The War Without, The War Within - Part Two

Posted on Sun Jul 31st, 2022 @ 8:04am by Fleet Admiral Heather Duval & Admiral Jake Yamaguchi & Commodore Korelii MacRae & Fleet Captain Torilla Yamaguchi

Mission: Mission 115: The Pale-Fac'd Moon looks Bloody on the Earth
Location: Various Locations - Starbase Vanguard
Timeline: 1100Hrs - November 16th, 2393

Fleet Admiral Heather Duval smiled as she sat back in her chair. The results of the recent Federation response to the Halanan situation had left its results. Both good and bad, for all to see. Duval turned to Jake who was sitting across from her. He had a rather sizeable grin on his face. "Y'know, Heather. I can hear you thinking it."

Duval grinned at her first officer for the Taurus Reach. "Am I that obvious?"

"Yes," Jake answered. "I can now argue that I spend more time with you than we do with either of our spouses." he suddenly grinned at her. "Though I suspect this meeting will be outright fascinating. Do keep in mind that when it's over, she is mine for a week. This means no com calls, no nadda. Capeesh?" Jake answered.

"Mmm... Oh yes. I won't be bothering you and Torilla. I suspect she will become pregnant when she heads back out into the field for her next assignment. Whatever or wherever that takes her." Duval smiled back at Jake.

Jake smiled. "If Torilla ends up becoming pregnant. She'll drop her retirement papers... I'm getting the feeling she might end up doing it anyway."

Duval's good cheer vanished like a snowball on Vulcan. "What?!" she gasped. "Why!?"

"Because she wants to be a parent," Jake answered quietly. "She's seriously looking into the matter. Maybe a ground-based assignment somewhere close by or she can request to leave active duty. Considering her career and what she's accomplished. She will get it."

Duval paused, this was a real shock to her. She breathed out slowly. "There's no way I can change her mind?. If she decides once and for all?"

"No," Jake answered quietly. "I have a full house and... I miss her, as do the kids." he paused. "If she decides she wants to go on inactive status for the next twenty years because she wishes to help with the kids... Then I won't refuse her. You shouldn't either."

Duval nodded slowly. "Alright," she answered softly. "I have no idea she was even considering it. She never mentioned anything to anyone about any issues."

Jake knew all of this already. "I know," he explained. "The reason is quite simple. She doesn't wish to air her problems and concerns out in public for all to see. She prefers to deal with her problems at home, with me." Jake then shrugged. The door beeped at them both. "Enter," Duval commented in a flat tone of voice, but the look in her eye said that this wasn't over.

Jake slowly smiled, in truth. He would support his spouse with whatever she decided. He had been doing it since before their first child had come along, and he would support it until whatever came to separate them.

The main door opened and in walked Commodore Korelii MacRae and hot on her heels was Fleet Captain Torilla Yamaguchi. Torilla smiled at her husband. Jake smiled back as he felt her touch his mind with her own. The contact was light and lasted only a second. Jake knew what it was, it was a telepathic kiss.

Duval rose to her feet, and Jake did likewise. "Welcome home you two. It's good to see you both." Duval commented. "Can I get you anything to eat, or drink?"

"No, thank you, ma'am," MacRae answered. Yamaguchi shook her head. "Nothing for me, thanks," she added, after a moment.

Duval then sat back down. She indicated the other two chairs across from her. "Alright, I read your reports... Riveting reading." Duval commented. "You both led an invasion of your own homeworld to stop a war. One that they started." Duval commented. She raised a hand to stop the inevitable protest. "I wasn't criticizing ladies. I was just stating facts," she added. "But that said, you two accomplished this mission, with a minimum of losses. Ending the war without mass bloodshed and removing the planet's government in the process. Then you were able to gather others, who could form a new government and then you turned over the matter to them. Getting both of your exiles removed in the process..."

"Thats about the long and the short of it, sir," MacRae commented quietly. "What worse was that I was taken captive during a round of diplomatic talks... I was to be used as a bargaining chip to make Torilla here, back down." she paused. "If there are any reprimands to be issued as a result of this mission. I would have you issue them to me. I was the mission commander." MacRae answered, there was something in her tone which brooked no argument.

Duval shooks her head, this was going to get out of hand very fast if she didn't get a grip on the matter at hand. "I will not be issuing any reprimands. If anything. I should be commending you both. Remind me both to never piss either of you off... Especally you, Torilla." Duval commented. "Doing what you did... Could I do that?. No... I know a great many others who could not either." she paused. "I can promise that medals, commendations and promotions will be coming to the people assigned to your mission."

Yamaguchi and McRae both held their silence as Duval continued. "Both of you will have extended shore leave for the next sixty days. This will allow both of your ships to be replenished and refitted." Duval paused. "I was able to borrow two Champion class ships from the Eighty Third Fleet to cover for you both. Neither Captain has ever been here before and Once your ships and crews are back, they will be rotated back to their fleet." Duval explained. "Any questions?"

"No sir," Yamaguchi answered first. MacRae smiled. "When does shore leave start?"

"Officially. It starts at midnight tonight. Starbase time, of course." Duval then slowly smiled. "Unofficially, it starts as soon as you both walk out that door," Duval answered. "Do either of you have any questions?" she asked.

"No, ma'am," MacRae answered. Yamaguchi smiled. "I don't have any."

"Alright then. Dismissed. Go, have fun ladies," Duval answered quietly. Both women quickly departed as Duval turned to Jake. "Go, enjoy your leave. Go impregnate your spouse," with that, Jake followed his wife out the door. Duval grinned as she watched him leave. Hopefully, Jake would adjust and enjoy his leave.