Nicole walked to her office. She watched as Captain Phillip Lexington brought in the Omega Prime Fire Department threw the window. She wished him the best of luck. She wished the Sparta was still here and could simply beam the debris into space. Now it will have to be taken apart piece by piece.
Nicole looked at the red beacon on her desk. She tapped the marker. It was a series of messages of condolences from throughout the Star Fleet commands. She listened to the messages. She loved them all. She got to one from Amanda on behalf of Admiral William Hunt. She cried as the android expressed feelings usually reserved for a real human.
Nicole tapped the comm-link
=/= Vice Admiral Nicole Branson to Admiral William Hunt, Please respond =/=
Her voice cracked as she literally begged the gods that William would be in his office.
Hunt walks into his VIP quarters aboard the Benfold after dinner with the Romulan Coommander. As he walks into his room the computer begins chirpping. "Computer open communication authirzation Hunt Zeta 1227 and enable for Holographic Communications.. As the Holopad comes online he sees himself in Vice Admiral Branson's Office. "Nicole what can I do for you"
Nicole wanted to sound professional. She wanted to read a formal report on the tragic events of the "Murder on the Omega" and of the USS Chamberlain crash but as soon as she heard William's voice she started to cry.
=/= William, they killed my Orchid. =/=
Nicole could not even continue.
"OMG Nicole, I'm so sorry as he walks up her and gives her a hug knowing that his holographic self was doing it to her in her office. Tell me what happened the last I heard You and Orchird were going to get married and you had a few children together."
"I know you have been all consumed by the war. We are all grateful for your efforts and I truly wish I could have been standing with you when you held V'Ros with the sword.", Nicole smiled. She loved the amazing benefits of holotechnology. She could literally felt the fatherly warmth of her mentor.
"The Coren family did not like Orchid and me together and twice came to the colony and took her home. The last time, they forced her to marry Captain Addison Laree. She and Addison actually were getting along fine. They were wed here on the colony much to my chagrin.", Nicole was suprising lucid in her explanation.
"I had already started moving on. I even had a fun evening with Orchid's cousin Magenta.", Nicole winked at William. He had to know what the notorious Branson meant.
"In a miracle, this past weekend, Orchid showed up with baby Trista. I was overjoyed. Words cannot explain it.", Nicole smiled, thinking of that day and the wonderful evening that followed.
"Captain Laree was enraged by the defection and came here and murdered my Orchid.", Nicole broke down again.
William continues to hold Nicole letting her get it all out. "My dear I'm so terribly sorry that this has happened to you. Why didn't Vincent and anyone else do something about this man the second he landed or even before this became an issue."
"I just wanted to give up.", Nicole plunked down in her chair.
"You can not give up you have gone though to much to let that bastard win. Look at me Nicole" Hunt said
Nicole looked up and hugged the holo-gram version of Admiral Hunt. She loved him like a father. She knew he would have done anything.
"I will deal with this matter and it I am so sorry that I let you down" Hunt lowers his head down sad about what happened to Nicole and her family.
Nicole looked at William, "I feel like I have let you down. The colony has been hurt by my relationships."
Hunt looks at Nicole "I will address the colony when I come back from Romulus. I have hope that we can show the Colonist that you like us are only human and we are prone to mistakes like everyone else and remind them that when they had no where else to go. You put yourself on the line time and time again to give them rest, to put a roof over thier heads, to educate thier children, and even though war you and your staff did what nobody would have thought was possible and moved the colony to another planet before they were torpedoed into nonexistance.. We have failed to remember where we came from. We must never forget.."
"Please be careful with the Romulans, William. We know their history. They battered the colony in 2386. Commander T'Ros has been a thorn in my side every since.", Nicole changed the subject. She had to get back to her own work. The colony has 20000 people to get back into the city after the USS Chamberlain crash.
"You have my best wishes and say hello to Alexander for me. I look forward to meeting him.", Nicole smiled, trying to hide her sorrow.
"I will let him know i'm sure he would send his condolances as well. You go run your colony and feel free to use my office in Sparta she should be landing again as that will be the Fleet Command Center and where I will be putting the Phoenix Federation Government Office since the Federation and the rest of the super powers are recognizing us as our own government as well as a member of the UFP. I would like you to find someone you trust to be our Senator to the Federation. I also want you and Vince to work on developing a Planetary defence system for the colony with fighters and military.
"Take care.", Nicole waved.
"Take Care Nicole and may joy and happiness fill your haarts again. And give your daughter a hug for me and tell her i'm sorry for her other momma and her sister."
"Ok, Grandpa William.", Nicole smiled. William could always bring a smile to her face. She was grateful to be working for him.
Posted by:
Vice Admiral Nicole Branson
Star Fleet Executive Officer
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Fleet
Admiral William Hunt
Phoenix Fleet Commander In Chief
Aboard the USS Wrath of Achilles on Route to Romulus
Phoenix Fleet
