immediately cut through the chaos: "Engineering and Operations personnel to the docking rings. I repeat all available Engineering and Operational personnel to the docking rings!"

Stillwater was not surprised to see several officers and enlisted personnel in the goldenrod uniforms and jumpsuits come into view and cluster together as they charged up and down the staircases and clearly were making their way to the docking ring. Stillwater gently pressed himself against Talarn, the Cardassian's back pressed against the observation area and one the starships had arrived. Stillwater could immediately see the phaser blasts that scorched the hull and it appeared to be venting plasma. "That does not look good," he said to Talarn.

Once the stamped of Operations and Engineering personnel had passed by, Stillwater and Talarn were left watching the damaged starship as it made it's way sluggishly to a docking area. "I thought we took a beating, but that starship has seen better days," commented Stillwater.

Talarn had put a hand on Barret's hip when he was pressed back and had yet to really remove it. His hand tightened a little. "I'd feel a lot better about all of this if I had an opinion that anyone would listen to. I know you do... but I mean, Starfleet. And it definitely does not look good." He had to admit that he wasn't totally up on everything that was going on in Starfleet or who they were currently in conflict with. "So frustrating to be caught between things." He growled softly. "Who has Starfleet pissed off recently?" he asked with a little hint of trepidation. Most people wouldn't even notice the Cardassian's unease, but Barret was in direct contact with his husband and could probably feel and hear Talarn's fear, the little tremor in his voice and the too tight grip on Barret's hip.

Stillwater listened to his husband and nodded. "Your opinion matters to me, and I am working my hardest with the connections I still have and have since made upon returning to get you back into uniform. Getting your officer commissioned rank back has been harder than I anticipated. The Academy Commandant will barely permit me to get into the records that the Academy has. All former Starfleet personnel that was let go during the 'purge' have their files sealed. I will get you back in uniform, Tal, I promise" Commander Barret Stillwater replied reassuringly.

"Who haven't we pissed off recently," he added as he transitioned to the other matter. "Even within the Federation, there was succession talks by various worlds including you know who with antennae twitching around," noted Stillwater. "The Federations attempt at placing Romulan refugees was not that popular of a decision. We had the resort to placing some Romulan refugees on remote colony worlds, some of which rest near borders and are still under territorial dispute. Then, just factor in opportunist. What a better time to launch a few attacks on Federation starships when our resources are down, our fleets split, and our borders with weakened defenses. We are vulnerable and they know it."

"Can't say that I blame them." He let his hand drop from Barret's hip, his eyes still focused out the window. "I know you're trying, Bar... I hope you don't think that I, in any way, hold you responsible for getting my uniform back." He sighed heavily. "I honestly have lost a lot of faith in Starfleet... I'm only concerned that they may tell you that I have no place on the ship as a civilian." He looked briefly at Barret, his gaze unsure. "It's bad enough that we had to leave our home for this... I don't want to be separated from you as well."

"Hey," Barret said as he placed his finger underneath the other man's chin, and adjusted it so that they were gazing into each other's eyes. "They are not taking you away from me. We are in this together, a package deal. It was the only way I was agreeing to come back into all of this. They get to have me only if I get to have you at my side. If they don't hold their end of the bargain, then the deal will be off and they can come to pick up their fancy slipstream drive equipped Merian class starship on Prairie."

Talarn held Barret's gaze, a small shy smile playing on his lips as his husband spoke. He finally chuckled softly. "I love you. Thank you for being so tenacious. It's honestly rather inspiring. I could just see you parking their fancy ship in our yard... right next to the cow barn. It's gonna kill the grass, you know..." he pointed out softly. "Do we get to charge them a storage fee? We could demand it in supplies... or sheep. I always wanted to try having sheep."

Stilwater chuckled. "You know those Klingons and the Romulans would not be to pleased to see a Federation ship landing on Prairie. I wonder how that nice young girl is doing with them? The Doctor's ex-wife, the one that took over are place... wait, are we charging her rent or anything or do you think all that work maintaining the land and house is enough?"

It had been an amusing topic for a moment, but at the mention of the house Talarn frowned and then his shoulders sort of slumped, his gaze dropping to the ground. He started to shake his head. "Bar... I don't want to talk about that. I'm sure it'll be fine." All he wanted, more than anything else, was to go back home to Prairie. He didn't want to think about anyone else living in their house, a house they had built together. It made him astoundingly sad when he thought about the house. "Please... can we not talk about that."

"Sure," replied Stillwater who took Talarn's hand. "Let's continue on our walk," he added as there was a damaged starship outside the observation area venting plasma. It would be difficult not to see that, but Stillwater knew they were likely going to hear more about this. "That," he said gesturing out at the starship "is not our concern right now, but be prepared. I have a feeling we will learn more about it."

Talarn found comfort in Barret's offered hand and squeezed it tightly. "Sorry. I didn't mean to be emotional." His gaze returned to the damaged starships as well. "And yes... we will learn more about those ships whether we want to or not, I'm sure."

"It's alright," replied Stillwater. He led Talarn away from the observation area. Together, they would continue on their stroll around the starbase, not knowing what the near future had in store for them.

 

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