Pep Talk

[Cece Ryder]

TAS Viet Luong --

President Jon Price was busy with the photo ops during the launch of the Alliance Navy's newest combat cruiser. Designed to deploy fighters and drop Marine units into enemy occupied zones, as well as provide refugee assistance. Meanwhile his Chief of Staff was sitting in the center seat on the bridge, going over the ship's systems.

"You look comfortable there Captain Ryder." a male voice said from the turbolift.

"I am, hell of a ship you have here Captain Thao." Cece said as she swiveled to look at him. "I like that they put the Captain's chair in the center so you can swivel around and address all stations, I could only go about 90 in either direction, not a full 360."

"And it's automatic too." Captain "Sonny" Thao said with a smile. "Surprised you aren't with the President."

"Chief of Staff tends to keep herself out of the press. Besides, I had to see what my Aunt's team was up to here. This ship never existed in my timeline, I'm uhm... I'm from an alternate future." Cece said with a slight blush.

"Interesting... my navigator is from one of those too." Thao replied and sat down on the tactical rail. "Always wondered how you managed to get to Flaptain so young."

"Well, I'm older than I look, I assure you." Cece said and stood up, smoothed out her skirt and buttoned her blazer. "I always had a little tradition with the Captains in my old Battlegroup." she handed him a small pouch. "It's a pocket watch with a compass, to help you find your way home and remind you there is always time to do the right thing, even if it's not the easiest thing to do. I was given one like that by an old Admiral when I first got the center seat. It's gone with me everywhere and every when. Of course I kept multiple copies around, since living and working on a starship, things tend to get lost, stolen or simply destroyed."

"Oh I know all too well. I made it here on a prison ship from Earth, nothing but a pair of boots and a pair of beat up boxer shorts on. Imperium Starfleet thought I was too dangerous and they were going to fly me and others to a gulag, but I think they were going to send us into the sun and say it was an accident. Alliance spies saved me and the rest of the prisoners. Never saw home again, my home doesn't even exist anymore. I try to live for the day, but hope for the future. All I need is what I take with me."

"Very zen." Cece said with a smile.

"You have to be in these days. Especially with nihilistic assholes like Dominus out there. That's one of our first missions, to patrol and keep his forces from gaining a foothold on any Alliance held worlds and defend our allies." Thao said and sat in the center seat. "I'm scared though, not for myself, but... this is the largest ship I've ever commanded, a lot more lives depending on me."

"Been there, I try not to think about the numbers, because even if it's 100 or 10,000 each life is important and each life has a family." Cece said and put her hand on his shoulder. "The fact that you are worried about them, tells me you'll do just fine Captain."

Thao stood up and saluted her. "Thank you Captain."

"Any time Captain." she saluted back. "Now... let's get you back to the ceremony and get you launched."

[Tomarah t'Sei]

"Sage words captain," Tomarah said from the back of the bridge. The former Romulan senator stood with her hands clasped before her. "Though, a home can be rebuilt. So can a ship. The lives... they are always more important. Even more important than a planet."

[Cece Ryder]

"Easier to evac a ship than a planet." Cece replied. "I speak from experience." she smiled slightly at Tomarah. "I must say, I have missed working with you Admiral. There are days when I really do miss the center seat and yet... my mission has never changed, just the clothes I wear to work each day. Protect the Alliance, ensure that internal threats are weeded out and dealt with. Keep my superiors happy. But there is no feeling like sitting in that chair and heading into the unknown."

[Jonathan Price]

"Well speaking as your superior... you've kept me happy." Jon said as he exited the turbolift and looked around. "Good, the press hasn't caught up. I love that this bridge has three turbolifts." he walked over to Tomarah, trying his best not to limp, but he couldn't hide it. "Bella is so jealous that I'm walking... limping but walking." he gave her a padd. "Just needs your thumb print to make this whole launch official."

[Selene Cross]

“Clint’s making her take it slow otherwise she would have been out of that chair already.” Selene said as she stepped onto the bridge and smirked. “Press has been firmly misdirected to engineering. I give them about ten minutes before they realize they’re in the wrong place. Maybe more if Eli keeps pretending to flirt with the lead reporter. The things we do for you Price.”

[Jonathan Price]

"Love you too 'mom'." Jon said as he hobbled over and gave her a hug with his free arm. "I'll have to say, this is the a new step in protecting our allies. First time I've been at a commissioning, Nicholas always seemed to take over. Guess starships WERE his wheelhouse as it were." he gave Selene a raised eyebrow. "First time I think we've actually done something like this together."

[Tomarah t'Sei]

"Well, it's good to be doing something in a more festive manner," Tomarah said and imprinted her thumb on the PADD and handed it back to Jon.

[Jonathan Price]

"With all the tension of late... it helps to be somewhat more public. Show that we're not cowering in fear." Jon said as he sat down at one of the stations. "I really can't wait until she's out of the chair and we can be seen in public again. Everyone misses her, I think even she doesn't realize just how loved she is. Kassie wants to take her out once she's on her feet."

[Tomarah t'Sei]

The Romulan admiral smirked, "It doesn't get any better. Your enemies and your fanatics don't just go away."

[Jonathan Price]

"Oh of course, but we cannot simply hide away and hope they just die." Jon said with a smirk. "It's rather... amusing that even when we were recovering, things didn't fall apart around us. When I was an MP, I had a nasty bout of the flu, was sick for weeks and my entire district was in disarray, took me months to get things back on track again. I cannot say enough for all of you. Everyone stepped up and it is truly touching. I mean that."