T’Liss looked up from the master systems display table, eyes studying the Yamato’s warp core. It sat powered down currently., the ship relying on power supplied by Deep Space 17. While the Yamato had been transferred to the station under its own power, when it arrived its matter and anti-matter pods were drained so that they could be freshly resupplied before the ship got underway on its new mission. So the core had been powered down and purged of all reactants and coolant. Now she was awaiting the final word from the station’s engineering teams that their work had been completed. A young ensign that she didn’t recognize approached her, holding out a PADD. He avoided her gaze as he did so.

“Ensign?” she asked, accepting the PADD. Most seemed to avoid looking her in the eye, the Borg implants still covering portions of her face tended to elicit this reaction, especially after the incident on Frontier Day.

“Deuterium and anti-matter refueling is complete. Plasma coolant filling will be finished in 5 minutes.” he reported. T’liss scanned the PADD, nodding. She eyed the Ensign once, setting the PADD on the table beside her.

“Very well, Ensign. Thank you.”

The Ensign nodded, and hurried away. While Starfleet and the Federation said they were accepting and open, being an ex-Borg had shown her that it wasn’t always the case. Still it did not bother her. She simply did her work to her customary level of efficiency and did not let such things concern her. Of course there were those who didn’t seem to care either, and that was often a refreshing change of pace. She turned back to face the table, and placed her hands upon it.

“Computer, status report?” she asked, eyes trashing the data readout next to the holographic schematic of the Yamato that hovered above the table. The computer beeped and processed for just a short moment.

“Electro-plasma systems nominal, injector subsystems primed, magnetic constrictors online, matter/anti-matter containment fields standing by.” the computer intoned, highlighting each system on the holographic model as it listed them off. “All systems within normal parameters. Pre-start checklist complete.” it finished. T’liss nodded, not that the computer could actually see her. She tapped a few commands redirecting power from the EPS taps into the reaction chamber.

She keyed in the final sequence, starting the process of warming the reaction assembly up to operating temperature. A cold-start of a warp core was a long process. She had done the sequence before, but not on a Sovereign-class. Their warp cores had lower operating temperatures than the Galaxy-class she had previously served on, but not as low as some of the newer ships. She glanced at the timer, as it ticked down from its fifteen hour start point. This was the longest part. Once the warp core was brought up to temperature, beginning the reaction would only take a matter of minutes. She tapped her commbadge.

“Attention crew: This is the Chief Engineer. Warp core startup sequence in progress. The ship will switch to internal power in fifteen hours. Department heads should contact engineering prior to this time with ready checks or requests for assistance. That is all.” she stated simply, tapping her commbadge again at the end of the message.

“Lieutenant, status?” she asked, looking across the room to one of the people that she had brought with her from the yard.

“EPS plasma flow is stable. Temperature rising thirty-three kelvin per second.” he reported.

“Good. Be ready to start cycling plasma coolant through the system once the filling process finishes.” she ordered, looking back down at the master systems display table again. The holographic representation of the ship had changed to one representing the warp core, showing the power feeding into the core as well as its rising temperature. Things were proceeding apace and she was pleased.

“Run checks every thirty minutes, and keep me apprised of any abnormal changes in the chambers status.” she added, straightening her back as she looked over again. The Lieutenant nodded.

“Aye, Chief.” he responded, looking back to his console. T’liss gave the man a sharp nod and stepped away from the table With the warp core now in its start up sequence, there was not much left for her to do. Engineering teams were finishing up their last jobs and once the ship was on internal power they would be ready to depart. Now she could spare some time to check in on her Captain, and her friend and ensure she really was handling her new position well.

She passed through the large semi-circular isolation door that made up a segment of the wall of engineering and headed for the nearest turbolift.

When she arrived on the bridge, she was pleased to see that only the bridge crew was there now, her engineering teams having long since left. The XO was sitting in the center chair, clearly currently on watch. The two women exchanged a nod as T’liss crossed the bridge down to the ready room door. She tapped the buzzer and waited. There was a muffed sound from inside, and the doors opened admitting the engineer. She had expected to see Solaris sitting behind her desk, but was momentarily confused when she did not see her friend sitting there. It only took a few moments for her friend to speak however and clear up that confusion.

“T’liss, everything ok?” the white haired woman asked, gesturing to one of the comfortable chairs situated across from the couch she was currently occupying. She had her legs tucked up beneath her as she lounged against the arm rest, a book now draped over her leg. T’liss moved to take the chair, sitting gently, sinking slightly in the plush cushioning.

“Thing are proceeding on schedule. I have just begun the warp core startup sequence.” she replied. “We will be ready to switch to internal power by early morning, station time.” she added, folding her hands in her lap. Solaris nodded, reaching out to pick up a cup of tea that was sitting on the coffee table. She sipped it for a few moments.

“Yes, I heard the announcement. Glad to hear it.” Solaris said, swirling the tea around some. She looked down at the cup, then back to T’Liss. “I’m sorry, would you like some tea?” she asked, gesturing to the still steaming pot and the overturned cups. T’liss simply nodded, and began to pour herself a cup. It was not her preferred blend, she had not quite had Solaris’ appreciation for earl grey, but it was adequate.

“What bothers you, Solaris?” she asked simply as she poured some tea into a cup. Sol simply looked at T’liss, debating whether or not to try and lie her way out of the conversation. She sighed, realizing that T’liss would just see through any attempt to lie, and sipped her tea again to buy herself a few more moments.

“It’s nothing…” she started. She held up a hand to stall any comment. “I’m sure every first time Captain has these sorts of doubts.” she added.

“What doubts could you possibly be experiencing?’ T’liss asked, sipping her own tea. “You have proven yourself more than capable, Solaris. Over many years of service.” she continued. Solaris sighed.

“I’m pretty young for a captain, T’liss. Had Frontier Day not happened, I probably wouldn’t have made captain for another few years.” the woman across from her replied.  “It’s hard to ignore that, partly at least, the only reason I’m in this position is because Starfleet is experiencing a serious lack of trained officers.” she continued. “And on what would normally be considered a reasonably prestigious posting no less.” she added as an afterthought. T’liss raised an eyebrow. In the many years she had known Solaris, she had never once seen the woman so full of doubt. It was a far cry from the intelligence officer that had risen to the position of director of intelligence operations for an entire sector.

“Do you doubt yourself, or Starfleet’s reasons?” T’liss asked.

“Both.” the other woman replied. T’liss cocked her head to the side, then shook it.

“Why? Do you not believe you are capable of what’s being asked of you?”

“If it were that simple, T’liss… we might not be having this conversation.” Solaris said, sighing again.

“It is that simple, Solaris. You were the director of intelligence for an entire sector, and eventually executive officer of a starbase. This was the next logical step. You are not incapable of leading others. Of leading them into danger, and getting them out of the same.” T’liss said. “Do not doubt your ability. I have been witness to it more than enough to know you can do whatever task is set in front of you.” she continued. “As for the timing of this… it is irrelevant. It has happened now, and in the eyes of Starfleet Command, you were deemed ready. There is no way to know what would have happened if Frontier Day had been just another normal day. You may have still made captain at this time. Or it may have taken longer. Getting caught up in that detail does nothing but serve to distract you.”

Solaris was quiet for several moments.

“There are times I wish I had your clarity and certainty.” she eventually said. She didn’t fully feel better about things, but just hearing another’s opinion had been a help. That it had been one of the only officers on the ship she had known prior to her arrival didn’t hurt either. She would get over it, she had to. While she had been director of intelligence on 234, or the XO and had lead others like T’liss had pointed out, there had always been someone else above her, leading her. Now she was in that position, and she had to lead the entire ship. She had a good senior staff, Starfleet had been kind enough to see to that. All she had to do was trust in herself and in them.

“If you did, I do not think our conversations would be as intriguing as they often are, Solaris.” T’liss replied, with what had almost sounded like a bit of humor. Solaris chuckled, knowing better.

“No probably not.” she admitted. “Thank you for attempting to allay my fears…” she added, smiling. T’liss simply nodded.

“It’s only logical.” she replied. Sol laughed. Maybe it was, but it still meant a lot that T’liss had tried. She shook her head.

“And what of you? Have you settled in well?” she asked. T’liss simply nodded.

“I have. My time at the fleet yards was fulfilling, but it is agreeable to only have to tend to a single vessel.” she said. Solaris nodded, understanding the feeling.

“And the crew you brought over? Are they all happy as well?” Solaris asked.

“They have given me no indication otherwise. I thank you for letting me bring them.” she replied, sipping her tea.

“I know it can be hard to train up a new staff… and getting them up to snuff while also getting the entire ship ready to deploy would have just been a needless pain point…” Solaris said, waving her hand dismissively. T’liss simply nodded. There were times where her friend could show the barest trace of Vulcan logic. They were always a surprise.

“It has made things noticeably smoother.” T’liss admitted.

“That was the idea.” Solaris admitted. “I know I can count on you, T’liss, to keep this ship going. No one else I’d rather have for the job.” she added, smiling.

“And I would not have left the yards for just any captain.” T’liss admitted. “You will excel Solaris, just like you always have. Trust in that.” she added, finishing the last of her tea. She set the cup on the table and stood.

“Thank you for the tea… I should return to engineering.” the Vulcan said, Solaris smiled, watching the her leave the ready room. Maybe she was right. She would find out soon enough. She reached down for the book on her leg, and chuckled again, shaking her head. She traced a finger along some of the words, refinding her position, letting her eyes continue following the words when she did. Time would tell and it was drawing nearer.