[Galaxy] [Earth] 2158 July 18, Joint log RAdm Suzanna Batenburg / Commo Thomas Garroway

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////// Starfleet HQ ///////////

Suzanna was in the office early again. It had become a habit ever since
she returned from her trip to New Darwin. Ever since war had been
declared she'd been in the office from early morning to at least mid
evening. Often having a working dinner with various people at HQ. The
trip at New Darwin had seemed like a vacation in comparison, despite the
many meetings, face to face or via subspace. And she valued the quiet
time in the morning to get some thinking done, as well as being able to
get through all her messages more efficiently without interruptions.

The console blinked once, for having received a new message while she
was in the message screen, and then she noticed who it was from. Thomas.
Yet it was differently addressed then the personal messages they
exchanged. Quickly she opened it and stared at the one simple sentence.

"I want back in."

She hadn't said anything to him about it, nor had he. Yet it was right
on schedule. How had she known this was coming?


[ Garroway's Cabin ]

When he woke up, feeling strangely comfortable, Garroway checked his
message queue.  The one he sent last night to the commander of Starfleet
was already away, gone with the last scheduled bundle of transmissions.
As he saw that he had nothing new waiting other than the usual ECA
chatter, a real-time message from the New Darwin Command Center popped
up on his incoming notification.  He tapped the blinking icon and saw a
vaguely familiar face.

"Mister Garroway," Walters greeted.  "I have a priority subspace
transmission for you.  It's from Earth."

Garroway paused.  "Who is it from?"

"Admiral Batenburg, Sir."

Garroway nodded.  He half expected another 'visit' from Starfleet
Intelligence asking him just what he thought he was doing.  He was glad
it was Suzy.  Still, this was business, so he thought it best to act
like he was speaking to 'Admiral Batenburg, commander of Starfleet'.
"Thank you Petty Officer, go ahead."

Walter's face in the small window was replaced by Suzy's over the whole
screen.  Garroway couldn't help a slight smile, but quickly remembered
himself.  "Admiral," he greeted.  "I take it you got my message?"

Her eyes said what she couldn't say given that this was an official
call. "Commodore." She greeted in return, smiling as she saw him, even
if her voice was more formal. "I did," she replied. "And I guess I know
you too well... I knew it would come sooner or later. When you were
ready for it." She paused for a moment. "And I am glad that that moment
is now... Starfleet needs you and your experience."

And so do I, her eyes said, even if she didn't speak the words. He had
always been a good sounding board, but with him on New Darwin, there was
no way she could talk to him about Starfleet issues and not risk
security.

Garroway shrugged.  "Some say it's hard to do the right thing.  What's
hard is knowing what the right thing is.  Once you know, its hard _not_
to do the right thing."  Garroway wanted to take credit for that quote,
but he seemed to remember hearing it during movie night once.  If it was
really him that came up with it, he'd have had this all straightened out
a long time ago.  "It took me a while, but I'm back."

"I'll send the Republic to get you to Earth at best possible speed."
Suzanna said.

Garroway's eyebrows raised.  "Are things that bad that you send your
best ship to pick up some washed-up retiree?"  It sounded like a joke,
but there was some honest concern behind it.

"With your experience, you are an important asset to Starfleet... so you
are far more than a washed-up retiree. Given what they," Suzanna didn't
want to say the name and thought about his position at the time of the
Mercy Campaign, "are capable of, I don't want to risk that."

Shifting in his seat, Garroway got very serious, pausing to collect his
thoughts.  "I may be an important Starfleet asset," he began, "but I'm
not going to sit on the sidelines and watch telemetry feeds this time. I
can't.  I need to be out there with them, leading by example, doing my
part.  I want a ship."  He didn't wait for her immediate reaction, just
in case it was negative.  "Last I'd heard, Endeavor was in mothballs and
had been fairly cannibalized, but given the need for active ships and
crews we can probably get away with a refit and I can put a crew
together in the meantime."

"I understand, but this is not a conversation that we can have over
subspace and why I am sending Republic to pick you up." There was much
to talk about with regards to Starfleet and what they were doing, but
not something for now. "I can't make promises at the moment, even less
on such a short notice and on this channel, but I understand your needs.
I also understand Starfleet's needs, and I am sure we will find a way to
meet both." She replied.

Garroway nodded.  He knew they wouldn't really be able to discuss it,
but he wanted his intentions known right up front.  Better she's got an
idea now than he spring it on her when he's already been brought back.
Then, he seemed to fade the formality away and relax a little -- but
only a little.  "And, of course, we'll need to talk about us."  There
was a sadness in his eyes as he said it.  "I don't know where my place
will be when I get back, but I know we'll have to put _us_ to the side.
There's just no way around that, this time."

That had been the bit that had nagged her since she got the message. The
roles had been reversed, once, and Thomas had been her boss.  They
hadn't consciously put _us_ to the side, then, but the situation was
different; he had been stationed at HQ in San Francisco, and she had
been on Forrest. Now they would be in the same place, or at least based
out of the same place. Life just didn't seem fair sometimes, especially
when she wanted the cake and eat it, too. But they were at war, and the
needs of Starfleet had to come first. She was professional enough to
know that, as did Thomas. It was one of the things she had always
respected about him and what was a vital part of their relationship.
"We'll figure things out when you get here," Suzanna replied.

Again, Garroway nodded.  "We just can't catch a break, can we Suzy?"

"It seems that way, Thomas." She allowed the earlier formality to slip
and added the truth from her heart quietly, "I can deal with a break...
as long as it is only temporary."

"With all my heart, I hope that to be true," he intoned.  Then Garroway
straightened, putting back on the formal airs.  "Well," he said through
a heavy breath. "I suppose all that's left is your formal consent of my
reinstatement.  Is that about right, Admiral?"

Suzanna took a deep breath and nodded, "Indeed, Commodore. Your
retirement has hereby been withdrawn and you are reactivated to active
duty. That includes your rank of Commodore with all rights and
privileges of that rank. I'll have that all marked up and initiated in
the systems so you should have no problems with Starfleet anywhere." She
paused and smiled, "Welcome back, Commodore."

"Under the circumstances," Garroway said, "I can't quite say it _is_
very welcomed.  But I'll do what I can and when this war is over, it'll
be good to be back."

"Understood, and appreciated, Commodore." Suzanna replied

"I've got a few things to wrap up here, but I'll be ready when Republic
arrives."

"I look forward to seeing you. Batenburg out."

-- 
RAdm Suzanna Batenburg
Fleet Commander
Starfleet: The First Era
"Everything fits, otherwise we will make it fit."
http://www.firstera.net

Commo Thomas Garroway
Starfleet: The First Era