Joe was grumpy. It was his natural state in times of upset. He had been moved from one truly bad posting to the post of XO on the Merrimack, but still. It was the move itself. A new cabin. Hauling your things from one spot to another across the darkness of space. It was enough to make one lose one’s mind for several days at least! Joe reached into the bottom of a knapsack. He felt around and found the bottle of Tullamore and sighed a long deep breath of relaxation that it had not been broken. He scowled and cursed at the universe and himself for a moment as he placed the bottle and a shot glass on the desk in his cabin. Well, he had to get checked in. Go and socialize a bit. He looked at himself in the mirror. Straightened his tunic, ran his fingers across his head to smooth his hair and turned to go get the check-ins done.

A few moments later after strolling through the passages nodding to one person or greeting another, he finally arrived at his first destination. The CO’s office. It was always better if you met the boss first. You never knew he may not like you and send you back. Save you from having to get a physical! In front of the CO’s quarters now Joe pressed the buzzer.

Joe Milligan XO