Condolences

Posted on Wed Jul 9th, 2025 @ 12:09pm by Lieutenant Didrea Zade & Lieutenant Commander Finnley Keating VII

Mission: Character Development
Timeline: Pandora's Box - MD7
894 words - 1.8 OF Standard Post Measure

Zade looked herself over in the mirror. She knew this call had to happen, and despite modest pushback from her team that she should rest, she insisted on doing this. Perhaps it was guilt. Perhaps it was fulfilling her desire to be useful in her own way. Her uniform was crisp, though it felt like it wasn't sitting right, and she pulled her hair back into a simple braid. Not a hair out of place. The compression sleeve on her leg was constricting with uniform pants, so she opted for knee-length shorts. It didn't matter, they wouldn't be visible in the call anyways.

With a steady sigh, the Trill exited the bathroom, moving slowly and with a noticeable limp that she despised, and eventually made it to the desk in her quarters. Dumping the blanket that was draped over the chair onto the floor, she organised the PADDs a little in case they would end up in view before taking a seat. She paused for a few more seconds, then initiated the call. While she waited for it to go through, her eyes drifted to the letter Iska had recorded, sitting untouched on her computer. It was found in his belongings, and the ICOD - For Emje title told her everything she needed to know. She'd respect his wish.

"How can I help you?" Emje answered the call fairly neutrally, though his heart tugged with worry on the inside as soon as he recognized the Starfleet uniform.

A knot of grief twisted her stomach the moment the call connected, but Zade forced herself to remain composed. She had made calls like this before, and as much as she hoped they wouldn't pick up, it was a necessary part of her job."Thank you for taking the transmission, Sergeant. I'm Lieutenant Zade, head of security on the USS Athena." The Trill took in a steady breath. "I regret to inform you that your son, Ensign Rimal Iska, was killed in the line of duty. He served with distinction, and we are forever grateful for his sacrifice."

Emje's stomach sank. He had known when the uniform showed up on the screen, what to expect. Yet he had hoped against all odds that this was somehow a call for something else. Perhaps to let him know that his son had received an award or a promotion. Something. Anything other than this. He merely nodded at first, holding back the mix of raw emotions that he felt. He choked back the knot in his throat.

"How did it happen?" He finally replied.

This was the worst part. "Unfortunately, Starfleet protocol prevents me from sharing details at this time." To be required to share the devastating news as soon as reasonably possible, but not how it happened, was cruel in its own way. It didn't help that he was likely aware that her response was fairly scripted. "What I can share," she continued, after a pause for careful consideration. "... is that he saved my life, without hesitation. I wouldn't be here today if he hadn't made that choice, and it is a debt I can never repay."

"He died honorably in the line of duty then it sounds like," Emje responded, straight faced with little emotion. On the inside he felt a mix of pride and deep sadness. Along with a profound sense of guilt. Had he not forced his son into this position, he might still be here today.

"Yes, sir. His absence will be felt." Zade fell silent for a couple seconds, mostly to control her own emotions but also to give Emje the space to let the news sink in. She recognised the emotional mask he wore, a testament to his own service and experience. It was the same mask she was using to hold herself together. "I'm so sorry for your loss. We will send you his belongings as soon as we are able. You will be contacted by Starfleet to arrange funeral proceedings, if you wish to have him returned to Bajor or let Starfleet send him off." Glancing at the icon on her computer again, she added, "he did leave behind a letter addressed to you, sir, which I can send over to you now if you wish."

"Yes, please do. Thank you for your call," he replied, not wanting to drag out the social encounter. He needed space to process and he never processed in front of someone else.

Zade knew when to read the room. With a curt nod, she sent the letter, confirmation coming through after about a second. "If you need anything, please don't hesitate to call. Zade out." With that, the transmission ended.

"Emje?" A voice from the other room called. A woman with features strikingly similar to Rimal appeared. Her hair had two twisted sections joining at the back of her head, and in her hands was water for the tea she was about to make. Anjae heard an unfamiliar voice and came to investigate, seeing the Trill for just a second before the screen went out. "Who was that, dear?" She asked.

Emje sighed, he hadn't even had a chance to process the news himself, but he couldn't hold back on his wife. On Rimal's mother. "It was from Starfleet," he didn't say the rest. He let his eyes do the talking for him.