While she searched for the galley, Diotima noticed that the ship had an almost symmetrical layout. It was only one deck thick, not counting the bridge, which sat on top of the ship. Directly under the bridge was a large, roughly circular area, currently occupied by Canderous' now strongly secured jeep, since it was too large to fit through the doors to the twin cargo holds, which were located in the back of the circular area. Between the cargo bays was the door to the engine room, where Diotima could hear T3 drop something that sounded heavy and metallic. Branching out from the area to the left and the right were corridors, which led to the dormitories, each with four beds. A single corridor running toward the front of the ship lead to the airlock, and its floor could be opened into the ramp. Between the side corridors and the ramp, there were two normal doors leading to a small med bay on the port, and a briefing room on the starboard side. The briefing room also served as the recreation room as well as the mess hall, as it contained the three food synthesizers.
Now, where are the food tapes? Diotima thought as she walked in and looked around. When she finally found them, she shook her head. What idiot stores the tapes in the synthesizer? A few minutes later, she arrived back on the bridge with a tray filled with cups of hot coffee.
"Come and get it while it's steaming," she reported to the others.
Bastila nodded at her and took one. "Thank you, Commander." She looked up quizzically at Diotima. "Although this is normally a yeoman's job."
Diotima shrugged and handed Carth another cup. "I know. But since we don't have any yeomen, and I don't like pushing work to cadets, I did it myself. Mission, care for some coffee?"
"Oh, sure."
"Ordo?"
"Hope it's strong enough."
"And..." Diotima noticed she forgot one, and pressed on Bastila's intercom button. "T3? If you can leave the engines alone for a moment, I got fresh coffee up on the bridge."
"Be-bleep bop."
Moments later, the young man sat at the small engineer's station and took his first sip of coffee.
Bastila inhaled the scent of the dark beverage with closed eyes. "The Ebon Hawk may be old, but her synthesizers make wonderful coffee!" She surveyed the crew working on their stations, and noticed that everybody, including her, was completely exhausted. "I think we all deserve some rest. Any volunteers for the first shift?"
Canderous grunted. "Since when is Starfleet a democracy?"
"It isn't. So it's you, Ordo-"
"Damnit."
"- and...Carth and T3."
The mentioned men turned their heads to look at her. "Why us?" asked Carth.
"T3 still has work to do, and I need you to keep an eye on the mercenary. I'd also like you to assess the ship and make sure it'll get us to Sherman's Planet in one piece. Don't worry about a damage report for now; I'll have someone do that after we get some rest. Just make sure everything stays together. See you in five hours."
Mission and Diotima followed the captain to the starboard dorm, where Bastila quickly claimed the bunk with the biggest space by setting her coffee on the desk next to it, the same instant Mission cried "Dibs!"
The older women looked at her and raised her eyebrows. The Andorian sighed with resignation and retreated to the bunk closest to the corridor door. "Sorry."
Bastila looked at Diotima. "What's 'dibs'?"
"Something I used to say as a kid. A one syllable word for claiming things like the bigger slice of cake."
"And she did that for..."
"The bunk, apparently. Don't ask me where she learned it."
A sleepy voice sounded from the fourth bunk. "Starfleet Academy. Same with shotgun..."
Diotima stopped looking through the dresser of her bunk and opened the door on the front side of the dorm, revealing a bathroom with a private shower, sink, and toilet.
"Finally a shower! I still smell like motor oil from the race. If you'll excuse me, Captain?"
Bastila, who was rifling through the drawers as well, pulled out a duty skirt uniform in command gold. "Just don't use up all the hot water," she said absent-mindedly.
Diotima never thought of it later, but it struck her as curious how somebody could "use up all the hot water" in a sonic shower.
