Lt. Cmdr. Tess t'Lhoell (7 months pregnant)+
NPC Lt. Fabiano Moreno (Science),
NPC Cadet Benjin Moreno (Flight)[Katra Station - Deck 2 - s'Lhoell quarters - evening of day 2]Lt. Cmdr. Rayek tr'Lhoell
[Katra Station - Deck 2 - s'Lhoell quarters - evening of day 2]
Rayek was relieved that Tess wasn't upset at his manipulation. It eased his mind that she too recognized that an additional responsibility was not ideal at this point. "I thought you might find it intriguing." Rayek commented to Fabiano. "I'd be more than pleased to hand over the duties permanently, if I thought it would not reflect poorly on me."
This sentiment was likely surprising to Tess and the others - since prior to now Rayek hadn't complained about any task assigned to him. No doubt, they like Solluk, thought he was very suited to such a position, given his past.... but that was exactly why he disliked it. He recalled the lies and the subterfuge that such a position had required of him when he was in the Star Navy. He really didn't see Starfleet Intelligence being all that different... not if Chevron was a typical example of an Intelligence officer. Rayek had no desire to return to such practices if he could avoid it.
Indeed, both Tess and Fabiano looked at him surprised.
"You don't like it?", Fabiano asked.
"I thought you might enjoy the privilege of getting your hands on additional information ahead of everyone else, in fact, information most of the crew won't ever get to see?" She knew how important it was to Rayek to collect as much information as possible about events and people. Pausing, she tried to think back if she had missed any signs that Rayek might be unhappy with his duty as SOO.
Benjin joined them and flopped down in the armchair. It was hard to tell who have had enough of playing - Benjin or the ferret Thrafv. He had missed the conversation while he had been busy with the little ferret and now found his father's and sister's eyes on him. Benjin gave a crooked grin, one leg draped over the arm rest to let his foot dangle from it.
"Made up your mind, sis? I mean, Lt. Commander?" Tess looked back at her brother, sighing. She knew it wasn't right, and maybe she was doing the exact thing with her brother she had told Rayek not to do when it came to her, but she hesitated to assign her little brother to a dangerous mission. She was just as worried about her husband, but she knew he had the skill and ability to fight and keep himself safe. After her little brother getting severely injured by the explosion the fake Rayek had initiated a few weeks ago, something had changed in Tess in regards to him.
"What are you talking about?", Fabiano asked, looking from Benjin to Tess.
"He wants to be assigned to the Lod Qan.""It will be great training and experience for me", he was quick to state.
"It will look good in my report I have to send to the academy."Cmdr. Tess t'Lhoell (7 months pregnant)[Katra Station - Deck 2 - Security Chief's office - morning of day 4, after the transfer of command ceremony] Lt. Cmdr. Rayek tr'Lhoell
[Katra Station - Deck 2 - Security Chief's office - morning of day 4, after the transfer of command ceremony]
The look of uncertainty in her eyes as Tess confirmed her promotion had Rayek mentally flogging himself for not controlling his reaction better. He could see her faltering smile and it stung that this doubt was all because of him. While he tried to think of how best to explain his poor reaction, Tess reached forward to stroke at his groomed beard and began her goodbyes, but it grew too much for her and she became teary-eyed before leaning forward to hug him.
He wrapped his arms about her comfortingly. "I will miss you as well, e'lev. Each and everyday, I will be thinking of you. I am so exceedingly proud of you and your accomplishment. Your promotion is undeniably well-deserved... I am just concerned at the added responsibility. I need you to promise to look after your own well-being as if you were your own patient."
As soon as she felt Rayek holding her gently, Tess didn't hold back and sobbed quietly at his shoulder while she listened to his comforting words. It was only a short bout and she soon was able to collect herself enough. She nodded when he asked her to promise that she would look after herself.
"I will, I promise." She pulled back, wiping the tears from her face with the back of her hand.
"You take care, please. If you find the time to call or drop me a line, I'll be happy." Her hand came down to rest on her baby belly.
"We both will be waiting for your return."Cmdr. Tess t'Lhoell (7 months pregnant)[Katra Station - Deck 1 - Operations Control Center - morning of day 4]
Katra Station - Operational Control Center
"This control center is stupid," Vilka complained loudly, "We're all in a circle, and looking in different directions."
"A circle is geometically satisfying," Grom noted, "and this arrangement is efficient in a service where force is not used to unseat people within your chain of command."
"I always forget how rich the informational resources of the Federation are," Tolec said, "And look at this sensor and communication network. It is years beyond what we employ, and this is only a small outpost."
"A small outpost in one of the most dangerous places in the galaxy," M'Kai noted as she walked around the control center, taking in the space, "Surrounded on all sides by hostile nations." She paused at the central holotable, bringing up an internal schematic. "They should put one of these in the Security office. We could monitor every individual on the entire station."
"I do not think that is a practice the Federation would follow," H'rel noted, "They value sentient rights, like privacy." He tapped some icons on his console, dispatching a new Fighter patrol. "I think I will arrange to lead one of the fighter patrols tomorrow. It has been too long since I piloted a fighter, and I much prefer a flight console to this dispatching work."
"Enough chatter," Noh'ves barked, "attend your duties."
At that moment, the station's executive officer entered the Operational Control Center. Noh'ves had noticed her earlier during the transfer of command ceremony, but he looked her up and down once more, in detail. He was surprised her treacherous Romulan husband would allow her to keep a post in this state. Perhaps she was tougher than he was, even while very pregnant.
"Thank you, Commander," he said, his eyes holding on her collar for a moment. She had not been a full Commander when he'd last seen her. A parting promotion from her former Captain?
"I will be relying on your advice in the days ahead. I suggest you join the other officers and myself for a feast... a meal in the officer's mess this evening. You can acquaint us with anything you feel we need to know. For now, I must spend some time reading and making reports. My daughter will be meeting me within an hour's time. Do not allow anyone to disturb me before then. The bridge..." he glanced around, "... Control Center... is yours."
Tess overheard only bits of the conversations the Klingon exchange officers had among each other while she approached the Klingon Captain. However, she noticed Tolec, the Science officer who also performed medical treatment if needed. She had felt to have a good vibe with him and recalled that he had been quite impressed and appreciative of the advanced technological equipment in the station's sickbay. She reminded herself to have another look at the exchange roster, somehow her memory didn't work as well as usual.
Noh'ves seemed to glance at her assessingly and Tess made a point to not break eye contact with him while she wondered what the man was thinking.
She nodded her head in acknowledgement when Noh'ves invited her to a feast with the other Klingon officers in the evening.
"Thank you, Captain. I will arrange everything for the meal tonight." She'd look into the database what had been served for the dinner Solluk had held for the Klingons a few months back since they seemed to have enjoyed it quite a bit.
When the Klingon then excused himself to his Ready Room to catch up on everything, Tess nodded.
"Understood."She glanced back to the other Klingon officers, pushing back some self-conscious thoughts about her huge baby belly. She wasn't entirely sure how pregnant women were perceived in Klingon culture. Maybe that had been why Noh'ves had been looking at her that way before.
"The Captain doesn't wish to be disturbed", she addressed the officers at the OCC.
"Make yourself familiar with your consoles. Feel free to approach me on any issues you might come across."Tess then sat down in the chair and started to work on the things that had been added to her to-do-list. Later, when it was time for Beja to meet her father, Tess offered a small smile to the Klingon counselor before returning to her work. So far so good.