The Drax Return

Posted on Friday May 8th, 2026 @ 7:53pm by Commodore Carol Hogan & Lieutenant JG Summer Wyse

1,710 words; about a 9 minute read

[IC]

The promenade of the station seemed like a far cry from what Summer was used to, her journey to the station instigated by Ambassador Amelia Vieers. It was her recommendation that Summer be the new Drax representative to Valhalla Fleet Yards, and Summer had accepted the challenge with gusto. She wasn’t an Ambassador, but she was a Counsellor and it was a job she did very well. It would serve her well if she needed to represent her people, though like Amelia she was part of a faction that wanted better conditions for those on Drax rather than the military-like regime that ruled there.

“Now, who am I looking for again?” She quietly muttered as she looked down at the details she’d received regarding her assignment.

Carol a strolling the promenade when she heard that a Drax Empire's exchange officer was heading to the station. Over the past month they had been working with Ambassador Amelia Vieers.

It was agreed upon that reunification between these two Powers mainly the Federation and her people could start with an exchange officer program. Carol needed a counselor, and Amelia personally vouched for the exchange officer.

"You look lost Miss Wyse." Carol said if he approached the young officer. Shadow warm smile to her face, and she waited to see what summer said or did next.

Summer had just that moment found the details she was after, looking up she offered a polite smile. “Commodore, I was just checking who I was looking for and here you are.” She straightened her Drax uniform which she had chosen to wear to her first meeting with her new Commanding Officer. “I am, I believe the term is, reporting for duty.”

"I see that you brushed up on Starfleet protocol. I like your uniform but I would like to make a couple of minor adjustments to it." Carol said as she reached in her pocket and grab the items. It was two station patch badges that said Valhalla Fleet Yards and then Port Royale with a picture of the station. There is also a small provisional rank and a combadge.

"I'm not going to make you change your uniform but I think it might make people a little easier if they see that you're a part of our crew. The combadge, still needs to be programmed. Head over to Security after this, they'll hook you up it'll be biometric lock for you. Also per your government's request I do have a secure communication channel that will not be monitored by Starfleet or our intelligence division.

Summer smiled. “Thank you Commodore, I appreciate that.” She looked around. “Is there somewhere we can talk privately? Either that or can we walk and talk? It’s not I don’t trust your people, it’s just what I have to say is sensitive.”

"We can head to the security office, the chief has not reported in yet and the office is secure. I suppose I can even sit after your bio signature so we can sync it to your credentials that I've already preset for you. If you'll follow me Lieutenant." Carol suggested as they walked to the nearest Security office in the promenade. I'm like starships the cheapest securities office was in near the bridge in this particular case it was in the promenade, partially due to the fact that a lot of activities seem to happen in the promenade especially when dealing with civilians. So logically it made sense to keep the office in the area with the most amount of traffic.

Summer waited until they were inside the office with the door closed before saying what was on her mind. “Apologies for acting so secretive Commodore, I have yet to learn who I may totally trust here. As I’m sure Amelia told you there are factions of our government that are, for want of a better term, untrustworthy. As a consequence other factions have sprung up on Drax aiming to give people the truth. Disappearances like that of the Ambassador’s husband aren’t unheard of, though proving anything is nigh on impossible. My family have always been supporters of the Drax way of life, but times change and I, for one, support the Amelia. A fact that stays firmly locked away in the deepest depths of my mind where no one will ever find it. I just wanted to start out by being honest and up front.”

"Is your family safe?" Carol asked, typically her first response probably should have been it's just going to affect your duties but right now she was trying to be more human, and show compassion. And there's just something in the ways that she spoke a minute ago that talked about The disappearance of Amelia's husband and her wondering if her family was in risk of being taken. If that was the case Carol could possibly offer them sanctuary in Federation controlled space.

Carol is not foolish she understood that not everybody supported this new alliance. The fact that he came from Amelia knew that people like Commander Delvar Vena would never accept it. She felt like she had a duty to protect her crew, even if her crew was in exchange officer. Especially since she was an exchange officer because the importance of her position, and what this can mean for the Future between the Federation and the Drax Empire.

Carol needed that Commander Delvar Vena was old school and then he supported the Klingon-Drax Alliance. She also knew that having the Klingons pushed out of the alpha quadrant upset the balance, which probably is what led to the new treating being signed between the Federation and the Drax.

Summer nodded. “My family are fine, we know how to be careful, and how to avoid suspicion. If my government thought I wasn’t truthworthy I wouldn’t be here now. As far as they’re concerned I’m as loyal as everyone else.” She gave a wry smile. “Needless to say I’m happy to be here, where I can truly be myself. To be honest I’m surprised my people agreed to this alliance with the Federation, they’re not normally very trusting of non-telepaths.”

"I'm honestly surprised too. But I trust Amelia, and my boss trusts her implicitly. I will never ask you to betray your people, as far as I'm concerned you're just another officer under my care and supervision. You'll be treated no differently than any other officer. I also will not show any favoritisms towards you or any other officer for that matter. I'm a firm believer that people stand on their actions and their merits." Carol started to tell her, thinking that might sound a little harsh but she was trying to have a gentle tone with it.

“I expect nothing more Commodore, I don’t ask for any special favours. My Counselling career is one I cherish, and I will dedicate myself to caring for those on this station as well as be your link to the Drax. As far as my government are concerned I am their liaison to Starfleet here at the Fleet Yards.”

"I'm glad to hear it, and if I may be honest. I am glad your hear, you are an important symbol to the Federation, and a chance at peace. We need this assignment to go without a hitch. Commander Vena, is not in support of this alliance, he has made that very clear over the past few years." Carol said to her, thinking of the Drax Starship Commander, that made Amelia Vieers and Starfleet's life a living hell.

“There are those who aren’t, staunch supporters of the old days of the Drax empire I’m afraid” Summer added apologetically. “I’ll do everything I can to make this alliance work, that I promise you.”

"I appreciate that Lieutenant. There are people on both sides of the equation that are not happy about this alliance. But its time to put aside our differences and build to something bigger." Carol said, as she grabbed a datapad, and handed it to Summer. "I need a complete evaluation of all the senior staff. Can I count on you. Two years into this war, I need to make sure they capable of doing their duties." Carol said to Summer, as gave the roster of senior officers to Summer.

Summer nodded. “I’ll get on it as soon as my office is set up. I’ll make sure you have a report once I’ve conducted all the evaluations.”

"How much time do you think you'll need? The fleet yards is in a small station or a small area and if you need a larger staff even on a temporary basis let me know. We could delegate some of the work off to the local counselors of the ships, with that said I would like you to coordinate all personnel and flag the ones; that you think that might need extra attention or scrutiny."

“I’ll let you know when I know” Summer smiled a wry smile. “Give me a few days hopefully it won’t take too long but I’m not giving any guaranteed timeline when I’m not sure myself.”

"Fair enough. If you need anything, please let me know." Carol suggested, as she walked over to a restaurant entrance. "I'm about to have lunch, care to join me?" Carol asked, as she walked into Lowry's Bar and Grill.

Summer nodded. “I think I’d like that, no good trying to work on a rumbling stomach” she smiled warmly. “Plus it gives me chance to get to know you better as well.”

"I used to go to this restaurant on the old station, Sabrina is a good cook. I heard she's going to be here for opening night, but I also know that she's also talking about taking on a ship assignment her man was giving command of a Starship in our Fleet yards." Carol started to say what the worst smile and she started thinking about Sabrina's cooking. She led the way for her and Summer.

Summer nodded. “Well in that case we’d best enjoy it while we can.”

End of Part 1

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