Posted by Captain Julien King (Captain (outgoing)) in XO’s Office

Julien rang the chime to Calvin’s office with a smile, knowing that it would confuse Calvin to get an unsheduled visit from Julien that way, and not in Julien’s ready room.

• Julien King, CO

“Come,” Came the gruff reply from the dour first officer. Although part of him was curious, people rarely chose to visit the first officer without being invited. He mumbled to himself, “it not good news, nobody every come to your office with cake and says happy birthday.”

When Julien entered, Marius rose from his chair, “Captain.” He started, that was his less formal address… Sir, of course, was the more formal and most was Captain Sir. “Who am I flogging for disobedience… not myself… again.”

XO

Julien grinned and shook his head. Then he thought of all the history he had with this mountain of a man, the only one who could beat even the cybernetically enhanced part of himself. He remembered their sparring session in the holodeck and almost had to smile again.

“Calvin, brace yourself, I have to do something official first before we can be at ease again.” he said and straightened up.

“Lt. Cmdr. Marius, I have to inform you that I have resigned from active duty, therefore you are as of now the acting Captain of the USS Genesis. Computer, transfer command codes to Lt. Cmdr. Marius, authorization King-gamma-bravo-x.”

Calvin just looked at him blankly for a moment, the change was so unexpected, he was about to make a joke about being promoted to commander… this was completely out of left field for him.

There was a beep and the computer confirmed the transfer of command.

Julien sighed deeply. “I have to Calvin. I simply can’t be galavating through the galaxy while La’kia and my unborn daughter might die in childbirth on Earth because I wasn’t there to lead the medical procedure.”

Family, Calvin could respect that. “You have to do what you have to do sir.” The confused look faded as he understood the importance of the situation.

he looked up at Calvin again with sad mismatched green eyes. “I’d like to say that becoming a father has been a mistake, but I can’t. “

• Julien King, CO

OOC: TImeline: this simply happens when the time is right and there is a new incoming CO. It may take some time and until then I’ll stick around and play this out IC and help move the sim along, but it would be great if you could take more of a lead in it, so there’s no disruption to the ship and posting. Thank you dear.

OOC: I’ll pick it up a notch.

“No Sir, Family is never a mistake.” He bobbed his head. “It can be inconvenient, but its always worth it. Take it from me, Julien, I’d give anything to have my family around to make me leave a job I love. ” A decision he was more than willing to make when him and Sage got around to it.

Marius XO

Julien had to smile at that. “Isn’t it ironic? I know it’s the right thing to do, but I’d swap with you if I could.” he said and spread his arms. “This is my home, this is my family, and I have to leave it.” he sighed, looking beaten.

“You might leave home, but its always there when you want to come back. That’s why its called a home, not a house.”

Then he looked up again and pulled something small out of his pocket, looking up at Calvin again. “You’ll take good care of her, won’t you?” he said. It was a little velvet box.

• Julien King, CO

“Best I can, I’ll keep the fires burning until you come back.” Marius

Julien looked at Calvin with a sad smile. Yes who knew, maybe he would come back one day, but in any case, it would not be any longer the home that he got to love.

“Thank you Calvin.” he simply said, and then he straightened and made that instant switch from Julien to Captain King that his crew already knew so well.
He held up the little box to Calvin and opened it. It held a pip.

Calvin looked down at the little circle, he thought he would be happier when it happened. He never thought he’d make lieutenant commander, but when he did, he kind of started looking forward to the next rank…

“I wish this could be done under happier circumstances and we would have time to truly celebrate this momentous occasion. I’m hereby promoting you to the rank of full Commander with all the rights and privileges thereof. You have done the Genesis proud and the crew is safe under your command. Congratulations Commander Marius.” he said.

• Julien King, CO

Calvin took a deep breath as he reached for the box with his left hand and for Julien’s hand with the right. “Thank you Captain. I won’t let you down.” He paused. “You know they could always leave me in command for a while as an ‘acting’ captain until you can come back.” Calvin had no great interest in the big chair… Nor was he afraid of it either.

Marius

Julien nodded. “That may well happen, I can’t postpone much longer, La’kia is getting bigger every day and they are apparently having a hard time to find a new CO who feels up to this specific command. If that happens, I can think of noone better though, you got it in you and you’ve learned how to not be only a security chief meanwhile, trust yourself Calvin.” Julien said seriously.

• Julien King, CO

Calvin looked away for a moment and then smirked when he looked back. “I didn’t even think I’d live this long, much less be an officer. Now you want me to think about being in permanent command.” He shook his head for a moment. “They don’t make people who were lieutenant commanders thirty seconds ago Captains of ships like the Genny. And damn well they shouldn’t. The Genny deserves a Captain like you, or Patricia. The Genny needs a commander like Kirk or Picard or Olinski… you don’t put a Marius next to your five names.”

Marius XO