The bridge to the Valor was quite drastically different compared to the Shenzhou. It was smaller. There was not a large amount of space in the center but a few feet from the navigation and helmsmen station. There was paneling surrounding the center except for the break leading in from three sides. The starship was warm, and cozy, except for the quarters. She had changed it before falling asleep. She had been acquainting herself for the past few days with the Andorian security crew members. The bridge was bright and colorful as though the light settings had been drastically changed by the new crew. She saw a older man with graying silver, curly hair leaned against the chair with his head vanishing behind it. There was enough space, like the hallway, for two people to be in the same elevated surface. There was a series of stairs that lead down. She looked around in awe seeing the friendly scenery.
"Welcome to the Valor," came a woman.
Michael looked over to see a dark woman with graying dark hair that was in a afro.
"Greetings," Michael said. "You must be Commander Jemison."
"That I am, but you can call me Grace," Grace said, with a pleasant smile. She looked over toward the captain's chair. "step aside. His bondmate is going to come in your direction and you can't stop him when he is going," she had a fond laugh. "I wonder where he gets that energy from at his age." Michael came to the side tilting her head. There was something familiar to the woman. She looked like a certain Commander who was patrolling the neutral zone but then she didn't. Her earrings were long and beautiful just as she was. She had laughter lines on her face. "What brings you here?"
The woman's voice brought Michael back into reality.
"I was called to the bridge," Michael said.
"Ohh," Grace said. Grace observed the woman. "Michael Burnham right?"
"Yes," Michael said.
"You are going to love today," Grace said "not many star fleet officers get to do this." she gestured at the screen where there was fog surrounding a planet that was obvious with two sets of moons rotating around it. Michael turned her head toward the older woman with a raised eyebrow and her hands locked behind her back.
"That is Gorik," Michael said.
"It is," Grace said.
"Why are we in orbit?" Michael asked.
"The mystery of the mist is why," Grace said. "or you will find out." She looked over watching the man pass on by whistling. "All right, young lady," she gestured toward the captain. "go on, go on, it's your turn."
Michael then noticed that there was a Vulcan at the engineering station, another at security, and basically all the other stations. Grace seemed to be a unmistakenable exception which stood out plainly as odd. What was her story? Their story, in fact. Vulcans wouldn't just randomly give a aging command their own ship just to keep them occupied, would they? If they wanted to serve and explore, then it would be logical if they had gone through pressuring the Vulcan High Council. She came to the captains side.
"Your knowledge in first contacts will be required today," the captain noticed the red uniform. "You choose security over science?"
"I can be chief of science and security," Michael said. "is it not logical to apply someone who is skilled in Vulcan Martial Arts and xenoanthropology to do both?"
"Yes," the captain said. "That is. You made your point," he rubbed his chin looking over toward the view screen.
"Why are we making first contact when that should be left for Star Fleet?" Michael asked.
"Most of the ships that would have been able to do this are currently engaged with Klingons trying to make trouble," the captain said. "we are the only ones nearby."
"That explains it," Michael said, after being considerate.
"You are going down with my bondmate, and you must not, under any circumstance, let any isolationists or Klingon infiltrators get to him," the captain said. Michael tilted her head appearing to be baffled raising her right thin eyebrow back at him. The captain then elaborated to Michael, "he is the kind to be targeted."
"Why not go with him, captain?" Michael inquired.
"I have other matters to attend," he glared toward the security station then back toward the woman. She looked over to see the Vulcan who had been rather xenophobic toward her over the past few days attempting to make himself small. She turned her attention back on the captain. "this is more important. He is only there as a back up in case. . . You say something you really don't mean."
"That will not happen," Michael said.
"Commander," the captain said. "I once said that." Michael raised an eyebrow. "These are a very touchy civilization. Like the civilization I dealt with: I ended up nearly breaking first contact. I only had three of my greatest friends there to fix my screw up," he a fond small laugh at the memory. "Seems so amusing nowadays."
"You do not need to be cautious," Michael asked. "I have successfully aided in first contact among various species with Star Fleet." The captain appeared to bemused.
"Cautious? Me? No," the captain said. "cautious is me going down there with a phaser, a security team of five, and bringing along Commander Jemison."
"Your experience is valued," Michael said.
"If you ever wish to be captain, get creative, use everything you have," the captain said. "and listen."
Philippa's comment echoed back, "Being a great captain means you listen to your first officer."
"Advice taken," Michael said.
"You can only take two security officers," the captain said.
"Is there a real reason you want me to protect him?" Michael asked.
"Sometimes, we need to remind ourselves what we are in space for," the captain said. "You are fully capable of this mission, I am aware, but this is a one time addition with my bondmate and trusting you with him is a very big thing." he shook his index finger from side to side. "he will be waiting for you in the shuttle bay."
"Yes, captain," Michael said.
"And by the way, check your padd," the captain said. "you will need to read up what the observation teams found. . . You are dismissed, commander."
Michael walked away slowly taking her padd out heading her way toward the turbo lift then pressed on a panel and the doors closed on her.