Newly minted Ensign Kitiuas Thenis sat at the position of attention just outside Starfleet Academy’s Commandant’s office. She had just recently returned from a very successful cadet cruise, and attended her graduating ceremony as Mana Cum Laude, but unlike the rest of her classmates had not received an assignment to either a ship or star base. Instead, her flight commander had discreetly found her and informed her she needed to report to the Commandant’s office. She had done as ordered and now fifteen minutes later she still sat at the position of attention waiting to be called in to the inner sanctum of the Commandant. Her mind was a flurry of questions wondering why she had been summoned to the Commandant’s office, and why she had not received any assignments upon graduating with the rest of her class. Suddenly there was a small buzz on the Commandant’s secretaries’ desk “Send in Ensign Thenis” she heard. With that she stood before the secretary could even speak. She straightened her uniform stepped to the wooden door and knocked, “Enter” she heard. She opened the door stepped in and shut the door, she then walked forward towards the Commandant’s desk. When she was three feet away, she stated in a calm voice, which she was not feeling, “Ensign Kitiuas Thenis reporting as ordered sir.” Out of the corner of her left eye she saw another man in the room, with the rank of Rear Admiral. “At ease Ensign,” said the Commandant. Thenis went to a position of parade rest. “You are most likely wondering why you were called here and why you have not received an assignment. Well Ensign you happen to have the good fortune and skills to be given a special opportunity to serve on a very unique ship with a very special and critical mission.” said the Commandant, while looking at a computer screen, no doubt thought Thenis with her service and education record pulled up. “Before we go any further, I must tell you that everything you hear or speak about is classified on a strictly need-to-know basis and speaking of this conversation to anyone is punishable. When I say punishable, I mean the type of punishment where they pump sunlight to you and those you spoke with. Do I make myself clear?” he asked. “Sir, yes sir.” replied Thenis. “Good, now please put your signature on this PaDD.” with that the Commandant slide a PaDD across his desk, and Thenis reached out and signed it. “Okay, now that the formalities are out of the way, you are going to be assigned to the USS Leviathan and the Anomaly Recovery Unit. Your Ph.D. in entomology/arachnology as well as your master’s in both cryptozoology and hominology make you a perfect candidate for this assignment.” here the Commandant is interrupted by the Admiral “May I ask why you took an additional three years at the Academy and got the additional degrees in cryptozoology, hominology, astrobiology, geochronology/thermochronology, computer software engineering and information science?” asked the Admiral. “Sir, I went for the additional three years of education in those degree programs in order to make myself more competitive in Starfleet Science branch. I will be competing against Vulcans for the prime assignments in the science division, Sir.” replied Thenis. The Admiral merely nodded at the response, with that the Commandant continued “The Anomaly Recovery Unit is a Top-Secret Starfleet division, tasked with the recovery, containment and study of those entities classified as ‘space anomalies’, with the purpose of protecting other Federation vessels and also nearby civilian populations from the anomalies powers or effects. Do you have any questions?” he asked. “Sir, no Sir.” Thenis replied. “This is an extremely hazardous duty assignment, you may decline the assignment with no repercussions to you or your career in Starfleet; with the stipulation of never being able to discuss this with anyone. Now you must make your decision, what will it be?” Thenis smiled and replied “Sirs, I accept the assignment. This is why I joined Starfleet. When do I start?” The Admiral chuckled as the Commandant slide a different PaDD across his desk, “This PaDD is your new personal PaDD, with your orders and your ‘real’ orders. It is Biometrically keyed to you and requires a DNA, fingerprint, and retinal scan to access your you orders and data for the ARU.” here he demonstrated how to activate the information on the PaDD, “the command staff of the USS Leviathan may also access the information on your PaDD. Now you need to go pack your gear, you ship out in four hours. Dismissed” With that Ensign Kitiuas Thenis came to attention and saluted, did a proper about face and left the Commandant’s office.
As Ensign Kitiuas sat in the most uncomfortable jump seat created in the universe, she thought back to the conversation she had had in the Commandant’s office. Now she was on a supply shuttle that was about to land on her new home and assignment, the USS Leviathan. Not sure about activating the information on the Leviathan while on the supply shuttle Kitiuas tried to read the current copy of the Applied Entomology and Zoology when she was interrupted “Coming in for docking, may want to buckle up this can be a little bumpy” said the load master. “Newbie copilot going to be landing the shuttle? smiled the load master. Thenis quickly buckled up, just in time as the shuttle touched down and bounced twice before coming to a stop. “You okay Sir?” asked the load master. Thenis smiled and replied, “You were not kidding when you said the copilot was a newbie.” with that she unbuckled from her seat and exited the shuttle.

-Kitiuas Thenis, Science