Brief Debriefing.

Posted on Fri May 28th, 2021 @ 4:49pm by Captain Abigail Laurens & Commander Ichiko Gail

Mission: Pathstone to History
Location: USS Astraea - Captain's Ready Room

Walking through the doors and directly across to the windows of the ready room, Abigail stared out a the view of the Dalacari station beyond, waiting until the doors closed before turning back to Ichiko, clasping her hands behind her back. "Well, that certainly puts a kink in our plans," she said quietly, a hint of defeat in her voice as she spoke.

"No. No no no." Ichiko shook her head, "Abigail Laurens does not get to talk like that." the rabbitess crossed the distance to her desk. "You eat Admirals for breakfast, you cross intergalactic distances on invitation. You've plucked battleships from the brink of Hell itself." she bolstered, "Abigail, it took a PLANET coming out of nowhere to stop you, and all it did was delay you."

Ichiko took a breath, mostly just to catch her own. "This is a delay. Besides, Dalacari holding quarters aren't that bad." she smirked.

Abigail laughed slightly, a soft laugh that lacked conviction. "No, that they weren't. Under different circumstances they may have even been enjoyable." She sat on the chair at her desk and crossed her legs, leaning back against the back of the chair. "Do you think they'll give us a do-over?" she asked quietly, looking up at Ichiko.

"Yes." a simple and direct answer as Ichiko sat across from her, relaxing back a bit. "You and Goki made fast friends, that'll help the matter. As for the Dalacari, what's that quaint human term... sweeten the pot." like she could actually forget.

"They're curious creatures, driven to always know what's around the next corner. The Alpha Quadrant is a buffet of new experiences and new places to go. Offer them a map." she advised. "Places to avoid, certainly, but also places to go. Things to see. Just, don't ruin the surprise for them."

Abigail sighed and reached up, running her fingers through dark hair that now fell loosely down her back having been released from the previous tightly pinned braids. "Arrogance..." it was a simple word, followed by a laugh. "I was arrogant." She looked to Ichiko and held up a hand to stop her from interrupting. "No, I was arrogant. I came into this thinking that it was a given. Like the good will I had garnered with the Ts'usugi, like having you as my First Officer, like having the small amount of inside information, like it all made me unstoppable, that this was a given. I could just waltz in, exchange some pleasantries, sign a deal and change the course of the Federation forever."

She looked down, bitting her lips together, shaking her head slightly. "Arrogance."

The corner of her mouth quirked slightly in a self deprecating smile before she looked back at Ichiko again, rising up from her seat and unzipping her formal jacket, tossing it absently in the general direction of the couch. "The universe has reminded me of my place. Now, I guess we work on doing what we can to resolve this mess?"

Ichiko had a soft smirk on her features as she listened, "Did you know... there are forty six stories and legends in Ts'usugi history about how the hero suffers their fall due to a moment of arrogance. I think this one may be my favorite, because I know the hero personally. Also, in most of those, the hero dies." a pause, "In this one, the hero spent a few hours in jail."

"You've returned from the stars, Abigail. You flew too close to the sun, but were saved in the end. The universe struck you down for daring to dream, but gave you a second chance. How will you seize it?" the rabbitess offered. "No pressure, but I'm proud to be here to chronicle this moment. For all the treasure of the throne moon, I wouldn't trade this point. There's nowhere in the universe I'd rather be than right here." she paused for a moment, "I'm going to tell you something I probably shouldn't, so if anyone asks, I didn't."

"For a time, we were afraid of you. The Federation. Not of what you could do, but of what you'd ask. To join, to be part of something bigger, we were afraid you would ask of us to abandon our virtues and ideals." she offered. "I see you here, lamenting your inability to shift the course of a species with but a glance and a whim, and I'm relieved. I see you as more and more a person everyday, Abigail. And it relieves me."

Then she gave a soft giggle, "Just, don't actually relieve me. I want to be here for this." she offered in humor. Around Abigail, the rabbitess learned that she could relax the generations of proper protocol and duty, and just be herself. And she was very fond of discovering just who she was.

Abigail drew in a deep breath, straightening her shoulders, head held a little higher. "Don't worry, I have no intention of relieving you," she said with a small smile. "Though, I'll be honest, I'm surprised Goki didn't. I thought he would have removed all the Ts'usugi from Astraea if he thought we were a potential threat."

"He knows we're more useful to all parties involved if we stay where we are. I'm with you to the end, Abigail, but if you were about to do something that would become a threat to Dalacari, to the Three Dawn Accord, or gods help you Ts'usu... I'd advise against it. Heavily."

"He wants this seen through to the end. Removing someone you trust, who knows the local region and how all the major local players operate is the opposite of resolving this." she pointed out.

"Well, lets just hope that we can sort this out," Abigail replied quietly. "Otherwise we're going to be in for a very long and awkward journey back to the Alpha Quadrant, even with our slip stream."

"You'll walk into those negotiations a new woman, a new Captain. Emboldened by the competence of your crew, but humbled by the notion that the universe enjoys meddling in the certainty of mortals." Ichiko offered. "The trials before us don't seem fair or easy, but you haven't backed down yet from a challenge."

"You wouldn't let me even if I wanted to," Abigail smiled in response before taking a deep breath. "Alright, come on my friend, let's go work out what kind of sorcery we're dealing with. Who knows, maybe we'll be lucky and Q will show up, set everything back the way it was with a snap of his fingers." She said with a snap of her own fingers. Pushing away from the desk, she started toward the door, steeling herself to be ready to face the conference room, allowing one last small sigh and a momentary flight of fantasy. "One could only hope."