He was gone. Just like that, the Fleet had recalled Zarath and he was gone.

And now another Captain was due this afternoon.

Amber was in the Captain’s Ready Room straightening things up and humming to herself. There was a small bunk folded into the wall with fresh sheets on it. The couch and seating area were once more clean and clutter free. And the desk had been reset to right with fresh file holders and the most recent 48 hours of comm logs at the ready. She made sure the shift reports, most recent department reports and the ship readiness report were also ready for his viewing.

The young woman wasn’t familiar with the Captain that was coming on board. But that didn’t phase her. She was still new enough, herself that most notable names were still anonymous to her. So she hoped he wasn’t one of those with a high opinion of himself who would feel slighted if she didn’t fawn all over him like a love struck Final Year getting to meet her hero. The idea of that image, her eyes batting like she was having spasms as her hands wrung with anticipation of touching him, left such an impression on her mind that she burst into sudden laughter just then. Passing the small mirror above the alcove where the replicator sat, she created that image in her reflection as her hand went to her lips to cover a twitter. “Oh Captain… I can’t believe you are here. I have soooo wanted to meet you and you are before me at last!” She giggled once more as she imagined the flush on her cheeks. Her mind screamed it was never going to happen, yet she allowed herself a moment of make believe as she battered her eye lashes once more imagining that simple minded twit as herself. She was so caught up in the moment she wouldn’t have heard the Red Alert if it had gone off just then.

Lt JG Amber Josen
Comms Officer