Posted by Lieutenant Commander Faye Calloway (Chief Intelligence Officer) in It’s Hammor Time- The Newlyweds Arrive
Two hours outside of their rendezvous with the USS Athena, Faye was making sure everything was ready to go, including the last of her packing. After a month on the luxury personal cruiser, the Ruby Soho, she had to admit she was going to miss having people take care of things for her. In fact, she could have had someone do the rest of the packing but she wanted to take this time, folding garments, storing objects, all in a bid to make sure that she herself was okay, that her mind was at ease.

Was she nervous? Hell yeah. This honeymoon had been a lot about her and Dag getting to learn the nuances of living together all while actually getting to relax, take a break. They both worked incredibly hard and they deserved a rest. And after the best damn party that side of the galaxy, it had felt natural to continue it as long as they could. Even when they tossed in a bit of personal demon hunting along the way.

Such was life, their life together. It was something pretty amazing.

But all that didn’t remove her nerves about this transition. She had left the safety and comfort of the only home she had known since the colony she had grown up on. She had left behind friends, a chosen brother, family. And the garden. Though she had trained herself out of calling it her garden awhile ago it was still a piece of her she had left on the Manhattan, for the Manhattan’s crew. She hoped it brought them as much joy and peace as it had her.

Tess hopped down from her perch on the arm of the sofa in their expansive suite and wove herself around Faye’s legs. With a grin, Faye scooped up the fluffy long-haired cat and nuzzled the top of her head. “I’m warning you now, it’s going to be an emotional ride. I’m sorry in advance,” she whispered. Tess just purred.

A beeping sound drew her attention and Faye moved over to the desk and frowned. She set Tess down on the desk top and sat in the chair, entering in her high clearance code that the screen prompted. The symbol of Starfleet Intelligence appeared briefly followed by the appearance of a sharp-eyed Admiral with brown hair slowly fading and a no-nonsense expression. “Admiral Greyson, sure you called the right Calloway?” she said idly, even flippantly. After all, she was on R&R and while her mother no longer worked directly under Rear Admiral Marissa Greyson, the two had been rather chummy so Faye found it curious she was calling her.

The woman on the screen actually smirked. =/\=Lieutenant Commander Calloway, or is it Hammor? I’m actually not sure if you have changed your name at all, but congratulations on your nuptials in any case,=/\= Greyson said.

Faye grinned. “Thank you. I’ve hyphenated officially, but I’m sticking with Calloway on duty. The rest is such a mouthful!”

The Admiral chuckled. =/\=Indeed. I’m calling because I was told to give you warning of a change in your assignment but was also told to let you have a holiday. I’m not sure if this is striking a good balance or not, you’ll have to tell me.=/\=

Calloway frowned. “A change?” Good Gods, no. She had arranged this specifically so Dag and her got to be together. Nuh uh, she wasn’t going somewhere else. They could stuff that where the sun don’t shine.

Greyson nodded. =/\=Commander Nightstalker has been recalled for another assignment,=/\= she said, watching Faye carefully.
“Oh. Who is taking over his role then?”
=/\=That depends.=/\=
“On?” Faye prompted, folding her arms across her chest.
=/\=Whether you feel you are capable of a role larger than Counter-Intelligence Officer.=/\=

Faye’s mouth dropped open. No way! Her mind kicked into high gear, as it did, and was running through the permutations. That this was a test. That Stark was playing a practical joke on her. That she was dreaming. That someone had lost their ever loving mind! And so forth.

And then… and then… her thoughts slowed as she took a deep breath. Greyson was still watching her intently with all the experience of a woman who had been watching people for a very long time. No wonder her and her mom had worked so well together.

“I’ve been an Assistant Department Head and I’m still working on my Command Training. I’ve also passed the Bridge Officer’s test. I’m qualified, but that doesn’t necessarily make me the best person for the job.”

=/\=True.=/\=

“But Stark was confident in my abilities and the work we’d do together. If he didn’t want me to be even considered, I have to imagine that he’d have left a note about that,” Faye concluded.

=/\=Also true.=/\=

Faye rested her arms on the desk and leaned forward. “I want resources, beyond what I need for the redundant firewall system. People, time, physical resources.”

Greyson leaned back in her seat, almost amused. =/\=Commander Calloway, are you negotiating your job offer?=/\=

“Damn right I am!” Faye said seriously, taking in Greyson keenly. “And beyond resources I want assurances, something Intelligence isn’t keen on giving most of the time.”

=/\=Regarding what?=/\=

“Me. I cannot do my job if I’m paranoid and looking over my shoulder. I was warned that there were elements in Intel that still believe I’m a risk. Under Stark Nightstalker I felt confident I would be protected to a degree. Obviously the higher I climb in position including that captain’s chair I’m aiming for one day, I become more in the spotlight. That’s a risk. I’m willing to take it, but only if someone has my back. Someone with clout and an ability to actually do something.”

=/\=You want me to go to bat for you, should the occasion call for it.=/\=

“Seems only fair,” Faye said.

Greyson leaned forward, gazing at Faye intently for a moment before smiling. =/\=You are definitely your mother’s daughter. I hope that’s not an insult.=/\=

Faye snorted. “She’ll be simultaneously thrilled and concerned to hear it.”

=/\=Sounds about right.=/\= Greyson nodded. =/\=I’ve gone to bat for one member of the family, I’d consider it an honour to do so for another. You have my word.=/\=

“Are you sure it’s an honour and not a sacrifice?”

=/\=Goodbye Commander Calloway and good luck.=/\= The screen went blank leaving Faye alone with Tess in the suite.

“Well then,” Faye said, reaching over to stroke Tess’ head. “How do you like that?”

---

A few minutes later, Faye strolled in to the dining room where she was meeting Dag for lunch, their final meal on the Ruby Soho and of their honeymoon.

Taking a chair, turning it around and straddling it, she gazed deeply at her new husband. “You’re going to get so sick of me. I mean all of those extra meetings. Oh, and I’m getting more resources so naturally I’m going to be dealing with the man who deals with resources. But dude, seriously, are you sure about this whole living and working together thing? Because sitting in Senior Staff meetings together is going to be a whole different challenge than we anticipated.”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

Daggum was playing cards with the Vulcan First Officer, a pastime the two had fallen into about a week into the cruise. Without looking up at Faye, he grinned and said “Oh, I think I can manage. Although the temptation to throw you on the Conference table and have my way with you will be an urge I’ll have to fight.” He laid down his cards and looked at his opponent and grinned. “Gin.” and he turned and looked at Faye.

“So… new CIO, huh? How does that feel?” he asked, his eyes sparkling.

Hammor