The room was quiet, save for the soft ticking of the antique clock that resided on the wall behind the Captain's desk, which was empty right now. The Captain had Veronica in the small seating area by the windows. The setting was more personal and Troy figured it would help for Veronica to open up to her, though it did not take a therapist to know that something was troubling the young woman. Then again just about everyone on the ship knew of what happened two days ago and if they didn't it was only a matter of time for such gossip to travel throughout the ship. The Eylandra might be the smallest ship in the fleet but with little else to do most days but gossip, news traveled fast.<br/><br/>Tea sat before each of them, untouched and beginning to cool as the captain allowed Veronica all of the time that she needed. Right now she was wringing her hands over and over again, her eyes locked on some unknown spot on the floor. Troy was in no hurry, her meeting with Azzy had confirmed that the ship was on its way to being back to its tip top best and they suffered only a few casualties. On a rare moment Troy had nothing really pressing to attend to, so she was content to just sit and wait for Veronica to speak up first.<br/><br/>â€œSo much Death....â€ Veronica said in such a soft voice that Troy was not sure she had even heard anything at all in the first place.<br/><br/>Reaching for her tea Troy waited for Veronica to continue, not wanting to speak and break the silence between them, just in case it was her mind fashioning up Veronica speaking.<br/><br/>â€œHow can anyone think to bring a baby into this world....â€ Veronica's eyes finally looking up to meet that of the Captain's, â€œwhen there is so much death and pain in the world?â€ tears brimming in her eyes were silently spilled as their eyes just held each others gaze.<br/><br/>Troy took the time retrieve her tea, plunging the bag in a few times as she gave herself time to think on how to best answer this question. Taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly she set the tea back down on the before her, without having ever taken a sip, and attempted to answer the question.<br/><br/>â€œDeciding to have a baby is not something that is ever easy to do, even in the times when things were somewhat better...â€ Troy began trying to not sound too preachy but always wanting to convey something that she hoped would be helpful. â€œA baby, conceived under any circumstances, is a blessing and a gift. When we were all fertile and multiplying like rabbits that knowledge was lost, babies and children were not treasured and nurtured as they should have been. Now that its so hard to have a baby that many never hope of it ever happening...â€ her voice trailed off for a bit, her eyes unfocussed as she thought back on a memory. â€œDo you want to keep the baby or do you want to lose it?â€ she asked suddenly her eyes focusing on Veronica.<br/><br/>Veronica bulked a bit as if the Captain had reading mind, her eyes breaking away in shame to stare out the window, â€œI...I don't know...â€ she admitted.<br/><br/>Troy sighed, â€œMy sister is expecting...â€ she said softly. â€œTwins....little boys...â€ she shared as she retrieved her lukewarm tea. Stirring it slowly the silence being punctuated by the soft tinking every time the metal spoon collided with the porcelain mug. The caricature of a cartoon space ship, lovingly embossed on the front of the mug aided in lessening the gravity of the overall situation. â€œI'm scared for her, for them....â€ taking a sip of the tea she frowns slightly at the  bitter taste now that it had cooled. â€œEven though I know that the world we live in is not perfect I am not willing to deny them that chance. The chance to live and grow up. To be whoever it is that fate wishes them to be. Instead I am going to work, I am going to work everyday and do whatever it is that I have to do in order to make this world safe for themâ€ the mug was suddenly set down with some force, causing some of the muted green liquid to slush out onto the table. â€œI am going to find them a home, a clean home, where they can grow up healthy and strong. I will do whatever it takes to make sure that they have the best future, because they deserve thatâ€ she reached out suddenly and took Veronica's hand into her own, â€œI will do the same for your baby and every other baby, even those yet to be born. But you have to want it to....you have to want that baby to live and want for it to grow up. Do you want that? Do you want the baby?â€<br/><br/>Veronica stared into the determined eyes of the captain, her captain, a woman whom she knew went above and beyond the call of duty everyday because she cared that much about her ship and crew. More then once she would launch into space herself to assist in combat, no matter how much that stressed the second in command, so that the ship could have the time prepare its engines for a jump. If there was anyone that she looked up to it would be the Captain. Still the question hung in the air unanswered,<span style="font-style: italic"> Did she want the baby?</span><br/><br/>Thinking for a moment as she held the hand of her captain, drawing emotional support she tried to think about if she could actually get rid of the baby. Even knowing about how the world was, knowing what she had done?<br/><br/>Again the ticking of the clock filled the room before finally, â€œYes...â€ her voice barely above a whisper, then, â€œYesâ€ with more force and conviction in her voice. â€œI want this baby. I want to hold it, I want Jared to hold it and I want to watch it grow...â€ tears of joy and relief flowing freely down her face now, feeling as if a bit of the weight on her chest was lifted and she could breath easier.<br/><br/>Breaking whatever protocol there may have been Troy pulled Veronica into a hug, which the young navigation officer gratefully returned.<br/>-------------------------------------------------------------------------<br/><br/>Angela looked between the two though she did not make any comments on the matter, her own past love life was as complicated as it could get.  After settling the air between Dren and herself she would rather not think about Jon. He was in her past and the likelihood of them ever seeing one another again was small. Life expectancy of a pilot was never very high and given the amount of attention they had been getting lately from the Children, it had surely dropped even more.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold"> â€œI don't see why being a pilot means so much to you? You can do anything else with all of your skills and talents...â€</span><br/><br/>It had been the same argument over and over again between the two of them. Ever since that one battle where she nearly died he had been so adamant about her retiring. Speaking of the future he hoped to make with her....</span><br/><br/>Rousing her mind from the troubling past she smiled at Dren, â€œCome on, lets go and do something funâ€, the mischievous look on her face should have perhaps worried him. After all the last time they did something â€œfunâ€ they had ended up naked and panting on the holodeck.<br/><br/>Well that was not too far from the truth...<br/><br/>â€œThe idea is to hit the ball back against the wall before it bounces twice...â€ Angela explains to Dren again as they stood on the holodeck. Dressed for some exercise, they were both in a pair of shorts, t-shirts, goggles and rackets in hand. â€œIts called racket ball. We score a point when they other allows the ball to double bounce. Ready?â€<br/><br/>When he signaled he was ready she moved to stand behind in him, near the corner of the court. Tossing up the ball she smacked it hard for a serve, beginning the game.<br/>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">â€œWe will not take hostile actions unless provoked first, however, our alignment to your vessel cannot be determined at this time due to lack of information. We're new to the area." Rega said, "This is the Nekan Science vessel, Mauna Kea."</span></span><br/><br/>Michael frowned and those who saw swallowed hard in fear, Michael frowning was never a good idea.<br/><br/>â€œRaise shields to full power, charge and ready all weapons. I want a tractor lock  on them and the engines ready to follow them wherever they may go. Send out a message on our secured sub frequency and call in support from as many battle ships as we haveâ€ staring with intent at the alien ship on the screen.<br/><br/>â€œI want that shipâ€<br/><br/>The crew began to fly into action and soon the Rapture had adjusted its course and was heading on a path of interception with the alien vessel. The moment they were in range they would begin to fire, seeking to disable and capture the ship if possible.