“Quick, Commander! I can’t bear the thought of them departing without us,” Ozzy Solari’s voice brimmed with excitement, piercing through the low hum of activity on Earth Spacedock’s bustling promenade. His enthusiasm was contagious, an electric current amidst the ambient noise.

Ozzy had been extended a special invitation to accompany his Betazoid mentor, Lieutenant Commander Selene Arden, on her forthcoming assignment aboard the USS Blythe. The California-class starship had been assigned a pivotal role within the fourth fleet, entrusted with the execution of vital secondary missions. With the prospect of joining this endeavor, excitement radiated from Ozzy, spurring him into action.

“Believe me, Ozzy, there’s no way Captain Crowe will leave port without me,” Selene responded, her voice tinged with steadfast assurance. 

The transition from a career largely rooted in research and scanner calibration to her impending posting on the USS Blythe, a starship, felt conspicuously unfamiliar. Peculiar, even. She had never truly ventured aboard a starship before, aside from brief encounters involving scanner optimizations. The news of her reassignment raised eyebrows, but there was a reason she’d come to accept it—Silas Crowe.

 

Only four months had elapsed since the shattering destruction of the Tharsis Research Facility. Within the period that preceded that, the bond between Selene and Silas had grown resolute. They had worked shoulder to shoulder, collaborating for nearly a year. Together, they navigated the aftermath of Crowe’s predecessor Anthony Witherfield, who had cast the research station aside as a dead end, leaving Silas to salvage the remnants.

 

Selene held her place as the station’s lead researcher, valiantly striving even as the looming shadows of cancelation loomed. In the face of the cataclysm that brought Tharsis to its knees, she remained steadfast in her belief that the catastrophic coolant leak was inevitable, that Silas’s best efforts had been hampered by the station’s advanced state of decay.

 

Despite Silas’s tireless campaign to salvage her research from Starfleet’s blade and to restore the station to operational norms, disaster struck with unrelenting force. In the midst of the chaos, three lives were tragically lost. Yet, Silas’s quick-witted response emerged as a beacon of salvation. His deft maneuver of engaging the station’s thrusters propelled it away from its orbital descent, sparing the lives of those residing on Tharsis II from a cataclysmic collision with the plummeting facility.

In the aftermath, Selene’s unwavering loyalty solidified. 

 

The experience sealed their partnership, a bond she was willing to carry forward into the unknown territories of space—a bond that affirmed the trust she placed in Captain Crowe.

Navigating the bustling corridors and vibrant promenade of the prominent Starbase, Selene and Ozzy bore witness to the lingering aftermath of the harrowing events that had unfolded on Frontier Day mere weeks ago. Scars etched in the surroundings spoke of destruction and nightmare, a constant reminder of the horrors that had touched the lives of countless individuals.

In the midst of their progression, Ozzy broached a delicate subject. “You know, Commander, we never really talked about Frontier Day,” he began, his tone somber as he navigated the minefield of memories. “I was at home for the festivities when it all went down. Thankfully, I hadn’t used a transporter in quite some time. I couldn’t bear the thought of putting my family in harm’s way. But I heard you were at the Academy?”

Selene’s response was swift, her voice bearing a hint of unease. “I-I’d rather not discuss it, Ozzy, if you don’t mind,” she replied softly, the subject apparently an unwelcome intrusion. The memories she tried to keep at bay resurfaced, flashes of the terror that had unfolded on that fateful day. During Frontier Day, she had found herself within the confines of her laboratory, the Borg invaders—some of whom she recognized as her own students—casting a dark shadow over her surroundings. Overwhelmed by fear, Selene had sought refuge within the ventilation system, where she had remained for hours that felt like an eternity. Her deliverance eventually came courtesy of Starfleet Special Forces.

In an attempt to shift the conversation, Selene inquired about Ozzy’s own experiences. “Didn’t you have a brother? How was he faring during Frontier Day?” she asked the question a respite from her own haunting memories.

Ozzy’s response was tinged with a touch of sorrow. “Cam was stationed on Starbase 4 just a few days before Frontier Day struck. Thankfully, they were out of harm’s way,” he explained, the relief in his voice underscored by the unspoken understanding of the danger that had lurked.

Moments later, their steps led them into the heart of the USS Blythe. Ozzy’s wide-eyed wonder was evident, his gaze darting between the new-age consoles that adorned the vessel. Excitement surged through him as he eagerly pointed out the advancements. “Commander, look at those consoles. They’re the new ones with the upgraded isolinear chips. I’ve heard they respond ten times faster than the previous models!”

Selene’s response was accompanied by a gentle dose of reality. “You know, Cadet, most humanoid species, including humans, can’t actually discern the difference in operational speed since about twenty models ago,” she quipped, her words a light-hearted reminder of technological nuances.

As they continued with the requisite onboarding procedures, a sudden shift in the ship’s environment caught their attention. The boarding ramp retracted and the doors sealed shut, enveloping them within the vessel. Then, a familiar voice—a voice Selene recognized—echoed through the room, carrying a sense of authority and camaraderie.

“Attention all crew, this is your Captain speaking. With the imminent arrival of Lieutenant Commander Arden and Cadet Oswald Solari, the time has arrived to extend a warm welcome to each and every one of you aboard the USS Blythe.” The announcement filled the air, uniting the newly embarked crew members in a shared moment of welcome.

Selene couldn’t hide her amusement at the personalized mention of their names by Captain Crowe. 

“Naturally, he couldn’t resist singling us out,” she remarked with a playful grin, her voice a conspiratorial whisper meant for Ozzy’s ears alone. With a subtle nod toward the exit, she motioned for them to proceed.

“Let’s go, Ozzy,” she continued, guiding them out through the doors and into the bustling corridors. 

“We can listen to his speech while we locate our quarters. Don’t worry, it won’t take long; Captain Crowe isn’t exactly fond of giving speeches.” 

The corridors stretched ahead, inviting them on a voyage of discovery—both in terms of the ship’s layout and the unfolding narrative of their journey aboard the USS Blythe.