Chapter 10: Final Farewells and New Beginnings

"Captain's Log, Stardate 2204.8

We have arrived at Starbase 12 with the Mikellan refugees. Federation Commissioner Greggory will meet with the refugees to discuss possible resettlement of another planet. Admiral West has also arrived on Starbase 12 for the debriefing of the landing party to Mikell III and also Lieutenant Ray'n's yearlong engagement with the Klingons.

Lt. Cmdr. Kent has also contacted Base engineers regarding repairs to the ship. We will be spending an estimated four days at Starbase and therefore temporary leave has been granted to many of the crew."

Captain Ridger glanced back down at the latest Engineering report he held in his hands and placed it on his desk. Many crewmembers had already disembarked to the space station, taking some much needed recreation time, and many of the refugees had departed as well. Only a skeleton crew now manned the bridge. Glancing at the time, he realized he still had a debriefing to attend in an hour with Lieutenant Ray'n. "Computer, where is Lieutenant Ray'n?" he asked the air of his office as he stood from his desk.

"Lieutenant Ray'n is currently located in cargo bay Two," the computer voice answered.

Leaving the various reports on his desk, he set out to find his new Ship's Counsellor. The corridors and turbolifts were virtually empty. As Captain Ridger left the turbolift, he noticed the doors to the cargo bay had been left open. Inside there were numerous Mikellans bustling about, packing away the last of their supplies. The Captain quickly spotted Lt. Ray'n to one side. He was surprised to find she was already walking towards him.

"Captain! Have you come to check up on our progress?" she greeted with a smile. She introduced the man next to her. "This is Tamor, a good friend of mine and also one of the town leaders. The Mikellans are nearly finished, as not that many supplies were brought with us."

"That's good news," the Captain replied, "Although it'll be a hard road for you from here," he paused, speaking to Tamor now. "But perhaps not so hard a road as the one you leave behind. Actually, Counsellor, I came to find you," he admitted. "There were some things I wanted to go over with you before the briefing."

"Of course, Captain," Counsellor Ray'n said. "Tamor, will you please excuse me? I have things to discuss with the Captain." She smiled at her old friend as she turned to head out of the cargo bay. "I'll see you again before I leave."

"Of course, Kai," Tamor responded as she walked away. Then he turned and went back to work.

Captain Ridger and Counsellor Ray'n left the cargo bay and walked down the hall together. Ridger couldn't help but notice how at ease he felt with her. He dismissed at her being a counsellor and that was how people were supposed to feel around her. But something else seemed to be nagging at him, something the same, and yet different.

The two officers made their way to the officer's lounge. It was deserted, just like most of the ship's recreation facilities at this time. Captain Ridger ushered Kaimana to sit and then quickly realized the gesture was fool-hearty and pulled out a chair for her. Kai looked at him and smiled, gently touching his shoulder as she sat down. There it was again, he thought that feeling he couldn't describe again. She seemed to know everything before it happened.

"Captain," she called him back to attention and he quickly sat down opposite her. "I know why you wanted to have this conversation in private." He watched her intently, wondering if she was reading his mind. She sensed his hesitation and continued, "Don't worry, Captain. Despite Krug's accusations I am not a spy. I only read minds when of necessity. I do not enjoy invading the privacy of someone's thoughts. It is a very personal invasion."

Ridger blushed a little, but relaxed a little, still watching her intently. "I wanted to discuss the event on the planet. I will have to document everything."

She knew what he was referring to. "The issue of my blindness will be brought up," she confirmed for him.

It was foremost on his mind right now. Everything that had happened there on Mikell III centered on it, and yet he didn't want to go against her wishes and let it become public knowledge. "The debriefing will be confidential, but some information may still reach public ears." Even in the 23rd century, the media still managed to acquire information that was confidential.

"Don't worry about me, Captain," Kaimana told him. "We cannot lie about what happened down there, nor do I want to hide it. Anything I did in regards to the Klingons, and anything they did to me will come out eventually, so better I tell the story as it happened, blindness and all, than to let the media make it up. I am a Starfleet Counsellor, and I remind you that I have dealt with Starfleet inquiries before, but more importantly I am also a scientist. I am proud of my work and if Starfleet wants to study my work on sensor nets and how I get around, then so be it. Perhaps they will even improve on it.

Jonathan Ridger breathed a soft sigh of relief. Well, at least that was dealt with. Shat we journey together to the Station?" she asked him. He agreed and stood up. Then something held him back. "There is something else," he began, unsure of himself. He did not know how to describe that feeling from earlier, nor did he know how to put it into words.

"I know," she said and picked up his hand in hers. At that moment there were no barriers between them and what happened there Jonathan Ridger would not be able to describe until later, but all of a sudden, everything was clear. "I know," Kaimana Ray'n repeated softly.

Starbase 12 was not a huge station, but offered the crew of the Dawntreader a chance to mingle with the station crew and there were several lounges and other recreation facilities available. The command center for the station was in some ways similar to a starship. There were stations for crew manning the docking ports as well as science stations throughout the room. There was a communications center and finally a small defence station. But the command setup was very different. The station manager did not sit in a center chair, but rather could most frequently be found around the communications center of in a small office off to one side of the room. This office was where Captain Ridger was to find Admiral West before the scheduled briefing time. He rang the doorbell and the doors slid open for him.

"Jonathan Ridger, I haven't seen you since the Academy!" the Admiral exclaimed, standing up from the piles of data pads and reports scattered on the desk.

"Admiral," the Captain greeted respectfully, "it is good to see you again."

"How've you been?" Admiral West continued. "Made it all the way to Captain, I see. And still having just as many adventures now as back then." He held up the data pad in his hand, obviously a copy of Ridger's preliminary reports.

"Probably even more adventures," Ridger laughed, not quite sure if it was a good or bad thing that his old professor remembered him so well.

"I've been going over your reports but there are still several questions I have, especially pertaining to the loss of the USS Falcon.

"I don't really know much more than stated in my report, Sir," Captain Ridger admitted. "I'm sure Lieutenant Ray'n will be able to clear all of that up at the debriefing."

"Yes, Kaimana Ray'n. Presumed dead on the Falcon and turns up two years later to rescue you from the Klingons. A remarkable woman to be sure." Captain Ridger tried to hide a grin at the mention of her exploits. "I met her once on Earth, many years ago," the Admiral continued. "I look forward to meeting her again."

Something twinged in the back of Jon's mind. "Sir," he asked more candidly, "have you reviewed all of the files sent to Starfleet Command?" He was of course referring to Ray'n's medical files.

Admiral West sat back down at his desk. "I have," was what he replied. "As I said, a truly remarkable woman. I'll see you in the briefing room in fifteen minutes. Dismissed."

Jon snapped to attention and then turned and left the room. Inwardly he grinned as he knew the debriefing would go much smoother than he had first thought. He walked over to a nearby viewport and looked out. Space was quiet tonight and the stars were sharp and clear. Captain Ridger just stood and watched them for a while, their lights captivating him until him until at last, he knew it was time to leave.

The debriefing lasted nearly two hours. The stories of the USS Falcon and its ill-fated rendezvous , the two years of struggle with the Klingons and the final battle aboard the Dawntreader were all told by Counsellor Ray'n, with some input from Captain Ridger, Commander Cona and Dr. Lamar, especially in the later parts of the story. Also the story of the landing party's journey on Mikell III was told in full, from when Counsellor Ray'n first detected the crew to the cave-in that nearly killed everyone underground to their final escape. By the end of it all, everyone was exhausted.

"Well," Admiral West said as he sat back in his chair. "That was indeed an adventure for the books. I guess the last thing we have to discuss is where we go from here." He picked up a new data pad from the table. "I'll be filing my report first thing in the morning with Starfleet Command. At that time I will also recommend full repatriation of Lieutenant Kaimana Ray'n and approve her transfer to the USS Dawntreader under your command, Captain. The final orders should come through in a few days, although Starfleet Intelligence may still have a few questions for the Lieutenant. Well," the Admiral stood stretching his legs, "this debriefing is adjourned." Everyone stood. "Good luck, gentlemen and ladies, I bid you goodnight and the best of luck in all your future endeavours.

Admiral West left the room and slowly, so did everyone else. At last only Captain Ridger and Counsellor Ray'n were left. Kaimana finally permitted herself to beam with excitement. "Thank you, Captain, for everything." She embraced the Captain quickly, then regained her composure.

"It was the least I could do," he replied, and together they also left the briefing room.

The rest of the four days seemed to pass very quickly. With the ship now in top shape, the crew knew it was time to leave. In one of the lounges, Kaimana Ray'n said her last goodbyes.

"I shall miss you, Tamor," she told her old friend as they prepared to part.

"I know where to find you," he reminded her. "I'll keep in touch, let you know how things are going." He took her hand, but then pulled her in and gave her a hug. She returned her friend's embrace. "Now off you go," he told her, acting as though he were a parent sending off a reluctant child. "Return to the life you once knew. You belong among the stars."

Letting her hand slip from his, Kai turned and walked away. Her orders had come through this morning. She was officially assigned to the Dawntreader as Ship's Counsellor and as an observer to the effect of prolonged exposure to deep space on crew behaviour. She knew that life aboard the Dawntreader would be a re-adjustment from her life on Mikell III, but at the same time, Tamor was right. She was going home again.

"Captain's Personal Log, Stardate 2210.4

As I leave Starbase 12 I feel a new chapter in my life is beginning. There's something about Counsellor Ray'n that makes me believe that our voyages together will be anything but dull. As I lead my crew to our next great adventure, or even small one, I find myself asking, is this just the beginning?"

The Adventures continue in the next installment of the Starstreak Saga, Dark Secrets ! Coming Soon!