Chapter 10

U.S.S. Haida NCC-62117- Transporter Room 2 -1640 Hours

"I see you can clean up quite well, Lt. Commander Holtz." Lynn teased as the family met up inside the Haida's transporter room.

"Then I must say that I see where Christine's flowering beauty comes from." Jacob stopped and kissed Lynn's knuckles.

"You already have my daughter's heart; no need to charm her mother too." Richard kindly chided.

"Grandma! Grandpa!" Brielle hurried forward and hugged Richard and Lynn, decorum out the window.

"You just saw us a couple of hours ago, pretty girl," Lynn kissed and smoothed Brielle's hair.

"See my new dress," Brielle spun in the floor-length mint-colored dress that went well with her red hair, "Josh's vest and bow tie match it." Josh blushed from behind his dad and waved to the couple.

"You look handsome yourself, Josh." Richard straightened his tie. "I'm sure you will steal all the ladies' hearts, just as your father does." Josh blushed deeper, "You have already stolen Christine, Brielle, and Lynn's." Josh took his father's free hand and returned to hiding behind him.

"Ready to beam over?" Jacob asked as he adjusted his arm so that Christine was on one, and Josh was holding his other hand. Brielle took Christine's free hand. Then, with a nod to the Petty Officer at the transport console, the family beamed into a corridor just in time to be let in with the small procession into the room.

. Brisbane - Forward Crew Lounge -1700 Hours

"Honoured guests. My name is Captain Adele Torlan of the Starfleet Corps of Engineers, and I am the Field Officer for Zed Omega Sector. Welcome to the USS. Brisbane. Six months ago, we witnessed a tragedy unfold at this site behind me. However, the brave people of this shipyard were able not only to deal with the situation at hand but also to rescue the injured and recover the dead. At the same time, some had lost what they had. Still, they could also conduct the salvage operation and transition to temporary accommodations on this starship without causing significant delays to the shipyard schedule."

"Today, we are here to witness the joining of the first two modules of the new habitat complex and witness the rebirth of this integral part of Delta V shipyard. A place where workers and their families can live and work together once again. May I call your attention to the viewport behind me."

The lone module hovered in space for a moment until, out of the periphery, a tractor tug J. C. Skyler came into view with the second module in its tractor beam. Jacob chuckled as Christine's eyes went wide, and she immediately blushed and tried to hide her reaction. They watched several tethered figures in space suits bolt and weld the two modules together as the crowd cheered the milestone. Captain Torlan spoke up.

"At the end of the Dominion War, this yard was a salvage and recovery center. But under the direction of Commodore Reeves and Rear Admiral Skyler," Torlan gestured to where Richard sat, "We were able to not only activate the Shelby Proving Grounds and the parts recovery depot in Delta Iota, but we also started building small support ships like that Delta Class Tractor Tug you see out there, the J. C. Skyler was one of the first production units of that model tug. Coincidentally, ENSIGN J. C. Skyler is with us today, and I ask her to step forward and be recognized kindly."

Letting go of Jacob's arm, and with a reassuring smile from her parents, a confused Christine walked up to the front of the room and faced the captain.

"Ensign Janice Christine Skyler, for your role in the rescue effort that took place at the Delta V habitat complex on 12308.02 on behalf of Starfleet Medical, it is my honor to present you with the Starfleet Silver Lifesaving Medal." Tolan pinned the medal to Christine's chest as she blushed and stood at attention. "Petty Officer William Doserton and Chief Petty Officer David Rubelski, please step forward." The captain said as the Petty Officers that Christine knew as Dozer and Rubble rose from their respective chairs and took their place next to Christine.

"Petty Officer William Doserton and Chief Petty Officer David Rubelski, for your actions during the rescue at the Delta V habitat complex on 12308.02 on behalf of Starfleet Command, it is my honor to present to you the Starfleet Bronze Lifesaving Medal."

"Thank you, ma'am." The trio said in unison as light applause carpeted the room. You are dismissed." Said Captain Torlan.

"I would now like to call upon Captain Linkovic for some words. Captain Torlan motioned as the crowd hushed and quietly got into their seats for the speeches about to follow before dinner service began.

"Congratulations!" Richard offered his hand to the petty officers.

"Uh… Thank you, Admiral." Rubble managed to find his voice

"As awardees, we want you to share a table with my family." Richard gestured to the two empty seats. "You have certainly earned your place not only for your actions, but I thought you would like to meet the fruit of your labors."

Awkwardly the men sat.

"We were worried about her after she went off to medical. "

"Ensign Skyler was quite determined to keep working. It wouldn't have surprised us, sir, if she had found another hole to climb into." Rubble laid a napkin in his lap.

"I made sure she didn't find another one." Jacob playfully teased and blushed Christine. "Besides, she wasn't finished with her patient yet." Jacob passed the basket of rolls to Dozer.

"Did everything work out for the kid we pulled out?" Dozer accepted one and passed it on.

"You could say that." Lynn chuckled and looked over where Brielle and Josh were making mash potato sculptures. "Though Christine had to break one of the rules I instilled into her."

"Which was, sir?" Dozer asked.

Christien piped up, "Never fall in love with those you rescue. In other words, you must care about your patient and be able to leave them at the treatment doors so that you can go on to the next patient and the next."

"Make sense." Rubble agreed as he took a bite of his steak. He closed his eyes to savor the flavor for a mommet before continuing. "In critical situations, you must do what you can do for each person and pass them onto the next expert because others need your help as well."

"How did she break that rule then?" Dozer asked.

"She adopted me !" Brielle giggled from across the table.

"Petty Officer William Doserton and Chief Petty Officer David Rubelski, I would like you to meet Miss Brielle Abigail O'Connor. Ensign Christine Skyler's adopted daughter and our new granddaughter." Richard smirked.

Both men were speechless for a moment before one of them finally said, "Hello, Brielle."

"Hello, are your friends of Chrissy's?"

"Yes, we are, at least we hope we are,"

"I couldn't let her grow up alone," Christine said sheepishly. "Besides, Brielle stole my heart, and I couldn't let her go. Especially after what happened."

"If you must break a personal rule, sir, I feel she is a good reason to break it." Dozer comment.

"I like to think so." Christine blushed and kissed Brielle's cheek. "So, what have you two been up to since then?"