An Odd Request

Posted on Thursday, 8 April 2021 - 8:10am by Commander Soral & Captain Barret Stillwater & Lieutenant T'Lanna Vali

Mission: Operation: Peace or P'Jem
Location: USS Standing Bear | Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: 2394

ON:

Soral sat on the bridge in the big chair. Stillwater was in his ready room reading the away team report. It had been a couple days since they arrived and Soral had filed a report about destroying the ship and a whole host of things. He now awaited his fate.

It was not Stillwater that needed appeasing over the actions, but those who help encased rank pips of the heaviest weight: Rear Admirals to Admirals. They all wanted answers, and it was to Stillwater that they turned to.

Seated in his Ready Room, the Captain had been looking over the report once more. He had already done several read throughs to be thorough, and had asked Talarn to pull the tactical readouts from the shuttle that Soral had taken to support the report filed.


Stillwater got up from his desk, walked over to the replicator and ordered himself a drink. The rooibos tea was exactly what he needed in the moment. He stepped towards the threshold of his Ready Room and the Bridge, the doorway parting ways. "Commander," he called to Soral. "I'll see you in my Ready Room."

Soral acknowledged the call and then stood. He straightened his uniform and then headed to the Ready Room. He had filed a report and given the CO the file that the Romulan Major had prepared and now he awaited his fate. This was not going to be easy but he would stand by his actions.

Stillwater stepped aside and let Soral enter, then headed back towards his desk. "Well number one," Stillwater said shaking his head. "Your Tal'Shiar friend helped save your ass with recorded logs, but brass still is not pleased. Some of them are satisfied enough, but the boys at R&D are making a fuss. The way some see it, we just blew up our chance to get our hands on Romulan tech."

"Yes, it did. That was the Major's duty and I saw no reason to prevent it. Hasn't there been enough hate and rivalry. The empire is destroyed what more do they want?" He'd become more free with respect to speaking with the CO.

"It's true that the Empire has fallen, but with as many decades as the Federation and Starfleet have been unable to actively study cloaking technology let alone phase cloaking technology...officially, you know certain aspects of Starfleet would have preferred studying that vessel and it's technology." Stillwater wasn't speaking of himself. "I'm just the messenger here."

"I know sir. I will take the consequences of whatever Starfleet decides. The crew of the shuttle knew nothing."

Stillwater waved dismissively. "They are desk commanders, Soral. They haven't Commanded a starship or Starbase in several years, or if ever. They are all bark and no bite. You did what was necessary and cleanly. If they trying to come in swinging, they will have another thing coming."

The Captain shook his head. "I just am glad to be getting away from that area of space. Lieutenant Vali was severely affected."

"Indeed. I had heard. She seemed to be recovering now. The psychic impressions of those lost are all here. I can feel it took." He rubbed the bridge of his nose showing clear signs of strain.

"She felt it enough that it damn well nearly killed her," noted Stillwater firmly. "I take responsibility for that. I pushed her to her limitations and a bit beyond. How about you? How are you handling everything?"

Soral sighed, "I am alright. It has been a difficult time for me. That brings me to the reason I am here. From the Romulan's rescued there is a boy about 10 named N'vek."

"No mention of his parents, I take this is the boy that had a father who stayed with the Romulan vessel." Stillwater stirred in his seat a bit. "The Federation can work on trying to find any living relatives he may still have."

"There will be none. His father N'vek senior was on the ship and his mother, an orphan...is dead. She is the mother of my children. He has no family and by will of his mother...he's been left to me."

Stillwater nodded "I see," the Captain said. "That may be a bit problematic. We aren't exactly a family ship, far from it. Lieutenant Vali was certainly an unintended situation, coming aboard pregnant. I still have my reservations."

"I understand sir, it is on the advice of Lieutenant Vali that I ask. Perhaps if she explained her reasoning?" He asked wondering if they should call Vali.

"I'm not about to deny a child the opportunity at having a family especially after losing theirs, and Lieutenant Vali is suited for helping patients with trauma." Stillwater sighed "I just...the ship is only so big. We aren't meant for long term passengers or families. There has to be a point where it's either people request reassignment or make their familial situations work as is."

Captain Stillwater decided to advance the topic forward. "We had better have Lieutenant Vali come in. If you are going to be taking care of this child, the are going to need to see her."

T’Lanna was in her quarters going over personnel files and requests for counselling appointments. Her son was sleeping peacefully in his crib at her side, she’d been busy arranging childcare for when it was needed too. With the alterations to the ship that Stillwater had sorted for family centred areas she’d had to interview a nanny/teacher, when not needed she was part of the small civilian population onboard. T’Lanna was, for all intents and purposes, still finishing off her maternity leave, not that she’d really rested much anyway.

Soral sighed. He opened the communications and called Vali to come to the captain's ready room. While they waited an idea formulated in his mind as to how to accommodate young N'vek."

T’Lanna acknowledged the summons and quickly arranged to drop off her son with his nanny, she couldn’t take Jayce to a meeting with her. It took an extra few minutes but she arrived at the ready room, straightening her uniform she pressed the chime.

Stillwater summoned the woman in question to the ready room.

Walking in T’Lanna offered an apologetic glance. “My apologies, I had to drop off Jayce enroute.”

Soral gave a nod. "We will not keep you long counselor. You are here to lend your knowledge and opinion with respect to N'vek."

T’Lanna nodded and took a seat. “In my opinion N’vek needs to be with people he knows. Since losing his father, he’s also come to lose his mother, and you Commander ..” She looked at Soral. “are now the closest thing he has to a father. Sending him away right now could prove detrimental in the long run. I, for one, would recommend him staying onboard. Let him get to know Soral and Alex, I’d be happy to help out where I can.”

"Moot points," replied Stillwater. "I am not in the business of shipping off orphans to random places. For the time being, he can stay aboard in Commander Soral and Lieutenant Kingsley's custody."

T’Lanna smiled warmly as she looked to Soral then back at Barret. “That’s wonderful, he’s a nice boy, and he deserves a chance to grow up with a caring family. I’m not pretending it’ll be easy though, he’s lost so much already it may prove difficult for him to form emotional bonds again.”

Soral sighed. "I do have a solution as to his...quarters. As you know sir, I have a small office attached to my quarters I can turn that into a bedroom for the time being I do not need an office per say. With your permission I can get that done within a few days." He cleared his throat. "I also have requests for both of you, if you are willing."

“Always” T’Lanna nodded and offered her usual trademark smile.

"That should be suitable for the time being," noted Stillwater. "What is your request, Commander?"

"They boy will need to be educated. I will be utilizing several people to assist in this. Captain," He said looking at Stillwater. "I would like to ask if you would be so kind as to teach the boy the history of your people, perhaps aid in the importance of a balanced life?"

He turned to the counselor then, "Counselor I will need your help to ensure the boy receives counseling and learns stress management if that is alright."

"I could probably teach the boy history in general," offered Stillwater. "He's going to want to know about his people arguably more than my own."

T’Lanna nodded. “I will be happy to help N’vek. As a mother myself, I feel for him and I will do everything I can to help him.”

He gave a nod. "I thank you both." Now that things were settled he couldn't help but feel a little fear. He had kids but they were on Vulcan, could he be a good father. He stood. "Well then if you two are alright with everything I shall go tend to the office transformation and speak with N'vek."

T’Lanna nodded and smiled. “If you ever need someone to babysit just call.”

Soral gave a nod. "Thank you Counselor."

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