[JP] Mei'konda Delano, Addison MacKenzie, Serala, Roshanara Rahman, & Sal Taybrim, Pres. Chekov - We Prevailed, Part 1
Serala
(( Champ de Mars Park, Paris, Earth ))
The aftermath of Frontier Day felt as involved as the build up to that fateful day, with massive coordination across Starfleet and other Federation agencies to handle the cleanup and salvage operations of the decimated fleet in Earth’s orbit. Starfleet Medical had called upon as many reserve and retired officers to come back to duty to handle the collective trauma a new generation of Starfleet officers were experiencing. And with the death of so many veteran officers and flag personnel, it was clear that while the cities of Earth may have been spared from destruction, Starfleet itself as an organization would never be the same again. In effect, the Borg and changelings had succeeded in destroying their nemesis – or at least very much what Starfleet had been.
With the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower along the Seine, the survivors of Frontier Day had assembled for a memorial service and address by Federation President Chekov.
Mei’konda had never been to Paris before. He’d flown over it a few times during shuttle training, many years ago when he was still a Cadet attending the Academy in San Francisco. The Eiffel Tower was an interesting structure, one that had a lot of history behind it. Many European cities and towns seemed to be that way, and the Caitian found the retention of history to be appealing.
It reminded him of a few places on Ferasa Prime, otherwise known as Cait, where sentient-made structures were more easily preserved. The planet’s many massive, humid jungles made preservation of anything of the sort difficult, at least without unacceptable levels of interference in their ecosystem.
Mei had arrived wearing his dress uniform. It seemed only appropriate, given that he wasn’t sure if he was going to be in trouble for the part he played in both ordering and enabling his First Officer, Serala, to steal the Chin’toka during the Frontier Day battle. He still wasn’t sleeping particularly well, but the slightly off-the-books activities he’d ordered in the Sol system on that day were the least of his worries.
Addison MacKenzie wasn’t used to finding herself in such distinguished company, let alone considering herself among their ranks. Still, she found comfort in their all being there. In the days and weeks after Frontier Day, she’d spent more than her fair share of time autopsying and identifying the dead… and notifying their next of kin. That this group of officers had gathered here on this day to listen to President Chekov speak meant that they might finally have reached a point where Starfleet considered itself capable of moving forward.
Serala had arrived ahead of schedule. No one had yet relieved her of command of the Chin’toka, and she wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. Several people, including Captain Delano, had assured her she should have nothing to worry about, but she was still worried. And not only that, but apparently the Caitian’s career was now on the line as well since he’d ordered her to take the ship.
But that all aside, there was a massive assembly being held here in the famous park and Serala was determined to ensure that she was present and that her crew was as well. She’d donned the dress uniform, and had asked Maria to watch the boys and T’Saara, who she had finally been able to reunite with a few hours ago. President Chekov was also set to speak and she had been quite impressed with the man for the brief time he’d been aboard, so she was eager to hear him speak again. She glanced around after checking her uniform’s grooming, and spotted Commodore Taybrom, Captain MacKenzie, Captain Rahman, and Captain Delano. Several other commanding officers were present as well, and other officers were starting to arrive and gather into their respective crews.
Sal Taybrim was fashionably late. While so many others had been working on the ground, he had been tasked with high level reports and coordinations, finding that the vast majority of the superior officers he used to report to were dead. There was a pang of sadness for that, the heavy weight of loss and the delay of the incomprehensible change that Starfleet was about to undertake.
And yet, within it, the slender Betazoid saw rays of hope. Starfleet had grown bloated and bureaucratic, there was dissent in the outer worlds of the Federation that had gone increasingly unaddressed over the past years leading to the rise in unrest, the predation of pirates and the formation of terrorist groups like Terra Prime. Taybrim was not the sort of man to dwell too long in the past. Once the grief was processed he would look towards the future, helping fresh young leaders shine, steadfast in the belief that they would build something better for the future.
Rahman: Commodore Taybrim!
The short Kriosian raised her arm to signal to StarBase 118’s CO where the other captains had gathered.
Taybrim: Captain Rahman! ::He grinned warmly:: It’s been an age.
If only this were a more joyous occasion. Beneath the smile there was sobriety, but that didn;t stop the Betazoid Commodore from enjoying some reunions.
Serala noticed Captain Rahman signal them over and began to make her way over, wondering if there had been any word on her status. She’d heard about the loss of the Kitty Hawk and wondered how the Captain was taking it. She smiled and nodded at each of them.
Mei had been sticking close to Serala. Perhaps it was something of a paternal, protective instinct over her. It wasn’t like she needed him to defend her, of course - really, it was the other way around, seeing as Serala could wipe the floor with him in a sparring session any day, anywhere.
But that didn’t mean he’d been any less irritated when, during some of the initial hearings directly after the attacks, a Rear Admiral or two had expressed misgivings about Serala’s actions, and Mei’konda’s words to them had cost him more than a little goodwill. He followed along with the half-Romulan, and inclined his head amicably toward them. Some, he knew by name. Others, just by reputation.
Addison offered a half-smirk.
MacKenzie: Who knew all it would take to get us in the same place would be a galactic disaster.
Serala: Captains, it’s good to see all of you on this momentous occasion.
Mei chuckled, wryly.
Mei’konda: I suppose that’s one word for it, isn’t it? But, yes. A pleasure to see you all.
Roshanara took a moment to look around the faces gathered of her fellow commanding officers.
Rahman: I must admit that I was worried I wouldn’t see some of you here… after the losses sustained in the higher ranks.
Addison nodded somberly.
MacKenzie: Something for which we should all be thankful.
Serala: It has been a big blow to all of Starfleet. But we’ll recover. We always do.
The Caitian drew in a deep breath, then exhaled it slowly.
Mei’konda: No matter how diifficult things get, it is indeed a dreaam worth fightiing for.
Taybrim: I will hold on hope. That despite the losses we have a bright future ahead and we can learn from what happened and turn our eyes to rebuilding forward.
Roshanara looked back over at Taybrim. There was at least one interesting note from the battle in terms of a strange sort of accolade.
--
Captain Mei’konda Delano
CO, USS Astraeus
M239002M10
Captain Addison MacKenzie
USS Artemis
V239601AM0
Commander Serala
USS Chin’toka
A239412S10
Captain Roshanara Rahman
CO, USS Kitty Hawk
I238705TZ0
Commodore Sal Taybrim
CO, StarBase 118 Ops
E239010ST0
&
Special Guest President Anton Chekov
As written by T’Ama
C240004T11