Star date 2535.3.230

Lt. Cmdr. Steve Jinks was set to train Lt. Jack Secord, one of multiple senior security officers who specialized in communication and security. The other was Lt. Second's old class mate Lt. Cmdr. Rebecca St. Claire. She had extra training with Section 31, at least that is what Steve heard from the scuttlebutt on the ship. He knew when to not talk about such things. Jack was just finishing up the night shift and Steve was in the middle with extra hours for training Jack and Rebecca. Rebecca needing less training then Jack.

"So Lt. Cmdr. Steve, how's Rebecca doing? She must need a lot of help if not more so for this new assignment?" Jack said as he evaluated all communication links, requests, and security matrix for the ship. "It has to be a trip for her going back in time by 3 classes of ship and tech. Why would she ever want to leave 31? Isn't that the dream for people like us?" Jack said with his boyish grin. Ditzy would be the closest Steve could compare it to, he understood the appeal. Hell, he had fallen into a few beds for it.

'That damn grin.' He thought before he responded, "you would have to ask her." However Steve didn't need the scuttlebutt from the ship to know. He actually talked to her about it, Lt. Cmdr St. Clair was a very pleasant person to talk to. It is how he knew that she didn't really need him to train her at all.

Nine hours earlier

"Hello. Lt. Cmdr Rebecca , but you can call me Rebecca. It's a pleasure to meet you Lt. Cmdr Jinks." Rebecca said with a warm smile. She had heard of his empathetic ability to read people, and to say she wasn't fascinated and a little jealous was an outright lie.

"Of course, and you can call me Steve or Jinks if you prefer. I don't mind either." Steve said.

"Aww come on Jinks-ey you don't like my nickname. Hey, Lt. Claudia D'n'van, Tech and Engineering master extraordinaire. They/them pronouns, Claudia is fine, Claud if you're nasty, and I'm here to help if you need it. But I must be honest Steve here likes the gents, males of all species if you will, sorry to disappoint ya." Claudia said with a smile.

"Omg, Claud… Lt. Cmdr St. Clair I am so sorry, Claudia tends to be over the top sometimes…" Steve started nervous that Claudia miss read the situation.

"Oh no Steve, totally alright. Honestly I always lightly flirt with everyone so Claudia was totally on point, but I take no offense. I will just remember that next time, thanks Claud." Rebecca winked at Claudia and saw the blush start. She did love flirting with cute people.

"But Claud, if you need Steve for a bit, I can manage here. One of my first ship assignments was on a Wyoming Class ship, so this is just like coming home to me. I just need a ten minute walk through of the settings and his nuances for the system then Jinks-ey is all yours." Rebecca said 'this ship is gonna be fun.'

"For sure, for sure. Jinks-ey get to work… omg, but Rebecca if you want some nuances changed for your personal settings let me know. That's my jam." Claudia said with a welcoming smile.

"Tell me Claud, how much am I allowed to change under my personal code?" Rebecca asked looking at the controls.

"Quite a bit, I haven't added too many stops but depending on your clearance code and what you want, I can work on removing or adding what you need. Just hit me up." Claudia continued as she reviewed her tablet and settings. She saw black level clearance and was both impressed and confused. She had higher level clearance then the Captain which made this all too suspicious. She would review her concerns with Myka later.

"I think 2 days should be enough time for me to review the system settings and if I need you, I'll let you know. I'll go through you and Lt. Cmdr Jinks if I need more. But it will always be a pleasure seeing your face, so don't be a stranger." Rebecca winked at Claudia again. "I've got to ask, I just… I can feel a shift from the shore leave we have planned." Rebecca inquired. Something changed. "Do I need to know anything, or look for anything particular?"

"Good question… and I'll let you know when we have more. Just look for anything abnormal and report it." Steve said not sure how much he could say or what to say since he had no idea.

"I think it would be best if you talked to Lt Cmdr Lattimer about it. Steve, I need to talk to Cmdr Bering, are you both good for now?" Claudia looked at Steve, considering he was good at telling when people were lying, he was shit at lying. She could hear his thoughts, since he allowed some telepathic connection. 'WTF Claud, you say that and leave? What the hell?'

"Later everyone…!" Claudia said 'I need to talk to Myka, this has hinky hijinks written all over.' Claudia thought as she shared the image of her review of Lt. Cmdr St. Clair's clearance.

"Steve… are you ok?" Claudia could hear Rebecca ask.

"Yeah, I just get an annoying headache from time to time. Nothing that won't go away in a jiff." Steve said, 'Thanks Claud, it's not like it's easy to explain this to people.'

'Don't worry Stev-o, you covered great. I need Myka, this is strange. This can't be a coincidence.' Claudia thought on her way to see Myka.

'I'll meet with Pete. We'll talk later.' Steven thought as he looked at Rebecca she seemed fine. But Claudia was right, black level clearance was not normal for this position. "Rebecca, I need to fill in Lt. Cmdr Lattimer with your progress. I think you won't need me past today, do you mind if I go find him? I need to come back early to meet with Lt Jack Secord."

"Of course, and yeah he may need extra training, pretty to look at but not great at comms." Rebecca said with out real thought.

"Oh?" Steve inquired.

"Yeah, we were in the same class, sorry that was informal. I apologize if my candor was offensive, I need to work on it." Rebecca covered, not sure how Steve would respond.

"It's ok but just be aware other COs may not take to kindly to the candor, but it helps me plan my training for him, so thank you." Steve said as he studied his tablet and planned out schedule. He decided to moved around his schedule for more training with him. Even though he couldn't tell them yet, he could not allow there to be flaws.

"Aw come on Lt. Cmdr Steve, don't tell me you are unaware. Scuttlebutt is the best kind of info on a ship. But I respect it, that is why you're the CO and I am below you." Lt. Secord said with a wink and a smile.

'Those dam dimples may be the end of me. I see what Rebecca meant.' "I focus on the work, but I would not discount instinct. I know it has saved my life more then a few times." Steve said as he reviewed the logs. It felt like a lie but he would have to ask Claudia to know for sure.

5 hours earlier

"Computer, command Charlie-Echo-1-95-Terra-3-9 direct black grey6 connection to Blackbeard. Start hyper drive relay contact through signal delta 34tengo hotel. Level 98."

Command confirmed

"Report Cmdr St Clair."