[Paradise-IV] 970401.00 JL Birthday Surprise (RAdmL Vilqa, CO 14th Fleet; aCapt T. Blake, CO USS Tremaine)

[Paradise-IV Logs]

The admiral smiled inwardly, she knew Dharmajiva would understand this was
the way of Starfleet after all, the very reason why Captain's choose the
crew they do for certain roles. It was only a couple months ago she spoke
with Marcus, now it was Toby's turn. Vilqa had wondered, somewhat guiltily
if she held him back for  her own personal reasons? It was time, she'd come
to realization that she'd let him grow his wings and take what he'd learned
on board the Audax, Vimy Ridge and now here on Paradise and create his own
path and nurture the next batch of officers the fleet had to offer.
 
It was approximately a month ago, perhaps less that she'd gotten word of a
possible new opening becoming available, the Admiral jumped at the
opportunity and had gotten nothing but glowing recommendations from Vin. It
wasn't that K`y needed his approval or recommendation but it was a benefit
that she had it. As was normal for Paradise communications were not working
properly and so the Admiral had sent a messenger to fetch Toby.
 
Wondering what the Admiral wanted Toby followed the messenger back to the
Admiral’s office. He’d not really seen much of her since her promotion, and
he felt bad about that. A part of him was worried that he was about to be
seriously reprimanded for the steps he took to bring the riot under some
kind of control, the rest was practically a nervous wreck with curiosity and
worry about why. Stopping outside the door to the Admiral’s office he
reached out to touch the annuncicator, letting the chime sound to announce
his arrival.
 
"Enter," Vilqa stated as she was misting the orchid that Cait had given her
all that time ago. The plant still reblooming season after
season.Seeing who it was she motioned for Toby to enter, "I see you were
found," the woman lowered the mister and returned to her desk. "Feeling
better I hope?" She was referring to the last time they saw each other at
the hospital.
 
With a nod Toby stepped in and moved towards the desk, “Yes, Admiral. It
would seem my projective strength has grown just as my receptive strength
has.” His now mixed blue eyes watched the woman before him. He knew how to
deal with Captain Vilqa, but Admiral Vilqawas a different matter, so he fell
silent and waited to see where things were heading.
 
"Hmmm," was the simple response she gave, her fingers shifting her bangs off
her forehead, not quite used to the new cut. Pulling her chair out she sat
down, "How do you enjoy being down here on Paradise? Working under
Dharmajiva?" The questions then continued, "Any challenges in suddenly being
placed not only under new command but this down here is certainly very
different than a vessel."
 
Toby placed his hands on the back of the visitor’s chair, which he had not
yet sat in, and watched the Admiral, “It’s alright. Nothing like being on a
ship though. I miss the Vimy, though I enjoy working under Captain
Dharmajiva, he’s a lot like you in what he expects of his First Officers.
The greatest challenge here is getting over the civilian dislike of
Starfleet, and I fear that I have made that worse with what I did. Now it’s
not just dislike, but fear.”
 
"Yes what occurred at the hospital opening was a great disappointment." Her
eyes shifted to the chair, "Have a seat of you like," she nestled back in
her chair so that it rocked back ever so slightly. "I need to ask you a
serious question, and yes your answer will be considered however there is a
decision that I have made what will not change even by what you say."
 
His mind lurched into overdrive, like a hamster on a wheel going nowhere
fast, at the Admiral’s words and he busied himself with sitting down to hide
any worry in his eyes, then he nodded, “Understood Admiral.”
 
"Toby, I need to know. You are a family man married with a child," K`y
shifted her lips a moment in thought, "Have you ever considered the fact
that there may be a time where you and Cait will need to serve separately?"
The question caused the bottom to drop out of his stomach, he suddenly felt
like he was in a shuttle without inertial dampeners and Lox behind the
controls, he licked his lips nervously, “Yes, we’ve both considered it.
Neither of us like the idea, but we are in Starfleet, the only way around it
would be to resign and that’s not what either one of us want to do.”
 
K`y's fingers tapped her lip a moment as she considered her next move of the
chess pieces on the board then she pushed a PADD forward, "One of my roles
now is to ensure each of our vessels is manner appropriately and complete
tasks as ordered." Her eyes motioned to the PADD as a hint for him to pick
it up, "It seems there is a vessel that has not been up to the standards
that I expect in terms of her command staff. I am finding myself in a
situation where I need to make extreme changes." 
 
As much as he longed to do so, Toby did not read K`y. Instead he reached for
the PADD as he asked, “Oh? And what kind of changes are those Admiral?”
 
"USS Tremaine," K`ylana started, "the command staff had potential to
become permanent but for whatever reason which I am not privy to share that
is not occurring. Toby," her eyes narrowed ever so slightly, "I think you
are ready. I want to give you the opportunity to command a vessel."
 
It was truly a good thing that Toby was sitting down, first the name of the
ship hit him in the gut like a blunted bat’leth then K`y’s next words
slammed into him like a roaring tempest like the killer hurricanes on Earth
before the weather satellite system. He looked up at K`y, his eyes so open
that white showed all around, and he had to swallow several times before he
could speak, “I? Me? Are you serious K`y?” In his shock he forgot to be
formal. It wasn’t that he hadn’t ever considered such, or dreamed of it, but
that was in the future, when Rose was older.

She laughed at the informality of his response and dumbfounded expression,
"Yes Toby. I am serious. I want you to take command of the vessel." This is
where she looked to him seriously, "It will be your vessel and your crew.
You will need to make difficult decisions on her manning I suspect but that
is not for me to decide. Look over her roster and carefully analyze her
senior staff."

“I just… I… wow. Thank you Admiral… Some days I still feel like that
confused little ensign who couldn’t step right with you at first. This… this
means a lot to me.” He looked the roster over, “I shall most assuredly do
so.”

K`y stood up and motioned for Toby to do the same, "But we are not done. You
will have tasks to complete here before you leave the planet however I
cannot allow you to leave this vessel without officially promoting you to
the rank of Acting Captain as of this star date."

Toby rose and watched K`y, the promotion to Acting Captain, was somewhat
expected as one doesn’t usually command a ship as a commander, yet still it
was quite the honor and he smiled, “Thank you Admiral.” Before he left Toby
shook K`y's hand, then he headed out with the PADD holding the listing of
who was assigned to the ship already and who was available for transfer.

__________________________________

R Admrl K`ylana Vilqa
CO 14th Fleet

(a)Captain Tobias "Toby" Blake
Captain USS Tremaine

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