Granddad

Posted on Sun Oct 16th, 2022 @ 7:38am by Commander Antonia 'Tony" Stoffels

Mission: The Lost Brother
Location: Tony's quarters
Timeline: after mission

Tony's heart was beating very fast when she made the connection to her granddad's Savannah mansion. She knew he was a difficult man and not good for Nick but she had a lot of good memories about the old man as well. Wonderful memories of holidays spent at the old plantation complex outside of savannah which was a haven for small children.

"Antonia." Moxley was in casual clothing just coming back from an afternoon on horseback. Despite his age he was still in very good physical condition. "How are you ma cherie? Everything allright?"

"No grandda. It's not. It's Nick... Ren is with me. He wants to talk to you." She moved away from the monitor and moved further away so the two could have some privacy.

"Hello Moxley," Soran said calmly. He made no effort to hide the disdain his voice.

"Wagnor." The retired marshal of marines was not used to many people calling him by his given name. Some old friends and when he had drunken a few beers Richard would do so on occasion. But he did not like it from this insolent young pup. "what is wrong with my grandson?"

"Physically the grandson's on the mend and will probably be fine," Soran explained. "Emotionally and psychologically speaking he's deeply wounded! He's been asking me to kill him, he said I'm your family's trained pet killer. Now where would he get an idea like that? I don't talk about my time in Talsion War, no matter how many times you’ve asked. The rest of the Stoffels and Londons have always respected that, so Moxley that leaves you. What the fuck have you been trumming into his head."

"That is still general Sorrel to you, boy." Moxley said gruffly. "And maybe that was a compliment, Wagnor. You are a killer after all. There are very few secrets for a five star general in this army." But he did look concerned. "Send Nicky to me, I will sort him out."

"First off you may call me Soran, I was never and never would be under your command Moxley. Respect given is respect earned, so I see no need to use your rank. Second I am not anyone's pet anything, there is no context where that would be a compliment. You may have gotten access to my files, but you clearly don't have the sense to read between the lines. If it were up to me and I know it's not, Nick would never be within a light year of you again. Men like you made me into the man I am today and I will never thank them for it."

"Ren..." Tony started but really did not know what to do.

"You... I have no idea why Richard allows you near his family. And none of them see you for what you really are. Especially not my granddaughter. I always take care of my family. I will make a marine out of Nicholas yet, by god! And you your career is over!"

Soren put up a halting hand towards Tony, Before turning his attention back to Sorrel.

"Enlighten me Moxley," he said. There was an unsettling calm to his voice. "What do you think I am?! What makes you think you have any power over my career?! You're not the only one who has connections!"

"You are a lt commander in the navy. You have nothing. I will care for my grandson. I may wish he was more like his mother and sister but he is my grandson and I will help him."

"Your head is so far up your ass you don't know the first thing about me or your own family! You've confused love and loyalty with fear and duty. If you really love your grandson you'd have given him a choice and he wouldn't have chosen to be a marine. The only ways to change that are against every principle the Federation stands for. If there's a shred of family love and loyalty in you'll step back and let that boy make his own choices. I've seen the look in Nick's eye more times than I can count and I know where that kind of pain leads to. I've seen what happens to boys like that, he'll take his own life. Or make someone do it for him, I'm not your pet killer. Your family keeps me around because I tell the truth and I protect those I love from anyone that would hurt them, even other family members 'General Sorrel!"

His tone dripped with condescension as he spoke the man's rank and surname. He honestly wasn't sure If the man had enough pull to get him out of the Fleet at the moment he didn't care.

"You are so done, and you are to stay away from my family from now on, you hear! How dare you insinuate that I can't take care of my own grandson. That boy loves me. and I love him. It is not my fault that the male members of my family are not as strong as the female. But Nick is young, he can still learn. He comes from good stock."

"I'm not going anywhere, you have no power over me. I've made friends in the Fleet's brass; they're not going to listen to a retired marine general trying to hurt a good officer over personal petty vendetta. Admiral London and General Stoffels blocked your attempt to transfer me to one one of your special units. What makes you think they'll be on your side this time?" Soran said calmly, "I'm dating your granddaughter with your daughter's blessing. How far are you willing to go with this? How much of your family are you prepared to alienate because I dare to tell you the truth?"

Soran realized he was putting Aleck and Tony into a bad position, but they needed to stand up to this man if Nick was going to survive. 'Denise and Wain are going to kill me, ' he thought. He didn't dare look at Tony right now, he stared at the old man.

"Wain London is a has been who is kept in an admin job for sentimental reasons. Richard in the end will listen to me. And my daughter and granddaughter will obey me. Antonia!"

"Yes granddad." Tony came forward tears in her eyes.

"You bring Nick to me and you break up with this ... man." Moxley said.

Tony swallowed visibly. "I..can't granddad."

"Then get out of my sight, child." He said in a cold voice. "I will go over your heads. The current marshal is a good friend of mine. I will see to it that that boy gets the care he needs. Get going Antonia, I do not want to look at you right now!"

She fled the room in tears.

Soran ended the transmission without signing off and followed after Tony they would have to stay on top of this. He hated politics, but he did know how the game was played.

"Tony." He said quietly as he caught up to her in the hall.

She was fighting the tears. "Get me out of here. Crew can't see me. Going....going to have... anxiety attack!"

"Let's get you out of the hallway then," Soran said calmly, "If we're going to help Nick we have to act fast."

Tony was too far gone to ask what he meant she could only nod and let him help her to a safe place.

Soran led her back into her quarters, "Call your father. He will need him to talk to the Marine brass, I doubt they'll take a grandfather's wishes over a father's. I've got some Admiral's to contact, before your grandfather has a chance to twist the story."

"I hope so. Marshall Antonov is an old friend of granddad. I can't believe this." She burst out in tears. 'He wouldn't hurt Nick would he? Granddad loves him."

"He loves the idea of his grandson being a marine, he can't see past his own pride. "I don't know if we can get through to him, we have to do what's best for Nick. Call your father from the bedroom, I'll call Admiral Bryce. He should be able to smooth things over with starfleet command." Soran looked her in the eye. "I'm sorry it's come to this. I will do everything in my power to protect Nick. I don't care if your grandfather hates me."

"But I care if he hates us." Tony said in a small voice. "I love him, Ren. Maybe you should call uncle Wain as well. If he is up to it, he knows everyone."

"I'm going to send a subspace code to Bryce it'll probably be a minute before you can get back with me. I've started this mess I should probably talk to your father with you." He sighed. "I hope the future of our relationship isn't contentioned on your grandfather's approval."

"Of course not." Tony said wiping her eyes. "I'll go try and contact dad. Come join me when you can."

He nodded and sat down at her desk and typed the subspace code into the console.

Tony went into her bedroom to try and contact her father.

Soran entered the bedroom when Tony called him a few minutes later.

"Dad is not on earth." Tony said. But I got one of the staff and they are going to ask him to call us as soon as possible. Do you think he is on his way here?"

The COMM chirped; "Bridge to we have a coded priority transmission coming through for you."

"Patch it through," Soran said.

John Bryce appeared on the COMM screen. "Someone better be dying if you're using this channel Ren!"

"Does being suicidal qualify?" Soran quipped back.

The Admiral looked to Tony and said, "are you still his therapist Tony?"

"I'm not the one who's suicidal!" Soran in an irritated tone.

"No sir I am not his therapist anymore." Tony said. "But Nick is in trouble."

He sighed, "I see let me guess Ren has started a shit storm with your grandfather?"

"How did you know? Has granddad been making waves already?"

"No, the ability to foresee personality conflicts goes with the job. Run and Moxley have been an explosion waiting to happen." Bryce nodded. " I'll pay the retired General a visit and remind him to stay out of Fleet personal issues. The Communication array on his estate is going down for maintenance so he shouldn't be bothering anyone for at least an hour or two."

The Admiral his head, "the London's have kept me in the loop on most of the goings on. Some important paperwork has gotten lost, so the shuttle Colonel Stoffels 'borrowed' hasn't been missed. General Stoffels is on his way to collect his family, he'll meet you soon."

"Oh thank you." Tony said. "Thank you so much." Her mother had very much felt in limbo not knowing if anyone was going to press charges against her. And she was relieved to hear her father was coming.

"Ren you are to have no further contact with Moxley til this is resolved, You've already created enough of a personnel nightmare for me. Richard and Aleck will decide what is best for their son is that clear?

"Yes Sir," Soran said.

"Off the record I'm with you on this," Bryce smiled.

"Thank you sir."

The console started to beep for another incoming call. "That will be my dad." Tony said. "Thanks again sir."

Richard Stoffels looked like he had aged ten years in a week when he appeared on their screen next.

"Hello General," Soran said.

"Ren." Richard said. 'Antonia. How are things at your end? I should be with you in a few hours to pick up my chief of staff."

Tony looked at Soran.

"Well your son is suicidal, your father in-law is trying to force us give Nick to him. He's also promised to ruin my career." Soran spoke in a home home tone as though he were delivering a mundane living a mundane report.

"So nothing out of the ordinary then." Richard said deadpan. 'I hope you are joking about Nick though."

"He isn't daddy." Tony wiped away a tear. "Nick's in a bad way."

The general groaned. "I will be with you soon and I need to hear everything then. Anything else I should know?"

"I've contacted Admiral Bryce and he's going to talk to Moxley. The London boys were severely injured but will survive. I saved gallery sergeant Drew's life but he's still an arrogant prick."

Soran continued, took Tony's hand and squeezed it. "I'm dating your daughter. With your wife's blessing."

"Aren't you supposed to ask the father first?" The general asked amused. "You will update me completely in a few hours. And stay away from Drew. He will kill you when he gets the chance."

"Well she is physically on the ship and far more likely to shoot me, so I thought I'd get the difficult part out of the way first. " Soran calmly. "As for Drew, If you really believe one of your Marines is planning to commit a murder you'd handle it. Besides I think you're overestimating his prowess, He spent a week in the infirmary after the last time."

"Ah so you have recognized that my wife is way more dangerous than I am." He chuckled. "I can't act without evidence, Ren. He will be moved to a different system now and will be out of your hair."

"Thank you, Sir." He nodded.

"I will be with you in about two hours. Oh and I am travelling incognito."

"Understood, Sir. What should I tell the captain?"

"The captain can know. For the rest I am registered as Colonel Porter. "

"Of course sir," Wagnor nodded.

"Good I will see you soon and hear the whole story."

Soran turned to Tony to say something but...

"Sickbay to Wagnor," Came over the COMM.

"Go ahead," Soran said.

"Sorry to bother you Sir, but Your security guard just let Seg. Drew into Corporal Stoffels room. The guard looked uncomfortable so I thought I would inform you."

"Thank you, I'll take care of it." Soran said.