It had been four days since the crew had been in the battle to stop Walker, a crazed combat officer, whom he once knew.
Commander Wallace didn't talk much, about the past two days they spent chasing Walker. He tried to block it out, he focused on the job at hand, which was get the Arizona back to SB901 and tend to the business there.
"Sir we are on the outside of the Briar Patch," Kelvin said from the helm.
"Very well drop to one quarter impulse. Mister Kelly you have the bridge. I'll be in my ready room." Richard got up and walked into the small ready room.
He walked over to the replicator. "Coffee, extra hot and strong, black." A metal cup appeared with the Arizona's ship register number and the Starfleet insigna. Rich took his coffee and sat down at his desk. He picked up a PADD and saw it was a report from, Commander Kelly to Starfleet Intel. Richard sent it to Intel rather quickly. Then a beep, came from the door."Enter."Wallace said in a rather friendly tone. The door open and Lieutenant Nugent came in, she seemed to be a little uneasy coming in.
"Yes Lieutenant?"
"Sir I want to speak freely si,." Nugent said twitching her hands and fingers.
"Sure take a seat," Richard said giving a friendly smile.
The Lieutenant took a seat, and looked at the Commander dead on in the eyes, which Wallace didn't like.
"I want to say thank you."
"For what?"
"You treat me as normal bridge officer, not a person that has to be tolerated," Nugent said.
"Listen your pips are gold, not pink or blue for boys and girls. Your job is as important as Garek's. Your warfare is one of moral support. I see you as an equal to all officers." Nugent liked hearing those words and knew that the Commander was honest and sincere. She also knew had a hard time expressing his feelings.
"I am also having trouble putting the scene of the Wellington crashing on purpose into the Cardassian Warship."
Richard was not wanting to talk about this but knew deep down it must be talked about, his senior staff hadn't seen eveything he had seen, and would look to their Commander for guidence.
"Listen battle is something hard to forget and hard to understand. People do things that make no sense. We must learn from those mistakes, and teach others about what happen, so it doesn't repeat it's self again." Richard leaned back in his chair and looked over the fairly attractive Lieutenant.
"Thank you sir. But have you any advice for my feelings of guilt. Sounds crazy a couselor asking for advice," she said chuckling,
"No, not at alll. Your first taste of battle is always hard to understand, it will make since soon though."
"I was wondering if you'd like to go out and have dinner some time on the station?" Le'Chell asked smiling.
"I'll see, I have some pressing duties here before we dock, so if you'd excuse me please." Wallace said standing up and standing by the door.
After the Lieutenant left Richard went back to working on his his log.
"Computer begin recording. Stardate 2461200 . The crew of the Arizona has preformed rather well, over the past 5 days, however the USS Wellington was a loss. I am proud to hear that the Cardassian's have began to talk to the Diplomatic Corp on ending the Netrual Zone between the two powers. Cardassians are in my opinion the most untrust worthy people, in the Alpha Quadrant. I hope they have learned the lession from the past. If not may Walker forgive me. Computer, end log."
Wallace sat back and sipped his coffee and thought about everything in Nevar's report, and hoped the Bolian was wrong.