A Parting of Ways - Part Two

Posted on Sun Dec 20th, 2020 @ 9:51am by Captain Torilla Yamaguchi & Lieutenant Rachael "Ripcord" Yamaguchi & Admiral Deela T'Lar

1,312 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 108 – Tragedies, Fortunes, and an Endgame
Location: Various Locations - Starbase 400
Timeline: Set Four days after the Halloween Party - Ten minutes after the end of Part One

Captain Torilla Yamaguchi was tired as she was sitting in the office that she was borrowing while the USS Waterloo was still undergoing her refit, mostly from battle damage she had taken during the effort to recapture the Station but also it was to replace her older Photon torpedoes with Quantum torpedoes.

Yamaguchi was just allowing her mind to wander when she received a call from Admiral T'Lar, the Admiral wanted to see her as soon as she was free.

Yamaguchi rose to her feet as she tapped her combadge. "I'm on my way Admiral." as she departed the office in silence.

Deela was not happy. She didn't like the fact that someone made another crewmember feel threatened. She interfered but it was for the good of everyone involved. After she talked with Admiral Yamaguchi, she felt that she needed to pass the news along, hoping that this would be the beginning of healing for the Yamaguchi family. There was also some news that Torilla might or might not be happy with. Before Torilla arrived, Deela prepared herself mentally for her arrival.

Yamaguchi's default state was anger, rage and hatred. She found that it was better then being depressed over what happened to her son's family. Yamaguchi had wondered what Admiral T'Lar had wanted but she knew that worrying about it would resolve nothing so she would deal with whatever came her way. Yamaguchi reached her destination before tapping on the door chime.

Deela felt a surge of anger. coming from the person on the other side of the door whom she assumed was Torilla. She didn't wait for the chime to ring. She even got up from her chair and approached the door. When it opened, she greeted Torilla, "Captain Yamaguchi, please come in and have a seat. We need to talk." She walked back to her desk and sat down, then motioned to the chair across from her.

Yamaguchi regarded the other woman in silence. Deela T'Lar had as many stars as Yamaguchi herself had pips. She entered the other woman's office and slid her lithe form into the chair that the Admiral indicated for her. She took a moment to compose herself before she regarded the Admiral. Still in silence as she had not been given leave to speak.

"Thank you for coming. There are two reasons why I asked you to come. First of all, I am aware of the situation concerning Gabe. I know he was asked to leave by Captain Harrison and that he did not do as she asked. Instead, he came to you. I also know that he is still here. Please do not be mad at Captain Harrison. She informed me because she was concerned." She folded her hands, set them on her desk as she leaned forward slightly, "Do I have reason to be concerned?" She wanted to first know where Gabe and her head were at before she told her what she knew from Jake.

Yamaguchi raised an eyebrow. "Gabe regarded Captain Harrison as a threat," she explained. "Y'know it's ironic... I call her friend and he called her threat."

Yamaguchi paused. "Gabe has been living with me... He spends most of his time meditating on his actions and choices... and trying to come to terms with what's happened... I also have the computer monitoring his lifesigns rather than his combadge. If he goes anywhere special. I can take measures to stop him..."

"Good to know." What she was going to tell her next would change all of their lives, "I need you to know that I talked to your husband about Gabe. You Yamaguchi's do not communicate much. I can tell. I was surprised that he did not know that Gabe was here. He also gave me some unexpected news. News that will hopefully help all of you to come to terms."

Yamaguchi paused. She regarded the other woman in silence. It was true that she had not spoken to her husband in months but that was only because of the war. "Well.. When this is all over. I plan on having my family gather... So we can have the closest we can get to a backyard barbeque together." she paused. "What did Jake tell you?"

"He told me that survivors from that attack brought some kids to a refugee collection point and after the kids were identified, they were sent to Jake." She smiled, "Torilla." She took a breath and exhaled softly, Your grandkids, Nicole, Gideon and Arlene are alive."

"Wait... What?" Torilla paused. "All this time and I didn't know..." she paused. "The war put a restriction on personal com time. Jake never got to tell me... Because he was assigned to a different front of the war..."

Deela nodded, "That explains it." She continued, "I was surprised as well. I wanted to be the one to tell you. I hope that this gives you some sort of peace, and Jake as well."

"I have no idea what to think. Well... Other then Starfleet Communications really dropped the heavy end of the hammer on my family a few too many times... I can only imagine how my children will take it when they learn of this news..."Yamaguchi was glad she was sitting down. "Rachael and Elizabeth both took Savv's death really hard... Elizabeth wants her own brand of vengeance... So I will speak to her..." she slowly smiled. "Rachael I will leave... to you. I believe she is assigned to your command directly."

"That she is." She sat back in her chair, relaxed, "I would like to be the one to tell Gabe. I need to see for myself how his mindset is. And hopefully once he knows, his focus will be on them, not on Savannah's death." She thought to herself, that went good but she had more news. This one she wasn't sure how Torilla would react to it.

"Alright..." Yamaguchi paused, normally she would handle family matters herself but she had named Deela as a friend years ago. "If it were anyone else, I'd tell you no. I will handle it... But I trust you. Besides, you are a trained therapist... I'll leave it with you."

"Okay, good." She paused for a moment, "I told you that there were two things that I needed to discuss with you. You are being reassigned. I do not know how you feel about that but the word just came down."

Yamaguchi paused. "Reassigned.?" she asked softly. "May I ask why?"

"You are an amazing officer and you have a great crew but you all need a long deserving break." She pushed the PADD that was in front of her towards Torilla, "They are reassigning you to Starbase 47."

"Starbase Vanguard..." Yamaguchi paused. "The Federation forces in the Taurus Reach were stretched thin..." she paused. "When does this take effect?"

"It is not immediate. They are giving you time to make arrangements and get your crew prepared. You have at least a week and a half."

"Alright. I will need to see to my ship and crew." she paused. "I will also need to inform Gabe that I'm leaving."

"Very well." Deela didn't mention what she was thinking of doing, "Then my work is done here."

"Alright." Yamaguchi paused. "Do you have any further orders for me...?"

Deela shook her head, "None that I can think of. You will be missed."

Yamaguchi thought about her memories of this place, those from years ago and the last couple of months. "I'll miss this place..." she answered with a nod of her head as she waited to be dismissed. Yamaguchi was as ever, a slave to protocol.

Deela knew that so she followed it, "Okay then, you're dismissed."

Yamaguchi nodded. There was little to say so she opted not to bother with lengthy goodbyes. She rose to her feet and departed.

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