Departures

Posted on 30 Mar 2018 @ 8:49pm by

Mission: Ne Me'e Laua Na Paio - Heroes & Villains
Location: FDC Détente
Timeline: After "Tea and Politics"

Magnus schlepped himself and his luggage onto the Détente after transferring back onboard from the Hawaii. It had been a whirlwind visit of the ship, Bre'el IV, and the new Federation mission on the planet. Now that his rolling tour was moving onto their next stop, Magnus wished he had more time to spend with the Hawaii crew. To say that they had been impressive was an understatement; the crew of this vessel was nothing short of exemplary.

Retiring into his quarters on the Détente, Magnus threw his stuff down in a haphazard pile on the floor before flopping himself down on the couch. Meeting so many new people, giving speeches, holding meetings, it was exhausting work. The Secretary was not new to the game of politics and government, but now that his focus was on the entire Federation, not just a single region or planet, he was still adjusting to the scope of the work load required.

Dutifully, his assistant Ashra Scaro arrived soon after; she knew the Secretary of the Exterior's movements like clockwork and had probably timed her entire life around his schedule. She didn't say anything at first as she quietly stored away Magnus' bags and hung his dress jacket back in the closet. She just silently worked around the room, leaving Temple to enjoy the peaceful softness of the couch for a few minutes.

Finally, she appeared at his side with a glass of water. "Sir, the Captain wants to know if we're ready to depart?"

"Yes." Magnus murmured into his pillow.

Ashra placed the water on the table next to the couch before sending a message to the Détente's Bridge that they could now leave orbit of Bre'el IV. There was a gentle, growing hum of the engines as the ship powered up their impulse drives and began moving away from the planet.

Magnus stirred and opened his eyes again. Opposite the couch was his bay window and he could see Bre'el IV slowly moving out of sight as the Détente departed. He could just see the Hawaii, a shining silver spec hovering still in the planet's outer orbit. "So long, my friends." He said quietly.

He pulled himself upright again as Ashra returned with a warm smile. "It'll be eight days until we reach our stop-over at Starbase 611, then onwards into the Gamma Quadrant."

"Very well." Magnus smiled in return. "It will give me time to catch up on reports. See if the galaxy hasn't fallen apart. Any word from the President?"

"Just an update request from the Palais." Ashra replied with a shrug, as she carefully watched Temple. "Something on your mind, Magnus?"

"No... well, nothing serious." Magnus sighed. "I had an interesting conversation with the Hawaii's captain before leaving. He gave me a few things to mull over."

"Well that's good." Ashra insisted, sitting down next to him on the couch. "That's why we're out here, yes? To find out what the front line officers think."

"True." Magnus nodded, "He seems to think peace with the Gorn will be impossible, or at least very difficult, given the history of bad blood between us. Maybe we should have done more after the end of the war to help them? Maybe they wouldn't be looking for revenge now?"

Ashra thought about that for a moment and shrugged, "I suppose. But we were very busy with other conflicts at the time too, the Federation didn't have the resources to prop up the Gorn and defend our borders too."

"There will always be another conflict." Magnus stated, "There's always some species wanting more power, or land, or retribution for prior conflicts. It's the Secretary of Defence's job to prepare for war, it's supposed to my job to prepare for peace. I'm just conflicted on how I'm supposed to do that."

Magnus shook his head. "I came on this tour to ask questions and find answers, but so far I'm just getting more questions."

"That's not all you were here for." Ashra reminded him gently. "You also came to meet crew members and get honest opinions. Sounds like you achieved that on the Hawaii."

This caused Magnus to smile again. "True. The crew of that ship is remarkable. Their diplomatic prowess, their diverse crew, an incredibly considered and organised Captain. I said before that the Hawaii should be an example to others in Starfleet on what a ship can achieve, and I really believe that. When I report to the Palais, I'm going to give the Hawaii the praise it deserves."

Ashra smiled as well, tapping the Secretary reassuringly on the shoulder. "See, I'd say mission accomplished."

Magnus laughed. "Not quite, Ashra. That was just stop number one. Still, overall it was a successful first trip, and I'm grateful for the Hawaii for that. I wonder if there's something else I can do to thank them, especially the Captain for putting up with me interrupting his operations?"

"Already arranged." Ashra replied, a smug smirk on her lips. "I had a hand-crafted Japanese tea set sent over as a thank-you present."

Magnus looked to her, though he shouldn't have been surprised at her efficiency, "That's wonderful."

Ashra just shrugged. "That's my job, remember."

"You need a raise." Magnus replied with a laugh.

"Oh, you're giving me a month off after this tour is done." Ashra said firmly. "I've already scheduled it."

Magnus raised his hands up in faux surrender. "You'll get no argument from me."

He stood and walked over to the window, the Détente's engines were powering up now and heading into warp drive. Soon Bre'el IV and the Hawaii would be completely gone out of sight. He gave a small smile as the black space around them suddenly disappeared into the usual blue tunnel of flashing lights.

"Onwards to New Bajor." He remarked.

OFF