It had been a whirlwind. Graduating the academy was a big step of course, but it was just the beginning of a life of adventure.

Jade had finished close to the top of the class but under the radar, as she always strived to be. She was not one to go for the attention or the big deal. She just wanted to do a good job and be recognised accordingly.

This, her first day onboard the Oakland, would be special. She would be meeting her superiors, getting to know a brand new ship of this new California Class vessel. It’s mission, for second contact, diplomacy and exploration.

As she stood on the precipice of the barrier between starbase and ship, she let out a deep sigh of nerves before stepping onboard. The clean air, the smell of new ship, the white of the walls. This ship was top of the line and fresh and she loved it.

Her first port of call was to check out her quarters. She had already been informed that as a junior officer, she would likely be in shared quarters with another Ensign or a Midshipman and she was fine with that. More the merrier right?

It had been a tough few weeks adjusting from being a dutiful cadet to a fresh fledged Ensign but she was excited for the opportunities ahead. She was going to see the stars, the planets, meet new species, negotiate, even fight. Exhilarated, she headed to her quarters.

The room, split in two bedrooms with a shared living area, was nice, spacious and comfortable. Arriving first meant she could choose the first bunk. She chose the room on the port side and set down her bags, sitting a moment to take in the gravitas of the situation.