Home Sweet Home

Posted on Thu Aug 19, 2021 @ 8:05pm by Lieutenant Jaro Antos

Mission: Mission 1R - Vigilance Be Our Shield
Location: Quarters
Timeline: One Day Before M1D1

Jara Antos and Aiko Kato glanced around their new home in silent wonder. For Antos, he took in not only the fancy bell and whistles of the Monarch class starship but the mannerisms and attention to detail of the crew. They seemed a capable crew from the little he could tell. He was particularly pleased to see that more than a few of the personnel he came across had the same battle hardened look he had. To be honest, he was not quite sure what he would have done if he were serving with a bunch of officers and enlisted personnel who had not been battle tested.

It was hard to believe now that it was already several years since the Dominion War ended and each passing year bred new Starfleet personnel that knew even less of the war, much less, a war. Some of them included many officers from his generation. Granted, the Mars Attack had jarred some people to the vulnerabilities of even the mighty Starfleet.

While Antos was not a big believer in military might over the diplomatic and scientific exploration approach that was the natural bent of the Federation and indeed Starfleet, he was nevertheless an advocate of being ready to fight if the moment called for it. And as such, he had little patience for crewmembers who had lackluster training or were not combat ready, should the event dictate this.

There was no room for mistakes when the lives of comrades were at stake.

As the turbolift doors slid open to the deck where the computer had indicated their quarters was located, Antos stepped out and turned to his right as if he had been on the ship before. In truth, he had not. One of the benefits of being a pilot – and a former fighter pilot at that – was his good geospatial awareness and ability to read a map and visualize its key markers so that he readily had his bearings.

With Aiko silently in tow, they soon reached the entrance of their quarters. Both of them paused. Antos smiled as he looked at her. He knew she was thinking much the same thing as he was. This was the opening of a new chapter in their lives. There were so many questions, not the least of which was whether this was the right decision. After all, Aiko had given up her diplomatic career for his Starfleet career. Then there was the question of how much she would continue to wait for him to chase after his military career at the expense of her own career and interests.

She was fine with it now...but what happened in a year...three...or even five years from now?

For the umpteenth time, Antos wondered what it was the Prophets wanted from him by bringing him back to Starfleet and on this very ship when he had been so close to resigning his commission to spend the rest of his life as a civilian in the arms of his betrothed. He suspected, he would not know the answer to that question for some time. What was true for him however, without any hesitation or reservation, if it came down to it and he was forced to choose between the will of the Prophets and Aiko, he would choose the latter.

A smile crossed his lips as he could mentally see Vedek Fenair gasping at such an audacious and spiritually ill-guided choice, but Antos could care less. Besides, it was his truth and he could no sooner deny Aiko than he could deny who he was. She was unquestionably part of him, much as he was part of her. They may not be married yet, but they were soulmates bound together.

Antos took a deep breath as if to quiet his thoughts and was surprised to see Aiko do the same. “This is it,” he said.

She nodded. “I can’t think of anything witty to say...that’s usually your area of expertise.”

“True...” Antos replied and paused more for dramatic effect than actually needing to come up with words to say. “One small step for us and one giant leap for mankind...so let's make it so?”

Aiko palmed her face shaking her head. “Let’s just go in.”

"Ah...you mean, "punch it?"

"Nope."

"Hit it?"

"Definitely not."

"Engage?"

"Shut up Antos!"

The both of them burst out laughing causing a few bystanders to give them strange looks.

“Okay fine,” Antos replied. "On three. One...tw-"

Aiko stepped closer to the door triggering the proximity sensors to part the doors revealing for the first time the interior of what was to be the new home of the Bajoran military officer and Human civilian...