Caged Commodore

Posted on Sun Aug 9th, 2026 @ 1:39pm by Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Captain Gary Taylor & Commander Sthilg & Commander Alicia Kelea-Salik & Lieutenant Commander Kara Starr {Kelea-Salik}

Mission: Season 6: Episode 7: Crossroads of Destiny
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: After No Diplomatic Faffs
3974 words - 7.9 OF Standard Post Measure

Gary arrived in Sickbay saw the female security officer named Dodge waiting for him. "With me." He said without explanation.
After asking several questions he was directed to a private room where Phoenix lay asleep or still unconscious in the biobed. She had her uniform removed and now wore a hospital gown. A young intern was monitoring her vital signs. her name tag said Landon. "Oh Captain! No need to worry the Commodore will be fine. Sore but fine. She'll be out of action for a week maybe ten days. She got hit pretty good. Luckily no broken bones. Just plenty of bruising and tissue damage." Gary thanked her for the information and added, . "No one in other than doctors or nurses on duty. I'll get the CMO to come check her over later."

Landon nodded, "Of course Captain, your instructions will be carried out."

Dodge nodded, "Yes sir." And took up a position outside the room at the door. Once she was out, Gary grabbed a chair and sat down and waited for Phoenix to wake up.

It was another 20 or so minutes before she stirred. She didn't look at him when her eyes opened. In fact she didn't even acknowledge him. Phoenix, instead looked up at the ceiling and stayed silent.

A few moments later the door opened to reveal Kara and Alicia, as one of the medical officers on duty Kara wanted to check in on Phoenix, especially as she was family as well. She offered a smile as she checked on the readouts once more, giving Phoenix a curious look.

Meanwhile Alicia approached Phoenix’s bedside. “Commodore…Phoenix, I won’t stay long I just wanted to check in on you and see how you were doing.” She gave Gary a warm smile before she looked back at Phoenix. “If you need anything please let me know, I’ll make sure your children are looked after while you’re in here so you don’t need to worry.”

Meanwhile Kara was standing simply noting the biobed readouts, but her El Aurian side was telling her more. She checked another set of readings noting the readouts, which were coming in just where she was expecting them to be. It would be something she would discuss with Phoenix once they were alone.

" Easssy my captain," Sthilg said into the mix as he looked over her bio data. " How are you feeling."

Gary looked up as Kara, Alicia and the Doc entered the room. He didn't smile just gave a curt nod. He and Phoenix needed to talk (if that was possible) and they couldn't do it in a room full of people.

Phoenix looked at Kara then at the CMO. Then her gaze landed on Gary. She still had not spoken. She let her gaze stand on Gary but her left hand reached out to her sister-in-laws silently. Then after a long silence she said "If he dies, do not expect me to ever forgive this." She said the words directly at Gary.

Gary met Phoenix's gaze head on. He didn't blink, he didn't smile his face was an unreadable mask as if carved from granite. After several seconds of awkward silence he spoke a single word. "Understood."

"No, I don't think you do." Came the reply. Her gaze didn't waiver. "You have no idea."

Again Gary's gaze never wavered, he just maintained his silence. It was the immoveable object against the irresistible force and he wasn't going to get into a needless war of words. They had much more important issues to discuss.

Phoenix refused to be the one to lower their gaze first. She kept it firmly on Gary. To an outsider it was a stand off, to the two most senior officers it was a stand off. Gary had been assigned to the Elysium as her XO because when she had taken command she had been green as summer grass. But now, she was not. She was grown up, almost 30 and not fully in the right state of mind. And he was no longer her training wheels, but her Executive Officer who was determined not to let her screw up again, and even though she knew that, She was not letting this pass.

Gary's gaze never wandered or wilted it remained laser focused on Phoenix. He was determined not to let her go off half cocked and end up getting herself killed because she couldn't or wouldn't listen to reason. he was fully aware her husband was one of the Elysium crew who was taken but she wasn't alone in having a loved being held. Lt, Colonel Azhul Naxea the commanding officer of the Marine contingent and the woman Gary loved was also taken and he desperately wanted her back and he would get her back but he would use his head and have a plan that was more than beaming down to the planet's surface and storm government buildings. That wasn't a plan that was suicide and he wasn't going to let Phoenix commit suicide no matter how much she hated him for stopping her.

"You are seriously going to stake your career on this hill Captain?" The Erisian's voice was cool.

Phoenix's voice was cool, Gary's was glacial when he replied. "Yes Commodore. You think me uncaring. perhaps even a coward and you are incorrect. Like you, I want our people back and back safely but with a plan to do so." Gary replied bluntly.

"And your plan is having the Commanding Officer of this ship locked in medical. All Hail. I am sure the Colonel will appreciate that if you ever see her again."

"You are confined to medical as you were shot. Not locked in. Once you have recovered and been cleared you will return to duty, Hopefully your time here improves your thought process."

"And just what makes you think I take orders from you Captain?" Phoenix sat up, slowly, as if taking her time. She released Kara's hand as she did so.

"It isn't about you taking orders from me Commodore. It is about us working together to rescue our taken crew and using our heads in doing so without risking more of our crew."

“With all due respect to both of you…” Alicia took her chance to wade in on the conversation. “Commodore, you know very well that you’re emotionally compromised. I understand only too well what it’s like to worry about a man who holds your heart, but do you think Mattias would want you going off half cocked and getting yourself hurt, or worse killed?”

“If we let you go Matt would be the first to put up an official complaint” Kara added as she looked at Phoenix. “I love both of you, and I have to agree that you shouldn’t be going down there.”

“This crew needs the two of you united.” Alicia looked between Phoenix and Gary. “Not at war with one another.”

"I've ordered an immediate recall of all crew so we can get a definite count on how many of the crew have been 'detained'. Gary added while not openly acknowledging Kara and Alicia’s added input but glad for it.

“We have more people missing?” Kara looked around those gathered.

“Yes we do” Alicia nodded.

Phoenix narrowed her gaze. And then she began reciting. "Liselle, Ken, River, Feyth, Arrianna, Matias, Ian, Ephraim, Aurelia. We have lost so many over these years. I will not allow Azhul, Mattias, Teeves, his daughter and the rest join those ranks." Phoenix slid off the bio bed, ignoring the fact that she was dressed in a thin medical robe.

"None of us are going to let any more of our crew join the ranks of those we lost Commodore." Gary said firmly. "We will get our crew back. This isn't your battle alone. However you need to recover first. I have ordered more scans of the planet to determine where are people are and I promise you we are going to get them back."

" And you are to ssstay here. " Sthilg said as he was at his captains side in a moment. " Do not make me confine you to sssickbay."

"You heard the Doc. Stay in bed Commodore.. Well get the others back and you will have a hand in that but for now, rest." Gary repeated.

“Phoenix please” Kara added as she looked towards her sister-in-law, “You know this is for the best, Matt can take care of himself and you know it.”

The flash of hurt and anger went across the Commodore’s face. She looked at the doctor and then away. "If he dies, you will all be dead to me."

Kara sighed before suddenly losing her temper. “For god’s sake Phoenix! Whatever happened to the Starfleet rule of professional detachment!? You’d be the first to chew out my ass if I lost it over something happening to Malakai. What are you a frightened wife, or the Commanding Officer of this ship!? Matt is okay, I can feel that he’s alive, if he was dead I’d feel it! We all care about you, hence why we stopped you making a mistake that could have killed you, you didn’t even stop to think about your kids!! Now stop showing off like a stroppy child and be the Commanding Officer you’re meant to be.” She paused. “Feel free to demote me for that if you want I don’t care.”

Gary suppressed a smirk of agreement at Kara's outburst towards Phoenix, it was what needed to be said and hopefully it jarred Phoenix's thinking back to where it was meant to be. His eyes shifted to Phoenix to see her reaction to Kara's blunt but oh so truthful words.

Phoenix didn't speak. But it was obvious she was about to. She took a step, towards the door. Then, collapsed. Not elegantly like a faker, she crumpled like a puppet without strings. She hit the deck and her head clashed with the metal floor with a dull thud.

Gary was out of his chair in an instant and at her side. "Doc! Kara!" he yelled. "Medical emergency!"

The doc was already at his captain's side in second his artificial arm already running scans. " No no no no." He said within moments as he carefully picked her up. " Everyone not in medical out now." He yelled, his arm already switching into surgical mode.

Kara was quick to assist ushering everyone out with the reassurance that she’d let them know what was going on when Phoenix was sorted out. Then she rushed back to Sthilg and Phoenix.

Gary stood outside Phoenix's room after being ushered out by Kara. he stood beside the door wondering what had happened but knew was the Doc and kara knew they would inform him. So he waited.

Medical personnel rushed past him and Alicia and into the room where the sound of the Gorn giving orders and request for Erisian blood to be brought.

“This doesn’t feel good” Alicia said as she turned to look at Gary. “But I have confidence in my father.”

Meanwhile Kara was doing everything she could to support Phoenix, stepping aside to allow other medical staff to do their jobs while she remained firmly at her sister-in-law’s side.

Gary met Alicia's look. "Whatever it is, Doc and his staff will get the Commodore through it."

Sthilg was already hard at work. The bang she had taken on her head was one thing, but it was everything else that was troubling him.

It was many hours before he finished, and the captains were stabilised. The gorn didn't leave her side until he heard her stir once again. " Easssy. You hit your head try to lay ssstill."

"Mani marte?" The Erisan came from her parched lips.

Gary was in the background as the Doc got Phoenix stabilized. He heard Phoenix speak, he looked at Alicia and kara to see if they had any idea on what Phoenix asked.

" I'm afaraid ssso." The gorn replied with his doctorly voice, but he offered his hand for a reassuring squeeze.

Gary looked at the CMO, "Doc? What is it? What did the Commodore say?"

"Manke naa Mattias? Mani marte? Taedolar, saesa?" The Commodore asked again in her native tongue.

" One moment." Sthilg said before "Computer put Ersian dialect back in the sssyssstem."

Gary waited as the CMO instructed the computer to put the Ersian language back into the data files. he knew whatever the Commodore had said it had to do with her husband Mattias Richardson.

“Where is Mattias? What happened? Doctor, please?” Phoenix spoke again, her eyes fixed on Sthilg.

"We're ssstill looking for him. We will find him and the othersss." Sthilg replied in his grandfatherly tone. " Doesss he know?" he added softly.

Phoenix shook her head. "What happened?" She asked.

" How much can you remember," Sthilg said, activating his scanner, which he began to run over his captain. " You fell and hit your head."

Phoenix strained to remember. "He is missing. I remember yelling, heading for the transporter room. Then... how did I fall?"

Sthilg was quiet before he finally replied. "Phoenix, you have sssstage three Gestational Cerebral Xenopolycythemia Sssyndrome."

Kara gave Phoenix a caring look, she understood the diagnosis and it wasn’t a good one.

Alicia had been standing quietly taking in everything, she looked towards her father. “What is that? Gestational is obvious, but what is the syndrome?”

"Good question Alicia. What about it Doc? What is this your describing?" Gary asked the CMO.

Phoenix was now paler. "Aw Fuck" she muttered as she knew exactly what it was.

Sthilg gently offered his arm for Phoenix to squeeze. Looking at Gary and Alicia, he explained. " It's a condition where pregnancy hormonesss trigger accelerated blood-cell replication. Thisss ressultsss in tumoursss that effect blood flow to the brain."

Gary listened as the CMO gave a brief description of Phoenix's condition to himself and Alicia. When he finished, Gary pointedly asked "Does it affect judgment? Common sense?

“And what about Phoenix and her baby’s overall health?” Alicia added concernedly.

" It can asss any condition that affectsss blood to the brain. Asss for her condition, ssshe is ssstable. The baby isss thankfully doing fine for the moment." the old gorn replied.

"Its why there is such a gap between Miran and Kyian." Phoenix said softly. "Genetic. Thought I had been bypassed because it didn't hit with the twins."

Gary nodded at the CMO's statement. "What is the treatment and prognosis for the Commodore and baby going forward?"

" For now, closssely monitor the Commodore while I prep an evo womb for the baby." " Sthilg explained. " it isss the sssafest option for both of them."

Kara was rooted at her sister-in-law’s bedside, until Mattias returned she was going to make sure Phoenix was never alone.

Gary remained silent as he heard for the CMO's reply. His eyes flicked to Kara who stood at Phoenix's bedside and he gave a brief nod to. He then asked " Does the Commodore need to be on bed rest and are there any limitations or restrictions ?"

Phoenix looked at Sthilg. "A evo womb?"

“What’s an evo womb?” Alicia asked as she heard Phoenix mention it.

For his part Gary just looked between Alicia, Kara and the Commodore.

" An artificial womb." Sthilg explained. " I'm sssorry, Phoenix, but it would be best for you and the child."

Phoenix's eyes closed and she took a shaky breath. "okay.."

“It’s one of the safest options for both of you” Kara added. “Unless there’s the option of a surrogate?”

Phoenix shook her head. She knew a lot of issues would be raised about this from her biological family. Kyian not so much but her mother for all her growth still had issues around pregnancy and such. Surrogacy was not permitted in Erisia. It had been bad enough, when Phoenix had been pregnant out of wedlock. Part of her reminded herself that they were in a totally different galaxy, "Do the Evo womb" She said softly. "Its quicker, and safer."

Kara nodded. “It was Phoenix’s wishes that mattered in this.”

" I'll get ssstarted on prepping one. " Sthilg said as he stood up from his chair. " We're going to get you through thisss my friend." he said with his best grandfatherly smile.

"I know" Phoenix said and blindly reached for Kara's hand, even as her eyes focused on the ceiling.

Kara held onto Phoenix’s hand. “I’m right here, I’m not leaving you I promise.”

Alicia stepped up offering Phoenix a smile. “Come see me when you’re released from here. I think once you have medical clearance getting back to work will be good for you.”

Gary remained silent as first Kara and then Alicia spoke to Phoenix. While he wanted her and the baby to be safe and well he was still concerned about her thought process but he kept those thoughts to himself.

Phoenix wanted out of medical, she wanted Mattias there, but she shoved those thoughts down. She went very still on the bio bed. "What happened, someone tell me the whole thing please."

Gary looked between Alicia and Kara and then to Phoenix. "What do you remember?"

"Mattias, missing, yelling, heading to the transporter room. After that.. nothing"

Gary was silent. Phoenix had forgotten going off half cocked wanting to storm the planet by herself, not listening to cooler heads until she had been accidentally shot by Kyle and ended up here in Sickbay.

His silence said a lot to Phoenix. "What happened Captain?"

Gary stood but remained where he was, "The short, sanitized version is you were shot accidentally by Commander Reece."

"Kyle shot me? Accidently?" Phoenix asked. "Really?"

Gary gave a short, curt nod. "Yes," he answered simply and to the point.

He was hiding something. Bad. She had done something really bad and had no memory of it. "Do I need to ask Avalon what happened or are you going to tell me fully?"

Gary looked at her, several seconds of silence went by as he weighed the pros and cons of telling Phoenix. Finally he decided it was better to tell her than hide it. His voice and tone even and calm. "When you heard Mattias was missing you went off the rails. You wouldn't listen to me, you wouldn't listen to others. You went to the armory and outfitted yourself with several weapons. Kyle reluctantly decided to join you to protect you when you decided you wanted to storm the planet. He called to you as you headed for the transporter room and you turned to him with your weapon raised and his training kicked in and he shot you. He finished leaving out what she had said to him and others and just waited for her reply, reaction.

Phoenix stared at Gary in silence. For several long seconds she simply searched his face, looking for some sign that he was exaggerating. She found none. The colour slowly drained from her own. "...I..." she whispered. Her breathing faltered as she searched desperately for memories that simply weren't there. Mattias. The report. Running. Then...Nothing. She lowered her eyes to her hands, turning them over slowly as though they belonged to someone else. "I raised a weapon..." The words barely escaped her lips. "...against one of my own officers." Silence settled over Sickbay. When she looked back up, the anger that had fuelled her since waking was simply...gone.

"Kyle believed he had to defend himself..." Her voice caught. "...from me." The realization struck her harder than the phaser blast ever had. "I put him in a position where his only choices were to disobey his Commanding Officer... or stop her." She closed her eyes for a moment. "I failed him." Another pause. "I failed every one of you." Her gaze drifted to Kara. Then Alicia. Then Sthilg. Finally it settled once more on Gary. "I remember hearing Mattias was missing. remember deciding I was going after him." She shook her head. "Everything after that... is simply gone."

Sthilg's explanation echoed in her mind. Gestational Cerebral Xenopolycythemia Syndrome. Blood flow. Tumours. Impaired judgement. She looked towards the Gorn. "The syndrome explains why my judgement failed." She drew a steady breath. "It does not excuse it."

Her attention returned to Gary. "You were right to stop me. So was Kyle." The words clearly cost her. "I accused you of betrayal. I questioned your loyalty. I threatened friendships that have been forged over years." A faint shake of her head. "And all the while..." Her eyes softened. "...you were doing exactly what Starfleet trained you to do." There was almost the hint of a tired smile. "You protected this ship. You protected this crew. And..." She looked away briefly. "...you protected me from myself." Silence lingered. "When this is over..." She spoke quietly. "I will apologise to Commander Reece. He should never have been forced into making that decision."
She looked towards Kara. "And neither should any of you." Another slow breath. "I owe every person in this room an apology." Phoenix shifted slightly against the biobed, wincing despite herself. Then she looked towards Sthilg. "You've confined me to Sickbay."

It wasn't a question. The Gorn gave a single confirming nod. She accepted it with surprising calm before looking back to Gary. "While Medical has me grounded… you'll continue coordinating the response." There was no resentment in her voice. Only acceptance of circumstance. "But hear me clearly, Captain." The Commodore's posture straightened despite the pain. "The moment Doctor Sthilg clears me for duty...I resume command." Her tone wasn't confrontational. It was simply a statement of fact. She leaned back into the biobed, exhaustion finally beginning to overtake the adrenaline. "So..." For the first time since waking there was the faintest trace of the woman they all knew beneath the fear and grief. "What have we learned while I've been unconscious?"

Gary listened in silence as Phoenix spoke of her accusations to him, Alicia and the others. His eyes never leaving her face. Listened as she realized the extent of what she had done and had accused him of. The words seemingly causing her pain in admitting she had been mistaken. He was ready to move on, this had been unpleasant and difficult. It clearly pained all of them. He gave a short nod when she said once she was cleared for duty she resumed command. "As it should be." He replied again direct and to the point. He quickly moved to the topic at hand not wishing to dwell on the past unpleasantness. "We know where the crew are being held. A prison surrounded by thick woods which are no doubt hiding air defenses. We are continuing to do some more Intel, possibly putting a small team on the ground to get first hand information. We are also formulating rescue plans for getting the crew back. however we are not rushing blindly ahead. Hence the reason for more Intel." A pause and he went on, "I will continue to bring you updates on the situation as we move forward."

"Thank you." Phoenix said softly.

"Of course Commodore." Gary replied simply.

Sthilg had finished with the combination of drugs that would help bring her pheromones down to a safer level. " Now captain let'sss sssee if thisss will help. " he said holdign a holospray and inicating for her to tilt her head.

Phoenix did as he indicated. She barely argued with the doctor in general and least of all around medical things.

The whole process took another hour and then Phoenix was instructed to rest while the rest were informed to leave and come back later.

OFF