We Need A Vacation

Posted on Fri Sep 7, 2018 @ 6:12pm by Commodore Michael Aravan & Captain Madelina Weisz

Mission: Falling Star
Location: Commodore's Office
Timeline: MD 35 || 0900 Hours

Maddy made her way onto the bridge pushing an anti-grav cart that was carrying one of Michael's beloved bonsai trees. Now that the jig was up, the tree deserved to be back where it belonged, and that was in his office. The fact that she had such a thing on the bridge earned her a few looks from those that occupied it, and thankfully, were taking them away from Romulan space, but she ignored them. After all, she was the ship's Executive Officer, and only had one person on board she needed to answer to. That someone just so happened to be on the other side of the ready room door, which prompted her to press the chime and wait to be granted entry.

"Enter," Michael called as he signed off on the last report and send it to Starfleet Command. He got up to make a cup of coffee when the doors swished open and he looked over his shoulder to see his redheaded Executive Officer come in.

The Captain made her way inside, pushing the cart inside with a bright smile. "Good morning, Michael. I thought I'd bring you something that's been missing from your office for a while," she said, bringing it to a stop in front of his desk. "I can help you put it back in its rightful place if you want."

"Good morning, Maddy." The Commodore looked at the bonsai on the cart, then at the one on his desk that he knew had been replaced. "But...isn't that one over there my original?" he asked.

"No. I told you were took the original so it wouldn't get damaged during the recycling," she responded, making her way toward the impostor. "I might just have to keep this one, though. I used to think it a bit ridiculous that people trimmed trees to relax, but then I tried my hand at it, and I get it now."

"It's really very soothing," he said as he went over to pick up the original off the cart and looked at it with a critical eye. "You didn't do too bad keeping it in shape. I see that you chose a new direction for the younger branches to go. That should have an interesting outcome. Thank you, Maddy."

"It's because of your interest in it that I decided to study up on it," she stated. "Otherwise, I might have never looked into it. But, while I'm here, do you have a few minutes?"

"You're in luck," Michael said as he poured himself a cup of coffee and added three gold pips of sugar from a bowl filled with them. He stirred it, then motioned towards the coffee. "Help yourself and tell me what's on your mind?"

Maddy smiled and settled down across from his desk, watching him stir his coffee. "You know I don't drink that stuff, Michael, but I thank you for the offer," she said, decided to jump right into things. "Has H.Q. contacted you about our next mission yet? I know they're pretty good about keeping on top of things like that."

"Not yet," he said after a sip of coffee and took his seat. "I just send the end of mission reports in and requested a status update on the task force. Other than that, no news is good news. We'll be docking at Deep Space Ten in about four hours, but we're back in Federation space."

"Glad we're back in Federation space. I want to put as much distance between us and the Romulans as possible," the redhead said, thinking back on the attack that could have been. Both of them. Maddy needed a vacation, and she was sure the rest of the crew needed one just as bad given what they'd all just went through. "I don't suppose you can contact headquarters and tell them we'll be unavailable for say... two weeks? The crew deserves a break, and so do we." She had a strong feeling he was going to give a negative response, but there was still hope. "Pacifica is a good place to go. Let everyone relax, soak up some sunshine and enjoy themselves. You could use the family time, too."

"I'd like to, but we just had a shore leave prior to getting this mission," Michael said. "Then again, that was enforced due to all the damage and loss of life on the ship from the mission prior to that. I'll speak to Admiral Breckenridge and see what I can muster up, but it may be more helpful if you butter him up a bit."

"You want me to talk to the man who insists I become wife number eight? Sure, I'll jump right on that. Can't imagine the special favors I'll have to do to get it," Maddy stated, though it was hard to tell if she was actually kidding on not. "I'll talk to him and let you know what he has to say about it."

"Relax, Maddy," the Commodore said with a laugh. "I wouldn't sick him on you like that or throw you his way. He doesn't need encouraging and as the commanding officer of the ship, it's my job to do these things and fourteen million other things on a daily basis. That's after you condense them down from a hundred and ten million things and I want you to know how much I truly appreciate you, Captain Madalina Weisz."

"Despite it being my job to make your life easier, we're friends, Michael. We basically have been since the moment I was transferred here, and I wouldn't change any of that for the world," she said, offering him a smile. He was one of her closest friend's, and she wouldn't change that for the world. "And, I know you have a lot going on, so I don't mind talking to Admiral Breckenridge about some time off. Even if you were to do it, you know he'd ask you why you didn't let me contact him about it. He's done it to you before."

"When you first came aboard, I admit to wanting to cave your head in with a blunt object, but I've come to like you for your bluntness," Michael said and took another drink of his coffee. "It's why you're my Executive Officer now and I wouldn't change a thing. So if you want to take on the Admiral, be my guest."

Maddy smiled. "Then, I suppose I'll let you know what he has to say."

"Now then, tell me how many 'I told you so's' that you saved up from the mission we just finished," he said and leaned back.

"None, though, you really should learn to listen to me more," she pointed out.

"Come on, let it out. You know what you want to roast me," Michael said. "I can take it."

The redhead shook her head. While she did feel the need for an 'I told you so' or two, she wasn't going to do it. That was something that wasn't her style, but Maddy hoped he learned a lesson and would take her skepticism at heart from now on. "I don't want to roast you, Michael. You know that's not my style," she said. "I do need to contact Admiral Breckenridge before he can send orders our way. I'll be back once I've had the chance to speak with him."

"You're no fun," he said as he got up and took his cup for a refill. "We need to have a good old fashioned skin blistering fight one of these days. In the meantime, go butter his bread and see if he likes toast."

Maddy laughed. "Will do. I'll be back in just a bit," she said as she rose to her feet. On that note, she left his Ready Room and made her way to her own office. Once inside, the redhead made her way to her desk where she settled down and powered on her terminal with the intentions of contacting the Admiral. She wasn't entirely sure what to expect from this conversation, but hopefully, the result would be the Triumphant's crew getting a much deserved shore leave.

She wasn't sure who was going to answer, but she put the call through to Breckenridge's office. Now it was time to wait.

A pale faced Terran Yeoman answered. "Admiral Breckenridge's office, Petty Officer Tolar here. How may I assist you?"

"Good morning, Petty Officer Tolar," Maddy said with a smile. "I was hoping Admiral Breckenridge might have a few moments. I know he's busy, and I wouldn't expect anything less, but can you please tell him that Captain Madelina Weisz wishes to speak with him?"

"Captain Weisz, you said?" Tolar asked while he made a motion off the screen.

"Yes, that's what I said," Maddy confirmed.

A minute later, the Yeoman got out of the seat and was replaced by the silver haired Admiral. "Why, Maddy," he said smoothly. "What brings you back to me?"

The Captain groaned on the inside, but on the outside, she had a smile on her face. This was going to be an interesting conversation, and if shore leave were to be granted, Maddy wondered how long it would take him to show up on one of Pacifica's beaches with a drink in his hand. "A favor," she replied truthfully. "Our last mission was... eventful, but you'll read that from Commodore Aravan's report when it arrives. I believe our Command staff, as well as our crew, deserve a couple weeks downtime. You are the one who can grant such a request."

She felt the need to explain further as they'd just come off of downtime, but that was necessary given damage to the ship. "I know we recently had some downtime, but that was more mandatory as the ship required repairs. This time, it's personnel that need such. I'm coming to you on behalf of the Triumphant crew."

"A few weeks of downtime, you said?" the Admiral asked her and studied her face for a long moment. "Alright, but on one condition since you have to come to Deep Space Ten, anyway."

She did say a couple weeks, but if he wanted to throw in an extra one, who was she to complain about it. However, Maddy had to hear the condition. "What's that, Admiral?"

"You and me, a couple drinks and a walk on the holodeck," John told her.

"I can do that," Maddy agreed. And, since he didn't say she couldn't bring Tom, but was that really a good idea? She'd have to give it some thought, but regardless, she would tell her significant other what the plan was. After all, she didn't keep secrets from him, and had no intentions of starting to do that now. "The Triumphant crew thanks you, as do I, Sir."

"Write up the formal request, have Aravan put his thumb to it and bring it when you come," he said. "And wear something suited for a beach setting."

"I will, and thank you again," she said, offering him a friendly smile. "We will see you and DS10 soon. Weisz out." After she ended the transmission, Maddy wondered if she'd just sold her soul for the good of the crew, but Breckenridge was a decent guy. He'd already proven that the last time they'd seen one another. Time would tell, but for now, she needed to get the request written and have Michael sign off on it. With that in mind, she extended a hand to press the sensor that would activate the chime on the other side of the door.

"Enter," Michael called and took his legs off his the conference table.

Maddy walked inside and looked toward the conference table where he was settled. "Breckenridge must have been nearby. The poor Petty Officer that answered had to give up his chair to the Admiral when he heard it was me."

"He probably keeps the Yeoman in his office at all times to intercept subspace messages. I would if I were an Admiral. I'm taking Efits with me if I ever get saddled with a desk," Michael said. "So what did you get for us?"

"We need to write the request, you sign off on it, then I bring it with me once we arrive to DS10," she answered, taking her usual seat at the conference table. "I agreed to meet with him for a couple drinks and a stroll through the holodeck, with beach attire requested."

"So he's still trying to make you wife number eight, huh?" Michael asked. "As long as you keep him at arms length, it'll be good."

"I don't know if he's still trying or not, to be perfectly honest. He knows I'm already in a committed relationship, and nothing is going to change that," the Captain stated. It didn't matter how hard John Breckenridge tired, Maddy wasn't going to give into his advances when she already had a man she loved with all of her heart. "Keeping him at an arms length won't be too difficult, either. I wouldn't meet with him if it wasn't for the fact that the crew deserves the downtime, so we can just call this taking one for the team. Nothing more."

"I have a feeling that he may throw you for a loop again like he did when he promoted you," the ship's commander said. "He has a habit of throwing curve balls whenever he feels like it."

Maddy nodded her head. People in powerful positions often did things like that on a whim, but she wouldn't know until it happened. "Time will tell, I suppose. I'll know once I meet up with him," she said, rising to her feet and making her way over to the replicator for a cup of tea. Once she had it in hand, she moved back to the table. "I'll get the request written up, then send it to you for your signature."

"You know the Chief Engineer is going to hate you, don't you?" Michael asked her. "Or she may fall in love with you. I don't know her preference."

That caused a brow to raise. "Where did that come from?"

"If we're going to Pacifica, we'll have to use the Transwarp Drive and redline it for three days non-stop just to get there."

"We've done it before to get someplace, but there's fun to be had at the end of this journey and not the possibility of death, so I think our Chief Engineer will be okay with it," Maddy stated, reaching for a PADD so she could begin writing up the request. "Besides... the ship will have a couple weeks to rest just like the rest of us will. This is a win-win if you ask me."

"If Admiral Breckenridge okays the request," Michael said as he finished his coffee. "He's a bit of a maverick when it comes to how he runs things."

The redhead turned her attention toward Michael. "He said he would approve it when I met up with him. If I meet up with him, and he doesn't, there's going to be hell to pay. I don't give a damn if he's a maverick or not. Don't tell Madelina Weisz you're going to do something, then don't do it. That's the best way to end up on the 'eat shit and die' list."

"I'd laugh but I don't doubt you," he said. "However, I wouldn't try to do a unless otherwise directed with him. If he wants to meet you, then you'll be the only person he wants to see."

"We'll see what happens when the time comes," she said, wondering if things were going to go south. There was always a chance.

"I have a question," Michael said. "Have you ever looked up his personnel record? I know you won't see everything, but you may get some insight on him."

Maddy shook her head. The thought of looking into the Admiral never really crossed her mind. "No, I can't say that I have. Why? Have you looked? If so, you can save me the effort and tell me what's in it."

"I check on everyone, but I think it may be more beneficial if you do," he said cryptically. "Or you could continue on your current path with him."

"I try to make it a point to check in on everyone, but I figured he wouldn't have anything to hide. That being said, I suppose we all have some kind of skeleton in our closet," the Captain stated, sliding the PADD over in his direction so he could review the request and sign off on it. "I'll take a look before I meet up with him. For now, though, I need you to look over that and sign off so I can bring it to him once we get to DS10."

Michael took the PADD and glance at it, then put his thumbprint on it. "You're good to go, Maddy. Good luck dealing with him."

"Thanks, though, I can definitely handle myself, but you know that," she said, accepting the PADD back so she could put it somewhere safe until it was needed. With that done, she rose to her feet and gave him a smile. "You better enjoy the hell out of this shore leave and put work... as well as task force duties... well behind you." She winked at him, then made her way out of the ready room to get a few things done.