| Date & Time: | Day 01, 1212 |
| Location: | Promenade Wardroom |
| Written By: | Captain James Cohen Lt. Commander Freya Preston Lt. Commander Samuel Bancroft Lieutenant Amelia Baird Lieutenant Shral ch’Vyrhor Lieutenant Rhys Bennett Lieutenant Choyi Zaimu, Ph.D. Lieutenant JG Hayashi Elle, MD Lieutenant JG Alexandra Ortega |
| Post Date: | 02/17/2026 |
| Episode: | Ep. 1 – Fool’s Errand |
Alex was still dealing with the death of her parents, and reeling with the reality that she was now the sole caretaker of her sister Ashley. Every step along the way felt painful as the young junior Lieutenant walked through the station promenade. “That’s the difficult part isn’t it?” She mumbled under her breath, “Or, is it that I now have to be more than a sister for Ash?”
“Both,” Zaimu said from behind Alexandra as the Counselor approached the young Lieutenant. “It’s both.” She said to the more junior officer.
Alex jumped, the sound of the Bajoran woman’s voice startling her, and she spun around almost immediately. When Alex saw the Counselor she relaxed a little bit, “Sorry,” She remarked while steadying herself. “I didn’t know I was being followed.”
Zaimu had a warm smile on her face as she shook her head, “I’m the one that should apologize, I should have waited until you knew I was there.” The Bajoran Counselor pointed out before smoothing her off-white blouse. The Counselor rarely wore her teal uniform, especially when she traveled. “But to answer your question Lieutenant, it’s both.”
Zaimu paused for a moment, “It’s hard to heal from a loss while also having to care for someone else who’s healing from the same loss. And it certainly isn’t easy to discern the difference between being a sister and a parent. Though, more than anything I think Ashley needs her sister more than a Mom.”
Alex nodded without showing much in the way of any emotion. “On your way to the wardroom?” She asked Zaimu.
The Chief Counselor nodded, “The Captain wants to speak to the senior officers. Are you coming to the wardroom too?” Zaimu asked the Lieutenant.
“Yeah,” Alex answered, “He asked for me too. I don’t know why though, seeing as how I’m not a senior officer.” She got onto the turbolift that took them to the wardroom.
Zaimu smiled warmly, “I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough,” She answered as the turbolift eventually came to a halt and both of them found themselves inside the wardroom. She saw Captain Cohen standing there looking out the window. They’d met previously, in fact she was specifically requested to come to the station by the Captain.
James heard the two of them walk into the wardroom and turned around to face each of them. “Good you made it Counselor,” He said to Zaimu before addressing the junior Lieutenant, “I’m sure you’re curious about why I’ve invited you here?” He asked her.
“I am sir,” Alex replied.
Zaimu went and found her seat, “Thanks sir,” She replied to the Captain as she sat down. Zaimu didn’t know why Alex had been included, but seeing as how early they were, she assumed he had something to ask the Lieutenant.
James made his way, rather slowly, around the wardroom until he was standing next to the junior Lieutenant. “I know you were assigned to the station as one of my Traffic Control Officers and perhaps your background doesn’t quite fit this, but I have an offer I want you to consider.
“I would like for you to take the position of Strategic Operations Officer,” James said, “We don’t quite know how the Cardassians will respond to our presence here nor us taking command of this station. And even then, I know I’m going to need that position filled sooner rather than later.”
Alex wasn’t quite sure what to say, “I-I will need time to think about it sir.” She managed to stutter hoping it wasn’t the wrong answer. She knew this would put her in the position as one of the senior officers. But, she felt so out of her element when he asked her that, she had no security training at all beyond basic self defense. She also wasn’t an intelligence officer, though she wasn’t against learning how to be one.
“Take all the time you need,” James answered her, “In the meantime please join us.” He said and sidestepped so she could sit down at the table in the center of the room.
Alex tried her best to smile, though it did come across as little more than a nervous tick. She sat down across from Counselor Choyi with an uncertain expression on her face. She felt out of place, like this was all just one big mistake. Alex had only recently been promoted to Lieutenant.
Shral ch’Vyrhor found himself standing outside what was meant to be his office on the promenade. The Andorian security chief tapped the base of his chin as he stared at the mess on the other side of the door. Security was in such a strange place, but he’d find some way to make due with that.
Rhys, the station’s chief science officer, stepped forward until he was standing next to the Andorian officer. “Captain wants us all in the wardroom.” He said, Rhys had met Shral while they were on the trip to the station. They were the last two senior officers to arrive to the station, everyone else was either already on board or arrived earlier in the day.
Shral looked over at the Human for a moment, eyeing him carefully as he chose his words. The Andorian remembering a time when his people called them pink skins, that was enough for him to smile inwardly. “Okay,” He answered and turned, “You’d think if they’d wanted me to take the top security job they could get the office straightened out.”
“You should see the science lab,” Rhys told him as he stepped onto the turbolift heading up to the wardroom. “It’s an absolute disaster.” He turned, “Wardroom,” He said and felt the turbolift lurching upward.
Doctor Hayashi walked along next to Lieutenant Baird, “Any idea what the Captain wanted?” Elle asked, she’d ran into the chief engineer on the way up to the wardroom. The infirmary was in better shape, but it still needed quite a bit of work.
Amelia didn’t have an answer for the Doctor, “Not a clue,” She answered as the two of them entered the wardroom. Considering how much work there was to do, Amelia hoped it didn’t take very long. She was still trying to get the station communications functional.
“Any luck getting communications back online?” Sam asked almost immediately after he’d seen Amelia and the Doctor enter wardroom.
Amelia turned and addressed the Commander when she heard him speaking. “Not yet,” She answered as she sat down next to him. “I think we’re getting close to having the communications back online.”
Freya entered the wardroom and realized she was the last one in the room. She’d also walked into the room in time to hear Commander Bancroft and Lieutenant Baird talking, the Exec hadn’t talked to either of them much since she’d come aboard the station.
James looked around the room once the last of the senior officers entered. “I’ve also invited Lieutenant Ortega, she is considering a position change. I thought it prudent that she be included in this meeting. It’s purely informal so that everyone can put faces to names. I would also like to discuss the possibility of a visit from the Cardassians.”
“Are you expecting that sir?” Freya asked him.
James nodded rather slowly, “I’m certain it’s only a matter of time before they show up. There’s been a lot of Federation activity in this system. If they haven’t already figured out we salvaged one of their old stations, they’ll find out soon enough.” He knew it was only a matter of time.
“Communications should be online in a day or two,” Amelia promised. “And, the promenade’s main areas are almost complete. The infirmary is coming along nicely, all we have left is the security office and some shops.”
“I can help with that,” Shral offered. “I don’t have much engineering experience, but having my office would be nice.”
Sam looked at the Andorian officer, “That would help, Doctor Hayashi was helping in the infirmary.”
“I can help too,” Alexandra added from where she was listening. “I did take some engineering courses at the Academy. Unless there’s something else you need me to do sir?” She asked the Captain.
James shook his head, “I don’t have anything else for you Lieutenant. As long as both Commander Bancroft and Lieutenant Baird don’t have a problem with it.”
“I don’t see a problem with either of you helping,” Amelia told them. “Any help is welcome help, and it would allow us to get things functional much faster.” She turned and looked at the Captain, “The weapons systems are online we just need to transfer torpedoes from the ships that are docked at the upper pylons.”
“Good,” James said. “I want everything ready in case the Cardassians show up, or anyone else either. Starfleet is expecting civilians to start arriving in the coming days. I would like for them to feel welcome once they start coming.” He stood up, “Dismissed please keep me updated.” He watched as they filed out of the wardroom before returning to the window.
“Sir?” Sam said as he stepped in behind the Captain, “Do you have a moment?”
James nodded, “I told Commander Preston,” He told Sam, “If that’s what this is about?”
Sam tilted his head, “It wasn’t,” He answered, “But thanks for letting her know. That will make it a little easier,” He pointed out. “No, it’s about the kids on the station. I’ve spoken to Allyson, she would like to tutor them so they aren’t doing online work all the time.”
James smiled warmly, “I think that’s a wonderful idea,” He answered. James was more than a Captain, he was also a single parent. He knew if he just let Paige run wild without structured activity she could find herself in some trouble. “There’s space on the promenade that isn’t being used. I’ll see to it that the space is ready.”
Sam nodded, “Thank you sir,” He said then he left the Captain alone in the wardroom.
James looked out the window as the station spun gently on its central axis. He did find himself wondering how the Cardassians hadn’t figured it out yet. Unless they were so unconcerned that they just didn’t bother? James knew it was only a matter of time before that question was answered.