Fortune's Favor

Posted on Sat Mar 14th, 2020 @ 3:36am by Commander Patricia Kingston & Division Admiral Celeste Yamaguchi-Hobbs

Mission: Mission 94: Shattered Shields and Crack'd Swords
Location: Various Locations - USS Dreamcrusher
Timeline: 0900Hrs - September 8th, 2392

Commander Celeste Yamaguchi arrived at her destination and after knocking on the door, she approached Commander Patricia Kingston who was standing by the door, as if expecting Celeste's arrival. "Good morning Celeste."

"Hey, Patricia." Yamaguchi greeted her former opposite number in counseling, the two women had never had cause to have trouble between them but that was then and today was something new. "I'm sorry I'm late."

"You're actually right on time," Kingston responded as she regarded her colleague. "Can I get you anything?"

"No. Not at present, thanks." Yamaguchi answered quietly as she let out a soft sigh.

"Okay, have a seat," Kingston responded in a gentle tone of voice.

Yamaguchi proceeded to slip her figure into a chair, the closest one to her, she inhaled softly as Celeste breathed out and then back in before she sighed. "Okay, let's do this."

"Are you sure?" Kingston inquired before she likewise sat down in her own chair. "Now."Kingston paused, letting out a soft sigh. "You've had to deal with a lot in the last year, how are you feeling about taking over as Executive officer of the USS Dreamcrusher."

Yamaguchi had been expecting this to start with, she smiled. "I think I'm ready for a new challenge. The skipper has faith in me to be able to do this job, otherwise, he would have recommended someone else or outright sought out someone else." Yamaguchi explained. "Especially during the mission to Dylan's world."

"Yes, I recall that assignment, mind if we go over some of your actions there?" Kingston smiled as she recalled her own actions, she had spent a lot of time in sickbay helping with the wounded and a lot of time providing counseling. Also for most of the time heading to Dylan's world, she had assisted in stocking up sickbay and most of the time coming back, she had helped with morale and therapy.

"Of course, go for it," Yamaguchi answered, a gentle smile on her face.

Kingston picked up a PADD as she considered it. "Now as I recall you were quite heavily pregnant at the time, you still pushed yourself quite hard."

"I did. Yes." Yamaguchi answered. "At the time, I was doing everything that our former Exec was doing, making the rounds, seeing to peoples wants and needs. not because I was forced to do it but because I chose to do it. The skipper selected me because he felt he could believe in me." Yamaguchi added.

"I'm not questioning his choice, Celeste." Kingston regarded her with a pitiless look. "I'm questioning your motives and choices." as she laid down the gauntlet before Yamaguchi for her to pick it up.

Yamaguchi did so. "I see." she sounded almost unimpressed. "Go on."

"You were duplicated recently. How do you-"

"You mean my counterpart and my sister's counterpart from some alternate reality," Yamaguchi answered in a gentle tone. "That had no issue with my ability to do my job," she answered. "Just because Enyo looks like me, doesn't mean she is me."

"Fair enough, let's move on. Could you integrate these two women into your life."

"If they wished to become part of my family, then yes, I could." Yamaguchi smiled. "Kin is kin, it matters not where it comes from," she added. "I took in two Andorian twins, then I raised them to adulthood before I took in these three Caitian children. Now I'm looking after them until either their parents appear or they too become adults, whichever comes first." Yamaguchi did not raise her voice, nor did she get emotional or angry. Instead, she spoke from a place of knowledge, of calmness and peace.

Kingston nodded. "How are things with Jackson. I heard about what happened at the funeral of." she stopped as she consulted her notes. "Colonel Nye Tailor."

Yamaguchi smiled. "You mean Bradley Tailor. Yes, I needed to be looked at for hearing damage after an explosive device was set off, either by accident or by design."

"Yes, a marine got mouthy with you and you decked him," Kingston answered, as she gave Yamaguchi a rather evil smile. "That might cause you issues?"

"Not really. I didn't strike him until after he had made his threat against me." Yamaguchi answered. "He then made a second threat about leaving me and my child homeless and begging on the streets. Colonel Hobbs at that point had him arrested for conduct unbecoming." Yamaguchi answered. "I was also stopped by the intervention of Master Sergent Gunther Werner who said bluntly that 'he wasn't worth my anger'."

"Was he right?" Kingston inquired.

"Who?" Yamaguchi's lips formed a perfect o as she asked that question.

"Oh. I mean was Werner right?" Kingston smiled. "Sorry."

"looking back at the incident in question and upon due reflection. Yes, Werner was right." Yamaguchi answered. "The marine was out of line and honestly, he deserved what he got. That does not mean however that I was right to do so."

"Ahh. you are learning self-control and composure." Kingston answered. "Returning to the mission on Dylan's world. McKnight wanted to destroy the starbase, you wished to talk him out of it and instead focus our efforts on the surface battle. Why?"

"The starbase was acting from a position of weakness, they were already heavily engaged with the Klingons, the only action against us was a warning shot and then they remotely hacked into our control systems which we responded to with hostile force, we were defending ourselves."

Kingston made some notes. "So why leave an enemy stronghold intact?" she inquired.

"Becuase they were not the primary target of our efforts, liberating the Spartans, however, were the main goal for us and we could do that without taking on the base," Yamaguchi explained. "I decided the best course was the one with the least risk to us."

"What do you mean by that?" Kingston answered. "Please elaborate."

"My mission goals were simple, always focus on my mission then my crew. My people will follow where I mean to lead. So long as I treat them with the respect they deserve and remember that they are living, breathing beings from over a thousand worlds, each with their own unique cultures and upbringings. So long as I remember that we are all in this together, then I can handle being in the right seat and eventually the center seat of my own ship. If and when the time comes, of course"

Kingston was very happy with what she was hearing, it was showing too. "Celeste, what do you think you'd do if a situation arose that would place your mission and your crew into conflict, then what would you do.?"

"I honestly have no idea, it would depend on the needs of my crew, the mission in question and the needs of the situation." Yamaguchi paused a moment. "I will consider my response most carefully." the tall female answered.

"Okay," Kingston answered. "How do you feel about the Human defense army?" It was an honest question and sooner or later in this chat, it was going to come up.

"I took an oath when I joined Starfleet to follow my orders of those above me and to look after those beneath me. I choose to serve Starfleet, not some human lead and ran militia force," she explained evenly. "To me, the HDA is a collection of crackpots, nutcases, and fanatics. Honestly, they need to be dealt with as soon as possible."

Kingston nodded. "Alright then. That's all I really have for you, now is there anything you wish to add?" she regarded Celeste across from her who she suspected had a lot to say about recent events.

"Honestly?." Yamaguchi inquired. "No, not really. I'm good with my lot in life and while I have been tested, I have emerged from the fire, triumphant." Yamaguchi slowly smiled. "I've been tested but I like to think I did alright. I could have done better and I could have done worse but for now. I am good with my lot in life. Thank you."

"Alright, Celeste. I think our interview is over, I'll draft this report and send it to the skipper for his final verdict. You should have the final response about ten minutes after he read it, which will be by the end of his shift today."

"Sounds good to me," Yamaguchi answered as she rose to her feet before she turned and departed in silence.