Chapter 25 -

Admiral's conference room- 19:48 – USS Haida

"You are looking better, Commander." General Neoma gave Jacob and Christine a wry smile when they entered the conference room.

"It is all to the fine medical care I received." Jacob gave Christine a sideways glance.

"Of that, I have no doubt." Torbin walked up and kissed the General's cheek. "Care to introduce me to your companion, Commander?"

Jacob smiled, "Torbin, Jazz, this is Lieutenant Junior Grade Christine Skyler, my fiancée." He reached down and took Christine's hand.

"Glad to see you took my advice." Jazz teased a now blushing Jacob.

"He didn't even get off the transporter pad before he proposed." Christine's smile got wider.

"Bruised, bloody, covered in mud, and god knew what else, she still said yes." Jacob chuckled and squeezed Christine's hand.

"And I thought your proposal was good." Jazz nudged Torbin.

"You were confined to my quarters for breaking my medical officer's jaw. I needed some way to make things less awkward." Torbin teased back. "The briefing will start soon; we should take our seats." Torbin gestured toward the table and chairs, his hand hovering over Jazz's back as he did so.

After a light squeeze, Jacob let go of Christine's hand and took his place to Torbin's left, while Jazz took the seat to Torbin's right. Before Jazz sat, Christine tapped her on the shoulder.

"One question, did the guy deserve it, and was it worth it?"

"The MO?" Jazz raised an eyebrow, "It shut him up, that is for sure. And I did get to spend the next month locked up with Varel." Jazz winked at Christine, "Come to think of it, TJ joined our family five months later. So, I would say it was worth it." Christine shook her head and sat at the table's far end.

It wasn't long before Admiral Skyler entered the room. "Be seated. We will begin with her remarks as Admiral Scott's time is limited." Richard gestured to the hologram in the middle of the table."

"Eight weeks ago, Star Fleet contacted me about sending a group of individuals as part of a medical relief and research team to Fomalt Prine. Their cover was land surveyors preparing to construct a new school in a rural area." The hologram of Admiral Scott gestured to the cadets at the table, "As it was a simple observe and report mission between the Bajoran military and Star Fleet, cadets from both groups were assigned to the team for training purposes. As this was a Bajoran-held world, Arsi Chalge took command of the mission with Lieutenant Allyson Cedeno as second in command. Unfortunately, the mission did not go as planned. Arsi Chalge was killed, and Lieutenant Cedeno was captured. The science officer, Ensign Xonak, was forced to take refuge in the small Vulcan enclave for his safety. This left the three cadets hiding on the rural farms without proper resources to get off the planet safely." The Admiral looked to Captain Torbin, "Captain, it was at this time that you took over command of the mission."

Torbin cleared his throat, "I began assembling a team to insert themselves onto the planet to extricate the team. During the planning process, I contacted Admiral Scott to enlist their help in providing a cover to get the team on and off the planet. The Admiral offered a medical relief ship if we needed it; however, I also requested recommendations on who could partner with General Neoma to retrieve our fallen comrade's body and Lieutenant Cedeno's release. The plan called for someone who was an expert in cultural antiquities and diplomacy but also had training in recondenses and stealth retrieval." Torbin looked over to Jacob, then to Admiral Scott. "I could locate contacts who had one or the other skill sets but not both. That was until Lieutenant Commander Holtz's name was put forward by his previous commander. I will note that Admiral Scott advised me that Holtz was still on the medical reserve list and was not available. It was only after all other options were eliminated that Holtz was contacted."

"I was contacted by Captain Torbin and General Neoma covertly on Star Base 71. Once I was briefed on the mission, I chose to accept the assignment. Unfortunately, this required me to leave the station for Bole IV mere hours later to make the switch with Lieutenant De LaVega." Jacob nodded to the Lieutenant.

"Holtz and I switched places on Boyle IV. I took his place at the rehabilitation center, and he joined the passenger ship that took him to Fomalhaut Prime." De LaVega confirmed.

"Holtz and I met on Fomalhaut Prime and proceeded with our mission." Jazz continued. "With Holtz's help, the cadets could infiltrate the main compound, extricate Cedeno and Xonak, and smuggle them aboard my diplomatic ship. I was able to have the body of Chalge included in the group of deceased to be returned to Bajor."

"Admiral Skyler agreed to be the go-between to cover the switch out of the personnel and the exchange of medical supplies." Admiral Scott gestured to Admiral Skyler to close the report.

"Captain Torbin Varel and Cerberus will board General Neoma's ship and continue to Bajor." Admiral Skyler gestured to the team and then to Jacob. "Lieutenant Commander Holtz and the Star Fleet cadets will remain aboard the Haida. The cadets will be accepted into our advanced tactical training group, while Holtz will be a passenger until the Haida returns to SB71 in three days." Richard smiled slightly, "Will this be acceptable, Lieutenant Commander?"

Jacob smirked and looked to where Christine was seated, "I think I will find something to do in the meantime." Christine blushed at his gaze.

"Understood. Thank you, Admiral Scott, for your time. The rest of you are dismissed to return to your duties."

With a nod to Richard, Admiral Scott's hologram disappeared. The people in the room stood and began speaking amongst themselves.

"It's good to see you in one piece Jacob." Richard walked up to him and shook his hand.

"I had a good doctor." Jacob returned the gesture and waited until Christine joined him.

"Maestro, you will be missed." Victor and the rest of Cerberus walked up.

"Missing getting your ass handed to you on the mat?" Jacob shook his hand hard.

"Never." Victor laughed and turned to Christine, "Angel, do your best to keep him out of trouble."

"I'll do my best, but he tends to be a magnet for it." Christine offered him and the rest of the team a hug before they, too, left.

"I want to express our thanks again for your assistance Jacob," Torbin offered his hand in thanks, "And thank you to you as well, Admiral, for keeping Varel out of trouble."

Richard chuckled, "If he gets into as much trouble as my kids, I can make no promises."

Torbin turned to Christine, "And I am sorry for stealing him from you, Lieutenant, but as you saw. He was the only one who could do the job."

"And I hope he will not need to be called upon any time soon," Christine said sweetly, but the implication was there.

"We can promise nothing, Lieutenant, but we will do our best to ensure it is few and far between." Jazz assured her.

"Thank you." Christine smiled at the woman.

TJ stepped up next to his parents. "Before I leave, I wanted to say thank you, sir." The young cadet beamed at them.

"You did good, Cadet. Of course, you need to work on a few things, but you did well." Jacob reassured him. "Now, remember to listen to that old admiral, or I will thrash you for wasting a wonderful opportunity."

"Aye, Aye, sir. And Congratulations, Jacob," TJ looked over at Christine, "You are a lucky man."

Jacob smirked, "I like to think so."

"Again, thank you to you all, and if you don't mind, Cadet Neoma will see the General and I off. I am sure Myah is getting antsy and wanting to leave."

"Safe journeys."

With a wave, the Torbin family disappeared out the door, Torbin's hand on his son's shoulder.

Richard looked back at Christine and Jacob, "And that leaves you two." Richard reached down and took Christine's left hand. "I see something else changed."

"Jacob proposed on the transporter pad." Christine let her father examine the ring.

"Sam's handy work?"

"My grandmother's engagement ring," Jacob said with a smile.

"Well, it's very nice." He smiled at Christine, "What are your plans?"

Jacob glanced at Christine, "We haven't thought that far ahead, to be honest."

"We are still getting used to all… this." Christine waved her hand at the two of them.

"Understandably so." Richard chuckled at how uncomfortable they were, "Are you telling anyone?"

"Not yet." Christine bit her lip, "People are going to figure it out, but I would like some time for it to sink in." She looked at her father. "Please don't tell mom; I know it will be hard…."

"I can handle your mom." Richard leaned over and kissed her cheek.

Jacob coughed, earning a playful glare from the two Skylers. "I'm not saying anything."

The Skylers laughed.

"As an Admiral, I can keep a secret or two. Besides, it is your news to share. I wouldn't want to ruin it for you." Richard assured them. "However, are you telling the kids?"

"Yeah, no. I love those two, but the station would know in 30 seconds." Jacob laughed.

"Admiral Skyler, sorry to disturb you, sir, but the delegation from Othaebos has arrived early." A voice came over the com.

"Duty calls," Richard shrugged. "I'll have my assistant …."

"Go…" Christine waved him away.

"Dinner tomorrow, my dining room." Richard backed his way toward the door.

"Count on it. Now go." Christine laughed.

Richard blew his daughter a kiss, "See you later, sweet pea. And Commander?"

"Yes, sir?" Jacob looked to the Admiral.

"Good luck." The door opened, and Admiral Richard Skyler left the two alone.

"Your dad took that well." Jacob turned and slipped his arms around Christine's waist.

"It wasn't like this," She held up her hand between them, "was a big surprise to him."

"No, but I think he had other motives for leaving us alone here." Christine looked up at Jacob, her lips pursed.

"Other than celebrating, this?" Jacob smirked as he brought her hand to his lips to kiss it.

"He knew that I wasn't done yet?" Christine's tone became serious.

"I'm in deep shit, aren't I?" Jacob dropped her hand.

"Yup," Christine crossed her arms and glared at him.

"Is the honey badger coming out?" Jacob put his hands in his pockets.

"Not yet, but she will if I don't get the necessary answers." Christine's glare hardened.

With a sigh, Jacob leaned on the table, "What do you need to know?"

"I want to know why you left your family behind with barely time to say goodbye." Christine's voice got an edge to it.

"Because I was ordered to do so, Christine."

"It sounded like you had a choice to take the mission." Christine gestured to where the group had just sat. "They could have gotten someone else or made a new plan that didn't require you."

"Not in time to save the team's lives," Jacob said, trying to stay calm. "By the time they found someone else, they would have found those cadets. TJ is skilled, but he can only hide them for so long. So they needed me to get in there and bring them home."

"But why did it have to be you?" The tear Christine had been holding back began to flow. Jacob gestured for her to come to him. She stepped into his arms, burying her face in his chest.

"Saying it is my job is not enough." Jacob sat his chin on the top of Christine's head. "Love, I'm a soldier, and follow my orders."

"I just wish they wouldn't send MY soldier out there."

Jacob smiled slightly, "Something every military wife has said for hundreds of years." He tipped her face up to look at him. "Christine, I am good at my job, and that job includes missions like this. If my orders say I go to a planet and bring home some scared kids or a piece of data that is needed to stop some evil overlord, I do it because I would expect no less for someone to do that for our children," He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I know." Christine nodded into his chest, "It's just…." Christine looked up into his face, "You scared me; you are my rock, and with you gone…."

"Hey, I'm here now." Jacob tightened his grip around her. "I'm not going anywhere but home to you and our children."

"Promise me the next time you run off on some adventure, that you at least tell me that you aren't leaving me alone. It would have been nice to know that Cerberus was there to back me up." Christine sniffed and looked up at him with an annoyed glare.

"I didn't want them disrupting your life, but I couldn't have you following after me either."

"It wasn't a terrible idea, I will admit." Christine admitted, "There was a good chance I would have gone after you." Jacob smirked as he loosened his arms around her waist so she could look back up at him, "but I wouldn't have done it."

"Why?" He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.

"The kids." She smiled back. "As much as I wanted to go after you, I knew they needed me."

"They needed their Mom," Jacob smirked at her. "Speaking of which, we should send a message to them to let them know we will be home in three days," Jacob picked up Christine's arms and put them around his neck. "And then, I think the two of us should get out of the crew's way by taking advantage of a small piano bar on the holodeck, a few bottles of good wine, and some Chinese take-out from a replicator."

"You are trying to distract me from going, honey badger, aren't you?"

"Not in the slightest. I'm trying to distract my fiancée long enough for me to apologize and score some quality time with her before we are inundated by the hugs and kisses of our children."

"Good to know." Christine leaned up to kiss him.

The couple stopped by their guest quarters long enough to change into more appropriate clothing for their date before heading to the holodeck. As they rounded the corner towards the holodeck, they were greeted by a group of Cadets walking in the opposite direction.

One of them stopped and turned towards them. "Commander Holtz!" He then nodded at Christine. "Lieutenant."

Jacob motioned toward the young Cadet with his free hand. "Lieutenant Skyler, meet Cadet Neoma."

Christine smiled and offered her other hand, "Nice to meet you, Cadet."

"I just wanted to thank you for everything you did for us down on the planet."

"You and your people did the hard part," Jacob assured him.

"But still, you got us out of there." TJ cocked his head a little,

"You were resourceful yourself." Jacob encouraged TJ, "Don't sell yourself short."

"It's just hard. Living in the shadow of 'the legendary' Torbin Varel and Neoma Saxona." TJ shrugged and sighed,

Jacob looked at Christine and winked. She rolled her eyes and gestured for Jacob to continue.

"Tell you what, Cadet, as I am sure you know by now, the lovely Christine has some unique insights into your situation and can probably offer you some advice on how to deal with it."

"Considering you are Admiral Skyler's daughter, you have been through this. Your advice would be appreciated, sir."

"I'll do my best," Christine smirked.

"The lovely Lieutenant and I are on our way to a romantic dinner, but would you like to join us for lunch tomorrow? I know she would like to know what we have been up to the past few days and your plans moving forward?" Jacob asked the eager TJ.

"I'd like that very much, sir." TJ smiled. "Then we shall see you at 11:30 in the officer's wardroom."

"The wardroom! I'll be there for sure!" TJ said excitedly.

"Until then, dismissed." Jacob smiled as TJ ran to catch up with his cohorts.

"And just what was that all about?" Asked Christine arching an eyebrow.

"Planting a seed for the future. I see a lot of potential in this kid. He has a lot of talent, but he struggles at times to see himself out of his parents' shadow. Sound familiar?" He gave her a knowing look and laid his hand on Christine's lower back.

"So, do you plan on making him my project, or are you keeping him for yourself?" Christine playfully challenged as they stepped up to their holodeck door.

"I haven't decided yet." He smirked and opened the door for her.