Circe’s Call
Posted on March 29th, 2024 by Kathryn Harper and Ian Blackthorne

with Alexis Wright

Even though as Commander of Third Fleet, Commodore Kathryn Harper reported directly to the Director of Starfleet Operations, Vice Admiral T’Kirr, she spent far more time than her peers interacting with T’Kirr’s husband, predecessor, and senior officer, Admiral Ian Blackthorne. The Admiral had also once held Kate’s current job as CO of Atlantis and Commander of Third Fleet, but had since risen through the ranks to become Starfleet Commander-in-Chief. Ian had always been something of a mentor to Kate during the years she served under his command on Atlantis, and that relationship had eventually evolved to one of friendship.

Admiral Blackthorne’s familiar smiling face, a bit grayer and more deeply lined than last she saw him, now filled the communications terminal in Commodore Harper’s ready room aboard Atlantis. “This sort of administrative task would normally be T’Kirr’s duty,” he began, “but she thought that it would mean more coming from me, given our history.” It wasn’t an uncommon sentiment from the Vice Admiral, who was well aware of the friendship Ian and Kate shared, as she had been Ian’s right hand aboard Atlantis while it was blossoming.

“As you know, the Odyssey-class has just completed its final spaceworthiness trials and was declared to be operational. Of the two completed ships, one will be christened as the Enterprise-F, obviously going to First Fleet. As for the Odyssey herself, she’ll be assigned to Third Fleet. Meaning that you get the first shot at commanding the newest, most advanced vessel in the fleet and transferring your flag there.” Ian waved a hand and added, “Of course, Commander Wright would be free to join you.”

Kate had suspected that this would be coming sooner or later. As she considered his words, memories of piloting the Odyssey during a test mission darted through her mind, along with how impressed everyone had been with the brand-new behemoth of a ship. Those memories were quickly replaced by her recollection of how relieved they all had been to return to Atlantis once the mission was complete, even if the Sovereign-class was no longer the most advanced in the fleet. It was their home, after all, and Kate was fortunate enough to have her best friend as her XO, her wife as the second officer, and the woman she had come to regard as some kind of soul sister due to their weird time-sickness induced empathic bond as her doctor. Even though she had the authority to assign them all there with her, how could she ask all of them to disrupt their lives for the sake of a shiny new toy? The general sentiment from her crew, she knew, was a strong preference for Atlantis. She did not need to ask directly to know this, but Kate had no desire for her personal decisions to potentially limit the options available to her crew, so she would at least inform them of the possible opportunity aboard Odyssey should they wish to pursue it.

Her eyes wandered around the ready room. Even this place, once Ian’s, was now demonstrably and comfortably hers. Gone was his bar and the undeniably masculine decor, replaced by a welcoming seating area by her desk for holding conversations with members of her crew, replete with soft fabrics, plush cushions, and the vibrant colors of her homeworld. Potted plants grown from seeds of the worlds they had visited dotted the room in various stages of growth, and she had set up lighting for those that needed it to supplement the soft, indirect light that she preferred. The shelves behind the desk were covered with interesting rocks and trinkets that she’d taken as keepsakes from their journeys, as well as candid holophotos of herself, her wife, her friends, and her senior staff. On her desk, which she mostly kept clear, sat the model of her lost Mustang fighter that Lexy had built for her, in a place of special importance. All around her were reminders of the home she had built here.

The thought of her wife immediately brought to mind the discussions with Lexy of their future and Starfleet’s role, or lack thereof, in it. Retirement was not a mandate, given the possibility of remote work for HQ and the easy commute afforded by quantum slipstream transport, but she had already been very close to retiring instead of accepting promotion to Commodore during their extended shoreleave on Risa spent at the dream home they’d purchased. The hours she and Lexy had spent decorating, the meals with fresh ingredients they had cooked in that kitchen, and the dreams of filling the house with their friends and loved ones — thoughts of these things made Kate’s heart ache in a pleasantly wistful way.

Her visions of this hopeful future were so vivid in her mind, and she realized that she could not reconcile them with the thought of making a new home aboard a new ship with a much larger crew. Things would be different in a way that would have once thrilled her, but that no longer aligned with her own desires or the desires of the people she cared about. Until this moment, she had been uncertain as to what decision she would make when this came up, but it suddenly seemed perfectly clear.

“With all due respect, Admiral,” Kate began before her tone softened, “Ian, I must decline. Atlantis is my first command… but will also be my last. She’s my home and has been for a long time, and when I leave, it will be for the new home Lexy and I have on Risa. Uprooting ourselves once more before getting there just is not in our plans, no matter how attractive the offer.”

Blackthorne did not argue, but merely smiled in resignation as if he had been expecting this response before nodding in understanding. “I thought you’d say that, honestly, and I can’t blame you, since I still find myself missing that ship at times. But, it was your decision to make, so I had to extend the offer. Of course, as C3F, the duty of choosing a CO for the Odyssey is yours.”

“Yes, sir.” Kate already had some initial ideas about that, but would need time to consider them further. “And,” she added, “thank you… for understanding, Ian.”

“Kate… on the day that you do leave Atlantis, should you choose retirement, Starfleet will lose one of its best, which will, of course, create a gigantic staffing problem for me!” He chuckled before quietly continuing, “But also, on that day, as your friend, I’ll be overjoyed for you.”

Kate smiled warmly at the Admiral as they ended the communication, and that warmth spread to a sense of comfortable contentment as she sat back in her chair and thought about her decision. It just felt right. She was home.