Michael had just gotten out of a meeting with the Admiralty and the mission ahead was like nothing he had ever experienced, even with his many years of missions. In the back of his mind he felt something about this would cause huge problems for his crew. The task of going to the Delta Quadrant wasn’t the issue though, it was the unknown of what they might encounter. His thoughts were shifted as the whoosh of the bridge doors snapped him back to attention. As he stepped off the bridge he could feel the anticipation of the crew, as they were getting antsy after their most recent shore leave.

Michael had decided to opt out of the normal briefing instead sending all the information to the Senior Officers through their PADDs. He had always been under the impression to make the best of what time they had. As he stepped on the bridge he immediately felt lost, as his XO was not present. She had to take some unexpected time off, which left Commander Peng to take her place. He stood in the position with a smile on his face “Captain on the bridge.” He said before looking back at Michael and nodding. “Thanks for that Peng, you know formality is the last thing on my mind when we’re preparing to depart for a mission.”

Peng smiled “I can’t just not announce your presence, Sir. Your to important for us not to recognize you for your achievements.” He smirked before seeing the Captain roll his eyes in defeat to the remark. Peng laughed before changing the subject “So this mission looks like something where we could encounter some issues.” Michael nodded and held up a hand “I figured we would discuss that in a moment. Lets get ready for the unknown shall we.” Peng nodded and followed the Captain to their seats. 

Michael stood near the front of the ship, which made all eyes turn to him “Alright so as you all saw I sent the information for this mission to your PADDs, first off I want to know what you think of that briefing style?” He stopped giving the crew a chance to speak up before he continued . Amanda was the first to say something “Personally it feels like a easier way for us to manage the information because we can go back and look at the information including all the points you added to the document. It allows me to work through the information with my department, while not making sure the department is set for the mission.” She nodded at the Captain in approval of the new system. 

Kra’vaak grunted “Captain you know I am always one for the hands on approach, but I have to admit this was actually better than I thought it would be. I have to ask though is the Captain getting soft as he get older?” Michael shook his head as the rest of the crew chuckled at Kra’vaaks remark. He might be a Klingon but his disposition was always a joking one. “If I was getting soft it would be you who is making me that way.” Michael smirked before looking at his ops officer “And what about you Ruvok?” 

Ruvok had been sitting there quietly waiting for his chance to say something “I do believe it is the logical decision, as we have always tried to be efficient in our actions and I think this helps make sure we as the senior officers have the information but do not have to be pulled away for a meeting when we can be preparing for the fight.”

Michael nodded at the positive reaction of the crew it was nice to know they supported his ideas. “Ok, with that out of the way we have been tasked with quite a task, as most of you know we haven’t dealt with the Devore much. I do believe this could test the mettle of the crew, as well as us. I am not sure what to expect, but if indications are correct we could be walking into an area of madness.”

The information wasn’t shocking to Peng, as he knew anytime the Neptune went for a mission it was never a simple mission. If anything the Neptune was known for always going into missions that seemed to be nothing of what the crew expected. He had seen Michael go through quite a change in his position. The Neptune was well armed and could hold its own. Amanda didn’t say anything as she knew the power of the Neptune, but she wasn’t sure what was about to happen, though she felt uneasy and because of it she felt unlike she had for any other mission.

Kra’vaak thought for a moment “We don’t have any telepaths, which should make it easier as the Devore have a huge dislike for any telepaths, but if that says anything we could be tangling with telepaths…I feel like that could be an issue before we finish the task ahead.”

Michael nodded “It is a good point and something I have been thinking about, but at this point there isn’t much we can do until we learn more about the situation.” He said as he looked at the crew and then changed his demeanor “I am expecting the ship to be ready for departure in the next hour.” He looked at Peng “The bridge is yours XO.”

The solitary nod was all that was needed before Michael walked to his ready room . It was good to see his crew liking his decisions, but he was not sure as to what was going to happen. He knew one thing was sure it should be an interesting adventure, as Mary just joined the ship and this would be her first in a different quadrant. He was excited that she got the chance to be here, but he hoped the crew would get along with her. She was known to be easy to got along with, but this crew always surprised him.

Lieutenant T’Rel stepped into the lounge of the USS Neptune, a stranger in a strange land well away from his usual assignment. With his actual vessel, the Argonaut going through an extended refit cycle, he and others aboard the ship have been temporarily reassigned elsewhere in the galaxy so that they weren’t just idling their time in dry dock, their skills going to waste with the lack of tasks to keep them sharp. Having only recently come aboard, T’Rel had no real acquaintances to speak of, and as he was only attached to the vessel, he was not senior to nor really subordinate to anyone in the Operations section, his tasks being more advisory and training oriented than strictly functional. This did not bother the Vulcan in the least, as he could agree that assisting in the training of younger officers was a productive use of his time spent away from his own vessel. 

Set to make his way to the bar to enjoy a peaceful meal and a bit of tranquil respite, T’Rel weaved his way through the throngs of men and women chatting away with one another in small clusters about the space, paying only cursory attention to the faces before him as he went. It wasn’t until a stark flash of pale crimson passed in front of his view that his focus actually sharpened enough to take in the details of the people before him, and more specifically a woman he had known many years before.

“Ensign Bolton,” T’Rel called out in his resonant baritone before realizing that she, much like he, had been promoted more than once since their last encounter, “Forgive me… Lieutenant Bolton. It is agreeable to see you after such an extended period of time.”

Michaela had finished her stint in Astrometrics for the shift and was exhausted. She had been tasked with searching for information regarding the location of the blood dilithium near Devore space. It had been an exhausting few hours due to her objective to find something worth value to the Captain. Her efforts had yielded the information needed and sent it to the Captain for his evaluation. She had been heading Astrometrics for months now, but did not have the title. She wasn’t bothered by it, but she wondered why she had been working with others as their superior. 

She decided to head to the bar to unwind for a bit. She usually went in and found a table in the corner and quietly drank in her own solitude. Her calm nature sometimes made people joke that she had no emotion, but that was far from the truth. She entered the bar, which seemed to be busier than usual. She pushed her way through people, as her eyes were fixed on the spot she wanted. Her concentration was broken when she heard a voice from her past. A voice she didn’t figure she would ever hear again.

She turned around to see the attractive Vulcan sitting at the bar. It was him. She didn’t know what to say or how to react. She smiled, “Lieutenant T’Rel, it is nice to see you, though I can’t say I am a little surprised to see you on the Neptune.”

“Indeed,” the Vulcan nodded, “I am merely attached to this ship while the Argonaut undergoes a thorough refit cycle. This was simply where Starfleet decided my experience would be best utilized. I had not anticipated meeting anyone from the Potemkin when I reported aboard, so your presence here is equally unexpected. Have you been well?”

“Do you want to join me?” she said gesturing to the nearby booth. “Then we can talk more? I don’t fancy standing in the middle of the aisle if that’s ok with you.”

“Agreed, it would be difficult to hold a proper conversation while standing in an area prone to foot traffic,” the Vulcan nodded as he followed the woman to the booth she’d indicated. T’Rel slid into the seat opposite his old acquaintance and made himself comfortable before remarking, “I had recently contemplated where some of our crew mates had been reassigned to after we all departed each other’s company. Our unplanned reunion reminded me of that.”

Michaela took the seat opposite and paused, “If I am honest since coming to the Neptune I haven’t really thought of many people. This ship was a dream positing, but when seeing your face I was reminded of the time we worked together. We had some interesting missions, even as Ensigns and now look at us. Seems like we have made strides in our career. I have been here since the ship was commissioned by Captain Ryder. This command has seen some interesting challenges, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.”

“I see,” T’Rel said in a contemplative manner, “It is true that my time spent on the Argonaut was… fulfilling. While I do wish to return to that ship, I am curious as to what my time here might see me accomplish, even in the advisory capacity I find myself in. I am certain it will be very productive and aid in my development as an Operations officer. I will confess that I am amiable to the fact that I now know that you are aboard, and that we might reestablish our friendly relations now that we will be serving together for the time being.”

“Well,” Michaela said as her face started to turn red, “I am not adverse to that idea by any means.” She looked around for a brief moment. “We had some good times together,” she smiled as she remarked in a hushed tone. T’Rel had been the only person she had ever held any relationship with, but they had a skill of hiding it on the Potemkin. It wasn’t that she was ashamed of liking a Vulcan, but T’Rel’s family didn’t seem to happy about the idea.

T’Rel nodded at the subdued comment, “I agree. It was… unfortunate… that we lost contact. I believe that if I were to cite something that I considered regrettable about our previous interactions, it would be that they terminated in a less than acceptable manner. While I do not believe it logical to assume such, I am unable to deny that our reintroduction might be… as your people sometimes put it… fate.”

Michaela looked down at the table “I should have stayed in contact, but then after how your parents reacted the first time you introduced me I felt like the last thing that would happen was us being together.” She smiled though, “If it’s fate than I for one can’t stop it.”

“Yes…” the Vulcan said in what passed for a frown, “I was disappointed at the reception you received from my family. I was unaware of how… traditional… they were, given that my mother also served in Starfleet and was exposed to a great deal of differing viewpoints regarding similar circumstances. It is encouraging to note that in recent years, they have… reconsidered their position on such matters, even if I have not initiated any other partnerships since our time on the Potemkin. Perhaps my extended suspension of contact with them was a contributing factor in this decision. However…”

T’Rel leaned forward and looked Michaela in the eyes, “Their approval or disapproval carried no weight on my willingness to be with you on a personal level. What developed between us back then is something I still regard favorably when I recall it. And because of that, should the opportunity to resume such agreeable interaction present itself now, I am more than willing to put forth the effort that may be required to see that it becomes a similar, if not more enjoyable partnership in the future.”

A tear dropped from Michaela’s eye, it was the one thing she had wanted to hear. “I truly never wanted to stop caring about you. In fact, you were the one person that made me feel safe. When I spent time with you all my worries faded away. I said I didn’t think of many people from the past, but that didn’t include you,” she paused for a second, “In fact I had written this to you, but I never sent it.” She said, grabbing her PaDD and accessing the letter she had written.

T’Rel watched as she clutched at the PaDD. It was obvious to him that their separation had weighed rather heavily on her. While not necessarily logical, the fact that he did not possess this information when they started to drift apart might have been part of the reason he’d allowed it, thinking that her perception of their relationship had changed in a negative way. T’Rel reached over the table and took Michaela by the hand, one of the few expressions of affection the Vulcan had ever allowed himself to show, though it was the first time he’d done so in full view of anyone other than her.

“I appreciate the difficulty of the emotions you are currently laboring to process, even if I do not understand them as you do. Logic is… hardly comforting in these situations,” T’Rel said as he struggled to find appropriately reassuring words, “However, I am here. And I will continue to assert a positive presence while aboard the Neptune. If I can provide a small bit of sanctuary again, I am… glad to do so.”

Michaela wiped her eye as she felt the touch of his hands to hers. She had missed it, though she didn’t know how much until now. “I know emotions aren’t easy for you, but you always tried to understand me and that alone showed something that most people don’t care about in my life.” She grabbed the PaDD and handed it to him. “I want you to read this if you want to know the truth. It might say a certain word I always wanted to say to you, but just never could given how I thought things were going to go.”

T’Rel took the PaDD and scanned the contents, his eyes stopping several times when they fell on certain phrases that he had to ponder the meaning of briefly to fully absorb the message being conveyed. When he finally reached the part she’d alluded to, his brow drew together in brief vexation, followed by his right eyebrow furrowing upward as he considered his response. After giving the matter the consideration it was due, and leaving their conversation hanging awkwardly for an extended period of time, the Vulcan drew himself to his full sitting height and gave her a measured looked.

“I reciprocate the intended message, though I am uncertain how to adequately express it in a meaningful manner as I am, as you are no doubt aware, not given to emotionalism,” T’Rel remarked soberly.

Michaela paused and as she did it was like the whole world slowed down. She didn’t really care what anyone said at this moment. They were in a secluded booth so it was easier to hide from everyone she leaned over the table, scared to make this move. She leaned toward T’Rel’s lips and gave him a kiss. “This is the way I can express it to you.”

The Vulcan sat stock still during the exchange, then as she pulled away he couldn’t help but mutter, “Fascinating…”

Michaela wasn’t sure how to feel about the response. It was T’Rel and he was Vulcan so maybe she should have expected it, but she thought he might have said something more to her. She sat there in silence fidgeting with her hands not knowing how to react now.

It took the Vulcan a few more moments before he realized he’d probably caused a bit of self-consciousness in the woman. He cleared his throat, attempting to recover the composure that he’d lost entirely at the abrupt and unexpected gesture of affection.

“I apologize. I had not anticipated such an exchange and was unable to formulate a proper response in the moment. I did not, however, find the exchange to be unpleasant in the least. I am interested to know more about this particular ritual, as it is entirely different from what I have experienced among my own people,” T’Rel remarked, his thoughts tumbling forth with far less cohesion than normal.

Michaela looked up and composed herself to think of what she should say, “If you want to know more about this ritual we shouldn’t talk about it here because it could be awkward for others. Let’s just say this is one way we show emotions among some more grandeur and not so appropriate. Just something you hold with one person in privacy.”

“I see…” T’Rel said, nodding to himself as he processed the information, “Then I suppose for the time being, we will need to place that topic on hold. I also believe that we may wish to consider placing an order, lest we continue to occupy this space for purposes other than what it was intended for.”

The Vulcan turned to look at the nearby bar before looking back at his companion, “Is there anything you would like from the bar that I might be able to procure for you?” 

Michaela could tell she hit a spot even for T’Rel, “First off, I am sorry. I wasn’t trying to make you feel uncomfortable, but you asked so I wanted to answer it for you.” She thought for a moment, “If you’ll let me order something for you as well. Grab two Steakhouse Burgers with A1 sauce, a basket of seasoned fries, and two Sweet Teas.”

“I am not uncomfortable,” T’Rel denied flatly before pushing himself out of the booth, “I will, however, procure the order. I remember you speaking highly of ‘burgers’ on the Potemkin, but have not been of the mind to partake of one before. This should be an interesting experience to add to the other memorable exchanges already today.”

The Vulcan turned away from the booth, beating what could only be called a measured retreat as he weaved through the throng of patrons on his way to the bar.

Michael had been trying to prepare for this mission, but like most he never knew what to expect. As a Captain, who had seen more than his fair share of surprises he didn’t expect an easy mission, but he would let the crew keep the hope that such a thing existed. The Neptune was a well supplied ship and his crew was one of the best he could have ever hoped for. He couldn’t actually remember the last time the ship was at a station for resupply due to the Vesta’s nature. 

The biggest challenge was going to be the Delta Quadrant, especially due to the fact that Michael had never been there. It was the only uneasy doubt he had with the mission moving forward. Regardless of his personal feelings he always tried to keep a professional demeanor with his crew. 

He heard a chime at his office door and walked to the door opening it to see the ships crimson headed Astrometric’s officer. “Lieutenant Bolton, this is unexpected what can I do from you?“

Michaela smiled and walked into the office “Sir, I looked over the data you had asked and I discovered the most likely spot for the blood dilithium is near Devore territory. As we haven’t had any issues of conflict in the past this should be a fairly run of the mill mission. The information indicates the dilithium should be easy to find if there is any near the area that is. All indications point to the fact that we would most likely see it forming near the edge of the Devores territory.“

Michael nodded “That is some excellent work Lieutenant. I think the possibility of finding the dilithium is very high, but if it’s on the threshold of Devore territory I don’t want to underestimate this. While we haven’t had issues with the Devore I can’t say that conflict is not possible. The Devore have been peaceful because we have not done anything to cause an issue in the past. That might change when we bring a ship so close to their territory.“

Michael thought a moment and tapped his badge “Commander Richards, please have Midshipman Sahal and Lieutenant Kennedy report to my office at once.” 

Tallie was always looking to help the Captain, as it was her job. She prided herself in not disappointing him. “Aye, Sir.” she replied, before drafting the appropriate messages to the two members on the ship.  

Hallih had finished her regeneration, which though a process she was used to still seemed to cause issues with some of the crew on the ship because of her extended time off duty. Hallih didn’t worry about it because the Captain had approved her to be on the ship and he knew her condition. She had recently been promoted to Midshipman and was working her way to Ensign. She had been in Starfleet so long she had been told she should go for officer. Due to the unique physiology she possessed she had lived longer than most species and still had many years to go. She was just preparing to leave for her shift when she got the message to report to the Captain. She acknowledged the message and headed that way.

Amanda had been just getting ready to end her shift when she got the prompt to meet the Captain. She didn’t hesitate anytime the Captain needed her she was there. It had been mentioned in her evaluations on how she always made sure things were taken care of regardless of the situation. She had planned some holodeck time but that would have to wait. As she reached the hall to the office she saw a Midshipman heading in the same direction. Amanda was familiar with Sahal, especially how the crew didn’t like her. Amanda didn’t pay them no mind though if the Captain approved it that was all that mattered. They reached the office door and watched it slide open to see the Captain and the Astrometric’s officer waiting for them.  

Michael smiled as the two woman entered the office “Thank you for both coming so quickly I need your opinions as we prepare to reach the missions start. Midshipman from all your time of studying the area around Devore space over the past week to prepare do you see anything that we need to worry about?”

Hallih thought for a moment specifically on the information she had been looking at just yesterday before replying “Unless you call the normal issues of the Delta Quadrant a problem than no Sir I don’t believe so. All the information that was gathered show that things near Devore is rather calm. That should make things easier in the standpoint of mission success, but then I guess we can never know what surprises might await us.“ 

Michael nodded “That is true I have learned to never underestimate a mission and in this case since we will be in the Delta Quadrant I wouldn’t put anything as being too crazy. This is a first for the Neptune, though I know you’re all up to the task at hand.“ He stopped and looked over at his Chief of Security “Lieutenant do you see any issues that would play into the overall security of the ship as we Head into unknown territory? Is the security teams ready for any kind of surprises that might try to hit us while we are exploring the area?”

Amanda nodded “The security teams are prepared for the unexpected, though we can never fully prepare I have made sure to teach them to prepare the unexpected that way they are never surprised by what may come against us. I have been in the Delta Quadrant once and I can tell you from experience that even if we think we might be safe we are never safe. The information I read says that the Devore are friendly unless provoked. This could serve as an issue because even if we do nothing to provoke them if they feel they have been provoked they will attack us. If they do we know nothing about their combat skills or power and we will be going into that battle completely blind. I hate not knowing my opponent, but that’s where we stand.

Michael rubbed his beard for a minute as he contimplated what had been said. Michaela and Hallih both stated that this should be easy, but Amanda didn’t seem to think as liberally as they had. He was about to speak when Amanda continued. “Furthermore from a Tactical standpoint we have no advantage, though the ship may be prepared for a fight we do not know what we could be up against. I know we are not looking fight and all information seems to show this will be a peaceful mission I do not want to say for a minute that this will be easy.“

Michael nodded while it was true the mission was supposed to be easy or so that’s what he was told he knew not to take any mission for granted. He looked at the three woman that were surrounding his desk and smiled “I thank you for your insight and your time. We will be arriving at the spot that the dilithium should be at in approximately 8 hours. Please continue to prepare for the unexpected. Lieutenant Bolton and Midshipman Sahal, please continue to look at the area and the information for anything that could give us an indication of danger should it arise. Lieutenant Kennedy, continue to run drills and prepare for any eventuality. I am not sure what to expect, but I don’t think it’s going to be as simple as I was led to believe.”

The three woman nodded in acknowledgment to the Captain and departed the room. Michael looked out the window ‘This isn’t going to be easy. I’m not sure why, but I feel like this mission is going to test us all. May we be ready for what’s to come.’

To be continued…