Prologue: Tren
The communication screen buzzed loudly on and off. The screen flashed, indicating an incoming message from the Andorian Embassy. The room was dark and a screen was covering the window, blocking out the early morning light. The communication screen buzzed loudly on and off.
In the adjoining room, the bed sheets rustled. Someone sat up and rubbed their eyes before sending a hand through his white hair. He got to his feet and staggered towards the screen, wrapping a thin robe about his muscular blue skinned body as he did so. He pressed a button on the desk and the screen went blank for a moment. An image of a blue skinned female then appeared.
"I apologise for disturbing you Commander," she said. The man slumped down into the chair and rubbed his eyes again. He let out a yawn and shook his head. "I bring orders from Starfleet Command about your next assignment." He let a hand fall heavily on the table.
"When are they going to start telling me themselves?" he said irritably. The woman smiled.
"Starfleet feel they can maintain higher moral among the transferred officers if they liaise through organisations such as ourselves." The man grunted. "I know you weren't thrilled about the transfer Tren…"
"Far from it," Tren replied with almost a bark. "Look, let's just…just get on with it shall we?"
"I'm sure you won't be disappointed. It's a five year mission, exploration primarily. Scientific research and ambassadorial duties too, but that was a given I guess. Deep space."
"Ship's name?" Tren asked. The woman smiled.
"It's the Enterprise." She fell silent, still smiling. Tren looked blankly back at her and shrugged.
"Is that impressive?" The woman sighed.
"You're the First Officer of the legendary Enterprise, Tren. I'd say it pretty much is yes."
"A ship's a ship, ma'am, regardless of its name tag. Who's the CO?"
"Captain Valentine Weston," the woman replied, reading off another screen. "Promoted quickly during the Dominion War. He's meant to be very good but a bit…self-doubting." Tren rolled his eyes. "You're to depart tomorrow morning. You'll be one of the first senior officers aboard, along with the Chief Engineer. Good luck."
"Thanks," Tren said somewhat disingenuously. He turned the screen off and fell back in his chair, rubbing his face with his hands.
As he got to his feet, he ordered the computer to raise the lighting level, slinging the robe onto his bed and going into the bathroom. He filled a sink full of water before leaning over and splashing his blue skin. He grabbed a towel, dabbing it across his face before staring at himself in the mirror.
Command Tren of the USS Enterprise. And he wasn't even really Starfleet. He shook his head and replaced the towel, turning back into the main quarters and grabbing a fresh wine-red uniform. Just another mission, he was thinking as he dressed himself drearily. Just another ship.