Chapter Eleven: "The Encounter", Tomorrows Promise

ON:

Lieutenant Jg. Richard Raintree was as happy as a tick behind a hounds ear. In less than three weeks he had found himself going from a Star Fleet cadet to Chief Communications Officer on one of the finest ships, and with one of the finest crews in all of the fleet.

But all of that was currently being overshadowed by the view on the main view screen of the wreckage of the Pulveriser of so long, and yet, so short a time ago. ‘What would I have done if I had been there?’, he thought to himself. ‘Would I have faced it as bravely as everyone else, our would I have ran?’ That was a question that only being there could have answered, and he obviously had not been.

With a questioning frown on his brow, Lt. Jg. Raintree realized that he was probably the only department head onboard that had not been there during the disaster. That made him suddenly feel quite small and somewhat out of place.

OFF:
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Lieutenant. Richard Raintree
Chief Communications Officer
Operations Department;
Columbia Fleet Division

________________________________________________________________________________________

on:

<Lounge, 1220>

Everything was wrapping up, the crew was starting to slowly leave. Rose sat for a moment, watching people, wondering how she would have been right now if she had had any close friends, but she hadn't been there long before all of this happened. She had already begun to feel like she was at home. Several crew members had sat and talked to her. Most she just listened and tried to comfort them when they told the stories of those they lost.

Rose stood up, she was beginning to get tired of sitting. She didn't know where she wanted to go, didn't really want to be alone. She wasn't hungry, and she didn't need to go to her station at the moment. Although she did suppose she could go to see if she could send a message home. She didn't know what she'd say. She disliked being in a predicament like this.

Rose left the lounge and walked to her quarters. When she entered it felt oddly empty.

I wish Dustin was here.

Rose stepped out again, planning to go to the bridge and take over for whoever was at her station currently, let them have some time off.

<Bridge, 1230>

Rose entered the bridge and walked over to the officer at the station where she normally could be found.

Rose "Hi there, I'll go ahead and take over if you'd like Marcy."

Marcy "Oh! Uhmm, you don't have to for another hour and 23 minutes."

Rose "That's alright, I have nothing I need to do and I just thought you'd like some time to go do something if you choose."

Marcy "Ok, uhmmm, thank you."

Marcy stood up and left the bridge, and Rose sat down. At least now she could do something to occupy her time now, she knew it was probably better for her to go talk and get to know more of the crew but she figured perhaps there could be a better time.

<1240>

--------------------

Lieutenant Junior Grade Rose Checkov
Chief Science Officer
Starbase Zeta;
Columbia Fleet Division;
UTFP

_______________________________________________________________________________________

ON:

< Freed Borg Transport >

< Snip >

"Well the Federation from previous encounters have used Temporal methods at defeating the Collective but if we reveal ourselves as in their eyes as hostile," Eight of Ten paused, thinking.... "They might use those methods against us."

"Oh." Neo said thinking as well. "What will we do?"

"I don't know." Eight of Ten said as he moved closer to the viewscreen.

The screen showed an image of the Starship Destiny Star, stationary.

</ Snip >

Eight of Ten looked at the changeling and then spoke to his science officer, Two of Six. "Scan the ship. Are they in distress, damaged?"

Two of Six did the scan. "No, sir. The ship is undamaged, I am reading four hundred bio-signs on board. They are a mix of species and all seem well."

"Perhaps they will help me?" Neo said still wondering.

"I do not think we should do visual communication as they may not yet know that we are friends." Eight said. "Contact the ship."

The Communications drone, Four of Five complied. "I am raising the ship as commanded, sir."

OFF:

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(NPC) Eight of Ten;
Unimatrix Zero;
Freed Borg Transport;

_________________________________________________________________________________________

ON:

< Corridor, 1230 hrs Zulu>

Brad was really bored. He had run through training exercises with his squad over and over again until he could probably predict the computer's next variation. His body screamed for the relief of his bed but he wouldn't listen. He just shouldered the pain and moved on towards the mess hall. He couldn't remember ever feeling this tired. And had been all kinds of tired. It couldn't be his age.

He was only two millennia. He still had at least another five thousand years easy, so he knew that it wasn't it. As he walked on, he began to think about home. He hadn't seen the purple skies of Archellia in centuries. He missed his home so much, and especially now in this new time. A time in which his family had no idea what had happened to him. That was a pain that was a bit harder to push away.

Off:

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2Lt Brad Zeak
Platoon Leader, SG-3
Starbase Zeta;
Columbia Fleet, UTFP

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ON:

< Destiny Star Bridge, 1300 hrs >

The memorial was long over and now everyone had wandered back to their duty stations caught up in his of her own private thoughts. It would be soon time to get under way but something had happened. A ship of unknown origin had come up near the destiny Star in the debris field. It just sat there. Boranon and Admiral Parker looked at each other and wondered what this would mean. Privately, they were each thinking some dreadful though, as they couldn't help but associate this mystery craft with those events of 27 years prior.

"Admirals, that ship is trying to hail us," Lieutenant Jg. Raintree said.

"Ok, let's here what they have to say." Glenn said.

=^= We mean you no harm. We need your help. =^= The voice said over the Comm. =^= We have a shape shifter here that requests transport by the Federation. =^=

Glenn and Boranon were worried because the caller had not identified himself or herself.

=^= Please identify yourself, =^= Glenn said in response.

There was a long pause.

Boranon looked over he shoulder to Lieutenant Jg. Hardy who was manning tactical station. "Well?"

Hardy had already done a quick scan. "Only defensive weapons and they are powered down."

=^= We are refugees, =^= the voice replied. =^= That is all I can tell you at this time.

Glenn looked to Boranon for advice.

"I suppose it could be a trick, but I suppose we must learn to trust in this century." Boranon replied.

Glenn wasn't sure if he wanted to trust quite yet. =^= Very well. Send the shape shifter to our transporter room. =^=

Boranon nodded at Lt. Jg Hardy. "Send a team to the transporter room. The bring the shape shifter to the ready room."

"Will do." Hardy called on his officers to follow that order.

OFF:

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___________________________________________________________________________________________

ON:

Paul sat on the Starboard Wing of his Hawk Mk IV Attack Fighter. He held a bottle of beer in one hand, and a lit Cigarette in the other, he looked around, most of the other pilots that had been with the Squadron previously had been reassigned, but two more remained, they sat together on the wing of their Valkyrie Mk IIIa Recon Ship.

Petty Officer Joe Murphy, and his RIO...the best...Crewman 1st Class Alanna Trebor.

Paul watched the two just sit, talking away, although he wondered why trebor had stayed as a RIO, she was a good as pilot as any, but she had never requested to be given her own ship, she knew all she had to do was ask paul or pablo and she would be part of Alpha Squad, but she remained in the Recon Section of Beta Squad.

I know she's involved with Murphy, but if she was that concerned, I could give him a transfer, I know he'd prefer to be flying Fighters instead of Photo-ships.

Paul watched as Pablo entered the hangar, he walked straight past and into his office.

OFF:

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ON:

Pablo walked blindly past the Pilots that occupied the Flight Deck, he walked straight past the technicians, and entered his Office, he slumped down on the chair behind his desk and just sat, just sat planning his revenge on the Borg, on The Jem'Hadar and the Romulans

They will all pay for their crimes against the Federation

Pablo looked up as the doors hissed open, a young woman, about 19 or 20 stepped in, timidly

"Yes Crewman?"

The woman stuttered

"Ensign B...B...Braggins asked me to ask you if you were..a...a...alright sir"

Pablo looked deep into her eyes

"You tell Ensign Braggins to butt out of my life and keep his nose in his own business"

The Crewman scurried out

--------------------

Lieutenant Pablo Montana
Chief of Flight Operations
Chief Fighter Pliot
Starbase Zeta

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ON

< Freed Borg Transport >

After the conversation with the Federation ship's commander, Neo had reverted back to his liquid state to be transported. As he slid along the deck plating of the Freed Borg Transport and ended up in what looked like their transporter room. He made a hearable sound and moved onto the shaft that would be the padd you would stand on for Transport.

Neo head reformed so that he could communicate with the transporter operator. "Ready, Freed Borg and thanks for the transport." Neo said reliquifing back to full liquid.

"No problem Mister Neo." The Transporter Operator said as he energised the beam.

< Destiny Star's Transporter Room >

Neo appeared on the Federation's transporter pad and by his telepathic senses Neo felt uncertainity from the Officers in the room towards him. Neo thought about changing to Humanoid form but he felt more relaxed as liquid. Then he slid onto the deck next to the Officers that welcomed him.

~I am Neo.~ Neo said in everyone's head present. ~I wish transport to your Federation.~

Neo waited for the officers to do something or to say something.

OFF

--------------------

Mister Neo, Changeling
Telepathic/Empathic abilities
__________________________________________________________________________________________

ON:

Lieutenant Jg. Raintree was sitting in Conference Rm 4, when the doors opened and in filed NE Ensigns Jeff Hudson, Kathrine Lou, and Linda Scott. Snapping to attention, the three nearly spoke as one, "Sir". Lt. Raintree, who only three weeks ago had Ensigns outrank him, and he himself still being in the habit of jumping to his feet when someone entered a room. Also snapped to attention and uttered the least most appropriate word that any officer could have said, to make a good first impression, "Huh?"

Remembering his place and new position, the Lieutenant made a quick recovery, "Yes, Ensigns be seated."

After the four of them took their seats, Lt. Raintree began, "Ensigns, I would like to introduce myself, I am Lieutenant Jg. Richard Raintree, Chief Communications Officer. And, at the current time, you three have been assigned to assist me in Communications. Since we are a little short handed to work on 4 hour rotations, we will all be working 8 hour shifts, with a 24 hour CQ shift every 4th day. The CQ shift is necessary to give the person on duty time to take care of personal business, and a chance to get a bite to eat. Other than that , and barring a problem, your time will be your own, except for two, 30 minute training meetings, I wish to have with each of you during your CQ shift." Lt. Raintree said, and then continued on a lighter note. "Now we are going to be working a lot of hours together, and I for one am not used to being called ‘Sir’ all the time, so when we are on duty call me Lieutenant, or Lt. Raintree. When off duty, and no other officer is in ear shot, my name is Richard, but if you try calling me ‘Richy’ I will kick you butt," the Lt. Said with a slight chuckle. "Now, I would like for each of you to tell me who you are, and a little about yourselves. Have any of you worked together before?"

Being closest, NE Ensign Kathrine Mae Lou spoke up, not that anyone could hold her back anyway. She was all, female and she knew it. But more than that, she was pushy. "My name is Kathrine Mae Lou, I was born in Singapore in 3058, I excelled through school and made it into Star Fleet last year.

"I am 17, lover athletics. I weigh 59 Kilos. I am 162 cm tall. Blond hair, green eyes, as if you couldn’t see that for yourself." The Ensign said. "I do not have a boyfriend , or want one. Not planning on getting married or having kids any time soon."

Kathrine looking over at Jeff, and taking that as cue he began. "My name: Jeffery "Jeff" Allen Hudson , and if so inclined I could split our little runt here like a cord of wood."

"You better at ease that ****, Hudson." Lt. Raintree snapped. "We have to work together, I never said anything about playing or mouthing off,"

"Sorry Sir, I only meant, that I weigh more than twice what she weighs, and I am a full head taller. Ma‘am I am sorry." Ensign Hudson continued. "I am married, and would do nothing to sacrifice that."

"As you can see, I am blond hailed, brown eyed. I was born on the Earths moon, at the New South Wales
Colony, in 3046. I am a boxer, wrestler, weight lifter by hobby. I am a Communications Officer by trade, specialization in Mathematics, Space Geometric, and Electrical Engineering.

I like Boston terrier's, William Shakespeare, Biblical study on Earth, Old world US standard of mathematics, Why humans once called each others the N word.

Jeff then looking at Linda, took her cue. "My name is Ensign Linda Louise Scott. I am 21, single, but I have a little girl, Ashley Nicole Scott who is 5. When I was 15, there was this boy that meant everything to me. I didn’t know until her left that I only meant one thing to him." Said Ensign Scott.

And in continuing, "It is really no ones business how tall or big I am, and I would rather not go there unless it is required. But if I may, my strengths/talents include dexterity and hand-eye coordination in that I can type 1100 characters per minute. My other abilities are computers, acoustics, and acute sense of hearing , in that I can pick out the faintest noise even in the nosiest background.

Lieutenant Jg, Richard Raintree thought he had a excellent group of people, and knew that they could work together, with the proper guidance. Now all he had to do was convince the rest of the chain of command, lol." This may not be a long flight he thought, but it would be an interesting one.

--------------------

Lieutenant. Richard Raintree
Chief Communications Officer
Operations Department;
Columbia Fleet Division

______________________________________________________________________________________

ON:

< Bridge, Destiny Star, 1400 hrs >

Admiral Parker and Boranon watched the alien transport as it floated silently in space. Both were surely curious about the crew but as they were both Starfleet officers and were familiar with first contact procedures, they knew enough to respect the request of the strangers and not press the issue of their species.

=^= We have the shape-shifter, =^= the transporter Chief called up.

=^= Fine, have security escort it to the ready room. =^= Glenn replied.

"It sir?" Boranon said.

Glenn shrugged. "Well, not the best thing to say, I suppose but I suppose we'll find out when we meet this shape-shifter." He turned to Commander Paris. "You have the Con."

Boranon and Glenn left their seats while Commander Paris went and took command. Before the two left the bridge, they could see the transport maneuvering away.

"Resume course," Glenn said before leaving.

The helmsman punched in the command and once again the Destiny star leapt away into the void of space with a streak of light training.

< Ready Room, 1415 hrs >

Boranon and Admiral Parker were seated in the ready room, waiting when the long-awaited knock came on the door.

"Enter." Glenn said.

Two security guards came in- between them slid the shapeshifter.

Boranon watched with muted curiosity. This was brining back some memories she didn't wish to share.

"Who are you?" Glenn asked while leaning over the desk.

The slithering mass began to rise and soon formed into a humanoid shape with a few 'Borg' implants carelessly placed.

Boranon stood. "Borg!"

The two guards drew their weapons.

The creature looked around and taking the hint dissolved the implants back into nothingness. "I am sorry if I scared you."

"Who are you?" Glenn asked.

"My mane is Neo," the shape shifter replied.

"Please to meet you, Neo," Glenn said cautiously.

Boranon eyed Neo. "Welcome aboard, Neo."

OFF:

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__________________________________________________________________________________________

ON

"Who are you?" Glenn asked.

"My name is Neo," the shape shifter replied.

"Please to meet you, Neo," Glenn said cautiously.

Boranon eyed Neo. "Welcome aboard, Neo."

"Thank you, I think." Neo paused looking at the weapons the guards had trained on him. "Interesting weaponry, you Federation."

Boranon looked at the guards and raised her hand to make them lower the phasers. "We apologise for that as we thought you were a Borg."

With Neo walking around the Ready Room and looking at everything so curiously. "Well I was travelling on a Freed Borg Transport that detected your ship, stationary, and hailed."

"Freed Borg?" Boranon asked moving closer to the curious shapeshifter.

"They say that they are not apart of what is called the Collective," Neo paused thinking of what Eight of Ten had said. "After a encounter with a vessel called 'Voyager' they began to fight back." By this stage Neo was looking at Glenn's desk and picking things up and rotating them carefully.

Glenn and Boranon looked at each other unsure.

OFF

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Mister Neo, Changeling
Telepathic/Empathic abilities
Guest on Starbase Zeta

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ON:

<<Ready Room, 14:00>>

Glenn looked at the shape shifter that came into the room in a form that he had never seen before. The thing was liquid and didnt leave a trail behind him as he went. The guards were cautios of the thing that was comming into the room and one somewhere as important as the bridge they needed to be wary of what was going on.

Glenn was getting annoyed about this man who came on his ship by the name of Neo who was playing around with his belongings on the desk. Neo was picking up ornaments and a few padds that littered Glenn's untidy desk.

"Look will you please put them down, and tell us where you want to be going?" Glenn said getting tired of talking to the man and wanted to get straight to the point.

"I would like to return to the Federation if that is possible?" Neo asked.

"Of course you can, we are on our way to starbase zeta, you are welcome to come along with us. You could even stay on the starbase if you wanted." Glenn said.

"Yes ok i will do that." Neo said.

"We will be arriving in about a week so if you would like to take some temporary quarters, that will be fine." Glenn replied.

"I will not require that much space as i like to be in my liquid form." Neo said.

"Ah well you still deserve the best treatment." Glenn said. "Now tell me more about these freed Borg." Glenn asked.

"Well that were in the collective who have become detatched should we say from the collective. Over the years they have come together and formed a ship. There are only however a few of these Borg. And you will not find them very easily because they are trying to start a new life but it is difficult for them with there stereotyping. Everyone always assume that they are hostile and they are there to assimilate them. And i can see why, there are very friendly and treated me with the greatest respect. If we could i would like to see them again sometime. Maybe i could get hold of them somehow and invite them to this star base we are now going to." Neo said.

"Very interesting, i would like to learn more about these people. But i would have to speak to starfleet before i invited any Borg to the station." Glenn said standing up.

"Yes i hope they agree with you about this." Neo replied.

"Well i have taken up enough of your time. Security please escort Mr Neo to his quarters please." Glenn said getting a nod from one of the security guards.

Mr Neo and the guards walked out onto the bridge and into the turbolift that took them down to the guest quarters. Taking a deep breath he looked at Boranon in amazement.

"I can't believe what has just happened. Borg that have become freed. I find that hard to believe, even though i have ready Janways report on what happened. I would have to study on this come more and see what i come up with." Glenn said to Boranon.

"I to found that interesting." Boranon said. "If you dont mind ill return back to the bridge." Boranon said again getting up from the chair and walking out.

<<1 Week Later>>

Glenn, Boranon and the rest of there crew were at there stations and the bridge stations were also filled. Pablo was at the helm station, working his magic making sure we stayed on course. On the viewscreen was the stars dashing past as they were making there way through the fabric of space to there destination.

"Sir we are approaching the starbase." Pablo said.

"Drop us out of warp. Adrian put it up on viewscreen" Glenn said.

This was the first time that the rest of the crew had seen the starbase which came to a bit of a shock to them as they had only really seen the other type of starbase which was familier to everyone. Star Base Zeta was a state of the art starbase fitted with an array of weapons and scientific equipment. It had only been fully operational for about 5 months, so the station wasnt really that busy. No trade routes had been started for the Starbase and that was all to come for the new command for Glenn. Everything would have to be properly set up and made just right for things to work properly. The ship pulled up infront of the station, the doors to the inside of the station were closed.

"Sir we are recieving a hail from the Star Base...Its Commander Jenkins." Lieutenant Raintree said.

"On Screen' Glenn replied.

=/\=This is Commander Jenkins temporarily incharge of this station. Welcome here Admiral i have been expecting you. The doors are now opening and you may dock.=/\=

=/\=Thankyou commander it has been along time getting here.=/\=

The comm channel closed and the viewscreen reverted back to the original picture of the starbase and its doors. The doors were slowly opening to allow the ship to go through

"Helm initiate docking procedures." Glenn said to Pablo.

OFF:

--------------------

Fleet Admiral Glenn Parker.
Commanding Officer of Columbia Division & Fleet.
Commanding officer of Columbia Division HQ Starbase Zeta.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

ON:

Pablo throttled right back on the Impulse Engines and allowed the ship to glide slowly into place, using Thrusters to keep the course straight, he then deactivated the helm Console and let the station's Tractor Beam take over.

"Starbase has control."

=/\=Affirmative, Starbase has control, welcome to Starbase Zeta. =/\=

Pablo sat back and watched the screen as the ship glided through the massive docking bay doors and into the docking ring itself, Workbees and shuttles buzzed around like insects, all veering away from the Cruiser, which would certainly kill anything in that dock if it clipped it.

Seems big enough.

Pablo watched the ship stop as it neared the wall, two great long pylons extended from the berth and grappled the ship in a Magnet.

"We are docked Admiral"

--------------------

Lieutenant Pablo Montana
Chief of Flight Operations
Chief Fighter Pliot
Starbase Zeta

____________________________________________________________________________________

ON:

< Starbase Zeta, 9025 hrs >

< Snip >

=/\=Thank you commander it has been along time getting here. =/\=

The Comm channel closed and the viewscreen reverted back to the original picture of the starbase and its doors. The doors were slowly opening to allow the ship to go through

"Helm initiate docking procedures." Glenn said to Pablo.

Pablo throttled right back on the Impulse Engines and allowed the ship to glide slowly into place, using Thrusters to keep the course straight, he then deactivated the helm Console and let the station's Tractor Beam take over

"Starbase has control"

=/\=Affirmative, Starbase has control, welcome to Starbase Zeta =/\=

</ Snip >

At long last they were finally 'home.' Well, that’s is what Boranon thought as she gathered her few possessions together and made her way down to the transporter room.

The Destiny Star was now a giant beehive of activity as officer and enlisted alike were repeating the same process of making their way to the starbase. There were quarters to clear, equipment to move records to be transferred and the assortment of fighters needed to help defend the base.

Boranon had tucked safely away in her upper jacket pocket the crew assignment manifest, which she needed to get over to the base first thing as that held the quarter assignment for all of the personnel.

< Transporter Room, 0935 hrs >

Boranon set her bags on the platform and turned to the waiting Chief. "Energize."

The Chief tapped in the command and instantly the all too familiar blue-radiant glow engulfed the Vorta and she was sent on her way to the Bases main transporter room.

"Permission to come aboard, sir." Boranon said to Admiral Parker who was already there and waiting.

"Permission granted."

Boranon picked up her bag and stepped off the platform. "I have the crew assignments sir." She put her bag down near the transporter console and took out the small padd.

Glenn took a quick look and then smiled. "Great, then I'll leave you to receive the crew then. I want to sort my things out and then head up to the Command deck."

Boranon slid her bags behind the console. "Very well, sir." She reached over the console and downloaded the information on the padd into the databank. Within seconds the crew roster came up with their assigned room number next to their name. "Ok, Chief as soon as you are ready."

The transport officer nodded and soon another set of officers was beaming on board.

OFF:
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ON:

<<Destiny star, docked at Starbase Zeta, 9h30>>

The trip from Earth to Starbase Zeta had gone rather smoothly. The crew had started to get used to the new time they had landed in and were looking forward to the assignment ahead; It was going to be a huge task but one with lost of potential and things to work out as yet. As the ship had docked all officers had been ordered to disembark when ready and report to Vice admiral Boranon for quarter allocations.

Adrian had nothing much with him in the temporary ship's quarters so the task of cleaning it out was rather swift and easy. It was the operational equipment for the Department of Operations on board the starbase that was going to be the hardest task. Adrian and his team had to help out engineering on several overlapping fields and tasks in order to assure the transfer of data, tools, equipment and help out to a full check to make sure nothing was forgotten and all stock had been transfered to the station.

Operations would be rather busy the comming months routing the station, mapping the areas that needed attention and reperations, checking that al systems were functional and most likely some minor problems like disfunctional doors, replicators, waste management etc. An agend afull of duties to keep the operations team buzzing with activity for months. Adrian felt butterflies of exitement in his belly and rayed of joy like a child when getting a great gift. The adventure could finally begin as it should be and it would defenatly boost the moral of the whole crew.

<<Main Transporter room, 10h00, Starbase Zeta>>

Adrian had made it's way to the ship's transporter room as all of his colleagues and was now beamed over to the starbase's main transporter room. he had his duty padd and assignment details with him on a padd as well as the first details about the station's operation. He woudl have to check with the person in charge so far what has been on the agenda and what was still to do besides the obvious tasks. As requested he made his way in the line of officers towards Vica admiral Boranon for his quarters assignment.

"Good morning mr. Thomas."

"Good morning admiral Boranon. How are you doing today?"

"Quite happy that we have arrived. and you?"

"Same here Sir. i'm glad we will start on that assignment of ours. I can feel it will be a promising future."

Boranon smiled friednly as a vorta can and looked at her padd with quarter details. She slid her finger across the list of names and stopped at the name Adrian Thomas.

"Your quarters are on the officers habitat section 4 room 1401"

"Thank you Sir. I'll go right that way and drop these off so I can help out the engineering team with disembarking the equipment."

"Have a good stay Mr. Thomas."

"Till next time admiral." Adrian said with a bright smile and made his way to the nearest turbolift to head to the officers sectionof the station. His quarters were actually quite close to the turbolift 5 he had just taken and upon exiting the lift he noticed his quarters were the 5th from left.

that's gonna make me gain time when heading to the office Adrian thought to himself as he made his way to the door and unlocked the security setting and encoding his new security command codes. he dropped his bag on the bed in the bedroom and placed his padd on his workstation near the replicator and was goen bck out to the ship in order to carry on with his duties at hand.

Off:

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