Schmoozing

[Cptn Corizon 0]

Corizon let the door of the lift slide shut behind him before letting a bemused smirk surface. Occasionally, he'd found that throwing a temper tantrum could be effective in achieving a goal. Segami had been far too brash, and if he though he'd have to listen to Corizon's pedantic ranting again, it might cause the young Trill to think before acting. Even if it didn't, though, Corizon had to admit it did let him vent.

 

He pressed the control button and sent his lift towards his quarters. The next hour or so of his life expected to be decidedly unpleasant, and having to wear a dress uniform to be brow-beaten wasn't making the situation any better.

 

--

 

After pulling on his dress uniform, running a comb through his cropped white hair and switching out the golden ear-rings in his left ear, Corizon set towards the main observation lounge of the massive Spacedock complex.

 

Nodding to the security officer who stood watch at the airlock, Corizon sighed as his boots took foot on the stations' hard, unyielding deck plating. Moving down the hall he came to gallery walkway lined with floor to ceiling windows, Earth crowding the view.

 

Looking at the blue-green, spotted white marble of a planet there was a feeling of security, nostalgia and angst wrapped into one swelling inside his mind. It had been nearly two years since he'd seen Earth from any distance, and now he was back to the place he'd called home almost longer than his real home, yet now it felt somehow...alien.

 

Crowd noise broke his train of thought. He could make out the chatter of officers, happy to be back home. Happy to be away from the troubles of the Gamma Quadrant. Homecoming was always a joyous event, and after the long tour of duty Excalibur had been through, he couldn't blame them.

 

“Captain,” a voice called to him.

 

Looking in the general direction of the voice, his yellow eyes narrowed focusing on the figure the sound had emanated from—a tall, lanky figure with four arms, purple skin, and glistening blue eyes.

 

“Admiral Myi'ama,” Corizon said, nodding his head respectfully. “I was hoping I'd get to talk to you.”

 

“In good time,” Myi'ama said with a sly grin. “But first, I understand the Council members in attendence want to meet with you....”

 

“Of course, sir. I'll find you after I've been paraded around.”

 

“Make sure that you do...”

 

--

 

"Captain..." Corizon heard the muffled sounds of the Yagjanian as he nodded for the final time. "I do hope all produces much joy for you in the future."

 

“Thank you,” Corizon said as he began walking off from the final Council member he had to meet with before heading off to meet with Ambassador N'Dak and finally the Admiral.

 

It's good to see you again Ah-Windu.

 

You too...Ambassador.

 

I hate that title.

 

I know.

 

You never change.

 

I try not to make it a habit. So you wanted to see me?

 

Yes.

 

About?

 

What those politicians won't tell you.

 

I thought they were all a little to friendly.

 

You've put the Federation in a difficult political situation with your dealings with the Dominion and the Hundred.

 

How so?

 

Promising to go looking for the Founders.

 

I didn't really have much of a choice. It's not like I could call up Starfleet Command and get talk it over with them. Admiral Day approved, as did their personally appointed representative...

 

Yes, yes I know that. But you know how these things are...

 

Ugh...

 

Starfleet doesn't want that sort of cowboy diplomacy becoming fashionable.

 

Understandable. But it was a difficult situation.

 

Is that why I haven't gotten any response on why Fleet hasn't gone forward with that mission?

 

That's what my contacts in Starfleet are telling me. Frankly most people in the upper echelons aren't exactly upset to see the Gamma Quadrant in turmoil. And if it weren't for the fact you managed to save the Quadrant from invasion...you'd be persona non grata at more than just ATAG.

 

Not surprising.

 

Well you'd better go talk to the Admiral...

 

It was good seeing you again Koshic.

 

And you to Ah-Windu. Take care of yourself.

 

--

 

“Captain,” Myi'ama said, offering him a drink from the table next to her with one of her four arms. “I take it you've had enough of the schmoozing.”

 

“You know me...”

 

“Yes, I do.”

 

Corizon smiled despite himself and took the glass of champagne. The feeling of impending doom was circling like a vulture around him, but he'd rather not show that in front of Starfleet brass...let alone his crew.

 

“So when will repairs begin on the Excalibur? I was hoping to get back to the Gamma Quadrant sooner than latter. It's going to take time to look for the Founders.”

 

Myi'ama cringed slightly, and switched the glass into one of her lower arms. “I was hoping to avoid talking about that right away.”

 

“I'd rather not.”

 

“Well I guess there's no easy way to tell you...”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Excalibur will not be repaired.”

 

“What?” Corizon said, though his surprise had been mitigated by his conversations with command earlier.

 

“She's taken a ton of damage, Corizon...and right now...Fleet just can't justify pouring that many resources into saving her.”

 

“I understand.”

 

Silence engulfed the pair for a moment before Corizon spoke again. “So when will the Excalibur-C be ready...”

 

“There won't be an Excalibur-C.”

 

That was a surprise, and Corizon didn't bother hiding it either. “Excuse me?”

 

“There will be no Excalibur-C...not at this time anyway.”

 

“May I ask why?”

 

“Frankly...we don't feel it's needed.”

 

“I respectfully disagree...the Gamma Quadrant is...”

 

“Is not going to go to hell in a hand basket with one less Federation battleship in it. And frankly, we'd rather not place so many assets in an area that can so easily be isolated from us.”

 

Corizon twitched his ears. This was a battle he knew he wasn't going to win. “Again, I disagree, but I know when not to pick a fight.”

 

“That would be wise.”

 

“So what will I be doing?”

 

“Fleet has decided to give you command of the USS Oberon.”

 

“That's good...”

 

“But you will not be heading up the mission to go looking for the Founders...”

 

Again he didn't bother hiding his annoyance or surprise. “Excuse me?”

 

“You will not be heading up the mission to go looking for the Founders...” Myi'ama repeated herself firmly.

 

“There's no one else better for the job...if I may be so bold.”

 

“I don't disagree.”

 

“Then why...”

 

“Because there will be no such mission.”

 

“But...but the ramifications...”

 

“Yes, failure to act on our part could lead to the destabilization of the Gamma Quadrant. I read your report. But at this time, Starfleet considers it an acceptable risk.”

 

“You mean that they want the Dominion to continue in-fighting?”

 

“Officially, we have no position. Unofficially? Starfleet has little interest in a unified Dominion.”

 

Corizon took a deep breath and exhaled. He understood the position. Hell he even held it himself. But what he worried about was that when the dust cleared, the Dominion would be even more upset that the Federation had gone back on its word because it was convenient.

 

Resignedly Corizon decided not to argue the point any further. “And my crew?”

 

“We've already started reassigning them. I thought I'd let you tell them about the decommissioning before we started sending out the first batch of orders.”

 

She handed him a PADD she'd been keeping behind her back with one of her arms and smiled slightly. “I know you're not happy about this, but its the way its going to be. At least I was able to get you a command...there were some people who wanted to force you out entirely...or give you some hellish assignment on an ice-block.”

 

He shook his head and looked at the woman he'd called a friend for nearly twenty-years. “Thanks Aeyko...I am sorry if I was...short with you before.”

 

“I understand...it's hard.”

 

“Yes...”

 

He took the PADD's and skimmed over them briefly. “I'll let the crew know as soon as I can stomach it.”

 

“Good,” she said patting him on the head. “You'll like the Oberon she's got a good crew. Her captain just stepped down a few weeks ago. And it's a quiet assignment...”

 

“Cataloging gaseous anomalies...”

 

“It was the best I could do...”

 

“When I am not feeling like I've been put in the doghouse for doing my job, I'll thank you.”

 

She winked at him. “I've an appointment with the Thasian Ambassador...I'll be around later if you'd like a drink.”

 

“I am sure I'll want several...”

 

“See you then...”

[Cptn Corizon 0]

FROM: Fleet Admiral Nechayev, Admiral Myi'ama, Admiral Sanifrest, Starfleet Command

TO: Captain Ah-Windu Corizon, Acting Commanding Officer USS Excalibur

CC: Admiral Wayne Day, Commanding Officer, Camelot Station ; Commander Talin Jueng, Executive Officer, USS Oberon

SUBJECT: NEW ORDERS

 

Captain Ah-Windu Corizon, you are hereby requested an ordered to relinquish command of the USS Excalibur for immediate decommissioning.

 

Upon such, you are also ordered and required to take command of the USS Oberon, in orbit of Mars. New orders concerning the Oberon will arrive, pending your acquiescence of these orders.