Shuttlebay, U.S.S. Disquisitive
"The Captain has requested for volunteers to pilot a runabout to the other side of the anomaly," the Ensign called out.
The shuttlebay, which had been filled with the banter of pilots and off-duty crew alike, was enveloped by a foreboding silence. Most of them had enough of coming into contact with the unknown since the Dominion War, and simply desired a quiet life aboard a starship.
"Come on, it'll be fun! Wasn't this what we wanted to do ever since we joined Starfleet?" Daniel Steward said boisterously as he patted his friend roughly on the back.
"Hey, don't lump me in with you. That's just a fantasy from my younger days," Alan Thompson replied.
"Nah, there's no way we'll encounter anything dangerous! We'll simply pop over to the other side, and return home in time for dinner," Daniel encouraged.
"Fine, but you owe me one," Alan grumbled.
"Alright, are there any volunteers apart from Petty Officers Steward and Thompson?" the Ensign called out again. From the wary looks cast towards her, it was clear that there were none.
"Steward and Thompson are allowed to choose any runabout," the Ensign nodded at the pair of volunteers, and left.
"I guess we'll be taking the Senegal, then?" Daniel asked. The Senegal was a Yellowstone class, one of the newer runabouts on board. Having used it often during their missions, the two knew its systems like the back of their hands
"Alright," Alan said curtly, still rather miffed that Daniel had interrupted his evening nap.