Unexpected Emotions

Posted on Sun Oct 4th, 2015 @ 1:28pm by Fleet Admiral Mike K`Wor Bremer & Fleet Admiral Sevlek

1,372 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 89 - Futility's Return
Location: Starbase 400
Timeline: MD2 2105, Following 'A Ral Concern...'

ON:

After talking with Jewel, Mike made his way to Sevlek’s Office to hand him the report on their encounter with the new Collective and battle to destroy their Unimatrix in on Grenarisa III. As the turbolift descended to Level Four, Mike looked over the report one more time, but as he did he suddenly felt chills and a cold sweat come over him. Certain words seemed to jump out at him from the PADD’s screen, ‘Borg’ and ‘Assimilate’. Mike wasn’t sure what to make of the feelings that suddenly came over him as his hand started to shake as he breathing quickened. He tried to take a deep breath as he tapped the button to stop the turbolift. ‘A panic attack? Me?!’ He thought to himself. He leaned back against the wall of the turbolift and slid down to the floor. He dropped the PADD and covered his eyes for a moment as he tried to calm his breathing and clear his mind. After a few moments, what felt like hours to Mike, he felt his breathing return to normal, the shaking stopped, the sweating ceased, and his body temperature felt normal again.

Mike picked up the PADD, stood, and straightened his uniform. He’d never felt anything like that before. Being half Klingon, battle and even death were just parts of life. Dying in glorious battle was honorable, and he’d faced that more times in his life than he could remember at the moment. Why now did he suddenly have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder? Yes, the Pegasus had battled the Borg in space, she took damage, but it wasn’t the worst he’d experienced. He’d been in rougher situations during the Dominion War, and that wasn’t as dire as the battle against the Borg in the Zerian System when he was assimilated. Mike also wondered if it was just an overwhelming concern for his son aboard the Avenger as it engaged the Borg Transwarp Hub, but this was a different feeling than anything he’d felt before when K’Wor was on a mission and in battle.

Perhaps, over the years, Mike had just become good at burying his worries and concerns. Perhaps, his past events with the Borg had been pushed so deep and never dealt with as he’d dealt with other highs and lows in his life that when they appeared again it just pushed his emotional state regarding them to the breaking point. Maybe, Mike was just tired, it was late, and he needed a good night’s rest. Either way, he knew he needed to talk to someone, but with Counselor Delair still on LOA he wasn’t sure who. He thought about his wife of course, his brother, and a few close friends but wasn’t sure who. What he did know was that he needed to continue to present a calm yet strong front to reassure his Staff and Crew that even with the Borg threat back, all would be well.

After recomposing himself, Mike tapped the button to allow the turbolift to continue to Level Four. Once there, he was granted access to the Beta Quadrant Command’s internal offices and made his way to Sevlek’s door and pressed the chime.

Sevlek was reading reports from various sources concerning incidents aboard the U.S.S. Belgrade, it was heavily damaged during a docking maneuver at Starbase 281. Initial reports suggested it was a malfunction in the starbase's automated assisted guidance systems. The door chime sounded and Sevlek said, "Enter."

Sevlek watched the other man cross the floor of his office. Admiral Bremer did not look entirely well. Small things. Things only someone who excelled at noticing the hardly noticeable, or a doctor, would notice. Skin that had been flushed, but was regaining its color. Slightly dilated pupils. The Vulcan asked, "Are you feeling well, Mike?" It was extremely uncommon for Sevlek to refer to someone by something other than their rank and last name.

Mike nodded and flashed a smile, even though he knew it would be lost on the Vulcan. “I’m all right, little tired perhaps. I gave everyone that returned from the Grenarisa III mission the rest of the day and tomorrow off, except myself.” He handed Sevlek the PADD with his report. “Here’s my after action report. It includes all tactical data we collected as well as damage and casualty reports.”

Sevlek looked at the PADD he was handed momentarily and set it down on his left with the other PADDs from people who commanded vessels during the engagement. Bremer's would be the only one that covered the entire Task Group. He nodded his thanks, "Upon consideration, I believe I will insist you also take the rest of today and tomorrow off." He paused as Mike started to open his mouth, then continued quickly. "It will do no one, least of all you and your family, any good if you are not operating at maximum efficiency."

Sevlek stood and walked around the desk to the sitting area in the corner of the room, motioning for Bremer to sit as well. "It is evident to anyone capable of detailed observation that you do not feel as well as you say."

Taking the seat, Mike let out a breath. “Perhaps.” He looked down for a moment, the back up at Sevlek. “I’m going to check on the status of Admiral Ward’s task force then call it a night.” Mike quickly stood, he didn’t want to appear weak or incapable of preforming his duties, especially in front of his direct report in the chain of command.

The other man was exhausted. Mentally and physically. Sevlek could see, and surmise, enough to make it true. Bremer's sitting, then quickly standing was a front he was playing. Sevlek stood and walked back to the desk, picking up a PADD with no files stored on it then entered commands. When he was done, he extended it to Bremer.

Before Bremer could read it, Sevlek spoke, "I have issued orders on that PADD. You will take 36 hours of personal time." A pause, "After you inquire about the status of Admiral Ward's task group and your son." Sevlek knew the other man cared deeply for his children. Not so long ago he suffered a great loss.

Mike gave a respectful nod. It was similar orders to what he'd issued to his staff too, but he didn't like it. "With all due respect, I'm fine."

Sevlek nodded. He expected as much. "Your protestations are noted and my order still stands." He sat down at the desk. "You must rest and your wife would be overly angry if she discovered I ordered you to spend 36 hours resting with your family and you declined vehemently." It was dirty, but Sevlek was an intelligence agent at his core. You must be willing to use all of the resources available to you, including someone's wife and children. Except in this instance, it wasn't used to gain anything for Starfleet or the Federation, but to encourage a valued officer to rest.

"Understood." Of course, if an emergency arose, Mike had all intentions to be back in Ops. He gave another nod, then left the office.

A few minutes later Mike was in Starbase 400's CiC. There was an Intel Officer and a Strategic Operations Officer present monitoring incoming sensor readings and data from Starships and other Bases in the Ares Regional Operational Theater.

Mike looked over at both, "You can monitor from Ops." It was more of an order than a comment and both men knew it. They nodded, gathered a few PADDs, transferred the data feed to Strategic Operations / Intelligence consoles in Ops, and left the room.

Mike sent a quick message to Janice to let her know where he was. He knew she was getting Christopher settled into bed, and he also knew she'd understand he wanted to keep an eye on what was going on. Mike then grabbed a raktijno from the food slot, tapped in a few commands on the main console, and brought up a real-time feed of telemetry from Admiral Ward's task force.


tbc...

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