Until we meet again.

Posted on Fri Feb 19th, 2021 @ 8:56am by Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Major's Office
974 words - 1.9 OF Standard Post Measure

Jess brought some of her private reserve wine she had delivered from her housekeeper to the Head Marine's office. She leaned in the doorway and smiled. "Hey there, Major."

Looking up from her desk, Naxea smiled at her friend. "Hey, come in."

"One last drink for the road?" Jess noted. "You know, you better save a place at your table for me and Man'darr. I am going to keep up with you and S'hib as often as I can."

"Sure," she chuckled, gesturing towards the chair across from her desk. "So how are you and Man'darr doing?"

"Oh him?" Jess smiled. "We kinda fell in with each other when he kicked the asses of the bastards who were giving me a gang beating. It went from there. I adore it." Jessica noted. "This is the way true relationships begin. Respect for each other."

"That it does. You two seems good together," Naxea complimented with a smile as she replicated some glasses. She set them down on her desk. "So what's the special occasion?"

"I wanted to get the good stuff out so we can have one last drink before you retire, Nax." Jess mentioned. "I'm sure as hell glad, S'hib got you back, or I would have. I'd have gone to the ends of that nightmarish universe to get our crew back."

Naxea laughed, leaning back in her chair. "Thank you for this, but I've decided not to retire during the wedding ceremony on Pacifica. After S'hib proposed to me, I realized that majority of my friends are here on the Elysium and that I couldn't leave them, or you."

Jess smiled. "This is the best place for you. No one else would understand what we've been through. The Comradery we have forged here. I didn't take this ship back to lose our crew to the Terran Empire. In fact... Something has been on my mind for some time about them...

"Oh?" she asked, leaning forward in her chair again. "And what's that?"

Jess brought up an image of the Captain's Yeoman. Jess sighed and moved to the wall. "She was nowhere to be found after the revolt. No body, nothing..."

"I thought all of the crew was accounted for. Was she left behind?" Naxea asked, crossing her arms in thought.

"I'm trying to find that out, Nax. Trying to account for all the missing. I intend to set up a monument to our fallen in the forward lounge." Jess noted.

"That's a good idea," Naxea replied, nodding in agreement. "If you need help with any of it, let me know." She wondered how the Captain's Yeoman could have gone missing. She had heard that she was raped by the mirror S'hib. Maybe her S'hib would have an idea. "And did you talk to S'hib about the Captain's Yeoman?"

Jess shook her head. "I thought I'd run it by you first, then S'hib and the boss. I need help with this. We're going to account for all those who have disappeared. Every trace, every clue. And if they are holding one of our own; we are going to recover them and bring them home." Jessica mentioned. "One thing you'll learn about me is the Commander does not leave anyone behind."

"Neither do Marines," Naxea agreed. "How long have you known about the missing yeoman?"

"The first thing we may have to do is to figure out how to collect intelligence on the mirror, and I think I know who to ask. My mother's alternate, and her rebels, came with us through the rift. I think she might be able to give me a place to start, Nax." Jess noted. "How good are your people at covert extraction ops?"

"First Platoon is Special Operations qualified," Naxea replied. "Are you seriously thinking of going back into the Mirror Universe?" To Naxea, that would require some solid intel, flawless planning with a little bit of luck to pull off.

"You know me better than to go into hell without a plan." Jess mentioned. "And for this plan to be made, we're going to have to assemble all the details, discuss it with the Captain. Right now, Square one."

Naxea nodded as she thought over Jess' plan. "How is your mirror mother adapting to our universe?"

"Oh her?" Jess smiled. "Think Betazoids, then think Amazon Warriors. They want to be left alone on their world. They'll trade when they want to, they'll conduct diplomacy when they want to, they'll travel when they want to. The Federation has been trying to normalize relations with them, but my true mother just says; 'If I want ambassadors from you, I'll ask for them. Otherwise leave us alone.'" Jess shook her head. "Just like me."

"I can understand that," she replied, recalling how suspicious Bajorans first were of the Federation after the Occupation ended. Many saw the Federation as simply different invaders. Fortunately they were wrong about the Federation and came around to see the Federation as allies. "I just hope they remember that this universe is still dangerous and it's always good to have allies close at hand."

Jess spoke. "I think you'd be the best person to explain that to her, Naxea. Lucianna has heard words from diplomats, and she doesn't trust the Klingons here. She cares about her house and little else." Jess mentioned. "It was hard for her to leave her native universe behind, but it was either withdrawal or extinction." The pilot noted. "She's good and noble, but she's war wiry."

Naxea shook her head slightly. Such people often caused problems and would eventually end up either on the run or dead. "I will try my best," she said. "When are you planning to talk to her again?"

Tomorrow evening, Nax. Well. I'm heading out. Gotta make sure these cadets don't have it easy. Night.

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