Robert sat in his ready room aboard Eos Station, staring blankly at the star-filled viewport in front of him. He rubbed his temples, trying to will away the headache that had taken up residency there ever since he received the news of Lieutenant Yatokii’s departure.

The room was sparsely decorated, with only a few personal items scattered about. Boxes still sat in the corners, their contents left unpacked as Robert threw himself into his work. Despite being aboard Eos for several weeks now, he had yet to fully settle in, his endless stream of responsibilities and tasks leaving little time for anything else. Nevertheless, he tried to make the best of his small space, finding solace in the familiar hum of the station and the endless expanse of the galaxy beyond his window.

As the commander of Eos Station, an aging watch tower class station, Robert had a lot of responsibilities. But with the loss of his Chief of Security, the arrival of the Romulan ambassador, and the fact that he didn’t have an Executive Officer, Robert felt like he was in over his head. He was starting to wish he had never taken this assignment.

He had just finished a staff briefing when he learned the news of Yatokii’s departure. “As if having no damned First Officer wasn’t enough,” he cursed under his breath as he tossed the padd. Everyone was well aware of the state dinner planned to welcome the Romulan ambassador, and the station was far from ready. In a series of blows, this was just another blow that had the Captain truly wondering if Eos would ever get off the ground.

Robert sighed deeply and leaned back in his chair. He wanted things to go differently. He had always prided himself on being a competent commander, but now he felt he was failing his crew and mission.

The door to his ready room chimed just then, indicating that someone wanted to speak with him.

“Come in,” Robert called out, straightening up in his chair.

The door swooshed open to reveal his Yeoman, Petty Officer 3rd Class Hunter Byrne. Hunter was a professional figure, with her neat uniform and confident demeanor.

“Captain,” she said, standing at attention.

“At ease, Hunter,” Robert said, waving her over to a seat in front of his desk. “What can I do for you?”

“I came to report on my investigation into potential Executive Officer candidates,” Hunter said, getting straight to the point. “I figured you could use the help.  After all, people talk to a lowly Petty Officer before they speak with the Commanding Officer,” she let a slight smirk cross her face.

“Very well,” Robert said, leaning forward in his chair. “What have you found?”

“I have been speaking with the crew, and a few individuals have expressed interest in taking on a bigger role on the station,” Hunter said, her tone professional and to-the-point.

“Ok, who are they?” Robert asked, intrigued.

“One is Lieutenant Cruz from Security,” Hunter reported. “He has been with us for a while now and has demonstrated strong leadership abilities. I believe he would make an excellent Chief of Security.” Hunter handed a padd to the Captain, with the Officer’s background listed on the screen.

Robert nodded, considering Hunter’s words. “I appreciate your thorough research, Hunter. I will speak with Lieutenant Cruz and determine if he is interested and capable of assuming the role.”

Hunter Byrne continued to speak with Robert, listing off the potential Executive Officers she had researched.

“In addition to Lieutenant Cruz, two more officers have shown potential for the Executive Officer position,” Hunter said. “One is Lieutenant Johnson, who is currently serving as the head of the Science department. She’s an expert in her field and has a reputation for being meticulous and thorough in her work.”

“And the other?” Robert asked, jotting down notes.

“That would be Lieutenant Rodriguez, who is serving as the head of Operations,” Hunter explained. “He’s known for his quick thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as his ability to keep the station running like a well-oiled machine.”

Robert nodded, taking in this information. “I appreciate you bringing this to my attention, Hunter. I’ll be sure to speak with each of these officers and see who would be the best fit for the Executive Officer position.”

Hunter gave a nod before standing up from her seat. “If there’s anything else I can do to help, Commander, just let me know.”

“I will,” Robert said, offering a smile. “Oh, and Hunter?”

“Just between you and me, if you get tired of being my Yeoman, you could always step up and become the new Chief of Security,” Robert said with a chuckle.  “I am sure you’d do well at the position.”

Hunter let out a laugh that was uncharacteristic of her professional demeanor. “I don’t think I have the patience for that job, Sir,” she said with a grin. “Besides, I hear our Commanding Officer is a real taskmaster. I don’t think I could handle working for him.”

Robert couldn’t help but smile at Hunter’s remark. He knew that he could be demanding at times, but it was only because he wanted the best for the crew and the station. “Well, I’ll take that as a compliment,” he said with a chuckle.

Hunter nodded and smiled before making her way out of the ready room. Robert watched her go, feeling relief. He was grateful to have such a competent and professional crew supporting him on the station.

Robert watched Hunter leave, feeling a sense of relief. He couldn’t help but reflect that it was nice to have a crew that could see and fix a problem, even when they weren’t asked to. He was grateful for their hard work and dedication, especially given the challenges they faced.

As Robert settled back into his chair, his thoughts were interrupted by Rempeck, the Romulan Ambassador’s aide. Robert listened intently. He was grateful to friends like Rempeck, whom he trusted, but he did not want this news.

Robert listened intently to Rempeck’s news, his mind racing with the implications of what he was hearing. The Romulan Ambassador had been sending teams to meet with a local Ferengi named Brot, who had been running illegal activities on the station for some time now. This was not good news for Robert, especially given Brot’s reputation and the fact that he had been operating on the station long before Robert’s arrival.

The call left Robert feeling uneasy; he couldn’t help but worry about the safety of his crew and the station. As the commander, he was responsible for ensuring that all regulations and laws were being upheld, and the thought that potentially illegal activity was taking place on his watch was a daunting prospect; especially when those illegal activities involved someone with complete diplomatic immunity. 

With a deep sigh, Robert leaned back in his chair, lost in thought and uncertainty. The future of Eos Station, and the well-being of his crew, were now at the mercy of forces beyond his control. Robert couldn’t shake the feeling that the challenges they faced were only just beginning, and he couldn’t help but wonder what the future held.