Marcus was watching the news about the increasing friction and political collapse of the Nausicans, in the area of the Briar Patch. "Anna, Jayme's stationed on SB901, and her being on the front lines is very likely."
"Marcus, we've been over this before--I don't want to hear it! It was bad enough when it was you how had to go. Then it was worse when we had that kid and you were never home!" She turned away from him and started putting various PADDS in her satchel.
"Anna!" He snapped, "She's your daughter!" He stood and went to stand in front of her. "Don't tell me you don't care."
"She stopped being my daughter the day she dropped out of Starfleet Medical's Program and became a damn 'Marine'--so get out of my WAY!" She shouldered him aside and left.
He sat in their quarters on Mars and thought about The Crops, retirement, his marriage to Anna, and the fact that he hadn't gotten any mail from Jayme since she'd arrived on SB901. He wasn't worried as he knew his daughter; and had followed her training through the special forces course and OCS. He'd done a background search on her current CO., and the 28th MEF history. If there were problems then he'd have heard.
He went to the computer and pulled up a transportation schedule and reserved his accommodations on freighter that was leaving Mars in three hours. He went into their bedroom and packed a duffle with what he'd need for the trip and his stay on SB901.
Before leaving for the transport he recorded a message for his wife, "Anna, on your best days you're out right difficult to live with and on your worst...well you know. I'm taking a trip--don't know how long I'll be gone, as I'm going to go visit Jayme. Take care."
He then left the apartment and headed for the station.
On the fifth day he sat in the dinning hall, that also served as the recreation area and played cards with some of the off duty crew. All of a sudden General Quarters alarms began to sound and the ship learched as his fellow players rushed off. Pocketing the cards in one of the many pockets in his old fatigues, he decided to investigate. He knew better then to go to the bridge so he turned and headed to the damage control center--the place where most of his card buddies just headed off to.
In DCC, he leaned against the wall and took in the activity and listened...one of there Warp engines had just blown and took out the crew on duty, and blew isoliner chips throughout the control run and a team was trying to contain a fire.
Finally the chief of the section spotted Marcus, "Who are you?"
"Marcus Alcon Lt Cmdr-retired." Marcus smiled at the guy's frown. "I'm dead heading to SB901. Thought I'd come down and see if there was anything I could do?"
"What was your specialty?"
"I was infantry, mainly, but I've worked damage control and some engineering." he said to himself, can't blow something up if you don't know how it works.
"Right now were fine, but I'll keep you in mind if we get in a jam." With that he walked off and talked with a pair of technicians. Marcus decided to go back to the bunk in the barracks and wait.
Two days later the the impulse drive had been repaired and he was told that they'd be arriving at Starbase 901 within 24 hrs. He put the PADD down that he'd been reading and drew another cup of coffee and looked out the porthole and wondered what his daughter was doing?
On the eighth day they arrived and when secured to the outer skin of the docking bay and he and two other passangers were allowed to leave the ship. The freighter and teams from the ships dock masters office had already started to shift the cargo from the ship to the station's holding facility. Marcus moved on and took a lift to the central core where he'd already been in contact and they'd arrange housing for him. He signed in at the desk and was given a card key that would let him into the quarters until he set up his own recognition and codes for the door.
He ditched his bag in his new quarters then showered and settled in. He tried to contact Jayme but all he got from the computer was, "Captain Alcon, is currently unavailable please record a message." He frowned then left a message--"Jayme it's your father and I am here on station housed on deck k unit 302."
He waited and replicated a meal and noted the station time. Then asked, "Computer, directions to Marine HQ?" He listended to the directions and left his quarters. He entered through the passageway and stopped at the reception desk and was greeted by a shinny faced trell, private. "How can I help you sir?"
"I am looking for my daughter? Captain Jayme Alcon."
"Uh, sir may I see some ID."
Marcus pulled out his military ID, which also held noted his retirement from the corps.
The youngster did something with his computer terminal, then looked up a tad pale, "Commander. Captain Alcon is off station, sir."
"I'm retired, so you can drop the rank and the sir's." Marcus said, then asked, "I'd like to speak with her Commanding Officer."
"Colonel Tarik is currently unavailable. If you can leave me the information on where you can be reached then I'll have either Major Jackson or Colonel Tarik comm you as soon as possible." Marcus left his information and left.
He stepped off onto the promenade deck and started wandering shops and noted the number of drinking and eating establishments. Fustrated he walked back to his quarters to wait.