Trails to Blaze

Posted on Sat May 21st, 2011 @ 6:06pm by Marine Captain Paul Ward

Mission: The Ties That Bind
Location: Starbase 900, Lounge
Timeline: Current

"Wow, wow, wow."

Paul rubbed his weary eyes, brushing back his long brown hair from obscuring his vision. "I'll take another drink, thank you," he said, a shy smile apparent on his face. Paul's feelings raced between happiness, shock, fear, love, flitting back and forth within his mind. He had no idea how to feel after finding out directly after being transferred to his new assignment that his wife was pregnant with their second child.

Overwhelmed but happy beyond words was the only way Ward could describe the feeling. As his drink was sat in front of him he heard his name called from behind, and he swiveled to note the stranger's presence. A short human walked towards him, slightly plump and wearing the uniform of a Strategic Operations officer. Paul had just transferred services from the Marine Corps to Starfleet and was still getting used to the completely different schedule and service life.

"Captain, how're you?" the man asked with a familiarity Paul couldn't place. "I'm doing well..." he paused, taking in the man's collar rank pin. "Ensign." The man frowned in response, but the smile didn't stay off his face long. "Ensign Jonathon Warley, sir, you're department chief of staff." Paul's face lit up in recognition, remembering the man's service records he had looked over while taking over the new position.

"Ahh, Jon, Jon, nice to meet you." He extended a strong hand, shaking with a Earthen gesture of respect. He motioned for the man to take a seat next to him on the bar, swirling a stirrer in his drink.

"How goes the assignment, sir?" Warley asked after he ordered his own drink.

"It's been exciting so far... I just found out my wife's expecting." Paul refrained from spittaking his drink over the freshly cleaned bartop as Jon clapped him over the back in excitement.

"Congratulations, my man!" he yelled. The man seemed much more enthusiastic than Paul, and Ward wondered if that was a bad thing.

Paul gave a nervous smile, slightly embarrassed. He recovered quickly, though, and took another sip of his whiskey. "It'll be an interesting next couple of months, that's for sure." Paul could only anticipate the hecticness of the encroaching months. A new assignment as a Starfleet department head, his wife pregnant...

Paul shook his head, finishing his drink. "Sorry to say I've got to be getting along now, Jon," Paul said, finishing his drink. He stood, gave one more polite nod to the ensign, and made his leave.

With new trails to blaze coming on in the future Paul had no idea which doors to take, but was determined to keep the best interests of his family and new crewmates in mind. He stepped outside of the crew lounge and headed back to his crew quarters.