“All right ladies and gentlemen,” Sidda announced loudly as she stepped out of the turbolift onto the bridge of Republic. “I’ll be your captain for this little trip to go and get our actual captain.”

She’d stepped across the bridge to lay a hand on the back of the captain’s chair, fingers gripping it tightly before relaxing a little. “I’m Captain…Commander Sadovu.” The pause, the moment to stop, think and correct herself before continuing was evident and the knowing smile on Trid and Revin’s faces, like people who were in on the inside joke, made it all the more evident. “I promise I’ll be making proper introductions, doing the rounds and the such, but right now I’d really like to get the show on the road and complete a few things before we hand this beautiful ship over to her rightful commander.”

“And just who might that be?” Lieutenant Commander Matt Lake asked, stepping out of the opposite turbolift with the other two officers who’d been left in the shuttlebay in Sidda’s wake.

“Spoilers,” Sidda answered, throwing a wink at the end before indicating to the XO’s seat for Matt with her free hand. “All in good time.”

“So you do know?” he followed up.

“Of course,” Sidda answered as she stepped around the centre seat, looked at it for a moment, and then took great care as she sat herself down in the seat. “Oh goddesses that’s actually comfortable.”

“Would hope so boss,” Trid said quietly as she walked behind Sidda towards Ops. “It’s new and has never been exposed to the vacuum of space.”

“What?” Matt asked, having just caught some of what was said.

“A story I’d be happy to tell over dinner tonight,” Sidda answered, shutting down Trid’s jibe and Matt’s inquiry. She then pointed straight at the young woman at the helm. “Name and rank.”

“Lieutenant Junior Grade Willow Beckman, ma’am,” the young officer answered.

“Ooof. No, don’t call me ma’am. That’s my mother. Commander, Sidda, Boss or…Mistress of the Ring of Chula…if you want to get fancy.” Sidda turned to Revin, who had found herself a spot at the back of the bridge, back firmly pressed to the wall. Revin’s smile brought one to her own face and she noticed Revin’s right hand covering her left.

“Uh…yes Commander,” Willow corrected herself, which brought Sidda back to reality.

“Right, plot a course for Gateway Station,” Sidda answered, then spun the chair, delighting in the smooth swivel, till she faced Lieutenant Commander Evan Malcolm. “How soon can you give me maximum warp power?”

“What? Now?” Evan asked, then looked to Matt and Selu, the former shrugging while the latter didn’t respond. “An hour for maximum warp. Fifteen minutes just for warp drive.” He took in Sidda’s look at this answer and glared back at her. “We’re sitting in a construction slip. Why would I have the warp engines running?”

“That’s a fair point Mr Malcolm, I apologise,” Sidda answered. “If I can have warp drive in twenty minutes please and maximum speed at your best possible.” She waited, saw his eyes squint a little, then a begrudging nod before he stepped into a turbolift.

Matt leaned over the arm of his chair towards Sidda. “I don’t think you’re making a friend there.”

“No, I don’t think I am. But, I read he built this ship, so why not let him show off how well-built she is and put two endurance runs under her belt before we pick up our captain?”

Matt chuckled as he straightened up. “Now that might just earn you some brownie points. Wait, two endurance runs? So we’re not picking up our captain at Gateway?”

“Oh no. Gateway is an errand I need to run and have sign-off for. Need to deliver a package. Then we’re running for Deep Space 47 in the Thomar Expanse.”

Matt’s eyes moved about while he thought as if looking at a map only he could see. “Thomar…that’s the opposite side of the Federation from Gateway Station. Hell of an errand you’re running.”

“Hell of an endurance test too,” Sidda said, then turned to face Ops. “Lieutenant Jenu, hail the dock master please.”

“Aye Commander,” Trid answered, a quick series of commands and then, “You’re on.”

“Avalon Docking Control, this is USS Republic, requesting permission to depart.”

There was a moment of silence, followed by a very rough, but clear masculine voice over the comms. “Republic, this is Control. Permission to depart granted. Departure vectors are being transmitted now. Thrusters only out of your slip and to Able, then clear for quarter impulse to Gamma-4. Proceed to the outer marker after that and then free to manoeuvre afterwards. Safe travels Republic.”

“Roger that Control. Thank you and goodbye for now.” Sidda gave a hand wave about neck height and Trid nodded once before closing the channel. “Right. Disengage all walkways and clear all umbilicals. Beckman, got those vectors?”

“Aye ma’am…Commander. And the course for Gateway is plotted as well. By the time we hit the outer marker, we should have warp drive ready too.”

“Fantastic,” Sidda replied with a smile. “Trid?”

“One moment,” the Bajoran woman said, her hands free of her console but eyes riveted to a few displays. “And…we’re clear and free.”

“Right, before we depart, guess I should say something.” Sidda stood, adjusting her tunic briefly. “I’ll leave profound words of wisdom and the such for our captain when he comes aboard. But I will say this – the best crew in the fleet is always the crew you’re part of. You’re all Starfleet, you’re all giving it your best, you’ve all got each other’s back. As long as that holds true, this is the best damn crew. And the fancy, pretty and exceedingly new starship doesn’t hurt either.”

There was another pause, everyone looking at Sidda as they waited for more. “That said, let’s get moving. Beckman, hit it.”

———-

“You’re a nervous wreck,” Revin said as the door to their shared quarters closed behind her.

“Is it that obvious?” Sidda asked, having already made it to the replicator and the glass of water she’d ordered from the machine. “I’m half-expecting that security chief to try and place me under arrest for impersonating an officer.”

Crossing the room in a few short steps, Revin took Sidda’s free hand and led her to a seat, sitting her down and then taking the glass of water off her, placing it on a nearby table before turning her attention back to Sidda. “It’s obvious to me. I hear it more than anything.”

“Your hearing is either going to be a godsend, or get us in so much trouble one day.” Sidda took Revin’s hands in her own and brought them up to her own face. “You didn’t have to put on that uniform you know.”

“But I look so good in it.”

“Oh no argument love,” Sidda replied. “And me?”

“I think that bright red from your older uniform was a better colour.” Revin worked one hand free of Sidda’s own and placed it on Sidda’s shoulder, fingers rubbing at the texture. “But the texture on this is much nicer.” Then Revin turned to face their quarters, which looked exactly like every other officer’s quarters on the ship right now – right out of a brochure. “We need to decorate.”

“Tomorrow,” Sidda answered. “Right now I just want to have a shower and relax before subjecting myself to a senior staff dinner. Why did I do that?”

“Because nervous you makes silly promises.” Revin then turned and sat herself down in Sidda’s lap sideways. “But lucky for you, I’m not going anywhere, so you’ll have someone with you throughout this adventure.”

“Oh, you think you’re coming to this dinner, Crewman?”

“I’m not, Commander?”

“Give me one good reason why a mere crewman should come along to a senior staff dinner?” Sidda asked.

Revin smiled, then leaned forward to whisper in Sidda’s ear. “First off…”