After quizzing the computer as to his whereabouts, Fin headed to the bridge where he was supposed to be. The Wolverine was truly a small ship—quite possible the smallest one she’d served on, so it didn’t take long to get there from her meeting with Mado.

As the doors parted to allow her entrance, several pairs of eyes looked in her direction, only showing interest once they discovered she was a new face.

Hands clasped behind her back, Fin approached the command chair. “Captain Boudreaux, Lt Fihnrilkk’Hob”ledn-ardol reporting for duty, Sir. I’m your new CIO.” The pronunciation of her name was done with exhaled and inhaled breath. Cam’h”lan was an extremely difficult language for most to learn. “Crewmembers usually just call me, Fin.”

—Fin, CIO

Without lifting his head from the report he was perusing, Remy simply said, “à tes souhaits, Lt.” A moment later, he looked up and saw Fin standing by his side. “Forgive me, I did no’ realize dat was you’ name, Lt. Fin?”

Remy smiled at the new Intel Chief, flashing his best mischievous, scoundrel-like smile. He spoke with a thick Cajun accent. “Command certainly took dere time gettine you ‘ere. I requested a new CIO months ago. Dey must ‘ave been waitine to send me de best.”

He stood and indicated they should step into the ready room to continue this conversation.

As Fin turned to leave, Remy followed and said to the ship’s helmsman., “Monsieur Andretti, you ‘ave de conn.”

Boudreaux (CO)

Fin entered the ready room and remained standing. From what Jason said about the CO, she was prepared to meet someone very different. The accent was unfamiliar to her and quite thick, and his appearance was…unique. Rather long hair, with a mustache and goatee. It gave him a renaissance look—certainly nothing that would make one think he had a military/soldier background.

—Fin, CIO

With a wave of his hand, Remy indicated for Fin to take a seat in front of the desk. He, himself slid behind and gracefully moved into his seat. Opening a drawer he pulled out two classes and a bottle.

Inwardly, Fin smiled. First a couple of drinks with Jason and now the Captain was offering more. Not a bad start on a new ship. Fin sat down in the chair Boudreaux offered.

“I try to make a ‘abit out of sharing a drink wit’ all incoming DH’s. Notine like a crisp Ken-tuck-ee boubon to get de conversa-SHON started right, no?”

It wasn’t rum, but it was still alcohol, so things were looking up.

He filled both glasses with the amber liquid, added some ice and slid one across the desk. “Welcome to de Wolverine, Lt.” As he drank, he took in her features. The flame red tresses definitely caught his eye. “If I didno’ know better, I would tink you came straight from de forested glens of Ireland.”

Boudreaux (CO)

Was this the beginning of Jason’s prediction about the CO hitting on her? She smiled at the comment she’d heard variations of many times before. “I assure you, Sir, I have nothing in common with Terran females from Ireland except red hair.” The first sip of bourbon barely warmed her throat. “I’m sure you know that looks can be deceiving? Well, that’s me. If you’ve read my file then you know there’s more to me than my appearance.”

—Fin, CIO

Remy grinned and replied. “Forgive my presumptuousness, Lt. I merely commented on de resemblance..”

He took a swallow from his own glass. “As I looked trough you’ file, I saw reference to Adm. Frederic, an’ when dealine wit’ de admiral, decep-TION is part of de game, no? She briefed me some on you’ species. . . Cam’ h”lan, correct? I don’ ‘ave any experience wit’ you’ people. So, I a at a loss. Please enlighten me.”

Boudreaux (CO)

So, he had some experience with Frederic—that might be useful information in the future. Fin tucked the knowledge away for now. Another sip of bourbon and she appeared to relax into the task he’d given her. “I’m not sure what you’d like to know so I’ll just hit the highlights. There aren’t as many of us as you might imagine. Because we have the ability to travel from body to body, we can live an exceptionally long time. We are also not particularly fertile for the same reason.”

Revealing information about her species wasn’t troubling in the least. Her home planet wasn’t well known on star charts, so the details she gave were broad and very general. “We have a warp capable society and it runs much like what I imagine you are used to. I’m assuming, of course, that your home at one time or another has been on Earth?”

—Fin, CIO