The Winds of Change

Posted on Sun Sep 2nd, 2012 @ 3:09pm by Vice Admiral Iluvar & Captain Tobias Naros & Admiral Olivia Tavez & Rear Admiral Lorian Tharos

Mission: Episode 1.1 - "MystiQue"
Location: Station Corridor - En Route to Admiral Tavez' Office, Starbase 386
Timeline: Mission Day 00, 0620 Hours

ON: [[Station Corridor - En Route to Admiral Tavez' Office, Starbase 386, Mission Day 00, 0620 Hours]]

It had been nearly two weeks since Captain Tobias Naros had officially assumed command of the Yorktown while docked at Starbase 386 where she had begun taking on personnel and supplies. Although they had made a considerable amount of progress since then, the El-Aurian was well aware of several external factors which continued to affect the Yorktown's readiness. The ongoing situation within the Romulan Empire as well as quite rumblings along the Federation frontier were no secret to those who kept an exprienced ear to the ground. Starfleet had certainly been generous enough to provide Tobias with some leeway in selecting the members of his own senior staff...but only to a point. One of his biggest concerns for the Yorktown was the number of personnel who had yet to arrive, including several key senior staff members. Perhaps that is why an early morning summons from the Eighth Fleet Chief-of-Staff had come as no surprise.

Life aboard the station was just making the slow transition to morning as Tobias continued making his way down an empty stretch of corridor. It had taken him less than ten minutes to make the trip from the Yorktown to the administrative offices of the Eighth Fleet only a short distance ahead and a quick glance at a nearby chronometer assured Tobias he would be arriving with a few moments to spare.

Bill (NPC) frowned at the desk before him. He really disliked 'filling in' for others when they went on leave. Normally he didn't have to, but supposedly there wasn't anyone else to do it and so he'd been nominated. Some would be glad for the change of scenery, but it was just so...inefficient. He had to try to get acquainted with someone else's organization, or lack thereof while getting behind on his own work. Sighing slightly, he was about to look for the schedule book again when he noticed someone approaching.

The young administrative assistant's look of bored frustration did not escape Tobias' notice as the latter crossed the final steps into the small waiting area. "Good morning," the El-Aurian said with a warm smile as he approached the desk.

Eying the man before him, Bill tried his best to mask his exasperation, "I'm not sure about 'good' sir, but I suppose it is morning. What can I do for you?"

"I'm sorry to hear that, Petty Officer," Tobias told the enlisted man, "Captain Tobias Naros, Commanding Officer of the USS Yorktown, here to see Admiral Tavez (PNPC)." He waited patiently as the younger man glanced between the desktop monitor and a smaller PADD, no doubt attempting to consult the admiral's schedule and determine whether or not it was safe for anyone to enter the office.

Bill frowned, "Let me see here, Captain. Sorry about the delay...this isn't my usual job and I'm having to sort through someone else's notes." He moved his finger down along the appointment list, checking the schedule as best he could. Finally he replied, "You should be able to go in shortly sir, I believe the Admiral is finishing up with Captain Tharos (PNPC)."

[[Admiral Tavez' Office]]

"...Starfleet certainly has reason to be concerned, given everything that has happened as of late," Tharos observed from where he was seated opposite the admiral across the desk, "and the fact they are choosing to reallocate personnel and resources to address the issue would not come as an immediate surprise if..."

Olivia held up her hand, "Admiral Meyer and Vice Admiral were re-assigned. As far as I'm aware, it was a last minute personnel decision that I was not made aware of until late last night..." Wanting to give Lorian a chance to have the information sink in and ask any questions, she paused there.

"I consider having worked with both Vice Admiral Manley and Admiral Meyer to have been an opportunity for personal growth, admiral," Tobias replied, "and I would extend the same consideration to all my work with the Eighth Fleet administration. If I may be so bold...there are certain benefits someone in my position gains that could never truly be found on a starship. I might never have had the opportunity of working with my colleagues to develop the Cultural Archival Society if I had chosen a field assignment over this one."

"That certainly may be true, Captain," she replied. "Overall, I think either type of assignment is beneficial in different ways and surely StarFleet needs people in both. Of course, there will always be some who feel that those with no field experience cannot truly understand what it's like and I must admit that to some extent they're correct. Regardless...you were saying about certain benefits?"

Lorian gave a small shrug as if there were several possible responses to choose from, each equally as beneficial as the next. "Field officers experience the wonder of exploring new worlds, encountering new civilizations, and dealing with foreign interactions," the El-Aurian explained, "My position has allowed me to see how these pieces fit together in the larger picture. The Elyshan Cold War is still in the back of many people's minds and Starfleet has its hands full with the current Romulan situation, but both issues are interwoven with something even bigger that has its roots in the past and will most certainly shape all our futures."

Nodding, Olivia responded, "Very true..." She paused, steepling her fingers before her as she decided how best to give the next bit of news. "Considering the current situation, we felt it was important to fill the vacant positions as soon as possible - which is why I am naming you as the new Research and Development Director...and I am promoting you to the rank of Rear Admiral."

The admiral's statement caused Lorian to pause for a moment. He had certainly expected the administration to work quickly in appointing a suitable replacement for both Admiral Meyer and Vice Admiral Manley. It would not have surprised him had the admiral asked him to assume responsibility for the department temporarily until a successor could be found as they had when asking Tharos to serve as temporary commanding officer of Starbase 386 prior to the appointment of Captain James Lange. To be named Director of Research & Development, however...

A slight amused smile crossed her lips as she reached into her drawer and pulled out a small black box. Olivia placed it on the table, but kept her fingertips on it as she awaited a response from Lorian. Undoubtedly he hadn't been expecting it.

"I accept," Lorian said quietly, a small smile spreading across his face as he fixed his gaze on the admiral, "It would be a privilege and an honor."

"Fantastic," Olivia replied as she slid the small box across the table. "Congratulations, Rear Admiral. I'm sure you'll be quite the asset to us in your new position." Before she could say anything else, the door chime rang and she called out, "Enter."

The door hissed open at the admiral's invitation and Tobias entered from where he had been waiting in the reception area. He crossed the short distance between the door and the admiral's desk in only a few steps, taking notice of Captain Tharos who was already seated. Tobias reached a position just behind the remaining open chair before standing at formal attention facing Admiral Tavez. "Captain Tobias Naros, reporting as ordered, admiral," Tobias said.

"Thank you for joining us, Captain, please have a seat. We're only waiting for one more...our new Deputy Chief of Staff should be here shortly," Olivia explained, with a glance at Lorian. She hadn't had a chance to tell him that someone had been appointed to that position as well before Tobias arrived.

A few moments passed in silence before the air next to the admiral's desk began shimmering with holographic energy. Slowly, photons and forcefields took on the form of a man whose identity was immediately apparent to those already assembled. "Good morning gentlemen...and lady," the hologram of Vice Admiral Iluvar (PNPC) said with a smile, "long range sensors have picked up an approaching ion storm, but our technicians assure me we should have plenty of time before the storm's interference starts degrading the signal."

Olivia smiled and nodded, "We'll try not to keep you too long then, Vice Admiral. Just so everyone is on the same page, Vice Admiral Iluvar has recently taken on the position of Deputy Chief of Staff and will be heading up Operation Sunrise... Just before the rest of you joined us, Captain Tharos accepted a promotion to Rear Admiral and Director of Research and Development for Horizon Fleet. I'm also pleased to say that Captain Naros has finally gotten his own command - the USS Yorktown. Captain Naros has been waiting for instructions regarding his first mission as Commanding Officer...Vice Admiral, would you care to fill him in?"

There were several silent expressions of recognition exchanged around their little circle as Admiral Tavez brought them all up to speed on the recent personnel changes. It was certainly going to take a little getting used to for all of them. Unfortunately, neither time nor the nature of current events were going to permit them that luxury. "As Admiral Tavez stated previously, Starfleet has asked me to oversee an initiative known as Operation Sunrise," he began, surveying each of them as he spoke, "Our purpose is to ensure the diplomatic stability and the security of this region and Starfleet believes that means working more closely with our neighbors, especially the Romulans."

"Exactly. Right now we're involved in ongoing negotiations; the Federation can certainly relate to reconstruction...especially certain members. Add to that the influence that Elim Garek has in the Cardassian Empire and everything has converged to produce a willingness to discuss sending relief aid to the Romulan colonies," Olivia explained further.

"That would make sense," Lorian agreed, considering the new information carefully, "Things have been quite different for the Cardassians since the underground movement seized control during the Dominion War. The Federation News Network only covered a fraction of the brutality inflicted on the Cardassian people in those final days, not to mention many of the institutional ailments that have been building since the Bajoran Occupation."

The hologram of Iluvar fizzled slightly before reforming. He nodded slowly in agreement with the contributed observations before turning his attention to Captain Naros. "The Detapa Council is scheduled to consider a formal action that would officially commission six transports to carry relief and medical supplies to Romulan colonies along the neutral zone near Deep Space Four," Iluvar explained, "As Admiral Tavez pointed out, negotiations have been extremely successful. There is a great deal of support for this measure amongst the council and the general population. The Yorktown's purpose would be assist in the conclusion of negotiations and to observe the council vote."

There was a moment of silence as Tobias pondered everything that had been said. Starfleet's resources were already stretched thin from their recent conflict with the Elyshans and now the turmoil within the Romulan Empire. Any contribution from the Cardassians, no matter how small, would help to relieve some of the pressure and might even go so far as to help build a more positive relationship amongst the three powers. Tobias understandably had some concern departing on such an important diplomatic assignment with the Yorktown understaffed as she was, but he was still confident in their ability to complete their mission all the same. "When shall we depart," he asked.

Olivia looked over at Tobias as she replied, "Ideally, we want you to depart as soon possible. No later than thirty-six hours from now. We realize that could put the Yorktown in a difficult position, crew-wise, but we have to work within the timeframe established. Vice Admiral Livian will do what she can to fill in more spots for you before you depart, or have additional crew meet up with you, but she can't make any promises."

"Understood," Tobias said, nodding slowly.

The holographic image of Vice Admiral Iluvar fizzled once more and the admiral could be seen glancing over toward something out of view before returning his attention to the conversation. "They tell me that's all we've got time for today," Iluvar said, "Congratulations admiral, captain. I'm sure we'll be seeing more of each other in the days to come. Iluvar out."

Nodding to Iluvar before he signed off, Olivia then turned to the others in the room. "That's all I have for now. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know. Otherwise, you're dismissed....Good luck, gentlemen."

OFF

A Joint Mission Post by:

Admiral Olivia Tavez (PNPC)
Chief-of-Staff
Eighth "Horizon" Fleet
Played by: Capt Livian

Vice Admiral Iluvar (PNPC)
Deputy Chief-of-Staff
Eighth "Horizon" Fleet
Played by: Capt Naros

Rear Admiral Lorian Tharos (PNPC)
Director of Research & Development
Eighth "Horizon" Fleet
Played by: Capt Naros

Captain Tobias Naros
Commanding Officer
USS Yorktown NCC-88288

and

Bill (NPC)
Temporary Administrative Assistant
Eighth "Horizon" Fleet
Played by: Capt Livian