With a mild start, Theleth realized that she had arrived at the entry to the bridge. She noticed this chiefly by the fact that she had nearly collided with the hatch. Quickly checking her peripheral vision for anyone who might have noticed, she then relaxed slightly and tapped her security code into the access panel. After a moment, the door slid open with what sounded like a loud sigh. Unconsciously straightening her uniform tunic, she adjusted her posture and entered the bridge.
An older Bajoran (Theleth could tell from the ubiquitous earring that nearly all of his people wore) manning the Tactical station straightened to attention. That would be Lieutenant Commander Ahmar Teklar, she noted. Ahmar, she reminded herself, recalling the preferred Bajoran naming.
“Captain on the bridge.”
The others present paused in their work and turned to face her. Theleth felt the intense scrutiny as they each studied their new Captain. She felt that she should do something to ease the sudden tension wrought from formality, but nothing came to mind that seemed appropriate.
“As you were,” she finally responded, projecting what she hoped was just enough air of confidence.
Crewmembers slowly resumed their duties around her, but she continued to feel their eyes on her as she approached the command chair. She walked slowly, taking in the activities and organization of the bridge. A few days earlier, she had explored holographic representations of the ship in an effort to familiarize herself with its layout before reporting for duty, but even the best photonic recreation could not prepare one for the real thing. In addition to the clean, almost antiseptic odor of the air processors, there was the mixed aromas from the various species that crewed the vessel. She recognized Human . . . Vulcan . . . the distinctive acrid bite of Benzite . . . and was that Bolian?
Reaching the command chair, she rested her hand on the back of it and stared at the main viewscreen. Along the edges of the image was the frame of the drydock, but the way ahead was clear straight to the stars. Theleth turned her head slightly and looked in the direction of what was now her Ready Room. Plenty of time for that later, she decided. With a smooth, practiced gesture, she assumed the command chair. After checking its status displays, she tapped the control for the shipwide intercom.
“All hands,” she said. “This is the Captain. We are scheduled to leave space dock at zero seven hundred hours. Make final preparations for departure.”
There was only a minor surge in the activity around her, which told her that the crew seemed unsurprised by her announcement. Theleth allowed herself a small smile of satisfaction.
“Navigator,” she called to the Bolian ensign at the navigation station. “We’ll need a course to Deep Space Eight.”
The cobalt blue-skinned alien grinned eagerly back at her. “Yes, Captain.”
He agreed with an enthusiasm that seemed to suggest that visiting that particular station was analogous to a vacation on Risa. The Bolian ensign started to turn and then faced Theleth again.
“And may I say what a pleasure it is be serving under your command,” he continued effusively.
Theleth stared back at the eager ensign, not certain whether she should be amused or annoyed. She opted for neither one, attempting graciousness instead.
“Thank you, Ensign,” she said, maintaining eye contact, remembering that Bolians appreciated that.
The ensign grinned back at her.
I’ll get right on that course, Captain,” he announced, turning and, it seemed to Theleth, nearly pouncing on his console in an effort to plot out the desired course.
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