We Regret To Inform You...

Posted on Wed May 28th, 2025 @ 2:40am by Admiral Kathryn Burke & Commodore Samantha York
Edited on on Wed May 28th, 2025 @ 3:38am

1,266 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Broken Mirror

 
Sam was taking a few moments to herself in her ready room. She wished Damon were there to bounce ideas back and forth like they used to—or just listen to what he had to say. It had been over a year since she'd seen him and six months since he called. Then, he'd been ordered to take his crew to help evacuate a planet after a severe earthquake. Because the people of the planet had been at war with their neighbors, it was felt that Marines would be better equipped to go in if there were continuing hostilities or just to act as peacekeepers.
 
She asked command for details, but all they could tell her was that they didn't know any more than she did. She was ready to take the Calypso to go find him after they caught the mercenaries.
 
Her computer beeped a priority message, which startled her out of her reverie. Expecting more information on the Mirror Mercenaries, she opened it.
 
It was from SFMC Headquarters.
 
"Samantha York Raine,
We regret to inform you…"
 
She couldn't make herself read the rest of it. She didn't want that confirmation. Right now, he was missing. But if the rest of that message said what she thought it did, then there would be no room for doubt, and she didn't think she could face that right now. She closed the message and walked away from her computer and stared out the viewport, her mind racing through possibilities, scenarios, and what ifs. She slowly sank down onto the couch, blind-sided by the soul-wrenching agony that Damon. Her Damon. The man who had been by her side since shortly after they joined the Calypso, was never coming home. Even after he'd been given his own command, he'd come back after every mission. Until a year ago.
 
She didn't know how long she sat there, her arms wrapped tightly around her stomach, lost in her own mind. Slowly, she felt like she could breathe again. Accept that she had to go back to her computer and read the rest of the message. Go back on the bridge because there was a ship full of people who needed her to be in control. There would be time later. Days. Weeks. Months. Time to mourn. Time to cope with a life without her dearest companion.
 
Feeling half numb, she slowly went back to her computer and pulled up the message. Continued reading.
 
"We regret to inform you that Colonel Damon Taylor Raine was killed in the line of duty. He saved a majority of his platoon and a dozen civilians before he and his remaining Marines were overwhelmed by enemy forces. He has been  posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery.
 
 He was given a proper military burial by those who survived. His medal and his dog tags have been forwarded to you on the Calypso.
 
He was a fine man and a fine Marine. His service to the corps will not soon be forgotten.
 
General Ammon Khan, SFMC
 
She stared at the signature until tears blurred her vision. They had his dog tags. She couldn't even hope he was MIA and would eventually come home to the Calypso. And it had been home.
 
They'd joined the newly-launched ship within days of each other. She was the chief science officer and he the Marine CO. They'd fallen in love while serving here. He was by her side when she was given command and later became her first officer—before being given command of his own Marine ship. And now…
 
Now she couldn't think. She could barely breathe. She folded her arms on her desk and let her head rest on top of them as she gave in to her grief and sobbed.
 
After a long while, she washed her face, brushed her hair, and carefully concealed any signs of her pain. She still had to get control of her emotions before going onto the bridge, so she tried multiple times to read a report. Then she gave up and closed her eyes.
 
Her computer cheeped an incoming call. She didn't want to answer. She didn't want to talk to anyone. Not now. She stood, motionless, while it stopped, then started again. She rubbed her eyes for a moment, then sighed.  Nothing for it but to find out what was so important they kept calling.
 
She sat straighter. "Computer, answer."

"Samantha…" Admiral Burke rarely used her full name. "I have news of Damon."
 
"I just received a message from Admiral Khan." Sam hoped it had been a mistake and Admiral Burke would say he'd only been injured, but the sympathy on her face said otherwise.
 
Kathryn sighed. She looked at Sam for a long moment as if reading her reaction. "I'm so sorry. I told Ammon I would tell you myself."
 
"Are they sure?" Sam had to ask the question. One desperate hope there had been a mistake.
 
"I'm afraid so. He died five months ago. He and his men were sent to help evacuate injured after a large earthquake, and got caught in the middle of a war between two worlds. Max sent someone in to find out why no one heard from him or his men. The agent was able to verify that Damon was buried in a local cemetery and retrieved his dog tags. I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do?"
 
Sam shook her head. "I just need time to process…this." To be okay knowing he would never come home again. She turned away from the computer to wipe her eyes. She could not start crying every time he was mentioned.
 
"As you know, I lost my first husband. We had so many plans…but when he died, I needed to work, so I came back to Starfleet and eventually met Max. I'm not saying you'll find someone else, but the pain will ease." The admiral paused. "Do you need to take some time off? Commander Tal is a good officer and could take over for a while…"
 
"No. I need to work. I need to be here. I have a team on the planet looking for a scientist we believe is of interest to the mercenaries. I need to see this through. Damon would want me to stay here. Besides, it doesn't matter where I go, it's not…" She closed her eyes and wiped away the tears on her cheeks. "Damon's things are still here. In a way, HE is still here, too."
 
"Very well. But if you need anything, let me know. I told my secretary to always take your call, so don't worry about bothering me."
 
A brief smile crossed Sam's face. "Thank you. I appreciate that. And that you called to tell me yourself."
 
"Any time. Just let me or Max know." Admiral Burke watched Sam for several moments. "I wish I could be there with you."
 
Sam sniffled. "Thank you. But right now, I need to focus on this mission." She knew it wouldn't be enough. Not yet, and maybe not for a long time. But it was what Damon would want. He'd want her to stay here. To keep going. She'd want him to do the same if the situation were reversed.

She said goodbye to the admiral, checked her face to be sure it wasn't red and puffy, locked down her mental shields and went out to see if there was word on the away team.

A Post By

Admiral Kathryn Burke
Theta Fleet Commander

Commodore Samantha York
Calypso Commanding Officer

 

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