12105.25- Starfleet Logistics Command -Earth

"Admiral Skyler?" Came a nervous voice from the other end of the com channel.

"Yes, Lieutenant?"

"Sir, there is a four-star Admiral here demanding to see you, and frankly, sir, she looks scary and pissed." The officer tried to keep the fear out of their voice.

"I could sense her from across the courtyard." Then, wiping his face with his hands, "Send her in." He was not looking forward to this meeting.

It was a moment before the door opened to allow Admiral Robin Scott to enter the office.

"Please hold any calls except for my wife." Vice-Admiral Skyler addressed his assistant, shut, and locked the door. Then, taking a deep breath, he turned to face Robin. "What did you need, Admiral?"

"Cut the BS, Skyler. We have a problem."

Robin's glare reminded him of the dressing down he got when he scratched the Comanche's hull. "If you could give me an idea what this problem is, I may be able to help solve it." He leaned back onto his desk.

"Alright," Robin pulled up an officer fitness report on the big screen in the office, "Engineering officer GR6479 reported for their pre-assignment physical yesterday."

Skyler reviewed the report. "Seems to be a good officer. High marks at the academy, recent graduate of Engineering from Starfleet Academy, specializes in automation and computer programming, good conduct record, and other than a couple of broken bones and sprains because of athletic activities. They have overall good physical health."

Robin continued, "They are, as the report says, and honestly one of the best programmers in her class, which is why this officer was assigned to Science Station 742 to work on the drones exploring the Galerstien asteroid belt. The assignment is for the next 24-36 months." She stated. Richard nodded in agreement.

"Seems like a good fit for the assignment. So what is your point?" Skyler crossed his arms across his chest, "This officer has the credentials, and given how remote this science station is, this would be a good place for them to work. Heck, my brother is assigned there as a Stellar Cartographer and pilot. So I don't see a problem, Robin."

Robin reached over and tapped the screen to open the detailed medical report. "GR635479, professionally, is a perfect fit for the position, but they have a temporary condition which makes them questionable for medical reasons," she stated. Skyler's interest was piqued.

"Which is?" He walked over to the screen and opened the temporary condition red-flagged. His eyes bugged, "Pregnant?"

"14 weeks." Robin sighed and walked over to where Skyler kept his excellent bourbon, "They are healthy both in physical and mental health, though I might question the last one a little bit." Skyler smiled slightly,

"So, they are pregnant, but the science station has a full medical bay and competent medical officers there. Many of I might add came from your emergency department's internship program". He stated.

"That is true." Robin poured a finger of bourbon into two glasses. "However, per the medical records, there is a history of high-risk pregnancies in the candidate's family. Their mother had two difficult pregnancies, and GR635479 herself was a fetal transport." Skyler cringed slightly,

"They would need to be monitored closely. Given GR635479's other medical history, they shouldn't have issues, but the probability of complications is higher than one would like at such a remote outpost." Skyler turned around and accepted the drink from Robin.

"In my professional opinion, they could be assigned to the post. However, GR635479 must-have weekly medical reviews. Therefore, at the first sign of issues before 24 weeks, they are transferred to SB 342 and work remotely. The base prioritizes one medical faculty and has the labs necessary for their research." Robin took a seat in a comfy chair, taking the decanter with her.

"On a personal level, I am concerned that option could put a strain on their recent marriage as their new husband also is assigned to SS 742." Robin taking the decanter with her caused Skyler to raise an eyebrow. "You and I both know it is not a good thing for new parents to be separated during pregnancy and recently after the birth of their child."

"I would concur with your opinion, especially with the last one." He took the chair next to her. "You are making perfect sense which is why I'm trying to understand why my assistant about wet themselves when you walked into my office."

"Oh, there is a good reason." Robin took a sip of the alcohol. "Computer, security authorization Scott-0976-Zulu. Display service records for GR635479 and JR090742." As ordered, the display changed to complete records for the two officers Robin noted.

"As you can see here, my good friend, this is not just a professional issue, but a personal one as well." Robin sat the decanter and her glass on the coffee table, "Now what I want to know is did you know about this, when you knew about it, and how are we going to handle this."

Looking at the images and personnel records of Ensign Grace Kelly Scott-Ryerson, and Lt. Junior Grade Jack Dawson Ryerson, recently married and 26 weeks from being parents. Skyler slowly brought the glass to his lips.

"This is news to me." He replied, "I've spent the last three months in the field. We have been testing new engine and shield generator designs. I had planned to be here for Grace's graduation. Still, I got pulled away at the last minute to babysit a group of Marines from the Special Operations Command testing out some new classified equipment that they wanted to procure. So for the past two weeks, I have been without access to showers, and by the time the vendor extracted us, it smelled like we had spent six months on a Klingon Garbage Scow!" He sighed. "For the last two weeks, I have spent catching up on paperwork and making my way home while making port calls on three-star bases and two federation outposts." He exhaled. "I just got in this morning, and I've been chained to my desk since I got here. I was supposed to meet Lynn for lunch, but she had an emergency. You're the first "friendly" face I've seen all day, and it's almost time to button this day up and head back to the barn. I do promise you, though, that I will get some answers ASAP. But thanks for telling me that I'm going to be an Uncle, Grandma." He beamed as he couldn't resist the opportunity to rub it into his friend.

"Oh, but it gets even better...," said Robin. Richard could sense a thunderstorm in Robin's mind as she carefully laid out what was to come next.

"Your snot-nose little brother thought that it would be a good idea to sneak away and get married!" She clicked on the marriage notation, and a copy of their marriage certificate populated the screen.

"THEY DID WHAT!?" Richard replied.

"It appears that Ensign Grace Kelly Scott and Lt. Jg Jack Dawson Ryerson got married last weekend." Robin raised a toast to him. "While we thought they just had a nice romantic getaway in the countryside, they got married. Of course, knowing your brother, he would want to 'do the right thing,' but what gets me is why they didn't come to us about this." replied Robin leaving her glass on the table, sounding tired and disappointed.

"They will be fine. We were once young and stupid, as you often remind me."

Robin smirked at him in response.

"We always joked that we were the Scott-Skyler clan, just earlier than either of us expected." Richard stood and offered to assist her to her feet." So now Jack is a son to you, a son-in-law. Grace has always been an unofficial niece to me, and now she is my sister-in-law." Richard stopped himself for a moment, "Now that I say that out loud, that is a bit creepy."

Robin laughed, "Let's stick with calling her the new bride before our heads explode."

"Regardless," Richard continued, "The 'clan' will handle this like we always have. We have been through a lot as parents and as friends. We will back them up when they get in over their heads."

Robin sighed, "Researchers say you never stop parenting your kids. Instead, you change how you do it."

"We survived that mess of life, and look how we turned out. Heck, look how they turned out. We all have each other just like the young ones have each other now." He picked up the decanter and the empty glass and set them on the side table. "You are not the only one concerned that they felt like they couldn't come to one of us before they went off and got married." He turned and faced her. "But that part is in the past and cannot be undone. We have to think forward now." He said firmly.

"Indeed, we do." She smiled as she stepped out the office door then got a wry grin, "Richard, you do realize that Jack is the same age as you were when he came to you, right? So I mean theoretically, you and Lynn could have another child."

"Not funny, so not funny." As the pair walked out of the office, the lights dimmed, and the door closed behind them. "As much as Lynn loves little kids, she will just have to settle for a 'grandbaby' to spoil rotten. Do you think she knows yet?"

"Possibly. Christine was the doctor who did Grace's physical."

"Christine wouldn't tell Lynn. Both have too much ethical integrity. For that matter, how did you learn about it?"

"Simple, since a pediatric doctor assessed my daughter, I was alerted when her file was red-flagged for upper-level review."

"Confidentially should have prevented you from seeing any medical chart associated with a family member."

"Except if the adult family member has permitted me to access their medical file, which both Lynn and I have had since she went into the academy. We were part of her emergency medical contacts. I guess that Lynn has access to Jack's as well. Also, since I am on the committee for setting up Science Station 742, I am to review the staff and crew's accessibility and special accommodations. As Grace is a part of the research team there, the accommodations for her pregnancy would need the committee's approval. So when Christine updated Grace's file, it set the dominos in motion."

"Got to love integrated military systems." Richard sighed, still trying to process the last half hour of information.

After a few minutes of silence as they walked down the hallway together, Robin spoke again. "You know I blame you for this, right?"

He grinned, "What else is new?"