Louise Gordon walked towards the office of the Chief Science Officer of the USS Challenger with an air of purpose mixed with frustration. She was somewhat excited - if excited was the right word - to finally be onboard the USS Challenger to pursue a different calling and help Starfleet in its mission to explore space and meet new species. However, she was frustrated because her father, once again, had tried to convince her to not pursue this path. “Louise, my darling”, he said earlier today, “Starfleet is a noble cause, for certain, but why abandon your quite successful career to be a mere cadet onboard a starship. There are a number of other careers you could pursue. It is not fitting for a woman of your background.” Despite her father’s attempts, she was even more convinced that she had made the right decision.

Outside the office of the Chief Science Officer, she glanced at her reflection on a deactivated screen. Her uniform was looking a bit dull, but otherwise she approved of her appearance. Regulations were quite clear on appearance. She pressed the chime at the same time as her lips curled into a pleasant smile, waiting for permission to enter the office. Once granted permission, she would enter the room with a stride of confidence, placing her hands in front of her.

“Cadet Louise Gordon reporting for duty, sir.”

Cadet Louise Gordon