S4:E1 Liberté, égalité, fraternité

[Sukal]

Ruth let out a short mirthless laugh.  "You can say that again Sukal, I'm actually wearing 2 sizes smaller uniform pants than I was this time last year, which isn't that bad a thing, but if I lose much more then Liv's going to throw a fit when I go for my routine check up."

The Captain sighed.  "You're right but then I can't get anything past you, can I?!  This is why I was hoping for some R&R, but I can't truly relax until I have Leyton handed over.  Then, I've got a date with a scented, candlelit.... real water bath in a deep tub, and then a real feather bed, in Waring Manor!" she said with a giggle.

"I'm going to go walkabout around the ship, check in with people, let folk that don't normally see me, see me so to speak!  First stop... the Bridge!"

She half stood then sat again having another thought.  "I'm gonna ask you this, because I value your opinion.  As you probably know, Will was my First Officer, after he left, I haven't had an official one.  I made Kyle Briggs my Acting First Officer, and Lahr ch'Verret Acting Second Officer for the purposes of the battle, but I'm thinking of making that a permanent thing.  Normally, I'd be clamouring for you to be on the command team but then something came to me."

She grinned and then chuckled her 'I have a cunning plan' chuckle.  "You're now a diplomat, thus, 'legally' if you want to term it that way you're allowed to sit in on any discussions that I might have with crew even if I didn't invite you to them anyhow.  But, seeing as you are known, and liked by both of the aforementioned officers, I'd like to think of you as an adjutant, aide, or just 'trusted advisor' if you like who will be present at all important meetings.  So the question is... do you think I should put the papers forward to formalise the arrangement with Mssrs. Briggs and ch'Verret?"

"Honestly, Captain, I think those two will do just fine helping you and the crew from those positions.  Kyle already has the experience, and Lahr has really stepped up of late from what I saw.  I see no reason not to put that through, and make it official.  Don't worry about me - when the time comes; I'll be ready again, but for the moment that is not an option.  I do like the idea of keeping my hands in on the meetings since as a Diplomat; such things will rather be necessary from time to time.  But, I will not ask for any special treatment, My Friend.  And, if I can help in other areas - so much the better," Sukal answered her as he placed his hands together before him.

He tilted his head to the left while gazing at his friend, but for a moment he said nothing.  There was just a sense of compassion and concern from him as he stared at his superior officer and friend.

"Come on, lets take a walk, Ruth.  Like you said - it will be good for the crew to see you up and about.  The Bridge sees you often, but that would be the first stop.  Taking a stroll along the lower decks never hurt any Captain," he added after a few moments, and stood up with his smoothie to take a few more gulps before going over and returning it to the replicator.

[Lek]

NPC Crewman Helga Tragnar
[USS Challenger - Deck 8 - Lounge]

"That's true but anything prior to the 21st century is pre-21st.. and I'm sure that balls were from more the 18th century and before... " she began to answer the first portion of his statement but faltered when he indicated he wasn't really looking forward to the event.  It dawned on her that he was only suggesting they go together because he didn't really have a choice in going in the first place.  The excitement she had felt earlier was snuffed out and she was glad she hadn't made a big deal of his statement that they were going as a couple.

"I see... " she stated blandly. "Maybe I'll see if I can get special dispensation for you to skip the ball.  No point going if you aren't going to enjoy it."

[The Lounge - USS Challenger]

Lek's expression saddened as he realized, yet again, he'd managed to say the exact wrong thing and that his words had hurt Helga's feelings. He replied quickly and hoped he didn't make things worse.

"No. No. No. No. I don't want any favors. I just... Well... Okay, let me see if I can say this without me having to pick myself off the deck. I don't know about you, but ever since the Academy, I have never liked 'mandatory fun' events. I know how to entertain myself without someone telling me how to be entertained. That's one. Second, although I respect her position, I think the captain tries too hard to be 'one of the guys' and I believe that, as captain, she's supposed to maintain a certain distance from the rest of the crew. This invitation to her home is just another, in a long line of events that I feel is just not in line with the behavior of a Starfleet captain.

"I get we've had a rough few months and some down time is absolutely needed. Given we have to attend the trial for that PetaQ Leyton and with the dock time the ship needs, that's more than enough justification for some leave. I just don't like the idea that the location of that leave has been chosen for us. I'm sure this Waring Manor is very nice, but that's not where I want to spend my leave and having to dress up as some ancient Hyoomon character is even less appealing.

"I'd prefer that we, as in you and I, got to spend time together. I haven't been to Earth since I graduated the Academy and that was eight years ago. I want to take a canal boat ride in Venice, or sky dive over the Grand Canyon, or even something as simple as walking on the beach in Bali. What I don't want to do, is spend my leave time with the crew of the skritz Challenger."

He wasn't sure if he'd made things better or worse. He just paused to see how she reacted and hoped if he'd gotten things completely wrong again, it wouldn't hurt much.

[Ruth Sigurdsdottir]

"Honestly, Captain, I think those two will do just fine helping you and the crew from those positions.  Kyle already has the experience, and Lahr has really stepped up of late from what I saw.  I see no reason not to put that through, and make it official.  Don't worry about me - when the time comes; I'll be ready again, but for the moment that is not an option.  I do like the idea of keeping my hands in on the meetings since as a Diplomat; such things will rather be necessary from time to time.  But, I will not ask for any special treatment, My Friend.  And, if I can help in other areas - so much the better," Sukal answered her as he placed his hands together before him.

He tilted his head to the left while gazing at his friend, but for a moment he said nothing.  There was just a sense of compassion and concern from him as he stared at his superior officer and friend.

"Come on, lets take a walk, Ruth.  Like you said - it will be good for the crew to see you up and about.  The Bridge sees you often, but that would be the first stop.  Taking a stroll along the lower decks never hurt any Captain," he added after a few moments, and stood up with his smoothie to take a few more gulps before going over and returning it to the replicator.

[Captain's Ready Room]

"I'll do that later then.  And I'm not making any special dispensations... just you're half-Vulcan and my friend but aside of that and your diplomatic position... your advice is often very well thought out, and you don't think twice about telling me I'm going to make a muck up of something!" Ruth grinned and tipped the remains of her coffee into the recycling, retaining the mug but ordering some hot water to be deposited in it to swill it out then tipped that out too.

The mug had been a gift from the twins... so she kept it in the Ready Room, it was to remind her that she was, after all, the boss.

"I know it's supposed to be the male offering the female his elbow but..." she mockingly crooked her elbow stepping out into the little bit of hallway which separated the Ready Room from the Bridge, and could hear the music, quite subtly for Lahr, playing.

She grinned.  "My Minister for Mischief has been obeying orders... I think he's organised some kind of scavenger hunt too, and some games in one of the holodecks, a vintage board games club and probably some other things I've missed.  So long as it's not killing each other, or releasing our prisoners I'm up for anything.  Shall we?"

Stepping onto the Bridge she smiled and was glad she had long since decided that she'd dispense with the 'Captain on deck' thing.

As it was they all seemed to sit up a little straighter and smarter anyhow.  "As you were people, other than obviously being alert to any of Leyton's stragglers who might've escaped, or shown up late for the party, this is just a simple trip down to Earth, I'm not expecting miracles.  Lahr, you're allowed to crank it up a little bit so long as people can still hear each other.  Why don't you organise a dance one night, turn Holodeck 2 into a discotheque?  Oh and how about putting out a thing for requests, could you do that?" she said with a bit of a smirk.

"I'm going to do a bit of a wander, stretch my legs.  Do not warn departments, I'm not on inspection just having a wander.  Oh ok you can tell Lek, he'd only have a heartattack if I show up in his Engineering Department unannounced.  But you can tell him if I find him down there I'm confining him to quarters, locking the door and not letting him out for 3 days!"  the Captain laughed and winked to show that she wasn't serious.

Jerking her head towards Sukal and still chuckling she continued her walk across the Bridge to the turbolift furthest from her Ready Room.

"OK, where to first, you can choose!" she offered.

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

Acting CPO ShranLahr ch'Verret
[USS Challenger - Deck One - Bridge](prior to counseling appointment)]

"I know it's supposed to be the male offering the female his elbow but..." she mockingly crooked her elbow stepping out into the little bit of hallway which separated the Ready Room from the Bridge, and could hear the music, quite subtly for Lahr, playing.

She grinned.  "My Minister for Mischief has been obeying orders... I think he's organised some kind of scavenger hunt too, and some games in one of the holodecks, a vintage board games club and probably some other things I've missed.  So long as it's not killing each other, or releasing our prisoners I'm up for anything.  Shall we?"

Stepping onto the Bridge she smiled and was glad she had long since decided that she'd dispense with the 'Captain on deck' thing.

As it was they all seemed to sit up a little straighter and smarter anyhow.  "As you were people, other than obviously being alert to any of Leyton's stragglers who might've escaped, or shown up late for the party, this is just a simple trip down to Earth, I'm not expecting miracles.  Lahr, you're allowed to crank it up a little bit so long as people can still hear each other.  Why don't you organise a dance one night, turn Holodeck 2 into a discotheque?  Oh and how about putting out a thing for requests, could you do that?" she said with a bit of a smirk.

"I'm going to do a bit of a wander, stretch my legs.  Do not warn departments, I'm not on inspection just having a wander.  Oh ok you can tell Lek, he'd only have a heartattack if I show up in his Engineering Department unannounced.  But you can tell him if I find him down there I'm confining him to quarters, locking the door and not letting him out for 3 days!"  the Captain laughed and winked to show that she wasn't serious.

Jerking her head towards Sukal and still chuckling she continued her walk across the Bridge to the turbolift furthest from her Ready Room.

"OK, where to first, you can choose!" she offered.

Lahr grinned at the Captain's suggested to 'pump up the volume'.  The idea of a discotheque in the Holodeck was also a decent idea.  "Yes ma'am and I see about setting that up."

He smirked at the idea of the Captain's 'walk about'.   He already knew he didn't need to worry about Lek being in Engineering he'd spied the engineer nursing a vodka down on Deck 8 earlier.  Lahr knew the Ferengi would never risk being drunk while working on his precious engines.  Still the Chief would likely appreciate the heads up about the Captain being in his territory.

"ch'Verret to Lek.  Sorry to interrupt sir, the Captain asked me to pass on a message that she would be doing a 'wander about the ship and would likely be passing through Engineering.  She expects not to see you there under threat of house arrest.  So if you are there, you might want to make your way somewhere else."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NPC Crewman Helga Tragnar
[USS Challenger - Deck 8 - Lounge]

[The Lounge - USS Challenger]

Lek's expression saddened as he realized, yet again, he'd managed to say the exact wrong thing and that his words had hurt Helga's feelings. He replied quickly and hoped he didn't make things worse.

"No. No. No. No. I don't want any favors. I just... Well... Okay, let me see if I can say this without me having to pick myself off the deck. I don't know about you, but ever since the Academy, I have never liked 'mandatory fun' events. I know how to entertain myself without someone telling me how to be entertained. That's one. Second, although I respect her position, I think the captain tries too hard to be 'one of the guys' and I believe that, as captain, she's supposed to maintain a certain distance from the rest of the crew. This invitation to her home is just another, in a long line of events that I feel is just not in line with the behavior of a Starfleet captain.

"I get we've had a rough few months and some down time is absolutely needed. Given we have to attend the trial for that PetaQ Leyton and with the dock time the ship needs, that's more than enough justification for some leave. I just don't like the idea that the location of that leave has been chosen for us. I'm sure this Waring Manor is very nice, but that's not where I want to spend my leave and having to dress up as some ancient Hyoomon character is even less appealing.

"I'd prefer that we, as in you and I, got to spend time together. I haven't been to Earth since I graduated the Academy and that was eight years ago. I want to take a canal boat ride in Venice, or sky dive over the Grand Canyon, or even something as simple as walking on the beach in Bali. What I don't want to do, is spend my leave time with the crew of the skritz Challenger."

He wasn't sure if he'd made things better or worse. He just paused to see how she reacted and hoped if he'd gotten things completely wrong again, it wouldn't hurt much.

Helga's mouth dropped open for a moment in obvious surprise at his words before her smile widened to show a fearsome set of jagged teeth.  She leaned over to entrap him in her arms tightly.

"Venice?! Oh that would be so romantic!" Helga exclaimed, feeling the excitement for the upcoming time off building once more.

Realizing that she might be accidentally choking him, Helga eased up her hold on him.  "Oh Lek, why didn't you say something earlier?  Just knowing that you think about things like that means the world to me!" A hand moved up to stroke along his bald scalp and trailed down along one of his lobes.

Realizing that they were in a public and such a display wasn't appropriate, Helga dropped her hand to hold his.  "Let's go do some 'research' on costumes.  We'll make the best of a not so ideal setting"

She tugged on his hand encouraging him to stand, when Lahr's call sounded from Lek's comm badge.

[Kyle Briggs]

[Briggs' Quarters]

" You won't have too long as its just come out of the oven, I thought we could have it after dinner" Liv said, happy to see that reaction from Kyle. She loved being able to involve Elijah in one of her favourite hobbies and how her son, was just as caring and mindful of others as her and Kyle were. He may only be three but he was a sweet soul that she couldn't imagine life without him.

Moving her attention away from their son, as he resumed playing with his toys, when Kyle asked her if there was anything special that she wanted to do, when they got to Earth. The limitations and restrictions imposed on the crew, were a minor inconvenience or so she thought because for her, the main thing was having that family time away from their duties.

" Not that I can think of, I guess the main thing for me, is to have that family time without having the pressure of work, hanging over us ..... although I am looking forward to us celebrating our anniversary and my birthday".

"I love fresh baked, warm cake." Kyle said as he stood behind her and placed his arms around her waist. "And another birthday and anniversary. I don't know how you have put up with me for this long." he teased.

[Olivia Briggs]

[Briggs' Quarters]

"I love fresh baked, warm cake." Kyle said as he stood behind her and placed his arms around her waist. "And another birthday and anniversary. I don't know how you have put up with me for this long." he teased.

[Briggs' Quarters]

"Then you arrived home at the perfect time" Liv replied in response to how Kyle had shared, one of his favourite things, not that she had forgotten.

They may of only been together for almost 5 and a half years but they knew each other as though they had always been a couple. She loved his playfulness, especially as he then wrapped his arms around her and teased her about putting up with him for so long.

It was her turn to be just as playful, grinning as she then answered him.

" I agree, I don't know how I've put up with you for this long either, then again maybe it's because of your charm, your good looks and well you get the idea".

[Lek]

Acting CPO ShranLahr ch'Verret
[USS Challenger - Deck One - Bridge](prior to counseling appointment)]

He smirked at the idea of the Captain's 'walk about'.   He already knew he didn't need to worry about Lek being in Engineering he'd spied the engineer nursing a vodka down on Deck 8 earlier.  Lahr knew the Ferengi would never risk being drunk while working on his precious engines.  Still the Chief would likely appreciate the heads up about the Captain being in his territory.

"ch'Verret to Lek.  Sorry to interrupt sir, the Captain asked me to pass on a message that she would be doing a 'wander about the ship and would likely be passing through Engineering.  She expects not to see you there under threat of house arrest.  So if you are there, you might want to make your way somewhere else."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NPC Crewman Helga Tragnar
[USS Challenger - Deck 8 - Lounge]

Helga's mouth dropped open for a moment in obvious surprise at his words before her smile widened to show a fearsome set of jagged teeth.  She leaned over to entrap him in her arms tightly.

"Venice?! Oh that would be so romantic!" Helga exclaimed, feeling the excitement for the upcoming time off building once more.

Realizing that she might be accidentally choking him, Helga eased up her hold on him.  "Oh Lek, why didn't you say something earlier?  Just knowing that you think about things like that means the world to me!" A hand moved up to stroke along his bald scalp and trailed down along one of his lobes.

Realizing that they were in a public and such a display wasn't appropriate, Helga dropped her hand to hold his.  "Let's go do some 'research' on costumes.  We'll make the best of a not so ideal setting"

She tugged on his hand encouraging him to stand, when Lahr's call sounded from Lek's comm badge.

[The Lounge - USS Challenger]

When Helga grabbed him, Lek emitted a small squeak as he was certain that he'd screwed up so badly that she was about kill him public. When it turned out she was happy, he was confused, but decided that this was a good thing, so he leaned into her touch of his lobe. When she suggested 'research,' he almost knocked over his drink as he stood.

"That sounds like a wonderful idea."

When his commbadge chimed, he growled until he heard he was told not to be in engineering and that was a first, so he replied with a quick.

"Gianetti is on it. Thanks Lahr."

Slipping an arm around Helga's waist, he murmured.

"Now, about that research..."

[Ian Galloway]

Thirty Days Later...

[Spackdock - Earth Orbit - USS Challenger]

The trial of Admiral Leyton went the way everyone thought it would go as there was simply so much evidence and the crimes so extensive, that there was no defense that could have prevented his conviction. There were many people within Starfleet that weren't happy with a life sentence at the Tantalus Penal Colony, but that was as harsh a penalty as Federation law would allow.

The invitation to Waring Manor was a success of sorts. Despite the open invitation, even with extra temporary housing added, the estate wasn't large enough to accommodate a crew of 800 for any length of time and after the costume ball, most of the crew scattered to find their own entertainment.

However, eventually, the 30 days of leave was up and the crew began to report back to the Challenger. On arriving, the crew found there had been many personnel changes. Chief of which was there was now a new captain, Captain Sigurdsdottir had chosen to return to her first love, that of being a science officer.

The new captain was Ian Galloway former first officer aboard the USS Discovery reporting to his first command. Fortunately, there was about a week of overlap between the departure of the Challenger and the arrival of the Discovery for those changing ships to have a chance to conduct a familiarization before the two ships broke orbit for adventures as yet unknown.

End Mission