Joint Duty Log - Fleet Admiral Malone, Commander Ivanova - The Next Generation

Posted on Tue Jul 29th, 2014 @ 3:36am by Admiral Rochelle Ivanova & Fleet Admiral Kerry Malone

707 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: In the Dark

Tired.

Damn near broken.

That was a perfect descriptive term to brand the young Commander with as she sat behind her desk, staring down one the security officer's attached to her detail. At her proverbial right and left she had Almar and Amelia, without them it was highly likely that she would have simply ceased to exist instead of having sequestered herself to the ready room and spending her hours idly ticking down the stars that they passed while chugging away from the frozen Hell they called Notura. It was only after the planet disappeared totally from sight that she began to feel somewhat comfortable. Shutting down wasn't an option, and while Landon was gone, Rochelle was still the senior officer aboard the great ship Vindicator -- and the limelight had, at least momentarily, become hers as the Fleet sat poised for civil war.

The comm chirped at last to speak of compliance, Malone finally had the time to answer her call -- and there, at Landon's old desk in Landon's old ready room, the vibrant redhead sat with her hands folded and her eyes locked on the screen. "Greetings, Admiral."

As the connection established, the striking red-headed officer was greeted by the stoic, care-worn and haggard face of the Starfleet Commander in Chief, running on next to no sleep - despite his physicians best efforts. He looked at the face before him, and had absolutely no idea who he was talking to. "Who the devil are you, Commander?"

An eyebrow arched high in response to the older man's surprised reaction, "Commander Rochelle Ivanova, Executive Officer of the USS Vindicator, sir." She responded, perching further forward in her seat. "Captain Neyes was badly injured in our last mission and has been taken back to Trill to receive a new host, a full report has been sent in. I fear I'm the next best thing."

Kerry sighed at the news. "Yes, I fear you are just that." He said, as he called up her service record. "I assume you are aware of events back in the Alpha Quadrant, Commander?"

"Commander Archer brought the news." Rochelle replied, unwavering from her position with a solemn nod. "It's not the news I was hoping to hear, but I believe it to be unavoidable."

"I need to know here and now, Commander, whether you are with me - with them - or intending to hide in deep space." Malone said, bluntly.

The redheaded Commander chuckled with a quick lift and fall of her brows as she shook her head, "You don't mince words, Sir." She grinned and unfolded her hands, getting up from the desk to rest her palms on it's smooth surface. "The Vindicator, and her crew, are loyal to Star Fleet and, by proxy, you, since you sit at the helm of such an entity."

Malone looked intently at her. "Very well." He said, taking her at face value... for now. "Set course for the Qu'vat shipyards in Klingon space. Once you reach the Klingon border, drop out of warp. There you will be greeted by two Starfleet vessels, who will order you to heave to and prepare for inspection. You will comply with this, and after the inspection, you will be escorted to Qu'vat. Are my orders clear, Commander?"

"Crystal, sir." The woman nodded and squared her shoulders, "For what it's worth, we'd have entered the fight sooner should we have known." She all but sighed in remorse. Had they done so, had they not been sent to Notura, they'd be in Klingon Space, Landon would be there, life wouldn't have gone completely pear shaped... And she'd be happier. The Vindicator, as she knew it, was about to change. The people, the faces, her security all would be but a distant memory.

"Appreciated Commander." Malone said. "See you in five days, Malone out." The connection terminated.

With a sigh, Rochelle allowed her shoulders to droop the moment the screen went dark and her frail form collapsed back into the plush confines of Landon's chair. "Stop." She called to the Andorian, holding out a hand to impede any further move forward "I'm alright. I'm... Resting."

---

Fleet Admiral Kerry Malone
Starfleet CinC

Commander Rochelle Ivanova
acting Commanding Officer
USS VINDICATOR

 

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