Location: USS Mare Serenitatis, Cockpit

Elsie and most of her motley crew of Senior officers were sitting in the cockpit. Only Sotti was on break in the afternoon cabin. “How long till we arrive at Deep Space Four?” Elsie asked.

“One day and two hours at current speed, ma’am.” Armando said, as he reviewed the flight path for the Mare Serenitatis.

“Captain Gutierrez advised me that the Tal Shair were spotted in the area. So let’s keep our eyes sharp and on focus.” Elsie said to her crew.

“I’m glad Starfleet approved your plan.” Armando said, knowing they could use all the support they can get.

The Tal Shair were ruthless, and Elsie did not want to be chased I. A runabout. They stood a better chance on a Starship. “Me too Lieutenant.”

“Why are they doing this?” Katie asked, as joined in on the conversation. She could not figure out why the Tal Shair were chasing them?

“My guess is politics.”’Armando suggested to her.

“It’s always about politics.” Elsie said in agreement. “They’re doing what they believe is in the best interest of their people based on their ideology.

“You would think by now we could move past tribal things. Space is vast.” Katie pointed out to them all.

“Sadly they is not the case.” Armando suggested. Then he went on to say. “It’s why we a job.” Armando teased.

“I signed up to be an explorer.” Katie said with a smile. She did not sign up to work border defense. Luckily she was assigned to science unit on Overwatch Station.

“Those were the days. Or so I have been told. All of my career I spent putting out one brush fire after another.” Elsie said to the group.

“Didn’t you start on the Sirona?” Armando asked. He had reviewed her service file.

“Someone did his homework.” Elsie said with a grin on her face. It showed her that he was ambitious.

“I did.” Armando said with a big grin on his face. He knew she spent of of her career on the Sirona.

“She was a Luna class. Under the command of Captain Batai Dhej. She is now mothballed, a Vesta class now carries the name.” Elsie said, as she thought about her time on the Sirona.

“Sounds like a Trill name.” Katie said, wondering if she was right. He could be mistaken on the race.

“Very good, I started off as Chief diplomatic officer and was promoted to First officer.” Elsie said, leaving several key important information about the whole situation.

“That’s pretty cool, Diplomatic Officer all the way to Commodore.” Katie said with a smile.

“I’m very proud of myself too.” Elsie said, knowing that it was an everyday back and diplomatic answer me and the answer let alone an Admiral. Officially she was only a one star but she can only go up from that rank or she could retire at this rank.

“You’re offly quiet Doctor.” Elsie pointed out to Quincy. She wondered what he was thinking.

Quincy was mining his own business. When he heard Elsie call out to him. “Sorry about that, I’m just distracted by the situation.” He humbly said.

“It’s understandable.” Elsie said, knowing everyone handled stress differently. She recalled how it paralyzed Batai for years. Eventually he had to retire. It became to much for him.

She hoped she did not have the same fate as him. She believed everyone could be saved if they really tried.

Her former Captain had to many demons in his closet that he could not overcome. She was determined to over come her demons. The Borg, Romulans, Borg again, Vaadwaur and now the Tal Shair. It was a lot to process.

“I am always available to you.” Elsie said with a compassionate voice. She wanted Quincy to know that.

“I appreciate that Ma’am.” Quincy said. He wished he was out of the spotlight the cross hairs of Elsie Coleman.

Katie could see that Quincy was struggling. “Ma’am, I have another question.” She quickly asked.

“Go ahead Lieutenant.” Elsie asked as she refocused her attention on Katie.

“I was reading the new ship cruises at warp eight.” Katie pointed out.

“And you’re question is?” Elsie wondered. So far she had only listed a fact.

“Can we proceed at warp eight to catch up to the fleet?” Katie said, the ship was classified as a fast cruiser, she wanted to see it.

“You can count on it.” Elsie said to her with a big warm smile on her face.

“But the ship on auto pilot and everybody head to the back Duty shifts are over.” Elsie ordered the crew.

Location: USS Mare Serenitatis, Aft Cabin

Everyone was now in the back of the cabin and everyone was getting situated for the night. “Too bad we couldn’t bring our Chef aboard.” Sotti said with a big smile on her face.

“You make the rest of the crew suffer, just so the five of us could eat well tonight?” Katie asked, a little shocked, she could not help but tease him back.

“Yes I would while they’re rating good and delicious food, were suffering with replicator food. By the end of this trip you’ll feel the same way I do.” Sotti pointed out to her.

“You’re probably right but there’s nothing we can do about it.” Katie reminded him.

“I suppose you’re right.” Sotti said as, she watched Elsie sit down at the table to join them.

“The dreaded replicator story on runabouts. It’s cliche at this point. You’re not the first person you won’t be the last trip to complain about replicator food on our Runabout.” Elsie assured them both.

“A tale and old as time itself I take it, ma’am?” Armando said in a teasing voice of his own.

“Yes, sadly.” Elsie pointed out to him. “However I don’t think a runabout will ever have enough room for a chef, sadly.” Elsie pointed out to them.

“That is tragedy. Surely they can make a micro kitchen.” Sotti said, they practically had made everything else why couldn’t they make a micro kitchen?

“Are you volunteering to design it?” Elsie asked with a big smile on her face.

“No ma’am but I can definitely keep the cupboards stock.” Armando teased.

“Knowing him will be peanut butter and jelly.” Quincy said is he finally decided to get back into the conversation again.

“Hahaha very funny.” Armando said as he just shook his head at Quincy.

“There’s nothing wrong with a good peanut butter and jelly sandwich once in a while.” Elsie commented.

“I prefer a ham and cheese sandwich or a good turkey sandwich you like clubhouse sounds great.” Katie said as her mouth starts to savitate.

“Oh I could use a good turkey sandwich too.” LC champion with the big gun on her face, thinking about a good delicious turkey sandwich with mayo some lettuce and some cheddar cheese. Maybe a splash of honey mustard just to top it off.

Sometime had passed well everybody talked about getting food and then they’ve been changing the ate.

Location: USS Mare Serenitatis, Aft Cabin

A couple hours I pass in everybody just got done eating replicator rationed food. No one really like eating the replicated food but didn’t really have much of a choice. It was better than starving but that way much.

“We survived that somehow.” Elsie said in a teasing voice. She was definitely not a fan of replicated food. But I like the other she has been most of her career learning to absorb it.

“Tell Mr Montoya do you remember what my last command was?” Else he has wanted to see how well he remembered her service file.

“The USS Paladin an intrepid class starship.” Armando said with the big smile on his face. He wasn’t sure why she gave up command of that vessel. But maybe there was a birthday he was unaware of being a Starbase Commander.

“If I’m being honest I hated the twin chairs in the middle, I always feel like they’re either should be one chair or three chairs on a bridge.” Elsie said if she made her opinion known.

“I went to a starfleet was thinking when they made that particular design choice.” Quincy said as he decided to chime into the conversation.

“I don’t know, but I had to agree with are illustrious leader. I’m not a big fan of the dual chairs either.” Katie said with the big grin on her face.

“A command chair is a command chair it doesn’t matter if there’s one two or three seats in my opinion.” Sotti said, in her mind it doesn’t really matter.

“Don’t worry we’re not going to hold it against you if you have a preference.” Katie pointed out to her.

“It’s not that I have a preference I just don’t particularly care.” Sotti explain to them.

“Okay okay okay.” Katie said backing off a big. “There is no changing you’re mind.” She said with a nervous smile.

“Correct, but let’s change the topic.” Sotti said feeling a little in the hot seat.

“That’s a good idea.” Elsie said, she was about to change the topic herself. She didn’t like poor Sotti being in the hot seat.

“I don’t know why but I’m super excited for this new ship well I guess it’s not new but it’s new for us.” Katie said hoping that the conversation of the new ship would revitalize their conversation.

“The Niagara class is definitely an underappreciated vessel. I like her.” Sotti said that she agreed with Katie.

“She is definitely a scrappy vessel, but that’s a good thing let mean that.” Armando said is he said that chime in on the conversation.

“I hope her Captain, really appreciates her.” Elsie teased. Knowing that would get them all to speculate.

“I thought the ship was going to be for you?” Armando asked, he was hoping that she would have sent it to somebody else cuz I would increase his chances of getting first officer but he also knew that was a very very small.

“If I was to take a commanded probably of Sirona is doing it ever became available.” Elsie suggested.

“Even though it’s a Vesta class?” Quincy asked, knowing how sentimental she was to the old one. The old Luna class.

“Just wishful thinking on my part, but right now I’m not really interested in finding another ship. The Paladin was a great ship. I almost ate on it but I feel like this is my calling right now guys to be your Division Commander.

“It never hurts to wish.” Sotti said she too, had her own ambitions as well. Someday she also wanted to be a commanding officer of a starship. She was thinking about a small patrol vessel. She felt a code to protect the Federation. She was not really interested in exploration. So a small escort vessel would be perfect for her.

“You want a command as well?” Elsie asked. She liked spending this time with her crew, it was a good way to learn what they like and what their future ambitions are.

“Down the road, yes Ma’am.” Sotti suggested to her, with a big grin on her face.

“Let me guess, you are a cruiser type?” Elsie asked, hoping she got that right. She did not think she would be cliche and want a small escort vessel, like most tactical officers.

“Actually no, I want an escort vessel, maybe a defiant class but no bigger than a rhode island class ship though.” Sotti suggested it to her.

Elsie would have never pegged Sotti as the classic cliche type of officer. She imagined her wanting to command a big starship. She was surprised to hear she wanted a small vessel. That was good to know, because down the road they will need an escort vessel for the division.

“I feel like like we getting to know each other, I like thisl.” Elsie said, as she smiled at Sotti and the others in the small confined area.

“We feel the same way too, Ma’am.” Katie said, as she reached verbally to her.

“I will be honest, when I took this assignment, I had no idea what to expect. But I am glad that I have met you all.” Elsie said, as she continued to express how she felt.

“I appreciate you saying that, because I felt the same at first too, not sure what to think about working on a station, and working with a Commodore. It was a little nerve wrecking to be honest. But I am glad I did, and I am glad that I got to meet you.” Quincy said, with a big warm smile on his face.

“Listen to all of us get sappy and emotional over here.” Elsie said with a big smile on her face. She did not think it would be possible for her to grow close to anyone again, especially what happened after the Borg incident of last year.

Here she was being proven wrong, and she really appreciated it. She did not mind being wrong this time. She was grateful for the friendships she was making as the scene starts to fade away.

Location: USS Mare Serenitatis, Aft Cabin

It was now April 26th, and the Runabout had finally made it to Deep Space Four. Elsie was finish eating breakfast.. She was reviewing specs on the Niagara class starship.

She was impressed with the stats. For a ship its size, it was a little overpowered, but it required constance maintenance and vigilance. She sat there eating her breakfast and sipping on her coffee when she heard a call come in.

Elsie near with the ship look like, but seeing it for the first time, even though she wasn’t going to take the command for herself she was still excited to see it. She had actually never seen a Niagara class up close should only seen him on the monitor. So this was going to be a treat for her too. Especially given the fact that how much technology and firepower is crammed into this little ship it was very impressive.

She sat there for several minutes waiting for their arrival. This was her time off in the morning she had already completed her reports and read all the report she needed to from Overwatch Station.

“Commodore Coleman, we have arrived.” Katie called out. The message was straight to the point.

“I’m on my way Lieutenant.” Elsie said and she grabbed her jacket and then left the AFT cabin.

Location: USS Mare Serenitatis, Cockpit

Elsie made her way I to the cockpit. With an excited to e she asked. “Have I missed first look.” Elsie asked, as she hovered over Sotti’s shoulder.

“No ma’am she should be coming into view now.” Sotti said with a big grin on her face.

“Well hello beautiful.” She simply said as the small runabout starting to make its way towards the Niagara class starship. The scene fades away with the runabout approaching the ship.