Joint Log | FAdm. Malone & RAdm. Harper | "Notifications"

Posted on 241508.28 @ 9:14am by Rear Admiral Kassandra Harper & Fleet Admiral Kerry Malone

Mission: The Krigoran War [GQ]

"You don't get over it, you just get through it. You don't get by it, because you can't get around it. It doesn't 'get better'; it just gets different. Everyday... Grief puts on a new face...." - Wendy Feireisen

=/\= USS Ticonderoga, Deep Orbit, Zetari III =/\=

Another day, another report from 3rd MEFHQ. The war on the ground was not going well, and despite the best efforts of the marines, it seemed hopeless. Every day, there was a casualty list, a list of the dead, dying, wounded and maimed. The notifications of such things was almost always down to the man or woman's commanding officer, but given the scale of the conflict - the duty of notification had fallen to Quadrant Command.

Every day, Malone would see the lists, and give his approval for condolence communications to be made. They were almost always done by Malone himself, which did eat into a good part of his day, but it was important to do these things. When today's casualty report landed on his desk, it was more of the same - although the casualties were never in high numbers, each one made an impact, and each marine killed or wounded had a family - who deserved to know the truth.

Half-way through reading it, Malone noted a name that made him stop and pause. "Harper, Patrick. Col, 86th MECH." Kerry stared at the name for what felt like an hour, but in reality merely a few seconds. Why did this crap keep happening? Why? This one would not be easy, and given his proximity to Xonnel, would need to be done in person. Kerry sighed, Kassi had suffered terribly in her career, and had finally found happiness. Why did he have to be the one to ruin it?

After an hour or two, he arranged to have himself beamed down to Xonnel, and was beamed down straight into the lobby of the Starfleet Centre, that was Kassi's command post, and decided to allow Kassi's staff to notify her that he was here. No doubt they already had, given how impromptu having the Theatre Commander beam into the middle of their HQ was.

She'd didn't miss much, especially the arrival of the Theatre Commander, Kassi had been alerted to that within minutes of him being in the area. Smiling, as she couldn't help but to hope Harper would be with him as a surprise, even more hopeful that he'd be home to stay for a while. Especially to hear the news...

Leaning hard on her cane, her other hand resting on her rounded belly, as she moved slowly around her desk to lean against it. A slight glare went to the young Ensign, that was more a nurse maid than anything, when she tried to suggest that Kassi stay sitting down and simply wait for the Admiral to come in. "No, I'll be standing, Thank you." She snapped at her.

Kassi still wasn't overly pleased that the damn Doctor told her she needed to have a nursemaid now if she wanted to continue working. Woman worked though pregnancies and gave birth all the time now without them, she'd tried to tell the man. But no... with her history and physical issues, and the fact that she had already been a high risk for just one... he was making damn sure the Admiral and babies would be alright now.

"Get me a water, and be prepared to get the Admiral something." Kassi told the Ensign before opening her office door for Malone. Having already sent one of her staff to lead the Admiral to her office.

Malone arrived at the office shortly after he arrived, having been escorted in by a clearly agitated aide. Once inside, he spotted Kassi immediately, and could see that she had clearly grown since they'd last seen each other. The bump was quite noticeable now, and she had that very healthy glow that all pregnant women seemed to have. "Admiral Harper." He said by way of greeting, trying not to slip into the casual at this moment. He was extremely aware that he needed her sitting down. "Please, take a seat."

Welp, so much for hopeful wishing... meh, one could only dream she supposed. "Welcome Admiral, have a seat yourself if you wish. You want anything to drink?." Kassi asked as a curtiousy measure as she moved back around her desk to sit again.

"I have the recent reports of how everything has been going down here. Though I suppose you wanted to see for yourself." She started in, getting straight to business.

"Admiral Harper... Kassi..." Malone began. "There really is no easy way to say this, so I'm just going to say it." He said, and looked into her eyes. "Its my sad duty to inform you that your husband, Colonel Patrick Harper, has been critically wounded in the line of duty."

The moment he'd called her by name Kassi knew something was wrong. Swallowing hard as she tried to keep her emotions in check long enough to hear him out. That silence of her's lingered even after he finished speaking, although the longer she was quiet the more pale she seemed to be getting. "Critically wounded...." Her voice catching some as she worked out the words. "How bad? Wh... what happened?"

"He was shot at long range by a plasma blast to the chest. He's being medically evacuated from Krigoria at the moment, and is bound for the Sector General Medical facility at Tamas Five." Malone said. "He's onboard the USS Socrates at the moment, and won't arrive for another two days. I'm afraid all I have is that, other than he's alive, but critical, and they're very concerned that he might not survive."

Her mind and thoughts racing as she tried to keep herself at least a little bit together, although her emotions were already starting to play havoc on her now. "I have to go to him... If they could fix me they can fix him." She started to push up from her chair again, pausing with a slight cringe as a bit of pain shot though her. Though with a couple deep slow breaths she stood up and looked to Kerry, he was after all still her boss. "Don't try and stop me, Kerry"

Malone sighed that kind of resigned sigh. "You know, if you'd asked, I would've given you leave. You don't have to issue ultimatums to me, Admiral."

Kassi couldn't help the slightly sheepish look that touched her still pale face. "Sorry Admiral, formalities seemed to have slipped from me for the moment." Kerry had just about been just as much of a friend as he had a boss. Still though... the thought of Patrick hurt as bad as Malone had said...

"Look, the USS St Helens is due to relieve the USS Stallion out on patrol near there. I'll have the St Helens take you to the Tamas Five Outpost on its way out. I suspect you're going to be there a while, so your return journey will be up to you to arrange." Malone said. "All I ask is that you prepare some notes and whatnot for your relief cover as Sector Commander. Naturally, I have to relieve you of your post for personal leave."

"I've been keeping my notes updated already. Never know when my Doctor will freak out and decide that I need to go on bed rest suddenly. He's been a bit of a pain since we found out that...." She paused a moment as a hand rubbed lightly upon her stomach. She'd not told anyone the latest news and thankfully knew the Doctor couldn't either.

"I'll make sure to make arrangements for the trip home. And thank you Kerry."

"Safe journey, Admiral." Malone said, and left her office to head back to the Ticonderoga.

Only once Kerry had left and the door closed did Kassi take a moment to rest her head within the palms of her hands. Her body trembling slightly as her emotions flooded from her. Fear and worry wracking her body and mind. She needed him to be alright... her children needed him to be alive and safe.

= End Log =

Fleet Admiral Kerry Malone
Gamma Quadrant Commander
Commanding 5th Fleet

&

Rear Admiral Kassandra Harper
Zetari Sector Bloc Commander