3 sat on the passenger bench at the rear of the shuttle pod that was en-route to the USS Milford. Her First Command as Captain since her second graduation from Command School. As before, she graduated with high honors, her altercation with a mouthy Lt. notwithstanding.
She stood up to get her first look at the Milford. Irony is irrelevant but it felt strange to command a ship that bore the name of her hometown before she was… "Borg…"
"Preparing to Dock at Gantry way 1 birth 12 mam," the young Lt. piloting her pod said.
"Why are we docking on the gantry way and not directly to the ship?"
"Well these ole' Oberths only have 2 docking ports. Docking port 2 is occupied and has 2 more pods in que' and your First officer a Mr, Tolek told me to have you brought to the Gantry ports so you can enter via Gantry at docking port 1."
"Logical and efficient" She replied.
3 had reviewed Mr. Tolek of Vulcan's Record. A clean record if there ever was one. With only one incident to speak of: Mr. Tolek being a Vulcan had been left in command of his ship the USS Melbourne while his captain was on a diplomatic away mission. A Klingon Bird of Prey materialized and fired on Tolek's ship. And of course Tolek being a Vulcan realized he was outgunned with a command crew on the ground and only a single Nova Class vessel against a Bird of prey is no match without heavy damage. Thus he warped -out of range to call for back-up.
The Melbourne returned with an escort of the USS Ajax and the USS Salem, her good friend MrJoelieC's Ship before he got a hold of it.
They found on their return the bodies of the command crew and the diplomats of Aronax 5 slaughtered. It was noted in his record as a tragedy but many a captain refused Tolek as a first officer because they didn't want an officer who didn't at-least try to retrieve them before bugging out. The Borg in her said what he did was logical. Her "Human" side said: "ouch."
Tolek left Starfleet for 6 years after the incident but the record was there and since his return he had only one posting with the Starfleet Core of Engineer ship the USS Melville. His C.O. a Captain Harrison said that Tolek was a fine officer, methodical, and flawless to a "T." For a Vulcan he got along with most of his crew… for a Vulcan…
3 of 11 was herself, a product of second chances. She was given a second chance at life and thus she could not put her finger on it but when she read Tolek's record from both before his incident and after she felt he never got that real 2nd chance. But she had not met him yet so who knows, she might end up wanting to send him out the airlock.
As the pod made it closer towards berth 12 she saw the Milford for the first time.
"There she is Captain, The USS Milford. Not much to look at but with today's advancements she's got a bit more zeal than other Oberths out there. Is it true that you trained on a simulator with the upgrades?"
"Indeed I did Lt. I did 2 simulation runs - 1 a standard familiarization and the second was an unannounced test of the command test that shall not be named." She said with a very slight upturn of her lips. It's was kind of a given that you are not supposed to talk about the Kobiashi Maru test. But everyone did you just never said the name of the test. She neglected to mention she was also on the primary refit board as her project for command school.
"I heard you took out 3 birds of prey and routed a few other classes as well.. Is that really true?" The Lt. asked with a hint of wonder.
"Don't believe everything you hear Lt. I was just as surprised the ship performed as well as it did and this shakedown for me is temporary as I am the most familiar with her re-design. However, I have my eye on another ship that I'm hoping to get posted to permanently. 3's eyes then drifted to berth 5, where being worked on, was the USS Laredo-Victory. Old Heavy Cruiser Refit just like what James T. Kirk once commanded.
The Lt. Followed her gaze and said "The LV eh? I just came from her performing the calibration of her plasma injectors. She's a sweet ship but I figured you for a Science vessel not an old cruiser like the Laredo."
"Why because I'm Borg?" said 3 with a touch of a hiss that she instantly regretted.
"I meant no offence sir.. I mean Mam. I mean captain."
"Oh it's not your fault LT. There are very few of us liberated Borg. What few there are become Scientists like 7 of 9." She said wistfully. "But I am going to change that. I intend to be the next Kirk, Riker, Picard, or possibly more aptly: Janeway. But more than that I'm building a command crew that all will envy… Kirk had Spock, McCoy, Scott, and even had Admiral Sulu and his First officer Checkov and they took over the Excelsior.. Picard had a crew that everyone recognized later and even Janeway's crew became just as famous… That's what I want… The Laredo Victory has the potential to make another command crew. But for now I have the Milford where I hope to find my First officer.
"Tolek? You have heard the stories of him right?" The Lt asked.
"The stories that say he did his duty and saved his crew at the expense of his Captain?" She said icily. Everyone deserves a second chance. A man, or a Vulcan who puts his crew and ship above all else deserves that second chance."
Youth – 3 thought to herself, the ignorance of them astounded her sometimes. With a last look at the Laredo Victory she looked upon her temporary home the Milford. She looked like any other Oberth but a true Engineer would notice the larger Bussard collectors and smaller sensor platforms at the bottom.
The view spun as the Lt. began to back the pod to the gantry port. With a light thud and hiss the pressure equalized and she reached for her duffel bag to sling over her shoulder.
"Good Luck Captain and I hope you find your crew. With the threat of Klingons, undine, and whatever, we could sure use a few heroes to look up to."
"Kirk never thought of himself as a Hero LT." She gave the Lt. a wink and turned as the Doors parted to the Gantry's side receiving area.
It appeared empty until her eyes rested on a tall Vulcan male. He stood at attention as soon as the doors had parted.
"Captain 3 of 11, it is an honor to meet you. I thought it best to greet you before you came aboard."
The gantry doors to the pod hissed shut behind 3 as she appraised the Vulcan in front of her.
"At ease – Commander Tolek I presume?" 3 said with her eyebrow raised.
"You presume correctly. Do you require assistance with any of your personal belongings?"
"Negative, Commander – My Belongings are all in this bag."
"indeed?"Tolek said with a head cocked sideways "You pack little for a-"
"human? Mr. Tolek? Oh I have plenty of baggage in my life, but for this shakedown I need nothing more than that which is in this duffel. All else can be replicated." Tolek turned and swept his arm to the right toward the main Gantry entrance.
"This way Captain, You will find the Milford is ahead of schedule and nearly ready for departure. However both the Chef and our Chief Engineer need a word with you before we depart."
"Should I be briefed on these needs?" 3 Asked with a hint of sarcasm.
"No –" Tolek then shook his head. "Mr Huntz our chef is asking about any special nutritional needs with your – forgive me - condition." Tolek paused
"No Offense taken Mr. Tolek, while there are a quite a few cases of liberated Borg there is not much published about the very basics of our lives like the mundane of : "Do we eat" to the very personal of our "Love life." 3 could not help but curl her lips in a faint smile as even with Tolek's emotional control his ears appeared to turn a shade of green in his embarrassment.
Tolek went on "The Chief also has personnel issues to discuss with you. It seems he has just received word of an addition to his staff he was not aware of until very recently."
3 Stopped and regarded Tolek "Correct me if I'm wrong Mr. Tolek but if I'm not mistaken personnel issues are in the category of the 1st Officer's prevue.. And again if I am not mistaken you are my first officer?"
"Forgive me captain, however, Our Engineer was concerned - as was I – that this latest Personnel was added by you."
3 silently cursed herself. 3 had sponsored another Liberated Borg into Starfleet 3 years ago. 2 of 5 was assimilated during the borg infiltration of Hotep IV. She was at the time, a civilian consultant to Starfleet in regards to the Undine issue. Fresh out of college with a passion for Bio-Neural engineering and computer systems. 2 of 5 is young, naïve, hot headed, barely aware of her old self pre-borg. Or at least claims to be.
3 was convinced otherwise. The EMH Doctor who helped her recover asked for 3's help on 2's behalf. While 2 had been assimilated for a very short time, she had trouble re-acclimating.
2 and 3 spent weeks together during 2's recovery and 3 really took to 2's personality. 2 is very Naïve about her looks and had a temper in regards to others lack of understanding of complex engineering concepts. 2 and 3 worked together on the refits strategies for the Oberths.
"What is the Chief's Problem?" 3 asked with a hint of annoyance as she could pretty much guess.
"The Chief is not used to civilian giving him orders and has questioned his role." Tolek said frankly.
Well, 3 thought, that's 2 all right.
"Have there been any injuries inflicted yet?"
Tolek halted his walk and regarded 3 with a raised eyebrow, Why do Vulcans do that so well 3 wondered to herself.
They had just come to a t intersection in the corridor and 3 put her duffel down and she sighed out loud. "I'll handle this Mr. Tolek." An ensign was walking by and 3 stopped him. The ensign was so involved in his PADD he was carrying he looked at her started as he saw the pips on her uniform and drew himself swiftly to attention "Captain! Uh… What can I do for you Mam?"
"At ease ensign" 3 put on her best smile. "Would you mind terribly having my gear here brought to my cabin and just placed on my bed? " She asked with her best pretty please bat of her eyelashes.
"Yes Mam - no problem what-so-ever. I will contact your Yeoman and be sure he gets this personally Mam." The ensign reached down and grunted a little with the weight of the duffel and trudged off with it. 3 then turned to Tolek.
"Inform Mr. Huntz that my nutritional needs are the same as any other Human and I look forward to his attempts at traditional American cuisine. Head to the bridge I will go to Engineering and deal with the Chief personally. I want a Senior Staff meeting at 15:00."
"Aye Captain, if you'll excuse me I will stop into ships stores to brief the Chef on your answer." Tolek bowed his head and walked off leaving 3 with her dreaded task of rescuing a poor Chief Engineer from a hot headed Borg.
