Commodore Kalianna Nicholotti - The Future Rules by Changes in the Dark

[Marissa Jeffrey]

((Captain's Ready Room, USS Excalibur - A))

Time was a fickle thing. Though by the parameters set by the constructs of which sentient beings throughout the galaxy had set it was a finite permanent, the harsher reality was that it was more filled with paths of vicissitude that stability. Timelines crossed and diverged, crashing into one another later with participants never knowing any better, and spiraling into the infinite obscurity at the first nonsensical opportunity. Entropy ruled the inconsequential lives of those who had no choice but to follow along the river, promising nothing but strife along the way.

And yet, among the darkness, the all encompassing Cimmerian shade, points of light would endure. Flashing into existence, they would immolate the moment in which they persisted until the calignosity faded into nothing more than a dream. Pieces would fall into place, time would become an afterthought, and memories would be made. 

But if there was anything completely certain in the universe, it was that something, somewhere would always shift, and change would come even when you really didn't want it to.

The room around her faded into the same inky blackness that came for everything else in time, and for a moment, she felt as if she were losing her footing. Vertigo seemed to compound the sudden lack of reference as the many changes compiled within the message on her screen hit her at once. 

Life would never be the same again.

Closing her crystalline eyes, Kali allowed the events of the last two years to play through her mind. Like home holovids from family, moments both good and bad filled her mindspace, rushing at her as if the dams had been opened and the water had been set free. Minutes passed, representing time ticking away. Had she been so aware of this, she might not have let quite so many pass by without filling them with goodness.

A long drawn out sigh filled the silence of the room just before the chime to her door sounded. At first, she didn't move. Her eyes had lost focus as they had opened, her mind still seeing snippets of moments that were forever lost to the darkness. The chime sounded again, and they snapped back, finding the door as her voice caught up.

Nicholotti: Enter.

Expressionless, empty, and with a somewhat blank look, she watched her first officer move into the room and stop in front of her. It was only after a few moments that Kali was able to shut down most of her thoughts and offer a smile to the officer who had so often looked at her from that side of the desk.

MacKenzie: Response?

Kali pushed a padd across the desk.

Nicholotti: Congratulations Commander. 

Having her there, with her, invoked a sense of deep pride in how far they'd come. The connection she'd built with her was one of the closest she'd ever experienced, and for that, she was thankful. As she gave them time to read, she sat back in her chair and read the message again from her own screen.

----

To: Commodore Kali  Nicholotti and Commander Addison MacKenzie, USS Excalibur

From: Vice Admiral Joseph Washington, Commander for Starfleet Operations - Tholian Region

Commodore Kali Nicholotti, Starfleet Command hereby reassigns you and USS Excalibur to Task Force 88 to counter the growing Tholian threat along the Federation-Tholian border. You will depart the Borderlands upon arrival of USS Artemis and proceed at haste to rendezvous with the rest of the task force at Cait Spacedock.

Commander Addison MacKenzie, you are hereby requested and required to take command of USS Artemis (NCC-81287). You will select your first officer and any other officers you require from USS Excalibur. Upon taking command of USS Artemis, you and USS Artemis will resume all patrol duties and responsibilities previously assigned to USS Excalibur in the Borderlands.

----

MacKenzie: Response? 

Nicholotti: You've impressed someone, or someone has finally listened to the things I say. Though I doubt that last one.

Kali grinned.

MacKenzie: Response?

They wouldn't have long. Things were changing all around the galaxy, and this was simply a reflection of some of those changes. 

Nicholotti: Promise me two things. 

MacKenzie: Response?

Kali paused for a moment before speaking and then decided that they were too close to hold her cards to her chest now. Her crystalline eyes found Addison's and her tone grew quite serious.

Nicholotti: Take the best. All of them. You take care of them and they will take care of you.

MacKenzie: Response?

Nicholotti: And...try to make sure Genkos makes it home to Toto at night. 

The connotations behind that last request went far deeper than the words, but she knew that the redheaded woman across from her would get it. There were emotions threatening to bubble up, but Kali's best diplomatic face was fighting the good fight.

MacKenzie: Response?

TAG/TBC

--

Commodore Kalianna Nicholotti

Commanding Officer

USS Excalibur - A

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