Elinsys walked up the cargo ramp, Gelln following a pace behind. The ship had two large cargo holds, one near its back and the other near its midsection. The one Elinsys was walking through was mostly for spare parts, trade goods, and a transport vehicle.

The cargo bay had tall shelves bolted to the room’s walls with compartments for storage. There were clear markings for what goes where, stickers were even stuck to certain storage units.

There was a small corner with a desk right beside the transport vehicle. It was covered in neatly stacked documents and a few mechanical parts.

“Major, ma’am.” A voice called out from the catwalks above Elinsys.

When she looked up towards the ceiling, Elinsys saw a second floor with hooks hanging from the ceiling. Leaning on the handrail a woman looked at Elinsys, engineer by her uniform.

She was about her age, but her hair was silver.

“Be careful of the raised floor, ma’am.” She pointed towards a small raised section in the middle of the cargo bay.

Elinsys wouldn’t have seen it, or would have mistaken it for a floor sign. It was barely higher than the floor, but someone could trip over it.

“Thank you, but this seems like a real hazard.” Elinsys walked over to it and touched its side with her boot. It was as high as her boot’s sole.

“Yes, it is. But it is integral to the ship’s power and ventilation systems. So it has to stay, back when I took over it wasn’t even painted.” She left the handrail and went towards the ladder.

Now she stood before Elinsys. She was taller than Elinsys. Her sleeves were pulled up, revealing her muscles.

“Took over? Are you in charge of this cargo bay, ma’am?”

“Lieutenant Commander Rixva, head of the maintenance department. I have been here for a few years now.” She climbed down and walked towards Elinsys.

”You are our new head of Operations?” Rixva aked, shaking Elinsys’ hand.

“Yes. I look forward to working with you.” Elinsys smiled a bit.

“Well, if you ever need something, the form station is over there, bolted to the wall. You need something, fill one of those out and leave it on my table. Not on the pile, leave it next to the computer. I consider those the more important ones.” She whispered to Elinsys, but Gelln heard her.

Gelln gave her a long look, he wanted to say something, but didn’t.

“I have to go back to work, but do ask if you need something.” Rixva looked towards Gelln for a second. Then she turned away.

Rixva walked towards her table and skimmed through the forms on her desk. Pulled two out, looked them over and signed them. She walked back to Gelln and handed them to him.

“Here is the form for your spare parts, and give this one to Nilni. Now I have to get back to work. Goodbye, ma’am.”

Gelln escorted Elinsys out of the cargo bay and they headed towards the bridge.

Elinsys looked over Gelln’s shoulder at the forms in his hands. Gelln noticed her looking.

“Ma’am, I am sorry for my candor, but these are private.” Gelln turned them to the side so Elinsys couldn’t see.

“Sorry about that, it’s just… ” Enlinsys wasn’t used to ranks.

“Your new rank, ma’am? You will find most don’t care or will pay lip service to it only. Sadly.”

“Is that not a good thing? We will be stuck with each other for years, some friendlines won’t hurt us.” Nilni appeared behind them, and the door to the smaller cargo bay closed behind her.

Elinsys was startled by Niln. Why does she keep on sneakin up on people? Gelln didn’t flinch, just let out a very faint sigh.

“Here, form for you from Lieutenant Commander Rixva. Don’t lose it, please.” He handed Nilni the document.

“Oh! Thank you Gelln. Hope Rixva didn’t ask you to fill out too many of those. Also, why are you escorting Elinsys?” Nilni looked at Elinsys.

“I was on guard duty when the Major boarded, is there a problem?”

Nilni turned sheepish. “Well… you know. When you escort someone… it means we have to treat them like the Empress herself?”

Awkwardness filled the air, Nilni’s eyes turned from Gelln to Elinsys and then back to Gelln. Gelln would stop it.

“Was wondering why nobody was here.” He sighed quietly. “Are they at their stations pretending to be busy?”

“Well, some are.” Nilni put her hands together. “We have been repeating the security checks for the last ten minutes, until we get the all clear.”

“How do you know it is clear?” Elinsys asked.

“Melora comes on the intercom and tells us all how the weather on Vessina is. Warning, it is usually as cold as the engine room. ”

“Let’s move on, before Captain Henera sends a search party to find the Major.” Gelln continued to walk towards the bridge.

Nilni looked at Elinsys once more and then disappeared down the hall and back into the cargo bay.

Gelln and Elinsys stopped right before the bridge door. Gelln opened the door to reveal a more military-style looking bridge than the one on Swift Express. The chairs were made out of worse quality leather, surely.

There were navigators and a few pilots arguing over a map in a corner. A few other officers were talking about power levels. They were all junior officers. The highest one in the room was Lieutenant Junior Grade, and she was clearly enjoying being the highest rank in the room.

When Elinsys stepped in, the mood changed. All looked at her, then at Gelln, then back at her. They quickly saluted and went back to their business. The argument quickly became less fierce and nobody dared to shout.

“Commodore Melora, Captain Henera and others are in the meeting room. They are expecting you, Major.” Gelln moved his arm in the direction of the meeting room. It was guarded by two marines, armed with sidearms.

“Thank you, Sergeant Gelln.” Gelln looked happy for a second, before turning away and leaving the bridge.

The two marines let her into the room, announcing who she was to the participants and then left.

Elinsys now was in a small-ish room. Just enough to fit in a table, a screen on a wall and nine chairs. The head chair was occupied by Melora, Henera was on her right side. Seated on her left was a woman she hadn't seen before, wearing more civilian clothing. She had a visitor tag around her neck. There also were the heads of departments aboard Veneration, Maintenance and Navigation. Operation’s seat was empty.

“Elinsys, wonderful to see you again.” Melora shouted, maybe a bit too loud. A few officers moved a bit further from her.

“Commodore Melora, wonderful to see you, too. I hope you have received the new orders.”

“Yes, of course I have. The administration works surprisingly quickly when they want to.” Her remark was greeted by some head nodding and very faint agreement.

Melora stood up. ”My colleagues and friends, this is Major Elinsys. She will serve as the head of Operations aboard the Veneration. I hope you all give her a warm welcome.” Her words were once again met with nodding and agreement.

“Major Elinsys, this is Captain Henera. She will be in command of our second ship, Javelin.” Henera gave Elinsys a nod.

“This is Doctor Kolani, who is in charge of the scientific vessel which we will be escorting to the new sector. The Frontier.”

Doctor Kolani was a very old woman, her hair turned white and her skin wrinkled. She wore glasses which seemed way too small for her face.

“A pleasure. I understand you will be escorting us as we make landfall?” Her voice was tired, but excitement could be made out.

“I will indeed. Hopefully you won’t require our protection.”

“And then finally ,we have the department heads of the Veneration. You will be working closely with them, Major. Rixva is head of Maintenance, meanwhile Fera is our Navigation head.”

Rixva gave Elinsys a slight nod and went back to her tablet.

Fera looked at Elinsys. She was a Rakiri. Her fur was black except in a few spots, which were grey or white. She was a bit shorter than Rixva, but her fur made her look bigger than Rixva. She wore a uniform, but it looked more like a gym outfit than a uniform.

“Greetings Major, I hope we hunt well together.” Elinsys was surprised by Fera’s elegant way of speaking.

“Thank you, I hope so, too.” Elinsys sat down in her chair.

“Now onto business.” Melora said, walking over to the screen behind her.

She turned it on and a map appeared on the screen behind Melora.

“We will be going into the Sector N-7, more specifically into the Arachia Quadrant. Our main base of operations and restocking point will be the military space station Hybras. We will go there first and report to the commander. Refuel, resupply and get everything in order.”

The map changed to show a star system rather than a cluster.

“Then we will begin our exploration and survey mission. Our goal is to survey each star system in the cluster within two years. I have been told we should have three months to spare if we keep to the schedule.”

The map zoomed back out and showed the planned route. It was a circular route, where the ships would return to the Hybras every so often.

“It is a smaller cluster, and there shouldn’t be any Roaches there. It is very far from the Consortium or Alliance space. At most we will see a private Shil’vati mining or exploration craft.”

Melora took a bit of a pause to answer any questions. Doctor Kolani asked a few, mostly if she could take a look at the route and how long they would stay in each star system.

“We leave tomorrow, so Henera and Doctor Kolani, please send out an order for your crews to gather. And send me the security checks when you do them. Thank you ladies, that will be all.” Melora turned off the screen and started to gather her things.

Henera helped the Doctor out of the room, meanwhile each of the department heads left too.

Elinsys and Melora were alone in the room.

“So...” Melora started clearly uneasy. “How did you end up here?”

“To keep a low profile. I was told if I go home, I would end up in a ditch. So now I am here.”

Melora sat down in the chair next to Elinsys. “It’s not that bad, you could have ended up in some training camp or some backwater planet patrolling the same streets for a year.” Melora let out a slight chuckle, but she quickly quieted down. “You will do fine here. No, you will do great.”

Melora’s words were calming, but Elinsys still was skeptical of her.

“I am sure all will be well. What happens when we finish this mission?”

“I go home, I hope. Help rebuild what I destroyed, but something tells me I won’t go back home. The agent was unclear about that, building hope within me. Buying time for me to reconsider.”

“I will see what I can do. It isn’t much, but we should know who is pulling the strings at least. I will ask a few of my acquaintances.”

It was weird to see Melora like this, Elinsys was used to her being a drunk. Melora who is capable, serious and has favours to call on?

“You have friends to call on?”

Melora looked slightly insulted, just a bit. “Of course I have. I was pulling strings to get myself that academy position. Sadly it failed, but finding out who is behind your new assignment should be easier. I don’t want something bad to happen to you while under my command. Or in general, so finding out their intentions would be smart.”

“Thank you. I should go and learn my new duties.”

“Yes, I am sure Nilni can’t wait to show you around.” Melora smiled.

Then she pressed her wristband with her finger. “Lance Corporal Nilni, please report to the bridge as soon as possible.”

Melora and Elinsys left the meeting room. The bridge was filled with arguments once again, but they quieted down when they walked in.

“What? Did a Turrox eat your tongues? Why are you all so quiet?” Melora asked with a joking voice.

The officers looked at Elinsys and then at each other.

“This is Major Elinsys, head of Operations from now on. Do give her a warm welcome. And tell Nilni to show her around when she arrives.”

Melora walked towards her room, many saluted as she left.

Then they looked at Elinsys who came up to them.

“What are you arguing about?” Elinsys stared at the colourful table in front of her.

One of the younger officers perked up. “War Monsters, ma’am. It is a tabletop game.” Others gave her disapproving glances.

“Oh, that sounds fun. You will have to show me how to play when we have some free time.” Elinsys was mostly trying to be nice to the crew, but the beast with three heads on the table got her attention. Maybe it would be fun to learn how to play.

“Will do ma’am, just ask.” The younger officer smiled, happy with herself.

Nilni entered the bridge, looked around and then went towards Elinsys.

“Hello, Elinsys. Where is Melora? She called me over.”

“She asked you to show the Major to her new duties and around the ship.” The young officer replied.

“Thank you, ma’am. Let’s go, Major.”

Nilni and Elinsys walked through the ship. Nilni showed where the mess was, the engine room, cargo bays, crew quarters and recreation areas. Finally they reached the Operations department.

It was made up of three main sections: a centralized security room with monitors to show the camera feed, a training room and gym for the marine teams, and an armory for the weapons. There also was an office for her, from which she could see anybody who entered her department and the marines training.

“This place is surprisingly full.” Elinsys commented, mostly to herself.

“The gym and training room are open for anybody to use. They do have to sign up earlier and stay clear of the official training time. You will set those up.” Nilni was excited as always. Was there anything which could bring her down?

“What about my security duties?” Elinsys asked as they moved towards the main security room.

“There are multiple security rooms and checkpoints all over the ships. You will have to set up a schedule for those. And also camera maintenance, quarters searches, and resolve any arguments. Really, anything which can impede the quality of life which the crew does. ”

“Sounds like quite a bit, guess I won’t have much free time.”

“Well, most of it you will set up and change only if needed. Your main job will be securing landing sites and escorting scientists. And don’t worry about free time, you will get it here and there. Once you set everything up, you will spend most of your on duty time waiting for something to happen or training with your team.” Nilni stopped when she said team.

“Nilni? What is it?”

“Your team. We need to go and meet them. Now.”

Nilni pulled Elinsys by her hand and quickly went to the armory.

“Gelln! Come on and greet our new department head.” Nilni shouted into the armory.

The armory was mostly a side room with lockers, workbenches and one door tightly sealed door which led to the weapon storage.

There were two people in the armory. Gelln, who was working on his rifle, and the armorer, who was behind a thick glass wall.

Gelln saluted when Elinsys entered. So did the quartermaster from behind the glass.

“There is no need to shout, Nilni. Hello, Major. How can we help you?”

“Just looking around my department. Where are the others?” Elinsys asked while glancing around the empty room.

“The mess probably. Or one of the recreation areas.” Gelln fiddled with his rifle. Nilni was standing right by him and looking at him work.

Elinsys went towards the armorer, behind her were shelves stacked with guns. Rifles mostly, sprinkled with a few kinetic guns and some tasers.

Elinsys turned back to Gelln and Nilni. “I am feeling a bit tired, Nilni. I think we should move on.”

“Oh? Yes, of course. Let me show you to your room, Major.”

They left the armory, saying goodbye to Gelln and the armorer. Then proceeded down the hallway towards the officer quarters.

Nilni stopped in front of a door. “This is it.”

Elinsys pressed her wrist to the keycard reader and the door opened.

The room was almost the size of her office, just a bit more narrow. It had a small table and chair and a private small bathroom. It was cramped, but at least she didn’t have to use the common showers. There even was a fake window next to the bed. Elinsys looked out at the city.

“It is also a television. I would download some shows to watch or movies. It can also display artwork.” She entered the room and pressed a few buttons on the screen. It showed a famous Shil’vati painting.

“Easy and simple. Got any ideas what shows to watch?”

“No, not really. Don’t really know what was made recently.”

“Yes...I guess you wouldn’t. I got a few suggestions if you want. My favourite is Pact of Sisterhood, some say it drops in quality after season four, but I think it is worth watching all the way.”

Nilni and Elinsys talked about shows and movies for a while. Nilni did most of the talking.

“Nilni, I am sorry but I feel tired. We can continue talking later.”

“Sure thing. I will see you at the armory then. Goodbye.”

Nilni left and the door closed behind her. Elinsys turned off the fake screen and went to sleep.