Drama and Regrets - Part Four

Posted on Fri Sep 30th, 2022 @ 5:13am by Captain Jordal Hunt & Commander Kurt Bishop & Commander Luhanna Wintersnow

Mission: Mission 108: Grains of Sand
Location: Various Locations - USS Heart of the Tiger
Timeline: 1015Hrs - December 3rd, 2393

Captain Jordal Hunt tapped his combadge. The motion was slow and deliberate. "Hunt to Wintersnow. Honey, could you come in here please and thanks?" Hunt knew today would end badly but he knew he needed to see this through to the end.

"Right away sir." came the response. Luhanna Wintersnow was presently
walking down a hallway, wearing civilian clothing. She turned and went into a nearby turbolift. Her destination was the bridge. She raised an eyebrow as she wondered why she was wanted. She knew it was connected to her boyfriend and the fact that she had just become pregnant.

Wintersnow went over to the ready room door before she knocked. She was then permitted entry. She entered after a moment before she went over to where the skipper was standing behind his desk. "What can I do for you skipper?" Wintersnow inquired. It may be formal but then it may not be and she also did not know why she wanted either.

Hunt regarded her. "Hey, Luhanna. We both knew this was coming and while I did want you to remain here so we could be a family. You, me and Stratten. The regs now tell me to reassign you because of the Tholian issues. So I am going to reassign you as close as possible to be without actually being on the ship. As luck would have it. Starbase Vanguard has an opening for one of your rather specific skillset." he explained. "The good news is that Heart of the Tiger is homeported here so I'll be able to still pester you when I'm here."

"That sounds lovely to me Jordal," Wintersnow answered with a smile. "I could have been assigned to the other side of the Federation," she explained.

"We do need a hand in selecting your successor," Hunt commented. "We can't seem to find anyone," he added.

"Because you're thinking about me while you're doing it. You want to find a way out of replacing me. While I understand. It does not help either of us and makes things worse." Wintersnow explained.

Bishop indicated the chair across from him. "Take a seat, Luhanna. It'll make my life easier and it'll tell me you know what you want."

"Mmm... Let's see..." Wintersnow paused. "Computer, interface with Starfleet mainframe and display all tactical officers of Lieutenant or Lieutenant JG rank. Seeking transfers in the last two weeks." she commented, "It'll probably be a few, due to recent events around the Federation..."

"Working." the computer answered in its usual flat female voice.

"Display on-screen when ready." Wintersnow quipped.

The list appeared as requested and it was over a thousand names long. Wintersnow sighed softly. "Alright... Now remove anyone below the age of twenty-four years old relative to their species." With that, a third of the list vanished. "You want someone who is stable and mild-mannered, you do not need a hothead or a malcontent," Wintersnow added. "Computer, remove anyone with a bad review or physic evaluation." and with that, almost half the remaining list disappeared. "Three hundred or so names remaining." she paused. "Now, computer remove anyone above the age of thirty-six and all of the mustangs..." Wintersnow paused. "People too old won't stay either... and it'll also remove the officers who still think like they are enlisted men."

Two hundred and sixty names vanished, this left about thirty names. "Alright, I can work with this," Hunt answered.

"Computer, highlight anyone who had their last assignment on a Starbase, Deep space station or Federation outpost." nine names were suddenly highlighted. "Let's start with these ones first..."

Hunt tapped the first name, it was an officer who was an Andorian Shen. He went through her request and it said a colony or a ground base, so he removed her, the elimination process was quick and shortly the three officers were down to two candidates. "What about this one. Lieutenant JG Michelle Rodriguez-Ortiz..."

"Mmm..." Derringer paused as he regarded the female before him. He smiled as he admired the young woman's picture. "Mmmm... Her name is quite the mouthful," he commented. "But is she qualified?"

Hunt raised an eyebrow as she opted not to press further. "She's skilled... She has over a half a dozen degrees from Starfleet sciences," he commented. "Maybe this is the one..."

"Let's call her, and ask her directly," Wintersnow answered.

Hunt went about the arrangements.