“Lieutenant,” Figueroa lifted their gaze from the transporter panel, “we’ve received transporter clearance from the Chernov. Ready when you are.”

“Thank you, Ensign,” Ararhiq nodded and hoisted her back onto her shoulder, careful to tuck her thumb under the strap so it wouldn’t dig into her skin. Shifting her weight onto the other foot, she took in a soft, relieving breath and extended an encouraging smile to her Tellarite companion. He seemed… well, it was hard to tell. He wore an eager grin that opposed the way his fingers tapped to an uneasy tune against his leg. “You’ll do great, Mar. I look forward to reading about your work in the journals in a few years.”

“Data permitting,” Mar laughed, snaking his hands behind his back as if to quell their fidgeting. “Thanks, Ararhiq. You take care of yourself out there, eh?”

“I will certainly try,” she cast a glance at the transporter chief, who waited patiently for her to step onto the pad. “I better get going. Don’t want to keep the new boss waiting.”

In the few seconds that followed, Ararhiq and Mar exchanged goodbyes and plans to meet up with the rest of their friends for a virtual game night, if they could ever find a time when all of their schedules overlapped—easier said than done, they knew. She then stepped onto the transporter pad and made a short gesture to Figueroa. “Ready, Ensign.”

Ararhiq doubted she would ever be comfortable with the sensation of her atoms being disassembled and beamed several hundred meters away, but it was quick and relatively painless (if a bit nauseating), so she found no reason to complain. Straightening, she nodded to the crewman at the transporter panel, offering only a cordial ‘hello’. She was briefed on the status of the Chernov when she accepted the transfer. They were in a period of transition. The science team was comparatively small, given the ship’s more militaristic nature, and there was another scientist on-boarding before her. It would be an adjustment. There were a lot of minor facts running through her mind and a lot of assumptions she could make, but Ararhiq chose to wait and see everything for herself before making any assessments.

For now, she needed to get her affairs in order, starting with getting this bag offloaded into her quarters. Ararhiq approached the transporter chief who handed her a PaDD with everything she needed to know about the upcoming days. Thanking them, she turned and made her way into the corridors.

– Ajhilaa, Science Officer