[Galaxy] 2163.07.03- JL Morgan/Ca'daar "Catching Up"

[SkinnyElvisDaddy at aol.com]

~Yorktown, Captain's ready room~ 
Da'nak stared at the Star Fleet symbol on the screen for a long time. This  
was the part that he always dreaded, having to report his findings up the 
chain  of command. The last time he and Yorktown had been sucked into that 
whole  Caitian mess.

>From what he had been led to believe, there had been a  shakeup in the 
upper echelon recently, but he had no more information beyond  that. He had no 
real idea whose face he could expect to see when the aide  finally patched 
him through. Probably another armchair Admiral who had gained  his seat 
through bootlicking and politicking... someone who had no real idea of  what it 
was like to really be out in the void, in command of a warp capable  vessel.

Suddenly, the Fleet symbol flashed off to be replaced with a face  that 
Da'nak knew only too well. His antennae shot to the top of his head even as  
the corners of his mouth turned up in a large grin.

"Cap...uh...  Rece...uh... Commodore! " He stammered, his eyes taking in 
the piping on her  shoulders. "It's good to see you! No one told us that you'd 
been released... let  alone that you had been promoted! Congratulations!"

Rece couldn't help  but laugh at Da'nak reaction. She had known it would be 
a good one and was  pleased at the results. "Hello Da'nak." She smiled and 
had to take a few moments  before continuing. "It was a long time before 
medical cleared me for duty. It  was so long I almost wasn't sure they would 
but as you see I'm doing pretty  well. I see you managed to keep the Lady in 
one piece." She smiled again. "Ready  to give her back yet?"

"Any time you're ready." Da'nak replied, his  antennae taking on a more 
relaxed posture as he gave Yorktown's former  commanding officer a wide smirk. 
"We'd be happy to come and pick you up. This  diplomatic stuff is harder 
than you made it look."

Rece smiled, "I may  take you up on that but not right now. I think Admiral 
Sheppard would be rather  upset with me if I left. Plus I think you're 
doing just fine. I've read the  reports."

The powder- blue face twisted into a smirk as the antennae  played subtly 
above it. "You always were a flatterer Captain... I mean  Commodore." Da'nak 
shook his head slowly. "Sorry, it's going to take a little  getting used to, 
but I'll get the hang of it. I'm just glad you're up an about  again."

"You guys were worthy ever flattering word I gave." Rece  commented. "It is 
very nice to talk to you Da'nak but I can see it all over your  face that 
there is something behind this call."

"Well Commodore," The  Andorian said, getting down to business. "While we 
were on our way to Risa for  some R&R after the whole Caitian debacle, we 
intercepted a distress call  from an Orion freighter under attack by pirates of 
some sort."

"Pirates  how exciting." Rece replied. "What happened?"

"At any rate, when we  approached we were contacted by a Tellerite ship who 
had picked up the same  signal. After a quick discussion," Da'nak sighed, 
shaking his head slowly. "Or  as quick a discussion as can be had with the 
Tellerites, we joined forces and  managed to drive off the attackers, but not 
before they had managed to all but  cripple the freighter.

Under the Captain's protest, we sent over medical  and engineering teams to 
try and help. Upon a search of their cargo bay however,  we discovered a 
cache of weapons, earmarked for delivery to the Gamma Sagittarii  system."

"Gamma Sagittarii that's New Darwin.

"Yes," He said, his  antennae drifting lower on his forehead as he folded 
his hands in front of him.  "They were found in a crate marked 'Material for 
New Darwin Resettlement'. It  was a joke apparently. After questioning 
Captain Skald of the Damballah, we  discovered that he had been approached by a 
Klingon and contracted to deliver  the crates to an unspecified drop point 
somewhere in the GS system. I'm sending  you a complete inventory," Da'nak 
punched a few buttons in front of him. "As you  can see, some of this is 
heavier equipment, though there doesn't seem to be  enough of it to use in a 
ground assault."

Rece looked over the inventory  list. "Great Bird. There's always been 
rumors that the Klingons have been up to  things but no solid evidence. Small 
unnoticed shipments add up Da'nak and have  you ever dealt with a Klingon? 
They themselves are weapons."

"Yes, their  prowess is legendary back on Andoria." Da'nak said, shifting 
in his seat. "I  know the Klingons have never officially relinquished their 
claim on New Darwin  and they tried to take it back during our conflict with 
the Romulans. That was  pretty straight-forward though. I'm at a loss to 
explain this. It seems more...  subtle."

"Klingons have never been know for their subtlety maybe they're  not 
working alone." Rece replied. "With this new information you brought to  light, I 
want you to head for New Darwin. The colony's ship the Aurora, was  recently 
ambushed and severely damaged by pirates. I'd like you to go and give  aid. 
These pirates have been disrupting shipping lanes and I just bet that these 
 weapons shipments could be just the thing they need to step up an  
assault."

"It could be the start of some sort of plan to strangle the  colony through 
some sort of blockade. With New Darwin being so far flung, they  know its 
difficult for us to get there quickly. We'll head out immediately  Commodore. 
As soon as we escort the Damballah to Star base 12 and transfer her  
industrious Captain Skald to their brig to await trial." 
"Excellent, I'll contact New Darwin and notify them of your impending  
arrival. What I would give to be going with you." Rece replied. "How's the crew  
doing with the merger, everything working out alright? "

Da'nak let out a  deep sigh, though he continued to smile. "Well, things 
are hit and miss. Some  areas are coordinating fairly seamlessly, while there 
are others where things  are a little more... rocky. Engineering comes to 
mind... Between Michelle, Dax,  and Lt. Commander Merrick, we're lucky not to 
be in the middle of a galactic  incident on a daily basis." He chuckled a 
bit to himself. "Luckily, I can draw  on that time we integrated with the crew 
of the HMS Yorktown. Same principle,  just different crew." 
She remembered that integration time and the paint job the HMS Yorktown had 
 needed to fit into Starfleet. "It must still be tough on some of them," 
Rece  commented. "I can guess what Armstrong must be going through. Loosing 
the  command of ship is difficult."  
The Andorian's antennae drooped slightly, his words taking on a sad 
quality.  It wasn't long ago that the Commodore herself had lost her command as 
well. "I'm  sorry." He said, pausing for a moment. "We've tried to make his 
transition as  smooth as possible, but I'm afraid there's still some 
awkwardness around the  former Intrepidites. I've been trying to give him a wide 
berth, to let him  naturally find his place."

"Da'nak I'm going to give you some advice.  Darkness does not leave us as 
quickly as one would hope." She stated. "Every  member of your crew brings 
something unexpected to the table. Take advantage of  it, and don't leave 
anyone out in the dark. Use their skills and knowledge to  the fullest. Improve 
your own command abilities and make Yorktown the best.  
"I understand Rece." He replied, a soft smile slowly replacing his deep  
frown. "We'll do our best to do you and the 'Fighting Lady' proud." 
As he spoke, his eyes slowly shifted to the chronometer in the corner of 
the  display. "When we get back, we'll have to schedule some time to get 
together and  catch up. I can imagine your promotion has come with it's share of 
stories." 
Rece chuckled, "Oh yes. And you thought you had a learning curve." 
"For now, I'd like to get us underway as quickly as possible. The sooner we 
 drop off Skald, the sooner we can get to the bottom of things in the GS 
system.  Rece...?" He said, pausing. The Commodore's name still sounded 
strange coming  from his mouth. "It's been great to see you." 
"You too Java." Rece had never really used the Andorian's nickname when 
she'd  been CO. It was only in those moments of she counted as friendship and 
she  thought this one would fit nicely. 
"Yorktown out." The big Andorian said, giving the Commodore a crisp salute  
before her image faded, only to be replaced with the fleet symbol. The 
Commodore  was a remarkable woman and he was proud to count her among his 
closest friends.  Yorktown wouldn't let her down. 
A powder blue hand flipped the switch on the intercom.  
"Ca'daar to helm. Lock our tractor onto Damballah and plot us a course for  
Starbase 12. Send word to them to be ready to leave within the hour." 
"Aye sir." Came the reply. 
"Ca'daar out." 
Commodore Rece Morgan
Fleet Operations
Starfleet Headquarters
& 

Force Commander Da'nak Ca'daar
Commanding Officer
USS Yorktown NCC-05
The Fighting Lady
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