EXETERRPG: (1, 1200) CO, Captain Trip Williams, FO, Commander Ailynn Bracken, and Dir. R&SE, Ashlyn Williams

[Will Banowsky]

Mission: Auld Lang Syne

Day:01

Stardate: 2445.12.28



(USS Exeter –Personal Quarters - CO, Captain Trip Williams, FO, Commander
Ailynn Bracken, and Dir. R&SE, Ashlyn Williams - 12:00)

“Sorry I’m late sweetie, had some random business come my way.” Trip said
as he entered his quarters.

Ashlyn looked up from the book that she’d been reading and Layla jumped off
the couch from where she’d been sat next to her, and ran across the room
tail wagging.

“Hey there girl, you ready to go run on the beach,” Trip said petting Layla.

Layla sneezed and wagged excitedly.

“I hope waiting wasn’t a problem?”

“No problem at all sweetie.” Ash answered, “What kind of business? Can you
say?” She’d learned to read Trip’s face when it can to things he could
speak about and things that he couldn’t.

“Apparently a bunch of my cousins decided to crash our vacation and wanted
to stop by.”

“Oh? I hadn’t realised that they were anywhere near here. The Williams’
crashing Risa are they? Oh deary me. Who’s turned up?”

“Jimmy, D.J., Chris. Fun times. They just gave the Lexington to Jimmy and
Chris is going to be the FO on the Hood. Two more months and there will be
two more Exeter class ships out there.”

Ashlyn glowed, she was so proud of her extended family. Even more so that
it was Trips father that had designed the ship.

“Hey, do you know if Ailynn is still on board?”

“I think so.” She answered. “She was in the study area when I saw her last,
reading up on the topics for that conference you two have to sit through.”
She smiled, and giggled. “You know what she’s like. A look of fierce
concentration on her face. Why do you ask?”

“Can you keep a secret? They’re offering her the Hood.”

“Really? Oh my! That’s amazing, I’m so proud of her. Of all of you of
course.”

“Yeah, I just don’t know if I want to lose her ya know.”

Ashlyn nodded. “I understand. She may not accept it, she’s a very very
complicated girl. She’d ace it of course. You can never tell with Ailynn.”

“It’s her choice, and I want her to both take and turn down the offer at
the same time.”

“I understand, and she’d take that as the highest compliment that you could
give her.” Ashlyn smiled, standing up and stretching her back. “She
mentioned that she’d booked a cabin, a ways down from ours, so she won’t be
staying on board the ship. If you want to catch up with her before we head
off, that’s fine, I need to finish packing a few things.”

“Yeah, what are you packing?” he said with a wink.

Ashlyn blushed, and winked teasingly. “Steaks and beer.”

Trip went up and gave her a big kiss. “I love you so much.”

Ashlyn kissed him back. “Love you too. Now get out from under my feet while
I finish up.” She winked.

“Fine, but we should invite Ronnie for dinner while we’re here. I think she
wants to spend a day with you too. Before you know it, our lives will be
screaming and diapers.”

Nodding, Ashlyn replied. “I’ll message her. There’s a couple of people that
I want to entertain. Ailynn and Caity too, we’ll have a get together on the
beach.”

Trip smiled and tapped his commbadge. “Captain Williams to Commander
Bracken, please drop by my quarters ASAP.”

=/\=On my way...if I can find that top that goes with the..never mind. I
got it. Be right there. Bracken out.=/\=

While he waited Trip began looking over his duffle bag, making sure that he
packed all the shirts that Ash liked, and a couple other ensembles for her
benefit.

A few moments later Ailynn was on her way to Trip and Ashlyn’s quarters.
She’d finished in the study hall a while ago, and had gone back to her own
quarters to pack. She hit the chime when she reached the door.

“Enter.” Trip said as he finished packing.

Ailynn stepped into the lounge, greeting both of them, and also Layla who
had run up to greet her. She was still wearing her uniform, she hadn’t had
a chance to change yet.

“Looks like you aren’t yet read for fun.” Trip said as he finished
buttoning up his linen shirt. He didn’t mind not wearing a shirt around
Ailynn. He liked showing of his muscles. Plus it wasn’t the first time
Ailynn had seen him without a shirt.

“Yeah...That’s what I was looking for when you called. What do you need?
Hey Ash are you okay?”

“Fine thank you honey.” Ash replied passing through the room.

“She’s glowing. According to my cousins, I have a hot wife.” Trip said with
a smile.

Ailynn smiled. “They’re not wrong. Good genes. Cousins? I’m not with.”
Ailynn replied puzzled.

“Yeah. Jimmy, D.J., and Chris are all here. Jimmy and Chris are attending
the same conference. D.J. and his wife and kid just wanted a vacation.”
Trip said looking under the couch. “Babe, do you know where my sandals are?”

“Closet, second shelf up, left hand side.” Ashlyn called out from the
bedroom.

“Thanks dear.” Trip then went to the closet and took out his sandals.
“Jimmy was promoted to captain and named CO of the Lexington. D.J. is
taking over the fighter wing. Chris was just named FO of the Hood.”

“Those are the new ships on the Exeter class. I saw the list in the Fleet
communique. You must be crazy proud of all this. Any clue who they have in
mind as CO of the Hood? Barker, C’lel?”

“Lynn,” Trip said with a sigh. “You might want to take a seat.”

“Last time you told me to sit down you promoted me to FO.” She said sitting
down. “Actually that’s a lie, the last time was when you told me Ashlyn was
pregnant. What’s up?” Her brain was still buried in archeaology.

“So, about the CO of the Hood. They wanted someone who had familiarity with
the Exeter Class. Maybe not someone with the most command experience, but
had familiarity with the ship. And well…. Do I need to keep going or have
you figured it out?”

Ailynn blushed. “Are you serious? Me?”

“Congratulations Lynn, she’s yours if you want her.” He handed her a PADD
that was on the coffee table. “Your orders are here. You’d be promoted to
captain. But they do allow you the opportunity to turn her down given your
relative greenness.”

“Trip...This is…” She blushed, “Me? This is going to take some thought. I
want to of course, but There’s so many reasons not to.…” She read the PADD.
“How long do I have to reach a decision?”

“They need to know by the first of the year. The whole crew is set up. You
won’t get to pick your senior staff. I read your orders. They wanted to ask
you earlier, but they wanted to give the two of us some, I dunno, chance to
breathe before making the ask.”

“I understand, and thank you Trip.”

“I’ll transfer Caity of course.”

She blushed. “I’ll need a good Director of R&SE.” She winked at Ash.
“seriously though, I’ll give this proper thought, Your backing means a lot.”

“Real talk?”

“Shoot.” she answered simply. “You know I’ll not take offense.”

“I’m gonna miss you. I don’t know if Keira or Ravok will ever really be
able to replace you. But that’s not it. Honestly, I’m just used to your
face. And I feel guilty as hell. I want you to turn it down, but at the
same time, I want you to take it because you deserve it. But I just, it was
hard enough being separated from Sy after being around her for 22 years,
its gonna hurt losing you too.”

She nodded, a lump forming in her throat. On a whim, she pulled him into a
hug. “I haven’t said yes yet, but if I do, I’ll never be able to express my
gratitude to you for convincing me to take up the FO post. I’ll miss you,
you oaf.”

“You’d be a fool to say no. You never know when the next opportunity will
come by.”

“I know.” She pulled away. “Rest assured I will make the right decision for
me.” She smiled gently, her heart unsure whether it was sinking in fear or
soaring with pride. “I’d better go finish packing.”

“Yeah. I’ll see you down there. The opening reception is at 1700 hours.”

“Thank you Trip. I’ll be there.”

She stepped away, and left the room, aware of a sudden weirdness between
them; as if everyone was steeling themselves for a decision that would
forever change all of their destinies.

(Reply none)

(Posted by Will and Mark)
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