Chapter 11
January 25, 2248
Shuttlecraft Bay, USS Valkyrie, 0645 hours
After they'd enter the shuttlecraft bay, V'Lar and Tynen walked briskly to their waiting craft. As they approached the Mist, Lanei Rager and Chief Stockton emerged from the small auxiliary craft. The helmsman was closing the flap of her tunic while the engineering chief carried a tool chest. Then, the pair had apparently noticed their captain and XO had arrived because they both rapidly sprung to attention.
"Is the Mist ready, Chief?" Tynen asked.
"Prepped and ready for departure, sir," Stockton answered.
"Good," Tynen said to the man. Then he turned to his wife and indicated she should board the craft ahead of him. "After you, commander."
She nodded graciously to him and entered the small craft. Then he turned to Ensign Rager and said, "Let's go, Lanei. It wouldn't be good for us to arrive late to the admiral's meeting!"
She smiled at her captain. "Aye, aye, sir!" she snapped and stepped aboard the Mist with Tynen following close behind.
Rager took her place as the pilot of the craft while V'Lar seated herself in the co-pilot's chair. Tynen sat down in one of the passenger seats directly behind his wife.
Moments later, Lanei activated the craft's control panel and flipped the switch to close the shuttle's hatch. Then she pressed a button that activated the Mist's external communications transceiver. "Mist to Bridge. I am initializing pre-launch systems."
Overhead, via the craft's intercom, they heard Etana Mazan's crisp response. "Bridge to Mist, acknowledged."
Soon, the turntable that positioned the Valkyrie's auxiliary craft for departure moved the Mist in line with the Constellation class star cruiser's port shuttle bay hangar door. Moments later, the massive portal slid open. However, none of the bay's atmosphere rushed out into the vacuum of space because the opening was now capped by a low level force field.
"Bridge to Mist…"
"Go ahead."
"Hangar doors are open. You are cleared for launch."
"Acknowledged, Bridge. Initiating launch sequence," Rager said. Then the helmsman pressed a series of buttons on her panel. Shortly thereafter, the Mist gently lifted off the turntable and, by way of her maneuvering thrusters, pierced the force field and entered the eternal night of space. Seconds later, the small craft activated her impulse engines and arced away from the Valkyrie like a shot.
"Sir," Rager reported. "We are proceeding at one half impulse and should reach the Auckland in approximately seven minutes."
"Very good, Lanei. Thank you."
"You're welcome, sir," the helmsman said. Then she activated her communications system once more. "Mist to Valkyrie. We are estimating time of return, thirteen hundred hours."
"Acknowledged and logged," they heard Mazan say over the speakers. "We shall expect you then."
"Roger, Valkyrie. Mist out." After she switched off the transceiver, Lanei examined the readouts on her panel. Then she moved a tiny lever and reported, "Sir, the starboard lateral thrusters are slightly out of phase but there's nothing to be concerned about. I've set the craft's flight stabilization control to twenty-five percent."
"Confirmed, flight stabilization set to two-five percent," V'Lar noted for the record. Then, without turning to face her husband, a question sounded in her voice. "Captain?"
"Yes, V'Lar?"
"When you returned with the Admiral to the gathering last night, why did he refer to me as Commander Tynen?"
Caught off-guard by her question, Tynen stumbled with his answer. "Well…um…the admiral may have overheard me say that was your married name to Senator Quantrell when the man continued to inappropriately encroach into your personal space."
She shot a mild look of reproach over her shoulder at him. "I see," she said in her cool and controlled monotone that he found so incredibly irresistible.
Sensing her gentle amusement at his confession, he transmitted to her silently via their bond, 'although it is the custom on Earth among some people for the female spouse to take her husband's family name, I'm fine with things just the way they are between us.'
'Although the Earth custom you refer to sounds… intriguing,' she beamed back, 'perhaps it is fortunate for you that Vulcan custom does not require you to adopt my family name or even to speak it. Apparently, our familial names are difficult for your people to pronounce and are considered to be quite long by most Humans.' Then her mind was silent for a moment before she asked, 'Would you be pleased if I chose to adopt your last name as your wife under the customs of your planet?'
He mentally shrugged and transmitted, 'I suppose I would. I guess that may seem possessive to a Vulcan. Would that bother you?'
At that moment, she glanced at her monitor and said, "Approaching Alliance Earth L1 grid perimeter," while her mind answered his telepathic question. 'No. Jason, to Vulcans, our bond is acutely possessive and overshadows all else as I have said before. It supersedes familial considerations and other relationships. In essence, we are now one.'
Inwardly, he was intensely moved by her words. Then he recalled how she took him to Barsoom the night before and he wanted to relive the electrifying experience again as soon as possible. 'Aisha, suddenly, I have the urge to order Lanei to turn this shuttle around and return to the ship.'
She was moved as well and responded. 'As do I, beloved, but duty calls at the moment. However,' she promised, 'I shall look forward to our return with great anticipation.' Then she conveyed her sensual heat along their psychic connection to tease him a bit.
Now, the smile on his face would have been plainly evident if either woman had happened to look his way.
After V'Lar and he had become lovers, he was pleasantly surprised by how playful she'e been with him even though she only showed it in private or via the bond they shared. However, he'd been smart enough to know it was unwise for him to return the favor and tease her through their connection. He'd learned the hard way that by doing so, he risked releasing a relentless Vulcan predator that would stalk him until she'd torn his clothes off, thrown him on their bed, and had her wicked way with him. The last time that had happened, he'd nursed some bruises along with a smile that had lasted for days.
Suddenly, his musings were cut short by Rager's crisp announcement. "We're slowing to one quarter impulse." Then she checked her sensors and reported, "Captain, we should be coming into visual range of the Auckland right about now."
"Confirmed, Ensign," V'Lar announced. "The Auckland is ahead bearing two-three, mark two-one-seven, range sixty-one hundred kilometers."
"Take us in, Ensign," Tynen said with a sly smile on his face.
Having Lanei along on this little excursion was a godsend for him. Normally, maintaining the admiral's little secret from his wife might have been difficult due to the connection he shared with her. However, during their tryst last night, his wife apparently was so focused on their physical, primal needs, she didn't mind meld with him.
So to further protect their little secret from inadvertent disclosure, the captain recalled something from his Section 31 training as a means to evade telepathic intelligence operatives.
A deception is less likely to be revealed if it is cloaked within a truth.
Lanei had been an exemplary helmsman during the Valkyrie's first year in deep space. During critical missions, she'd demonstrated she had a good head on her shoulders. At times, she even acted as the head of her department even though she wasn't the most senior helmsman on the ship.
Thus, Tynen had asked the admiral if he could tell V'Lar they were going to give Lanei a promotion as the cover story to keep his brilliant wife from ferreting out the truth about her own advancement to captain. Surprisingly, the admiral had agreed to Tynen's little scheme. In fact, he'd gone as far to say that he'd been impressed by how audaciously devious it'd been.
Now, as they closed on the massive mobile repair facility, Rager reported, "Captain, I'm synching our attitude controls with the Auckland."
As their shuttle approached the mobile drydock, the trio witnessed the activity of numerous vessels and crafts through their windscreen. Like a beehive, the Pearl class Mobile Repair Facility had tiny craft darting to and fro all around its structure. Swarms of shuttles darted from the MRF, some to various cargo vessels keeping station around the Auckland, others headed for deep space, most likely to plant drones and sensor packages throughout the EA system or to deliver subspace scanners to Alliance Earth warships. Meanwhile Lilliputian automated welding devices moved along the Mobile Repair Facility's girders, lighting the darkness of space with brief, bright orange-white flares. Near the metal lace structure that reminded Tynen of a fragile filigree, six Liberty class starships, Starfleet's interstellar heavy lifters, floated serenely nearby while a pair of Cle Dan tenders were hard at work, using their pair of 'giant robot' arms, one to strip the armor off a Hyperion class attack cruiser positioned in the center of the MRF, while the other installed Federation polarized hull plating in place of the old metal. Meanwhile, all this commotion took place under the watchful crews that manned the MRF's escort of six Epsilon class cutters maintaining station nearby.
As the Mist maneuvered toward the MRF's shuttlecraft bay, one of the massive cargo ships sprang to life, activated her running lights, and majestically veered away from the drydock.
As the Liberty class starship cruised toward them yet would pass them by at a safe distance, Lanei gasped. "Look, Captain!" she breathed. "That's the Jane Addams!"
He couldn't help but smile at his helmsman's enthusiasm. Was I ever that young? he wondered. "Good eye, Ensign. She must be on her way to pick up Lt. Garroway's platoon from the Val."
The USS Jane Addams had been assigned to ferry the 36 sentient beings assigned to "V" (Valkyrie) Battery's 3rd Platoon to Alliance Earth's Moon to install and man several of the phaser and photon torpedo batteries the Admiral wanted to use to crush Minbari warships caught between the Earth and the Moon. Apparently, the cargo vessel had been stationed near the Auckland to distribute equipment and supplies between the MRF and her for transport to the Moon.
The Admiral had chosen to place both the Auckland and the Klingon MRF that was stationed several hundred kilometers distant from the Pearl class drydock along the L1 point between the Sun and the Earth. The most intuitively understood Lagrangian point, L1 was where the gravitational attraction of the Earth partially canceled the Sun's gravitational attraction. Located about 1.5 million kilometers from EA Earth, the Lagrangian point allowed comparatively easy access to lunar and earth orbits with minimal change in velocity. Although that wasn't much of an issue for the impulse drive-equipped Starfleet and Klingon vessels, placing the MRF in that location helped to conserve fuel for the relatively primitive Alliance Earth ships.
Moments later, the Jane Addams was nothing more than a bright star when Rager began the Mist's final approach into the Auckland's hangar opening. As the opening dwarfed their tiny craft, both women busily manipulated their controls.
"Holding profile, disengaging impulse engines, engaging thrusters," Lanei reported. Then their shuttle drifted through the bay's force field and, seconds later, she settled gently down on the deck plating of the shuttlecraft bay.
Almost immediately, the pleasant artificial female computer voice standard throughout Starfleet ships and facilities sounded over the shuttle's intercom. "Shuttlecraft secured. Pressure equalized."
As Rager worked the controls to open the Mist's hatch, Tynen smiled and gently reached out to rest his hand on the young woman's shoulder. "That was my smoothest shuttle ride yet, Lanei. Nice work!"
The young woman nodded gratefully to her captain. "Thank you, sir, and thank you, Commander V'Lar. You're a great co-pilot!"
V'Lar simply nodded politely to the Ensign. "You are welcome, Ensign, though your competence in piloting hardly needs my assistance when one takes into consideration your unquestioned skill."
Tynen's eyebrows nearly climbed to the ceiling at that! For a Vulcan to say more than "Your piloting skills are adequate," was high praise indeed!
After the Valkyrie officers had stepped off the Mist, they were struck by the hustle and bustle going on all around them. Hundreds of people were busy moving heavy containers with antigravity devices hither and yon. As they glanced all about trying to catch their bearings, a nervous, perspiring ensign approached them.
"Captain Tynen, sir?"
He smiled at the young man and asked, "Permission to come aboard, sir?"
The young man returned the Captain's smile. "Granted, sir. Welcome aboard, Captain. Sir, if your party will follow me?"
"By all means, Ensign, lead the way," he said and they went off with the young officer.
#
Cargo Hold, USS Valkyrie, 0655 hours
"Can the chatter, people!" Lieutenant Joanna Garroway barked. "I want First, Second, Third, and Fourth Squads to mount up!"
The Valkyrie's cargo hold was one of the few places on the Constellation class star cruiser big enough to hold thirty-six loaded for bear MACOs. Lines of armor-suited MACOs started forward, each carrying his/her/its phaser rifle slung muzzle down and at least one other weapon or load on their person.
The first four squads stepped onto the twenty-two person emergency transporter. Once the four groups of four people who made up each squad were situated on the transporter pads, Gunnery Sergeant Bob Owens snapped, "First Squad, sound off! Rivero!"
"Here!" Sergeant Pilar Rivero answered, her voice echoing like a shot.
"The'lan!"
"Present," said the Andorian Lance Corporal.
As Owens continued to run down the roster, Garroway closed her eyes and leaned against the corner of the transporter console. Two days ago, her ship, the Valkyrie, had been among the first of the Klingon/Federation expeditionary force to reach Federation Earth's twin on the other side of the galaxy. Nearly a month before that, 3rd Platoon had joined V Battery at Regulus when the platoon had transferred from the USS Axanar's MACO Regiment to the star cruiser.
V Battery was organized as a special assault company under the command of Major Hans Vanderweg. The battery was composed of three thirty-six-person platoons. Joanna was the CO of 3rd Platoon. 1st Platoon was under the command of 2nd Lt. Thomas Gruber while 2nd Platoon was under the command of 1st Lt. M'Rket, a Caitian male who also served as the Battery's XO.
Having only graduated from Annapolis four months ago, Joanna had yet to see combat. Suddenly, a wistful smile dawned on her face. Why, only four years ago, she'd just completed high school in her own Tycho City and teased the local boys along with her BFF, Jennifer Howard during her summer vacation before entering the Naval Academy. Now, she was assigned to a starship that had traveled to the other side of the galaxy in a conduit created by a vastly superior alien species and was preparing to board another ship that would transport her platoon to an exact duplicate of the Moon to protect it from genocidal aliens hell-bent on killing every Human in the universe.
Life had certainly become very interesting for her during the past few months.
As the twinge of a cramp raced along her left hamstring, Joanna winced. After months of being cooped up on starships, she was itching to deploy on this Moon and ease into the gently loping "kangaroo hop" that Aldrin and Armstrong had first pioneered almost three hundred twenty-five years ago.
Just then, the roll call came to an end. Now, her mind back on business, she asked Owens, "Are we all squared away, Gunny?"
"Affirmative, ma'am, the platoon is all present and accounted for, Lieutenant."
"So what's the word, L-T?" Rivero called out.
"All right, people, listen up!" Joanna said, taking on her command persona once more. "Our orders are to board the freighter the Jane Addams for deployment to Alliance Earth's Moon." As a born and bred 'lunar schooner,' she refused to call the Earth's, any Earth's, satellite 'Luna.' To the predecessors of the hearty colonists who'd first settled the Moon in Federation Earth's space, it had never been 'Luna'; it had always been the Moon!
Schooners had never seen the need to call something other than what it was. They, as a rule, tended to be a practical, brutally-honest-to-a-fault bunch. Perhaps that's why a lot of them ended up as MACOs. While most of the members of the Federation's humanity badly wanted to emulate the peaceful image the Vulcans projected to the galaxy, MACOs were a throw-back to a more martial time of mankind as one could tell from their unofficial mantra: Join the MACOs, travel the galaxy, meet new life-forms…and kill them.
Before the Minbari attack on Regulus, no one had truly taken the mantra seriously. Now, a lot of the MACOs, and apparently plenty of the Starfleeters she'd run across, were quite happy to apply it to their boneheaded adversaries.
"The freighter," Garroway said as she continued speaking to the platoon, "is transporting eight Type X Planetary Defense Phaser Batteries and a rapid fire Type VIII Pulse Fire Photon Torpedo Battery. Along with the planetary defense shields that are being installed by Starfleet personnel on each of the inhabited planets in this system at this moment, these artillery systems are the last line in planetary defense. We are to assist the personnel of the Starfleet Corp of Engineers assigned to the Jane Addams and install these batteries on the Alliance Earth's Moon. Once these batteries become operational, each squad shall man a battery. When the Minbari show up with their invasion force, it'll be our job to destroy as many of their ships as we can."
After several grunts of approval, she added, "You should know that the Gunny and I will be stationed in the photon torpedo battery. From there, we shall maintain command and control over the entire network comprised of the platoon's batteries. Now, flight time will be approximately one hour. Once the Jane Addams achieves lunar orbit, I want you to button up your EVA suits, helmets, and gloves."
There were numerous groans and a few choice expletives in the chorus of voices she heard. "Are you freaking kidding me?" one voice sounded above the fray. "We ain't animals!"
Garroway smirked then. "Who is that?" Then she made eye contact with the suspected grumbler. "I know you're not an animal, Jaworski. If you were, I'd have to treat you a whole sight better than a grunt if I don't want Alliance Earth's version of PETA riding my ass!"
When the laughter and snickers died down, she continued her briefing. "I've been told the living areas of these units have been designed to provide maximum comfort. I suppose that's a safe bet since they were designed with Starfleet people in mind." She received a few more hearty laughs and guffaws. "However, the units need time to pressurize after they've been put into place, so we don't know how long we're going to be outside on the beach. So when we beam down from the Jane Addams, be damned sure you all have lashed down and plugged your suits into your umbilicals, got it?"
"Yes, ma'am!" her MACOs barked in unison.
"Lieutenant," the transporter operator announced, "the Jane Addams says she's ready to take your people aboard."
"Thanks, Chief," she said. "All right, people. Let's do this!"
"Aye, aye, ma'am!" they shouted.
Moments later, the first four squads dematerialized on the transporter pads. Then only a few seconds passed before the Chief received confirmation that the first group had arrived safely.
Soon, the second four squads immediately mounted the pads and were on their way. Once again, a short time later, they heard that her people had made it over to the other ship without incident.
Finally, it was the heavy weapons squad's, the Gunny's, and Joanna's turn. The final six MACOs stepped onto the pads and faced the transporter operator. Then Garroway said, "Energize."
She only experienced a moment of displacement before she found herself inside a vast cargo bay. Along with her platoon members, Joanna noticed a stern-looking, yet handsome woman in a Starfleet command uniform standing outside the transport area. She was perhaps four inches taller than Joanna's own five foot four inch frame and appeared to be in her mid-fifties.
The woman approached Garroway and offered her hand in welcome. "Lt. Garroway, welcome aboard the Jane Addams! I'm Sheryl Wolfe, her captain."
She shook the woman's hand. "Joanna Garroway, Captain. We're glad to be here."
"You know, with your platoon on board, this ship has taken on the mantle of her namesake. The original Jane Addams was a Liberty ship built during World War II. She transported cargo and troops to support the Allied war effort. Years later, she was retired to become one of the piers at my home town of Portland, Oregon." Then the captain chuckled and shook her head. "Listen to me prattle on about the old girl like that! I suppose I need to get out more, Joanna. Anyway, we'll get underway soon. Would you like to accompany me to our conference room for a briefing with the Corps of Engineers commander?"
Joanna smiled at the friendly woman. "Thank you, Captain. I'd like that."
Then Joanna turned to Owen and said, "Gunny, make certain the platoon gets squared away while I'm gone."
"You've got it, Lieutenant," the man who was more important than her own right arm said.
With that settled, she turned back to the skipper of the Jane Addams and said, "Lead the way, ma'am."
#
Wardroom, USS Auckland, 0700 hours
"Jay, V'Lar, Ensign! Welcome aboard!" Tapin exclaimed. Then with a self-deprecating smirk, the flag officer asked, "So, how do you like my new 'office?'" as he swept his hand about the converted wardroom.
Tynen painted on a smile as Tapin approached his small party along with Captain Sulu, Brigadier Kerla, General Kang and two Orion women, one a red head, the other a brunette, dressed in Starfleet uniforms. Normally, Orion women were trouble for Humans because their pheromones caused a biochemical imbalance in a Human's brain stem that allowed an Orion woman to influence Human males. For now, though, other than the fact that both women were beautiful, none of the Humans appeared to be bothered by their presence.
The expression on his face must have tipped off the Admiral about Tynen's concerns because the man smirked and said, "Jay, there's no need to worry. Both of these officers," he indicated with a shrug of his hand toward the women, "take a hypo that suppresses the effect of their pheromones on us."
Shaking hands with the flag officer, Tynen said, "Oh, I wasn't concerned for myself, Admiral. Vulcans and their mates are immune to the effects. However, it's good to know that it won't be a problem for the rest of you."
Tapin chuckled and said, "Now that we've dispensed with that, Jay, this," Tapin indicated with a nod toward the red headed woman, "is my former adjutant, Captain Gaila."
Tynen shook the woman's hand and said, "The admiral has said a lot of good things about you."
"He's too kind," she said.
"You're too modest," Tynen offered diplomatically. "So, I hear you're the new skipper of the Dancer?"
"That's right, Captain Tynen. Oh, I'd like to introduce my first officer to you and your officers," she said, indicating the other woman with a nod. "This is Commander Mares."
If Gaila was achingly beautiful, Mares was smoking hot! Almost afraid that he'd embarrass himself by inadvertently drooling in front of the woman, Tynen warily shook the brunette's hand. "It's nice to meet you, Commander." Then he turned to his party and said, "I'd like you to mee—"
Before he could introduce his wife and Rager, Mares interrupted him. "V'Lar! It's been a long time, hasn't it? As always, it's certainly wonderful to see you again," the woman purred sensuously.
V'Lar nodded graciously in return. "Greetings, Mares. It is agreeable to see you as well."
At that moment, Tynen experienced an epiphany. 'This is Mares? Mares, your old Academy roommate?' he asked his wife via their link.
'Yes,' she replied in his mind.
'Wow,' he responded silently as he struggled desperately to suppress the fantasy of himself sandwiched between his wife and her former roommate which had resurrected with a vengeance upon seeing the Orion woman in the flesh…so to speak. Although his wife was a virtual goddess and her placid beauty was normally head and shoulders above most women, Mares was definitely in the same league as V'Lar but different. While his wife was coolly sensual, everything about the Orion woman screamed she'd be a tigress in the boudoir.
'Indeed,' V'Lar agreed telepathically.
A few minutes later, after the introductions were completed, Tapin said, "Before we start this morning's briefing, I have several pleasant tasks to perform." Then the Admiral snapped to attention and barked, "Captain Sulu, Captain Tynen, front and center!"
As the two men stood ramrod straight in front of the Admiral, the elder officer said, "Captain Sulu, your experiences on the Enterprise tested the mettle of a young officer and honed you into an exemplary starship commander. The Excelsior's historic contact with the Alliance Earth government, as well as your defense of this system from a marauding Minbari warcruiser has bolstered her position as one of the flagships of the fleet."
"Captain Tynen, your first command, the Hippolyta, nearly sacrificed herself to protect numerous systems in Federation, Klingon, and Tholian territories from an extra-galactic juggernaut that threatened them with annihilation."
At that point, Tynen shot a startled glance at Kang and was stunned to see a knowing smile on the Klingon's face.
Tapin then said, "Apparently, the citizens on those Klingon worlds still sing songs about your ship's intrepid stand. Additionally, in line with your stunning victories as a soldier, you have equaled that success by the numerous first contact and diplomatic missions you have conducted in an exemplary manner."
"Captain Sulu and Captain Tynen, you both have achieved the pinnacle of elite starship commanders. Therefore, by order of Starfleet Command, I hereby appoint you both to the position of Fleet Captain. Congratulations, gentlemen," Tapin said as he shook both men's hands and gave them the insignia for their new positions.
Moments later, Tapin gestured for Tynen and Sulu to step back. Afterwards, he barked, "Commander V'Lar?"
"Yes, Admiral?"
"Front and center, if you please."
Without hesitation, Tynen's wife moved into position in front of Tapin.
"Commander, I understand that your career has been nothing less than extraordinary. As the second officer of the science vessel Charon, you managed to save your ship and her surviving crew while managing to destroy the adversaries who'd crippled the vessel and killed both her captain and first officer to obtain your ship's advanced technology for their government. The tactics you employed during that engagement are now taught to cadets at the Academy. Moreover, Commander, your scientific and engineering achievements in the fields of exploration and warp propulsion have benefitted the Federation tremendously and have ensured the continued success of the Advanced Exploratory Cruiser Program."
The Admiral paused for a moment before he continued. "Therefore, on behalf of the Director of Operations, Starfleet Command, I hereby promote you to the rank of Captain with all the rights and privileges thereto. Captain V'Lar, you should know that a wing of attack shuttles has been assigned to your ship, and, as a result, the Valkyrie is now officially designated as a carrier, allowing you to serve as her Executive Officer in your new rank under Fleet Captain Tynen, who shall remain as the commanding officer of the vessel. Congratulations, Captain V'Lar," Tapin said then gave her a short bow rather than attempting to encroach on a Vulcan's personal space. "Oh…and Captain? Although I don't have any insignia for you on hand, I believe your husband might have a spare set available he can immediately provide to you," he noted slyly.
At first, V'Lar didn't respond whatsoever to the Admiral. As the man regarded her curiously, he inquired, "Captain V'Lar, are you all right?"
Before anyone else could say a word, Mares observed, "Nothing is amiss with her, sir. The fact of the matter is that she simply couldn't believe her ears."
As most of the people in the wardroom laughed at the Orion's remark, Mares stepped forward and clasped her old roommate in a hug that both astonished, and though he'd be chagrined to admit it, turned Tynen on.
Suddenly, the embrace appeared to snap V'Lar from her stupor. Stiffening from embarrassment, she drawled in her normal dry monotone, "Please, Commander. Not in front of the Klingons and the Humans."
In response, Mares simply laughed and hugged V'Lar all the harder as the Vulcan tentatively returned the Orion officer's embrace. A short beat later, V'Lar gracefully withdrew from Mares' clinch and shot a look at her husband. 'You were aware of this?' she asked in his mind.
'Yes. However, I was ordered to maintain the Admiral's little secret from you.'
'I see,' she replied silently. 'I commend you for your faithful attendance to your duty, adun. However, you should realize that you have managed to pique my arousal by your successful deception in this matter. I do hope, for the expeditionary fleet's sake, you are able to survive my tender mercies after we have returned to our quarters on our ship.'
While her husband struggled to tamp down both his excitement and concern with his wife's mental promise, V'Lar belatedly returned the Admiral's bow. "Thank you, Admiral. I am humbled by both Starfleet's and your confidence in me. Please know, as always, I come to serve."
"We all know that, Captain V'Lar. Congratulations!" the Admiral offered.
After his wife had accepted the flag officer's warm regards, Tynen said, "Sir, Captain V'Lar and I want to take this opportunity to advance a solid young officer with a promising future ahead of her, if you don't mind."
The Admiral smiled at him and said, "By all means, Jay."
"Ensign Lanei Rager," Tynen snapped. "Front and center!"
After the young woman rushed to stand at attention in front of her CO and XO, Tynen said, "We've watched you grow up and become a valuable member of our family on the Valkyrie, Lanei. I think it's time for your insignia to reflect that fact." Then Tynen drew out a box from his pocket and handed it to Captain V'Lar. He then gave the ensign a quick wink and stepped back.
"Mister Rager, it became my responsibility to train you in the ways of being a helmsman and a Bridge officer. Although you are merely Human, you worked hard and were adequate to the task," V'Lar said to the trembling young woman. "Your work has been exemplary and has been recognized by Starfleet as such, as well as Fleet Captain Tynen and myself. Upon our recommendations, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade with all the rights and privileges thereto," V'Lar intoned as she opened the small box and revealed the new insignia to Lanei. "Congratulations, Lieutenant Rager. May you live long and prosper."
As the insignia was pinned onto the helmsman's strap by V'Lar, Tynen shook Lanei's hand. "It was about time, don't you think?"
"Yes, sir!" Rager enthused.
Then as Tynen grinned at his young helmsman, he suddenly felt the change come over his wife. Chancing a glance at V'Lar, he found she now regarded him with a darkened, non-blinking, Vulcan stare. Then he noticed that the Klingons and the Humans all seemed discomfited by the pheromones she'd released, while the Orion women appeared to be amused.
In his mind, his wife warned, 'I hope you are prepared for the consequences, Jason.' Then she transmitted her sensual need to him via their link and he nearly staggered when she seared him with its heat. 'I believe it shall be interesting to note, from a scientific standpoint, of course, how well you and the others focus on the subject of your briefing under these…conditions,' she mused with an air both of faux detachment and clinical dispassion.
Tugging on the collar of his turtleneck, at that moment, Tynen realized perhaps the Admiral and he would have been wiser to have just let sleeping Vulcans lie.
#
TBC