[Galaxy] 2159.08.26 - Starfleet Headquarter - Garroway/Michaels

[Rachelle M.]

[ Starfleet Headquarters, Starfleet Commander's Office ]

Garroway sat at his desk, a picture taken just yesterday of a very
pregnant Suzy sat framed next to the intercom.  He set a PADD down and
rubbed his eyes.  No longer a starship captain, but not yet a desk jockey.

It had been some time since Douglas Michaels has been back to Earth. It
didn't feel quite normal. He missed the subtle vibrations of the
Luddington.  Even being in the corridor that lead to the Commander's
office in Headquarters felt larger then normal. Far too much time stuck
in a small tin can he decided.

"Enter," Garroway said as the knock resounded from the door.  The funny
thing about life outside of starship postings was wooden doors, paper
reports, and all manner of inefficient but inexpensive traditions.
Garroway looked up to see Douglas Michaels, and immediately smiled and
stood.  "Have a seat, Captain Michaels," he offered.  "I've got tea and
coffee over there, I believe... I think there's some finger food of some
kind..." he shrugged, "I really don't know what they put there, but feel
free to take some off my hands."

"Thank you." Michaels said. Picking up one of the white mugs off the
table, he filled it with coffee, added some cream and several heaping
spoonfuls of sugar.   He gave it a quick stir and then took the seat
that Garroway had offered.

"So, Captain," Garroway said as he settled back in to his seat.  "What
did you think of the President's address?"

"Honestly sir, I didn't watch it, but I did read the transcript.  I
certainly hope the President is right and that we'll have peace in our
time, but Chamberlain thought the same thing."  Michaels replied.

Garroway nodded.  "Part of me says, 'Yes, absolutely!  Sue for peace and
put this behind us!'  But the other part says, 'Push ahead.  Don't let
them take the wind out of our sails when we can bring peace a surer
way.'  The problem, and this is what bothers me, is that I'm not sure
which way will bring a more /lasting/ peace."

Michaels sipped his coffee. "Well it is difficult to shake hands with
clenched fist."

"Very true," Garroway said as he nodded approvingly.  "I suppose it's a
good thing I'm not an ambassador anymore."  He took a sip of his tea
before continuing.  "Speaking of which, I've been instructed by the
President to restructure Starfleet.  Officially we'll be a 'peacekeeping
force', but technically we'll be a new branch of the military.  I intend
to make an announcement of the initial changes within the week, but
it'll be a long haul to modify the fleet's goal orientation.  Your
thoughts?"

"Well that depends on what type of changes are we really looking at
sir." Micheals replied.

"The minutia isn't nearly as important as the singular fact that
Starfleet will be part of the military," Garroway said with an inner
sigh.  "We've been heading this way for a long, long time now -- I can
remember arguing the point with Admiral Starr -- but I always hoped it
was something we could avoid.  At least in /my/ tenure.  But now it's
happening on my watch.  It's bound to cause more than a little distress
to all those who signed up to explore, not to police or soldier."

Michaels nodded.  "I imagine there will be quite a few upset over the
changes.  I'm not necessarily thrilled about it either, sir.  If I had
wanted to join the military, I wouldn't have joined Starfleet twenty
years ago.  But I know of only two constants in the universe, lightspeed
and change.  Anybody who hadn't known this could happen hasn't been
paying attention."
Garroway nodded again at Michael's comments, taking a deep breath as he
thought.  "I'm going to need people on staff that I can trust to keep
Starfleet on track while executing the President's orders.  Someone to
run Fleet Operations while I'm getting acquainted with my new colleagues
in the Security Council.  You up for it?"

Michaels eyes widened and he sipped his coffee to hide his surprise. "To
paraphrase Harold Ramis; 'If there is a steady paycheck in it, I'm up
for anything you say.' Sir."

"Paycheck, yes," Garroway replied.  "Along with more responsiblity, more
 pressure to perform, and greater consequences if you fail.  If /we/
fail.  We're going to be counting on each other and a lot of other
people.  And this is a lot more than just a job with a paycheck, so I
don't want what Winston Zeddemore said about a job in 'Ghostbusters', I
want what Douglass Michaels says to a position at Starfleet Command.
Take some time if you need to, but give it some real thought."

Micheals realized at that moment, that it was highly unlikely that the
Admiral would ever get his humor and that he would have to keep it to
himself.   "I will give it plenty thought and give you my answer shortly
sir.  You will have to forgive my poor attempt at humor."

“Humor?” Garroway chuckled.  “You’ll forgive me if it takes me a minute to
recognize it again.  Everything’s been so damned serious for so long I’d
almost forgotten I once had a sense for such things.”  He shook his head,
amused with himself and Michaels.  “But yes, get back to me when you’ve got
an answer.  Not too long, though, I hope.  I need someone soon who can help
me set up and run his new fleet.”

"I have a few deads that need doing before I can give you my answer. But I
can promise you have it before the week is out." Michaels could feel in his
gut what he should say, but he knew he would have to have to walk
Luddinton's corridors one more time, to know what would be his answer.

"One other this sir.  You might want to find that sense for humor again.
It's one of the few things, other then a good woman, that keeps us sane as
the universe changes around us."

-----
RAdm Garroway, Thomas R.
Starfleet Commander
(The First Era)

Captain Douglas Michaels
Commanding Officer
ESS Luddington

-- 
RM

"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in
the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."
-Calvin & Hobbes
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