Captain Roshanara Rahman: The Good Work

[richyulin]

((Docking Terminal, Star Station Esperance))

::As Roshanara and Mei’konda walked through the massive station that was Star Station Esperance, the captain reflected on their recent trip back into the Federation core. It was truly a stark contrast, the life within the Shoals versus the life beyond. With the advent of quantum slipstream, the vast distances across the quadrants had shrunk. Subspace communication had improved to the point that whole organizations operated through holo-conferencing only. Even those in long distance relationships were now enjoying virtual holidays with a few days spent “together” linked via coordinating holosuites.::

::And yet all of those comforts and conveniences still relied on the labor of those who’d never see such things back in the Shoals. The great quantum slipstream starliners like the one she and Mei’konda had taken to get back to Esperance needed the rare benamite crystals found on Karakka and a few other scattered rocks in and along the Shadows. The hunger for dilithium wasn’t going away either with greater civilian travel opened up in the decades following the Dominion War.::

::Although mostly a social and networking event, in her conversations with some of the other COs and flag officers who had attended the Admirals’ Banquet, Roshanara had learned that concerns continued to mount back at Starfleet Command with the ever delicate state of interstellar affairs. The Romulans had brazenly invaded Duronis II, counting on little protest from the Federation, and so far, their gamble had proved correct, with the Federation Council unwilling to commit to a military response. Ironically, if the Starfleet crew at the embassy there hadn’t been able to thwart the invasion, the Council might have been forced to take bolder action. For now, the politicians and the top Starfleet brass in San Francisco seemed to have adopted a wait-and-see approach to the Romulan Star Empire.::

::Meanwhile, intelligence reports showed a continued military buildup along the “northern” Tholian border in the Menthar Corridor near Astrofori One. The heralded “forum among the stars” was already facing internal struggles with the Romulans being one of the four major members of the station, along with the Federation, Breen, and Kubarey. After the Duronis II invasion, the Federation condemned the Romulans’ actions, and the Romulans subsequently threatened to pull out of the Astrofori One initiative, threatening the station’s long-term viability. If the Romulans withdrew their defensive support of the station as well, it opened Astrofori One to a possible Tholian attack.::

::All of which was to say that Roshanara was sent back to the Shoals to “keep up the good work.” Her superiors sympathized with the struggles that the locals were facing, and while Jilor’s attack on Antor had been most troubling, he’d also been captured. If anything, Veritas had demonstrated to the admiralty that she was more than capable of handling whatever the Shoals could throw at her.::

::There was still concern about disgruntlement among the colonists. An election cycle had begun on Ketar, and isolationist and even secessionist rhetoric had been floated in the campaigns of some rising stars. The Federation Council advised Starfleet to send either Veritas or Montreal to the colony as soon as possible. But even if Veritas left now, it would take at least eight weeks to get there, and that was assuming travel conditions lined up in their favor.::

::”Keep up the good work.” Maybe she should have that put on a plaque and hung in her ready room when she got back to Veritas.::

Rahman: I never tire of the people watching when I’m here.

::She continued to walk towards the shuttle docked at the end of the terminal.::

Mei’konda: Response

Rahman: So… are you ever going to tell me what you and Admiral Kersten were chatting about in the corner for half the night?

Mei’konda: Response

::She chuckled as they neared the shuttle.::

Rahman: I read the reports. I know they’re looking for a few new COs—including one for the Astraeus.

Mei’konda: Response

Rahman: Well, if I need to put in a good word for you, don’t hesitate to let me know.

Mei’konda: Response

::They arrived at the shuttle to find two other familiar faces.::

Rahman: Hitching a ride, I see?

Rosek: Response

Skyfire: Response

Mei’konda: Response

Rahman: Not at all. Better use of the fuel, anyway. How have you two been?

Rosek: Response

Skyfire: Response

Mei’konda: Response

::She nodded.::

Rahman: Well, all we need now is our pilot.

::She turned back out towards the lines of people walking by in the terminal. She didn’t have to wait long before an Andorian in red emerged from the crowd.::

Valoru: Response

Rahman: Ensign. I’m Captain Roshanara Rahman. This is Commander Mei’konda, along with Dr. Skyfire and Lt. Commander Rosek.

Valoru: Response

Rosek: Response

Skyfire: Response

Mei’konda: Response

::She nodded in approval.::

Rahman: All right then. Once you’re set, we’re ready to go, ensign.

Valoru: Response

::She headed into shuttlecraft Ferdinand, carrying her luggage.::

TAG! TBC…

Captain Roshanara Rahman

Commanding Officer, USS Veritas

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