"Dear friend, thank you for coming.", Vincent looked at Tan.
"My friend, you have been so very loyal to me and that loyalty needs to be rewarded. When I returned to Camelot, you let me take the station you built so I could get my feet wet in the King's Fleet once more. You did so without protest. For that I will forever be grateful.", Vincent put his hand on the shoulder of the portly Hierarchy Clanner.
"I need to be on the surface more and more now. The Meadow Project has made management of the Fleet and Fleet operations more critical. I need to do this from the Colony Complex in the city. It is with great honor that I reward your loyalty with the command of Starbase 756.", Vincent announced.
Tan smiled ear to ear. He shook Vincent's hand. Vincent then put his hands together, almost as though praying. He looked at his overjoyed friend knowing that he was about to break his heart. Vincent took a step back, as if afraid. Tan did not quite understand the body language. Why would his trusted friend move away from him?
"Tan, dear friend. What I am about to do I do with a very heavy heart. I do so because I need to be open and honest with you. You have a gentle soul and deserve much better than what I am about to do.", Vincent looked at Tan.
Summer Vasa came walking out wearing Rear Admiral pips. Tan looked at Summer. He stepped towards her so proud of her promotion. She too stepped aside. You could have heard a pin drop in the room.
Vincent looked at Tan, "Summer Vasa has agreed to fill the vacant position of King's Fleet Chief of Staff. She has been a vital part of Fleet Operations in past few years and will serve us well until Admiral Deveniss returns."
Tan looked at Summer and saluted. He was such a naïve soul. Summer started to cry. Her bottom lip quivered with such sorrow, "I never meant to hurt you. I will always love you."
Tan looked like a deer in the headlights. His gentle spirit could not comprehend what was happening. Vincent looked at his dear friend, "As you are aware, I was married to Elora Vasa until she was tragically taken from me. I have always had a great love and respect for the family. The feelings that Elora felt were also shared with her sister. Being Betazoid, they felt as each other felt."
Tan was beginning to put two and two together. He looked at Summer. She was full out balling now. She looked at Tan, "I am so sorry."
Tan looked at Vincent. How could the man he worshipped, the man he respected so greatly betray him so? Vincent looked at Tan, "I want you to know we did not do this to hurt you. I want to be your friend. I want you to command my centerpiece station. I want to stand with me as the Deputy Commander in Chief of the King's Fleet."
Summer leaned forward and grabbed Tan. She held him so tight, "You will forever be special to me."
Tan started to cry. Seeing him cry made it worse. Vincent and Summer boarded the shuttle to head for the surface. Tan stood there alone in the shuttle bay. He should have been overjoyed. He had his station back. He felt no joy. He felt a loneliness that can hardly be measured. His gentle heart lay there on the floor of that cargo bay crushed.
Tan slowly walked back up to the turbo lift heading for the Tactical deck. He was a clanner bread for duty. He had a job to do. He needed to get going again. The sound of the turbolift matched the beats of his heart.
Tan walked out onto the deck. Taleen snapped to attention, "Commanding Officer on deck."
Tan realized that Summer and Vincent had hurt others too. It is sad but somehow it helped. Taleen had been the sometimes companion of Admiral Viceroy. Tan looked around, "We have work to do."
Tan tried to lose himself in transferring the command codes. It was a laborious task. He finished up after most of the operations crew had left. He walked back to his quarters. His heart still broken.
Posted by:
Admiral Vincent Viceroy
Commander in Chief
King's Fleet
Governor Nicole Branson
Camelot
King's Fleet
