The turbolift doors hiss open, revealing the sterile gleam of the deck. Kael Draven steps out, the metallic tang of recycled air filling his nostrils. He starts walking, the precise clicks of his boots echoing in the quiet hum of the ship’s engines, a constant, low thrum that vibrates through the deck plating and into the soles of his feet.

Finally, he reaches the door of the CSO’s office. Kael stops, his hand hovering over the access panel. Muffled voices come from within. He hesitates, not out of nervousness, but more from a sense of professional courtesy. He glances around the empty corridor. No obvious “enter at will” signs. He straightens his shoulders, takes a deep breath, and waits, figuring a brief pause is better than barging in mid-sentence.
Silence falls, and he gently presses the button on the access panel.

Cadet Kael Draven, Science Department