Maho's Christmas Carol; Stave Five

Posted on Thu Dec 25th, 2025 @ 9:20pm by Captain Maho Takahashi
Edited on on Thu Dec 25th, 2025 @ 9:22pm

1,280 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Christmas Vacation
Location: USS Myogi
Timeline: Christmas Day 2397

Maho awoke with her face pressed against the deck plates. With her free hand, she gave the floor a knock. The sound of the deck plates greeted her knuckles, and the realization came to her.

"I'm still here..." She muttered before laughing. "I'm still here!"

After falling the rest of the way off the bed, Maho righted herself and looked up at the chronometer on the nightstand. It read 0700 hours, but there was one more thing Maho needed to confirm:

"Computer, what day is it?" Maho asked.

"Current stardate is stardate 74983.2." The computer rattled off. "Current time is 0700 hours."

"It's Christmas morning!" Maho exclaimed. "I haven't missed it!"

Maho looked over to see Kyoko standing up in her crib, looking back at her mother. The 11 month old having evidently been awakened by things going on around her.

"Oh, Merry Christmas, Kyoko!" Maho exclaimed as she rushed over and lifted Kyoko from the crib.

"Yay!" Kyoko exclaimed, or at least her babbling sounded like the word.

Showering her daughter in kisses, Maho made her way into the living area to put on a cup of tea and make some breakfast for Kyoko. As the warm aromas of tea and an 11 month old friendly breakfast filled the living area, and Kyoko eagerly dug in, Maho grabbed a PADD from her desk. As she sipped her morning Chai, Maho checked once again for any shipyards that had openings for winter layup.

She didn't need to look long, for one of the first things she found was an opening at Beta Antares. The USS Washington had been recalled overnight, and the yard had a vacant berth. While no doubt, it sucked for the Washington's crew to be recalled on Christmas, their loss would be the Myogi's gain, as no other ships had yet reported interest in tying up. Eagerly, Maho reported the Myogi's interest, but to be safe, decided that the Myogi needed to start making for Beta Antares.

"Computer, activate nanny hologram." Maho commanded, the computer beeping in acknowledgement and the holographic nanny materializing in the living area.

"Please state the nature of the childcare emergency." The hologram recited its usual startup spiel.

"Merry Christmas!" Maho greeted jubilantly. "I just have a few things I need to take care of in the office, but I'll be right back! And then you can take the rest of the day off..."

Maho turned to Kyoko.

"Kyoko, finish your food and be good for the nanny." She instructed. "Mommy will be right back!"

Kyoko babbled something that sounded like an acknowledgement as Maho made her way to the door, she was almost about to step out into the corridor when she realized she was still in her pajamas.

"I can't go out looking like this!" Maho remarked, turning right back around and heading into the bedroom and changing into her uniform.

"Much better!" Maho declared once her uniform was on.

Making her way to the turbolift, Maho greeted just about everyone she passed in the corridor, wishing them a Merry Christmas. Maho had often referred to her crew as the Myogi family, and to an extent, had taken them for granted. The season leading up to this point was one set to be one of disappointment. Yet, there was still time to right the wrongs, and that time was now.

Arriving on the bridge, one of the tired Charlie shifters ready to be relieved saw Maho exit the turbolift.

"Captain on the bridge..." She tiredly called out.

Noticing the yawning ensign that hadn't poured much enthusiasm into announcing her arrival, Maho stepped right up to the gold shirt.

"Look alive, Ensign; it's Christmas!" Maho remarked, slapping the young trill officer on the back before making her way to the command pit.

"Someone's in a chipper mood..." The Trill ensign mumbled to herself.

"Helm, set immediate course for Beta Antares fleet yards." Maho ordered, assuming her seat on the bridge. "Ops, a shipwide comms channel, if you please?"

The night shifters working the helm station exchanged weird looks before following Maho's orders.

"Attention, all hands; this is the captain:" Maho spoke once the channel was open. "As I'm sure you are all aware, due to high demand for winter layup berths, all holiday shore leave has been cancelled. It is with great regret that I must report... That I am cancelling the cancellation. We will be docking at Beta Antares, and all previously requested holiday shore leave will be reinstated. And I will work double time to ensure that you all get home to your families by day's end. Merry Christmas, Myogi!"

As Maho finished her announcement, She noticed Chrirhc stepping onto the bridge.

"Mister Chihc." Maho called out. "Can I speak to you in my ready room?"

"Uh... Sure, Captain..." Chrirhc replied.

Maho got up from her seat and made her way to her ready room, Chrirhc following closely behind.

"Captain, I heard your announcement on the turbolift ride up." Chrirhc muttered. "I don't want to get my hopes up, but..."

"But what?" Maho replied. "You think I misspoke and implied shore leave is only for the lower deckers? Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but what I said applies across the board."

"You mean it?" Chrirhc's face lit up.

"Yes, of course." Maho said. "There's no sense in only letting the ensigns and enlisted get to have fun if the Lieutenant Commanders and Captains don't get to either. I also wanted to send you home with an Earth Christmas tradition, so tell me, Mister Chihc; how many are you expecting to feed?"

"Well, Madeledam has invited a couple of her friends and their families over..." Chrirhc surmised. "And I should probably anticipate Commander Nishikigi making an appearance at some point..."

"I see," Maho nodded, programming something. "Best make it a 20 pounder."

Finalizing the programming, Maho proceeded to hand Chrirhc some luxury replicator rations.

"When you get back to Hebitia, replicate this:" Maho instructed. "You'll be the Christmas hero for sure."

"Well, thank you, Captain:" Chrirhc said as he accepted the rations. "Will that be all."

"Indeed," Maho nodded. "Merry Christmas, Mister Chihc."

"And the same to you, Captain Takahashi." Chrirhc bowed.

Maho was better than her word. She did it all, and infinitely more. For when Chrirhc returned home after the Myogi had docked, he found a lot more than just a large turkey programmed in the replicator rations he had been given. For the replicator at the Chihc house produced an entire Human Christmas feast. For Miniscule Michael, who did not die, Maho became a second mother. She became as good a friend, as good a Captain, and as good a woman, as the good old Myogi knew, or any other good old starship in the good old Starfleet.

Some laughed to see the alteration in Maho, but she let them laugh, and little heeded them. For she was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened in this galaxy, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter at the onset, and knowing that such small-minded thinking made them blind anyhow. She thought it quite as well that they have their laughs. For when they did, her own heart laughed back at them, and that was enough for Maho.

She had no further intercourse with spirits, and it was always said of her that she knew how to keep Christmas well, if any living Starfleet officer possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of all of us! For, as Miniscule Michael observed: God bless Us, Every One!

~~~Merry Christmas to you and yours, from:~~~

Captain Maho Takahashi
Commanding Officer
USS Myogi

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