Conversations and Reassurances

Posted on 08 Mar 2020 @ 5:47pm by Fleet Admiral Sho'Thor & Rear Admiral Azura Ashcart

1,247 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Empty Creche
Location: Command Hangers, Star Fleet Headquarters, Earth
Timeline: ED 3: 0450

ON:

Azura debarked the shuttle with his sleeping daughter and headed straight for Admiral Thor's quarters where he knew the Vulcan would be. He was less than pleased being taken off of the Redemption but understood the necessity, when they spoke Ashcart was sure there was something the elder Vulcan just wasn't telling him and he wanted to know what it was. What required him to be promoted and stuck behind a desk when he could be of more use out in the field. He had no more gotten three paces away from the shuttle when a young JG in intelligence gray approached him.

"Admiral Ashcart?" she asked in a manner that made him believe she knew just who he was.

"As it stands yes." he replied one arm full of child the other bags.

"If you will follow me sir, personnel has you billeted in the Flag Officer's Compound. Please follow me." she said quickly as she turned to leave the shuttle bay.

He picked up his bags and cradled Savannah in his arms and followed. “Please do lead on.” he said as he walked behind the woman. They passed through several building and many security checkpoints before making it to his billet.

“Here you go sir.” the woman grinned and waggled her finger at Savannah. The doors swooshed open and Ashcart walked in, “Thank you Lieutenant. You are dismissed.” He walked forwards and the doors closed behind him.

Azura walked to the couch and dropped his pack on the cushions before heading to the replicator to make a bottle for the baby and some tea for himself. He tapped his commbadge and opened a channel to his uncle.

“Ashcart to Thor.”

“Thor here” came the quick response after only a few seconds of silence.

“Admiral could you meet me in my quarters? I have something to discuss.” Azura said simply as he eased the baby onto her back and popped the nipple into her mouth after testing it for temperature.

“Of course, I'll be there in a few moments.” then the com channel ended.

Azura eased himself down onto a seat as Savannah ate and he sipped a warm tea closing his eyes to try and relax and focus on what was needed next. It wasn't more than ten minutes before there was a chime at the door that pulled Azura from his thoughts.

"Come." he said aloud as he opened his eyes and stood, the door to his quarters swished open and his uncle walked in.

"Thank you for coming to see me Admiral." Azura said formally setting the tone for the meeting.

"Always, what can I do for you?" Thor responded with barely any inflection in his voice.

"Please sit." Azura said motioning to the chair across from him at the table while Savannah let out a happy little squeal. She didnt know who the man was but she knew that he was family. Thor stepped quietly to the adjacent seat and sat his eyes glued to the child in Azura's arms and waited for the younger man to begin.

"What, Admiral, the hell happened here? What happened to West and more importantly what happened to the children?" there was a slight undertone of concern in Azura's voice as he spoke frankly to his uncle and the head of Star Fleet.

"We dont know exactly what happened to West, there have been reports that he has been forgetful of late, preoccupied as it were. Then we found him curled up in a ball in is office right after the children were kidnapped, not long after that he went comatose. He has had bouts of fits where he screams about past missions, about the lost children, about his wife and about Crystal. Those are followed by long periods of being in a coma. The doctors dont know exactly what's going on and cant seem to find any reason for it. What they do know is that his brain waves are drastically different from the last time he had a physical." Thor sighed as he moved to take Savannah from Azura "May I?" he asked.

"Of course." Azura said as he offered the child to her great granduncle. "So his brain waves have changed and he goes crazy. How were you not able to see he was cracking?"

Thor looked as sheepish as a Vulcan could as he held the girl in his arms "It would appear his daughter was sneaking into his office and 'assisting' him with his work. Making sure the orders were sent out and checking them against previous orders. She is to much like her father."

Azura's jaw almost hit the floor "Your kidding me, Crystal was sneaking in and doing his work for him? Even for her that's a bridge to far, or if you look at it in a different light that's promotional potential. How far along is she in the Academy?" Ashcart asked as he sipped his tea.

"She'll be commissioned in a few months with this graduating class." Thor replied as he hugged the little girl against him and waited for her to finish her bottle.

"When she is I want her as my assistant. She might as well get ready for Intell because you know that's what she's going to want to pursue."

"I'm aware, I've contacted the Commandant and worked it out with him to get her authorized as your temporary assistant until graduation. Once that's done and she has her pip you can talk to personnel and have it made permanent." Thor remarked as the baby pushed the bottle away and looked at the man knowingly. Thor placed the bottle on the table and lifted her to his shoulder patting her on the back gently.

"Now the latest mission of the Redemption, what happened with the children? How were they taken?" Azura asked getting up and grabbing a PADD from his belonging on the couch to turn it on and look at the report.

"That we dont quite know yet. We do know they accessed the creche with some years old access codes for one of your agents. Your people are pulling the codes and looking to see which agent it was and accessing their missions for the time frame that those codes were active. Hopefully by the time you get to your office you should have a report waiting for you." Thor responded flatly.

"Well where am I supposed to keep her, I cant have her in the background while I'm running the skulduggery department. Forgive me for saying but Star Fleet dosent have a very sterling record when it comes to keeping children safe."

"I will speak with your grandmother and see if she has any ideas. For now I'll take her, my schedule for today is mostly reading and I can do that here." Thor said as he baby burped and then giggled happily on his shoulder. "In other words, go do your job she'll be safe with me."

Azura sighed and nodded "Very well, but if you loose her Keisha will bring the Redemption here and blow us both off the planet..." there was more he wanted to say but decided against it "I'll be back." he said as he bent over Thor's shoulder and kissed the forehead of his daughter then left the quarters for his office.

OFF

Sho'Thor
Fleet Admiral
Chief of Star Fleet Operations

&

Azura Ashcart
Rear Admiral
Head of Star Fleet Intelligence/Master of the Company

 

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