“We are on approach to Rho Omega II, sir.” The Trill helmsman paused, looking back from his console towards his captain. It wasn’t as though the bridge, if it truly warranted the name, were all that large to begin with. There was little room to maneuver, and really most of the stations were little more than small consoles that fulfilled their assigned purposes. This particular Raven class was a largely standard configuration in that manner. The ambience of the ship seemed remarkably sterile, however. It seemed to match the personality of its captain, almost spartan and to the point. At least that is how it was at first glance.

“Come to a halt, helm.” Though they were both Trill, there was a distinct harshness to his superior officer’s tones. This harsh tone did cause Ensign Krause to recoil slightly at his station. The captain of the Thyanis seemed utterly uninterested in being cordial with his more-junior officers. “And let’s get the planet up on the view screen.”

“Aye sir.” The helmsman tapped a few keys at his station.The image of a planet floating in the blackness of space materialized on the view screen. The bridge of the small Raven-class was no louder than usual, but it felt like there was something tangible in the air. As the Thyanis had met with various factions in the former Neutral Zone, more rumors of trouble had reached Kurios’ ears. 

Whereas once, the doctor had been free to prescribe a solution to an illness, he found the seat of a captain to be a greater millstone then his practice had ever been. Yes, he was traveling across the stars in the Beta Quadrant, but so much of his time was spent on the bridge. So much of Doctor Kurios’ time was spent as an administrator, as a supervisor, stuck on the bridge while his junior officers got to see the surface of worlds. Maybe it was just a consequence of his newfound position. He had never completely acclimated to private practice, either.

He knew he was no diplomat. He was closer to an engineer than he was a negotiator. The human body, or the Vulcan, or the Romulan, could be finely tuned machines. All sentient beings could receive such service, with the right knowledge. That knowledge had never helped his bedside manner, however. That is a place where his bridge officers outperformed him. Kurios had to admit, if only to himself, that Etan was far better skilled at bringing the disparate factors in a situation to parse out a solution. Cimozjen had pissed off a lot of people in Starfleet over the years. Being willing to break rules in order to heal bodies? That was not the sort of thing that the Federation’s finest tended to appreciate, let alone tolerate. 

“The Rho Omega Colony has been due for a visit for a while, captain.” The Romulan tactical officer pulled the medical officer from his uncomfortable reverie with her words. “Traders have made mention of a viral infection spreading across the surface. It has left several settlements spread out beyond the colony to an unknown fate.”

“Is this,” Kurios waved a hand in the direction of the view screen, “disease localized, or is it related to the virus that has been concerning the other colonies?”

“Unknown, sir.” Etan’s tone was apologetic. “While there has been a lot of talk amongst local powers, it has led to several colonies understandably choosing to isolate themselves. This has slowed the flow of data between the inhabitants of the former Neutral Zone. If you like, we will send down a team to investigate and secure the surface before we put boots on the ground. You won’t even have to leave the bridge, sir.”

Cimozjen stared hard at his second in command. He could feel the tension in his jaw as his teeth ground together. There was always a risk, and while he knew that transporters were supposed to screen out disease. The trouble with the biofilters, which had caused trouble for more than one Starfleet vessel over the years, was they could only catch diseases or viruses that had been cataloged by the Federation. He could very well be sending Etan in blind, and the biofilters would only help if the team was transported down.

That said, Lieutenant Kurios would be just as much at risk as anyone. He had the medical expertise that would be needed if things went sideways. She was the better asset in this situation, because he was only more valuable to their success if things went sideways. In a way, that stung.

Instead of letting that show on his face, Kurios flashed Etan a smile that never reached his eyes. “Well, it is time that we give you a chance to demonstrate the skills that earned you those rank pips, Lieutenant Junior Grade Etan.”

“Sir.” The word came out as more of a question. The single word was accompanied with a flash of confusion and a flash of hurt flashed across her face.

“I am sure that you have been absolutely chomping at the bit to get your feet wet in a ground mission all on your own. I am saying that I approve. Select the members of your away team. I will stand by on the bridge, catch up one some paperwork, maybe even find out if Rodrigo and Maria work out in the end.”

Etan opened her mouth to comment, but she caught the glance that confirmed what she had already started to suspect. She could not trust the sincerity of a word from her captain. Every statement, every turn of phrase, every off observation seemed to be constructed to either test or frustrate her. Making another passing reference to the trashy ‘romance’ novels she had caught him indulging in was just another test. Or maybe, her captain was just messing with her expectations for his own entertainment. Either way, she would not rise to bait.

“We will load the shuttle craft and depart for the surface, as per your orders.” Etan stepped back, not breaking her gaze as she did so. “Unless there is anything else?”

Cimozjen Kurios looked off to the side, his expression nebulous and unreadable. He could have been impressed or frustrated, pensive or bored, but after a moment he shook his head and he took on an expression of complete nonchalance. “I can’t think of anything else for the moment. If I think of anything, I will contact you on your combadge. For now, you are dismissed.”

His first officer did not seem as phased as he had first expected. This pleased Cimozjen as he watched her practically march her way off the bridge, off to her assigned task. The reality of the situation was a bit more complicated than he had time or gumption to explain to her. The galaxy could be cold and unfeeling and coddling his crew wasn’t going to save lives. Etan could talk to people, she could empathize, she could relate to others in ways that he just wasn’t interested in doing. Everyone had a role to play here. Hopefully, Etan’s would mold her into the kind of officer that she needed to be. 

“Incoming hail from the surface, captain.” The voice of Krause sounded oddly loud in his commanding officer’s ears. “The colony is contacting the ship.”

“Put it through.”

The screen resolved into the familiar features of a Romulan woman. Though she was very different in appearance from the first officer, she bore the same slightly-stiff manner in things as simple as her stance. The individual gave a slight nod in a show of deference, or mutual respect. Honestly, Kurios had some trouble telling when it came to either Romulans or Vulcans. “Captain of the USS Thyanis?” “We have come as agreed.”

“Indeed.” There was a long pause. “You are late.” The romulan motioned to something off screen. “Our people are sick, our children are hungry, we are beset on all sides by enemies and you are late.”

“We brought some farming equipment and some replicators to help ease the shortages. We are currently putting the equipment together and sending it down via shuttle craft. I will be sending an officer down to the rendezvous point to meet up with your people.”

“Is this-” the second word was punctuated by a rise in volume, “how you decide to treat us?” The Romulan was unusually agitated. A vein visibility pulsed just above the left eye. Now, this was getting a bit interesting, Kurios mused. “First, you did not show up when we needed you to and now you are sending down a lackey instead of answering for yourself?”

“First Officer Etan has,” the captain gave what he hoped was an artistic flourish, “the greatest confidence from her captain. She is my personal representative for matters that extend beyond my particular disciplines. I am no diplomat.”

“Clearly.” The romulan’s temper seemed to cool a bit, before she smoothed out her clothes and again assumed the pretentious air that Kurios had observed in so many romulans he had encountered over the years. “We await the arrival of your shuttle on the surface.” The view screen cycled away from the view of the surface, and back to a view of the planet below.

“Hopefully, that is as interesting as this day gets.” The doctor shook his head as he considered the floating orb designated Rho Omega.