The promenade of Deep Space Nine was calmer— albeit not by far— than the ships decks. There was certainly a different mood in the air- jovial, relaxed. People milled about at their own pace, laughing, sharing conversation and shopping. At the center of the promenade was Quark's, a bar and gambling establishment infamous and vastly popular with both the locals and visitors alike.

Inside, patrons staked their bets at dabo tables with rambunctious shouts and gulped down synthehol by the keg, much to the thrill of the Ferengi running the bar. On a second floor table sat Rhydian T'kel, crowded by a sizable variety of people all quietly watching him with open mouths and wide eyes.

"...and then it was quiet. Me and my best security officer—crouched on this hill behind the gutted belly of this great, stinking, rotting carcass of a beast larger than a transport vessel— holding our breath for so long that it felt like we would die right then and there."

They hung on his words as he spoke and leaned dramatically towards them, his voice lowering to almost a whisper. Below them on the first floor, security chief Howell strode into the bar. She looked around herself, her lips tightened into a thin line as she looked up to the second floor.

"One sound, one tiny breath and we knew the Galnaian's would smell our alien breath exhaling in the air of their dank marsh and smash us to pieces with these ancient, ceremonial war hammers they carried slung across their backs. But what they didn't know, what they didn't expect—"

"Captain T'kel."

T'kel started and looked behind himself. There Howell stood, the same thin-lipped expression and an arm mounted with data pads. She looked down at T'kel expectantly. Behind him the crowd seemed to scorn her interruption.

"Commander Howell! Incredible timing, as always. I was just telling them about that mission in Galnaia, you remember that, yes?"

"Captain there are urgent matters that require your— oh for…"

The captain had stood up and promptly rounded on her, swinging an arm around her shoulder—as best he could given her height— as he presented her to the onlooking crowd.

"My best security officer, Commander Luna Howell!" T'kel exclaimed loudly, mouth twisted into a playful grin, "go on and tell them how you got us out of that cesspool, Commander."

Howell gave the onlookers—and T'kel— a reluctant look.

"Go on!" T'kel insisted.

"The Galnaian's have an excellent sense of smell, but their other senses, I noticed, were fairly weak. I heaved the carcass of the beast we had hidden in down the hill and the momentum caught the Galnaian's by surprise."

"Without taking a single breath she lifts this huge corpse and slings it down the hill! It was incredible! And with the Galnaian's down we then had to traverse this maze of a marsh which—"

"Rhys."
Howell interrupted sharply. For a moment, T'kel looked as if he were about to continue on anyway but instead his lips curved up into a relenting smile.

"I'm sorry friends, it seems my shore leave is over. Thank you for the drinks."

With some grumbling the crowd slowly dispersed, some even shaking the Captain's hand or offering a pat on the back. He sat down at the now lonely table and motioned an empty seat to Howell.

She placed the data pads in front of the captain and sat down opposite him. A Ferengi waiter nearby, noticing the empty drinks on the table, attempted to come to their table but a scornful look from Howell bade him away quickly enough.

"These are the updates on progress so far. As you can see things are going about as well as they ever do during a pre-exploratory all-systems check."

T'kel didn't offer a word, instead vaguely nodding in agreement as he read through the engineering report, leaning his head on one hand on the table as he did.

"From what I've read myself medical is doing just about all it can to round up as many crew members as possible but it doesn't seem they've been in-keeping with their previously appointed times. You should also know Doctor Vela is on a return trip to earth due to some—"

"Family emergency yes I know. I specifically requested Doctor Stollan to replace her as Chief Medical Officer, have they arrived yet?"

"Yes sir, I spoke with him some time ago in the medical bay, he's concerned the files on Cardassian biology haven't been transferred to the med bay's data banks yet."

At this T'kel frowned.

"That is odd. Though I suppose knowing the Cardassians they've never been particularly willing to hand us any valuable information on their species…"

There was some silence as T'kel read through the report. Howell leaned back in her seat. After a time she decided to voice what had been on her mind most of the day and, speaking in a low voice she carefully said;

"Rhys I'm not sure the crew will respond well to having a cardassian as a first officer."

T'kel looked into her eyes, noting her unease, and then looked back at the report.

"A little bit of a pessimistic view, Luna. It doesn't suit you."

Howell raised an eyebrow.

"Have you been around any of the crew today? It's just about the only thing they can talk about—"

"Commander." T'kel sighed, raising a hand to silence her.

Howell pursed her lips but acquiesced and did not persist. She stood up and made to walk away.

"Then by your leave captain I have other duties—"

"Oh come now Luna, don't make me drink alone." the Captain laughed from over his shoulder.

"We should both return to the Beyond. Captain." she added the word 'captain' in a deliberate tone.

"And we will. After one last round."

Howell did not bother to hide her skepticism. She folded her arms and regarded the captain, eyebrow raised.
He raised a finger.

"Come on chief. One drink and then back to work. The ship won't leave without me."

Before she could refuse again he had already waved over one of the Ferengi waiters and ordered their drinks.