The Long Way Around - Part One

Posted on Thu Aug 31st, 2023 @ 9:19am by Commander Kira Antilles & Lieutenant Commander K'Taal Antilles & Commodore Edward Antilles
Edited on on Sat Sep 30th, 2023 @ 5:50am

Mission: Mission 127: Old Friends and New Enemies
Location: Various Locations - Starbase Vanguard
Timeline: 1400Hrs - January 18th, 2394

Commodore Edward Antilles was sitting in the lounge. He smiled while he regarded the PADD sitting on the table before him. It was lying face down as he regarded his spouse. "I wonder who they will ask to pack our effects?" he inquired.

"I have no idea," K'Taal admitted. "But it's you, me and three children. So they had best not break anything or misplace anything. Otherwise. I will be most." she paused a moment for dramatic effect. "Displeased."

"That seems to happen frequently with you." Ed smiled, he simply could not resist the temptation to tease his spouse. K'Taal sighed. "Oh. Ha. Ha."

Edward grinned. "Oh relax. K'Taal. I think it's turning you grey." he added.

K'Taal sighed softly as a second female voice commented. "Ed. Picking on your wife again. I think she should divorce you. Or maim you."

Edward turned as he found himself regarding his younger sibling. "Hello, Ed. K'Taal." Commander Kira Antilles who was wearing civilian attire approached her brother and sister-in-law. Before she greeted them both with a hug. "How've you both been?" she inquired, a wide grin on her lips.

"I can't complain. But then I speak for myself. K'Taal speaks for herself." Ed responded before indicating his wife with a grin. "How've you and yours been Kira.?" K'Taal inquired with a gentle smile on her lips.

Kira chuckled softly. "Stephen's off with the kids on some holodeck adventure. He said I should come to see you guys before we go off to assume our new postings. He refused to let me leave the Relentless and take the kids, leaving him alone. So he went to Utgarde as their Chief of Operations while I take over as the commander of Patrol Squadron Six. I take over from Heather Walking Bear. Apparently, she was handling it as a temporary assignment until she was needed somewhere else for another assignment." Kira explained the various details of what she knew.

"Well. It's apparently much the same with K'Taal and myself. We've been asked to see Fleet Admiral Heather Duval for a new assignment. So there is a good chance we won't be heading back out to the USS Exeter when we get back to Vanguard. I know the USS Exeter is in the dock for refitting but thats about it." Ed explained with a shrug. "Fleet Admirals tend to get their way a lot of the time. So why argue with city hall... Right?"

K'Taal simply nodded but didn't say anything.

Kira nodded in agreement as well. "I heard that Robbie lost Mirith to the same crap. Except he couldn't get a posting on Starbase Vanguard. I know he's angry while Racheal's spouse Nathan is off on Starbase 409 as one of their Ops guys. Mekka and her family are off together on the Gasgoyne while Sarilla is assigned to the Endurance. Her family is permitted to remain with her. For how long? fuck only knows." she then sighed softly.

Edward nodded. "Considering that my biological mother is now back from the dead. I ran into her a couple of hours ago when we rescued that Klingon Negh'Var." he paused as he sighed.

K'Taal nodded. "Yes. It was an experience alright. She dropped in to say hello, considering that Ed here was sitting on Roanoke's bridge when she called for help." she explained. "Then I got to meet her. Sorlora is her name, and she's not what I expected."

"What were you expecting?" Kira inquired of the other woman before her.

"I was expecting an old bitter and angry battleaxe. Y'know. The usual middle-aged Klingon female." K'Taal sighed. "I got a more mild-mannered version of my own parents. It was all rather disturbing. She was almost... Human in her manners at times." She paused as she had just technically insulted Kira as well as Kira's own family. "No offence."

"Mmm." Kira shook her head, as she smiled. "Mmm... None was taken," she added after a moment. "So, this woman was a gentle soul. That makes a nice change," she added, with a gentle smile. "So go on, what happened?"

"She wanted a bath and somewhere to sleep for a while. She had just been spending the last several hours in battle. So she was tired and she felt she stank. All I could smell was the usual. Smoke and ashes. Nothing overly serious." K'Taal answered. "Ed found her asleep in the bathtub. So he asked me to give him a hand in pulling her out. We were able to save her from drowning."

"Ouch." Kira paused, as she recalled her mother once going through something similar, deep exhaustion while being asleep in the bathtub. Andrea Crane had drowned while taking a bath when Kira had been a girl. Dad had simply hauled mom out and laid her on the bed. He had then revived her. After checking to make sure she was alright, he called in the medics to make sure. It cost the entire family a sleepless night but, it was worth it.