With the medical evaluation complete and his clearance officially recorded, 2nd Lieutenant Stefan Burcham exited Sickbay with a small nod to the staff. The sterile scent of the medical bay faded as he made his way down the corridor, boots striking the deck in a steady rhythm. He felt a quiet relief—routine or not, medical checks always left him slightly on edge. Still, he was fit for duty, and that was all that mattered.

The corridor widened as he approached the hangar bay, the distant echo of maintenance crews and shuttle diagnostics reaching his ears. The scent of coolant and plasma fields clung to the air—a familiar comfort. Technicians moved between small crafts and cargo crates, their voices half-lost in the ambient hum of systems being powered up and cycled through. Stefan paused just inside the threshold, eyes scanning the activity with a watchful gaze, automatically assessing the readiness of the deck.

Then he saw them—his commanding officer standing near the main launch console, reviewing a padd with a focused expression. Straightening his posture, Stefan approached with purpose, crossing the deck with calm confidence. Whatever the CO was here for, it was important. Stefan cleared his throat lightly to announce his presence without disrupting the flow of orders already in motion.

Stefan Burcham
2nd Lieutenant
USS Chimera Marine