Dealing with volatile emotions was a Vulcan’s lot in life. With her ability to control them no longer as effective as it once was, Siranna had decided that she would no longer feel embarrassed by any accidental slips or displays of those emotions.
Still, she could not help but be flustered by her open-mouthed shock at Commodore April’s surprising offer. “This is quite unexpected, sir.”
“Let me be blunt, Ms. Siranna,” April went on to explain. “I planned on retaining my previous Science Officer, but as you are aware, she was badly hurt and would not be able to take on the role here.”
She nodded briskly, her expression once again as stoic as she could manage, “Of course, sir. I understand.”
April then offered a sly grin, “That said, if I am going to recruit someone, I’d be a fool to pass you up.“ She did not blink or back down from his studious gaze, “You are eminently qualified for the position. You also have local knowledge and a working relationship and understanding of the system in general, this world in particular.”
She understood the hidden meaning behind his words. “Are you offering to reactivate my commission, Commodore?”
He nodded firmly just once. “Your rank, and the position of Chief Science Officer, are yours if you want them.”
Siranna felt a degree of pride at his correct, if simplistic, assessment of her time in the Rigel system. She had come here after having her Starfleet commission placed on the inactive roster, needing to deal with her grief over Kirov. She had come to experience a high degree of satisfaction in her work.
In essence, she had grown to love it here. It had become home, despite its myriad of difference from the sandy plains of Vulcan. It would be logical for her to continue.
It appeared that Commodore April mistook her silence for hesitation, not a consideration. His expression wavered, “If you need some time to think about it--”
“No.” Her answer was firm and definitive. Siranna enjoyed the somewhat startled look in the man’s eyes. As humans say, turnabout is fair play. “I believe I see and appreciate the logic in your offer and would be grateful for the opportunity to serve.”
With a widening grin, April stood. “I’ll get the paperwork started. Your rank will be reinstated by the end of the day.”
“Welcome to Starbase 134, Lieutenant Commander Siranna.”
* * *
As he read the article forwarded to him by Sarek from the Rigel V news report, Chris April wasn’t sure how he felt about it.
‘Incarcerated Assistant Director Dead,” declared the article’s headline, while a smaller subtitle stated, “Suicide Believed To Be Cause Of Death”. April scoffed at the far-too-sensationalist spin on the piece, wondering if it had been the same with certain publications after the death of John Henry Paxton or General Green, back on Old Earth.
He wouldn’t mourn the passing of the man, that was for sure. But he also suspected it wasn’t as simple as the news report made out. Lerak had been a broken man, but suicidal? April didn’t feel convinced of that. Especially given the mysterious party that had been responsible for tampering with the Oleini Fever.
If a group or person unknown who could do that, it stood to reason that they could pull enough strings behind the scenes to stage a suicide. It was pure supposition on April’s part, he knew well enough, but it seemed Sarek and Olivia were also thinking along the same lines.
Since her elevation by unanimous vote to the post of Assistant Director of External Affairs, Olivia had worked tirelessly as Lerak’s successor to move against all the corruption within the ranks of the Trade Commission. Her alliance with Sarek and the Federation Consulate had proved a boon, as the wealth of evidence the Vulcan and his team had amassed, thanks to Edward Hemmingway’s assistance, was now paying dividends.
It could also have put Olivia in the crosshairs of whatever shadowy force might be responsible for Lerak’s death, but his new love was fearless and feisty. She wasn’t backing down, not after the death she’d witnessed as a result of Lerak’s greed. The greater ties between Starfleet, the Federation and the Trade Commission that had been forged in the past month or so offered her substantial protection, and Olivia intended to put it to good use.
It was one of the reasons Chris April had grown to love her in such a short space of time.
He turned the data-slate off as he heard the footfalls of someone approaching from behind. Tossing a quick look over his shoulder confirmed what he already knew, “Afternoon, Commander.”
“Sir.” Maya Kent joined him on the small walkway outside the observation veranda of the main building of Starbase 134. In official documents and blueprints, what had once been the Security Training Facility was now designated the Administration, Reception and Command Complex. The personnel had simply taken to calling it ‘Command Centre’ and the name had stuck with the S.C.E. team too.
It was 1500 hours, local time and it had become something of a daily ritual for the station commander and his X.O. to meet up and survey the developing construction efforts for the rest of the starbase. Already, the skeletal framework and foundations for the new Residential Apartment Block had taken shape. Then work would move onto the dedicated scientific and medical facilities, then office and workshops and a shuttle hanger.
It would take a while, but it would eventually become something to behold. A blend of looks and designs from native architects of the Rigel system, as well as Starfleet craftsmen and civilian contractors. It had been a point of contention for Kent, who wondered why there wasn’t a simple unity to the design, even after both Admiral Hannah and April himself had explained the reasoning.
It was felt that in order to symbolize a unified spirit of cooperation that elements of all the Rigellian worlds and colonies needed to be incorporated. In many ways, the Rigel system was a microcosm of the Federation at large and it should - it needed to - be honoured and reflected in the design of the new starbase.
He heard Kent whisper something under her breath, with a hint of disdain. He couldn’t quite make it out, and needless to say, he enjoyed needling his trusted Number One, “What was that, Maya?”
She let out a frustrated sigh, “I was just saying, it’s going to look like a damn chimera.” Kent then waved dismissively at the vague shapes of buildings to come, “A giant mismatched hodgepodge of buildings.”
April grinned with amusement. She doesn’t know how right she actually is. He recognized the term from grade-school lessons, as well as Kent’s own interpretation of it. “You’re referring to the Greek myth, of Bellerophon fighting the beastly Chimera?”
Kent nodded, looking at him askance, “Of course.”
“But there’s actually another meaning to the term ‘chimera’,” he explained. “where it’s defined as 'a thing which is hoped for but is illusory or impossible to achieve'.”
It was evident from Kent’s face that this was news to her. “Well, that’s kind of defeatist, isn’t it.”
“Oh, no, not at all,” April countered, as an idea began to form in his mind, “In fact, I think it fits perfectly for the name of the new starbase.”
Kent looked at him again with incredulity, “Why do we need a name? We already have our designation.”
April grimaced in distaste, “Numerical designations are so cold and impersonal. That’s why we still name our starships, after all.” He allowed a prideful grin, “So why the Hell can't we do the same for Starfleet's newest outpost?”
Kent wasn’t convinced, that was clear. “I doubt Starfleet Command will allow it.”
Now, he scoffed, “Who says they have to know?” he submitted, “This doesn't have to be anything official. more an informal way for the personnel assigned here, who live here, to think of the place.” He gestured at their surroundings. Not just the under-construction areas, but the continent, the planet as a whole. “To remember why we’re out here. Why we all agreed to stay on.”
“Because we are here to not just prove, but make what it is that what we hope for; a proper Starfleet presence in the system, a fortifying of their relationship with everyone in the Rigel system. Be they natives or people like us who have come here and called it home.”
He saw the understanding dawn in Kent’s eyes, as she looked out on it again with a new appreciation. Saw how her gaze fell on members of their crew - their family - going about their lives.
There was Tim Di Marco and Edward Hemmingway, cuddling up under the shade of a construction barracks, enjoying some quiet time together. The helmsman would primarily remain as part of the Hannock’s senior staff, alongside Kent and Lt. Tsougarakis, while Hemmingway was now officially the new Chief of Operations, putting his technical skills and blinding intellect to use in ways his duties as communications officer just hadn’t afforded him.
There was Patricia Song helping Cadet Boyce and the man Kent had introduced them to, a Mr Jack Bateson, move some supplies into a civilian cargo ship, that would be taken to the city of Vanir. There they would assist the S.C.E team that was already there helping reconstruct the damage the city walls had sustained with the blessing of Elder Anaki.
There was Warren Mackenzie having a spirited discussion with Annika Bard, both of who had agreed to stay on as part of the command crew. Having seen how Bard had handled things when the two of them had faced down marauding blood-thirsty savages, he had every confidence in his new security chief. As for Mackenzie, well, the self-confessed ‘grease-monkey’ might occasionally gripe about missing his beloved warp core, but he was eager for the challenge of building a starbase from scratch.
Not to mention the budding rekindling of his relationship with a certain red-headed Scottish lass who had finally stopped chasing life at warp speed long enough to see what was in front of her.
Even it would take the rest of his time on this planet, in this system, teeming with billions of lives, he would prove that what they hoped for was anything but impossible or illusionary.
That Starbase Chimera was the future...
THE END... FOR NOW.
