USS Lirpa (NCC 61843)
On approach to Starbase 93
Year: 2401
Lt (j.g.) David Martel stood alone in the Lirpa’s small observation deck with his two bags that contained his personal effects. Not much to show for his time in Starfleet, though to be fair his time hadn’t been very long so fair enough. Space was at a premium on a Saber class anyway. He was nervous. Nervous like he had been as he had been as he had arrived at the Academy and as he had been as he had arrived at his first posting, the USS Callisto. The Cally had used her excellent sensor suite to good effect, guiding in other ships and throwing some punches of her own. Honestly the pirates ran first and fought rarely unless cornered.
The pirates weren’t much of a challenge really, though I guess that’s supposed to be a good thing, David smiled a crooked smile, part of him didn’t agree and he could admit it. Not out loud of course.
He thought of all the advice he had received over the past six years. Classmates, instructors, superior officers and colleagues. So many observations and snippets of wisdom. He tried to remember it all, but knew some had slipped through the net of his memory. He could only hope he could dredge them up from the depths of his memory when he needed them most. One piece of advice that always seemed to follow him around was variants of “Think things through.” His parents had been the first to state this, but certainly hadn’t been the last. David frowned as he thought of his parents.
He had been a bit neglectful about talking to them lately. He usually tried for once a week, but he had been so busy with his promotion and transfer from the Callisto to the Valkyrie he hadn’t spoke to or even messaged them for almost three weeks now. He’d have to rectify that very soon. As he thought of his parents, memories began to float up slowly, as if coming from the deep ocean. He stared out at the warp distorted stars….and remembered.
Martel Residence
New Berlin, Luna, Sol
Year: 2395
“Alright you three, get ready for dinner, it’s almost done.”, Simone Martel called out from the kitchen to her husband and two sons. She loved to cook, she was old fashioned like that. Didn’t hurt she was actually really good at it.
“Yes, MA’AM!” Talon and his son David said in unison, using a mock military style tone. The younger brother, Adam smiled but didn’t follow suit which, despite being fourteen probably marked him out as the most intelligent of the three. As if to prove this point, Simone stuck her head out of the kitchen entrance and looked at her husband and eldest son with an arched eyebrow, delicious smells following in her head’s wake.
“Can’t you two EVER be serious?”, she asked.
Father and son shared a look and then David began to speak, “Well I tried it once mom but….”, David’s voice trailed off as he saw his mother’s eyes narrow, leaving whatever joke he had in mind unspoken forever.
Talon cleared his throat and said, “Let’s head out to the porch, son.”, clapping David on the shoulder.
“Wise.”, Simone stated with a too bright smile.
This interplay was a game the family often played, though while both Simone and Talon had both had long and distinguished careers in Starfleet Intelligence, Simone had been the more hard edged of the two and it showed even here. As father and sons got up and headed to the door there was a sharp, “Not you, you get to help set the table.” from Simone.
Adam turned and when he realized he was the target of the command looked like he was about to complain but cut himself off before he began. He was always smart like that. As David headed to the door and Adam went to gather plates and utensils Simone shared a long look with her husband, all traces of amused irritation gone and replaced with a certain pensiveness. They shared a knowing nod that only 24 years of marriage could interpret and Simone turned back to the kitchen as Talon stepped out into the fading holographic sunset.
David was leaning on the porch rail looking out at the neighboring houses. He’d always liked New Berlin. Peaceful without boredom, he had called this place home for the past four years and considered it as close to a homeworld as he could get. Growing up on Starbases and Starships had been interesting to be sure, but they’d never felt like HOME. New Berlin did.
Talon walked up next to David and staked out his own piece of rail. He smoothed his mustache thoughtfully as he thought about his next words.
“Dave, you know we are very proud of you.”
David turned his head towards his father at his uncharacteristically serious tone. “What’s wrong, Pop?”
Talon sighed heavily as he stared at the sunset, “Nothing is wrong, Dave. We just worry. You have your heart set on Tactical, and while you know neither of us are particularly thrilled by that, it’s your life. We support you, always.”
David’s brows knitted but he kept quiet as he felt his father wasn’t quite done yet.
Talon’s eyes went distant and he suddenly said, “The Dominion War was a harsh teacher. Had us busy. Didn’t go well at first either. Your mother and I both saw things we wish we hadn’t. We knew about even more.”, Talon’s jaw clenched as memories hit him. “We both know the price of war….and you decide to potentially place yourself right in the thick of it. So we worry. Because we know.”
David didn’t often see this side of his father. For a moment he wasn’t sure what to say, then looked at the golds and reds of the sky and spoke, “We need doctors, scientists, explorers,” David then looked at his father as he stated his final words, “and protectors to defend them while they do the important things.”
Talon nodded, though David wasn’t sure if it was in agreement or unconscious reflex. Talon was thinking that not so long ago David was oftentimes getting into fights or pulling dangerous stunts to get others to laugh.
Suddenly Talon reached over, grabbed David’s shoulders and turned him towards him, staring in his eyes with a ferocity that David was certain he had never seen before. Talon began to speak with a quiet intensity that was at odds with his normally loud jokes and booming laugh. This look alone was enough to cow David into silence.
“You listen to me boy, and listen with both ears. You passed the entrance exam and by God that’s enough to make us proud alone, but that was the easy part. Now the hard part begins. You have to think things through. You’ve gotten better over the past year and a half but you still have a touch of the brawling rogue to you, boy. Starfleet will not have it. Absolutely will. Not. Have it.”, Talon put hard emphasis on each of his last few words and David stared up at his father in near shock. He had never seen his father like this. This added even more gravity to his words. Before David could even stutter out a reply Talon kept speaking like an unstoppable juggernaut, “You have a good heart and a tough mind, but always remember to think things through. Slow down and don’t ruin your career before it gets off the ground. You’ve worked too hard to even get this far. You hear me?”
David nodded and said the only thing he could, “I will. You can count on me, Pop.”
With that gravely spoken statement Talon relaxed his grip on his son’s shoulders and then suddenly drew him into a crushing hug.
“I know we can, son. You’re one of the good ones.Sure as sure.”
Talon then released his son and smiled a little sheepishly, “Come on, your mother will have us doing scullery duty until you leave if we let the food get cold.”
David laughed, “Are you scared of Mom?”, he asked with playful mockery.
Talon laughed back, “Dave, the Jem’ Hadar were scared of your Mom.”
They were both still laughing as they walked back into the house.
Starfleet Academy
San Francisco, Earth, Sol
2399
David looked over the pristine, manicured grounds of Starfleet Academy for what he knew would be one of last times in a long time, if ever. The bright summer California sunshine etched everything into a sharp focus. He could swear he could see individual leaves. He was wandering aimlessly through the grounds, not sure what to do with himself. For the first time in four years there were no classes, study groups or extracurricular activities to rush to and fro from.
“Well Badger, ready to go out and knock heads for the security of the Federation?”, said a light, cheerful voice behind him. He knew it well, it had become his favorite voice in life for the past two and a half years after all.
Without turning, the newly minted Ensign David Martel responded, “Sure am, Doc. Think of it as job security if it helps.” David grinned as he didn’t have the also newly minted Ensign Nikkira Delann’s Betazoid mental abilities to sense the frown she was sending his way. Then he added, “And stop frowning at me like that, it’s hard to get the ice chips off my back.”
With a “Yooouuu.” of amused exasperation, Nikkira grabbed one of David’s arms and spun him around. He gave her an impudent grin. Ensign Nikkira Delann of Betazoid barely came up past his chin and was working on becoming a medical doctor. “Well when you call me, ‘Doc’ it’s closer to being actually true now.”, Nikkira said archly.
“I know”, David replied, “and I’m real proud of you, too.”
Nikkira grabbed both of David’s hands and held them as dark eyes looked up into green. To David, the only word he could use to describe Nikkira was ‘adorable’. With a smattering of freckles across her nose, small stature and short length black hair over pale skin, he had taken to calling her ‘Little Raven’. He loved her dearly. This is what caused his smile to falter.
Nikkira’s own smile turned into a sad one. “I know.”, was all she said. David looked down and grumbled something about ‘cheating’, a long standing inside joke referring to Nikkira’s empathic and telepathic abilities.
“Like I’d have to.”, she replied softly.
“I went through all that trouble to punch my way into your heart and now we have to go our separate ways.”, David said with a sudden, forced grin.
Nikkira was not amused, as she never was when David made this particular joke. Her response was the same as always. “You almost got expelled over that.”, she said flatly.
David had the decency to look a bit shamefaced and mumbled out a sort of agreement.
Towards the beginning of David’s second year, at a jazz club in San Francisco, he had come across an altercation involving several members of the Academy. At a corner table, Nikkira had interposed herself between two Academy students while several others looked on. He recognized one as a fellow player from the Academy rugby team, Somyot Duangkomol, a human male from Thailand here on Earth that he had had no problems with and knew only from the team. He was an Engineering student and also seemed very irritated with another human male student with blonde hair, delicate features and half his body weight. This was an astrophysics student named Valeriy Makarov and he had been looking very uncomfortable with the situation.
Nikkira had been definitely trying to calm the situation down to little effect as Duangkomol kept speaking over her to berate Makarov.
“You think I’m stupid?! That my little walnut of a brain couldn’t even BEGIN to follow your theory?!”
Makarov replied with the exasperated apprehension only someone who had been grossly misunderstood could muster,”No no no! I only meant you wouldn’t understand because it’s a theory that I haven’t completed yet so how can I explain it completely?”
For some inexplicable reason this just made Cadet Duangkomol even angrier and as David had drawn closer he could tell alcohol had been involved. Making a snap decision David had clapped his hands and yelled, “HEY!” so loud even the bar staff headed that way had stopped in surprise. Duangkomol looked over at David and grimaced, “The hell do you want?”
“Leave him be Somyot, you’re drunk. Sleep it off.”, David had replied. Somyot bristled at this and started striding towards David with obvious intent. David looked into Somyot’s eyes and concluded this would not be a talking situation. Though Somyot was a fair bit taller, They weighed about the same and David’s strength went full display as without another word he punched Somyot in the jaw and dropped him.
The whole situation had been surprising, from Somyot’s behavior to David’s swift escalation, and not all were happy about it. Nikkira had come up and begun to take David to task, bringing up she would’ve handled it, he had just walked in, what did he know, he was barbaric, such things as that. Makarov had caught David’s eye and mouthed a ‘Thank You’, making David grin and send an affirming hand gesture. This had the effect of intensifying Nikkira’s tirade and David was about to begin countering her words as he wasn’t one to take this kind of thing lightly and then as he had looked at her face properly for the first time and look her dead in her dark eyes….he stood there and took it.
Looking into the same eyes two and a half years later that feeling hadn’t dimmed, “Didn’t you chew me out enough that night? Should start calling you Mean Raven instead of Little Raven.”, he added that roguish grin that almost always got her to smile. To her credit she tried not to but failed as her mouth twisted into a smile. It then faded as she said, “You can’t joke through everything bad you know.”
David looked down as his own smile dropped, “I know.”, he paused and then spoke again, “We knew this going in right?”
Nikkira cupped David’s chin in her hand and lifted his head, “We knew this going in.”, then she cocked her head and asked, “would you have decided against it had you realized how this moment would feel?”
“Nah, I just don’t like this part.”
“Neither do I, but I certainly wouldn’t have changed a thing. Not one.”
Suddenly a familiar pair of bickering voices drifted towards them. Never looking from Nikkira’s eyes David spoke, “You have to be kidding me, Little Raven.”
Nikkira suddenly giggled, “You know this moment wouldn’t be complete without this happening.”
“I can’t believe I saved his life only for him to die by my own hand.”, David said almost conversationally.
“Be nice.”, Nikkira chided, but she was smiling.
Striding across the lawns was Ensign Valeriy Makarov, smiling his clueless smile while the fourth member of their little social group the Caitian pilot Ensign P’nala, was busy trying to corral Makarov away from David and Nikkira.
“Will you just give them a moment, you silly-“, the orange furred felinoid was saying with exasperation in her voice as she finally got Makarov to stop several meters away. The Caitian could pilot everything in existence….except Makarov. She was something of a mother hen for their little group and only Makarov could test her patience like this. She’s probably been trying to herd him away for several minutes while absently said “Hmmm?” or “It’ll be ok I just need to tell them something.” Makarov tended to fixate and be a bit socially clueless, though believe it or not his three friends had managed a bit of improvement.
Makarov looked over at P’nala, “I’m just going to tell them where the get together is.”, he said in an almost hurt tone. P’nala, with the patience only she seemed to have as David always said the woman was a saint, answered back gently this time, “They’ll find out in a bit, let them have their moment Valeriy.”
Makarov frowned for a moment and then a look of dawning realization spread across his face, “I’m doing it again aren’t I?”
“Just a bit, but it’s ok. Let’s meet up with them a bit later alright.”, P’nala began to steer Makarov away from David and Nikkira. She looked over her shoulder shaking her head with the Caitian equivalent of a smile. Makarov also looked over his shoulder and said loudly, “Sorry.”
“It’s fine, Valeriy”, Nikkira called out back.
While they were both still looking at the retreating pair David spoke, “He got a starship posting.”
“So I heard.”, Nikkira replied.
“I envy the captain that gets Valeriy’s mind….I also pity the captain that gets Valeriy’s mind.”
“Be nice, Badger.”, Nikkira giggled, then turned to David, “So, you ship out tomorrow then?”
David nodded, “The Callisto is all the way over in the Beta Quadrant so I need to leave pretty quick. Are you ready to start med school and learn the art of trauma medicine?”
It was Nikkira’s turn to nod, “Yes, but I’m nervous. I still have a long way to go. Years to go while you get to dance through the stars.”
David was a bit surprised by her tone, “This is what you’ve been working so hard for.”
“I know, it’s not really a logical feeling it’s just I’m staying here at Starfleet Medical and all my friends are leaving. I feel like I’m the one standing still.
“Hardly, Little Raven. You’re doing the REALLY important things, you know?”, drawing out a small smile from the Betazoid.
Suddenly Nikkira began leading David in the direction of her quarters. “Where are we headed?”, he asked.
“My quarters to make the most of the time we have left”, she answered.
“Werner doesn’t like me.”, David reminded Nikkira referring to her roommate.
“Werner isn’t there.”
“Oh.”, David replied, then the coin dropped and a more surprised, “Oh!” came out.
Tactical Officer’s Office
USS Callisto (NCC 80109)
2401
David strode into the Tactical Officer’s office, snapped to attention and stated formally, “Ensign David Martel, reporting as ordered, sir!”
Behind his desk, Lt. Cmdr. Orir Th’zhelron sat with antennae waving slightly and a stony glare, causing David to recount any sins real or imagined to cause the normally good natured officer to have such a look.
“Sit down, Lieutenant.”, the blue skinned Andorian commanded.
David was halfway down when he stopped and stared at the tactical officer in confusion. Orir leaned back with his trademark faint smile and added, “I didn’t gag on my words, Lieutenant, have a seat.”
David plopped down in the chair with his surprised look still present on his face as Orir continued, “I was glad to put you in for the promotion, but now’s the time for a bit of a talk.”
David looked on expectantly. He could see the commander gathering his thoughts.
“You’ve been evaluated and your service these past two years has been nothing but exemplary. You are competent, disciplined, intelligent and have a fighting spirit worthy of my people. That last is the one thing I would like to discuss, however.”, Orir leaned forward resting his arms on his desk with almost a hunched posture as he looked at David, “You know HOW to fight, you know WHAT to fight for, you even know WHY to fight, but every now and then you seem to lose a bit of focus about WHEN to fight.”
David sat quietly. He knew where this was headed. He nodded to show his attention and the commander continued.
“Now, if I thought this was a lesson you were incapable of learning we wouldn’t be having this conversation as I wouldn’t have allowed that extra pip that will soon be on your collar.”, Orir then stood up and stared at a pair of Ushaan-tor that he had on a display not far from his desk. These Andorian ice miner tools and weapons were sacred to them, a major symbol of their cultural identity. He spoke softly, “This lesson I am about to impart directly on to you was a difficult one for my people to learn.”, he looked back at David and grinned a very human grin, “Though we come from an ice world our blood runs hot you see. So….what are the duties of a tactical officer?” Orir wandered to the display and stared almost intently at the ushaan-tor.
David blinked and then spoke as if in a classroom, “Sir, a Starfleet Tactical Officer is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the shields and weapons of his vessel or starbase, the training of his subordinates and for advising his superior officers on tactical matters.”
“Straight from the training documents.”, Orir turned to David, “I have no doubt you can advise a captain on how to handle a tactical situation, though experience does tell.”, Orir chuckled at this and then continued as he walked around his office idly, staring various knick knacks, art and literature he had at various points, “However, it’s also a tactical officer’s job to keep a focus on when other options might come into play.”
David let out a confused, “Sir?”
“Ah, yes.”, Orir said in amusement, “they usually gloss over that part at the Academy, assuming like any good Starfleet hopeful you would be sparing with the blade. However ,who better to understand the consequences of the blade than the one who wields it?”
David sat in rapt attention as Orir sat at his desk and continued,”As much as the Federation and Starfleet would like to rail against it, the blade is necessary. We wouldn’t be out here chasing pirates and securing borders if it wasn’t. Yet, knowing when to fight is key. Trust in your shipmates. They know their field as you know yours. They might have a better solution. They might not. Stand your ground when you’re certain, yet listen to the other points of view and most of all if you must fight….win.”
Orir moved to stand and as he spoke, “To summarize, Lieutenant, be proficient with the blade but don’t keep your brain in the same scabbard. It’s a fine line to walk, not being too aggressive yet not being too soft and most importantly, think things out.”
‘There it was’ David thought with a grin, “The refrain of my life, sir.”, he spoke aloud.
Orir nodded and began to move to the office door, “On your feet, Lieutenant it’s time for the best part.”
David stood with a, “Sir?”
Orir looked back and cocked his head, “Why the pinning of course.”
USS Lirpa (NCC 61843)
Starbase 93
Year: 2401
David snapped back to the present as he saw Starbase 93 fill up the observation window, the large Unity-class Starbase growing ever closer.
Almost to the Valkyrie now, David thought to himself, feeling a sudden rush of….well not apprehension exactly, but he did have a fluttering feeling in his stomach as his new posting took another step closer to being a real, tangible thing. His comm badge warbled.
“Commander Sansonetti to Martel.”
Startled from his thoughts, David slapped his comm maybe a bit too hard as he responded to the Lirpa’s commander, “Martel here”.
“We will be docking at Starbase 93 momentarily, please make your way to the docking hatch.”
“Acknowledged, sir. On my way now.”
David took a deep breath and exhaled, then shouldered his bags and left the observation deck. As he strode down the corridor the ship’s whistle sounded and a baritone voice came over the ship’s speakers, “Lirpa, arriving.”