The first thing that Lt. Nog noticed about the room was that it was so large. The glimpses that he'd seen through the half-closed door had not truly portrayed anything about the Senior Officers' Conference Room. This was his first senior officers' meeting, and even if they spent the whole thing discussing carpet colors and Bolian physiology, he would still be excited. Smiling in a way that he hoped didn't make him look overly eager, he took his seat.
On his left was Baruk. The Bajoran never hid his disdain for Nog, stating to anyone who would listen that there was no place for a Ferengi in Starfleet. Whenever Nog made a mistake, Baruk would ask, loudly, what the galaxy was coming to, that Ferengi were in Starfleet and Bajorans weren't even in the Federation.
To Baruk's left, at the head of the conference table, sat Col. Kira. Nog suspected that she wouldn't have agreed to the mission, so many years ago, if she'd known that it would turn out such as it had. Beside Col. Kira sat Lt. Commander Joe Morro, the new tactical/security officer and, if Nog was unavailable, pilot. He seemed okay, but Nog had not really had a chance to form an opinion of him.
Beside Morro sat Dr. Bashir. With Chief O'Brien gone, Dr. Bashir was spending a lot of time with Lt. Dax, who was seated on Nog's right. Even as they sat, they stared at one another from across the table. Every time that they did that, Nog wondered if Ezri was seeing Bashir through her eyes, or through Jadzia's.
At the end of the table opposite Kira, there was an empty chair, where Commander Hailey Birken was supposed to sit. After Captain Sisko's disappearance, Kira had assumed the role of DS9's commander. Everyone, Kira included, had presumed at the time that Starfleet would sent out another one of theirs to take over command, and Kira would go back to next-in-command. However, Starfleet sent Com. Birken to fill the position of first officer, and so Kira remained in charge. She hadn't been truly prepared, and wasn't entirely comfortable with her new role, but Birken was a very capable officer, and she offered Kira endless support. Birken seemed able to inspire confidence in people with a smile, and although she liked very few people, Kira found herself already growing fond of her. Nog eyed Com. Birken in what he hoped was a subtle way. Her hair was long and blond, her eyes were honey-brown, and her smile lit a whole room; despite his best efforts, Nog had developed a killer crush. If Jake were around, he would laugh, and tell Nog that he had chosen the wrong woman, and then point out a number of other, more attainable choices. But Jake wasn't here. He'd gone back to Earth with Cassidy after little Benny was born. With his best friend on Earth, and his father, the newly appointed Grand Nagus, on Ferenginar, Nog had felt so alone.
The last person in the room was Ensign M'Naq, the new Vulcan science officer. Though his was proficient at his job, Nog found his constant rigidity and logic grating. Nog was glad that he had very little contact with the Vulcan.
On his left was Baruk. The Bajoran never hid his disdain for Nog, stating to anyone who would listen that there was no place for a Ferengi in Starfleet. Whenever Nog made a mistake, Baruk would ask, loudly, what the galaxy was coming to, that Ferengi were in Starfleet and Bajorans weren't even in the Federation.
To Baruk's left, at the head of the conference table, sat Col. Kira. Nog suspected that she wouldn't have agreed to the mission, so many years ago, if she'd known that it would turn out such as it had. Beside Col. Kira sat Lt. Commander Joe Morro, the new tactical/security officer and, if Nog was unavailable, pilot. He seemed okay, but Nog had not really had a chance to form an opinion of him.
Beside Morro sat Dr. Bashir. With Chief O'Brien gone, Dr. Bashir was spending a lot of time with Lt. Dax, who was seated on Nog's right. Even as they sat, they stared at one another from across the table. Every time that they did that, Nog wondered if Ezri was seeing Bashir through her eyes, or through Jadzia's.
At the end of the table opposite Kira, there was an empty chair, where Commander Hailey Birken was supposed to sit. After Captain Sisko's disappearance, Kira had assumed the role of DS9's commander. Everyone, Kira included, had presumed at the time that Starfleet would sent out another one of theirs to take over command, and Kira would go back to next-in-command. However, Starfleet sent Com. Birken to fill the position of first officer, and so Kira remained in charge. She hadn't been truly prepared, and wasn't entirely comfortable with her new role, but Birken was a very capable officer, and she offered Kira endless support. Birken seemed able to inspire confidence in people with a smile, and although she liked very few people, Kira found herself already growing fond of her. Nog eyed Com. Birken in what he hoped was a subtle way. Her hair was long and blond, her eyes were honey-brown, and her smile lit a whole room; despite his best efforts, Nog had developed a killer crush. If Jake were around, he would laugh, and tell Nog that he had chosen the wrong woman, and then point out a number of other, more attainable choices. But Jake wasn't here. He'd gone back to Earth with Cassidy after little Benny was born. With his best friend on Earth, and his father, the newly appointed Grand Nagus, on Ferenginar, Nog had felt so alone.
The last person in the room was Ensign M'Naq, the new Vulcan science officer. Though his was proficient at his job, Nog found his constant rigidity and logic grating. Nog was glad that he had very little contact with the Vulcan.