“Sensors showing the ship in the next sector…unescorted.  Moving at warp 3.”  Reid spoke from the rear science station, “Intercept time…less than an hour at maximum warp.”  She felt a thrill fly through her spine.  There was something about the possibility of boarding and taking a ship.  Jordan hadn’t been given to adrenaline adventures in the past.  At the moment, she was ready to send the SS Ambrose screaming through space to intercept the science ship.

McKee was quietly thankful for the handheld weapons they’d been provided from the Olympic.  They collectively had very little security training.  It had been Captain Crawford’s suggestion to send two of the Hazard Team with them to assist in taking the ship. Lieutenant Finlay Florin from Engineering and Lieutenant Conlan Gonzaga from Science were readying themselves in the crew mess with Natalie.  The Harris Team Lead ordered them to intercept, fastest speed.  Reid input the command, and the SS Ambrose was off and running.

“You should think about Starfleet, Harris.” Finlay was working through his equipment spread across one of the tables.  Natalie had been sharing her story and her ideas on what the future held for her.  “Engineering is the best out of all of them,” he stuck out his tongue at Gonzaga’s dramatically rolling eyes, “….and you get to work under pressure when the ship side of things go south.”  He began to slip on his vest.

Natalie admired the two men – for their willingness to take on the risk and danger of the Hazard Team but also for how good they looked.  The athleticism was impressive, but she reasoned it had to be – when you were called on to jump into the most dangerous situations, you had to be fit for the duty required.  “Mom always says I’m the adventurous one…they called me ‘The Wild Thing’ when I was a kid.  Climbed anything, jumped over everything..”

Conlan smiled, amused, “It is often the case that engineers are the rebels of the world.”  It was Finlay’s turn for a mock rolling of the eyes.

Harris gestured at the science officer, “What about you?  Were you the perfect child, then?”  She had her own ideas of Gonzaga’s life as a kid, but she wanted to see if her imagination measured up.

“I was a quiet one…I read, studied, learned, and mastered as much as I could…graduated high school early…spent a lot of time in the library before I was able to enroll in Starfleet.  I always dreamed of serving on an Olympic class…took me a few years, but I made it here.”  He slipped on his vest, “I was a boring child, Ms. Harris.  Perhaps that is why the Hazard Team appealed to me.” He slotted his equipment into the utility belt, “You still haven’t answered the question, Harris.”

Natalie wrinkled her nose in annoyance, but a smile was beneath it.  The more she talked about it with everyone, the more she felt like she would end up at the academy, staring at the doors with expectation.  “Mom was Starfleet for a long time…you know about brother…there’s some history farther back with the Harris family flying through space.”

Florin strapped his utility belt into place, “Legacy can be a powerful motivator.  I knew a few in my academy class that was trading in on family that had served before…and man, when they washed out, they washed out hard.”  He chuckled, remembering a few of the more memorable moments.

“What do you mean… trading in on family?”  Natalie was frowning, and the engineer explained.

“They thought their last name meant something…like their family’s history would bring them some kind of following in the academy.  It works for the first few days…but then you have to get to the actual work of being a cadet…and people stop caring about who you’re related to and start wanting you to actually, oh, be able to learn how to be a part of a team.”

Conlan did a once over with his vest and equipment, “Every graduating class has one or two that try it.  You spend four years with a group of people…you can’t be trying to show up or show out… professors won’t tolerate it…never mind your fellow cadets.  By the time you’re a senior, you’ve had most of the stupid worked out of you.”

Harris laughed and then covered her mouth in apology.  The two Starfleet officers laughed as well, so she felt less embarrassed.  “You did say ‘most of the stupid.’  I’m guessing what little is left gets worked out later?”  

Gonzaga and Finlay shared a look before the latter answered, “Nobody’s perfect, Harris.  It all depends on your CO, XO, and department head.  If they think you can be saved from your own stupidity, then there’s a chance you’ll wise up.  Otherwise…they’ll work you out of the system.  The stupidity and pride of the young is a dangerous disease.”  He moved to say more, but a hail from the bridge interrupted him.

“McKee to Team – the ship is slowing to impulse, and we’re going to intercept them sooner than we thought.  Get to the transporter room while we figure out what’s going on.  Harris, you’re with them.  Suit up.”

Harris felt her mouth fall open.  She dutifully, if not nervously, followed the Olympic’s Hazard Team out the door and into the corridor.