Brevity Is The Soul of Wit - Part Three

Posted on Mon Feb 27th, 2023 @ 10:05pm 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: 1050Hrs - January 3rd, 2394

Callis "Malice" Fordring sighed softly. "Here I am losing my mind, even though I bring you both good news." she paused as she shook her head.

"It's okay, honey," Galiaan answered with a gentle smile.

"How?" Malice asked her mother in a soft tone of voice. "How is this okay?" she asked. "How is me, losing my mind because I can't hold it together, okay?" she pressed her mother for specifics.

"Thats why it had to be you," Tirion explained. "Callis, you are a career pilot. Everything you do is all about disapline and control. Thats why it had to be you." he commented. "Don't believe me?" he inquired of her.

"I'm not sure that I do." Malice admitted in a quiet tone of voice.

Galiaan nodded. "Shall we go over your siblings?" she inquired. "Rathos wouldn't do it. He made it clear when I called him a week ago. Same with Ethon, his spouse would think him mad if he did. Plus he has a full house already. Koros is on the other side of the Federation as the Commander of Starbase One Eighty-Five." she explained. "Tyrol is on his way here, but for different reasons. He wants to help chart the life on the planet below," she explained. "He also would refuse this case as well, on principle," she added. "Tyrael has a full house already. Tasmin isn't permitted children with her. She wouldn't do it for that reason alone."

Malice listened in silence. She slowly breathed out and then slowly breathed back in again. While she listened to her mother speaking.
"It's not fair, mom." she almost cringed when she said it.

"It's never fair," Galiaan answered with a gentle smile. "All of that said, this leaves Morae. She won't do it as she's enlisted in Starfleet. She's a little busy with schoolwork. She's not ready for handling two, soon to be three children. One of those would be a newborn infant. She'd refuse and then put her fist through a wall." Galiaan explained. "She would take such news very poorly. This left you." she nodded her head. "It had to be you. Nobody else was available," she added after a moment.

"Mom. Please please please, don't ever get drunk on Thungwine ever again please?" Malice asked. "Considering how this case could have gone." the younger Vrykul woman let out a long moan as she regarded her mother.

"Tirion took care of that detail weeks ago. He went around all of the lounges, telling everyone and I do mean everyone that I am not to be sold booze. Ever again." Galiaan explained. "Of course, things progressed when he asked Siaxx for her assistance on the matter."

Malice paused. "Siaxx. Isn't she that small Bolian woman who you named one of your unborn children for?"

"Yep." Galiaan smiled happily. "She has earned the honour. I assure you," she added after a moment.

"Thats your domain, mom," Malice answered. "Dad," she added after a moment as she looked over at her father. "I can't tell you who to name my siblings for. I leave that to those who are actually handling the infants." Malice added, after a moment. "Okay. Now that I am calm. We can proceed."

"Very well," Galiaan answered. "What are the terms of my probation?" she asked in a formal manner.

"You are not permitted to have any booze on your person. For any reason whatsoever as long as children below the age of majority are in your care. This includes children you are watching over for other people." she explained. "You are also not permitted to be drunk and disorderly for the same reasons. If any of these show up on your service record for any reason. Then the case will be reopened. You will be able to appeal this punishment if you so require. However, the probation period will end when your child that you are presently pregnant with, reaches the age of majority and leaves home. As in, no longer under your care." Malice explained. "If charges of drunk and disorderly appear on your record. Then the council may rule summerily against you. There was no mention of you being pulled from this post or your children being taken away, however." Malice paused.

"However. I suspect you have made arrangements with an interested third party regarding the caring and feeding of your three children." she inquired. It was more of a question than a statement.

Galiaan nodded her head. "Indeed. Such arrangements do exist," she explained.

"The Council will not argue with those arrangements," Malice explained. "Only your presence in raising these children. If you are drunk in their presence again. Especially if you are hospitalized by such events." Malice explained.

Galiaan nodded her head. "I understand," she answered in a cool tone of voice.

"Alright then." Malice sighed softly. "I had explained all of this to the Ambassador. He was polite on the matter, I told him that you understood all of this and the rest was a mere formality," she commented.

"Okay then," Galiaan answered.

"Why the low punishment?" Tirion asked.

"Because of the cooperation that you both had shown in the investigation. You provided a lot more than what was required. You submitted extra paperwork than what was required. All of which saved you from losing your children." she paused. "But mom, there will be no second chances from this point. Until your youngest child leaves your care. I will say no more."

Galiaan nodded. She knew what was being asked of her. "Very well. Then let's be a family and not speak of this matter. If asked, then we will say it was resolved in an amicable fashion." she commented.

"Works for me," Tirion answered with a nod of his head.

"I'm good with that." Malice sighed. "Fuck, I need a vacation." she then sighed.