Tarik's first day back at work from leave came with a shock.
"Welcome back, Colonel. I've got a piece of news for you!" Major Jackson said as he stood up from behind Tarik's desk. There was a rather broad smile on his face.
"Who'd you kill this time, Major?" Tarik asked.
Jackson laughed. "Well, it looks like we're getting the reinforcements we asked for. You won't believe this!" He handed Tarik a PADD.
Tarik looked over the PADD. "330 line infantry? With the Hammerheads that puts us up to Brigade strength!"
"I guess since they gave you the bird they figured you had to get everything that goes with it, sir."
"When do we get them? And from where?"
"Most of them are just now finishing up Basic on Mars. The 78th MEF took some major casualties in its last run-in with the Maltorians near the Beta Quadrant border and is being disbanded. We're picking up about 15 or 20 NCO's from them, and three from the detachment aboard the USS Virgo, which was just decommissioned. No officers, though. For the time being, it looks like you're going to be short-handed on Headquarters staff, but between you, me and Piccolo that's something we can handle. If necessary we can brevet Hartman, but we need an SNCO more than we need another officer. Everyone should be showing up no later than 15 January, sir."
"Outstanding!" Tarik said. "They're finally giving this sector the attention it deserves. We should be at Regiment or even Division strength, truth be told. But I'm happy with what we're getting."
"Beats a kick in the ass any day! There's also another file here from Command -- marked eyes only."
"I'll take a look at that one straight away. If you'll excuse me," Tarik said.
Jackson left the office as Tarik accessed the file. "Computer, open secure file. Authorization Tarik-mu-339."
The file opened:
PROJECT 'SAMURAI' BACK ON TRACK. EXPECT DELIVERY OF NEW PROTOTYPE TO SB901 NLT STARDATE 62085 ABOARD USS BURLINGAME. TRIALS TO BEGIN IMMEDIATELY UPON RECEIPT OF PROTOTYPE. END COM.
A large, wicked grin spread across Tarik's face. The battle armor project, delayed by the destruction of the first prototype suit in the attack on Starbase 732, was back in action! He had visions of his entire brigade clad in the awesomely destructive units, supported by the Hammerheads, driving deep into the Mulluran Empire, driving deep into the Imperial City, into the chambers of Generalissimo Francona himself...
And suddenly those were supplanted by visions of sugarplums dancing in his head!
Outside in the corridor he heard singing. Strong voices, male and female and neither, singing with heart: "Angels we have heard on high/Sweetly singing o'er the plain/And the mountains in reply/Echoing their glorious strains!"
Tarik stepped out of his office to see two squads worth of his Marines singing just outside his door.
Before they could enter the refrain, every one of them stopped. "Sorry, sir," a short, almost dwarflike private said.
"Never apologize, private. It's a sign of weakness! Go ahead -- carry on."
"Beg your pardon?"
"Carry on! There's been enough death around here. We need some life! And as I recall, the coming human holiday is a celebration of life, is it not?" Tarik smiled. He resisted the temptation to join in -- but only just. A part of him really wanted to join his troops in caroling, but there was much work to be done to prepare for the arrival of over 300 more in just over a month.
Tarik returned to his office to find what appeared to be a Romulan boy not more than six years old sitting at his desk. "How did you get in here?" he asked the child.
"Ah -- I know what you're thinking!" the 'child' said. "Your people were always one of the hardest to reach -- almost as tough as your cousins the Vulcans! But you've got some of the spirit in you -- I think you'll do just nicely!" The 'child' stood up and Tarik noted that it was dressed head-to-toe in green, with curled shoes and a pointed cap.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Felix. I'm an elf."
"You've got to be kidding! Now run along, little boy, or else you'll be in very serious trouble! Where are your parents?"
"Docking Bay 29. And I'm not a little boy -- at least by your standards. I'll be 450 years old in a couple of weeks! Granted, that's not old by elfin standards, but it's a lot older than your people get! Go ahead -- scan me!"
"Computer, how many lifeforms are in this room?" Tarik asked.
<One Romulan male, eight trillion microorganisms of various genum and species. Categorization is as follows-->
"Belay that request. Okay, suppose I believe you. What will I do nicely for? Why me? I know the stories. Wouldn't you be better off with a human?" Tarik asked.
"It's not about your race, my friend -- it's about your heart! As for what, well, you'll see..." Felix said as he dematerialized.
It's just a transporter effect. Tarik thought.
~And no, it's no transporter effect!~ a thought even more powerful than anything he'd ever experienced from Kassia penetrated his brain.
Tarik shook his head and returned to his desk. He knew some strange things had been happening aboard the station in connection to the coming holiday. But why him? It was, after all, a human holiday -- and hardly universally observed even amongst humans. He looked at his calendar and noted that all the days from the previous Sunday up to December 25 had been marked in gold.
"Well, whatever it is, I'm sure he'll get back to me," he chuckled. That was before he noticed the wreath hanging behind his desk...