Waiting for someone to appear on the screen before her grew incredibly tedious. She’d been spinning from left to right and back again, playing with the buttons that made the chair rise and fall and contemplating replicating an old-fashioned fire extinguisher to propel herself from one end of the room to the other and back again. But now that she’d finished reliving her youth, she was standing at the replicator watching the swirling recombination of particles just as the computer beeped and signalled the sudden appearance of someone on the other end of the line.

A tall figure filled the screen, his uniform sharply pressed, a face that betrayed little emotion and eyes that had seen more than their fair share of operations. He stood still for a moment, gazing at Commander Noli with a look that balanced authority and a touch of amusement.

“Commander,” Captain Taren Voska’s voice was steady. “I trust I’m not interrupting something important.” There was a flicker of a smile at the corner of her lips, but it disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared. “I’ve been given your orders, and I think it’s time we talked about getting the Columbia back in action.”

“Shit…” she whispered, rushing back to her seat and spilling the beverage on the carpet in the process. Once back behind the desk, she collapsed into the chair and looked at the figure on the screen.

“Sorry,” she smiled sheepishly, raising the cup in cheers to let the man know just what she’d been up to.

Voska’s lips twitched upward in a rare moment of amusement, though her expression remained mostly composed.

“Not to worry Commander. We’ve all had our… moments,” he said with a slight pause, his tone softening for just a fraction. “I trust you’re comfortable though? I know it’s been a long few weeks.” Taking a breath and adjusting the comms panel in front of him while settling into the command posture that he was accustomed to.

“You’ve got that right sir,” Noli smirked, relaxing into the chair and taking stock of the man on her screen and the words leaving his mouth.

“Now, I’m sure you’re familiar with the rumors surrounding the Columbia. But I’m here to set the record straight,” Voska continued. “Starfleet has made their decision. The Columbia’s days are numbered. We’ve got a year to make the most of it. And I’m giving you the orders to get her moving again.”

Initially, the Bajoran found herself smiling with relief at the prospect of positive news, but as his words hit her ears, the expression on her face faded. Not even the positive of getting back to what they did best could hide her disappointment. Only a year of service left? They’d finally made the tough call to retire her after all these years. How the hell would she break it to the crew?

He paused, watching the response before continuing. “Get ready Commander. We’ve got a job ahead of us. The Zaran system awaits.”

“Zaran?” That drew her back to reality in an instant. Zaran had, for weeks, been ‘Planet Forbidden’ and was the last place she ever expected them to go to.

Voska didn’t flinch, his expression still as calm and controlled as ever. “Yes Zaran” he confirmed. “I know it’s not what you expected but Fleet Command has their reasons. The Columbia has a limited time and this is the mission we’ve been assigned. It’s time to make the most of what we have left.”

Leaning forward slightly he locked eyes with her. “And when you get there you’ll be meeting your new commanding officer. The USS Melbourne will rendezvous with you and that’s where you’ll get the details.” He pauses for a moment before continuing. “Prepare the Columbia Commander. I’ll expect you to have everything in order.” His gaze softened just a touch. “We’re counting on you.”

“Of course sir,” she sat forward, steeled and composed. If it was true, what he said, and the ship had only a year of service left, she’d do her best to make sure it was the most memorable year of its service. It was clear from the Captain’s words that he probably knew very little and had to at least try to make it look like he had some of the detail regarding Columbia’s mission. She wouldn’t probe him for any more information at this point as it would probably get neither of them anywhere. Instead, she had other matters to contend with.

Nodding slowly, she took a second to think. “Captain, if I may? Commander Vashara Zail is concluding her testimony at the Zaran Inquest this morning. I’d like to request she join us. She’s a very capable officer and would help fill several voids in our personnel roster.”

Voska considered the request for a moment. The mention of Commander Vashara Zail caught his attention and he made a mental note of the officer’s name. He was no stranger to the intricacies of Starfleet politics and knew that getting the right people in the right places could make all the difference.

“If she’s as capable as you say then it’s worth looking into. I’ll approve the request contingent on her availability once the Inquest concludes.” He replied, his tone thoughtful. With a brief pause and a pointed look he continued, “But I’ll remind you this mission is delicate. I don’t need anything that might interfere with our timeline, so if bringing her along causes any delays, we’ll need to reconsider.” Softening his expression though his voice remained firm. “However I trust your judgment. If you believe she’ll be a valuable addition, make it happen. Understood?”

“Absolutely,” Noli nodded in agreement.

He leaned back waiting for her response before adding, “Anything else?”

After a few concluding pleasantries, the commline between the two officers terminated, leaving the Bajoran with a lot to contemplate before she could return to the bridge. How would she explain matters to the crew, a crew that had been through so much already?

And what would await them at Zaran after all this time?