There Lies his Crown in Water Deep, Till Durin Wakes Again from Sleep. - Part Fourteen

Posted on Wed Mar 18th, 2020 @ 4:00pm by Division Admiral Thomas Lasky & Captain Ariel Gilmore & Commander Ethan "Hardcase" Duval & Post Captain Hannah Mueller

Mission: Mission 98: Building Our New Home
Location: Various Locations - The Taurus Reach
Timeline: 1430Hrs - June 27th, 2393

The space around Starbase Vanguard was quiet when suddenly, a slipstream aperture opened and deposited three Federation ships, two of them looked worn and damaged while the third looked fresh. Upon the bridge of the USS Charal, Lieutenant Kaylen Chegwidden sighed. "We've arrived at Vanguard skipper."

Gilmore smiled. "Get us clearance to dock, tell the base our needs and wants, please?" she paused a moment. "Also let them know that we have completed our mission and have Mister Carey in custody."

Lieutenant Junior Grade Leslie MacLeod nodded his head. "Yessir. Sending it now." he paused. "We're cleared for the east platform, the Ayalem and the Gaarni are both cleared for the internal docking bay."

"They've earned it and they can fit inside, we can't." Bowman smiled at his commanding officer. "We're too big."

"I'm not worried about it," Gilmore commented. "Helm?"

"I have the beacon and I'm guiding us in," Chegwidden explained with a gentle smile as the starbase grew ever larger on the screen. The young woman was busy guiding the large battleship to its docking with the Starbase when MacLeod turned. "Admiral Lasky wants to see you and Commander Duval soonest, he also says well done on a difficult assignment."

Gilmore nodded. "Tell the Admiral I'll be along in ten minutes," she commented.

MacLeod nodded his head. Meanwhile over on the USS Gaarni. Commander Ethan Duval had every right to be proud of his crew as they had held together during the hardest and most challenging of circumstances, they had been boarded while in battle and the pirates had been intent on killing every single last member of the Gaarni's crew, while Duval had not lost anyone on his crew, he was immensely thankful of that little detail and he was going to see to it that his crew got some time off.

Duval tapped his combadge. "Duval to all hands. We've got good cause to be proud of each other today, we went into a tough situation, we held fast and stood together, what's more, is that we held together and while we were tested, we did not bend or break and I am proud and humbled to serve as your Captain but you should also feel pride in that this ships name will go down in history, the name Gaarni is already establishing a name for herself and for her crew. I intend to see to it that we all get some time off, the last week has been grueling and demanding of us all but you have each acquitted yourselves with honor. Duval out." as he tapped his combadge.

"Very nice speech sir," Hanson commented. "Brought a tear to my eye."

"Prepare mooring beams and lock off." Chief Petty Officer Taijo Cara ordered, today she would handle the docking, she thought that Duval deserved a break from it and thus, she would showcase her skills for everyone to see.

The USS Gaarni slowly slid into her position as the helms officer, Ensign Xaxx Sd'narr smiled as there was a loud bang. "Docking complete."

"Thank you, Chief. Well done and well done everyone." Duval commented evenly. "Number one, the ship is yours, I need to go and see the Admiral."

"Of course sir," Hanson explained with a smile.

A few minutes later, Duval was standing in Admiral Lasky's office, beside him was Captain Ariel Gilmore and facing them was Captain Hannah Mueller and Division Admiral Lasky. "You guys did really well in a difficult situation. I look forward to reading your after-action reports."

Duval nodded. "I promised my crew some time off Admiral."

Lasky nodded. "They'll get it, they earned it in the worst way." he paused. "How many did you lose?

"None, but we have a lot of wounded aboard, the Starbase hospital should be getting about forty cases."

"Understood. As I said, they'll get some time off, your crew has performed really well, the Gaarni is already establishing a name for herself and so are you, Commander. I'm glad you chose to come back to Starfleet and your performance has validated my faith in you." Lasky smiled. "Captain Gilmore, you're crew will also get some shore leave planetside as well. Besides you brought back the man we wanted."

"In der Tat möchte ich ein paar Worte mit Herrn Carey haben." Captain Hannah Mueller commented before the translator kicked in. "Indeed, I want to have a few words with Mister Carey." as she regarded Duval with a look.

Gilmore noticed but she chose not to comment on it, however, she simply smiled. "That's fine. Ethan. I'll turn him over to you and let you handle him, you suffered the most from him, its only right that you be the one to turn him in."

"Thank you, Ariel. I'd very much like that." Duval answered. Mueller simply smiled but said nothing.

"How long before you turn him over?" Lasky inquired.

"In about ten minutes Admiral. I just need to round up a security team and then we collect the prisoner from the Charal and we'll bring him into the Starbase security annex. Shouldn't take more than fifteen minutes to arrange." Duval answered.

"Excellent," Lasky answered. "Alright, go to it then." he turned to Mueller. "Would you mind letting me know how it goes?" he inquired of her. "Considering he stole from me and others to enrich himself."

"Ja, es wird geschehen" Mueller answered before the translator added it in English for everyone else's benefit. "yessir, it'll be done."

"Alright. Dismissed everyone." Lasky responded as the personnel gathered began to depart to take of matters.