Main Astronomy Lab, Hubble Institute
Starfleet Academy Bajor – 10:22 local time 

“Ruth, you have a call incoming!” The alert from the intercom pulled Ruth from the depths of the simulation she was running in the lab at the Sir Isaac Newton Institute, located on the campus of Starfleet Academy Bajor. She rolled her eyes at the interruption, her concentration broken by this new distraction. The chime sounded again and the voice came through the intercom: “Ruth, you still have the communication waiting for you.”

Sighing, Ruth tapped her combadge. “Acknowledged, I’m in the lab. I’ll be out in a minute!” She closed the channel and closed her eyes, sighing. She hoped the interruption was worth it, as she pulled her hair down and played with it as she left the lab. Once outside, she walked towards her office, the one she had been given as a researcher. As she entered it, she looked down and saw the photo of her and her wife on their wedding day, both in white dresses and holding white flower bouquets. She smiled at the memory, then sat down at her desk and tapped the holographic display to start her computer. The comms request was visible as soon as she tapped her computer, displaying the logo of the United Federation of Planets. She checked the origin: San Francisco. Sighing anxiously, she sat up and tapped to accept the call.

The screen then displayed Dr. Tracy Bolivar, her supervising professor, sitting amid a balmy, sunny San Franciscan day.
“Ruth, how are you, it’s Dr. Bolivar. Sorry to pull you from your lab, but something’s come up.”
“Doctor Bolivar, it’s great to see you. No worries, I was wrapping up anyways. What’s up?”
“I wanted to let you know a few things – one, your data reports are amazing; keep up the good work. You have a lot of people here at Starfleet Science Division interested in what you’ve been reporting, including a few from Starfleet Engineering and Intel. They’re all asking about your work…or at least for it to be explained.” Tracy laughed a little, then composed herself. “But two, the program requirements just changed…the faculty added a deep-space requirement. You have to do at least a year onboard a science vessel or starship.”
Ruth sighed, trying to hide the contempt in her expression. “Right…well this is unfortunate. I just got situated here on Bajor. My wife just got settled at her post here at the embassy. It’s not fair for them to require me to uproot my life to get onboard a starship for a year. And who knows if Starfleet will want to keep my wife and I together. We had to pull a lot of strings to stay together.”
Dr. Bolivar put up her hands in a show of support. “I know, Ruth, I know. Believe me, I argued this all day with the faculty. I told them to grandfather you in, since you’re almost done. But they were steadfast. They want PhD candidates to have that deep space experience. So…I pulled some strings. Spoke to some of my contacts. There’s a new Nebula-class starship that is currently preparing for deployment. The USS Melbourne, I believe. A Nebula-class starship has great scientific facilities and a robust research lab space. It would fulfill the requirements. And if you ask nicely, I think you and your wife could go together. Especially because the main mission of the ship would require some lawyers. I’ll send you the details.”
Ruth sighed, clearly unhappy. “I’ll take a look, but I don’t have to be happy about it.”
“I know Ruth, I know. Trust me, I’m not happy either. Let me know what you decide. I’ll start drafting the orders, just in case you want to take it.”
Ruth nodded with a small smile. “Thanks, Doctor Bolivar. Appreciate your help, as always. See you in a while!”
“See you in a while kiddo. Starfleet Academy out.” Dr. Bolivar’s face was replaced by the Federation logo.

Ruth sat there for a minute, then tied her hair back onto a ponytail. She opened the message that Dr. Bolivar sent.

USS Melbourne: NCC-71944
For all personnel questions, contact CMDR Siobhan Pearse, First Officer on Starbase 86.

Ruth sighed, then typed out a comms request for the Federation Embassy on Bajor.

Embassy of the United Federation of Planets in Bajor, JAG Section
Ashalla, Bajor – 1030 local time

Lt. Commander Elena Rahman swore in frustration as she read the PAAD she had just been handed by an aide. It contained the Federation’s Appellate Circuit Court for the Bajoran District’s decision on a war crimes case she and her team had been working on for months. The judges had ruled against them, delaying the proceedings even more. She swore again, as she knew that her team would have to write an appeal for the en banc Circuit Court of Appeals. To be fair, the decision had been close (the panel of 5 judges split 3-2), but it was still a loss. Elena stood up, laying the PAAD on her desk.
“Hey Blake! Get your butt in here!”
A youthful lieutenant walked in, eyebrows arching as he saw Elena’s reaction.
“The court screwed you, huh? That’s the only reason I can think of for your face to be frustrated. Unless Ruthie messed with you again…” he trailed off.
“Shut up!” Elena said, laughing. “Leave my wife out of this. The forking court gone lost its damn mind again. I thought we had it.”
“Well, remember what you said? The court giveth, and the court taketh.”
“Stop using my words against me. Notify the team that we’re having a meeting later about the decision. Also, give this to one of the law clerks. Have them start reading and pulling the legal reasoning.” She tossed the PAAD to Blake.
“Aye, ma’am. Anything else?”
“Yeah…bring me a pot of coffee. Preferably with Jack Daniel’s. Or wine. One of the two.” She smiled as she started laughing. Blake’s face had a smile as he stood at attention then left the office. As Elena started to sit down, her combadge chirped.
“Commander Rahman, you have a communication incoming. From the Hubble Institute.”
Elena’s eyes sparkled. The Hubble Institute was where her sweetheart worked. She quickly tapped her combadge.
“Send it through. I’ll take it in my office.”
“Aye, Commander.”

Her holographic display turned on, displaying the Federation logo. After tapping a few commands, her wife’s office filled the screen. Elena smiled, though her brows remained furrowed.
“Hey you” Ruth said with a smile. “Had a rough day? I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”
“You are never interrupting anything, my dear Ruthie. What’s up? You look concerned.”
“So do you, my love.”
“Touché.” Elena smiled, then sighed. “Just got back a decision on the Cardassian war crimes case. You know, the one I was telling you about last week in my rant? The court screwed us over. We’re naturally going to appeal, but…”
“… “it’s going to take some time.”
“Yeah…it sets us back. I wish we could just shoot the prick, but due process and crap.”
“Yeah…I know my love. I know.”
“Anyways, your turn.”
“Well, I just spoke to Dr. Bolivar…in San Francisco.”
“Oh? What did she want?”
“Well, she said that the faculty for the PhD program, in their infinite wisdom, have decided to add a new requirement to all PhD candidates.”
“No…oh no.”
“Oh yes…they want all candidates to have at least a year out in deep space on a science vessel or starship.”
Elena leaned back in her chair, her mind processing the implications. “No…oh fork. You’re going to have to be deployed, aren’t you?” Elena’s tone was one of extreme disappointment.
“Maybe…Dr. Bolivar gave me an idea…she said that there was a starship that was prepping for deployment, and they had need of scientists and lawyers…maybe if I could get on it, you could come with?”
Elena perked up, realizing that she could maybe stay with her wife. “I like this…you gonna reach out?”
“Yeah…I’ll let you know.”
“I hope it works out…but yeah. Let me know. I’ll see you for dinner honeydew. I love you.”
Ruth made a small heart with hands. “I love you too babe. See you for dinner.”

Elena closed the comlink and closed her eyes as she rubbed her temples. Today was not her day, and it was only just starting.

Starbase 86 – 13:06 Zulu (0206 local time)

Siobhan continued poring over her personnel reports; trying not to throw all the PAADs in the garbage or against the wall. She was almost done, but there were still significant gaps in certain departments, especially the science and legal parts. She and Genny had been trying to figure out what attorneys woudl be the right fit for the mission. There were plenty of attorneys, but almost none that they had talked to had the right combination of litigation and prosecutorial experience that would prove to be invaluable on interdiction missions. A message pinged on Siobhan’s console, breaking her out of her internal rant. She tapped it, and read the message.

To: CMDR Siobhan Pearse, FO, USS Melbourne
From: CAPT Bridget Chylton, Law Professor at Cicero School of Law, Starfleet Academy Vulcan

Hey Siobhan! It’s Processor Chylton, from Int’l Law. Hope you’re doing well. I was on Earth recently, and I caught up with my friend, Doctor Bolivar. Anyways, she and I were swapping teaching stories when I mentioned a former student of mine was just promoted to First Officer of a starship. I mentioned you were on the Melbourne, and she got super excited. Asked me if I could pass along a recommendation for a couple she knew, a scientist and a lawyer. I told her I would reach out, but would promise her nothing. If you want to reach out to her, she’d love to tell you about both of them. 

Hope this isn’t me overstepping. Anyways, hope to hear from you soon. 

Kind regards, 
Prof. Chylton

Siobhan stared at the message, then quickly wrote one of her own.

To: CAPT Bridget Chylton, Professor of Law at Cicero School of Law, Starfleet Academy Vulcan
From: CMDR Siobhan Pearse, FO, USS Melbourne

Hi Professor! It’s so good to hear from you. I remember the good times we had in your class when we went over Int’l Law treaties, especially the Khitomer Accords.

You heard correctly, I am working on staffing the Melbourne, and I would be interested in talking with Doctor Bolivar. If you could tell her to contact me directly, that would help.

Thanks for the referral, and hope to communicate soon. Please don’t be a stranger; I miss your classes!

Yours,
Siobhan

She sent it and smiled.

It couldn’t have been more than 20 minutes after she had sent the message when her combadge chirped.
“Commander Pearse, you have an incoming communication from Starfleet Academy in San Francisco.”
“Patch it through.”
Siobhan sat at her desk and sighed, then tapped a few commands for the holographic display to open.

The screen had the image of sunny San Francisco, with a woman with greying hair, a Sciences blue uniform, and lab coat.
“Is this Commander Pearse? I’m Doctor Tracy Bolivar, from the Copernicus Institute here at Starfleet Academy.”
“This is Commander Pearse. What can I do for you, Doctor?”
“I wanted to recommend a student of mine for your starship, if you still have an opening.”
Siobhan blinked in surprise, then nodded.
“Of course, Professor Chylton gave me a heads up that you might be reaching out.”
Doctor Bolivar smiled. “Thank you. I have a PhD student, her name is Ruth Rahman; she’s currently working on her PhD in Astronomy with emphasis on gravity and other natural forces. She needs at least a year onboard a science vessel or starship, and I feel she may be a good fit for the Melbourne. She recently got married and her spouse is currently working at the Federation Embassy on Bajor, at the JAG section.”
Siobhan perked up at the mention. She could definitely use the two candidates that Doctor Bolivar was proposing.
“Doctor, would you mind sending me their personnel files and relevant documents? I will gladly take a look.”
“Certainly. Thank you Commander, I appreciate your time. Genuinely. The two deserve to stay together.”
“What is Ruth’s rank? And her spouse, what’s his name?”
“Ruth is a Lieutenant. And her wife’s name is Milena Rahman, Lt. Commander, Rahman.”
Siobhan chided herself gently for assuming. “Got it. Milena…do you know her maiden name?”
“Yes. It was Taimona. Mileana Taimona.”
Siobhan racked her brain. Milena’s name sounded familiar, but she made a note to ask Genny if she knew Milena.
“Excellent. As soon as I review the records, I’ll make a decision. Thank you so much, Doctor.”
“No worries, thank YOU, Commander. I appreciate your help. End transmission.”
The screen switched to displaying the logo of Starfleet Academy, then back to the Federation emblem. Siobhan tapped her fingers.

Three weeks later
Starbase 86 – 0930 Zulu (22:30 local time) 

Ruth held her wife’s hand as she stood in the line to board the Melbourne. She beheld the Nebula-class starship with awe, almost like a child on Christmas morning. Her wife was more subdued but smiled warmly as she saw her wife’s excited countenance.

It had been a long journey, considering that their life had been flipped upside down with the new requirement of the PhD program. After that fateful call, things had moved quickly. The two were interviewed for the posts onboard the Melbourne, and both had been accepted almost on sight. Ruth had scientific expertise, and Elena had the litigation experience. Ruth was just happy that both of them could deploy together, instead of doing a long-distance marriage.

“Well my love, hopefully the Embassy doesn’t miss you too much” Ruth quipped as the line moved forward slowly.
Elena shook her head as she squeezed her hand. “I hope not. Though the transition is going to be easy. I left everything ready for my successor.”
Ruth nodded. “My wife, the lawyer. What else is new, Counselor?” Ruth gave her wife an endearing look, then kissed her wife’s cheek as Elena blushed.
“You’re not a judge, you don’t get to call me Counselor.” Elena shot back as she returned her wife’s kiss with one of her own.
“That’s not what…” Ruth was interrupted by the security officer.
“Next!”
Elena and Ruth moved forward and presented themselves together.
“One at a time. You, back up.” The security officer barked while pointing at Elena.
“We’re together,” Elena said, holding up her left hand so he could see the ring on her finger.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Please excuse me. Your names?”
Elena spoke up first, putting her hand down. “Lt. Commander Milena S. Rahman.”
“Rahman…Rahman. Ah, there we go. Ruth Rahman…and Lt. Commander Milena. Your orders, please?”
Elena handed him the PAAD with the orders. He then turned to Ruth.
“You’re..Lieutenant Ruth Rahman?”
Ruth nodded, not bothering with the PAAD, since both orders were on Elena’s PAAD.
“I have you both…the orders have been authenticated. Put your hand on the scanner here.” He gestured to the palm-print scanner. Ruth goes first, then Elena.
“Perfect. You both are good to board, just check in with the Crewman for your suite assignment. Welcome to the Melbourne.”
Elena nods, then picks up her space bag.
“Thanks Chief!” Ruth says as she again reaches for her wife’s hand.

As the two walked down the spacebridge, both Ruth and Elena squeezed each other’s hand. This was going to be a new adventure for both of them; a new challenge that would be met together.