Cpt H Crow — 12/05/2023 9:05 PM
BEGIN
:::The setting is early evening, beautiful weather, with the backdrop of a pristine lake and mountains in the distance.
Cdr Edra Crow — 12/05/2023 9:07 PM
::sitting in the front of the row with the girls beside her::
Patricia Crow
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:07 PM
:::seated next to Karina, Chance and Keiran beside her:::
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — 12/05/2023 9:08 PM
::sits quietly staring out into the middle distance::
Evelyn Moro
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:08 PM
::seated in the front row, the kitten sitting on her lap.:::
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:08 PM
::awkwardly tugs at the collar of her dress uniform::
Cpt H Crow — 12/05/2023 9:09 PM
::next to Edra, turns to her, having been dreading this all day:: I wonder if this is a real location or just an AI creation?
Dr. Chance Crow
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:09 PM
::sitting next to Trisha, holding her hand. He gives her a look that asks if she’s okay::
Patricia Crow
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:10 PM
::slight shrug, trying to bottle most of it up:::
Cdr Edra Crow — 12/05/2023 9:10 PM
::to Henry:: I’d like to think it’s real.
Dr. Chance Crow
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:10 PM
::squeezes her hand::
Cpt H Crow — 12/05/2023 9:11 PM
::stands, moving to the front of the assembled where a small table has been arranged with a picture of Millie and some of her prized possessions:::
Cdr Edra Crow — 12/05/2023 9:12 PM
(A bottle of sipping vodka?)
Lt Millie Stepanova, Couns. — 12/05/2023 9:12 PM
((Millie was Russian Orthodox. Those who visited her personal quarters for her infamous dinner parties would recognize some items from the small shrine in the common living space))
Lt. Ghas – COpsO — 12/05/2023 9:13 PM
::walks over the small shrine and lights a candle:: There we go.
Cpt H Crow — 12/05/2023 9:14 PM
:::He paused, taking a breath.::: When Millie came aboard she a lot of things to get used to. One of them was a Commanding Officer who went out of his way to avoid our scheduled sessions. Somehow, someway she would track me down and make sure we got our time in.
Cdr Edra Crow — 12/05/2023 9:15 PM
::nods::
Cpt H Crow — 12/05/2023 9:16 PM
Over the last year, we’d taken to doing them here in this holodeck. We mourn our colleague and our friend and we will continue to mourn her absence. But that does not take away what she did while she was with us. She drew us together, even when we weren’t in the mood, to make us stronger.
She provides the example that the crew is not merely co-workers. We have lost a member of our family.
And though we will miss her and surely never forget her, we are reminded that the future will still unfold. Small children will grow up. And we owe it to her to keep not only her memory alive but also what she taught us.
Cdr Edra Crow — 12/05/2023 9:18 PM
::feels her eyes getting moist and grabs a tissue in preparation: :
Cpt H Crow — 12/05/2023 9:18 PM
To cherish our time together because tomorrows are never guaranteed.
Lt. Ghas – COpsO — 12/05/2023 9:18 PM
::puts a hand on Edra’s shoulder::
Cdr Edra Crow — 12/05/2023 9:19 PM
::looks over at Ghas with a grateful nod::
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:20 PM
::tugs at the other side of her collar this time::
Cpt H Crow — 12/05/2023 9:20 PM
:::walks over to anothe table, opening a case and removing a blue trifolded flag. He went to Evelyn, gently presenting it, whispering to her which got a subtle nod:::
::stands and looks at the group:: There is a reception in her memory, some of the same dishes she’d made at her dinner parties.
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — 12/05/2023 9:21 PM
::squeezes Statzia’s shoulder::
Evelyn Moro
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:23 PM
::stands, the child on her hip and walks to the table with the pictures and items:::
Cpt H Crow — 12/05/2023 9:23 PM
:::motions everyone to head to the reception area which is in a nearby sitting area with multiple fire pits and self-serve food tables:::
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:24 PM
::acknowledges K’Naut’s gesture, but clearly looks uncomfortable::
Cdr Edra Crow — 12/05/2023 9:25 PM
::stands, gathering the kids, including the adult kids and moving towards the reception area::
Patricia Crow
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:26 PM
::looks to Chance:: I’ll be right back. ::heads to Evelyn:::
Cpt H Crow — 12/05/2023 9:26 PM
:::catches up to Edra:: I feel like that was very shallow given what she meant to us.
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:28 PM
::stands, tugging on the jacket of her dress uniform, and makes her way towards the edge of the crowd::
Evelyn Moro
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:28 PM
::glances to Patricia, before accepting an arm around her shoulders, nodding as more words of encouragement are whispered::
Cdr Edra Crow — 12/05/2023 9:28 PM
::quietly:: I wish you would have let me help plan it, or even gotten help from a few others. You shouldn’t have taken it on yourself.
Cpt H Crow — 12/05/2023 9:29 PM
All part of the job, just the part that really sucks.
Cdr Edra Crow — 12/05/2023 9:29 PM
I think she would have been the first to disagree…
Dr. Chance Crow
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:31 PM
::ushers Kieran and Marcus toward the reception area, keeping an eye on Trisha::
Patricia Crow
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:32 PM
::guides Evelyn to the reception area, sitting with her and taking the cub off her::
Lt. Ghas – COpsO — 12/05/2023 9:32 PM
::doesn’t feel hungry::
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:33 PM
::finds a space away from the larger crowd, shoves her hands in her pockets, and looks out over the picturesque scenery::
Cpt H Crow — 12/05/2023 9:33 PM
Oh I know, she loved to disagree. ::sighs:: I had begun planning remarks for that wedding she was planning.
Cdr Edra Crow — 12/05/2023 9:34 PM
::finds a group of seats and arranges the girls…lets Chance handle Marcus since the boys have been hanging around together more lately::
::looks up at Henry, gently chiding:: that’s not what I mean, and you know it.
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:36 PM
::sees Ghas also standing away from the crowd, and gives a nod of acknowledgement::
Cdr Edra Crow — 12/05/2023 9:36 PM
::still, puts a hand on his arm for the weight he’s had to bear::
Cpt H Crow — 12/05/2023 9:37 PM
::sits:: I look at them ::motioning to the kids:: and I feel kike I’ve lost one.
Patricia Crow
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:37 PM
Did she tell you about what happened when she and I got marooned?
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — 12/05/2023 9:37 PM
::quietly::These things always remind me of Kessia.
Cdr Edra Crow — 12/05/2023 9:37 PM
::nods::
Evelyn Moro
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:37 PM
With the tree people, yes.
Patricia Crow
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:38 PM
She saved my life and I owed her that. That means I owe you and this one the same.
Evelyn Moro
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:38 PM
You don’t have…..
Patricia Crow
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:38 PM
Yes I do, and I will.
Evelyn Moro
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:39 PM
::quiet:: Thank you.
Patricia Crow
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:39 PM
This crew has a habit of adoption.
Lt. Ghas – COpsO — 12/05/2023 9:39 PM
::sits down in a small cornerr::
Cpt H Crow — 12/05/2023 9:40 PM
::About to say something when his badge chimes, bringing a scowling grumble:: +I said I wasn’t to be disturbed.
Bridge +Sorry Sir, but we have a visitor who just came aboard and he says he needs to see you and….the Counselor. I didn’t tell him anything.
Bridge+ That..uh….thank you for that. Who is it?
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:41 PM
::nods:: I never got to attend the service for Tallin and the rest of the away team.
Cpt H Crow — 12/05/2023 9:42 PM
Bridge+Henry+ Jaan Axleton from the Federation Welfare Council.
:::What he was about to say stuck in his throat as his eyes went to Evelyn and the cub:::
+bridge+ Send him to me.
:::looks at Edra::: This is going to get bad.
Cdr Edra Crow — 12/05/2023 9:43 PM
::looks at him:: is that the best idea?
Cpt H Crow — 12/05/2023 9:44 PM
When he understands what’s happened it’ll buy us some time.
Lt. Ghas – COpsO — 12/05/2023 9:44 PM
::Sensing tension, Ghas stands up::
Cdr Edra Crow — 12/05/2023 9:44 PM
Should they be here? ::nods towars Evelyn::
::looks in Chance’s direction, remembering the same feeling she was getting now::
Cpt H Crow — 12/05/2023 9:45 PM
Axleton> ::enters the holodeck before Henry can answer. He’s a middle aged human, balding with a thick mustache and glasses. He walks towards the group::: Captain Crow, I’m….
Mr. Axleton, yes I know. The Bridge said you wanted to speak with me and the Counselor.
Axleton> Yes, it’s time for a spot check on the foster situation. Where is she?
Patricia Crow
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:46 PM
::watching like a hawk from afar:::
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:47 PM
::brow furrows as she watches the unfamiliar face cross the holodeck::
Cpt H Crow — 12/05/2023 9:47 PM
The Counselor…passed away recently in an accident.
Axleton> Oh dear, I…I am sorry to hear that.
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — 12/05/2023 9:48 PM
::follows Statzia’s gaze:: Yeah,I don’t like the look of what going on over there.
Cdr Edra Crow — 12/05/2023 9:48 PM
::would stand in front of Evelyn and the cub if she thought it would do any good…::
Cpt H Crow — 12/05/2023 9:48 PM
Yes so we’re actually meeting in her honor right now, it’s a very sad time for our crew.
Axleton> Yes I imagine it would be. I won’t stay longer than needed to allow your crew to grieve. I came aboard from a shuttle which is tagging along. If you could make the arrangements for transfer within the hour I’d appreciate it.
Transfer?
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:50 PM
::picking up on the body language of the Captain and XO, starts to make her way closer::
I don’t, either.
Cpt H Crow — 12/05/2023 9:51 PM
Axleton> Yes, the child was assigned to the late Couselor Stepanova for fostering. Due to her…not being here, the child reverts to Federation custody.
::involuntarily stiffens his back, but keeping his voice low::: You and I need to discuss this.
Axleton> There’s really nothing to discuss. The law is the law.
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:53 PM
::has noticed the increased agitation in the crew members standing nearest to the Captain, and quickens her pace::
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — 12/05/2023 9:53 PM
::follows Statzia::
Cpt H Crow — 12/05/2023 9:53 PM
I’ll appeal.
Cdr Edra Crow — 12/05/2023 9:54 PM
::puts a hand on Henry’s arm again, trying to keep him from starting anything here::
Cpt H Crow — 12/05/2023 9:54 PM
Axleton> That is your right, but I am also going to seek a custody injunction. We’ll see which one of our requests comes in first.
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:55 PM
::over her shoulder to K’Naut, quietly:: Something’s wrong.
Cpt H Crow — 12/05/2023 9:55 PM
Get off my ship.
Axleton> ::slight nod:: It’s not personal Captain, I’m just here for the betterment of the child. I’ll be in touch. ::turns and walks out:::
Lt. Ghas – COpsO — 12/05/2023 9:56 PM
::Moves closer to the Captain:: Friendly fellow, for an asshole
Cpt H Crow — 12/05/2023 9:56 PM
Thats’s one way of putting it.
Cdr Edra Crow — 12/05/2023 9:56 PM
::closes her eyes as she lets her breath out::
Evelyn Moro
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:56 PM
Can they take her?
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:57 PM
::steps aside as Axleton storms past::
Patricia Crow
BOT
— 12/05/2023 9:57 PM
If he tries, he’ll pull back a stump.
Cdr Edra Crow — 12/05/2023 9:58 PM
::to Evelyn:: possibly…but we’re gonna try to stop it
Cpt H Crow — 12/05/2023 9:59 PM
We will stop it. One way or another.
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — 12/05/2023 10:00 PM
“Pull back a stump”,,,that makes one hope he does try it…