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<DIV>~~StarFleet Medical Earth~~ <BR clear=all><BR>The sun shown through the
open window. The curtains moving in the light breeze. The warmth of the
sunlight glinting off the face of the woman lying in the bed. Eyes flickered
open and slowly she turned her head, the light shining in her face. Her muscles
where sore and as she stretched there was pulling in her abdomen but the sun
felt warm and welcoming. <BR><BR>As she lay there in the bed the door slid open.
"Good afternoon Captain Morgan. I see that you are awake. I'm nurse Chapel, how
are you feeling?" <BR>"Where am I?" Rece said as she looked over and the
nurse.<BR><BR>"Starfleet medical." Nurse Chapel said as she read the
chart.<BR><BR>"Earth?"<BR><BR>"Yes ma'am. You've been under medical sedation for
quite awhile. You had some serious injuries. Your crew took good care of you
but---" the nurse pause briefly and looked directly at her, "it may be awhile
before your body can handle the riggers of space."<BR><BR>At this announcement
Rece felt the floor drop out from beneath her and if she hadn't been lying on
the bio bed she would have a hard time at doing anything at all. <BR><BR>"The
doctor will be in shortly but if you feel up to it, you have a
visitor."<BR><BR>At that moment Rece didn't want to see anyone, she wanted to
digest the fact that she was on Earth and would not be returning to the Lady. "I
d---" She stopped before she said no. "Sure."<BR><BR>Nurse Chapel nodded and
walked to the door.<BR><BR>Outside, Da'nak stood, a bouquet of multicolored
roses in his hand. He still wore his starfleet uniform. To be honest with
himself, he was beginning to feel comfortable in it. His antennae shot straight
up as he saw the young nurse emerge from the Captain's room.<BR><BR>"Captain
Morgan is improving but it will be some time before she can return to command.
You may go on in."<BR><BR>Nodding, Da'nak walked through the door and let it
slide shut behind him. "Hello Captain... I'm glad you've come around. It was
touch and go there for quite a while." He held out the flowers for her to see.
"I brought you some flowers." He twisted them in his hand, looking at them for a
long moment. "They're roses I'm told. Very pretty. I was led to understand that
they are a very expressive plant, the different colors symbolizing different
sentiments... I couldn't really decide on just one." He handed her the bouquet.
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<DIV>Rece took the roses and brought them up to her face to smell them. "Thank
you Da'nak they're lovely. Could you put them in there?" She said handing them
back and pointed at the vase by the window. "How is everyone? How are
you?"<BR><BR>Da'nak did as he was asked, unwrapping the flowers and placing them
in the vase. "We're... surviving. We lost some good people in the battle of
Xantia." He paused, pouring a little water into the vase from a pitcher nearby.
"They're 'upgrading' the Yorktown now, leaving her pretty much gutted and open
to space while they upgrade her technology. It's left the crew a bit... uneasy.
A lot of them are wondering about the future."</DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>The big Andorian turned and smiled at his commanding officer. "Now that
you're in better shape, I was hoping that you might address them, put some fears
to rest."</DIV>
<DIV><BR>"I think I can do that. Wouldn't want them to thing I'm dead." Rece
adjusted her position in the bed and groaned a bit as she felt her injuries
pull. "I see that you're wearing a new uniform."</DIV>
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<DIV>The blue helmsman gave her a muted smirk. "Yes, my Imperial guard uniform
was destroyed yet again..."</DIV>
<DIV>Something else to thank his brother for he thought. " Besides, since the
signing of the treaty this just somehow seemed more... right."<BR></DIV>
<DIV><BR>"Yes. Yes it does look right on you. Something you should wear more
often. I---" Rece stopped. She wasn't sure where she wanted to go with the
conversation. There were things that she wanted say but didn't know how, which
wasn't the norm for her but then again having been injured and just told that it
would be some time before she could go back to space wasn't the norm either. Her
life had been all about culture and language, Starfleet and space and now it
appeared that it would have to change. <BR><BR>Da'nak's antennae swished back
and forth, again betraying his agitation. This was not an easy conversation to
have, but he knew it was needed. "Captain, I've just come from the Admiral's
office. I had a meeting with Admiral Garroway and Commodore Sheppard...They..."
The Andorian swallowed hard. "Given your current condition... they want me to
continue in command of Yorktown." He lowered his head. "I know how much</DIV>
<DIV>The Fighting Lady means to you Captain... So many times I thought of you
and her as one in the same I..."</DIV>
<DIV>He paused, his head still hung low. "I'm sorry."</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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<DIV>Rece sighed. She had known this, the moment the nurse had said something
and had not wanted to accept it until now. "There is nothing for you to be sorry
about. The Lady will always be my ship. My first assignment and first command.
Nothing can take that way, but like all---" She paused trying to remain in
control of her emotions. "Like all things my time as her captain must pass way."
She wasn't doing a very good job. "I'm angry and frustrated with my injuries.
I'm ticked off at the Admiral for just giving away my ship without telling me.
But Da'nak don't you apologizes I'm glad that you're the one that's getting
her."<BR><BR>The azure man stepped closer to the bed, gently taking Rece's hand
in his. In his time aboard the Yorktown, the little woman had demonstrated more
integrity, grit, and fight than any Andorian he knew. "It's an honor to have
served under you Captain. If there were any other way... I would step aside, but
the crew... the ship needs me, and I have to see her through." Da'nak gave her
hand a little squeeze. "Besides," He added, a light smirk playing across his
lips. "The Admiral says that once you get better, he'll see about another
command." He sat on the bed, still holding Rece's hand, willing his strength
through is into her. "And if I know anything about the 'famous' Captain Morgan,
I know she never runs from a challenge and she never stays down for long." He
leaned forward, touching the center of her chest with one finger. "The real
Fighting Lady is in there... and she's you."</DIV>
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<DIV>Rece touched Da'nak's hand. "Thank you. That means a lot to me and if I
have any say in it, when next we meet in space I will be in command
again."<BR><BR>Da'nak smiled sadly. It was hard for him to see his former
commander in this state. "I know you will, Captain... I know you will." He gave
Rece's hand a final squeeze before rising to leave. "I-I have to go Captain.
They've torn the Yorktown right down to her bones and somebody needs to be there
to see that they put her back together right."</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>"If you need anything, anything at all, you call. I am here for you as you
have always been there for me my friend." Rece said.</DIV>
<DIV><BR>The Andorian moved for the door, pausing a moment before leaving. "The
Lady will keep in touch Captain. We'll be keeping track of your recovery." A
soft smile began to play about his turquoise lips. "Don't worry,
she'll still be around when you've healed, at least if I have anything to say
about it."<BR><BR>"I'm not your captain anymore Da'nak, Yorktown your ship now.
Rece is quite acceptable."</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>Da'nak smiled again, the same sad smile. He had no more words to express
how he felt. He simply drew in a deep breath and stood in the door, giving Rece
a long salute before finally whispering <EM>shu'lu tha. </EM>(thank you) in his
own language before finally turning and making his way out.</DIV>
<DIV><BR>----<BR>Captain Rece Morgan<BR>Former Commanding Officer<BR>NX-05
Yorktown<BR>The Fighting Lady</DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>&</DIV>
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<DIV>Force Commander Da'nak Ca'daar</DIV>
<DIV>Commanding Officer</DIV>
<DIV>NX-05 Yorktown</DIV>
<DIV>The Fighting Lady</DIV></DIV></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT lang=0 size=2 face=Arial FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"><I><BR>The
future's not set and the end is always near...</I><BR>-<I>The
Doors<BR>-Roadhouse Blues</I></FONT></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>