The blue light from the transporter dimmed and Sonia Jeden stepped off the transporter pad onto Starbase Bravo, all her belongings slung over her shoulder in her large duffle.

She casually flipped her braided blonde hair, which, when unbraided flirted dangerously with the regulation length, over her right shoulder, highlighting the undercut on the left side of her head.  She looked around the empty room, save the sole ensign manning the transporter console, and her lips parted in her rather mischievous smile. 

She stepped up to the ensign. “Afternoon, Ensign. It’s been a while since I’ve been here. What’s the fastest way to…” she paused as she fished out her PADD to confirm the details. “Hangar bay 5b? I am meant to catch a runabout in two hours.”

The young ensign, fresh out of the academy, stammered for a moment before speaking. “Ah, well….if you head to the turbo lifts 100 meters down the corridor to the right, they can take you right here.” He paused for a moment then continued, “If you have 2 hours, you may want to swing by the promenade, you can get anything you need there before your departure.”

Sonia smiled again at the recommendation, “Thank you, Ensign. I may just do that.” With that she turned and walked out of the room.

As she made her way down the corridor, she reflected on her change of circumstances. Just two weeks ago she was an Ensign on the Columbia before she was called into Lieutenant Commander Ortega’s office. She had wracked her brain trying to think if she had done something wrong, but was caught flat-footed when she was told she was being promoted and not only that, but being reassigned to the USS Gagarin as its Chief Engineer.  She shook her head slightly as she reached the turbolift, “Not sure what Ortega is thinking.” ‘How can I be the chief engineer on a ship? Do I have enough experience… ‘

The door closed and she stood there for several moments, lost in her thoughts before speaking, “Promenade.”

Hanger Bay 5

Lieutenant Commander Joran Tel lay on the wing of USS Bodkin, an Arrow-class runabout, awake but his mind adrift. He had spent the last few months on Starbase Bravo training cadets after the deployment of the USS Altai ended but was not too sure what to make of his newest assignment, Squadron Commander on the USS Gagarin. Part of him wasn’t sure if it was a step backwards or sideways or what. That factored in with his new rank just left him uneasy. Two years ago, he had been a Chief Petty Officer, and now, due to First Contact Day and other events within Starfleet, he was a Lieutenant Commander, a role and rank he still wasn’t overly comfortable with. It wasn’t the responsibilities of command or having people report to him that didn’t sit well; he just didn’t think of himself as an officer.

He continued to doze while he listened for the doors to the Hangar bay to open. He was meant to be taking the Gagarin’s new Chief Engineer, a young Bajoran woman, with him but so far she hadn’t shown up. “Still half an hour until our planned departure…she has time,” he muttered as his eyes unfocused and he cleared his mind. 

Ten minutes later, he heard the door to the hangar open with a quiet “whoosh.’ Sitting up he saw a strikingly beautiful Bajoran woman enter, a large duffel over her shoulder and carry a large bag from one of the shops on the promenade. “Lieutenant Jeden?” he said, already recognising her from the image he found on her file.

Sonia stopped just inside the door and looked at the man who was now casually sitting on the wing of the runabout. At first, she thought he was one of the techs before seeing his rank insignia. “Yes, Sir. I was told to report here to catch my ride to the USS Gagarin at Starbase 406.”

Joran pushed himself off the wing, nodded towards to open hatchway into the runabout, “We’re all loaded up, just the two of us on this trip though the cargo module is fully loaded with bits and bobs. You have the port bunk room to yourself, I took the starboard one, so if you store your bag in the we can depart.” He began to turn towards the ship then stopped. “Oh, I’m Lieutenant Commander Joran Tel. The squadron commander for the Gagarin. Looks like we both will be new on arrival.”

Sonia just looked at him for a moment, surprised that she would be travelling with one of the senior staff and their new squadron commander but shrugged it off. “It’s good to meet you, sir,” she said as she started forward to the runabout. “I picked up a selection of pastries and other things,” she gestured to the large bag in her hands. “Figured fresh food for the start of the trip is always good.”

Joran let out a laugh, “I think we will get on well, Lieutenant. I stocked the galley with enough meals from several of the restaurants for the whole trip. Enough for you as well.” He nodded towards the bag, “What did you grab?”

Sonia couldn’t help but smile, “Not as much as you did sadly, just a collection of local pastries really, a few Bajorian dishes, some fresh Gagh which should be eaten soon, a tube grub and some slug-o-cola.”

Joran cocked an eyebrow at her, “Gagh, I will happily help with. Tube grub and slug-o-cola though? I may pass on that, a bit too slimy for me. Have to say I didn’t take you for a fan of Ferenji food.”

Sonia just laughed and stepped onto the runabout to stow her gear as Joran slid into the pilot seat. Before Sonia even finishes putting her bag down, she feels the engines come to life.

Within minutes, the sleek runabout emerged from the hangar and shot off, disappearing in a flash of light as it raced towards the Gagarin. Its occupants both unsure what to expect ahead of them.