Fleet Opening Mission: To Our Future

[Steve Malloway]

STARBASE THRINACIA, Merenion Nebulae Cluster
Starbase Commander's Office
1045 hours

Steve sat back in his chair, placing the last PADD atop the single pile that now sat to his left on the surface of the desk. He was finally up to date, which was a good thing too as the stack of PADDs had began to look like the Leaning Tower of Pisa; one more PADD and the thing would lose balance and topple.

His gaze scanned around his office for a moment, breathing lightly as he smiled. Almost 4 years he'd held this office and so many memories, both good and bad, flooded through his mind as he sat there in silence. The walls would speak a thousand stories if they could, a number of them ones he was not proud of. But alas, they had happened and made him the man he was today.

Steve’s eyes stopped on one of the framed pictures that sat on his desk, and he paused for a moment looking at the 3 figures. He smiled crookedly as they sat with their arms round each other. He chuckled as he thought of his daughter; 3 years old in that picture, but now 18 and in the Academy. He then shifted his mind to the other two; himself and his now ex-wife. He hadn’t seen Emily in almost 10 years, and even then that was awkward enough. They’d been married 10 years, and Jenna had been 8 when the divorce had gone through. Time flew when ya didn’t think about it.

The hardest part was not having seen his daughter in almost 3 years now. His little’un as he used to call her. He thought back to all the birthdays she’d had, smiling as images flashed across of her jumping for joy at all her cakes and indeed the presents. His chest then tightened and the smile disappeared as the thought of all those he’d missed. Birthdays, Christmas, school plays and so much more. Not much of a Father if you thought about it. Sure, he’d kept in touch via subspace, but it wasn’t the same as actually being there; feeling the smaller being place her arms around your neck as you walked in the door and whisked her up to cuddle her close. Knowing that for that small space of time that she was safe. Then, leaving. His career had not helped his family life, and he knew it. And sufficed to say, he’d paid well for the mistakes he’d made in choosing to progress further in Starfleet.

“Anyway.” Steve blinked hard, standing up and tugging the front of his tunic straight as we walked around his desk. “Time to get the grind working.” He mused lightly, walking to the door back into the Command Centre, leaving his past where it belonged; tucked away.

“Admiral on deck!” He heard one of the younger, new, officers call out; immediately the new arrivals turned and stood to attention. Those that knew Steve on the other hand, carried on.

“As you were.” Steve replied, allowing himself a small smile and slight shake of his head as he watched everyone carry on with their tasks at hand. He’d allow them that one for this one time, maybe the senior officers would bring the newer ones up to speed. ‘Don’t call out when the Admiral appears. Everyone knows when he’s around’. Steve chuckled as he recalled the expression he’d overheard a few months back, stepping into the turbolift as he noticed Connor wasn’t on the deck. Must be sorting out Targus or the last of the preparations for this evening and afternoon. He thought to himself. He’d not had Connor onboard long, a few months, if that, he couldn’t remember exactly, but had come to understand that the Commander was not one for slacking. If he wasn’t to be seen, he was definitely getting something sorted. A quality Steve was glad Connor possessed.

“Guest quarters.” The Admiral called out, realising the doors had closed and he wasn’t moving. It had been a long past 24 hours. At least, that was his excuse. As he felt the small vibrations rumble beneath his feet, he looked slowly around the inside of the turbolift cab. Something felt different about the station, he couldn’t quite put his finger on it either; but yet it was a good different. “Well I hope it is.” He muttered aloud, looking ahead as the cab stopped and the doors parted smoothly. One good thing about having a fairly recently commissioned Starbase – everything was in working order.

As he continued down the corridors, Steve smiled, nodded and acknowledged his crew that passed him, stopping occasionally to speak to some of them, getting to know a couple here and there. He respected each and every one of them, and took every opportunity to show them all in turn whenever he could. Stationed so close to the Cardassian border, it wasn’t an easy assignment for people to understand; well, understand was probably the wrong word, but with the assignment here came some slight unease about the location. With the past history the Cardassians had, who knew what would lay around each corner. Luckily for the crew the Cardassians didn’t know about the Gateway yet… but, once they did, it certainly wouldn’t help to put everyone’s minds at ease.

“Admiral.” Steve looked up as he turned a corner, seeing the two security officers stood either side of Ornixen’s door, one of which having had addressed him.

“Lieutenant?” He replied quizzically. He hadn’t authorised the detail. “And why might you be here?” He asked, standing directly infront of them both. “Infact, nevermind. Ambassador Ornixen,” He addressed the Kuchaba with a Starfleet rank, allowing the subordinates to realise his status, “is a guest under my own personal invite. Now bugger off and don’t crowd him unless ordered by myself, and myself alone.” He winked as he grinned at the two officers.

“Yessir.” They both replied at once, smiling back as they realised Steve meant no offence, marching off down the hall momentarily.

“Youngsters.” He mused quietly, reaching out to touch the panel to Ornixen’s quarters, hearing the muffled ‘bleep’ of the chime within.

TAG: ORNI