Posted by Fleet Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Wedding Bells- An End and a Beginning

Posted by Civilian Revna Freya McKenzie (Diplomatic Attache) in Wedding Bells- An End and a Beginning

Posted by Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Wedding Bells- An End and a Beginning

(snip)

“Your wish is my command, Your Royal Break-It-Like-You-Own-It-ness.” he said and punched the runabout into warp.

It was several hours to get to the wormhole, and then another several hours to get back to the Manhattan. As they approached the massive science vessel, Cochrane smiled at his ship. “You know, I never get tired of seeing her from outside…” he said partially to Faye, partially to himself. He tapped the comms and said =/\= USS Manhattan, this is Runabout Fredericksburg. Request permission to dock and deliver the bride to the groom. =/\= There was a voice that sounded like it was smiling and it said =/\= Permission granted. Welcome home to you both, Captain and Commander. =/\=

The runabout settled to the deck and the side door slid open.

Cochrane, CO

Sitting up in the control bay, with the help of one green skinned Cmdr allowing her access to the ship’s all-call Diplomatic Attache Revna McKenzie hit a button and the boatswain whistle sounded across the entirety of the Manhattan. Some days she loved her job. =/\=”Attention all hands. Fleet Captain Arriving. All Hands stand to and present.=/\= The reaction in the shuttle bay was immediate and amazing. Revna, along with the rest of the control stepped out on the walk way to come to attention and salute. Problem was no one but Revna knew who they were saluting.

McKenzie (AKA Tattle-Tale)

Faye shot Alex a look with raised brows in a ‘I see you’ expression.

As the Boatswain’s whistle echoed through the ship, Cochrane cursed… loudly. He looked back at Faye and set his jaw and gritted his teeth. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the case and tossed it to her. “I’m really glad I’m not in uniform for this.” he said and stepped out of the runabout.

Inside the box were pips… five of them… with a gold bar under the row. Fleet Captain rank insignia. And inside the lid of the box was embossed “Hereby presented to Captain Ralph Alexander Cochrane, Star Fleet, in recognition of his service and unwavering dedication to Star Fleet and the United Federation of Planets”

Faye did the only respectable thing under the circumstances: she let out a resounding wolf whistle before grinning and laughing.

Cochrane looked around and took a breath. “At ease, and thank you. Now then… I believe we have a wedding to prepare for. So… as you were.” and he looked up at the Diplomatic Attache and gave her a one finger gesture that elicited more than a few laughs in the shuttle bay… but he was smiling.

Cochrane, CO

Faye snapped off a cheeky salute with one hand while the other held her precious cargo. “Congratulations, Fleet Captain, Sir!”

And here in the shuttlebay of the ship she realized just how close she was to her goodbye to the Manhattan and its crew. It was bittersweet, no doubt, and there was no small part of her that was terrified of this next steps in her life, but unlike perhaps times before she was facing this knowingly and with an open heart. My how times things changed, how she had changed. And not for the first time in recent months did Faye Calloway marvel at what a glorious thing it truly was.

~Faye Calloway