<<A slight backlog taking place before Shia escapes her keepers in sickbay >>
[USS Charon, Deck One]
Dylan rode the turbo lift as it came to a halt and the doors opened. He stepped off and made a B-line to the ready room. He had been thinking of this for a long time now. He liked Charon and he even grew to like the captain in her own way, but he knew that with the conflict he had seen on Charon; it was no place to raise a family. He pressed the door chime and waited for the answer, his transfer request tucked behind his back as he stood at ease.
An efficient wartime commander Shiarrael t`Rehu might be, and a genius when it came to strategy. Unfortunately, this strategic genius did not extend to paperwork. Thus the dark haired Vulcan was once more minding the store by way of attacking heaps of PADDs and raising astonished brows over department reports that had been thrown at the wall from the looks of them. Repeatedly. Two even looked as if Nohtho had somehow managed to sink his teeth into them – or perhaps the twins had been trying to feed their beloved Fvai with PADDs yet again. Fascinating.
When the door chime interrupted her thoughts, Sakarra was tempted to send the visitor away but remembered that Commander Marcus had requested this meeting with the CO several days ago. As it was, said Captain was busy terrorizing the medical staff who refused to let her leave sickbay just yet and it would be rather rude to let the man wait …
"Enter."
The tall, familiar outline appeared in the doorway and the young woman motioned towards the seat opposite her. "Commander." She nodded a brief, friendly greeting and pushed aside a PADD that by all accounts looked as if a Targ had stepped on it.
Dylan walked in and nodded to the commander. "Good afternoon Sakarra." he said. He fidgeted with the PADD in hand for a moment before handing it over. "I understand the Quantum Fury will rendezvous with us in some time, I would like to request a transfer for myself and Lizzy when she does." he said.
"Indeed the Fury is underway." Canting her head with what qualified as a deeply thoughtful frown, the Vulcan accepted the PADD. Why the cryptic Commander Kanryth had volunteered to return to these regions again so soon was anyone's guess although Sakarra had some suspicions. And of course news of another visit from home traveled faster than warp on a ship of Charon's size. Chances were, rumors had been rampant even before the message had been fully decrypted.
She looked over the transfer papers and allowed herself a split second of mild exasperation. They were already short on security and engineers. Most importantly, experienced officers. But she could hardly deny the request on those grounds alone.
"May I inquire as to the reason, Commander? It was my impression you were not averse to serving on Charon until now."
"It isn't about being adverse to Charon, it has more to do with the fact that the nature of our most recent missions are less than ideal for raising a family." he said. "I do not make this request lightly."
Family?
"I see."
Of course Sakarra was aware that Commander Marcus and his new wife had adopted the Romulan child and it was only logical to assume they would endeavor to have biological offspring as well. And considering the troubles the Charon seemed to attract on a regular basis …
"It was not my intention to imply you would, Commander. Your service record is exemplary and I know you to be a most thoughtful individual. Logical, even, in a human fashion. Therefore I must assume this request is based in solid reasoning. However, your departure will create a vacuum that will prove difficult to fill."
It was about as close as any Vulcan would come to admitting she was not happy about seeing him leave. And in all honesty, Sakarra had allowed herself to become rather … attached to the human's steady presence. Never above defusing a tense situation with his trademark wry humor, the commander had rarely been forced to use his imposing stature to control unfortunate circumstances. In short, she had come to rely on him greatly, and that was not even mentioning the fact that Sakarra considered Dylan … a friend.
Suppressing a small sigh, the dark haired Vulcan added her approval recommendation to the transfer papers and put it on top of the ever increasing heap of PADDs that awaited the CO's signature.
"I believe it is customary to express one's best wishes at such a juncture, yes?"
"This isn't good bye Sakarra." he said knowing what she had not said. "Yes I wish you all the best as well. Besides, the galaxy isn't large enough that it could keep us from visiting when we get a chance."
Steepling her fingers under her chin, the Vulcan nodded thoughtfully. "I should certainly appreciate that, … Dylan."
Unreadable black pools studied the human and for the merest spilt second, there seemed an almost wistful expression to be floating in their depths. Then again, it might just as easily have been a trick of light.
"I will make certain your request is given priority and suitable accommodations for your family will be available upon the Quantum Fury's arrival."
Standing up slowly, Sakarra raised her hand in the Vulcan salute.
"Live long, Commander Marcus, and prosper."
Dylan nodded slightly. "Peace and long life Commander."
She watched him leave and stood still for long seconds even after the doors had closed behind him. Outside the windows stars shone in the eternal night, silent dots of light against a backdrop of black.
[End Log]
LtCmdr Sakarra
Executive Officer
Cmdr Dylan Marcus
Security Officer
USS Charon
