[Galaxy] 21 Jun, Joint log, Garroway/Rece

[Robert]

[ NGC 3242 "Jupiter's Ghost" battlespace, Endeavor-A, Ready Room ]

As Commander Stone took care of the full assessment of damages to the
Endeavor, Garroway was taking reports from the fleet.  The ships that
could had already gotten underway to the nearest port of opportunity for
repairs, the rest were doing the best they could where they were.
Garroway had just closed a communiqué to a nearby boomer who happened to
have some supplies they were willing to let Starfleet appropriate for
the war effort, when the monitor chimed.  His sub-space transmission to
Earth had been connected.  He tapped the screen icon.


----Earth-----

Rece paced nervously back and forth in the office, and practically
jumped when the transmission screen flickered to life. "Yes, Admiral?"

"Rece," Garroway said from far away.  He smiled, and it seemed genuine
though the tiredness in his voice was palpable. "It looks like we may be
on our way back before the week is out.  I'm sending you the state of
the fleet out here, and I need you and Commodore Stirling to coordinate
the repair of... well, just about everyone."

Rece nodded, but there was clear hesitation. "Understand. I will do
what I can until you return. However...I think you were right, Admiral.
This is far too much for me to handle and I think perhaps I jumped into
things too quickly."

Garroway sighed visibly, but nodded none-the-less.  "I understand,
Captain.  These are trying times, and even the best of us can get pulled
down in them.  You say you can wait until I return?"

Rece nodded, understanding Garroway's disappointment but knowing that
she was making the right choice. "Yes, I can."

Garroway nodded thoughtfully.  "And then what?  You gave it your best
shot when I needed someone sooner rather than later, so I can at least
see what I can do about your next posting."

Rece looked down, her hair partially covering her face. "To be honest,
I haven't given it much thought. Perhaps I should return to what I was
doing before, as a Captain. I still want to do my part for Starfleet,
and the front lines were certainly less complicated."

"So be it," Garroway said.  He became somber.  "We lost a lot of good
ships and crews out here, so I'll need some good captains to fill out
the ranks again.  The next ship to roll out is yours."  He found a
strange humor, then, in the irony that they were both unhappy where they
thought they wanted to be, and now would be trading places.

Rece looked down, not meeting his eyes. "Thank you sir, I appreciate
that. Thank you for the opportunity anyway."

Garroway nodded.  "We'll finalize everything when we return.  Endeavor out."


-----
RAdm Garroway, Thomas R.
Commander, Starfleet (TFE)

FCapt Tanya Rece
Acting Fleet Operations
Earth Starfleet