“To report in no later than 0800 ship’s time, stardate 24011.6, aboard the hospital ship USS Ogawa, as Chief Engineer”.

That’s what the orders had said. Alex had done a double take when she’d first read them. She’d known she was overdue for a shipboard rotation. In fact, she’d been itching for it. But Chief Engineer? That one came out of left field.

“Just do what you always do. You’ll be fine.” Those had been the parting words of her old boss. Nothing more; nothing less. They may have been the first ever attempt at anything vaguely resembling praise he’d uttered in her general direction. All other encounters had invariably left her with a vague sense of needing to do better. As a leadership style, there was something to be said for that, she supposed. After all, in the end, apparently she’d risen to the occasion. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been tapped for a Chief’s position on a ship this big. Yet.

With that thought, Alex felt her shoulders rise as she made her way to the Bridge. Briefly, she considered checking to see if she’d been assigned quarters yet, and going through there first. But then, she remembered her last CO’s final order. “Report in with Captain Myqian at your earliest convenience.” Senior Officer speak for ‘get your butt over there yesterday’, she knew.

So with that on her mind, she arrived on the Bridge, and at the Captain’s Ready Room. With no more than a cursory nod at the Ensign manning the console closest to her, she readjusted the strap of the duffle bag over her shoulder, cleared her throat, and rang the chime.

~ Alex Winters, CE