Captain’s Log, Supplemental. Stardate 79513.07. The Vallejo is en route to Tohvun III. The gravity of my first command is beginning to set upon me. The ship is like a city in motion, hundreds of lives operating in orbit of one another…

Arcadia stepped through the doorway into the science labs. It had been some time since she had found herself on a California-Class. Getting the lay of the land was always a sound first step in any command. Military or otherwise.

After a few minutes wandering around sparsely occupied labs, the captain found herself in the botanical section. In the corner stood two young ensigns.

“…and then she said, ‘You can’t graft those leaves onto the Bajoran Lilac–they’re incompatible’, but I brought up the bio-compatibility index and lo and behold…”

Arcadia observed them, busily working away in the corner. The storyteller was a Human male, adjusting a tray of preserved flora. The second was a Vulcan, busy injecting the plants with some sort of serum. The captain began to depart.

“I just nodded and told her I’d be careful. I tried the photosynthetic modulation again and…well, it was one of my more uncomfortable trips to sickbay.”

An emotionless but heavy exhale left the Vulcan’s lips. “Brevity is the soul of wit, Ensign Goodman, now help me with these…”

–

On the turbo lift, Arcadia’s comm badge beeped. She gave it a pat. Commander Barnes’s voice chirped through.

“Captain, we’re ironing out some of the engine updates. T’Rel has said it will be resolved within the day, but we’re at half of our maximum warp for now. Sorry Captain.”

Arcadia sighed. “It is what it is, make sure it gets done Commander.”

“Will do Captain.” There was a slight pause, almost as if Harry was pondering something. “By the way, Jovana didn’t make it to med bay for shift changeover. The deputy is covering for now but you might want to check in on her personally.”

Arcadia stroked her chin. Dr. Mirell had been decidedly reserved since she had first stepped foot on the Vallejo. Maybe the stern notice that she had given at the staff meeting was the cause.

“Thanks for letting me know Harry. I’ll deal with it.”

The comm badge beeped again to close the call as the doors to the turbo lift opened.

“…and now everybody’s shouting allons-y when they start to do someth-…”

The two engineering officers looked up to see Arcadia, arms folded, leaning against the back wall of the turbo lift. Their stunned silence was deafening as she stepped past them on a beeline towards the mess hall.

“Nice work Jenkins.”

–

Arcadia stepped into the mess hall. She approached a secluded corner where Chief of Security Gax was busy picking at his dinner.

“You do know that we have dinner in the senior officers quarter tonight Lieutenant Commander.”

“Aye Sir.”

He was staring at a group of ensigns intently. Gax speared a piece of tuber root and chewed on it, never breaking his gaze. Arcadia offered a polite nod and walked away, listening in to the group as she gave them a wide berth.

“…so I said if the phaser is set to overload, maybe don’t wave it around like a glow stick at a party on Risa.”

“I can’t imagine the Chief would be happy. She would go livid if she knew about some of the mishandling of munit-”

Gax was on them like a viper. The Tellarite stormed over.

“You lot. Who, when and how? I want names, times, and exactly how they got into the arsenal. Start talking.”

–

At the gym, Mirell was still nowhere to be found, and still not answering her comm badge. A couple of female Trill officers nodded their abeyance to the Captain as she stepped into the room before continuing to chat.

“…and then I said, ‘If you’re going to challenge a Klingon officer to arm wrestling, don’t do it when he’s hungry.'”

“So what happened?”

“Griffiths had to have surgery on his shoulder. His mother wasn’t pleased. But you know what some of these academy hot shots are like…”

“Connections all over the place I guess. I think his mother was a high ranking Federation politician?”

As Arcadia stepped away, the discussion reminded her of Will. She hadn’t heard from him since the blackout, and with her out on duty the communications were doubtless going to be limited. She hoped he was handling himself well on Mellstoxx. She knew in her heart he would be fine.

–

The exasperated captain stopped mid pace in the corridor and slapped the comm badge once more.

“Get me Mirell.”

Arcadia was resigned to having the call time out on her once more, but finally a stuttering voice chimed through.

“Yes, Mirell here.”

Arcadia let out a long sigh of relief. “Doctor, you have had me on the run around for hours. I need to speak to you right now.”

A panicked reply emanated from the comm badge. “Captain!? Oh my I am so sorry. I will meet you on the bridge immediately.”

“That won’t be necessary. I will come meet you directly. Where are you?”

“I’m in my quarters, Captain.”

‘Ugh…obviously she was in her quarters.’ Arcadia cursed her ignorance, until she realised that Mirell should have been on duty already.

“I’m on my way.”

–

Dr. Mirell packed up the case and tucked it away safe and sound, just in time as the door chimed away.

“Come in.”

Arcadia stepped through the door and looked her medical officer up and down as she brought a tray of teas to a dining table in the middle of the room.

“I brought some of my old favorites, Captain.” Jovana said with a thin smile as she placed the tray down and gestured for Arcadia to take a seat alongside her.

Arcadia raised an eyebrow. “Jovana, you were supposed to be on duty hours ago. Your bribery isn’t going to play wel-…”

Her eyes caught the distinctive packaging of a Bajoran springmint blend. It had been many a year since Arcadia had enjoyed the pleasure of a cup. She rubbed her head and chuckled.

“Very well, Jovana, but first I need you to get to your duties.” Arcadia straightened up and allowed herself a wry smile. “Then later, you can bring your fine blends to the senior officers dinner for us all to enjoy.”

A broad smile emerged on Jovana’s face, the first time Arcadia had seen her smile since she stepped aboard. “Very good Captain. My apologies. I’ve been feeling a little unwell of late, but the tea makes everything better I find.”

‘Doesn’t it always…’ Arcadia thought to herself, then nodded and stepped out of Jovana’s quarters.

The doctor’s smile disappeared as the Captain left the room. Silence set over the room as she walked back over to where she had packed the case and retrieved it, opening it with practiced ease.

Beneath an assortment of medical tools in the case lay a false panel, which she pressed open. Inside lay a sealed vial, capped with stopper marked with a black sigil resembling an eclipsed star. She picked up the half empty vial and let it dance around her fingers, the black dust inside spiraling with every turn.

Next to the recess where the vial had been lay a data chip. A voice still echoed faintly in her memory and she pressed it once more. Within seconds, a firm voice cut through the quiet.

“…mission is sensitive to our interests. You should establish the foundations aboard the Vallejo quietly until primary conditions are met. Your payment will be deliv-.”

She placed the vial back in the case and closed it before the speaker could finish, then straightened up and adjusted the collar on her uniform, her hand brushing over the cool metal of the pips.

There was work to be done.