“I liked my crew, Keith,” Cromwell said, bluntly. “Especially Peri,” He added. 

Keith chuckled and raised his hands in mock surrender on the other end of the comm line, “I know, Pete. I know. I’m sorry. You know we took some critical losses dealing with the Lost Fleet and during the Frontier Day incident,” He explained. “And I think you’d agree with me that if anyone deserves their own ship, it’d be Peri. She’s sharp,” He said. 

Pete grumbled but nodded, “You got a lot of nerve using my desire to see people succeed against me,” He said, a hint of a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. 

“You always did hate that about me,” Keith replied, grinning broadly. “Wyatt, Trapp, Cash, and Moore will be a loss, I know, but I can promise you that Dumouchel, DeMont, Reynolds, and Rawles will be more than adequate replacements,” He promised. 

“I’ll bite,” Cromwell replied, leaning back in chair, “Tell me about them.”

Keith nodded and took a deep breath before diving right in, “So Amie is a handful. Spunky little French woman with sarcasm in abundance,” He began. 

Cromwell laughed, “We’ll get along fine, then.”

Keith chuckled at that, “Oh, you absolutely will. As much as she loves her biting wit, she loves her job even more. She was the 2XO on the USS Talleyrand and her CO was hard pressed to lose her for this promotion,” Keith explained. “She was so good at her job, I think the XO was a little jealous,” Keith joked, causing both men to laugh. “Then you’ve got Mack. She’s a hell of a doctor, specialized in Xenobiology in the Academy and has a bedside manner that’s as sweet as honey,” Keith explained. “She’s from Texas, so she’s basically the rowdier version of me,” He said, eliciting a laugh from Cromwell.

“What about the kid?” The Commodore asked. 

“Nick? DeMont is good people. He’s young still, and plenty of room to prove himself, but he’s graduated with honors from the Academy and he’s impressed every CO he’d ever had,” Keith said, before pausing and sighing. “Then there’s Rawles.” 

“Yeah,” Cromwell replied, leaning forward as his interest grew, “I noticed he’s almost 40 and still only a Lieutenant Commander. He have some disciplinary issues?”

“No,” Keith shook his head firmly and stared off for a minute, trying to gather his thoughts. “He uh… He’s had a life,” He explained. “About six years ago, his fiancée was killed by a terrorist cell aboard the ship they were serving on – violently – and then a couple years later he took a bullet to the chest and his new fiancée took one to the spine – actual bullets, not phaser shots, bullets. It left his fiancée paralyzed and him unable to be a fighter pilot anymore. He got her back on her feet, but he just couldn’t take it anymore and took an extended leave of absence. About a year ago, he requested to end it and went back to the Academy to pick up a Flight Control specialization and he excelled at it,” He said. “I was hoping that some time aboard a ship with a steady, well versed CO like you would do him some good and help him find his feet again,” The Captain on the comm offered. 

“That is… a lot of tragedy for one man,” Cromwell replied, his tone sorrowful. 

“Yeah, it is,” Keith replied, nodding. “I knew him a few years back. He’s a different guy now. Serious, quiet. But he’s a hell of a pilot, Pete. You’re gonna love him,” Keith assured him. 

“I believe it,” Cromwell replied with a chuckle. “Alright, alright… you’ve convinced me. These guys won’t be so bad,” He said, grinning. 

“You keep this up, and you’ll have one of the best crews in Starfleet before you retire,” Keith said, then held a beat. “You are retiring after this one, right?” 

“Don’t you start with me, sonny,” Cromwell bit back, teasingly. 

Keith laughed and raised his hands in defense again, “Hey, man. I’m just asking what everyone else is thinking,” He said. “You’re the talk of the town over here for that stunt you pulled getting assigned to a new ship when you were supposed to be getting reassigned to a desk job,” He said, his tone only half joking. 

“Let ‘em keep watching,” Cromwell grinned deviously, “Keith, I intend to make this next five years the most impressive of my already impressive history. I’m going out in style, doing exactly what I love,” He said. “I’m not going to sit behind some desk and rot when I’ve still got years left in me,” Pete’s confidence was unwavering as he spoke. 

Keith smiled broadly and nodded, “Well, you won’t get any special treatment from me, I can promise you that,” He said with a laugh. 

“As hard a time as I gave you in the academy, I’d hope not,” Cromwell replied with a laugh. 

Keith laughed, “You were always my favorite lecturer,” He admitted. “And look… I know some of the higher ups are pissed that you’re still in the center chair but… I’m glad you’re are,” He said. “The next generation of Starfleet will learn a lot from a CO like you.”

Cromwell smiled at that, “Well, thanks for that, Keith.” Pete had honestly assumed that everyone hated his guts at this point, so hearing praise from Keith was a nice change. 

“Alright, well… I have other crews to wreck and dreams to build, so I’ll have to bring this conversation to an end,” Keith joked. “Stay safe out there, Commodore. And let me know how the new crew works out, okay?”

“Will do, Keith. You be safe too,” He replied. 

Keith gave a salute and the channel closed. Pete sighed and shook his head. It was unfortunate, he truly was enjoying the senior staff that had been assembled for the Lafayette, but he was glad that Peri was going to get her own command. She was definitely ready for it. At any rate, it was time to find out what was next. His five year journey was far from over.