Garrison Duty - Part II

Posted on Sun May 3, 2026 @ 4:35am by Commander Cara Letsul & Commodore T'mpest Michaels & Captain Ricardo (Rico) Montoya - CO USS Phoenix

1,750 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Jubilee

[PREVIOUSLY]

"Joy...I may need to request quarters on the station for all the clothes my wife will want."

"Unfortunately, we do not have quarters that large here. But you could reserve a cargo bay for the ship and store them there," T'mpest replied blandly. "Let her know there is a new tailor on the station as well. His shop is called Sartorial Splendor and has some lovely material."

[CONTINUED]



"Ah she's a fashionista, and she will have a collection? I take it she has varied tastes in clothing. Does she have favorite colors? That would be interesting to find out." Cara having a genuine smile. "And as what the Commodore had stated, a cargo bay would work."

Rico chuckled, "She does like her outfits that's for sure. Hopefully a cargo bay won't be necessary but I will keep that in mind", he chuckled again as he finished.

Looking to the Commodore, "Shall we begin heading to your Ready Room?"

"Indeed." T'mpest led the way to the nearest turbolift and up to the command center. As soon as the group entered the main area, Millie went to a desk between her office and T'mpest's where she could keep an eye on things.

T'mpest nodded to Millie and walked into her ready room. "Would you like some refreshment, captain?"

"Yes please. Té moruno."

"Coming up. Cara?" T'mpest asked her first officer on her way to the replicator.

A quiet laugh as Cara stepped into view. "I was right behind you." heading over to the table to take a seat.

T'mpest brought a tray with the three cups and a selection of cakes and scones over to the table and set them out, then took a seat. "So, what would you like to know?"

Pouring herself some tea and picking up a small cake, she bit into it while waiting for Montoya to answer T'mpest.

"Well Commodore, our orders are as you know is to serve the station as a garrison vessel instead of out patrolling and exploring. I guess the powers that be thought that, after what happened, we needed to stick closer to home.

"During our quarantine on DS3 we tried to keep up on current events but we've been out of the loop for some time no thanks to the Temporal Investigations Division. At the same time there was a bit of re-education we had to go through to correct what had been done to me and my crew. I know that Captain Soran resigned, if I got that right? That there was an actual assault on the station and the surface that was quite basically stopped cold.

"Are there are any pertinent details about the area we need to be brought up to speed on? How do you want to employ my ship and crew into the operation of the station's control sector?"

"Since you were here last, the temporal fluctuations from the sun have changed. For a time, they stopped entirely, but now they are returning. Slowly," T'mpest began. "That has affected Pangaea as well. It should not affect you or your ship, but it may be something your science officer notices.

"For other station business, Captain Soran resigned. She wanted to spend time with her family after the death of her father. The station was attacked by a joint Cardassian-Xi'Cadian fleet. Thanks to the station personnel, a handful of Starfleet ships, and a Klingon fleet, they did not succeed."

T'mpest paused, one eyebrow raised. "I have several ideas. But I would like to know what you think would be the best way to utilize the strength of your ship and crew."

"Glad to hear the fluctuations aren't strong enough to impact us...I've REALLY had my fill of issues with time. As far as the strength of the Phoenix.... Well, a Prometheus class ship definitely has a bite. If the goal is to deter others from attacking the station a visual display of the of the Phoenix and its capabilities. Along with any other ships garrisoned here. Maneuvers with the fighter wings and Marines would be good as well."

"Time issues are rather pesky." Cara commented.

Picking up her tea, and sipping at it. "I do agree with your recommendation, Captain Montoya. And I feel that that sort of show plus the coordinating with the Marines, the fighter wing will be essential." of which Cara was in full support of.

"We will likely have temporal issues again when the system gets back to normal, but my hope is they will not cause issues with the station or those on the planet," T'mpest said. She wasn't sure how much the captain knew about the portals, so didn't mention them. "You can coordinate with Colonel Means to see how he would like you to work with the Marines. Lieutenant Mackenzie is our new CAG. We have a few pilots on the station now, but expect more in the next week. I think some joint exercises would do them good." The Phoenix would be a big help when the comet came, if nothing more than to be a large presence if anyone got too eager to see the comet.

Rico was thinking that he knew that name in some previous group of Marines but he set that aside for the time being. "I can definitely work with our Marines...just as long as they don't try to paint camouflage on my ship."

A smile twitched at the corner of T'mpest's mouth and her eyes smiled at the comment. "I do not believe camouflage will help much in space--except to make the ship stand out."

Rico looked to the pair smiling, "And has that ever stopped a Marine?"

"That is a valid point." But T'mpest didn't think it likely unless they were drunk.

He chuckled. "Well, drunk or not, I will get with this Colonel Means and work up a few deployment plans. The Phoenix was designed for combat so if need we can definitely play that part. I can also get with the stations CAG for defensive coordination. What other ships are garrisoned here?"

"Commander Thibideaux is our head of strategic operations. You can talk to him. And I think all of you should talk to the Klingon Ambassador. He and a fleet of Klingon ships were instrumental in protecting the station from the Cardassian and Xi'Cadian forces. He may have some useful ideas." Right now, T'mpest would take any ideas that were offered. She didn't know what they'd face and wanted to have as many options as were reasonable and doable.

Rico nodded as he thought. "Well, the Prometheus powerful and tactically versatile class of starship. I'm sure we can come up with several offensive and defensive strategies. I will get meeting set with everyone..." Looking to the Commander, "As the stations XO did you want to be included or should we just bring you what we come up with?"

"I would like to be the proverbial fly on the wall." Cara giving a bit of a smile. "Yes put me into the meeting. I may not say much but I would like to assess things as well."

He clapped his hands together. "Sounds like a plan."

T'mpest nodded. "Good. Is there anything else you would like to know?"

Rico thought for a moment. "Actually...yeah. My wife's career has been stuck, frozen really, with her being aboard the Phoenix. Do you think there might be a slot for her here on the station?"

"That is quite possible. What does she do? Is she in Starfleet?" T'mpest asked.

"I would like to know as well." Cara being rather curious as well.

Why did he get the feeling they were wanting some bit of gossip? "Well, she worked operations lately but I picked her up at Starfleet Headquarters personnel when I got assigned to the Atlantic as it's XO." A subtle smile pulled at the corners of his mouth at the memory of their first meeting.

"We could always use her in operations," T'mpest said. "There is always a need for more hands with a station this size. If you think she would be interested, I will put in a formal request."

"Well, I'll bring it up and if she's interested I'll send her over."

T'mpest nodded once. "Thank you. Is there anything else you need at this time?"

He already knew that his ship was getting a once over and would be resupplied and touched up by the stations dock and ops crews; that was just standard procedure. Other than what they had already covered nothing came to mind so he was good. "Nothing comes to mind. I will set up a meet with Commander Thibideaux, Colonel Means, the Ambassador, and the Commander," gesturing to XO, "and we'll go from there."

"Excellent. Then I think we are done here." She paused, one eyebrow raised. She took a moment so she wouldn't smile. "But for future reference, I am not and never have been Twinkletoes."

Twinkletoes? Cara thought to herself as she glanced towards T'mpest then back towards Montoya. Her eyes narrowing ever so slightly.

Cara must have missed something when she was slightly late in her arrival. And with T'mpest's statement, it must have been done when the man had contacted the station. She kept silent only that her lips thinned, with a look of disapproval.

He had thought there was something familiar about her voice...well he was busted so the was no point in denying it. He grinned and with a single nod, "Noted."

"Good." As far as T'mpest was concerned, the matter was closed. "Welcome back to the station." She hesitated. "Oh, and you might consider taking your wife dancing. I highly recommend it."

"She would at that, but I would have to get some lessons first. As Heather would say...'His idea of dancing is shuffling his feet and grabbing my butt'."

One side of T'mpest's mouth quirked up in a smile and her eyes were dancing as she tried not to laugh. "As long as you both enjoy it, that is all that matters."

Cara chuckled softly. "I do hope that you do enjoy that." deep in her mind, the XO was now strongly considering on getting to know, Heather, and go shopping. Now where should they go? Having a gleam in her eyes as she planned.

END

Commander Cara Letsul
Executive Officer
Deep Space 5

Commodore T'mpest Michaels
Commander
Deep Space 5

Captain Rico Montoya
Commander
USS Phoenix

 

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