<snip>

Rand waited quietly while he inspected the office area and manipulated the controls on the console. She watched with curiosity as he recorded something to a data tape. She made the correct assumption that it was images he wanted to study. She made the incorrect assumption that it was to determine where to place security and determine areas of weakness, not about her. “Oh…you’re welcome. I’m glad I could help.” She led the way down the corridor pulling out her watch. “Well deck 4 is next and where your quarters are located. I need to get these ready for the captain, but I’d be happy to finish your tour after I drop them off.” And she really wouldn’t mind. She was agitated at the behavior of the quarter master and had reacted more personally than she normally would have because of her behavior in the lounge, but she was feeling on more even ground now. She entered the turbolift with him, hit the button for deck 4.
Yeoman Rand

Ford shook his head. “No, that won’t be necessary. I’ve take up enough of your time, I think. As I said earlier, you need some free time.”

“It was no trouble. I had to walk the decks anyway. Really I didn’t mind.” Randy would probably be happy she was out walking around rather than in their quarters.

No, my next stop will be to Captain Jenkins’ office, he thought. The data tape was comfortable in his pocket, and soon it would be comfortable on someone else’s desk. The door hissed open on deck 4 and stepped out, holding out a hand for the yeoman. “After you.”

COS Ford.

Rand stepped off the turbolift with a nod of thanks. “The saucer decks are divided into alphabetical sections with A being at the center fore and then moving clockwise. We were in the after turbolift and this is section E. This way.” She turned to port and after passing an intersection signs showed section F. At the next intersection she took the right corridor and half way down on the left, “And here we are, Room 25.” Rand stopped by the door and turned to face him. “It was nice to meet you, Ford.”
Yeoman Rand

“And you as well, Rand,” he replied, extending his hand. “I’ll try to make sure I have at least one of my classes during your ‘free time’. Drop by anytime you’d like.”

He hit the door release button and stepped in, finding a very typical single occupancy senior officer’s quarters - a small sitting room, separated from a bed and lavatory area. He patted the shape of the data tape on his pocket, chewing his lip.

What to do, what to do. It was clear Rand did not want a scene made about this; and technically he should not - yet - be in possession of the footage on the data tape.

But tomorrow he would have direct access to nearly all areas of the ship. He grinned.

The next day, following the official handover ceremony, Ford headed straight for his office and retrieved a translucent envelope from a drawer, labeled “INTRAOFFICE TRANSFER” in red block letters. He dropped the data tape into it, folding it shut and feeling the electronic adhesive take effect.

He marched his way down to the airlock, where a Sentinel security officer stood beside a K-5 security officer. He held out the envelope to the K-5 officer.

“I need that delivered to Captain Jenkins please,” he told the man. The officer cocked an eyebrow and then shrugged, waiving over young ensign and passing the envelope along with the same instructions.

“She’s part of our yeoman corps,” he explained to Ford as she jogged off. “She’ll get it right into his hands.

Ford nodded, staying a little while as he watched the two security officers check papers for each person boarding the new ship, before he turned and left.

COS Ford