The Cairo Awaits – And So Does Our Mission – Star Trek Fanfiction (Red Directive #03)

Being jolted awake from a nightmare about your new command on launch day feels almost like bad juju. Let’s hope that’s not the case.

After I managed to catch my breath and shake the feeling off, I finally got up and walked over to the replicator alcove.

“Computer, tea. Blueberry. Hot.”

The machine buzzed and let out a few unfamiliar glitching sounds. Then a cup full of something that looked like mud and smelled one hundred times worse appeared instead of my usual blueberry tea.

I sighed and walked over to my nightstand. I grabbed my communicator badge and tapped it.

“Kelly to Chief O’Brien.”

No answer.

“Computer, locate Chief O’Brien.”

“Chief O’Brien is aboard the USS Cairo.”

Lovely.

That meant the retrofit must not have been fully complete yet.

I sighed again. I didn’t want to seem high maintenance on a launch morning. Who needs tea anyway?

It’s not like I’m missing out on coffee.

Those were the days.

I guess that meant no breakfast either.

This time I swear my stomach sighed.

Realizing there would be no morning tea or breakfast, I walked to the back of my quarters, undressed, tapped the wall panel, and stepped into the sonic shower.

At least something was working this morning.

I didn’t have to look like a hot mess, even if that’s how I felt on the inside.

I didn’t spend long in the sonic shower. I wanted to be early to the pre-launch security sweep. If we could win over Deep Space Nine’s crew before we left, maybe if we were lucky enough to ever return, we might receive a warmer welcome.

When I finished primping myself to look like the captain they expected, I took one last look at the crescent of Bajor through my viewport and tapped the door panel.

My quarters were quiet when I stepped into the corridor of the Habitat Ring.

The curved passageway stretched in both directions, following the circular structure of the station. Soft Cardassian lighting panels cast long amber reflections across the metallic walls — a reminder that even under Federation administration, the bones of the station still belonged to another era.

A turbolift alcove sat just down the corridor.

I tapped the control panel and stepped in.

“Docking ring.”

The turbolift hummed softly as it carried me downward through the station toward the docking level.

Moments later the doors opened onto the docking ring cargo inspection area.

The corridor was wider than most station passages, built for cargo movement. Large containers sat stacked along the bulkheads while anti-grav sleds drifted quietly past under the supervision of Starfleet operations crews.

Security scanners lined the inspection checkpoint where several of Odo’s deputies were already at work.

Ahead, a cluster of security officers had begun clearing sections of the deck.

And in the middle of it all stood Odo.

The station’s Chief of Security had positioned himself near the cargo inspection point overlooking the docking ring — the perfect vantage point to watch the pre-launch sweep unfold.

He didn’t turn when I approached.

But he knew I was there.

“Captain,” Odo said evenly, still watching his officers move through the sweep.

“Right on time.”

I ignored his bluntness.

“Good morning, Constable Odo.”

He turned and looked at me with visible irritation. I wasn’t expecting a warm greeting from the station’s security chief, but the groan and shake of his head still caught me off guard.

Before I could say anything further, three members of my bridge crew joined me: my first officer, Commander T’Varen; my helmsman, Ensign Jaxa; and our mess hall android, Aura.

I understood why T’Varen and Jaxa were there.

Aura surprised me.

The sight of my bridge crew attending the pre-launch security sweep clearly did not meet Odo’s approval.

Whoops.

“The rest of the security team is perfectly capable of performing a pre-launch security sweep up to Federation standards, Captain,” Odo said sharply, turning back toward the ship.

“Trust me. If there’s any sabotage, contraband, or system irregularities, we’ll be the first to know.”

“I have no doubts, Constable,” I replied. “However, my helmsman needs to verify flight control systems and docking telemetry. As a new pilot of an Excelsior-class vessel, I’d sleep better knowing she feels comfortable flying the ship.”

Ensign Jaxa smiled and nodded. She already had a tricorder in hand and walked off to begin scanning thruster response, maneuvering jets, inertial dampeners, and the navigational database.

At least, I hoped that’s what she was doing.

Odo grunted quietly as he watched her leave.

When he turned back toward us, I gently motioned T’Varen forward.

“Constable Odo, this is my first officer, Commander T’Varen.”

They both acknowledged one another with a respectful nod.

“Commander T’Varen — Chief of Security Odo.”

When the greeting was finished, T’Varen calmly raised her tricorder and began her own scans.

Another grunt from Odo.

Feeling obligated to explain, I added, “As you know, Constable, Federation procedure requires the first officer to oversee ship readiness during a pre-launch sweep.”

“Save me the Federation code lecture,” Odo replied. “As you humans say — this isn’t my first rodeo.”

Oh.

The changeling has jokes.

Personally, I would be perfectly fine never seeing him again. Not only was his attempt at maintaining a solid form unsettling, but his personality left a lot to be desired.

Odo turned again, this time studying Aura with a portable tricorder.

“Constable Odo, this is Aura. Our Adaptive Utility Recreational Android. She will be—”

Before I could finish the sentence, Aura spoke.

“The captain invited the entire crew to join the sweep if they wished.”

Odo chuckled.

Internally, I died.

I had forgotten how literal androids could be when I made that comment earlier. I had been nervous and simply wanted to sound important.

Aura must have sensed the tension.

“Constable Odo, I do not require sleep,” she said calmly. “I calculated a 97.3 percent probability that the crew would desire breakfast immediately following launch. I arrived early to ensure adequate supplies were available.”

She paused slightly.

“It will also require additional preparation time to produce a meal nutritionally sufficient to maintain peak crew performance.”

Odo glanced at her.

“Just keep the cooking inside the ship, please.”

“That would be the only logical method,” Aura replied.

Odo frowned.

Then he moved toward the cargo bay corridors leading to the Cairo.

Commander T’Varen and I followed.

Aura disappeared toward another section of the cargo bay, likely where the food supplies had been stored.

Odo moved methodically through the corridors, his tricorder humming quietly.

“Standard security protocol,” he muttered. “Humor me.”

Behind him, T’Varen performed secondary scans along the same bulkheads.

I followed their pace for far longer than I wanted to.

Eventually I returned to the main cargo bay area. Between a Vulcan first officer and an overly serious changeling security chief, I had no doubt the Cairo would be thoroughly inspected.

Near the docking airlocks I stopped beside a large viewport.

Beyond the glass, the upper pylons stretched into open space.

Several ships were docked there.

One immediately caught my eye.

The USS Rutledge.

I recognized the mission pods silhouetted against the stars instantly.

Then another shadow moved across the cargo bay.

A massive Starfleet vessel loomed beside the station.

The USS Cairo.

She waited silently outside, her hull reflecting the distant light of Bajor.

In less than two hours, I would command that ship.

Beyond the inspection checkpoint, a long docking umbilical extended toward the Cairo’s primary airlock.

I walked toward it and stopped just outside.

With any luck, the rest of my crew would be arriving soon.

Most of the Federation colonists had already boarded.

Knowing launch was approaching, my stomach began to sink again.

Commander T’Varen and Odo soon joined me, both still studying their tricorders.

“Your personal effects were transferred aboard earlier this morning, Captain,” T’Varen reported. “Your quarters are prepared.”

Odo added dryly, “All cargo transported aboard the Cairo has been scanned. No contraband, no weapons, and no shapeshifters hiding in your luggage.”

He chuckled softly before continuing.

“I’ll be finished when I’m satisfied. I still need to verify docking clamps, umbilicals, and power couplings. I also have to meet with Chief O’Brien to transfer ship systems from station power to shipboard power.”

He walked toward the docking umbilicals.

Moments later I heard a voice echoing through the cargo bay.

One I had grown quite fond of.

Commander Pelia.

She must have finished engineering system verification.

Her voice carried a light rasp and playful warmth, as if every word came from someone who had lived long enough to find the universe endlessly entertaining.

I turned just as she approached, slightly out of breath.

“It seems I still got it, Captain.”

She brushed silver curls from her eyes.

“Warp core containment is stable. Antimatter storage locks are secured. EPS conduits are operating within acceptable parameters.”

“Thank you for being here, Commander Pelia.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” she said with a grin. “We haven’t left.”

She laughed, patted me on the back, and walked toward the airlocks.

T’Varen spoke again.

“The Federation colonists have completed boarding. Ensign Jaxa and Aura are already aboard as well, Captain.”

“Thank you, Commander. Are any other bridge officers aboard?”

“No, sir.”

The anticipation of launch finally began to settle in.

I reached into my pocket and grasped one of the few personal items I always carried.

A small vintage polymer model of my favorite ship.

The USS Enterprise NX-01.

The very first vessel to lead an exploratory mission that eventually helped form the United Federation of Planets.

I never allowed it to be transported with my other belongings.

I ran my fingers across its matte surface, feeling the familiar scrapes in the paint from more than thirty years of handling.

My father had given it to me when I was ten years old.

He helped me paint it while telling stories about the NX-01’s early missions.

It was one of those memories I would never let go.

Even then I knew I wanted to join Starfleet.

I knew I wanted to command a starship someday.

I just never knew how that would happen.

Or what truly waited beyond the final frontier.

I hoped my father would approve of this Gamma Quadrant mission.

He had always approved of everything I ever did.

Sadly, he passed away long before I became a captain.

A stroke took him unexpectedly one morning nearly ten years ago.

Starfleet medicine can treat many strokes.

But not all of them.

I let out a quiet sigh.

Commander T’Varen noticed immediately.

With perfect Vulcan timing she said,

“Captain, the Emergency Medical Hologram has been installed and tested. It is fully operational.”

I nodded.

Only three officers remained before I would board the ship myself.

No sooner had the thought crossed my mind than Commander T’Varen’s attention shifted toward the turbolift.

I turned to see the doors slide open as three officers stepped out.

Their voices were raised, but their words were lost in the background noise of the docking ring.

When they finally reached us outside the airlock, they stopped arguing instantly.

“That kind of behavior will not be tolerated aboard the USS Cairo,” I said.

They all nodded and proceeded into the airlock.

Commander T’Varen followed them.

I lingered for a moment longer and looked back through the viewport toward the USS Rutledge.

Two years of memories.

All of them staying behind at a station I had only just come to know.

Starfleet officers always know anything can happen.

But the thought of venturing into the Gamma Quadrant carried a feeling that there might be many “lasts” ahead.

Before I could spiral into that anxiety, my communicator chirped.

“Sisko to Captain Kelly.”

I tapped my badge.

“Kelly here.”

“Captain, the ship is ready for launch procedures. We’re waiting for you.”

“I’ll be right there, Commander.”

Almost time for launch.