| Date & Time: | Day 01, 0735 Hours |
| Location: | Upper Pylon 3 James & Paige Cohen’s Quarters Station Operations |
| Written By: | Captain James Cohen Lieutenant Amelia Baird Paige Cohen |
| Post Date: | 02/06/2026 |
| Episode: | Ep. 1 – Fool’s Errand |
James Cohen stepped down from the docking pylon’s edge then he took the time to adjust the front of his uniform. Smoothing it out before hearing the grunting noise of a young child behind him. He turned and grinned, “C’mon,” He said to his daughter.
James couldn’t believe how much she’d grown up since she was born. There was no possible way she was this close to her teenage years. He found himself sighing heavily, really uncertain what to say to her. Even as they stood there surrounded by debris that hadn’t been cleared yet.
Paige looked at her father for a moment with a look of utter disgust by their surroundings. The twelve-year-old stepped down from the docking pylon behind her father. She was looking out the viewport as the ship that brought them here docked at the station. It didn’t look terrible, and she remembered being on Deep Space Nine when she was much younger.
“Dad…” She grumbled as she pushed past the pile of metallic debris that was scattered over the floor and two engineering personnel who were trying to clean up the mess. Part of her had wished she’d stayed on Earth instead of coming here. She missed her grandparents and worst of all she missed her mother. Paige was not looking forward to this at all, “This isn’t the adventure you promised.”
James had already stepped into the turbolift ahead of his daughter, “Okay so it’s not exactly paradise Paige,” He responded to his child. He watched her step into the turbolift next to him then felt it lurching downward. He reached over and placed his arm over her shoulder before pulling her into a hug.
He heard her groan as he hugged her, but James ignored that part. The turbolift doors had opened almost seemingly as quickly as they had closed and now they were standing in the inner docking ring. It wasn’t in much better shape, but at least it was livable. “Just think of the adventures we’ll have once you’ve made some friends.”
Paige kicked her foot across the carpet before stepping out of the turbolift and next to her father. She didn’t believe a word of what he was saying and even as they found where the two of them would be living, the tween knew this was not an adventure. She stepped past him and saw that at least the furnishings were different.
“I doubt I make friends Daddy,” She said to him with her tone changing ever so slightly. She had found the small part of their quarters that had been reserved for her bedroom. There was even a window that looked out toward the planet as the station rotated. At least the view wasn’t terrible, or so she thought.
“Welcome aboard sir,” Lieutenant Amelia Baird said from behind the two of them. The Chief Engineer had been aboard the station for three days now. The young woman had been up in ops when the USS Columbia arrived with more of the crew including the Captain and his young daughter.
She looked toward Paige, “And, welcome aboard to you as well little lady.”
Paige tilted her head to the side when she heard the voice and turned. She saw the female officer in her yellow uniform. “I’m not a little lady,” She said as her cheeks turned bright pink with embarrassment. “I’m twelve.” She added.
“Right,” Amelia added, “I’m sorry,” She said with a slight nod of her head. “I’m Lieutenant Amelia Baird by the way.” While looking between the young girl and her father, Amelia tried to move past the sudden embarrassment she’d accidentally caused the child.
James looked at his daughter, “Be nice please Paige,” He said to Paige then turned his attention to the Lieutenant, “Thanks.” He told the young woman. James sort felt sorry for Paige, he knew this probably wasn’t the ideal environment for his young daughter. He looked at Paige for a moment hoping his words didn’t sting too much.
“Sorry Daddy,” Paige answered then she stepped out of the room that she hoped would be hers and stood next to her father. She leaned against him, “Sorry Amelia,” Paige added. She looked between the two adults and tried to relax a little bit. “Is there anything fun to do on the station yet?”
“It’s okay,” Amelia answered both of them at the same time before frowning and shaking her head, “Not yet Paige,” Amelia said after catching the name from the Captain. She didn’t know a lot about the Captain’s daughter, but she was certain more information would reveal itself. Amelia turned her attention to more important matters.
“Much of the promenade is still under reconstruction efforts. Most of the focus has been on the docking ring, habitat ring, operations center, and upper docking pylons.” The Engineer pointed out to the Captain. “We expect to have the rest done in the coming days if not weeks, but to put it plainly we’re not as far along as we wanted to be.” Amelia frowned, “I can show you operations.”
“Can I go too Dad?” Paige asked her father, “I really don’t want to stay here by myself.” Paige looked around, the quarters gave her the creeps.
James nodded, “You can come too,” He said. If anything, James realized that his daughter would need to know how to get up to station operations in the first place. He looked toward Lieutenant Baird, “Lead the way Lieutenant.”
“Yes sir,” Amelia responded softly. She led both the Captain and the twelve-year-old out of the quarters and back towards the center of the station. In order to get to operations they had to take a cross section from the inner habitat ring to the central core. Once they were past that it was simply a matter of taking the turbolift up into operations.
As they stepped onto the turbolift she looked at the Captain, “Have you ever been aboard this type of station sir?”
James nodded, “I took my daughter to Deep Space Nine a few years ago, I think she was seven or eight at the time?” He looked at Paige before returning his gaze back onto the Lieutenant. “Anyway, to answer your question, yes.” He nodded just as the turbolift came to a stop at operations. James was rather impressed that it was abuzz with activity.
“Captain on deck!” A junior engineering officer said loudly which caused a work stoppage.
James waved his hand, “I’ll never get used to that,” He looked at the Ensign, “At ease please.” He walked past the group of officers and toward the set of stairs that led up to his office. “Do you know when our systems will be fully operational Lieutenant?”
Amelia shook her head, “That’s a question better served by the Station Operations Chief sir,” The Lieutenant answered him. She was the Chief Engineering Officer, but her job was primarily to help serve any ships that docked at the station and to help Commander Bancroft. “Lieutenant Commander Samuel Bancroft.”
James had recognized the name, he had been given two choices for Executive Officer and he had picked Sam. But, Sam had turned down the promotion and instead took the role as the station’s Chief of Operations. “He has a daughter,” James pointed out.
Paige paused as she stood in the middle of station operations. Her initial thought was on what her father had just said, that this person had a daughter. “Dad, how old is she?” The twelve-year-old found herself asking.
James turned and looked at his daughter, “Same age as you sweetheart,” He told the girl. James took a step up toward the vacant office. Once he was close enough the doors opened up, “It’s really warm in here.” He told the engineer.
“We’re still trying to work out the station temperature sir,” Amelia told him quietly. “It’s one of the top priorities before other civilians come aboard. There’s still a lot of work that needs to be done,” She told him. “But, I’m confident that we’ll be able to take any lessons learned from when Starfleet first took command of Deep Space Nine and apply them.”
James nodded, “Wonderful,” He said then indicated for his daughter to follow him inside the office. “Let me know when the rest of my senior staff arrives please.” He told the Chief Engineering Officer. The first thing he wanted to do was have some sort of staff meeting to get a full update. But, for now he’d start getting his office ready.