Casual Chat - Kyle

Posted on Fri Aug 7th, 2026 @ 3:06pm by Commander Kyle Reece & Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson

Mission: Interlude
Location: Commodore's Ready Room, Deck 1, USS Elysium
2152 words - 4.3 OF Standard Post Measure

The doors closed, and the Commodore gave Reece a small nod, already stepping away from the desk.

“Hey.”

She gestured toward the chairs near the viewport.

“Sit—can I get you a coffee?”

As Kyle stepped further 8nto the Commodore's office, he nodded, giving her a gentle grin. "Thank you, Ma'am. Raktajono, extra strong, please?" He then lowered his large frame down onto the comfortable couch that was positioned along the port bulkhead.

There was an ease to her movements, but her attention stayed on him as she poured. “This isn’t a briefing—I just wanted your take.” She handed over the cup, then took her seat. “Anything on your radar that’s been bothering you? Doesn’t have to be formal—just your gut.”

Kyle thanked Phoenix again as he took the offered cup of steaming Klingon coffee. After taking a sip, he considered her question for a few beats, then replied. "My biggest concern is our dwindling crew strength. Especially our experienced officer corps. While we certainly have a decent body of cadets that are gaining more hands-on experience than their peers back home....there's only so much personnel loss that we can take before even simply running the ship effectively will become a struggle, Ma'am."

He took a breath, then continued a bit more. "While the influx of Romulan personnel will help at least keep us from falling apart....at the end of the day, not only are they not trained on our systems and how we do things...but they are also not cleared, from a security standpoint, to even access most of our systems. That is going to be the biggest part of merging our two crews. If we allow them fully into the fold, and we do get home, we run the risk of an uneasy adversary gaining technical information on one of the fleet's most advanced starships." He shook his head as he added, "This is a situation that I don't envy you, Ma'am."

"They are very well behaved so far. " Phoenix said softly. "But I know that it can be hard with different cultural expectations and such. I would suggest you give them as much access as you can stomach and get Rin involved as well."

Kyle nodded in understanding. "Perhaps we can start their instruction with some Academy classes, give them a baseline to build upon. Then, we could start slowly incorporating them into various secure systems, at incremental levels of security clearances, as they prove that they both understand the information and show that they are fully trustworthy, Ma'am."

Phoenix nodded. "Yes that sounds like a plan. We do not need more dissent on this ship."

Kyle nodded in reply. "The absolute last thing we need." He paused a beat, then added, "I just hope the two crews keep any cultural differences to themselves. All it would take to throw everything into a huge mess, is if two crew members from either ship get into an argument over something stupid, and blows start flying."

"The good thing is that they appreciate honour and such so we can use that. That being said I am also concerned about our own people. This trip has been longer than anyone would anticipate obviously and I do not want things to spark from them."

Kyle nodded soberly again. "I'll instruct my security officers to keep an ear out for any signs of trouble." He frowned slightly as he continued. "As thread-bare as the crew's nerves are, it won't take much to cause an eruption. We desperately need a safe place to unwind for at least a week or two. Give the crew a chance to breath deep a few times."

"Hopefully that is what our trip to Mr Teevs' homeworld will give us. A chance to breath and relax." Phoenix was not sure if it would but she was willing to pray for it.

Kyle let out a quiet breath, then responded. "From what Teevs has told me about his world, it might just be what we need right now. We could even do some repairs on the ship that requires a space dock."

Phoenix nodded "Believe me, I have heard. Engineering is sending me reports left and right and our industrial replicators need stuff just so they can work." She pointed to a pile of PADDS on her desk. "It seems to grow every hour. And when I look at it, I want to find Sharr and shove them down his throat."

Hearing the name of the Elysium's first commander, Kyle couldn't help but smirk. "I can appreciate that thought." He chuckled slightly, then continued. "When I was a young lieutenant and just came aboard the Ragnarök, which was the ship we had right before the Elysium, he would damn near refuse to allow me to protect him, which caused him to be killed twice!" He shook his head at the painful memories.

After a couple beats, Kyle sighed softly. "I don't know, Ma'am. The amount of pain that this girl has seen...numerous heavy battles, being thrown to two different galaxies, dealing with the Q, seeing a good portion of them devoured by an entity that was even more powerful and evil than them, traveling to the Mirror Universe and battling a fleet of Terran Empire heavy cruisers....among all the other dangers we have seen." He shook his head again, then looked Phoenix in the eye. "If I may be so bold, Ma'am, of all the starship commanders that I have had the pleasure of serving with, you are the finest, calmest, most capable I've seen. It has been an honor to serve under you."

She smiled. "Thank you, Did you ever hear about the day I screamed at him for being an arse?"

He chuckled again, shaking his head. "No, but I did the same, back when he returned from the dead the first time. It..uh...wasn't one of my proudest moments. As soon as the words left my mouth, I was certain that he was going to keel-haul me along Ely's hull. My adopted uncle, Commander K'tox, who was Sharr's XO at the time, convinced the Admiral to let my rant slide."

"Well he deserved it both times. He does crazy shit."

Kyle chuckled softly. "Yes, Ma'am. He was indeed." He paused for a couple beats, then thought aloud, "I wonder what he is doing right now. I know he gave his life, to allow the ship and crew to be able to return home from the Andromeda Galaxy."

Phoenix nodded. "Knowing him he has probably built a fleet and conquered the entire galaxy."

This made Kyle smile softly. Then the smile fades when he remembered that the Admiral, when he had been trapped and sent to another universe, his pent-up, unrelenting anger had actually created the Mirror Universe, where the Elysium had gone to find him. It was the same mission, where Kyle had commanded the ship, as a young Lieutenant, while the rest of the senior staff had gone down to the surface of Terra, to rescue Sharr, and he had commanded Elysium in the battle against five Constitution Class Starships, destroying them in a heated battle.

"Well," he finally said quietly, "Wherever he is, if he truly is still alive, I hope he has found peace at last. Or, at least as much peace as someone can, who had lost their children to a park of murderers." He could still remember the smell of the Admiral's children's burnt flesh, and the way the Admiral had looked. It was something that haunted him to this day. Moreso now, that he was a father himself.

"I still have a few bones to pick with him but yes, I hope he finds some peace." Phoenix agreed.

After a few beats, Kyle changed the subject. In a quiet voice that seemed almost out of place in his large frame, he asked, "Ma'am, permission to speak freely?"

"Of course" Phoenix said.

The big man was unusually quiet, even for him. After a couple beats, he asked, "While I know, as the CO, you have to keep a positive mindset for the crew. I..." he exhaled though his nostrils and continued. "This ship has been to hell and back more times than I can count. However....is there a point when the decision is made that....that this is our home now? Or do we just keep flying through space like some interstellar Flying Dutchman?"

"I don't know" She said honestly. "It would not be just my decision. I would listen to everyone's point of view."

Kyle nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "And if it's an even split?"

"That is highly unlikely. When we came across that tropical planet, I was sorely tempted to have the ship stop there."

Kyle nodded slowly in understanding. "Well, after observing you this whole time, Ma'am, I have zero doubts that, when the choice must finally be made, you will do what you feel is best for the ship and crew."

"Thank you Commander." Phoenix smiled. "I hope others believe that."

Kyle nodded in reply. He took a sip of his beverage. Then asked, "How are your children doing, Ma'am, if you'll forgive the personal question?"

"They are going well. They are too young really to understand that we have been in danger." Phoenix said. "And Tristi has been all but living in Hydroponics."

Hearing her reply garnered a gentle grin from the large security chief. "Sometimes I forget how resilient the kids can be. Zhavna and Jasric have been helping out at the school, with the younger kids. They make me very proud."

"It is good they have you to look after them as well." Phoenix said calmly.

He nodded in agreement to that statement. "And now Harper and I have decided to move in together, and she has a few children that she adopted as well. It will be a regular full house in our family quarters." He paused a beat, then added, "And thank you again for the larger family quarters, Ma'am. I know it's only possible because we are so short staffed right now."

"It is." Phoenix said softly. "If we get back to Earth we will look into a better system."

"If we get back, I'm sure many of us welill need to consider if we want to remain in service, or take early retirement with honors for what we've been through." He looked at his superior officer and friend. "With respect, Ma'am, you know damn well, you'll get Admiral for this."

"Gods no. I am not even 30. Thats just scary!" She gasped looking horrified.

This made the large tactical chief chuckle. "Wouldn't be the first time someone young made Admiral." He gave her a silent look, then added, "I could see you in the Admiralty. You don't want it, but you have the leadership skills to be a succes there."

"I'd rather retire" She shuddered. "If they allow me to remain on this ship then its better than being stuck on Earth."

This made Kyle smile warmly. He glanced about the ready room bulkheads, as if looking at a very dear friend. "This old girl and I have been through quote a few scrapes in our time. She is definitely one of a kind." His eyes fell to look back at Phoenix. "However, given the shape she is still in since we arrived here, and who knows what other dangers she is going to face, I'd be very surprised if Starfleet didn't just retire her to a museum when we get back."

"They will have a fight on their hands." Phoenix said. "I like her being in active service"

He chuckled softly. "Oh, believe me, Ma'am. As the only plank owner still serving aboard her, I don't want to see her retired either. I'd gladly stand side by side with you, as we battle those bureaucrats back home who think they know best."

"Good," Phoenix smiled. "A proper refit will do her good though."

This statement caused Kyle to nod in agreement. "With all that she has been through, she definitely needs it. Of course, with everything she has been through, and who knows what else, before we get home, a full refit might take several months to a year, at the very least. She still has damaged sections from the Crossing, then added the various battles we have been through since..." he shrugged slightly as he finished speaking.

Phoenix nodded. "Indeed. I am sure the engineers will want to keep it as long as possible to make sure she is perfect."

The two officers talked for a bit longer, then Kyle thanked the Commodore for those time to talk, one-on-one, and left her ready room, checking on the bridge tactical and security stations, before leaving the bridge, heading back down to his office in the ship's security complex.

~OFF~