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<TITLE>[Gxy] 21 Apr 2163 :: Starfleet Headquarters - Earth :: Admiral Adrienne Sheppard & Commodore Rece Morgan :: "Moving Up"</TITLE>
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Captain Rece Morgan, former captain of the USS Yorktown NX-05, was a petite, curly haired brunette. In 2161 she was forced to give up command of The Fighting Lady after taking a serious wound during the end of the Romulan war. It had been a long road to recovery, and she would probably never command a starship again, but she was thrilled when Starfleet medical had cleared her for duty. <BR>
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She had recently been assisting an old friend, Commodore Douglas Michaels in the special research division on a number of different projects, several in communications. She was working on one such project when her presence was requested by the new Admiral of Fleet Command.<BR>
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// Admiral Sheppard’s Office – Fleet Command – Earth //<BR>
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Admiral Sheppard's office was done in colors of blues and gray with accents of red, orange and yellow. It was certainly a little more colorful and feminine than Admiral Garroway’s old office, but still it was very appropriate. The images on the walls were hand painted contemporary art (as opposed to Audubon prints) of long legged shore birds: herons, egrets, pelicans, sandpipers and such. A comfortable seating arrangement for four was clustered near the large floor to ceiling window, looking out over San Francisco.<BR>
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Sheppard stood as Captain Rece Morgan entered the office. She stepped around the desk and extended her hand. “Welcome Captain. I appreciate your coming by. Let’s sit over by the window,” the Admiral suggested, “And can I get you coffee or tea. I have a fresh pot of Darjeeling here, if that suits you, or coffee is just a step away.”<BR>
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"I do enjoy my coffee,” Rece replied as she made her way to the windows. “but tea is quite acceptable. Thank you very much Admiral."<BR>
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“No, no, coffee you shall have.” She nodded to the yeoman who stood in the doorway, waiting for just such a nod. “Coffee on the way,” Adrienne assured the Captain. They sat down in the soft blue arm chairs, and had barely settled when Yeoman Winters returned with a small tray with a French press of coffee, sweeteners and real cream. She set the tray on the low coffee table and slowly pressed the coffee. “Thank you Lieutenant,” Sheppard gracefully dismissed the assistant. They each fixed their beverage.<BR>
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Rece picked up the cup and took a sip of the hot steaming brew. She'd added just a bit cream but even without it she knew that it still would have been good. "This is an excellent blend. Thank you."<BR>
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"Captain, how you liking your job? Working with Commodore Michaels, aren't you?" asked Adrienne.<BR>
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"I've enjoyed it. I've been working on communications project for him," Rece replied with a smile. “I was my specialty back in the day.”<BR>
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“How would you feel about a change?” Rece looked interested, and Sheppard continued. “I need a Fleet Operations Officer. Someone with first-hand knowledge of being in the Fleet, and someone who has a wide range of leadership experience. I think the former Captain of one of the finest ships in the Fleet would be appropriate. I think that you would be that someone. Interested?<BR>
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Rece felt completely floored and totally speechless just for being asked. An old joke briefly crossed her mind about the miracle of a comm officer being speechless and she put her hand to her mouth to stifle a chuckle. “¡Dios mio!, ¿de veras? me? Sorry old habit. Why not Commodore Michaels? He assisted Admiral Garroway during the war? Not that I’m trying to convince you of anyone else. But aren’t there more qualified people?”<BR>
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“Well, qualified is a loaded word,” Sheppard speculated. “Everyone on my list was qualified; my final short list of three perhaps slightly ahead of the other three. But all with differing strengths and weaknesses. Commodore Michaels is highly invested in his projects, as you know. He and I believe that is where he can be most effective. I think you are better suited to handle Fleet Ops than to take over for Michaels’ projects. Michaels, by the way, agrees with that. It would mean an enhanced compensation package, a promotion to Commodore, as befits the job, and an option for a nice suite in the new Officers’ Quarters. And of course a steep learning curve, but I think we can work through that. What do you say? Questions?”<BR>
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It was at that moment that words that had been said to her and that she had in turn said to others, washed through her mind. 'I see a potential in you. A potential for greatness. Even if you can't see it for yourself, I can.' Rece sighed, damn you Max Rokossovsky. "Okay Admiral I'm in, just one question what am I letting you talk me into?"<BR>
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“You’re getting yourself into Fleet Command.” Adrienne took a sip of tea and chuckled. “And nicer quarters. How long do you need to wrap things with Michaels?”<BR>
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Rece thought about the different projects that Douglas had her working on. A couple of them could easily enough be handed over to someone else. There was the one she was consulting on which was on the way to being back burnered anyway, but there was one... "I'm thinking, I'm going to need at least a week. I've one project that I need to see finished. It could mean a lot of good."<BR>
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“That’s fast. How about you take office on May 6th. That’s time to finish your project, get moved and settled a bit, maybe even a little leisure time before digging in deep here. That suit you?” asked Sheppard. <BR>
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"Yes and so you know, it's fast because most of the projects I can just hand over." Rece replied. "It's only one I'm concerned about and that is nearly finished. If I saw them all finished it would be at least six months. So unless you'd rather wait that long I think May 6th should work well."<BR>
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“It’s a done deal then. Except for ...,” Adrienne pulled a small black box from a drawer under the coffee table and handed it to Rece. “Captain Rece Morgan, by my authority as Starfleet Commander, and with my blessing, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Commodore, with all rights, privileges and responsibilities attendant to that rank. Congratulation, Commodore Morgan.” <BR>
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Rece opened the box and there nestled in the velvet lining was her new rank insignia. "Thank you Admiral." She was glad to see it; mayhap the rum jokes would finally come to an end.<BR>
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“If you have questions in the meantime, feel free to comm me. I try to keep an open door policy unless I’m really snowed under with something,” said Adrienne with a big smile and a handshake. <BR>
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~~~<BR>
ooc: It is a pleasure to welcome Rachelle (Commodore Rece Morgan) back to her former position as Fleet Operations Officer. She surrendered that position several years ago due to Real Life responsibilities, with hopes of one day returning to Fleet Command. Thank you Rachelle for stepping up to serve. <BR>
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Admiral Adrienne Sheppard <BR>
Fleet Commander <BR>
Starfleet: TFE <BR>
& <BR>
Commodore Rece Morgan <BR>
Fleet Operations Officer <BR>
Starfleet: TFE <BR>
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