Ford leaned over the sink, watching his reflection as he passed the electric razor over his cheek. He paused as he heard the all hands whistle come over the comm panel in the main room of his quarters.

=^= All Sentinel personnel to report back aboard the ship in preparation for departure. All section heads report ready status =^= the tinny voice of the XO came through the grille.

He sighed and finished shaving, and threw his uniform shirt on just before exiting.

The alpha shift crew was milling about the armory, some of the gamma shift still there and shooting the breeze, when Ford strode in. Several stood to attention, and he waved them all to assemble along one wall. “At ease,” he finally ordered, and they relaxed to parade rest.

He lifted the days duty roster clipboard off the desk and began reading. “Smith,” he called, “you’ll be patrol lead. Take Bolurson, Keith, Vicenza, and Siruk with you along with your regular crew. Moore, fire control. Take fire team three, as well as Martin and Therendin.”

He sat on the table edge, clipboard held to his lap. “This our first mission on the new ship, under a new captain.” He looked each man, and two women, in the eye. “But that changes nothing. We’ve all done this, been trained for this. Let’s go, and let’s do it right. Leads, report when you relieve your stations. Dismissed.”

The crews filed out, and he flipped through the beta and gamma roster, double checking staffing levels, while he waited on the reports to call in. Once they had, he hit the comm panel switch on the wall.

=^= Ford to Bridge. Security and Fire Control report ready. =^=

He flipped the switch to off and exited the room, bringing the duty roster with him. He found Bolurson standing in the hallway, assigned armory guard by Smith.

“Bolurson,” he greeted the newest of the security force. “Ready for your first mission into the void?”

COS Ford