Once More Unto The Breach... With Help

Posted on Sun Nov 28th, 2021 @ 11:47am by Commodore Keiben Haistro & Lieutenant Commander Melanie D’BrooNi- Haistro

1,348 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 4 - The Fires Of Hades
Location: Captain's Quarters
Timeline: Mission Day 14 @ 0800 Hours

ON

The scene had been set and Niska had agreed to approach Mel two weeks previously about her promotion, even if the newly arrived Orion, at the time, had not been aware of the situation completely. She had however returned the small box to the Betazoid Captain and discreetly wished him luck the next time he tried to broach the subject. Thankfully this matter was now out of his hands as the head of Starfleet Medical herself had stepped in and the orders this time came down directly from the office of Admiral Selar.

The first thing Keiben had decided was to rope in help in the form of the station's first officer so he had shown the orders to Commander Holt and the two had devised a plan which included Mopa fruit along with a traditional Trill breakfast with cooked meats and vegetables, tickets to see the traveling theatre troupe that had stopped at the station in the evening and to present her with the bottle of champagne that Admiral Selar had forwarded on with the orders.

The door chimed announcing the arrival of his backup and thankfully she had arrived before Mel was out of the shower.
"Morning Tam... You ready for this?"

"I hope she will accept the rank raise, enough time has passed so she hopefully doesn't feel bad about it," Tam remarked. "She's accomplished a huge amount and saved lives as well." the tall XO smiling. "I am loving that we are getting some happiness coming our way. We're due for it, Keiben. You, me, and Mel."

"Speaking of happiness... rumor has it that you and Lieutenant Han..." he left the statement hanging as he collected up a coffee cup and brought it over for Tam to fill using the pot already on the dining table.

"Oh yes," Mel said walking out. Still not used to these Cardassian showers or fully sharing quarters with her husband yet. "We are going to need you to spill there. More Mopa fruit. Really spoiling me isn't he?" she grinned.

"You deserve it!" he said sharing a look with Tam discreetly letting her know to hold fire for a moment on the real reason they were here. "Morning... Sorry if I woke you. I wanted to let you sleep in. You seem to have been busy than most of us on the station of late, what with medical duties, overseeing the refit of the Yosemite, which reminds me we need to select a new name for her, and the Operations duties you've taken!"

He kissed his wife on the cheek as she sat down next to him, plying the reasons Command had stated within her promotion orders ahead of landing the bombshell on her.

"So Tam, do tell!"

This caused Tam to blush a bit, and she pulled out from inside her uniform tunic a gold chain with a jade ring upon it. "Well, Junjie and I are now engaged!" breaking into a radiant smile. "He gave me the ring after your wedding and reception. He proposed to me the night before, he didn't have the ring yet. Also, we just didn't want to take away from your day. Now it is official!" she had stars in her eyes thinking about it. "I am very much in love with him!"

"Tam, I couldn't be happier for you... It's actually nice to see the crew, all of us, finally getting some downtime. Too much has happened in too short a time!" He moved back to the kitchen area of the quarters, something he had specifically had installed knowing they would soon have a real honest to god market with real foods for sale, he was determined to start cooking again and who knows, maybe even show Mel how to cook something... although on second thought perhaps he needed to focus on just having her replicate something that wasn't burnt to start with!

"There is no easy segway into the next topic so I suppose we had best just jump right in...", he pointed at the omelet he had been creating, asking if they both wanted some which he had made with fresh eggs, spinach, red onion, and parma ham, a favorite of his when he had been at the academy on Earth.

"Starfleet Command and Starfleet Medical are starting to put pressure on Tam and I and we need to speak to you about it Mel!"

"Oh yes?" Mel said casually as she peeled her fruit. She was on to this already. She knew the real reason why Tam was here.

She had had her own communication from an old mentor the other night making her realise it was the right time to accept this promotion. Anyway as he had enlisted Niska of all people - someone she barely knew to try give it her, she had devised her own little play here.

Mel had sneaked out early before Keiben had woken up and removed the pips. The box unbeknown to both of them was currently empty. "Did they finally publish my thesis on the Roxian disaster and potential long term treatments?" she asked innocently smoothing down her tank top an eye cast to her jacket which was already adorned with the pips neither had noticed laid ready on what the Cardassians had deemed a sofa.

"Well Mel, I was wondering if you will be willing to become a LT Commander now? I know that you've been against it for quite sometime, and I do know somewhat the reason why you refused early on, it didn't feel right for you. but now..." her eyes giving the wide eyes puss in boots expression, "Please accept the rank promotion? " Tamaska clasping her hands together.

"I already did," she said simply. Getting up and pulling her jacket on she let them see she had placed them on her collar. "Call it the right time, call it talking it over with someone and seeing sense, call it a wedding present," she locked eyes with her hunky husband and smiled cheekily at him. "Call it whatever you want. I decided yes I will accept it."

Tam's jaw dropped seeing the pips already in place, then she chuckled. "Nicely done, Commander." giving a brilliant smile. "I am glad you decided to accept." looking to both Keiben and Mel.

"Well, it's about time!" Keiben announced, the pride in his eyes swelling as he took in the sight of his wife. "If you hadn't have accepted it then I would have had to file for divorce! I wouldn't have been staying married to a Lieutenant!"

"We both know your not that shallow Keiben," Mel said amused. "So what's on the agenda today other than tag teaming me into taking a promotion?" the Trill asked helping herself to more Mopa fruit.

"Well... The one surprise I know you won't be ready for!" He smiled as he popped a grape into his mouth and started to chew. "Starfleet Medical have heard about the Yosemite and have commissioned up to refit her into a medical support craft. Apparently, this sector is lacking in emergency response craft... They want you to oversee the project and once she is complete to assume Command. You would be based out of DS21 of course!"

"Wow. Well, that will be a good resource and some good experience in a different role," Mel said. "I will have to look at the plans. Speak to the chief. See what we can retrofit in there."

"I am excited about that prospect myself. You will do well." Tamaska was definitely ecstatic about what lay before her friend. "You two are definitely a happy couple," Tamaska remarked.

"You'd be best off going through Lieutenant Yoshida, he's agreed to take on the shipyard facility!" Now, if you ladies will excuse me, I have a meeting in Ops with our Science Officer!"
Keiben was on his feet, over the moon that Mel had finally agreed to accept the promotion. He grabbed a bit of toast before kissing his wife and exiting rapidly to reach his next mini-disaster in the making.

END

 

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