“You’ve…you can’t be serious.”  Captain Helena Dread stood in the briefing room of Station K34104.  Geronimo Fontana, her Task Force Commander, was on the screen.

“Needs must, Helena.  They’ve called for Crawford to be assigned, and I’m not able to stand in the way.  I’m not sure I’d want to at this point.  The Daedalus should arrive any moment with the command crew that’ll take the Olympic home.”

She was floored.  They were giving her command of the Rhode Island class ship.  Wren Walton on the Mackenzie had asked for more firepower, and this was their answer?  She sat down in one of the chairs.  “I don’t want command, Fontana.  I’ve been clear on that.”

Her TFCO understood.  “I suggested Halsey, but they want him in medical.  He was an Olympic captain, and they think he’s not suited to take the chair on a scout like Daedalus.”  She watched his face for any tell, but there was none.  At this moment, Fontana was the messenger.

She leaned back in the chair, “This isn’t going to be easy.”

His response irritated and comforted her, “If it were easy, everyone would do it.”

“Welcome aboard, Captain Dread.”  Captain Antonio Lars handed her a PADD, “These are your transfer orders.”  She accepted it.  It was standard stuff.  She signed it and handed it back.

“You are relieved, Captain Lars.”  She handed her PADD with transfer orders for him to the Olympic.

“I stand relieved.” He signed and repeated her line to him, “You are relieved, Captain Dread.”

She replied, “I stand relieved.  Safe travels, Captain.”  Lars stood at attention and stepped up to the transporter PADD, vanishing moments later.  Helena turned and headed through the door into the corridor.  The Rhode Island class was tiny compared to the Olympic.  Eight decks made for a small crew.  She’d earned the senior staff transfers and had been allowed a few officers and crew.  A total of one hundred souls were now under her command.  The turbolift doors opened, and she soon stood on the bridge.

They had completed a refit on her since her last captain and an Akira-style bridge had been installed in recognition of the sports car label the class had earned.  It was compact and simple.  She stubbornly walked to the center chair and tapped the console, “Computer, transfer command of USS Daedalus to Captain Helena Dread, DreadJunoOde3924.”  A beep and the computer confirmed command had been transferred.  Helena sat carefully in the chair.  It felt…she wasn’t sure what it felt like.  It didn’t feel natural, and she stood staring at the confounded chair.  She would get used to it, she told herself.

She would have to.