09-12-2023, 02:58 AM
== Mission Timeline ==
As soon as the doors slide shut behind her, she let a deep breath escape, the careful expression of calm and control slipping just a fraction. She was under no illusion about how things were going to go; this was very likely the last moment of peace and quiet she would have before all hell broke loose.
Her steps were careful and measured as she moved to her desk, setting the thermos on the edge as she opened one of her bottom drawers. She gentle rolled the emergency bottle of bourbon out of the way, her fingers curling around the edge of a well worn PADD before pulling it out.
As she held it in her hands, it felt impossibly heavy as if its emotional weight had manifested itself physically. She swallowed at the implication of having to pull it out yet again before setting it in its customary place next to her console. Occasionally, it had been left with someone in safe harbor but usually, it sat right there so that it could be found by whoever took her mantle. This time, if worst came to worst, Cera would find it and know what to do with it.
She hoped that it never needed to be delivered but if her career had taught her anything, it was to be prepared for the worst. There was nothing she could imagine worse than those she loved being robbed of closure.
After a moment of considering the PADD, with another sigh, she reached up and began to unfasten the necklace around her neck. She gently tugged it out from under the collar of her, allowing the gold chain to dangle in front of her face. Her fingers traced the edges of her engagement ring and then, her wedding band, her lips tugged into a wistful smile before she caught herself. Carefully, she refastened the necklace and gently placed it on top of the PADD.
If nothing else, she'd be damned if she allowed her Cardassian to take them from her like some trophy.
The last thing she did was type a short message to her husband. There was no code word between them for critical missions but she knew the four word message would catch his attention.
She could imagine the way his brow would furrow at reading the message the first time, how he would lean forward for the second reading and shake his head at the third. He wouldn't understand what she was trying to say immediately but he was a man that couldn't leave a mystery unsolved. He'd likely wonder across the hall into her office, examining the books on the shelves for clues as to what she was referring to. He might even go through her music before likely wandering into Evie's room. There was a chance he'd get a hunch if he looked through Evie's books, noting the hand written notes she left in some of them, but there was a chance he might not. He'd eventually end up back in his own office and maybe out of frustration, he'd pick up one of the many books she'd gifted him. He'd read her looping handwriting with its careful note and maybe, it'd jog a memory of an inscription that fit her message. Eventually, because she knew he wouldn't let it rest, he'd come across the inscription on the book she'd given him right after they'd married. In those early years, the quote had been a promise to work through the hard times but now, it was a promise to always come back to him, even if it was hard.
Oh, she could have been more blatant about her reference but she knew this puzzle would keep him occupied for hours. By the time he realized what she meant and attempted to message her, she'd likely be unable to receive or answer messages. That was assuming he tried because he'd know, he'd know why she had written it that way. After all, he knew her best. Maybe it was a coward's way out of that hard goodbye but she couldn't keep torturing them with those moments. He'd forgive her for her cowardice, he always did.
She didn't allow herself to consider the PADD, the rings or the message for long after hitting send nor did she allow herself to remain long enough to carefully consider the appropriateness of some liquid courage. Instead, she took a deep breath and released it, forcing her shoulders to relax. No, she was far from relaxed but she didn't need that tension to seep into every midshipman she ran into on her way to the transporter room.
The curse of being a CO was that their mood was infectious and she didn't need to let everyone know that she was worried, maybe even more than worried. That was why she moved out of her office and through the bridge like a woman on a mission with no intentions of idle chit chat.
>> Transporter Room >>
As soon as the doors slide shut behind her, she let a deep breath escape, the careful expression of calm and control slipping just a fraction. She was under no illusion about how things were going to go; this was very likely the last moment of peace and quiet she would have before all hell broke loose.
Her steps were careful and measured as she moved to her desk, setting the thermos on the edge as she opened one of her bottom drawers. She gentle rolled the emergency bottle of bourbon out of the way, her fingers curling around the edge of a well worn PADD before pulling it out.
As she held it in her hands, it felt impossibly heavy as if its emotional weight had manifested itself physically. She swallowed at the implication of having to pull it out yet again before setting it in its customary place next to her console. Occasionally, it had been left with someone in safe harbor but usually, it sat right there so that it could be found by whoever took her mantle. This time, if worst came to worst, Cera would find it and know what to do with it.
She hoped that it never needed to be delivered but if her career had taught her anything, it was to be prepared for the worst. There was nothing she could imagine worse than those she loved being robbed of closure.
After a moment of considering the PADD, with another sigh, she reached up and began to unfasten the necklace around her neck. She gently tugged it out from under the collar of her, allowing the gold chain to dangle in front of her face. Her fingers traced the edges of her engagement ring and then, her wedding band, her lips tugged into a wistful smile before she caught herself. Carefully, she refastened the necklace and gently placed it on top of the PADD.
If nothing else, she'd be damned if she allowed her Cardassian to take them from her like some trophy.
The last thing she did was type a short message to her husband. There was no code word between them for critical missions but she knew the four word message would catch his attention.
She could imagine the way his brow would furrow at reading the message the first time, how he would lean forward for the second reading and shake his head at the third. He wouldn't understand what she was trying to say immediately but he was a man that couldn't leave a mystery unsolved. He'd likely wonder across the hall into her office, examining the books on the shelves for clues as to what she was referring to. He might even go through her music before likely wandering into Evie's room. There was a chance he'd get a hunch if he looked through Evie's books, noting the hand written notes she left in some of them, but there was a chance he might not. He'd eventually end up back in his own office and maybe out of frustration, he'd pick up one of the many books she'd gifted him. He'd read her looping handwriting with its careful note and maybe, it'd jog a memory of an inscription that fit her message. Eventually, because she knew he wouldn't let it rest, he'd come across the inscription on the book she'd given him right after they'd married. In those early years, the quote had been a promise to work through the hard times but now, it was a promise to always come back to him, even if it was hard.
Oh, she could have been more blatant about her reference but she knew this puzzle would keep him occupied for hours. By the time he realized what she meant and attempted to message her, she'd likely be unable to receive or answer messages. That was assuming he tried because he'd know, he'd know why she had written it that way. After all, he knew her best. Maybe it was a coward's way out of that hard goodbye but she couldn't keep torturing them with those moments. He'd forgive her for her cowardice, he always did.
She didn't allow herself to consider the PADD, the rings or the message for long after hitting send nor did she allow herself to remain long enough to carefully consider the appropriateness of some liquid courage. Instead, she took a deep breath and released it, forcing her shoulders to relax. No, she was far from relaxed but she didn't need that tension to seep into every midshipman she ran into on her way to the transporter room.
The curse of being a CO was that their mood was infectious and she didn't need to let everyone know that she was worried, maybe even more than worried. That was why she moved out of her office and through the bridge like a woman on a mission with no intentions of idle chit chat.
>> Transporter Room >>