A bittersweet welcome home

Posted on Wed Apr 20th, 2011 @ 6:18pm by Fleet Admiral Mike K`Wor Bremer

975 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Mission 75 - Time of Change
Location: Ops
Timeline: Just after the Saratoga and Endeavor departed
Tags: Everyone

Mike had returned to Ops after speaking with the ship commanders that were departing on their missions...

"Any reports from the Yorktown?"

"Yes sir, Captain K`Temoc just hailed. They are towing the vessel in, it's a Pakled ship." Harrison replied.

Mike's thoughts drifted back to the USS Pegasus NCC-1702-A, nearly fifteen years earlier. During a rescue mission, aiding a warship the Pakleds had found adrift and of course was having engine problems, the Pegasus moved in to assist, only to be 'accidentally' fired on point blank without shields up, taking massive damage to the Engineering section and causing a warp core breach. Of course, all the Pakleds could say was, 'Oops, we broke it.'

Mike shook his head. "I want every precaution taken while they are here. No hostage taking to ransom for technology, and no accidents."

Harrison could tell Mike was serious, "I'll see to it personally."

Mike then walked over to the vacant Strategic Operations / Intel position and took a peak at the sensors. A moment later, the subspace comm beeped and Mike quickly tapped the console to open the channel.

"Starbase 400, this is Captain Picard of the Enterprise, requesting permission to dock."

Mike walked over toward the middle of Ops, just in front of the floor mounted Master Situation Monitor and looked up at the main view screen. "Permission granted Enterprise, we see you passing the outer marker now." Mike flashed a smile, but it was still a sad moment. Everyone knew the Enterprise was coming to Starbase 400 for decommissioning and Captain Picard's retirement.

"Thank you Admiral. Once we dock, I'd like to transfer our remaining wounded to your Sick-Bay."

"Of course. We are without a Chief Medical Officer at this time, but Doctor Mclintock is there and will be waiting with the Medical Staff." Bremer replied.

"Very well. Picard Out."

The screen went blank, and Mike quickly turned away from it and headed for the nearest turbolift. "Harrison, you're with me. Chief Wright you have Ops."

Mike and Alexandra headed down to the Observation Lounge overlooking the station's internal docking bay to watch the Enterprise come in...

A few minutes after they arrived, the giant space doors started to open, and moments later the Sovereign class USS Enterprise-E started to glide in. She had clear battle damage to her port side, and the port nacelle was offline. As the ship neared Docking Bay 21, Bremer and Harrison headed over to the access port. Once they arrived, they waited for the Enterprise to complete its docking and the airlock to seal. Once it did and the doors opened, Mike greeted Captain Picard and Commander Worf.

"Welcome back to Starbase 400." Mike said as he shook Picard's hand. "You know my Chief Security/Tactical Officer, Captain Alexandra Harrison."

"Thank you Admiral." Picard said warmly. "Yes, hello again Captain."

Mike let out a small laugh, "I still can't get used to that after all these years." Mike's thought drifted back to his first meeting with Captain Picard while Mike was at Starfleet Academy. The subsequent meetings though the years before Mike was promoted to Captain fifteen years ago.

"Admiral" Picard began, "You've earned that rank. Even though some people are jealous of your accomplishments over the years, believing your promotions were somehow unwarranted, but I can attest that they were not only warranted but highly deserved and you have my full respect."

Mike, not one to be emotional, could only smile. Praise like that from Jean-Luc Picard was rare, and some of the highest anyone could receive. He then looked over at Worf who was looking back at him, "Not a word from you." Mike said with a smirk to his Klingon cousin.

As they shared a laugh, Commander LaForge came through the doors. "Captain, the ship is secure."

"Very good Geordi."

"I'm going to get repair teams on her right away, can you get me your repair list?" Mike asked.

LaForge nodded, but seemed confused. "Of course."

Mike smiled, "Thank you. I refuse to decommission her as she sits now, that'll just get some people calling for her scrapping. No, she is going to be pristine, just like the day she was commissioned. You have my word."

Picard and LaForge both smiled and nodded.

From behind the Enterprise's Senior Officers came a failure voice, "Captain Picard, what is to be done with me?" From behind LaForge stepped B4. Mike could see his mannerisms had improved even from the last time the Enterprise was at SB400, just last year. He was still in an Engineer's overalls, but now had Acting-Ensign pips on his collar.

"You'll have you choice of either entering Starfleet Academy or finding a place to settle down of your own." Picard replied.

B4 nodded, then looked at LaForge. He then noticed Bremer and Harrison. "Admiral, Captain, it is good to see you both again."

Mike wondered just how much of Data was in B4. Not just the gigaquads of information, but how much of the person known as Data there was in B4. "Good to see you again too. You are welcome to stay here as long as you like too."

B4 nodded.

"I hate to break this up, but I do need to discuss the incident in the Romulan system and Ambassador Spock's disappearance." Mike said, changing the subject. "My office, one hour?"

Picard nodded, "Absolutely. We're holding a Senior Staff dinner aboard the Enterprise tonight, 1700. We'd like you and your Senior Officers to attend."

"Most of my Senior Staff are off the station, but those that are here will be there. Thank you."

Everyone shared a smile and a nod. Bremer and Harrison headed back for Ops, while Picard, Worf, LaForge, and B4 returned to the Enterprise...


OFF:
What's everyone else up to? Most of you are assigned to some kind of mission, post up, whatcha doin?!

-Mike

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