Ending
Posted on Sat Mar 22nd, 2025 @ 12:47pm by Captain Lukas Fredricks & Captain Qa'ada MD & Commander Naois Mercy MD & Lieutenant Commander Reruk & Lieutenant Amelia Fox & Lieutenant JG Toareth Darqa
1,716 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Fortuna
Location: End of the Fortuna Mission
Timeline: Various, noted below
Captain's Log, U.S.S. Britannic:
After two weeks of intense work life at the Fortuna Colony has returned to a new normal for the people living there. The Starship Bradbury has arrived and will take over responsibility for continued monitoring of the colony. I will be joining them, temporarily, as Captain Fredricks has made a recovery and is returning to the Britannic.
Captain Qa'ada looked at his cabin aboard the Britannic, quickly surveying the room to ensure that he'd recovered all of his personal belongings. He'd only been on the ship for a few weeks, but it had felt like he'd been here for over a year. He'd miss the Britannic, but he knew that the ship would be well taken care of in the future under its original Captain.
Lieutenant Commander Reruk, the Hekaran Chief Science Officer, stood near to the Britannic's Acting Captain. Checking a datapad, "We've arranged for transport of your belongings, Captain. They should be waiting for you when you arrive."
"Thank you, Commander. Any news on the missing shuttle?" It had been two weeks, so he didn't really hold out much hope, but someone could dream he supposed.
"Actually, we did receive some information. The Mjolnir found the shuttle adrift near the Demilitarized Zone in the region called the Maelstrom. Starfleet deployed the USS San Francisco to try to find the pilot, but they've been unsuccessful so far."
The avian alien did his closest impression of a sigh, "I don't think they'll find him."
"Never know. The Cardassians have a strong presence in the Maelstrom, but the Federation has increased our presence there too. Shouldn't be too long. Have faith, Captain," the Hekaran chastised.
"I'll do my best," Qa'ada answered. "I need to get going. I have a meeting on the colony in an hour."
Reruk nodded and motioned, "This way, Sir."
"Thank you," the Aurelian said with a smile.
CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS / ROUEN QUARTERS
Toareth was packing her and Gabrielle's things while Gabrielle was running about playing with her things playing with Zirvell time and again.
It was a good thing Toareth and Rene had not fully moved into the Captain's Quarters. They knew their time was going to be temporary. They just did not know how temporary it was going to be. This left only a little bit for her to pack. With Rene being temporarily assigned to the Mjolnir as a security personnel during the hunt for the Dr. Tukuk doppelganger, and him having taken his belongings with him, this left Toareth with even less to pack. All in all, she only had two duffels worth of belongings to pack and move. That, and three box loads of Gabrielle's stuff.
"I will keep only what little I need here," she said to Zirvell, "so we can spend a few more nights until the captain returns. I hear he has fully recovered. Once he is back on board, you will be his ward once again."
Toareth said all that with something of a blank expression and in a flat voice. Relationships never seemed to last long with her. She thought she had found stability with Rene and now he was off on a hunt. She had been a guardian to Zirvell and now she was having to hand that responsibility back to the captain. At least she had Gabrille.
"How do you feel about the captain's return?" she asked Zirvell.
Zirvell looked up, taking note of the myriad of emotions that emanated from the woman. "I'm happy," he answered, "but I am grateful for my time with your family too. You're not my mother, but you made me feel welcome. I feel like I gained an aunt, if that's alright with you?"
He too has been told Lukas would be returning, but the when was still a mystery. "You can always visit," he added hopefully.
Toareth barely heard his words, but understood his sentiment all the same. "And you are always welcome in Sick Bay. Gabrielle will certain miss playing with you. In fact," she said and stood from her packing to face Zirvell, "I am thinking of approaching the captain about the possibility of creating a...uh...a page of sorts, a person...a civilian to perform certain tasks in Sick Bay and around the Medical Pods of the Britannic. It will mean set hours and some work. Not hard work. Just...work. How would you like to be our first candidate? Taken that the captain approves, of course."
The boy's eyes lit up in excitement. "I want to work in sickbay, after school," he said, "I already helped before... before you were boss and I do my homework there." Sickbay was his safe place, which was known among some of the crew. "I was to be a nurse," he added, "I want to be able to help and heal people."
"Great," she said. She forced a smile. It was genuine, just forced. "When the captain returns and I have a moment with him, I will bring it up."
In response, the boy wrapped his arms around her in genuine gratitude. "Thank you," he breathed, holding the hug for a fraction longer than necessary. "It's all I want, the to learn to help and heal others."
"Don't thank me yet," she said. There was some surprise to her voice as well as happiness at seeing Zirvell so excited and happy. "It is all up to the captain when he returns. I'm only going to make the suggestion." Considering their past, she did not think it too tall of an order. "I need to go and take care of a few things. I will be back soon to collect more of all this." She shouldered some of the belongings and started for the door. "Take care of Gabrielle please." She knew he would, as he had always done.
"Of course," the teenager answered, happy with the given responsibility.
Captain Qa'ada passed through the doors into the Transporter Room, quickly looking around to see that Captain Lukas Fredricks was already there, having been beamed aboard from the Bradbury. The avian alien's feathers, however, were not ruffled by the captain's arrival, quite the opposite in fact.
"Captain on deck," Qa'ada called out to Captain Fredricks.
Fredricks stood to attention as a mark of respect for Captain Qa'ada. "Permission to come aboard, Captain."
"Permission granted," the Aurelian answered. "Welcome home, Lukas. Just the way you left it, well, maybe a little better. Computer transfer all command codes to Captain Lukas Fredricks. Voice authorization: Qa'ada-alpha-three-one."
"Transfer complete. USS Britannic now under command of Captain Lukas Fredricks."
Fredricks nodded the acceptance of the command transfer. "I hereby relieve you, sir."
The Aurelian Captain nodded, "I am relieved." He took position on the Transporter platform, "Energize."
MAIN BRIDGE
Amelia sat in the Captain's chair, watching the view screen as the Bradbury assumed a standard orbit not far from the Brittanic.
From tactical, the ensign on watch reported. "Sir, the Bradbury is hailing us."
"On screen."
The image shifted to the First Officer of the Bradbury. He looked at Amelia curiously for a moment before he started to speak. "Transfer of officers complete Britannic. Your Captain has beamed aboard. We're standing by for Captain Qa'ada and transfer of mission logs so we can get caught up on what's been happening planet side"
"Acknowledged. Mission logs are being sent now." Amelia replied.
The Bradbury's first officer paused before continuing. "You know.... You look a lot like someone I saw on Starbase 308 last week. It's uncanny. Do you have a younger sister?"
Amelia shifted uncomfortably before replying. "I'm sorry, I have other business to attend to. Captain Qa'ada should be beaming over shortly. Britannic out." and she closed the channel abruptly. The silence on the bridge was deafening as she tried to resist looking at any of the bridge officers whose eyes she could feel were burning into her.
Finally, from tactical, the ensign spoke up "Sir... Is there.."
Without turning, Amelia cut him off "It's a personnel matter and I'll thank you to leave it at that!"
"Aye Sir."
Toareth entered the Bridge from the turbolift. Her empathy immediately picked up a tense air about the place. Without questioning it, she went straight to the medical station and logged in. "Sick Bay is in order. Transport of needed and released patients is on going. That will be concluded within the hour." As her terminal lit up, Toareth brought up her goings-on. "And all medical logs have been synched between Britannic and Bradbury. We are now up to date with Starfleet Medical," Toareth finished then added a, "Sir," to wrap up her update.
Amelia acknowledged Toar's report with a nod and a smile.
A few minutes went past before the turbolift door hissed open and Captain Fredricks appeared, followed by Commander Mercy.
"Captain on the bridge." An Ensign called out.
"As you were, everyone." Fredricks said holding up his hand to stop people from standing to attention. "It's good to see you all." He added as he walked down the ramp and round to the centre of the bridge.
Amelia rose from the Captain's chair as Fredricks approached. "Welcome back Captain. Everything is status quo.... more or less."
"Good to hear, Lieutenant." Lukas replied with a nod. "Has the Bradbury departed yet?"
"Not yet Sir." She replied as she took over the helm station.
"Final transports are underway, sir," came Toareth from her station. "Patient transfers," she listed off, "patient releases as well as the transfer of medical cargo and supplies. All transports and transfers should be concluded any minute now. Sir."
The Captain nodded his understanding. "Very well. Lieutenant Fox, once all transfers are complete and the Bradbury has departed, I want you to set a course for Deep Space Nine. Speed, warp 7."
Amelia worked her console. "Aye Sir. Course and Speed laid in. Message coming in from the Bradbury. Personnel and data transfer complete, safe jouneys Brittanic."
"Very well, Lieutenant. Engage." Lukas ordered before turning to his first officer. "Join me in the ready room. Lieutenant Fox, you have the bridge again." He added before standing and heading towards his ready room.
Naois stood and followed his friend and captain into their command sanctuary.
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