The Dreams of Songs Gone Past - Part Ten

Posted on Tue Mar 17th, 2020 @ 7:34am by Division Admiral Thomas Lasky & Post Captain Harmon 'Hammer' Rabb Junior.

Mission: Mission 99: The Dreams of Songs Gone Past
Location: Starfleet Corps of Engineers Offices - Starbase Vanguard (47)
Timeline: 1545Hrs - June 12th, 2393

After the meeting that Rabb had just concluded with newly promoted Commander Moni Nasao and dealing with her issues, he returned to his office to familiarize himself with his next person of interest and that was Captain Tom Lasky.

Rabb sat down behind his desk before shrugged out of his uniform jacket, he let out a sigh as he did so. "Computer, Orange punch, chilled."

The replicator worked its magic and produced the drink that Rabb had requested, he picked up the drink a few moments later as he regarded the information on the PADD. Lasky had a major black mark from his cadet assignment where one pilot had been killed because a live missile had been inserted among the dummy warheads but when Lasky demanded reassignment out of this squadron, his skipper had refused him. Rabb frowned when he read that detail as the skipper had not had a valid reason for his refusal.

Rabb's frown only deepened when he continued reading the file before him because when Lasky walked away after the service after the end of the war with the Dominion, his paperwork was misfiled and his rank was set as a Lieutenant and not as a Commander. Rabb sighed. "Why are these people so fucking stupid?" he asked himself, aloud.

The walls of his office designed the answer not being worthy of a response as they often never did so Lasky had no recourse but to work his way back up from the rank of Lieutenant and it didn't help he suffered a second demotion, this was was much more serious as it was a double demotion and not a rank suspension. during his time on Starbase Four Hundred, over a paperwork issue. Why all of this had been permitted to go unanswered was beyond Rabb's ability to comprehend.

Rabb tapped his combadge. "Rabb to Lasky?"

Two responses came back, one was male and one was female before Rabb facepalmed. he had forgotten about the fact that Lasky was married to the twin of Fleet Captain Torilla Yamaguchi and that she answered to Lasky as well. "Sorry. I'm looking for Tom Lasky."

The female Lasky answered. "Tom, you are wanted. I'll let you handle it. Lasky out." before the second Lasky disconnected.

"I'm here Harm, what's up?" Lasky answered a moment later.

"I need to see you when you get a moment. There is a matter that JAG needs to see you about." Rabb responded.

"I'm in my office," Lasky answered. "Want me to come to you or you to come to me?" Lasky added.

"No. I'll come to you," Rabb answered before lifted the items Rabb knew he would need, he rose to his feet and out the door he went after retrieving his uniform jacket from where he had left it. Rabb reached his destination and was permitted entry into Lasky's office a moment later. "Hey Tom, I know you're busy so I'll keep this short," Rabb said to his colleague, the two men were both former starfighter pilots who had moved into other fields.

"What's going on Harm?" Lasky responded as he turned. "Computer, two glasses of Orange punch, chilled." he turned back to Rabb. "Still your favored drink?" he inquired with a smile.

"Yeah. I have such bland tastes, I know." Rabb answered with a soft chuckle.

"Not really. Plataea likes this drink except she adds pineapple too. Gives it a nice tangy flavor to it." Lasky retrieved the two drinks from the replicator and he passed one of them across to Rabb. "So what does Starfleet JAG want with me?" Lasky made himself comfortable as he waited for the explanation.

"Well. You and your wife are not in any trouble so don't worry about things." Rabb answered as he sipped his drink. "Let me explain why I'm here pestering you today," Rabb added.

Lasky settled in to wait as he knew that this was going to be good.

"Last year, a complaint was made about yourself and several others, we do not know who this complainant was," Rabb explained evenly. "I, however, have my small list of suspects but that's unimportant at present," he added.

Lasky raised an eyebrow. "Ohh. Sounds serious," he commented,

"It was, especially after once the list of allegations and such, got loose. Lots of rank abuse, falsification of paperwork and people doing things they had no right to be doing." Rabb explained. "The entire report was damming against the Admiral in question, he's now been removed from Starfleet and is facing some very serious jail time along with several others. Your service record is full of garbage that other people have dumped on you, paperwork being misfiled and people doing stupid things, then there was your cadet fight when you were refused reassignment and the black mark you picked up there."

Lasky had forgotten about many of these details and he really didn't care to bring them up, even in casual conversation but Rabb was a former pilot, much like himself was and so he'd hear the man out. "so what's happening to me, about all this I mean.?"

"Well, for a start, the black marks you got are all going bye-bye, for a start," Rabb answered. "You'll be keeping the present posting you have but your rank is going from Captain to Division Admiral. The rank that you should have, had your issues not happened but had you remained in Starfleet, you'd be in Paul Emerson's posting as Commander of the ninety-second fleet or even Jake Yamaguchi's position as Exec of the Taurus Reach."

"Well, it could have been worse. I could have wanted to come back to Starfleet and been told no." Lasky answered as Rabb produced the black box in his hand. "Here you go, Tom. Your Division Admirals rank pips. Your paperwork has already gone through and your service record will be adjusted and expunged from the garbage by tomorrow morning."

"Thank you, Harm." Lasky received the small black box before opening it, inside was two single box pips, each containing a solid golden pip. Lasky smiled before he closed the box a second time. "This feels like something from the Twilight Zone."

Rabb chuckled softly. "Yes. I know the feeling. I've been doing a lot of that today. Going around and dealing with people who have been screwed around because of certain people and events. They all look at me like I'm a threat but when I explain, they respond with "aww this is the greatest day ever. It's exhausting and I still got at least one more person after I finish with you."

Lasky nodded. "You normally don't like bringing security to the party when you need to talk to someone."

"That's because I know better, plus I like to think I can reason with people better than that. Besides, we flew together and fought together during the seventies."

Lasky smiled. "Those were some good times. You, me and the guys." he sighed. "We got lucky."

Rabb drained the glass in one smooth drink. Mmmm. Well, I'd best not overstay my welcome Tom. I do still have things to do and people to see. You enjoy your new rank." he smiled as he handed the glass back to Lasky. "Thanks for the drink."

"Anytime old friend," Lasky answered.

Rabb rose to his feet and took his leave in silence as Lasky went back to his paperwork.