USS Sojourner – Ready Room

Kirin sat in her ready room watching the clock tick down waiting for the wormhole to open. She had sent off the message to command asking for a new chief medical officer but didn’t expect a response until after they were in the delta quadrant and then at least two weeks before someone could be assigned. 

Leaning back in her chair, she sighed and turned to look out the viewport. “Am I making a mistake taking them through without a CMO?” she wondered aloud before running her hands through her hair, causing it to shift through several shades of red before taking on a dark green tone several shades darker than her skin.

The various federation starships and the even larger number of civilian ships could be seen through the viewport. The sight of them made distracted her from her thoughts for a moment but she was interrupted as the combadge on her chest chimed. Without a thought, she tapped the badge, “Tarken.”

“Captian,” came the voice of lieutenant junior grade Belania. “We have just received an update from Starbase 38, the wormhole will be opening shortly.”

“Thank you Belania, I will be on there shortly,” Kirin remarked before closing the comms channel. Standing, she adjusted her uniform and took a look around the room, ‘This still feels so odd, how did I get command of a ship like this?’ She thought for a moment before stepping onto the bridge.

Stepping onto the bridge Kirin looked over at the view screen and could see that ships were starting to move in anticipation of the wormhole opening. Her attention was drawn away from the viewscreen when Belania spoke up, “Captain, ships are beginning to take their positions for the transit. We have received our transit orders, we will move through once the inbound ships transit.”

Kirin looked over at Belania who was manning her operation stations and nodded. “Thank you Belania. Get us ready for the transit.” Kirin took a moment to look around the bridge of the Sojourner and let her eye rest on each of the officers on the bridge before she stepped forward and sat down in the command chair.

A moment after she sat down Belania spoke up, “Verteron array initialising…now.” Moments later the mouth of the Barzan wormhole erupted into existence in a flash of blue and purple light before the gaping maw opened and white light spilt forth illuminating the void and the ships around it. 

Kirin looked in awe at the spectical, the presence of the Barzan wormhole and the Bajoran one opened the galaxy to the federation like never before. It effectively removed the vast distance between the Alpha and Delta quadrants for the next 30 minutes.

“Open a shipwide channel, please Belania,” Kirin asked while she focused on suppressing the slight nervousness she was feeling. 

“Channel is open,” came Belania’s response.

“Attention crew of the USS Sojourner, this is Captain Tarken. I am not one for speeches so I will keep this short. We are about to transit through the Barzan Wormhole to the Delta Quadrant to provide assistance to the people there in response to the emergence of the new dilithium growths found there. I do not know what we will face while there but over the last week, I have gotten to know some of you as well as this ship. There is no question in my mind that this ship, this crew will rise to whatever challenges and obstacles we find and perform to the highest levels of skill and professionalism within the federation. I would not want to take this ship through with any other crew. I will see you all on the other side.” Kirin tapped the controls on her armrest closing the channel and looked over at Ensign Tycon. “Take us in, Ensign Tycon.” 

Markonian Outpost – 48 hours later

Kirin stood overlooking one of the busy corridors of the Markonian outpost and took in the sights in awe at the variety of new species, food and smells. She had been living on starships and starbases since she was ten but this place was something new. The USS Sojourner had arrived at the outpost following the transit to the Delta Quadrant with the aim of gathering a sense of the people in the Gradin Belt before head before they headed deeper into the belt.

She made a mental note to give the crew some time to visit the station on their way back. She had already come across a few items and types of food that were marvels as far as she was concerned when she had been speaking to the station manager, Fictieff. He had noticed her interest and insisted that she take them with her.

From behind her, someone cleared their throat. Turning around she was greeted by her XO, Thanen Th’zalnar. “Thanen,” she said with a smile. “Have you been able to find anything of use?”

Thanen nodded as he stepped up beside her and looked down at all the species moving about their business. “Nothing that wasn’t expected really. I spoke to several of the captains of mining ships and traders. The situation is a mess. These new dilithium growths have sent everyone scrambling to lay claim to them to the point that old allies are turning on each other and it has given the Imperium a chance to expand. There are a lot of refugees here already and more are arriving every day it seems.” He paused for a moment, his eyes following a pair of Starfleet officers on the deck below them. “With the fleet here we should be able to help but there is growing concern about the effects it, the dilithium, that is, has on telepaths. That and stories, whispers of it doing other things but they seem a bit far-fetched and was always a friend of a friend of a friend sort of thing.”

Kirin nodded without looking at Thanen as she leaned on the railing, her arms crossed before her. “I have heard rumours but no actual information. I will reach out to the other captains and see if anyone finds anything but we cannot chase shadows and whispers. We have people here to help.”

USS Sojourner – in orbit around Markonian outpost

Several hours later

Kirin sat on the bridge of the Sojourner with Thanen in the XO’s seat beside her. He was rarely on the bridge given his role as chief engineer but he tried to be there whenever possible.

On the view screen before them, the outpost hung against the black void of space, and several federation starships were visible among the numerous civilian craft. As they watched one of the larger vessels, a Sovereign class, began to move off before its engine flared and it vanished in a flash, off to destinations unknown.

“Well, I guess that is our queue. Ensign Tycon, set a course towards the Devore Imperium’s expansion zone. There has been an increase in distress calls in that region.”

“Yes, ma’am. Course laid in.” Ensign Tycon responded.

“Take us out,” Kirin said. Thoughts of uncertainty swirled in her mind but the idea of being out here, in the delta quadrant, exploring this space excited her like few other things.