Órlaith sat alone at a table near one of the massive lounge windows looking forward from the USS MacKenzie.  She sipped a steaming cup of Earl Grey as she watched the stars streak by.  Then the streaks shank to white points as the ship dropped out of warp.  

The Markonian Outpost was small in the distance but it grew quickly before taking up the entire view. She sighed heavily. This was not how she envisioned coming home.

Okada walked into the lounge and spotted the CO of the Crazy Horse.  There had been a heaviness apparent on the sleeves of the orphaned crew.  The crew of the Mack had done their level best to reach across the aisle and help them feel their way through having to abandon their ship in a hail of weapons fire.  The counselors had been busy organizing some lower-impact events for the Crazy Horse to help them in what would be a challenging transition.  Okada was an engineer, and her ship was her love.  There was nothing greater in the world than the ships she had been lucky enough to serve on.  The Edinburgh and the Mackenzie were her greatest joys.  She cautiously walked to the replicator and ordered a large iced tea, and slipped into the seat across from the Crazy Horse captain.  “Captain Orlaith…Commander Katsumi…Chief Engineer.”

Órlaith gave Okada a curt nod, and returned her stare out the window.

“Your crew is pretty badass, sir…if you don’t mind me saying.”  She grimaced, “Sorry, I spend most of my time in the engine room these days.”  She rephrased, “They’re an incredible group of people you have, sir.”

Órlaith turned to face the engineer.  Refreshing her Earl Grey from the kettle, she took a sip before speaking,  “How so?”

Okada stared at the CO for longer than was probably acceptable before she spoke, “The reports from the moon and what you had set up in the time it took us to get to you…I was taking notes.  Captain Harris was beyond complimentary – you and your crew were self-sufficient beyond what any of us expected.”  She shook her head, “I sometimes think we’re really good at what we do on the Mack….but you all showed how it’s done.”

Órlaith gave her a polite smile, “The settlement was already built.  We were using it to mine dilithium on the planet.   Our original orders were to see if we could refine the blood dilithium into something Starfleet could use. That was a joke.   This whole mission has been one disaster after another.” 

She let out a heavy sigh, “But there’s thirty tons of normal dilithium in the hold if you need it unless the Devore already ransacked it.”

Okada peered at her as she spoke.  There was a wall the captain had set up against her.  Some weight was pushing on her shoulders, she thought.  She handed a PADD over, “It’s still in there.  Dunno if Starfleet will give it to us or send it somewhere else.”  She nodded at the PADD, “We had some time to work on evaluating the Crazy Horse.”  She paused and continued, “I think Lieutenant Washington needed something to do.  We used sensors and cameras…we managed to come up with a pretty solid report on the systems impacted.”  She shook her head, her voice dropping a few levels, ”She’s not in a great place, Captain.  She’ll need a minimum of six months in a dry dock. Even if we apply our best miracles, she’s going to be out of action for some time.”  It was her turn to let out a heavy sigh, “I’m sorry I didn’t have better news.”

“I hope Mr. Washington hasn’t driven you completely crazy.” She hid another sigh behind her tea. “An optimistic six months?  I won’t even pretend to guess what the fleet will do, but if I were making the decisions I wouldn’t put the resources into putting her back into service.

Katsumi thought for a moment, “I know this will sound…corny and borderline patronizing…but there is a light out there wherever you’re headed, Captain.  Space is a dark place…but there’s always something bright a sector or two over.”  She took a sip and stared out the windows, “We’re all just dust in the wind, I suppose.”

Órlaith smirked,  “Are you sure you’re an engineer?  You sound more like a counselor.”

Katsumi chuckled, “You start to get real metaphorical out here after a while.  Being chief means I gotta listen a lot…and figure out how to guide my crew through the emotional as much as the physical.”

The intercom suddenly beeped, =^=Captain Harris to Captain Órlaith, looks like they’re ready for you.  They’ve tractored the Crazy Horse over to the docks at the outpost – command’s ready for you and your crew.=^=

“Understood, Captain,” Órlaith replied.  “On behalf of my crew, thank you for coming to the rescue and getting us to safety.”

There was a quiet pause on the other end.  Katsumi felt it.  There was something special about the Crazy Horse and her crew.  The Mack being an Excelsior II class ship, held deep symbolism among both crews.  =^=On behalf of mine, you’re welcome, Captain.  I hope to see you and yours out there soon.  The Mack’s door is always open.=^=  The channel closed.

Katsumi stood and extended her hand, “Good luck, Captain Órlaith.  We’ll keep an eye and ear out for you out there.”

Órlaith smirked at the reversing of her name, but didn’t mention it. “Thank you, Commander,” she replied, extending her hand.  Katsumi accepted it.  She watched the captain leave, hoping all the best for her.

With her bag slung over her shoulder Órlaith made her way toward the airlock.  She was lost in her own thoughts when someone calling her broke her free of them.  Looking around, she found Ensign Anthony Talon.  “Ensign,” she greeted simply.

“So… I have a question,” he started with one of his mischievous grins. “I’m banned from the Markonian Outpost per your orders, ma’am.  Should I borrow a shuttle?”

Órlaith rolled her eyes, “Ensign,  I am pretty sure circumstances are a bit different than they were a month ago.  Just don’t go to that bar.”

Anthony smirked,  “I think I can manage.” Turning the corner to the airlock, Captain Harris was standing there. “Captain,” Anthony greeted.

Ambrose gave the man a curious look, “Captain Murphy.  Ensign.”

Órlaith paused next to Harris, “Go on, Ensign.”

“Aye, Captain, ” he said with a conspiratorial grin, turning and trotting down the gangway.

“Kids,” Órlaith said, exasperated.

Harris chuckled as he walked to stand at her side, “We were all young ensigns once.  I’ve got a chief helm officer who’s still working off the shame of his academy days.  They do grow up…eventually.”  He turned to her, “They given you any idea on what’s next for you and yours?”

“None,” Órlaith replied.   “General plan is to get back to the Alpha Quadrant and go from there. But…” she paused, “…let’s just say Command isn’t thrilled with how I handled the situation.  Thank God I had time to transmit the logs before I left.”

Ambrose understood, “I’ve had my share of Command troubles.  You’ll be home soon enough.”  He offered her one last handshake, “I wish you the best, Captain Mury – wherever the journey takes you.”

She smiled, “There’s a phrase amongst us pilots; Keep the blue side up, Ambrose.”  Ignoring his extended hand, she wrapped her arms around him and gave him a hug. “See you around, Captain.”  She turned and walked down the gangway without so much as a look back.

He watched her as she walked down the airlock and onto the outpost.  The hug had been a surprise, but a welcomed one.  If he’d been honest, he’d been tempted to give her one himself.  She was a kindred soul, and you didn’t find many of them out here.  He watched until she was gone from his sight.  He hoped to run into her again someday.  Captains in the fleet were a dime a dozen.  For every great one or good two, there were always three annoyances, four idiots, and a handful of whatthehells.  He turned his attention back to his ship.  The future was ahead.  

And they had work to do.