[Galaxy] [Earth] May 27, 2158, JL RAdm Suzanna Batenburg / LtCmdr Nate Thompson

[blanhe2]

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

"I'll see you later, Duncan," Suzanna took her leave from Commodore Stirling
after both had shared a lunch in the Admiral's mess. Her aid kept on
insisting that she take breaks to eat and had even enlisted Stirling in that
effort. She walked towards the hall with lifts to take her back to her
office.

"Afternoon," she greeted some of the officers that were walking in the
corridor and then stopped when she recognised one of them. "Commander
Thompson... what are you doing here? Weren't you assigned to Forrest
Outpost?"

Lieutenant Commander "Nate" Thompson almost skipped a step.  It was unusual
to have his name called like that, but he immediately recognized the voice.
Since Batenburg has always been like a patron to him in his career, and
especially given her current status, he couldn't ignore her call.

Turning, Thompson gave her a surprised but warm smile.  He wore the standard
uniform-jumpsuit, crisp and clean, with gold piping and the Starfleet
Command patch.  "Admiral," he greeted.  "It's good to see you again.  I
don't normally get over to this wing of HQ, so it's fortunate we've bumped
into each other," he said as he gestured with one hand, taking the attention
off the secured PADDs in his other.

"It is good to see you as well. But tell me, what are you doing here on
Earth? I thought you had a deep space assignment?" Suzanna replied and
smiled.

And there it was again.  Thompson should have known he wouldn't be able to
redirect his way out of it, so he ceased his act and stood before the
Admiral.  "When I finished my assignment on Yorktown I was headed back to
Forrest, but I was..." he seemed to be choosing his words carefully,
"approached by personnel from Command.  They said that with my background
and service record I would be of better use elsewhere in Starfleet.  So here
I am."

Suzanna noticed the subtle change as she observed him. "And how do you like
that? Given the current situation, perhaps it should be reviewed, now that
you have a broader view of the galaxy." He hadn't said exactly what he had
been doing, but she could make an educated guess.

"It..." again he chose his words carefully, "keeps me busy.  Though we've
recently encountered a setback that's got the whole department re-evaluating
everything, so we're all pulling some serious overtime.  As far as how I
*like* my current job," he shrugged, "I go where I'm needed."

Sandra looked around for a moment and then gestured to a door behind which
she knew was an empty office. "Let's talk a little bit more privately than
in the open hall way, Nate."

Thompson simply nodded and followed.  Who was he to argue with the Fleet
Commander?

Once they were behind a close door, she shook her head, "we all go where we
are needed, but I wonder if you really are best suited for what you are
doing now. If you really, really enjoy it, by all means, tell me to shut up.
But if you would be interested in coming back to the operations side... I
can be of help, because I know how good you are in that field.
And I remember the conversation we had some years ago, and the pressure your
family put you under... yet you went out there anyway."

Thompson was silent for a moment.  Family pressure was an understatement --
they demanded he quit after Mercy because they didn't want to lose another
son to Starfleet.  He knew there were more important things at stake,
though, so he hasn't spoken to his family since.  Thompson looked at
Batenburg somewhat suspiciously.  "Why do I get the feeling you've already
got something in mind, Admiral?"

"I didn't until I saw you here in the hallway," Sandra replied. "But I did
have a conversation with Commodore Stirling the other day and were
considering candidates for the XO position on Forrest Outpost. Captain
Milikan's XO was transferred and she had asked for some recommendations."
Suzanna looked at Thompson, "I can mention your name to Commodore Stirling
if you are interested in it."

"Executive Officer of Forrest, huh?" Thompson mused.  "I have to admit it
would be good to be back there.  At the same time, though, my current
department needs all the help it can get, and I'm... involved with some
rather dedicated people."  He paused to organize his thoughts, then nodded
definitively.  "Yes, Admiral.  Give my file to the Commodore and if he
doesn't select me, then I'm not missing out on anything."

"Consider it done." Suzanna replied and smiled slyly, "Welcome back from
darkside."

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

H. Nathan Thompson
Lieutenant Commander, Starfleet
Starfleet Command