Captain Harrington was reviewing her PADD as she rode the turbolift to the bridge of the Vallejo. It was a quiet night on the ship as the crew hadn’t arrived to assume their duties, and final stages of maintenance and upgrades were being done by Starbase crews.

With the humming stop of the lift, and the woosh of the doors opening, Harrington stepped on the bridge…Her bridge now. She gazed around the room, seeing crewmen deep in panels and punching buttons on consoles.

One of the Ensigns looked up from the console he was working on, “Captain, is the anything I can help you with?” He asked.

She smiled at him “I’m fine, just thought I’d take a look around, and check out my ready room.”

The young man returned the smile and nodded “Understood Ma’am” he said as he returned to his duties.

As she walked over to her office she glanced the dedication plaque. California Class…not a big ship, but it was hers now like all the captains before her. As the doors whooshed open to her ready room Berny looked around the plain room. It was just a standard room like all others, and she had been in a few over the years, but now this one was hers, and she just needed a few homely touches to make more personal.

She walked over to her desk and set her bag down. Opening the case, she pulled a picture frame containing a photo of her husband and daughter taken from her home. With a smile on her face, she set it on the desk near her computer, thinking about the day she took it.

A chirp from her communicator snapped her back to reality. =/\= Captain, we’re receiving a communicate for you from earth =/\=

=/\= Route it to my ready room, Ensign thank you. =/\=

Berny sat in her chair and tap the button on the computer activating the screen.

———————————————-Incoming Transmission—————————————————-

With another tap on the console the screen change from words to an image of a young child waving at her. “Hi Mummy”

Berny smiled largely at the monitor “Hi Munchkin, what are you doing calling me?” she asked as another figure moved about in the background.

“Daddy helped me, when are you coming home mummy?” she said as she fidgeted a bit while standing by a table.

“Ah Munchkin, Mummy won’t be home for a while, but she misses you dearly” she as the little girl’s face saddened for a moment.

“Alright, guess what mummy?”

Berny placed her chin on her fist as she smiled “What’s that Munchkin?”

Her husband Charlie sat down beside the girl and handed her a small furry animal. The little girl raised the small animal in the air. “Bebe, had puppies”

Berny’s facial expression went from smiling to shock “She did, that wonderful news” she replied. Giving her husband a wink “Guess you and Daddy are going have to help make sure they are taken care of.”

The little girl smiled as she nuzzled the puppy close to her face “Yes, mummy I will look after them,” she replied as she got up and took the pup back to its mother.

Charlie watched as his daughter left the room before looking back to Bernadette “So Bebe had seven pups, but sadly one didn’t make, and I took care of it before Emma saw it,”

“Oh, poor thing, it does happen sometimes, but I’m sure Emma would’ve understood what happened, Charlie” Berny told him as she grabbed another item from here case. “She’s young, but not naive.”

Charlie nodded with a smile “Yes, that is true, and she’s already grown-up before her time I’d say.” “So how is the new ship?”

“So far it’s not bad, I haven’t explored the rest of the ship, but they’re still working on it.” She replied just as Emma reappeared onscreen.

“Well, we should let Mommy get back to work, and you little miss need to wash up for dinner.” Charlie said as he picked her up.

“Bye Mummy, I miss you.” Emma yells out as she waves goodbye.

“Bye Munchkin, take care of daddy for me, Mommy loves you very much.” Berny replied as she blew a kiss to her.

“Do be careful out there sweetheart, we miss and love you.” Charlie remarked as he too waved with Emma.

Berny blew kisses to them both as she tapped the console end the transmission. With a gentle sigh she wiped away a small tear from her eye and finished unpacking her stuff for her office.