A Short Time Ago:

The U.S.S. Ogawa hung in space at station keeping. In a blinding flash of light, the U.S.S. M’Benga dropped out of warp 25 Kilometers to the Ogawa’s starboard side. As it approached the larger ship, the M’Benga cut impulse and drifted into place parallel to her. A few bursts of her maneuvering thrusters and she came to a complete halt just beside her. From a distance, the ships looked serene and calm but like any federation vessel they were efficient hives of activity, always busy, always in motion.

Aboard the M’Benga, a small group had gathered in transporter room one to bid farewell to their newly promoted Lieutenant, Dr. Poosh Bandoo. The Ool Cyberneticist was wearing a sleeveless service tunic that showed off his matte grey and black cybernetic right arm. He was very proud of that arm. It was his eighth, and the first that he had designed himself. It was quite literally the reason he had become a doctor. Hatched with only a vestigial stub for a right arm, he had grown up intimately familiar with cybernetic medicine. It was only natural that he end up in that field. The arm was his one point of vanity. It would have been simple to give it a synthetic skin, but that would disguise his handiwork. It wasn’t vanity, but pride.

They said their farewells, exchanged well-wishes and, all too soon for all involved, Poosh stepped onto the transporter pad. His vision filled with a blurred wash of sparkling light. As his sight cleared, the Ogawa’s transporter room came into focus. He exchanged pleasantries with the ensign manning the controls and made his way to the nearby turbolift.

He stepped out onto the bridge and crossed to the entrance to the briefing room. The doors slid open with a quiet hiss and he stepped inside. He recognized the four officers seated at the table from studying the crew manifest before he came aboard. Captain Taylor, Commanders Brooks and Walker, and Lieutenant Darren. He smiled slightly and stood straighter. “Doctor Poosh Bandoo reporting for duty.”

-Lt. Bandoo, Asst. CMO