EXETERRPG: (1, 0700) CO, Captain Trip Williams and FO, Commander Ailynn Bracken - Mission Starter - All Read to get bearings for status quo

[Will Banowsky]

NPRG: note the new mission title and stardate. I will not be accepting any
backposts to the previous mission. Its a downtime mission. you are free to
fill in gaps over the two week period. not as posts but as mentions. You
are free to go anywhere on Earth, the moon, and Mars. Its downtime, so it
means build your character, build relationships, friendships, go nuts, or
sane. But how is your character recovering from the last two missions of
crap.

RPG

Mission: A new day dawns
Day: 1
Stardate: 2446.01.28

(Mars - New Ares City, William’s Residence - CO, Captain Trip Williams and
FO, Commander Ailynn Bracken - 0700)

It had been a long two weeks since they returned to the Milky Way galaxy.
Since the return the Exeter crew had been subject to a small quarantine,
medical and psychological examinations, and various debriefs. Trip and
Ailynn had been back and forth to Starfleet HQ more times than they could
count. The crew had been interviewed extensively about the Andromeda
Galaxy, the Empress, Quella, and anything that Starfleet could think of.
Trip himself had been interviewed extensively about the Ravok incident.
Ravok was officially declared AWOL and had been dishonorably discharged
from the Service. There was a warrant out for his arrest for the murder of
Cade Blackwell. Many of the Exeter’s crew and civilian complement had
requested and been granted transfers due to the stress of the incident.
Lana was living safely in Tuscany under the careful eye of Aimee and Dale
Bracken. It allowed her to begin again, while also being protected and
under surveillance. It also helped that Aimee’s boyfriend, Liam Frost
Alexander, was an accident created by the same technology that allowed the
Empress to swap minds with Lana in the first place. It meant that if the
new Lana ever found the truth, there would be someone nearby to share the
burden. Ravok’s daughter was currently staying with Trips parent’s at the
Ranch on Earth. They were experienced as foster parents and it seemed the
most appropriate. The hope was her to be reunited with her mother, but it
was a delicate situation. They had gotten a hold of her and she had agreed
to regain custody, but it would take her around two more weeks to return to
Earth. Ronnie Winters was declared dead and Ronnie Williams was officially
adopted by Trip and Ash. Furthermore, Olympia Noctis, who had been on the
Exeter when it returned to Earth, had been given a field commission as a
Lt. JG and joined the Exeter crew. While saddened about her fate, she
herself took it in stride as an act of will of her people’s goddess.

Trip himself was exhausted. However with all the paperwork cleared and the
Exeter at Mars space dock for refits, repairs, and to download and study
it’s sensor data, the crew was given time off. For how long, was uncertain,
but it would be good for them to get some rest.

Trip had just returned from his morning jog to the house he owned on Mars
with his wife Ash. Ash was inside sleeping as was little Ronnie. He was
sitting on the porch looking at the pond that the house was next to when
Ailynn walked up.

“Ailynn Bracken, always punctual.”

Ailynn stepped through the low gate smiling at her oldest friend. "Hey
Trip. You look well, if troubled." She waved at a neighbour, who was
staring. Even though the base was nearby, certain things, and certain
people drew attention, and a twenty-six year old Commander who walked with
as much authority as she did, as if she owned the whole street, was one of
them.

“The last of the transfers have been authorized. Billy is the last, he,
umm, he needed to get away from the Exeter. The guilt was too much. He’s
going to work at Starfleet Academy as my dad’s Aide.”

"It'll do him good" she answered, perching on the adjacent wall. "He needs
to unfurl his sails, a stint at HQ will help him."

“Any word from your mom about Lana?”

"Odds and ends. Medical reports, psych analysis. Mum and Gran keep arguing
about teaching her the family trade. Dale worries it might cause flashbacks
and bring the other Aimee back." She shuddered. "You ever see those two
argue?"

'Any chance the other Aimee comes back?"

"Not sure. I don't do half jobs. I don't think that there's much chance of
it."

"that's good." Trip paused. "Have you talked to your brother?"

Ailynn shook her head “Not for a while. I know it wasn’t him, I know that
he couldn’t help doing what he did, and in the grand scheme of things he
was the first victim, but I’ve found myself putting some distance between
us. He and I...I dunno, one day maybe, he gave some stuff back, that I’d
intended him to have, our dad’s ear Jewelry for instance. Why do you ask?”

"He's taking a posting on the USS Nathan James. Something about being on a
ship where his ex girlfriend is now a 2 year old just was too much for him."

“Yeah, that’s understandable. It’s painful. I’ve only just begun to come to
terms with it myself. It’s one of the reasons that I…”

Trip paused again, " I sent in the paperwork. Your request is approved."

“Thank you Trip.” She said simply.

"Have you told Caity yet?"

“Only that it was in my mind, that I was going to hand the request in. Not
that I had.”

"Well in my experience, the sooner that better. " Trip laughed.

“I know. I’m going there now. I wish it wasn’t necessary, but there’s so
much happened this time, that I’m still not sure I’m strong enough. This
isn’t like my fight against the Jost-Wraith, this isn’t something that I
can stare down and force it to make mistakes so I can beat it.” Ailynn
stood up and stretched her back, and then sat back down. “It still stings.
All of it.”

"I know."

“I’m being a selfish cow, I know I am, and believe me I’ve tried to not be
that person, because it’s best for everyone, but...grief is selfish. The
Empress too, that was too close to home. I ‘ve no idea how to process it.”

Trip stood up and held her tight. "We all process differently. Honestly, I
haven't had the time yet and that's why I'm still standing. We had to baby
proof the house, make a room for Ronnie. Order a remodeling of my quarters
on the Exeter to fit two kids."

Nodding, she smiled, briefly, the expression fell away from her face
quickly though. “How are you doing? There’s stuff that you’re shying away
from dealing with too.”

Trip began to cry, "when I'm not moving all all I can see is Ravok. The
coldness. The feel of the knife as he drove it into my gut. he left me to
die."

“I honestly didn’t think that he was capable of that, I mean, one person
can never truly know another, but to do that to you; I still can’t believe
it. I wake up in a cold sweat each night, dreaming about what could have
been, and believe me, cold sweaty me is not fun to sleep with.”

"You're probably right. But Ravok, Ire, and I, we were a band of brothers.
Forged by fire. That stings more "

“I know, All of the base pilots were. there’s just so much trauma, that we
all need time to heal. But I can’t do that anymore and remain doing what I
do.”

"Just, lean on your circle ok. If I learned anything from when Rae died,
you can't run from it. I'll always thank your gran for finding me when she
did."

“Yeah, I am too.” She smiled wanely.

"Everyone is wired different. I've learned I got to keep moving. but if you
need quiet, Ailys, please take it. Caity is pre-approved for a sabbatical
as well."

“Thank you. I need to be home, at the villa. It’s so stupid, I just need to
not be the strong one for a while, more correctly I just need less
distractions, and so much has happened to both Caity and I separately, that
we need to reconnect and learn how to support each other.” She turned to
another neighbour, who was staring at Trip hugging her. “Something on your
mind?” The gentleman shook his head and shuffled off, a flea in his ear.

“You’ll have seen my report, there’s a list of concerns. Frost for
instance, I’ve ordered counselling, but she has issues at the moment that I
recognise from my own past. You know how highly strung she is, when people
like that break, they break hard.”


"Jack Roberts is an addiction specialist. Ill have him get a hold of her.
Ailys, you're good right. No chance of falling into bad habits? Are you
addressing your needs?"

“Me? Yeah I know. That was a very very long time ago, whereas I will always
be a recovering addict, I’ve been clean for... Spare me the high school
latin,” Ailynn smiled warmly. ‘Healer heal thyself’ was a frequent phrase
between the two of them. “I know I need to address my issues. I have
started, I promise.”

"good "

At that moment Ronnie ran through the door."Daddy can I has pancakes?"

"sure thing sweetie. I'll be in soon."

“Hey Trouble. Good nap?”

"Auntie Ailsy, do you want you pancakes?"

“That would be lovely Ronnie, thank you.”

"ok, but only one, you look like you getting fat. Not fat like mommy
though. So you only get one."

"Veronica Kadaya Williams!" Trip began, "apologize right now or we won't
feed the ducks today "

"sowwy Auntie Ailsy."

Ailynn smiled gently, and held her arms out for Ronnie, who came hopping
over. Lifting her up she grunted slightly. “You’re getting heavy miss. Do
you think we should go and pester mommy so she makes pancakes, before the
naughty doggie finds the mix?”

"you betcha." Ronnie replied.


“Then let’s go.” She put Ronnie down, and watched as she tottered off, then
turned to Trip, walking into the house. “I will be back you know; I just
need to recenter.”

"that chair is yours. He's just keeping it warm for you."

“Oooh...one thing...I can’t find my blue spotty bra, might be in your
bottom drawer, might want to look before your new FO moves in.” She winked
cheekily, she may be in need of a sabbatical, but she was still there
somewhere.”


Trip laughed, "Maybe Ravok stole it."

“Asshat, you are not funny.” her smile faded though.


"Ronnie was rude but you look, well anyways. Just want to make sure you
stay healthy."

“I will. I promise, so long as you promise to look after this lot won’t
you.”  It wasn’t a goodbye, as she knew that they’d see each other probably
tomorrow, and there would be plenty of time while the Exeter was being
refitted. So no, this wasn’t a goodbye. Sure felt like one though.

(reply none)
(posted by Will and Mark)
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