Rekindling - Part 2

Posted on Wednesday January 14, 2026 @ 12:34am by Vice-Admiral Yasmin Moogana & Commander Tharynos-Theronar Kyrek & Aeliryn-Myren Velith

1,519 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 1: Planetary Exploration
Location: Thorynthar, Zyntheria Prime

The car lifted off as Thar walked towards the front door of the house. He walked in he was greeted by an older man in a formal suit. “Mr. Tharynar,” He started, "How was your Vryantha Ryn? It has been a few years.”

“It was great! It has been a while. Thank you Hiron.” That said as he handed him his bags. Hiron had worked for his family for as long as Thar could remember. He was like a member of the family. “Are my parents home?”

“Your father is at a council meeting and your mother is in the back parlor with a…” Hiron paused, “…guest. Your betrothed... Sir…”

Thar rolled his eyes. Hiron knew his feelings towards this. He didn't like the idea of an arranged marriage. Before joining Starfleet, it was what he knew to be true. Royalty… the new council members… had arranged marriages. But since joining Starfleet he learned about love and he wanted that. He has 66 years to change his mother’s… and society’s… mind on the tradition. Zyntherians don’t marry until the male was a minimum of 100 years old. “Let’s pretend…”

“Tharynos! Is that you!” Just then his mother appeared in a flowing sundress, “Oh it is you! I hope Tharenos blessed your Vryantha Ryn with that storm.” She looked at him and his clothes. Mid thigh length shorts and a tank top. His beard was long from not trimming it for a week and the hair on his usually bald head was a long stubble. “Go clean up. We have a guest. Myren and her mother are here.”

That started to walk up the stairs, “You know how I feel about this.” He spoke down as he took his tank top off half way up the stairs.

“It is our tradition. We must follow it. You must follow it. Especially you. You are the oldest and the heir.”

“And you have never let me forget it.”

“Starfleet is taking you away from our ways.”

“Mother. Please don’t start this again. If anything it has brought me closer to Zyntherian traditions and Tharenos. Starfleet embraces all cultures.” By now he was at the top of the stairs. He landed over the banister to keep looking at her. Father isn’t going to retire for another 300 years. I may well be done with Starfleet and ready to take my place as his heir. I will hold the title, but Starfleet is my life anyway. Myren will need to decide if she wants to live the Starfleet life or stay on Zyntheria Prime while I am off.” He was just giving his mother the reality of it all. He had served with several crew whose families were away at their home. Starfleet rarely allowed families on their ships. The exceptions were if they were able to be used on the ship. Like a civilian contractor. He shrugged as he walked off.

It wasn’t long before he was in the bathroom. He took off his clothes and stood in front of the mirror. Taking the shaver from the drawer, he ran it across his head removing the stubble of hair on the top of his head. He trimmed up his beard to be shorter. He hopped in the shower and cleaned up. Wrapping a towel around his waist, he walked to his room. Hiron had already laid out a nice set of clothes. They were nice enough that his mother wouldn’t say anything, but comfortable enough that he would be happy. Hiron knew him so well. He wished he was with him in Starfleet, but then he wouldn’t have to do anything himself, which he liked to do. He threw on the tank top and the mid thigh shorts. This was how he dressed, his mother couldn't say much, they were nicer ones. He picked up his Starfleet issue communicator and put it in his pocket.

He made his way down to the parlor and walked in where the three women were sitting around a small table. Hiron was by the door when he walked in and handed Thar a glass of Therenar whiskey. Thar nodded his thanks as he greeted the women. “Hello. Myren, it is nice to see you again.”

The woman wasn’t very tall, she had blonde hair, and she was very beautiful. He had to admit. More beautiful than the last time he had seen her. Her features showed her Aeliryn ancestry. It wasn’t uncommon for parents of royalty, now the councilor of the Zyntherian council, to arrange marriages between clans. Especially allies. This was something that still happened. It was his duty as eldest child of the Kyrek house that he needed to form this alliance. This was besides the fact that the clans were no longer at war since joining the Federation.

The Aeliryn Clan, Guardians of the Moon. They worship Aelira, the Moon Guardian. They are scholars and advisors; they are deeply tied to the moon’s cycles, focusing on philosophy, astronomy, and introspection. She was one of them. Thar was never meant to be an academic, he was meant to be a politician, a royal, but he became an academic when he left for Starfleet to study science and linguistics. He wasn’t sure what she would think of that. His view of the traditions of the Zyntherians. Within a few minutes of him arriving, the communicator in his pocket chirped. “Excuse me.” He said as he left the parlor and headed to the entry way. Myren watched him leave. She excused herself and walked towards the entry way.

Thar flipped open the communication. “Lieutenant Commander Kyrek.” He said into the communicator. “Lieutenant Commander. This is Starfleet Communications Relay 08. We have a subspace call from Admiral Moogana.”

“Put her through to my family's home. I will take it to my father’s office.” He snapped it shut and headed to his father’s office and shut the door behind him. Sitting at the desk that had been there since his childhood. He signed in and opened the comms channel. A human woman appeared who was wearing a red uniform jacket with a white division strip over her shoulder. Her uniform was outlined in gold. She was of middle eastern earth descent. “Admiral Moogana. It is good to see you again. I apologize for not being in uniform.” He had met her during his command training. Which he had just completed prior to his shore leave. He was guaranteed a promotion to full commander, but his shore leave started even before that could happen.

“Lieutenant Commander. I hope shore leave is treating you well. I have news for you. Upon your return from leave, you will receive your promotion to commander.” Her deep, gravelly, and raspy voice came over the speakers. “We also have a special assignment for you.”

Thar was surprised by this. What did she mean? A special assignment? Maybe it was some scientific discovery on some outer world that needed studying. Maybe a new language that Starfleet needed to be put into the universal translator. He cleared his mind so that it would hear what she had to say.

“Upon completion of your shore leave next week, you will not report back to the USS America. I want you to report to Deep Space Station K-3. There you will assume command of the USS Eventide.”

Upon hearing that the whole world went silent, her mouth moved as she continued what she was saying, but he didn’t hear her. He again cleared his mind…

“... to the Dar’Byrn system. There is a newly discovered M-class world exhibiting anomalous biosignatures and unstable tectonic readings. The mission is classified as a Special Assignment by Starfleet Command due to the planet’s potential strategic value and the proximity of non-Federation interests.”

Thar was still not sure if he believed what he was hearing. He noticed movement outside the office. Myren was outside the glass double doors looking at the art that hung in the hallway outside. He knew she was waiting for him.

“Also, consider this a Command readiness evaluation. If you do well, you may get a permanent command. Do you accept the assignment?”

Thar thought. He would be crazy to say no. He nodded, “I do.”

“Good. Now finish your shore leave and get to DS K-3.”

“I have one request, Admiral. Can I get Senior Chief Petty Officer Ky'Dev th'Zarken, as Chief of Boat for the Eventide?” He felt weird asking for a request so soon to this acceptance, but he thought he would try. Ky was a good friend and colleague. He could use him there.

“I will see what I can do Commander. Congratulations. I will contact you once you are on the Eventide. Moogana out.” The screen went black save for the “Starfleet Command” logo that appeared. Then it disappeared. He saw his reflection from the shoulders up. He envisioned him back in the red jacket, but now instead of a grey division strap, it was white.

 

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