Capernum/Meji: Seeing to things

Posted on Sun Aug 3rd, 2025 @ 3:48am by Captain Taavis {SF/Meji Intel} {Meji} & Captain Rogue "Ro" Green {Meji Master} {Flt. Cpt.} & Lieutenant Commander Sean Loewen {Meji} & Lieutenant Griffon Resch & Lieutenant Ainkara "Kara" {Meji}

Mission: Stellar Problems
Location: USS Capernum
Timeline: Current

ON:

Waiting the appropriate amount of time, Taavis was now sitting in the Ready Room, at the briefing table. She had read through the after-action reports from the away team (none of whom had mentioned Kara's episode) and was satisfied with its success. Signing off on the reports she then tapped her badge. "Taavis to Resch."

"Resch, here."

"Lieutenant, would you be good enough to gather Commander Loewen, Lt. Kara, and Captain Green and meet me in the Ready Room?"

"I can do that, Taavis. See you in a few. Resch, out."

Taavis leaned back in her captain's chair and sipped her steaming mug of mint tea. After about five minutes of inner contemplation and tea sipping, the door opened and in walked those Taavis had called for. Resch, Loewen, Kara, and Green. Kara and Green stepped forward and took seats while Resch and Loewen shared a look between each other, not expecting to see Taavis in the chair at the head of the table. Not pausing long they both came in and went to sit down. Taavis spoke up. "No, no, Commander. You sit here." She motioned towards the XO's chair.

Another shared look between friends and then he nodded and moved to the chair he had been directed to and sat down. "Apparently, Captain Green has been slacking and didn't inform you that she has transferred command of Capernum to me." The two men gave Green a pseudo-sour look, grins on their faces. Green played like she did not see a thing, hands steepled together on the table top. Kara found it amusing to watch the men squirm. "We are heading for M-69, and I wanted to get my command staff in place before we arrive. This change will be a surprise to many over there so a smooth transition would be nice."

Loewen had figured out who, and what she was talking about by the chair he now sat in. He remained quiet and let the Captain say her piece.

"Damn, Sean, I'm going to start calling you rollercoaster," said Resch, lightly laughing.

"Rollercoaster? And why, may I ask, did you pick that nickname?"

"Your career has as many ups and downs as a rollercoaster, pal." Griffon smiling as he said this.

Taavis kept herself stoic but it took effort.

Kara leaned over and in a quiet voice asked Ro. "What is a rollercoaster?" Green took her PADD, tapped and scrolled a moment, then handed it back. She, too, grinned at the nickname.

Taavis continued. "Yes, Mister Loewen, I need a Number One. If you accept, the position is yours." There was a giggle from over by Ro, and everyone looked that way, eyes focusing on Kara.

The Voran woman looked up, a smile on her face as Kara's eyes showed she now understood the reference. "I get it now." She raised a hand in the air and copied the ups and downs of a rollercoaster before the hand dropped. "Clever, Griffon."

The group outside of Kara all gave each other looks as they found her exuberance funny, yet her reaction was more childlike than they were expecting. Resch covered for his friend. "She's been through a lot, Captain. Give her some grace on a bit of joy, please."

"I found her reaction fascinating, I wasn't judging," said Taavis. She met Kara's gaze with her own. "We have come to know each other quite well in the past. I hope that will continue?"

"Of course it will, Captain Taavis." Kara responded. "I have come to realize that I need to experience joy in all its forms, whether minimal or over the top. It is how I shall deal with my dark memories of the past six months. The rollercoaster was clever and made me smile. Apologies for my outburst during a meeting."

"Accepted," said Taavis, grinning at the woman before going back to the briefing. "Sean, you can move your quarters when you have time. My belongings have already been moved to the Captain's quarters. I have marked you and Doctor Holbrook as sharing quarters. If I am wrong in that, please let me know."

"You're fine, Captain. Yes, we will continue to co-habitate." He got a nod for that.

"Now, what to do with you, Miss Kara." Taavis said, looking to the Voran woman. "With the trauma you have suffered I could order you to do counseling. The usual procedure before being allowed back on duty. We don't need you to snap during an important mission, or meeting."

"I already did that," said Kara. The moment she said that she noticed that Resch and Loewen both sat up quickly, then tried to play it off by covering their faces while pretending to adjust their butts. An eyebrow arched as she was trying to figure out what had made them anxious.

"What do you mean, Lieutenant?" Taavis asked, her eyes dancing over the two squirming men before they came back to Kara. "You already did what?"

Green had reached out under the table and clasped Kara's hand for support. To let her know she had a supporter here. "Go ahead. Tell her. No more secrets. No more lies. Honesty and truth may hurt at times, but it is far better than a lasting lie that gets discovered. Despite who it may affect." Ro's hardened gaze went to Griff and Sean. She appreciated the fact that they were trying to protect Kara by omitting what had truly happened. But, now, that was about to get Kara herself in trouble.

"I..." Kara faltered as she looked towards the two men she considered friends. It dawned on her that what she was about to say could damage their careers. But, her Master had said to be truthful so, she chose that path. Kara explained in great detail what had transpired between herself and Ezzok and Claire, who had shown themselves to be Captain Bjorgo and Commander Billi. It angered her to the point of rage and she attacked to kill them for leaving her to her doom. after that was all told she leaned back and looked at Taavis, feeling better now that that was off her chest. "In all honesty, Commander Loewen and Lieutenant Resch were only trying to protect the cover identities of both Tore and Billi. They were deep undercover and had explained that previous to my attack."

Green gave her hand a positive squeeze. She had told the truth as she saw it.

Taavis sighed and sat back heavily in her chair, looking at the two culprits. "Alright, I get why you were covering for Kara. However, that makes your reports invalid and up for review by Command. I suggest you amend those reports, both of you, and have them on my PADD by 0600 tomorrow morning. If not, I will have no choice but to proceed with possible court martial."

"You'll have it, Captain." Resch stated.

Loewen gave a response. "0600, not a minute later, Captain."

"Good." Taavis looked specifically at Loewen. "Sean, I need a Number One I can trust. Flubbing reports is not the best way to gain that."

"Understood, Captain. It will not happen again." Loewen gave her a nod of complete understanding.

Taavis then looked to Green. "Since we're all here, and you sent a message that you needed to speak to me, Ro, now is the time."

Releasing Kara's hand Green sat forward. "What I am doing to my own career, I need to be done with Kara's. I could have just done it since I haven't resigned as fleet captain just yet but, I won't do that to a friend."

Hearing that, Taavis also sat up. "You mean approve of Kara going to inactive reserve?"

"Precisely, Captain." Green looked her friend in the eye. "She is now my Acolyte. Though, I went with an old title from a past life. She is my Padawan, or apprentice, as the word is meant to convey."

"I see." Hearing that reasoning immediately changed Taavis to more accepting of the request. "If she is your...Padawan, then by all means, I will sign off on her transfer to inactive reserve and Meji service. I take it one of the X-wings will be hers?"

Resch perked up at that, asking a query before Loewen could do the same. "X-wings? What the hell is an X-wing?"

"As Security Chief and Number One, I think we can let them in on it, Captain Taavis. Allow them access to shuttle bay two so they can see for themselves." Said Green.

"Shuttle bay two," asked Loewen. "Mind if we cut out and go see for ourselves, Captain?"

Taavis gave a sarcastic, humorous sigh, waving her hand for them to follow. "It's like working with toddlers. Come on, let's go see the pretty ships, boys."

Both men chuckled at her antics as they stood up, with Green and Kara doing the same. Ro leaned into Kara's ear. "One of these ships is yours. Your co-pilot will take time but you don't need him for basic operation. Come on, Padawan."

The group of officers went through the ship and down to the neck of the ship just before the Secondary Hull. Walking into shuttle bay two, after going through an Intel list of must-do's. Retinal scan, facial recognition, a digit print and a breath scan.

"And I thought Security was uptight," Resch offered as they all walked into the bay.

"Damn, those are slick," said Loewen as they continued to walk forward, his eyes running over the lines for the craft. "Sleek, too."

"No kidding," Resch said, backing his friend's amazement at the sight. "Makes me want to be a pilot."

Green giggled. "They do that. This is the workhorse for the government in the Pallean galaxy. No fighter created since has been able to match its versitility. Thanks to Qeritas, we now have these four. That one," she pointed to the one with the kill patches stuck to its hull just below and behind the cockpit. Quite a few in the shape of TIE fighters. "Is mine. She has seen many light years but still holds solid, thanks to that little guy." She pointed at Cosmo who was busy beneath her fighter working on an open panel.

"One of these is mine, Master Ro?" Kara was also astonished at the design. The Iconians had nothing like this. "Why?"

"You are my student and need to go where I go." Green explained. "I use my X-wing to travel so you need to match me since there is only one true seat, and only a seat for emergencies for one other person if need be. You need your own space while zipping through space. Plus, if we go into combat it is better to have two targets rather than just one."

"True," said Kara, her voice barely heard as she was seemingly captivated by one X-wing in particular. For whatever reason it just called to her. Not through the Force, but just because she felt an instant connection to it. "I'll take that one. She speaks to me."

"Done," said Green. Taavis set a PADD and handed it over, which in turn was given to Kara. "Your ship name is Angel Two. That is your transponder code for Federation space. You also, like myself, have a Free Trader designation so you can cross borders without inciting a war by your mere presence. Put your marks to it, Kara, then give it back to Captain Taavis so she can log the craft as your personal starship." It was done and she handed it over a few minutes later.

"Congratulations, Kara. You are now the proud owner of a T65AC4, or X-wing as we like to call them." Taavis said. She then looked to Green. "No droid yet. Will she be okay?"

"I'm sure she will." Green responded. "Cosmo can tie our navicomputers together and he can also monitor her craft while alongside. If anything needs to be done we can park in space and let him roll over and make repairs. We got this, Taavis, don't worry." Seeing Kara over by her ship, looking up at the closed canopy, Ro raised her voice to say something even as the two men had finished their gawking and headed out. "Kara, see that discolored circle bear the bottom of the nose cone. Tap it and a ladder will form for you to climb up. Cosmo," the droid looked her way. "Can you show her how to open the canopy herself?" He said he was glad to. "Thanks."

Taavis and Green continued to talk as Kara became familiar with a fighter that was now completely hers.

OFF: