| Date & Time: | Day 01, 0823 |
| Location: | Promenade Infirmary |
| Written By: | Lt. Commander Freya Preston Lt. Commander Samuel Bancroft Lieutenant JG Hayashi Elle, MD |
| Post Date: | 02/14/2026 |
| Episode: | Ep. 1 – Fool’s Errand |
From the moment that Freya Preston stepped off the ship and onto the station just under a week earlier, the young woman found herself quite busy. When Freya had first arrived on board the station the Captain wasn’t there yet. She was in command, though she didn’t take the office up in operations, and instead worked out of her quarters.
Freya soon found herself wandering the promenade with her hands interlocked behind her back. The work crews had been at it for days, and Freya knew it was in order to get the station finally fully operational. The station’s assigned crew would be on board over the coming days, then the civilians who planned to eek out a living here would come next.
Afterwards? Freya thought of the word for a moment as she came to a pause just outside the infirmary, afterwards she wasn’t quite sure. This hulking monstrosity of a station still needed a number of repairs despite bringing much of the systems in line with Federation technology and specifications. The one thing that confused the young Commander the most was how the Cardassians had yet to take notice.
Freya had often wondered if the Cardassian Union was aware of Stelvik Station being relocated into the Uvel System. She didn’t know whether the Cardassians knew Uvel existed at all, and even if they did why hadn’t they claimed it for themselves? Freya shook her head as that same thought started to worm its way through her brain.
“Commander?” Sam said once again as he stood behind the Executive Officer. He’d been trying to get her attention for the past five minutes, but she seemed to be deep in some sort of thought. The Operations Chief tilted his head slightly, ignoring for the moment that he’d only just witnessed his young daughter, and what looked to be the daughter of the Executive Officer, scurry off the promenade.
Sam reached out when he didn’t get a response that time and gingerly touched the woman on the shoulder, “Commander,” He tried again as he tugged a little bit.
Freya gasped as her thoughts were broken by both the voice and the sudden, and quite unexpected, touch on her shoulder. She turned and relaxed when she noticed the Operations Chief standing there staring at her. She caught her breath and relaxed, “Sorry Sam,” She managed to breathe. Freya met Sam when she first came aboard.
The Exec knew Sam had been the Captain’s first choice for Executive Officer, and why shouldn’t he have been? Freya was more junior to Sam and less experienced to boot. She felt honored to have been selected at all. Freya looked through the sides of her eyes at the repair crews once more, even if it were to a hulking mess such as this. “How can I help you?”
Sam frowned, “Sorry Commander Preston I didn’t mean to startle you,” He told her apologetically. “I just thought you’d like to know the rest of the senior staff, including the Captain, have arrived on board the station.”
Freya nodded, three days ago the Chief Science Officer and Chief Counselor had all arrived. Now it seemed the Captain and Chief Medical Officer were on board. This included the Chief of Security for the station as well, she presumed, arrived this morning. “Well, we’re already down here let’s go see how the Medical Officer is getting settled.”
Elle stood, her arms crossed over her chest as she watched some of the engineering and operations personnel. The Chief Medical Officer had already been updated by the corpsman who’d been responsible for the care and well-being of the station personnel prior to her assignment on the station. She was already contemplating her decision from six months earlier, and whether or not she would have been better served on a starship rather than this station.
The young Japanese officer didn’t have time to fully consider this, however, when she heard footsteps from behind her. “If you require medical care you’ll just have to wait. We’re still getting setup in here,” She spoke without turning around to face the two that entered the infirmary. “How did they take care of themselves when this area wasn’t ready,” She mumbled.
Freya hadn’t met the new Chief Medical Officer, however, she’d heard stories about the young woman and her personality. “We’re not here for medical care Doctor,” She answered. “We’re here to see how you’re settling in on the station.”
Elle tilted her head at the strange statement, and with her mouth open slightly, she turned around to find an officer in red and an officer in yellow standing there. She looked at the pips on their collar, though she didn’t recognize either of them nor did she recognize their positions on the station. “I apologize sirs.” Elle relaxed, “I’m Doctor Hayashi.”
Freya nodded, “Lieutenant Commander Freya Preston,” She pointed at Sam and continued to speak, “Lieutenant Commander Samuel Bancroft.” Freya looked over at Sam, and thought she saw a hint of amusement in his eyes before she returned her gaze onto the Doctor. “We didn’t mean to intrude.”
Sam nodded, “This was your idea,” He mumbled under his breath before his focus was returned to the Doctor. He kept his opinions to himself, however, found them to be quite amusing even if he did struggle to hide that notion. “Executive Officer and Chief of Station Operations.”
Elle raised a brow, “Oh perfect,” She managed to cough. Elle was both embarrassed and annoyed all in one go. Part of her, had wanted to ask the two of them why the infirmary was in the state of disarray. The other part of her wanted to apologize for coming across as having such an abrasive personality. The battle raged as Elle stood there staring at the two of them.
“I apologize for being so rude,” The Japanese woman told the two of them, “But, if I may be so bold… Why is the infirmary not already prepared? You’ve had personnel on the station for eight years how have you been receiving medical care?”
It was Sam who chose to answer, the Exec hadn’t been aboard long enough to really have that answer anyway. Besides, Sam felt that this was really in his wheelhouse anyway. “The starship Ganges remained in the system during much of the repair work. They provided the original engineering personnel with the required medical care.
“The Ganges only recently left, and the ship that brought myself and Lieutenant Baird to the station remained for several weeks. So, we’ve been relying on various starships to fill that gap. You’re right though, we should have had this space ready for you by now and that I apologize for.” Sam told her with a slightly weak smile afterward.
That was enough to get Elle to relax a little bit, at least they’d been getting proper medical care during the process. She lowered her shoulders and took a breath, “Sorry I didn’t think of that,” She answered. Elle should have known the station wasn’t habitable during much of the repair process anyway, and she should have also been aware that Starfleet wouldn’t have left the system undefended since the survey effort.
Freya was glad that, despite the momentary conflict, it had resolved without her getting involved. Clearly there had been a lack of communication and she would need to address that problem later, “Have you been settling on the station well so far?” She asked, hoping the momentary issues hadn’t soured the Doctor’s mood too much.
Elle nodded, “I have a lot to unpack in my quarters, but yes I’ve not had too many issues since coming on board. I got to meet the Captain during the trip here, along with his daughter Paige.” She started to smile warmly, “Smart kid,” She said. “Probably gonna make one hell of a Captain someday.” Elle knew she was taking liberties assuming Paige would join Starfleet at some point.
Freya hadn’t met the Captain just yet, “I haven’t had the opportunity to meet him,” She told the Doctor, “Though I’m sure I’ll go find him at some point today. Commander Bancroft just told me he’s on board a little bit ago.” She looked at Sam for a moment, “In fact I think I’ll go do that now. If you’ll excuse me Commander? Doctor?”
Sam looked at her, “Certainly Commander.” He said.
Elle smiled warmly, “He’s quite the character,” She pointed out to the Exec, “I’m sure the two of you will get along fine.” The Japanese woman turned toward the Operations Chief.
Freya nodded once then she turned, the Exec found the new station Doctor to be quite an intriguing woman. She said nothing of that and simply departed from the infirmary. Freya made a mental note, however, that in the future the station work crews needed to be better prepared because the infirmary situation wasn’t ideal.
Sam watched the Exec as she departed before he turned his attention to the Doctor, “Three personnel in here to help you isn’t ideal.” He told her then looked at one of the passing operations officers, “Hey get some more people in here to get the infirmary ready.” He ordered and watched the young officer scurry away. “Let me know if you need anything please?”
Elle nodded, “I will sir,” She said. “I apologize again for my behavior, I shouldn’t have vented my frustrations with you two.”
Sam raised a hand slowly, “There’s nothing to apologize for. I thought the infirmary was further along than what it apparently is. I’ll make sure that’s rectified right away,” He said confidently then started to walk away. “Welcome aboard the station Doctor,” He added after a brief pause in his movements, then he began to walk out of the infirmary once more.
Elle watched him leave, then she was standing there staring at the promenade once more. Perhaps, this wasn’t so bad after all? Elle turned and faced the three that were trying to get one of the biological beds setup in the infirmary. A slight smile formed on her face, and she took a step forward and grabbed one of the biological containers from the deck and began unpacking it. Not bad at all… She thought to herself.