You wished to see me?
Posted on Tue Oct 28, 2025 @ 6:17pm by Commander Cara Letsul & Colonel Nicholas Means III
1,589 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Chicken Run
Location: Deck 72 Means Office
Timeline: MD OO2 Morning
Yesterday's madhouse, what with the animals and fowl that were running amok and caught. Cara was pleased that it seemed things were undercontrol. Remembering that the colonel had requested her to come to his office, aftet the negotiations had successfully happened, she felt it was safe enough to go see him. Besides, she wished to apprise him of the Marine who had saved her from her encounter with the ducks and goose. Sefgeant Busby.
Cara arrived to where it would be considered marine country. Coming up to the receiving desk, she spoke to the gunny who was in assigned there.
The gunny stood up as soon as she came up to the desk.
"Commander, I am at your service, how may I help you?" the young marine having recognized the XO especially at the celebration down on the planet. He tried to control the smile and was somewhat successful.
"I am here to see the Colonel. Is he in his office?" Cara saw him desperately struggle not to smile. She had a twinkle in her eyes.
"Uh yes I will see if he is." buzzing the Colonel.
"Colonel Means, Commander Letsul is here to see you." the gunny looking at Cara.
"Let her in Gunny." Means deactivated the monitor as the door hissed to the side.
"Thank you Gunny." Cara said with a pleasant smile, proceeding into Means office.
The gunny watched as she left, and the door closing behind her cutting Letsul from his view. For a moment there he thought of what would be happening behind the closed door then stopped himself. That wasn't a befitting thought coming into his mind. though-
Inside Means office Cara took a look around at how he had it decorated, did he have personal touches to it. Like another Marine Colonel she knew? Her eyes stopped on Means, once she was finished looking around.
"You had stated you wished to see me?" Cara having a warm smile.
"Yes... Did I hear correctly that your family could trace it's serve back to 1775, to the founding of the Corps. Back to the original Tun Tavern?"
"No you are mistaken. In my ramblings, I had been talking about my adopted sister, Captain Brina Tracy. I do know quite a bit of the Marines but, none of my family can trace their roots all the way to the Tun Tavern. She is the one. I do have an Uncle Remy Letsul who is or was in the Marines. There is the saying, once a Marine always a Marine. I don't know if you'd know him though. I think he's in his 80's by now." Cara paused for a moment calculating numbers in her head. "He is 85. Don't look it but he is."
Means nodded at the correction in his information. "Well...did she serve or is she serving?"
"She is still serving." Cara smiled with fondness her eyes filled with pride, as she thought of Brina. "She, her husband Nicholas, and three strapping boys, triplets, are on Faltan Station. She is the XO of the Kingsmen, the Marines based on that station."
"Wow, triplets! Talk about an instant family. With her family history she should have this..." He turned and grabbed an obviously damaged coin case from his display of challenge coins.
Handing her the partially clouded case he continued, "...it dates back to the restoration of Tun Tavern in 2025, which was also the Corps 250th anniversary."
A lump rose in her throat, feeling the sting of tears. Her voice husky with emotion. "I will make certain she gets this" Swallowing the lump in her throat, Cara gently and reverently caressed the coin case. "She will be honored and touched by this."
Smiling at her, "It'll good to know it's back with a Marine with the right family history."
"You know, if you'd like to talk with her sometime, I could arrange for that to happen." Cara's eyes lighting up thinking of that being done.
Spreading his hands a bit. "I'd be happy to. You know...you could see if she has any leave on the books and invite her to DS5 for the Ball."
Pointing to the coin, "That would make one hell of a ball souvenir."
"Yes it would. That is a marvelous idea, Colonel, I mean Nick-" she paused there. "I hadn't thought to consider inviting her here. And I would be able to see my god-children as well." Cara just beaming, " And Nicholas"
He smiled, "Nick please..."
"Thank goodness you're wanting to have your name be Nick. Nicholas my friend's husband, and my former CO, he prefers to be called Nicholas. That will save some possible mix ups." she looked at the box which Nick had handed to her. "NIck why don't you hold onto this until Brina comes to attend the ball. I think it would more fitting for you to do so instead of me." holding the box out for Means to take.
"Seriously, it would be much better coming from you." Cara giving a firm nod.
His head rocked back with a grin as he realized that she was referring to a different 'Nicholas'. "I gotcha..."
Taking the case, "Are you sure you don't wanna give it to her? I mean she doesn't know me from adam."
"That dosen't matter that she may not know you directly, just the fact that both of you have been through the flames, and shaped upon the anvil of being a marine is important." Cara having a gentle smile.
"I have noticed that there is a strong connection between marines. No matter where they came from, all they have to do is look at each other and they 'know' who the person they meet is. You are the leader of the fine marines here, therefore the most appropriate one to give her this." Cara was standing fast in her decision as to having Nick give the coin to Brina.
Means placed the coin on his desk as he leaned back. Bringing his hands together, his finger laced together but his index finger steepled as they began to tap against each other. A smirk began to grow on his face. "Would you be against a little sibling embarrassment? Not that she'd really be embarrassed...well she may not."
"What is going through your mind, Nick?" And eyebrow raising as Cara regarded the colonel, settling back in her chair, and crossing one leg over the other. "Embarrassment in what way? I am not against it." Cara almost added just as long as we don't end up crossing swords again. but she kept quiet on that.
"Well this is related to the founding and we are having the ball... If she's able to attend what would you say to an unannounced, official presentation?" Raising his own eyebrow to match hers.
An ear to ear smile and a sparkle of mischief came to Cara's eyes. "If you'd like to do that, by all means do so." giving a soft chuckle. "She may kill me later for that, it will be worth it."
Chuckling a bit. "Well not to worry, part of our mandate is the protection of the officers here so if necessary I'll protect you."
"I thank you then. I am sure she'll playfully make me worry, it is in her nature." Cara responding with another laugh. "It will be good to see her once again. Now that is taken care of, I would like to commend how well your Marines have been working well together with security and others in corralling the animals that have invaded the station. One of them a Sergeant Busby, came to my rescue in my hour of need. He efficiently captured the two ducks and a goose that had taken interest in me."
"Well I'm glad to hear that. I was told that our friend Mr. Geral was taking care of any animals that uhhh..., didn't take well to being stunned. Seems he eliminated any need for the station to compensate the transport Captain."
With a smirk he added, "Awfully nice of him."
"Yes it is rather nice of him, fresh meat. And with how wonderful his cuisine tastes. I can imagine just how delicious it would be." she thought back to the meals she had at Lasuma's restaurant.
At the moment Cara felt it was time to get to work annd let him as well. "I probably should get going, I don't want to keep you from anything you need to do. And I need to see about making my way back to my office, without catching the attention of another farm animal." Cara scooting her chair back to stand up.
Means stood as well as the Commander got up to leave. "Well if any do just let us know and we'll come a run'n."
Cara chuckled, "Most certainly will, and I will send out the invite to Brina. Thank you again." she turned to step out of Nick's office, " I will see you later on." giving a wave as she stepped out the door.
A brief moment later, Cara stepped back inside. "Nick I just got a message from T'mpest. We've got a meeting to attend. Lets get going!" Her voice had a commanding tone to it.
He smirked slightly...his monitor displaying the notice from on high "Yes Ma'am." Grabbing his padd of the corner of his desk he slipped it into his thigh pocket.
Commander Cara Letsul
XO
Deep Space 5
Colonel Nicholas Means III
MCO - 21st MEU
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