It was 0430. Rand was always up and running at 0430. It was quiet on deck 4. There was nothing here but quarters and that mean no one to really run into and Rand’s foot falls, even at a run, were soft and quiet. So she didn’t wake anyone. Normally she ran on deck six but they were meeting a cargo ship to resupply and the cargo bay would be busy. Rand didn’t want to get in the way of the crew moving and with all the extra activity she was eager to avoid any awkward social encounters.

The run let her mind wander. They had lost Ford…Lt Fordham and she admitted she was a little sad about it. He was a nice person and had been kind and patient with her. Kind of like her Uncle Angus. But he had moved on to a better position and she was happy for him. She’d filled out and sent off all his paperwork. Same with the CE. Rand didn’t know her. She had if course spoken with her over the course of her duties but never spoke to her otherwise. Of course if Lt Fordham hadn’t been concerned for her after that first awkward meeting, she never would have spoken to him either. And then Cpt Carmichael left. She wasn’t transferred with him. Rand knew that happened sometimes. That Cpt’s would request that their yeoman accompany them. You learned to work together and it was a well built machine. But the Yeoman corp did not move her. Instead she was staying. Rand was happy to stay, but she did wonder if she had done something wrong. Her anxiety getting the better of her.

So now a new captain was arriving. She had sent out memos to the senior staff along with information to disseminate to the lower ranks. She had sent the complete file to Alden. She liked Alden. Very by the book, a stickler for rules, and he let her work in the lab, well kind of. He let her care for the animals. She enjoyed helping him. She always knew exactly what was expected of her. And she got to play with Nibbles and Mushu. Of course she would never dare to say the word ‘play’ in front of Alden.

Randy hated it. He wasn’t made to be a yeoman. Of he was excellent at his job. He knew exactly how to get Cmdr Alden out of the labs and do all his other work. Randy was efficient and had an eye for detail. But he was a people person and liked to be around them and help them. So when he got made head nurse, Rand was over the moon for him. It was a perfect position for Randy and his skills.

That brought her back to all the recent transfers. She’d better compile a list of candidates for the new CO on who could step into those roles. Of course Cpt Rogers may not promote from within but someone needed to step in until a decision was made.

And it was all these thoughts that ran through Rand’s mind as she made laps of the deck.

Yeoman Rand