Stardate 2186
1st day of the 6th Month (April Earth calendar)
Captain's Quarters of the Havora
"Wake up, Daughter."
Mareesa Tav stirred and blinked awake to the sight of her mother, Nyla T'Ring, standing over her.
She stared up fuzzily, disoriented for a moment, but then memory swept over her, and she quickly sat up.
"We haven't launched yet have we?" she asked.
Her mother smiled and shook her head. "Not for a few more hours."
Mareesa scrambled out of bed and headed toward the fresher, not quite believing that she had slept
so deeply. Of course she had been tired but this was a day that she eagerly anticipated every year.
The day that her family's ship, the Havora began its annual 'long haul.'
The freighter/trade ship Havora spent half the year in their home system, running supplies and passengers
between the homeworld, Tilva, Icar, Camere Station and the outposts at Droshen and Zeuna. But midpoint
in the year, they departed the Nlian System and ventured into deep space to begin trade runs in the territories
of some of the countless, fascinating alien species that populated the universe besides them.
It was something she always eagerly anticipated and for most of her thirteen years she had viewed it as one
of her favorite days.
Jinyo Tav looked up from the PADD he and his lifemate were reviewing as the red clad blur that was
their daughter exited from her sleeping quarters into the main living room.
Mareesa's dark skinned face was flushed with excitement and her hazel eyes were shining as she
came over to parents as they finished making some last minute preparations on paper beginning
the hands on ones with the crew.
"How thoughtful of you to join us," he teased. "I thought you might decide to stay in bed today."
"FA-ther!" she mock protested
He nodded at the PADDs she was carrying. "I see you have your equipment with you. We should
get started, we all have a lot of work to do before the launch."