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Posted on Thursday, 18 February 2021 - 3:19pm by Lieutenant JG Adrianna Eberhardt & Crewman Leopold Eberhardt

Mission: Operation: Trail of Tears

Adrianna Baciami was home ready. She'd taken the afternoon to be with Leopold. She knew it could be nerve-wracking, she'd been there. The woman had prepared a beer, a shot of grappa and a cup of tea. She'd lined them up for him to choose if he needed courage or to relax.

"Pick my poison I see," commented Leopold as he eyed the selection. He was going to do it; Today, he needed to send a message to his folks back on Ekos. "I'll take the beer" said Leopold as he reached for it and took a few good swigs.

He was not going to turn down a bit of added liquid courage. "Let's do it," he said nodding to his fiancé. He was ready to sit down and record the thing, say his piece to his parents, and update them on his life.

"I thought you would appreciate it," Adrianna downed the grappa and bottled or disposed of the rest. Adrianna smiled warmly and kissed his cheek, "I'll be right here." She stood out of camera shot and took a breath, signalling to him to also take one, "they'll love it." Adrianna had set up the device that Eyelaya had made exactly how Grol had explained. She'd relayed the message to Leopold about the green button to start. It was up to him now.

Leopold was seated and took a deep breath. It was now or never and the message was now being recorded. So, he pressed on awkwardly. "Mother and father, Hello. I am recording this message to you from aboard the Federation Starship Standing Bear. I know father, why would you name a ship that? That was my thought too, but it has an interesting story behind it and I hope to tell you in person someday soon."

Leopold looked at Adrianna and smiled. "I am not alone here. I have made friends, and I have found a woman, mother. Her name is Adrianna and I think both you and father will like her very much. She is a Human from Earth. I am sorry that I was a problem child and that I ran away. I needed to do it and to do this here. I joined Starfleet and I know you are probably not happy about that, but I want you to know that I am...I am happy and if you have been worrying about me, do not. I am well taken care of and Adrianna makes sure I have more than just beer."

Adrianna smiled at him. He was doing great. She was also blushing at her mention. Adrianna had never been brought home to meet family in the relationship context. This was new territory.

"Yes, she is beautiful," he said. "I know that you will wonder and then you will contemplate how I possibly could have gotten her, but she is with me by her own free will. I promise I did not purchase her from the Syndicate nor second hand from the Ferengi," Leopold asserted. "And no, I am not making her up. We both would like for you to meet her, but I do not know when I possibly will be able to make it home to do so."

Leopold glanced over at Adrianna. "Come here," he called to her. "They won't believe me unless you actually show yourself, oh and please clarify you are not property, rented or otherwise."

Adrianna was taken back a little. He wasn't kidding; he was being serious. She stepped next to him, "hello, I'm Adrianna Baciami, I also work on the USS Standing Bear, but I'm in Intelligence. We met waiting for the Standing Bear before deployment. We were friends first and foremost." The Italian looked back to Leopold and put her hand on his shoulder, "I look forward to marrying him." She paused and then clarified, "by choice, that is."

"See," Leopold said chuckling. "She is real and is doing this on her own accord with me as a couple." He looked at Adrianna. "You did a good job for being put on the spot."

Adrianna smiled and kissed the top of his head. She'd do anything for him. "He really is doing well here. The ship wouldn't run without him. From a personal perspective, he keeps me grounded too. He had been such a rock, especially in the past few weeks. Leopold really is the kindest, strongest and most courageous person I know. I wouldn't change him for the world."

Leopold found her descriptions amusing as it was a far cry from how his mother would have described him and his work ethic only a few years ago, but he was also not exactly the same version of himself now, even in the past few months with Adrianna, she had elevated his progress and changed his trajectory to a much better path. He was appreciative of everything she had done for him, and she was going to him an excellent wife.

He inserted himself back into the recorded message, taking the spotlight off Adrianna. "I know some of that may be difficult for you to believe and that my joining Starfleet was not what you wanted from me more where you expected me to end up when I left home, but it is where I am, and I know that once you see us in person, you'll come to accept my new life."

Leopold looked over at Adrianna. "I think that about covers it," he said with a smile. He looked back as though looking at his parents. "There's more, but I do not want to share everything with you like this. I want to do it in person whenever that is a possibility."

Adrianna nodded and stepped out of shot to turn off the recording for him. One he gave the the nod and everything was off she asked, "you feel OK?"

"A little bit like I am going to vomit, but I think it is just all the emotions and the nervousness of contacting my parents after so long," Leopold explained. "They are going to be pretty surprised with everything, and even I am kind of surprised with how everything has gone over the past few years since leaving home."

Adrianna stepped over and sat on his lap. She kissed his cheek softly then rested her head on his shoulder. "I, personally, am glad you're here, right here, right now."