Brevity Is The Soul of Wit - Part Two

Posted on Mon Feb 27th, 2023 @ 10:04pm by Commander Galiaan Fordring & Post Captain Tirion Fordring & Grand General Callis "Malice" Fordring

Mission: Mission 117: A Quality of Mercy
Location: Various Locations - Starbase Vanguard
Timeline: 1000Hrs - January 3rd, 2394

Grand General Calis Fordring was tired. She was also in an angry mood, her efforts to calm herself had utterly failed rather miserably, and now she looked just plain irritated. She knew where she was heading, she also knew her destination.

The massive-looking female let out a soft sigh of resignation while she arrived at her destination. She took a moment to pull herself together. Should her parents see her like this, they would assume the worst and plan accordingly. This was not something that Malice wanted to pass along. Considering she was bringing what most would consider as being very happy news.

Malice tapped the door chime. The time for this event to be resolved was now. So the entire matter could be consigned to the trash can of history, where Malice felt it belonged. The door opened and Galiaan Fordring was standing there. She was wearing Vrykul garb rather than her duty uniform. "Calis. Come in," she commented in a quiet tone.

"You are wondering why I didn't just barge in.?" Malice inquired of her mother.

"I had wondered," Galiaan answered. "But the answer is obvious to all concerned," she commented. "Your siblings are off at daycare and your father will be home soon," Galiaan explained the lack of anyone else at home.

Malice nodded her head in silence. "Do you want me to proceed now or wait until dad comes home?"

Galiaan paused before she sat down on the sofa. She was showing the signs of pregnancy. She had been pregnant since early August, as the humans reckon time and she was now a half-human year along. All in all, she was developing well. The issues that had caused her present situation. "No. We will deal with this now. It's time this issue was sorted out." she commented. "What news have you?"

Malice went over to the replicator. She ordered herself a glass of water, tailored to the size of a Vrykul, rather than the human-sized drinks. "I can never get enough water. I hate being dehydrated."

Galiaan knew her daughter well enough to know she needed a moment to figure out what she wanted to say, this meant the news was bad. Galiaan took a moment to consider the matter. She paused as she would wait for her daughter to have her drink.

Malice knew she needed to get a move on, she polished off her drink before she placed it back into the replicator. She then recycled the beverage container. She then came to sit down across from her mother. "Alright. Let's get this over with." Malice explained. "The Vrykul Ambassador contacted me an hour ago, we spent thirty minutes discussing your case and your situation. Even if it was mostly him talking and me listening." she paused as she opened her messenger bag. She then produced two PADDs. "One of these has your punishment on it and the other has your terms and conditions on it." she handed the punishment detail to her mother. Followed by the other PADD a moment later.

Galiaan read it quickly and then she took a moment to go over it with a fine-toothed comb. "Probation. This is really good news... The best I could have hoped for." she paused. "Why your reaction to it.?" she inquired of her daughter. Galiaan was anything but stupid. She knew Malice very well, but she wanted to be sure of her reasons.

"I do not appreciate being used as an errand girl by our government, being used or screwed with," Malice explained patiently. It was clear from her tone that she was fighting to control her emotions. "You are my mother. I am not about to help others take your children, my siblings from you." Malice paused. "Order my mother to turn her children over to the state, not while I draw breath." Malice hissed angrily. Her emotional control was being eroded by the moment. Galiaan knew that her daughter was on the verge of a full-on meltdown within moments.

Thats when the door opened. In walked Tirion Fordring. He skidded to a stop when he noticed his spouse and his daughter talking. "Is this a bad time?" he quickly glanced at his wife who looked cool, calm and collected. Over to his daughter who looked positively enraged.

"No, come in father. You should hear this too." Malice answered quietly.

Tirion came over and sat down next to his daughter. He then quickly placed his hand on top of hers. "Calm yourself, Callis," he said softly. "You do not bring us what we didn't suspect was coming," he commented as he gently rubbed the back of his daughter's hand.

Callis Fordring was still angry. "I have hated every moment of this foul business from the moment I was summoned to deal with matters of state." she then let out a soft sigh.