The turbo lift squealed open, instantly the power of command emanated to Eickhoff as he comprehended what he saw. Ahead of him was the bridge of the USS Sacramento. With his first step he felt the weight of responsibility on his shoulders, he looked around the bridge, fathoming its intensity, before standing at his former station. At the ops station, gripping the head of the chair, his eyes met the viewscreen at the centre of the bridge. Eickhoff turned around, spotting the powerhouse of leadership on the vessel, he was looking at the Captain’s chair. His seat for the next few months. Before he sat in his chair, Calvin paraded around the top section of the bridge, brushing his hands across the console as he passed. With his palm rested on the centre of the console, Calvin stopped to take in the gravity of the authority invested in him by Starfleet Command.

Eickhoff stepped into the centre of the bridge, awaiting the Captain’s order to be at ease, but it did not come. This time, he was in command. As he stared at the Captain’s chair, he questioned the strange mixture of pride, and the sense that what he had achieved was, in reality, unexceptional. Despite his internal conflict, Eickhoff turned to face the view screen, placed his hands on the armrests and apprehensively placed himself at Sacramento’s command.

—

“Yeah just over there please…” instructed the Sacramento’s Chief Engineer, Commander Sh’raleq, as a dozen technicians and crewmen loaded up equipment and resources into main engineering. As she spoke to her crew, the Chief Medical Officer, Lt. Commander Stenvall entered.

“Now don’t you look stressed!” Stenvall intruded. 

Stunned, the engineer turned around in confusion, shortly followed by joy at the sight of an old friend.

“I don’t think I have time to be stressed, Lotte, gotta load up five years of equipment in four hours!” She responded. “However, I can spare a few moments for an old friend.” Sh’raleq passed a junior officer her PADD. “So what brings you aboard the Sacramento then?”

“I could ask you the same, you could be on a flagship, why stay on this glorified daycare centre?” She answered back.

“Honestly, I think I just prefer helping out crews who need it the most. The Sacramento has gone through enough renovations over the years to get anyone lost!” Commander Sh’raleq clapped back.

The Doctor, her face scrunched with confusion, yet unsurprised by Sh’raleq’s disposition for kindness and selflessness, replied “I’ve got to commend you for that, not many in Starfleet would do it, but either way I’m glad you’re here Tavana.”

“Oh you flatter me, Doctor. How I’ve missed ya!” Tavana quipped, before noticing a Cadet clumsily hauling a photon torpedo through main engineering. “Cadet! What do you think you’re doing? If that thing goes off in here, it’ll take at least another year to leave spacedock!” Tavana shrilled, hurrying the bewildered Cadet anywhere but near the warp core.

—

The Sacramento’s Commanding Officer settled himself into his position just as the turbo lift squealed open for a second time. Out came the camp but tough Chief of Security, Lieutenant Ezra Singh. He stepped forward pre-occupied and focussed on his PADD. The Lieutenant turned his focus from his reading to marvel in Bridge’s glory, this would be the first time he served in the capacity of leadership. As quick as he looked up he spotted the acting Commanding Officer “Oh, I’m sorry Sir, I didn’t realise you were in here. The bridge was out of order-” He said before being cut off.

“It’s ok Lieutenant, I’m just taking it in.” Eickhoff interjected.

“She’s beautiful, I’ve got to give her that, Sir.” The Lieutenant responded as he slowly approached the tactical station. There was a brief silence, both officers were staring out at the viewscreen.

“I could not agree more.” commented Eickhoff briefly.

“So, Sir, how are you settling into the Ship?” enquired Singh, in a feeble attempt at small talk, however his question went unanswered. This left Ezra feeling uncomfortable, he was the type of person to keep talking way past when the conversation had clearly ended. Ezra stood still in confusion, why did the Commander ignore him? 

__

The corridor bustled full of excited ensigns finding their rooms for their upcoming mission, breaking through the sea of enthusiasm was one Lieutenant Tak Jin-sun, the Chief Science Officer for the Sacramento. He marched with confidence carrying nothing but a bag that was slung across his shoulder, he did not bother looking anywhere else but ahead. The junior ensigns, one by one, fell swooning over him. This was unremarkable for Jin-sun, he carried on unbothered.

The cocky, overconfident Lieutenant stood outside his quarters as, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a Vulcan Ensign. Ensign T’pre and him made eye contact before she compulsively rolled her eyes with aversion.

“Whats up with you, I thought Vulcan’s didn’t show emotion?” toyed Lieutenant Tak.

Dumbfounded, the Vulcan looked him up and down “Oh, not this one and don’t flatter yourself. You may be a fancy department head but you’re still sharing a deck with ensigns.” shot back T’pre.

“Don’t pretend you don’t want me here” retaliated Jin-su whilst leaning up against the wall with a smirk on his face.

Ensign T’pre shook her head whilst what Jin-su just said sat in the air. “Let me make this very clear to you.” said the Vulcan whilst coming face to face with the Lieutenant “I don’t care for you, people like you are nothing but a pester to me.”

Tak Jin-su, still uncaring, looked away “Alright, I get it, you are emotional.” The Ensign backed up, feeling the tension that could be cut with a knife, and cleared the hallway. The pair had now inadvertently founded a relationship, unfortunately an uncomfortable one.

__

Later in the evening Calvin sat in the Captain’s quarters, taking in every aspect of command that he could in the limited time he had in it. He, now out of uniform, approached a side table topped with a bottle of aged Whiskey. Pouring himself a glass he took a moment to appreciate his achievement. Just as he went to take his first sip the room illuminated with flashing red lights as a voice filled the silence with “Commander Eickhoff to the Bridge.”