Joint Log | FAdm. Malone & RAdm. Denterius | "Life Changes"

Posted on 241410.31 @ 9:28pm by Rear Admiral Kassandra Harper

=/\= Starfleet Headquarters =/\=

The place was still in a shambles, although things were starting to get better. The Corps of Engineers had at least started on repairs to the internals of Starfleet Command. The debris had been cleared up, and painting was happening to cover the scorch marks of the phaser fight. The grounds were still in a terrible state following Sharpe’s assault several weeks previously.

Although officially relieved as Commander-in-Chief, Malone had been issued a temporary office in the Tower. It wasn’t as grandeur as his previous office space, but as it was only temporary, it didn’t much matter. It had been obvious that the previous occupant had died in this room, as there was a blacked silhouette on the wall where he’d been vaporised by a phaser. It was a grim reminder of the reality of their new dawn.

The trip back to Earth had been uneventful, but now as she looked around and saw just how much damage had been done she felt her emotions building within as she thought of all the loss and pain that had happened, here… and everywhere. Following one of the aides that had met her at the entrance way, Kassi sighed softly to herself as she found herself outside of the office and gave the chime a ring.

“Come in!” Malone instructed. Since he was only here temporarily, he didn’t have an outer office staff, so it was just him.

A soft word of thanks was given to the aide before she opened the door to step within the office. An absentminded glance around the room had her quickly bringing her gaze back to Malone with a slight nod. “I think I liked your other office better Admiral.”

“It’s a lot better than what I’ll be using from now on.” Kerry smiled at Kassi. “The other office is Xander Hark’s office now. I have a new assignment, that’ll take me far from Earth and her comfortable office spaces here on Starfleet Campus.”

That brought a slight frown to her features, though for some reason she had the feeling this war would have changed a lot of things. She just wasn’t prepared for this one and she wondered what he was going to be doing now. “So then, I’ll be reporting to him?” She asked softly, as nipped lightly on her lower lip with a slight furrow of brows. Great, just what she needed, more chances to bring her out of her comfort zone. Was anything going to get back to normal for her?

“Well, that’s up to you.” Malone replied, carefully. “Hark is going to need all the flag officers he can get his hands on, but I must admit… I’d like to keep you working for me.”

Malone got up from his desk, and walked around it to stand next to Kassi. “I’ve been given command of the Gamma Quadrant, and the Fifth Fleet that’ll be detached to cover the entire Quadrant. It’s a lot of area to cover, and most of it is unexplored. Since we lost Zetari to the UFP, and then Zetari itself, there’s been a lot of issues. Without Starfleet enforcing the peace, its become a hotbed of issues. Not to mention we have Starfleet vessels out there who have no idea the war is over. We need to bring them back into the fold, and rebuild the tenuous peace in the Quadrant.”

“Your experiences and knowledge of the Zetari Sector, and the Quadrant beyond, will be invaluable to me. I would like you to come on as my Chief of Staff.” He finished.

Kassi wasn’t sure what to say at first as she took in everything that Kerry had said. A slight cant of her head as she pondered what he was offering. Chief of Staff? She knew what that meant… what it consisted of. It was an honor to be asked… but after everything that had gone on? Then again, he’d told her that Zetari hadn’t been her fault. She chewed on her lower lip a little more as those self doubts crossed her mind again. Pushing them aside with a slow deep breath taken before she asked after a couple moments.

“There wouldn’t be any issues with me going with you? I mean, you said Hawk would need flag officers. He wouldn’t try and force me to stay? I would rather take that position and stay under your Command, I’m used to you. Though I do have one favor to ask.” Hmm, she never could just leave well enough alone with the simply responses of Yes Sir, could she.

Kerry chuckled. “Its your career. I’m sure Hark could find a use for you here at Headquarters, but I thought you might prefer working where your expertise is based - rather than learning something new. And exactly what might that favor be?”

“There is an officer that you all assigned to me, that I would like to bring with when I make this move back out there with you.” Kassi replied as she looked to him, relaxing a little as she asked the favor and gave her answer all together.

“Former Admiral Hagen?” Malone asked, looking at her. “You want to remind me that each time I sent a flag officer out to Zetari, you corrupted him into taking a rank reduction just to stay on your station?”

“Hey, that wasn’t my fault they liked the place.” She said with a sheepish look on her face as she smiled. “And yes, that would be the officer. I figure you want me to stay sane out there, that’s why I decided to ask for him to come with.”

“Assuming he wants to come.” Malone replied. “I’m sure we can find something for him to do, besides be your personal shrink.”

“I’ll speak to him, though something tells me he’ll come.” There was a slight cant of her head as she looked at him. “Not afraid I’ll corrupt more of your flag officers?” She asked with a slight teasing tone.

“Not especially, since they’ll be working for me anyway, and so will you.” Malone replied. “Besides, I’ve been kind enough to shotgun Sharpe into coming with as well, and since I know you two have a good working relationship, I’m sure I can get him to keep you in line. When I suggested it to him, he said I’d need to issue him a bottle of scotch and a night off… something I am afraid to ask about…” The Fleet Admiral replied, raising an eyebrow at the now blushing Rear Admiral.

Holy hell, she was going to beat Richard when she saw him next! Biting back her words as she tried not to stutter anything, knowing the blushing was bad enough. She finally managed to mutter. “I’m surprised he went there… err… was willing to after the way things ended the last time I saw him. And no, you don’t want to ask Admiral.”

“I suspected some sort of inside joke, but what happens between consenting adults, is none of my damn business. Just don’t let it affect your duties.” Malone replied, feeling awkward at the way this conversation had gone. He’d had a very promiscuous time in Starfleet during his tenure on the Intrepid, and it was a reputation he had hoped to leave in the past - since it was well over fifteen years since he’d set foot on the old Intrepid D.

“Oh, it won’t Sir.” She said with a confident nod of her head. After all, that had been way back when and not something that she had yet to even let herself think about happening again. “Anyways…. perhaps a subject change would be good right about now?”

“Perhaps so.” Malone replied. “You’d better go talk to Mister Hagen, and prepare yourself to head back to the Gamma Quadrant. Report aboard the Ticondoeroga in three weeks.”

“Three weeks, We’ll be there Admiral.” Kassi answered as she pondered what to do with herself for the next three weeks.

“Incidentally.” Malone said, reaching over and picking up a PADD. “I’m not sure if you’re ready to learn this, or even if you want to know, but we’ve finally been able to piece together the intelligence on what happened at Korma two years ago.” He held out the PADD to her. “It’s all on here, should you wish to read it. It’s mostly conjecture and speculation, but some of it is based on intelligence gathered through back-door channels since the fall of the Cardassian Government.”

Brows furrowed as she listened to him with an oddly curious interest now as questions started getting raised. Why wouldn’t she want to know? A hand reached out to accept the PaDD though for now, she didn’t bother to look at it, instead kept her gaze on Kerry. She could ask, but reading would probably be better, though did she really care? She’d been working hard to try and put all that behind her. “I’ll look at it later Sir.” She said softly.

“It’s entirely up to you whether you read it or not. You are authorised to show it to Commander Hagen, but no one else.” Malone explained. “If you prefer, you can have him read it first, before you, so he knows what it details.”

Now she gave a glance to the PaDD in her hand a moment, as if whatever was on it now might bite her, after all why would Andrus be mentioned in all this? With a moments paused to try and settle her thoughts and worry about them later she nodded. “Yes Sir… I’ll talk to him about it and go from there.”

“Very well.” Malone smiled. “Well, you have three weeks of RnR. Go relax. I’ll see you when you return.”

“Aye Admiral, take it easy and get some rest yourself.” She said with a soft smile to him as she got ready to head out. “You seem like you could use it.”

“I’m planning on it, Admiral.” Malone smiled. “Carry on.”

"Take it easy Sir." Kassi said before turning to head out. She had places to go, people to see, and plans to make.

= End Log =

Fleet Admiral Kerry Malone
Starfleet CinC

&

Rear Admiral Kassi Denterius
Chief of Staff
Gamma Quadrant Command