The restaurant was crowded, as was to be expected. The latest Academy class was graduating, so friends and relations from all over the Federation were coming in to see their Cadet finally step out of the Academy and into that most storied and celebrated orgamization… Star Fleet.

But that wasn’t the only graduation taking place. Unlike the class of the many hundreds of new Cadets, a much smaller and much more experienced group was garduating: the latest class of the Academy’s Command Officers School. Here, a select group of officers had spent nearly an entire year learning how to command and direct, lead, work with, and guide crews and staffs all over the Fleet. This class, numbering just over seventy, had finished their final oral exams and were now waiting for their assignments. And out of that group, four sat at a table in the crowded restaurant outside of the Academy grounds. All were dressed in Command red uniforms.

“I’m telling you. I already spoke to personnel. I’m either going to be the Chief Engineer on Outpost Seven, or I’m looking at a potential Second Officer position on the Hayes.” a dashing and debonair human man with Lieutenant Commander pips said. There was a murmur of soft approval and suitable and polite level of impressed from the other four.

A male Antican with Lieutenant lips said “I’m hoping for a Science Chief position. I requested planetside, and I heard there was an opening in Temporal Investigations R&D.” A very large human man smiled and said “Kodrilm, they’d be fools ta pass ya up.” in a thick Scottish brogue. The Antican smiled and nodded his thanks.

A Bajoran woman smiled and said “Got my orders on the way here. Security Chief on the McArthur, new Pendragon-class coming outta spacedovk in three months. I’m her first CoS.” There was a round of congratulations and sincere compliments for the honor bestowed on their classmate. She looked at the big Scot and said “What about you, Commander? What does the top spot graduate get? Or do they just let you pick from a list?” and everyone laughed, including the big man. He shook his head and said “No such luck, I’m afraid. I’m waitin’. Same as most of us.” It was then that the PaDD sitting by his hand chirped. He flipped it over and tapped a few commands, then read a message… and his eyes went wide. His friends looked at him a moment, and then the Bajoran punched him in the arm. “Well? Tell us!” The man just slid the PaDD to her and she read aloud “Commander Royal Sinclair, you are hereby ordered to report for duty to the USS Ogawa, Nightingale- class Medical Cruiser as… Executive Officer?!” She reread the orders and then looked at Sinclair. “An XO spot?! Right out of Command School?! What the hell, Royal?! Who did you blackmail for that?” and she laughed. The Antican said “Well he does have two doctorates and has been a DH in three separate departments, Gwen.” and then he too laughed. Royal shook the stunned silence from his head and then smiled broadly; but before he could talk, his commbadge chirped. =/\= Commander Sinclair, please report the Academy personnel office immediately for travel plans and itinerary. =/\= Royal smiled at his friends and shrugged. “Well, seems they’re playin’ my song.” and he stood and towered over the table. The rest stood and handshakes and hugs were exchanged. “Don’t be strangers, now. I expect ta hear from all of ya every month on tha regular, got it?” he asked with a grin. All three nodded and, after a few more goodbyes, Commander Royal Sinclair walked out of the restaurant.

Cmdr. Sinclair, XO