“Good morning.”  The voice of Captain Alexandra Pantuso sent newly promoted Lieutenant Deborah Porter to her feet in her own office.  She stood awkwardly at attention.

“Captain Pantuso.  What can I do for you?”  Porter wasn’t unused to working with senior command officers.  Her transition to Director of Administrative Operations, a mere twenty-four hours ago, had been the first surprise.  She was still in training, and the morning had started early with her alarm jolting her awake.  Coffee was helping, and then the station commanding officer ‌arrived.

“At ease, Lieutenant Porter.  I’m here to congratulate you on the new position and office.  The recommendation from Commodore Fontana came with high praise.  And high expectations.”  Porter felt a flick of something on that last sentence from Pantuso.  Her intensity was well known.  “You’ve reviewed the expectations on departmental reports?”

“Yes, ma’am.  I’m collecting my rosters now and will have a complete accounting for yeomen, assistants, and administrative officers on the station.”  She felt her pits sweat under the glaring eyes of the station commander.  She fought the urge to explain more about the process.  Porter had done her homework on Pantuso.  Quick and focused were her preferences.  She didn’t have time to get lost in the details.

“Very well.  Good luck, lieutenant.”  Pantuso spun on her heels and walked out of her office and out of Porter’s new department.

“Ensign Natalie Harris.”  Lieutenant Sienna Frisco handed over a PADD to Porter as she sipped on a hot tea.  “I dug through the current roster and staffing.  They’re all qualified.  But I need someone with a little edge.  Hence, Ensign Harris.”

Porter scrolled. “She got caught up in the shuffle with Franklin D. Roosevelt.  How much of a fight did Captain Crawford put up?”

“He got the Zephyr with a transwarp-level yeoman team.  I helped him see how more successful Ms. Harris could be here on Montana Station.”

Deborah rolled her eyes at her friend.  “Surely it had nothing to do with her mother being on station as a civilian business owner?”

Frisco chuckled, her eyes sparkling bright with amusement.  “I think it might have helped.  Crawford’s particularly susceptible to leverage involving family, especially daughters.”

Porter sat up, casting a warning glance across the desk.  “He may look like a gentle captain, but don’t forget he earned his ribbons in the Dominion War.  Manipulate him at your own peril.”

“I resent the implication, Lieutenant.”  Her smile was evidence of the truth of her reply.  “The roster and staffing you’re getting aren’t terrible. Plenty of possibilities in this crowd.”  Frisco had been appointed as one of Porter’s training officers.  She checked her chronometer.  “Ensign Harris is due within the hour.  You want me to sit in on the interview?”

Porter answered her question with a question.  “You think I need ‌the help?”  Her tone was neutral.  They had both built a strong friendship that had become a virtual sisterhood.  Sienna had filled the role as if she had been born for it.  Both were only children, and it felt good to have someone closer than most to share time with.

“I think you can use the help. Hell, I can still use the help, even with my extended and detailed training with Tobias.  I keep taking notes and he keeps talking, and I’m still learning things with just a few weeks to go before he heads back home for good.  Hopefully.”

Porter sensed something in her words.  “He is going back home for good, right?”

Frisco’s eyes widened, genuine fear displaying briefly on her face.  “I hope so, Deb.  His departure schedule hasn’t changed, but something’s up with him.  He’s not letting up on giving me the job.  If anything, he’s moving faster to offload the job to me.”

The former yeoman sat forward, curious.  “You don’t think he found someone here on the station?  Someone he wants to stick around for?”

Sienna narrowed her eyes, thinking.  Her mind raced around interactions, schedules, and meetings her mentor had taken.  Suddenly, it clicked. “Oh, no.  No.”

“What?”

“He’s been meeting with Rachel Harris as a liaison for routine colonial transport operations.  I thought nothing of it until you said it.  Wonderful.”

Porter shrugged.  “If it’s even true.”

Sienna sighed.  “It makes sense.  I’m glad you’re going to be with me during the Ensign Harris interview.  What a mess.”

Porter cackled, dancing in her chair, “Ain’t no mess like a Montana Station Mess.”

“I hate you.”

“You love me.”

“Allegedly,” Sienna said as she smiled, sipping ‌her tea.