EOS Prospera – Our First Assignments – Star Trek Fanfiction (Red Directive #13)
I could feel everyone staring at me even though I had my back to them. I waited with anticipation for someone to ask what was going on, trying to think of anything I could say that didn’t sound suspicious.
I was saved from the torture by the sound of the briefing room doors sliding open and the chattering of the rest of my senior staff making their way into the room.
I took a deep breath and decided to focus on their voices to push out any other unwanted thoughts.
Commander Pelia and Chief Ren seemed to be having an awkward conversation, but at least they seemed entertained by one another. I heard Commander Pelia’s voice first. “This deck still complains when we push too much power through the port junction.”
Ren glanced at her. “Deck plating does not complain.”
“Oh, that is where you’re wrong, Chief. It absolutely does. You just have to live long enough to hear it.”
Chief Ren smirked, and they both joined the rest of the senior staff at the table. Aura walked in immediately after them. Finally, a meeting she really needed to join. I looked around to make sure everyone was there.
Everybody but Kurn, of course. Then I realized the EMH hadn’t chimed in on the viewscreen.
I took my seat at the head of the table and tapped the small control panel beside the built-in monitor.
“Computer, open a channel to the Emergency Medical Hologram.”
The tabletop screen flickered to life.
“Please state the nature of the medical emergency,” the EMH said immediately.
“No emergency, Doctor,” I said. “I need you to attend this briefing.”
“The computer said all senior staff to the briefing room for assignments. Since I am not able to leave the ship, I didn’t think that included me.”
“You will still have an assignment, Doctor.”
He scoffed and folded his arms across his chest. “Very well.”
I wondered if Kurn would already be done with the security sweep of the station. I tapped my comm badge. “Captain to Kurn, status.”
“Sweeping last deck of the station now, Captain.”
“Perfect. Please join us in the briefing room of the Cairo when completed.”
“Yes, sir.”
I smiled as I looked around the briefing table. Everyone was in discussion with each other. A nice change of pace from the usual stares I’ve been receiving lately.
I clasped my hands together fairly loudly on the table, and it was enough to grab everyone’s attention. “Welcome to EOS Prospera. While we wait on Kurn, let’s get started on assignments.”
Everyone shifted a little, and most started to review their PADDs. The EMH just rolled his eyes at me in my peripheral.
That was my cue to give him his assignment first. “Doctor, your assignment while we’re at the colony is to review the colonist manifest to find a qualified doctor for the colony, evaluate all the colonists’ current conditions, and review unknown exposure protocols.”
“I’m a doctor, Captain, not a secretary.”
“Everyone has their role to play, Doctor.”
“Understood.”
He disappeared from the tiny screen just as fast as he appeared. In all reality, it was better that way. His attitude was least to be desired. I tapped the small control panel again and brought up the rest of the assignments to review with everyone.
“Lieutenant Darak, you will be in charge of colony infrastructure analysis, environmental irregularities, science labs, and helping Engineering with life support and anything else Commander Pelia may need.”
He nodded that he understood. Commander Pelia got a little excited. “Ohhhh, a Cardassian taking orders from me. We’re going to have fun, Lieutenant.”
Lieutenant Darak looked intrigued, but mildly scared.
Commander Pelia made an arm gesture like nothing was a big deal. “Oh, don’t look so alarmed, Lieutenant. I’m a Lanthanite. We have an excellent sense of fun. It’s one of the reasons we live so long.”
“Commander Pelia, you will be in charge of the power grid, structural integrity, and life support. Just make sure the Federation’s refit will work for the colonists long-term. As you’re aware, you have Lieutenant Darak’s assistance for whatever you need.”
“Captain, I assume this is either a test of my patience or your sense of humor. I’m prepared for either.”
She winked and sat back in her chair, then nonchalantly started reviewing her PADD looking like she could barely read it.
“Drim, you will be in charge of ensuring the entirety of the station’s comm relays are fully functional and operational as soon as possible. We need to get a message to Starfleet Command of our successful arrival. Be sure to scan the comms for navigational support, as the station will be monitoring all space traffic in the area. The colonists also won’t need the automated approach beacons once everything is operational. Ensure they’re prepared for multi-ship docking at all times.”
He gave me an overwhelmed look. “Uh… Captain, that seems like a lot for just one Ferengi to handle.”
“I will have Kurn assist you when he’s done with his duties.”
Drim choked a little bit and immediately regretted making that statement. “Yes, sir.”
He gave me a disgusted look, and I just smirked. It was common knowledge Ferengi and Klingons didn’t get along, so it felt like a perfect duo to pair up. I smirked. “I also want a full status report when the comm relays are fully operational so we can contact Starfleet Command.”
The briefing room door slid open and Kurn walked in. I looked up at him. “Status report?”
“Our tricorders confirmed EOS Prospera is void of any unwanted entities.”
Unwanted entities.
Oh, I think you already know.
Continuing with Kurn as if my thoughts weren’t trailing off into Q territory constantly, “Excellent, Kurn. Have a seat and join us for duty assignments.”
He made his way to an open chair far away from Drim. The Ferengi groaned and rolled his eyes as Kurn sat.
“Kurn, perfect timing.”
He looked at me a little surprised that I was already going over his assignment. “You will be in charge of ensuring the station’s security system and lockdown protocols are working efficiently and able to maintain long-term security. When you have finished your duties, Drim will be in need of assistance.”
Kurn grunted and stood up. “What?! This Ferengi cannot handle his own duties? Did he cowardly ask for less work so he could be the first to squeeze some kind of profit out of the Gamma Quadrant?”
Drim stood up as well. “You wouldn’t know profit if it slapped you in the face.”
“Crewmen!” I shouted to interrupt them.
“Take your seats!”
They both scoffed and slowly sat down. “Not that a Captain should have to explain herself, but Drim has more than any one of us can handle alone for his assignments. I expect your full support, Kurn.”
He sighed. “Yes, sir.”
I calmed my voice down a bit before I spoke to my helmsman. “Ensign Jaxa, you’ll oversee all flight operations in and out of EOS Prospera. I want shuttle routes, cargo runs coordinated, emergency evacuation corridors, and fallback landing zones established before we depart. If this colony runs into trouble after the Cairo leaves, I don’t want EOS Prospera depending on guesswork to move people or supplies in case of an emergency.”
“Aye, Captain.”
She smiled and saluted a little too eagerly. Then immediately blushed. I saw a smirk turn up on the Andorian’s lips. Was that attraction I’m sensing? Thought I’d try and cut into that one fast. “Chief Ren.”
It was attraction. When he heard his name, he was startled and immediately lost his cool, laid-out attitude and sat up straight and serious like the Andorian he normally was. “You will be in charge of transporter operations. Make sure the station has the correct equipment to maintain their pattern buffers, transporter logs, medevac procedures, and emergency evacuation logistics long-term. EOS Prospera needs a transportation framework that can function without us.”
Seemingly embarrassed, he nodded in acknowledgment.
“Aura.” The android looked up from her PADD, almost appearing like she was still running calculations in her eyes. “You will be in charge of the colonists’ food supply and cargo. They need enough food to last them long-term. See what they already have and I’m sure you’re perfectly capable of setting up a hydroponics bay for the colonists to grow their own food.”
She nodded in agreement. “Until Chief Ren has all the station’s transports up and running, they’ll need muscle to help them move their cargo from the ship to the station.”
The Andorian chimed in a little too sure of himself. “I will have the transporters up and running in no time.”
“Good to hear. When you have completed that, please inform Aura and assist her with the colonists’ cargo transportation.”
The Andorian looked over at Aura, amazed by her ingenuity.
“Commander T’Varen, you will be assisting me in coordinating the station’s operations and setting up a Federation command center for the colonists.”
“Yes, sir.” She responded in a different tone than her normal Vulcan tone of complete seriousness. What happened to my eager-to-please Vulcan?
I was hoping this would give us some alone time so I could either review the scans from her PADD of the anomaly to compare to the computer without her noticing, or maybe I could pick her mind for more of an explanation for the disappearing anomaly. Either way, whatever we did together, I didn’t want it to alienate her from me any more than this whole Q disaster already had.
I stood up and clasped my hands together. “Remember, crew, we are here to ensure EOS Prospera will be set up for a successful long-term colonization. It’s going to be Starfleet’s first line of defense from the Gamma Quadrant on this side of the Bajoran Wormhole. I have no doubt we can make this station run more efficiently than Deep Space Nine before we leave.”
Almost everyone nodded in agreement. Kurn and Drim were still a little frazzled. “Let’s go see what EOS Prospera has to offer. Crew dismissed.”
Everybody got up and headed for the briefing room door except Commander T’Varen.
She obviously knew something was up. I waited till the final senior staff member left the room. “Is there a problem, Commander?”
I really didn’t want to have this conversation right now. “No, sir. You just seem off ever since you fell and the anomaly disappeared. Explain.”
Explaining possible Q interaction to a Vulcan definitely isn’t a conversation I was ready to have. “There’s nothing to explain, Commander. I have just been astonished at the situation and find the calm a little too wearying for the days ahead of us.”
“I as well, Captain.”
She stood up to join me, and we started walking out of the briefing room toward the midship turbolift. “You are weary as well?”
We both walked the corridor side by side with our hands clasped behind our backs. “I find it illogical for an anomaly to simply disappear. None of the scans have shown any explanation for the anomaly’s disappearance. It is also normally very unlikely not to run into another attacker in a new quadrant of space like this when that was our first contact, especially with only a smaller ship from the unknown attackers.”
Ahh. We were actually on the same page.
Almost.
Commander T’Varen tapped the panel next to the midship turbolift. We stepped inside one at a time.
The doors slid shut behind us.
“Main airlock,” I said.
The turbolift hummed to life and we descended.
I looked at Commander T’Varen out of my peripheral while we were in the turbolift together to gauge her current feelings toward me, as they hadn’t seemed too favorable recently. I was hoping our conversation had changed her mind.
When I peeked, she was looking straight forward in her usual Vulcan expression. Emotionless.
Things seemed back to normal.
I hope.
The turbolift suddenly stopped and the doors hissed open. We stepped into the corridor and continued walking side by side to the airlock. In silence the entire time.
Yes. Things were returning to normal.
We finally reached the airlock, and Commander T’Varen took the liberty again of opening the hatch. We stepped in as the airlock cycle completed before entering the station.
Commander T’Varen was taller than me. While we stood waiting for the cycle to finish, she was looking down as if waiting for command. “Why don’t we find the command center first and make sure that’s fully operational as soon as possible so we’re prepared to send a transmission to Starfleet Command when we hear that comms are fully operational from Drim.”
“That plan sounds the most logical.”
Oddly enough, it felt nice to have my Vulcan back.
The cycle was finally complete and the airlock hissed open. We both stepped out of the hatch and looked at the scene around us.
EOS Prospera. A living station built on a dead design.
The dim lighting engulfing the main entry port highlighted the Federation upgrades on alien bones of architecture.
A structure barely holding itself together.
Functional.
Adapted.
Oh, I think you already know.
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