Posted by Commander Shara Calloway (Chief Intelligence Officer) in From the Shadows Comes Hope

Posted by Civilian Micah Pikelsimer (Federation Security Agent) in From the Shadows Comes Hope

Posted by Commander Shara Calloway (Chief Intelligence Officer) in From the Shadows Comes Hope
Posted by… suppressed (8) by the Post Ghost! 👻
They owed her big time. So much that even the time away that they had managed would not really be enough to make up for it. But that was life and Shara was used to it. It still didn’t mean that she hadn’t taken as many days as she possibly could (and Sara had promised her the time she needed, so that made it easier).

She glanced at Micah at her side, at the helm of his ship and smiled. “Here goes nothing…” she said, and put in the call to the Athena, going through normal channels, but marking it as high priority. She wasn’t sure when or where she’d be greeting her daughter (and depending on the circumstances her son-in-law too) but she was tired of being in the shadows and going through restricted channels seemed overkill.

After a few minutes, she got a young officer on the comm and was put on hold while they patched the call in. Her foot tapped nervously while she waited. They had all waited so long already. “I’m feeling impatient, which is not something I can admit to feeling very often,” she said to Micah.

Finally, the screen shifted and there was Faye, Daggum, and another officer sitting in a meeting room. “Howdy folks, long time no see,” she said.

~Shara Calloway, CIO

Faye rose to her feet and just stared at the screen in shock, clearly unable to find words.

~Faye Calloway, Athena’s CIO

Daggum came into view and put a large green hand on his wife’s shoulder. =/\= You of all people should know to call before you call, Commander. =/\= he said with a smile.

“Old habits die hard,” Shara said with a grin. As much as she didn’t want to harm Faye in anyway, this was a good surprise… for once.

=/\=Glad to see you. I take it your not-so-better half is somewhere close by if you are calling us?” =/\= He turned and looked at someone behind them. =/\=Calloway’s mother. She has been… gone… for some time. =/\= and he turned and looked back at the screen.

Micah leaned in and said “Yeah yeah yeah… relax… I’m here. But someone has to pilot us into the warp lane so we can get home for some R&R!”

Micah

Seeing Micah there as well, Faye inhaled deeply and broke into a smile, shaking her head. “You both suck. A million times over. But Im also really glad to see your faces.”

Faye turned to Shock. “Lieutenant Shock, I’d like you to meet my parents: Commander Shara Calloway, Chief Intelligence Officer of the USS Asimov and Micah Picklesimer of Federation Security. Mom, Pops, this is Shock, our Chief of Security.”

Commander, Agent,” Shock acknowledged the parents with their formal titles, while nodding toward them.

Shara grinned, though there was heaviness in her eyes behind that grin. “It’s a pleasure to meet some of my daughter’s colleagues, Lieutenant. I trust Faye is keeping you on your toes?” She barely restrained a chuckle.

~Faye and Shara Calloway, CIOs

“Peace and long life”, Shock reciprocated the Earth pleasantry with one from his own planet. “Your daughter and I have a constructive collegial relationship. I consider her a colleague from whom I am learning new perspectives.”

– Lt Shock (COS)

Shara grinned. “Well that’s wonderful to hear.”

=/\=You’re back=/\= Faye said, her voice carrying over the comm as soft as a whisper.

Her gaze shifted to Faye and she nodded. “Yeah, we’re are. For good this time. I know…” Shara paused and gathered herself, not daring to look at Micah. “I know I promised that before, but this was a different situation. We’ve been promised that it’s done for good now. No more Agent Calloway. She’s locked in a vault and I can just be a starship officer the way I was supposed to be.”

Shara continued. “So, in the spirit of surprises, you can imagine Micah and I are… owed. I’ve already cleared it so you don’t even have to ask, but if you want, you could come meet us at the cabin? Nadine is coming.”

Faye turned to her husband. =/\=What do you say to a trip to Earth. Not quite Honeymoon Redux, but could be nice for our anniversary?=/\=

~Shara and Faye Calloway, CIOs

Daggum smiled and said “An opportunity to try the famous Pikelsimer moonshine? Count me in.” he said with a laugh.

Hammor, CE

Faye gestured. =/\=You heard the man,=/\= she told her mother.

Shara grinned. “Alright, pack you bags, Kids. We have everything arranged so expect that info shortly.”She shifted her attention to Shock. “Lieutenant, nice to meet you.”

With the final words, Calloway cut the comm and looked over at her husband. “We’re in so much trouble. Me, more than you, but you get lumped in now. How does it feel?” she said with a smirk, but there was a sadness beneath it.

~Shara Calloway, CIO

Bump

Micah chuckled and said “Now that’s the kinda trouble I don’t mind gettin’ in.” He stood up and said “Now if’n y’all excuse me. I gotta get my daughter-and-son-in-law some travel instructions.” and he kissed Shara on the cheek and turned and left the room.

Pikelsimer, FedSec

Vanessa was on autopilot so she just kicked her heels up onto the edge of a console and leaned back in her chair, watching the stars go by.

~Shara Calloway, CIO

Micah came into the cockpit and took a seat in the pilot’s chair. He scanned the control panels of the heavily modified Hideki-class Cardassian patrol ship. It was painted a dark, muted gray rather than the standard Cadassian military burnt orange and was decidedly not standard Cardassian military anymore. Inside was more like a space-going apartment; complete with bedroom, refresher, secure comms, armory, and all the bells and whistles needed for someone(s) who spent the majority of their lives doing other people’s dirty work. Micha set a cup of coffee on the panel in front of Shara and reclined his chair. “Two hours till Earth. It’ll be 0400 when we get there. Kids should be here around 1400. Just enough time to rustle up some grub for dinner and a not-so-quikie in the bathtub.” he said as he relaxed and closed his eyes for a moment.

Micah Pikelsimer

“Where is everyone going to sleep anyway? My first thought was that Nadine or Faye and Dag could sleep in Vanessa, and then the other we could set up in the music room with a fold out bed or something? To be honest, Faye is more likely to not mind that, but well, that son-in-law of ours is a rather large man,” Shara said with a smirk. “No cheap camping gear for them.” They could easily procure anything between now and then, so it wasn’t really an issue, but she wanted the logistics clear in her head.

~Shara Calloway, CIO

Micah said without opening his eyes “Already taken care of. I made some… ‘arraignments’… right after Faye and Daggum got hitched. Included Nadine in the mix too; as well as anyone she may get involved with in the future.” He smiled and said “Gotta keep three steps ahead, wife-of-mine.” and he opened his eyes, looked at her, and took her hand in his. “Besides… if we are ever lucky enough to enjoy our golden years, I figured we’d be at least based outta there. So some things needed to be taken into account… right?”

Micah