Disclaimers:

What I do not own is legion. This includes the United Federation of Planets, or anything else 'official' that may be seen in this, and subsequent documents. This includes the UFP, Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets. The characters and ships that I will be using are, with few exceptions, are mine, Mine, MINE (but based upon canon, so #$%^ I can't claim as much as I want).

This is an Alternate Universe, established during the ST:TNG episode Yesterday's Enterprise.

A New Billet

Five years of peace, well, relative peace, hadn't done much to let the woman from a different time, now an Admiral, adjust to her current surroundings. She had come from a time of relative peace then had found herself in the center of a battle whose outcome literally changed the face of the galaxy.

According to some, she, and her crew were supposed to have been destroyed in that battle. Instead her ship disappeared, simply vanished, during the fight itself. No wreckage to be discovered and analyzed. There was nothing to identify that a Federation Starship gave her all to defend a colony of their long-time antagonists, the Klingons.

The colony was destroyed and evidence planted that the Federation was the cause. Twenty years of bitter war, and billions dead, on each side, were to follow before the ship with the registration NCC-1701-C would once again be in existence. Seven years later, a cease-fire-in-place was negotiated, and a 5 light year buffer, or Neutral Zone, was established.

The door chime brought her back to the present. She noted the time then said "Enter"

The woman that walked into the office was dressed in a command officer's dress uniform. "Captain Adelman, reporting as instructed Admiral." If she was nervous, she hid it well.

The Admiral slowly appraised the newly promoted officer standing before her, before offering a brief smile. "Captain, please be seated. I'm sorry I missed your promotion ceremony, watching an officer getting the new pip is one of the few things that I absolutely enjoy in my present duties."

After a few minutes of small talk the older woman got to business. "Captain, I want to know what you think of your current situation. Please tell me, where do you see yourself fitting in to Starfleet now. You can speak as frankly as you wish."

The question was unexpected, but she had been thinking along those very concerns over the past few days. "I think I've just been promoted out of service on a Starship, Admiral. All of the ships that require Captains already have them assigned. Unless there is a lack of qualified officers, and I know this isn't the case, I won't be assigned to a smaller ship." After a few moments of thought she continued, "With my record, I suppose that I may get a station command position, though based upon my official personality profile, I wouldn't be suited for it. I hate to say it, but it looks like my next position will be behind a desk."

The Admiral tried to hide her frown. "Are you saying that desk jobs aren't good enough for you?"

The younger woman responded quickly, "Oh it's not that, Sir. It's just that I was hoping to have a few more years with a living ship under my feet."

"I see. Tell me, have you thought about the Juno or Washington? Both are coming out of refit and are being crewed right now."

"Well, Admiral, that would require a transfer to Combat Command from the Sciences Division. While, I'm sure that Admiral Williamsohn would not mind my leaving Sciences, Admiral James, I've heard, would be against my entering his command."

"I can assure you that Jellan wouldn't easily give you up to Combat, or any other branch for that matter, your assessment of Admiral James' attitude toward you, however, is accurate." After a slight pause she continued, "I do know of an Admiral that would welcome you into her arm of the fleet who is going to need Captains in the very near future." The younger woman's face showed a brief flicker of either hope or surprise. "So what do you say, Captain Adelman, would you care to come work for me?"

There was no doubt now, her expression was of surprise. "Admiral Garrett, I'm honored, of course. I assume that Captain Castillo is being promoted?"

"No," the Admiral replied, "Rich is staying on as the Captain of the Enterprise C. I have you in mind for the Erebus." After pausing a moment to judge the Captain's reaction, she continued. "She's the next iteration of the Nebula design. The design is modified enough to get a new class designation, Magellan, and is designed for very long duration, independent, voyages." A P.A.D.D. was passed to the younger officer. "She is nearly fully crewed at this point, and her acceptance trials are scheduled to begin in nine days."

"Let me make sure I understand," Captain Adelman said, "you're offering me a command of a brand new ship? A brand new capital ship, of a brand new design?" After the Admiral nodded, she asked, "Why?"

"Before I answer that, Captain, do you accept?"

"I do Sir, and I'll do everything I can to live up to your confidence in me."

The admiral smiled. "Good, and I'm sure you couldn't do anything less. As for the question of why: I've gone over your records, everything that Starfleet Command has on you, plus, after a bit of digging, documents from your youth. Everything points to a woman who is suited for almost anything except formation flying into combat. You tend to see solutions to problems where an individual, or small group, could go a long ways to success.

"This, incidentally, is the reason that Admiral Thomas James doesn't like you that much. He designed the simulation Assault of Waypoint Seven, the simulation that you nearly beat with the support of only two other ships. I suppose that nobody told you that Waypoint Seven was designed to be a Kobayashi Maru for an entire task force?" The Captain shook her head.

"Anyway, that and the way you can bend rules without actually breaking them, case in point, your 'acquiring' an orbital shuttlecraft for a joyride at twelve without technically violating a single letter of the law, has a voice in my head telling me that you would be perfect in the role as Captain of the newest dedicated long-range exploration ship in the Federation in the past twenty seven-years."

Shaking her head, with a smile on her face, "Admiral, all I can say is that I never thought that hour and a half flight, fun as it was, would ever help my career. Wait a minute though, exploration? You're part of the new Explorer Corps of Starfleet?"

"Right on both counts. I figured, with the open conflict with the Klingons over, and our fleet strength at an acceptable defensive level, and with our support and relief efforts to the war ravaged worlds well in hand, Starfleet should get back into one of its early primary goals. The Federation Council agreed, though Starfleet grumbled. You will find the results of that grumbling in that P.A.D.D."

Admiral Rachael Garrett rose, causing the junior officer to do so as well, and extended her hand, which was clasped firmly. "As much as we could have continued this conversation, the duties, meaning the meetings and paperwork, of an Admiral are never done."

"I understand Admiral. Thank you for your time, your confidence, and more importantly, my ship." With that, Captain Gabriella Danica Adelman, the newly appointed commander of the Starship Erebus exited the chuckling Admiral's office. Only then did her smile turn into a grin.

Captain's Log by Captain Gabriella Adelman:
My last official acts as the commanding officer of the Edmonton is to pull her into spacedock for refit, and to pass the 'keys', if you will, to Lieutenant Commander Wayne Pope. I've known the Pope's far longer than my service in Starfleet, and I can't think of anybody I'd rather give this ship than he.

Now then, on with official business, the following crewmen are being recommended for commendations …