—- USS Andromeda, Bridge —-

With the USS West Covina and a few other California-class ships having arrived at the colony to lead recovery efforts and focus on rebuilding and providing medical support, the USS Andromeda was able to resume on their way to the Triangle, the region of space between Romulan, Klingon, and Federation territories having decided that the pirates likely were no longer in the system. While picking on one Starfleet vessel was within their goals, taking on multiple vessels seemed ambitious.

Sitting in the captain’s chair in the centre of the bridge Captain Olivia Carrillo read through the files that Ambassador T’Venik had sent to her. The Vulcan ambassador watched quietly as the Starfleet officer wrestled with the material.

“So there’s no assurance from either side that this is going to work?” Carrillo concluded lowering the PADD, and glancing to her left where the ambassador was seated.

“That is correct, neither planet is desiring peace, so much as hoping for a final climatic victory,” the Vulcan nodded, “However a more likely outcome giving the recent aggression from the Klingon houses and empire would be that their continued attacks on neutral ships draw the ire of a house looking for a fight.”

“Will they attack us?” Carrillo asked, wondering if this was a possibility that she needed to go over with Lieutenant Jara her Chief Security and Tactical Officer.

“Likely initially,” T’Venik admitted, “However their ships are about a well-armed as shuttles. They will insist that they are only talking to us because they are militarily superior, even if they are not.”

“And we want to have both of these races here on board?” Carrillo asked, feeling that this was dubious.

“Correct. Neutral ground is the only way we may be able to navigate this to a mutually agreed-upon conclusion. Neither species will allow a treaty to be signed on the other world,” T’Venik said, “All delegates will require a security detail to ensure they do not injure themselves or cause issues.”

Carrillo sighed, this did not seem as easy as she had hoped a diplomatic mission would be. While she was okay with being pleasant and pretending to be impressed by some species’ monuments or whatever was involved with brokering peace, this dealing with two species just interested in fighting each other seemed a great deal more difficult.

“Alright I’ll brief the crew at 010:00 hours,” Carrillo said, “We’ll be arriving at around noon tomorrow.”

-— Chief Councillor’s Office —- 

Carrillo stretched her arms, intertwining her fingers as she put her hands behind her head and lay down on the couch in the councillor’s office. She closed her eyes as she reclined and said in a weary voice, “I could just nap in here.”

Lieutenant Yuhiro Kolem knew that the ship’s captain was still coming to terms with being thrust into a command role with the injury to their former commanding officer. That she’d been transferred, along with most of the crew, to the much larger Andromeda was only adding to the woman’s stress. 

It did not take a Betazoid, or even half of a Betazoid, to tell that the captain was under pressure. In a relative few months she’d gone from the First Officer of a Luna-class ship to the Commanding Officer of one of the largest ship’s in the fleet, managing almost a thousand people including a civilian crew. Kolem had heard enough of the commanding officer’s complaints to know that this was placing stress on her that simply managing a bridge had not prepared her for.

The Chief Councillor crosed the room and sat down, putting her own feet up as she took a similarly reclined position. She let out a sigh, and then asked, “Did you just want your session to be a nap?”

With her eyes closed Carrillo smiled, “Not very therapeutic.”

“On the contrary,”  Kolem said, sometimes a nap can be just what the doctor ordered. I am an actual doctor you know.”

The young captain sighed, she knew that she needed rest, but having taken command of the Andromeda, it seemed more like running a cruise liner than a smile starship. Finally she sat up, and patted Kolem on the knee, “Good talk.”

“But we didn’t talk about anything,” Kolem protested, knowing it was futile, by this point she’d served with enough captains to know that short of relieving them of duty, there was not a lot to be done when they set their mind to getting up and leaving her office.

— Captain’s Ready Room —

Carrillo’s next stop did not prove to be the relaxing respite that she might have hoped for. The face of a thin and drawn-out Captain Radak filled her office screen, the Division Commanding Officer having just come back to work from treatment that was clearly having a negative effect on his health. 

“The USS Falcon will bring the equipment to your location,” Radak said, “As well as the civilian staff including a school teacher.”

“Thank you but we only have one child aboard,” Carrillo pointed out, knowing that while space was not a premium it was resource-intensive to send a whole teacher to them for just one student.

“Thank will change as a slightly older shift of scientists and diplomats cycle through the ship. You have been working with a relatively young crew from the USS Anaheim, and so I would expect that to change within the next cycle of junior staff,” Radak said.

Radak paused, clearly knowing that what he was about to say would not be taken logically. He learned his through of phlegm and spoke, “Also aboard the Falcon will be Captain Hawthorne. He has moved on from command of the USS Majestic and there is some thought within Starfleet that he should be the commanding officer of the Andromeda now.”

“This is the post you gave me,” protested Carrillo.

“I am aware, and I am doing what I can but you are young and inexperienced and while it is illogical to think that counts for nothing, it is also illogical to think that this will not be a factor,” Radak said.

“So what are you saying?” Carrillo asked, feeling a migraine starting.

“I suggest patience. You have this command because you have proven yourself. While I do not believe in fate, you still have time to prove yourself deserving or undeserving of such a command. Take this opportunity,” Radak said and then ended the transmission.