Ginell moved through her quarters, packing her things into several containers. She grabbed her picture frames from her desk, as well as some other mementos that she has kept with her over the years and different lifetimes, and tucked them into one of the bags. She was able to open her clothes drawer when the door bell chime rang, so she stood up straight and faced the door, “Enter.”

The familiar hissing sound revealed an Andorian standing in the entry way, his arms crossed with a slight frown on his face. They both didn't say anything and stared at each other for a few seconds before Ginell turned around and went back to packing, opening the drawer and taking out her off duty clothing. She walked across the room to put the shirts in her bag when she said, “Well, have you decided if your coming in or not?”

Kosev, who was looking down to the ground and not paying any attention to her packing, finally looked up and said, “I was just thinking, maybe I can reach out to Captain Taavik at Deep Space 47, maybe he has some sway-”

Ginell stopped for a moment, looking up at Kosev and smiled, “You wouldn't dare.”

“Wouldn't I?” He smiled, as he finally stepped into her quarters, the door closing behind him. Ginell smirked as she shuffled some things around in her bag to fit a few more pieces of clothing, then fought with the bag to close the zipper. Kosev came over and helped her, holding the bag shut so she could pull the zipper, then he walked over to the edge of her bed and sat down. 

Since he was horrible with goodbyes, he found himself struggling to come up with things to say and talk about, so he asked, “When are you leaving?”

Ginell was putting her picture frames and other items carefully into one of the containers, not looking back as she replied, “0800 tomorrow morning, will take about three weeks for us to reach the Talvath Cluster, then the real fun begins.” 

She smiled wryly, then was about to continue moving about her quarters, but decided to take a seat in the chair next to Kosev. They looked at each other for a while, then he smiled, “I'm so happy for you; you are going to do wonderful things. No one is more deserving than you are.”

She smiled, “But…”

“But…" He felt the tears begin to well up in his eyes, then he said through a smile with a slight croak in his throat, "I'm going to miss you dammit.” They both laughed. Ginell grabbed his arm and brought him in for a hug. They embraced for a while without saying anything, without having the need to say anything. The amount of years they knew each other, they knew what the other was thinking.

A chime came at the door to her quarters, and they both stopped hugging before Ginell finally said, “Enter.” The doors opened to reveal Savar, who didn't wait for permission to walk right in. “Well, I was wondering when you'd show up.” She said playfully, standing up and punching Savar in the arm slightly before forcing a hug on him. Savar, uncomfortable with the display of emotion at first, finally moved his hands from behind his back and patted Ginell on the back as she embraced him. 

“I was merely checking to see if you were ready to depart. If memory serves, you are notorious for procrastinating until the last moment.” Savar said, looking around the room at all the open drawers and containers. 

“You're mistaken, he's the procrastinator.” She pointed to Kosev, who had an expression of innocence on his face, “I had to practically shove him out of his office at Avalon before we launched.”

“I invoke the Seventh Guarantee under the advice from my counsel.” Kosev said wryly, causing Ginell to roll her eyes. 

“I hope your excited to have to deal with that now.” She said, pointing to Kosev. Savar was about to protest and Ginell through up her hand and shook her hand, “Never mind.” She said, causing Kosev to laugh. She put the last of her belongings in the round container and looked around the room, “Well… that does it.”

Kosev stood from the bed, looking at both of them, then to Ginell, “You both are my best friends, it's difficult to imagine this journey without you after all these years.” He smiled, shifting his gaze between them both, “Having said that, Starfleet needs great officers to step up, particularly now, and I couldn't be prouder that you've answered the call and accepted.” He held out his hand to shake hers, “Congratulations, Captain Daan.”

“Thanks, Captain. I couldn't have got here without you,” She looked to Savar, “without both of you.”

“I have every confidence that you will succeed in this new role as you have in all of your previous roles, Captain.” Savar said, raising one eyebrow, “Congratulations, indeed.”

Kosev pick up a few of the containers, Savar grabbing the others, and then said, “Come on, we'll walk you to the transporter room. After all, I bet you're itching to get to your new ship.” He said as both him and Savar walked through the doors and out into the corridor, Ginell following behind. She stopped and lingered in the doorway, turning around and taking one last look at her quarters. She smiled and nodded, then looking to her friends before they continued down to the transporter room. 

Savar stood at the entrance to the airlock as the doors opened, revealing Captain Thiren and a few other personnel behind him, “Permission to come aboard, Commander.” He said jokingly through a smile as they began to cross the threshold onto the ship. 

Savar, his hands behind his back holding a PADD, looked at the Captain, “How was your trip?”

“Oh, you should have come with me, Savar. I've always wanted to tour a Pathfinder class starship up close, but I never had the chance before. It was nice of her new Captain to offer.” He smiled, of course hinting at the newly promoted Captain Daan, his former first officer and their dear friend. 

Savar raised his eyebrow as they both began down the corridor towards the turbolift, “I did make an effort to attend, however additional repairs and crew rotations kept me here.” Savar took the PADD from behind his back and handed it to Kosev, “We have received additional upgrades to our sensor arrays, as well as a new central processing unit for the main computer core. The result has seen an upgrade in processing power in nearly all of the ship's systems, most notably the astrometrics lab.”

Kosev scrolled through the data on the PADD as Savar was talking and his eyes widened, “Fascinating, it says here the increased efficiency combined with the new sensor array upgrades should enhance sensor resolution and range by over fourteen percent. Anything else?”

“We have received additional deuterium and antimatter reserves, and the dilithium crystals have been replaced in the warp core. We have also received additional photon and quantum torpedoes to replenish those used during our last mission.” Savar said, returning his hands behind his back as they walked. 

“Very good, did you oversee the weapons transfer yourself for old time's sake?” Kosev said through a smile, nudging the Vulcan in the arm.

“Actually, I did not. Our new chief tactical officer, Lieutenant Tali Omer, was present and oversaw the transfer personally.”

“I wasn't aware she had come onboard yet, any additional new crew members during this rotation?” Kosev asked.

“All of our new senior staff have reported aboard, Captain. Lieutenant Tavana Hughes, our chief engineer, has been overseeing the upgrades to Pioneer's systems with our new chief operations officer, Lieutenant Commander Lukas Murphy, and chief science officer, Lieutenant Zameer Khan. They estimate another thirty six hours until all upgrades have been completed.”

Kosev nodded as the two of the rounded a corner and kept on going down the corridor, “What about the doctor?”

“Lieutenant Commander Aleah Ryan has also reported aboard and is in process of certifying all crew member's medical records before we leave the fleet yards. She has requested for you to meet her in sickbay for a routine scan when you came on board.” Savar said.

Kosev nodded, “Understood.” As they finally approached the turbolift, they noticed that holodeck two was online with a program running. Kosev almost paid it no mind and was about to enter the turbolift, but halted for a second and said, “Computer, identify user and program running on holodeck two?”

=^=Lieutenant Tali Omer is currently running Omer training program gamma on holodeck two.=^=

Kosev looked to Savar, who was already on the turbolift, and said, “Ordinarily I wouldn't interrupt, but now's as good a time as any to meet my new chief tactical officer, wouldn't you say?” Savar nodded and the pair of them entered the holodeck.

Looking around as they analyzed their surroundings, Savar was the first to speak, “It appears to be some kind of hall or meeting place.”

Kosev scanned the walls and observed several different types of hand to hand weapons, ranging from knives to wooden sticks, “Looks more like a dojo to me.” 

In the distance, they heard grunting and yelling, followed by loud thud sounds. Continuing forward, Kosev and Savar entered the main room and saw Tali engaging a group of six men in intense hand to hand combat. Savar was about to step forward and announce their presence, but Kosev extended his arm across Savar's chest, holding him back, as he continued to observe their new tactical officer. 

Tali's martial arts skills were extremely impressive. She moved around the hall gracefully, landing several blows on her opponents while simultaneously dodging their strikes. In a matter of fifteen seconds, Tali had managed to incapacitate four of the six men, causing Kosev to look back at Savar with a smile cracked in the corner of his mouth. Savar raised an eyebrow and muttered, “Impressive.” 

The last two opponents grabbed weapons, one had a knife while the other grabbed a staff, and both charged Tali at the same time. Redirecting the attacking energy of the knife wielding attacker, she landed two quick hits to his face and quickly threw him aside, then refocused all energy on the larger opponent with the staff. Grabbing the weapon as the man swung it at her, she performed a high kick and snapped the staff in half, then ran at the man, grabbing his head with her legs and throwing him to the ground, rendering him unconscious. Kosev looked back at Savar again, who only muttered, “Most impressive.”

“Computer, freeze program.” Kosev said as he and Savar approached the middle of the dojo. Tali turned around and immediately stood to attention. Kosev threw up his hands and said, “At ease, Lieutenant.”

“My apologies, Captain, I was not aware you were going to be back on board today or I would've greeted you at the airlock.” Tali said, attempting to control her heavy breathing, standing almost at attention, though a bit more relaxed.

“No apologies necessary, Lieutenant. I had the opportunity to get here a little quicker, and took advantage of it. I was on my way to sickbay and wanted to meet my new chief tactical officer, I hope you don't mind the intrusion." He said, extending his hand to shake hers. 

She grabbed his hand, “It's a pleasure to meet you, Captain. I am very grateful for the opportunity to serve with you.”

Kosev laughed and looked around at all the unconscious holographic bodies on the ground around them, “And I'm grateful to have you, I feel safer already, Lieutenant.” He laughed, causing Tali to form a small smile as well as she looked down shyly. Kosev jabbed Savar once more and said, “I think she might give you a run for your money, Commander.”

Kosev knew that Savar was a master martial artist himself, but that didn't stop him from poking some fun at his new first officer. Savar raised his eyebrow and said dryly, “Perhaps. Perhaps not." 

Kosev laughed again before looking back at Tali, “Well, it was a pleasure to meet you, Lieutenant. I'll leave you to it, don't want to keep the doctor waiting.” He nodded, then turned to leave the holodeck with his Vulcan friend. As the holodeck doors opened and they approached the turbolift, Kosev said, “Admit it, she's better than you are.”

“After all these years, you should know by now that Vulcans do not lie, Captain.” He said, stepping onto the turbolift. 

“Shall we proceed to Sickbay, Captain?” Savar asked as they both stepped into the turbolift. Kosev turned to his first officer and shook his head slightly, then ordered the computer to instead take them to deck six. He looked to the Vulcan and said, “No, I want to check on Cassian first and see how he's doing.” 

They stood in silence for a few seconds before Kosev asked, “Who's on duty on the bridge?”

“Ensign Nakav.” He answered plainly. 

Kosev nodded and tapped his comm badge, “Thiren to Nakav.”

Perking up in the captain's chair, Kyth quickly tapped his badge and replied, “Nakav here, Captain.”

Kosev smiled to himself after hearing the slight apprehension in the young ensign's voice, “Please let Commander Murphy and Lieutenant's Hughes and Khan that I will meet them in Engineering in one hour. Still have a few more rounds to make first.”

“Aye, Captain.” Kyth said quickly.

“Thiren out.” Kosev looked to Savar and said, “For all that we just went through together, he still seems a little green.”

“Ensign Nakav is Orion, Captain.” Savar said plainly, still looking forward. 

Kosev rolled his eyes and chuckled, he turned to the Vulcan and held up his hands as the turbolift doors opened, “Head down to Engineering, I'll meet with Cassian and Doctor Ryan, then meet you down there.” Savar nodded, staying in the turbolift while Kosev continued down the corridor. 

Arriving and standing outside the doors to Cassian's quarters, Kosev hit the door chime command on the pad and waited for a response, but did not receive one. He hit the door chime again, and again nothing. Looking up slightly, he said, “Computer, locate Counselor Edren.”

“Counselor Edren is in Sickbay.”

“Well, guess there's no putting off the medical examination.” He muttered under his breath, hoping that Cassian would've provided enough of a distraction to skip the visit to sickbay all together this afternoon. He walked back towards the turbolift and proceeded up one deck, then made his way down the hall and to sickbay. 

Walking in, he immediately noticed Cassian with a few engineers from Avalon Fleet Yards working on one of the biobeds in the far corner. “Glad you see you up about about, Counselor.” Kosev spoke up to the young man, who immediately turned around and stood at attention, along with the engineers.

“Captain, I didn't realize you were here, my apologies.” He said somewhat nervously.

“Don't strain yourselves, gentlemen.” He said through a smirk, holding up his hands and shaking his head slightly, motioning for them to relax. “I just wanted to check in and see how you were doing, you hadn't regained consciousness before I left for my trip.”

Cassian smiled and nodded, “I appreciate that, Captain. I'm doing okay, thanks primarily to Doctor Ryan of course.” He said loudly so the doctor would hear on the other side of the room, holding up his arm for her to approach them. Kosev looked over and saw her slowly walking over, her arms crossed and her eyebrows raising slightly as she scanned them on her way over. 

“My guess is you were never in any life threatening danger, that serum that you were injected with seemed to put you into some kind of long term stasis, for what purpose I can't imagine.”

“Probably so the saboteur could replace someone without risking them waking up and blowing their cover.” Kosev said, his arms also crossed as he shifted his look to Cassian.

“But why go through all the trouble to keep the victim alive? Wouldn't it be easier to just kill the original?” Aleah pointed out, and as she did, she immediately put her hands to her mouth, “Oh, I'm so sorry Cassian, I didn't mean-”

“It's alright, it's a perfectly valid question.” Cassian said through a smile, reassuring the doctor. 

“Only thing that comes to mind is so the imposter has access to the host and can interrogate them for information, either about their target or about the host's personal life to make their deception all the more convincing.” Kosev said, his antennae shifting at the thought of other potential changeling infiltrators doing the same on other starships.

“If they were after secrets or information, I'm not sure why the changeling though the ship's counselor was a prime target. If it were me, I would've went for someone in engineering, or perhaps even yourself, Captain.” Cassian said, Aleah also seeming to agree. 

“You were the only one on board who was a direct threat to the changeling, Counselor. With your abilities, you would've discovered him had he replaced anyone else, his target always had to be you.” Kosev said, shaking his head slightly. He put his hand on the counselor's shoulder, “Whatever their motives or intentions, I'm just glad we got you back."

Kosev looked around at the engineers who continued to work while they were conversing and said, “How goes the repairs and upgrades?” 

Aleah stood up straight from leaning on the console and said, “Well, we have the repairs to this biobed left, and the upgrades to the surgical bay. Then there were some additional items in the medical lab, so all together I'm thinking another day or two until all systems are completed. Maybe less with the Counselor's help.” She said, smiling at Cassian. 

“Very good, thank you both.” Kosev said, and started to turn and head for the exit before he heard Aleah behind him speak up, “Um, Captain, not so fast.”

He stood in front of the sickbay doors and smiled, then turned around to meet the doctor's look, “I was this close.” He said, walking back to one of the biobeds. 

Aleah smirked, “Well, you know what they say, Captain's make the second worst patients.” She grabbed her tricorder and began to take scans as he took a seat on the edge of the bed. 

“Second worst? Who's the first?” Kosev asked. 

“Doctors, of course.” Aleah said playfully, as she continued the examination.