“Command confirmed this morning that the division is being ordered to the Shackleton Expanse, which means we will leave immediately for Vadia and use the transwarp conduit there.”

Zach leaned back in his chair and looked around the room, feeling the weight of three ships’ worth of crew resting on the decisions he was about to outline. The klingons were sat on one side, with the Resolute team on the other. Both were silent, but their expressions were thoughtful.

He leaned forward and tapped his padd, activating the screen set on the wall between the windows in the conference room. It showed a view of the conduit, and then the Shackleton Expanse beyond it. He swiped on his padd and the image changed.

“We’ll be taking this route, and heading into sector alpha-foxtrot-three-four, taking in the Ceryne, Tolatian, and Vaardorn systems,” he nodded toward the new map. “Our mission orders are primarily exploration and surveying. Thanks to previous conditions making travel all but impossible before now, we know very little about this area. Which is why we’re going in as a division and sticking together. The Canterbury is set up for exploration and data collection, so we’re going to be doing the heavy lifting there, but… we don’t know who or what is out there and the Canterbury’s loadout is not dedicated to combat.”

Mason’s lips split into a broad grin. “Good job the Resolute’s is then.”

Zach nodded. “Absolutely, and I’m going to be counting on that if we encounter any hostile situations out there. Remember, we don’t know who or what we might run into. And that’s another reason having the Korinar at our side will be extremely useful, given the location of the expanse itself.”

He turned to look at Raaith, who lounged casually in his seat, one long, leather-clad leg slung over the other. Long hair, leather pants, that casual confidence—if he lost the jacket and added some eyeliner, he wouldn’t look out of place in the Screaming Helltoads lineup.

Zach slid a sideways look at Enna. She was standing not quite to attention against the wall by the door, expression unreadable. Had she noticed? She played drums with the Helltoads, and guys who looked exactly like this—hell, his previous boss sang with them. Zach’s jaw tightened. Did she prefer Barrington to him? Was that why he couldn’t get her to say yes to a date… or even sparring with him? But that was a question for later, and he forced himself to refocus on the briefing.

“We are familiar with the Expanse,” Raaith said, not bothering to look at the map, his attention on the Starfleet officers in the room instead. “But, as you said, it was impossible to navigate until recently. However, there are stories of ships who attempted it. Most did not return.” He shrugged. “What happened to them is unknown.”

Kellan rubbed at his jaw. “If I am not mistaken, there were at least two House Miras ships that were last seen heading for that area of space.”

Raaith looked at him, his expression unreadable for a moment, then he grinned. “You are unusually well informed… for a Starfleet officer. House Miras tends to keep such details very much in house.”

Mason’s chair creaked as he shifted his weight.

Kellan chuckled, eyes bright with amusement. “My boy, you’d be surprised what I know.”

“Uncle, stop baiting the klingons,” Mason admonished, shaking his head. “It’s impolite when they are our guests.”

The honorific was unusual and definitely not Starfleet protocol, but Zach let it pass. Whatever cultural nuance the universal translator was interpreting as “uncle,” it wasn’t worth picking up on in front of the Klingons.

“Oh, not at all,” Raaith’s smile didn’t budge, but Zach noticed it didn’t reach his eyes. “My grandmother is very strict that we respect our elders. But that does mean I am honour-bound to invite you back to the Korinar and see if you can hold your blood-wine. And if you can’t…” He shrugged. “Then a wise man would be stupid not to try and get out of you what you know.”

Zach chuckled, taking back control of the briefing before it could spiral out of control as Kellan and Raaith circled each other.

“That sounds like a hell of an after-party,” he said, his voice firmer now. “And since I need all my officers with clear heads, it will have to be the after-party for this mission. Our passage through the Vadia conduit is already booked, which gives us just enough time to get there if we leave within the hour. I have prepared mission packets for you both, which you will find on your return to your ships. Any questions?”

The two other captains shook their heads, which he took as a good sign. Mason he knew would speak his mind if he had any issues, but given that Zach had assigned a combat role to him, albeit a backup if things went sideways, he didn’t anticipate any arguments. After all, it wasn’t as if he was making him do any scientific surveys. Even if the Resolute had been set up for it, which it wasn’t, neither was her captain.

Raaith on the other hand, was the unknown. He was klingon, yes, but they weren’t all hellbent on battle and glory… just most of them. At least, that was the stereotype, and from what he’d read of the House of Miras, they were definitely the hellbent type. Mostly all down to Raaith’s grandmother, who had cut her way to control of the house through half her own family in a bloody and brutal coup. Rumour said Raaith was definitely a chip off the old block, so he had to be careful how he handled the guy.

“Excellent.” Zach smiled as he stood. “Then I will let you both get back to your ships and we can get underway. Dismissed.”

Raaith rose, and as he turned toward the door, threw Kellan a wink brazen enough to make even Mason snort.