Those Old Scientists: After

"I STILL can't believe you met Captain Pike," Captain Freeman admitted as she went over the report, her daughter sitting across from her.

"I'm more impressed by meeting Uhura," Mariner admitted.

"You always had such a crush on her," Freeman teased.

"MOM," Mariner rolled her eyes.

They talked a bit longer then Mariner mused, "I do wonder.. why our ship?"

Freeman frowned, "The Cerritos is perfectly fine."

Mariner was well aware of her mother's defensiveness and continued, "But we're not a specialized engineering ship. You'd think Starfleet would send them."

"Point," Freeman admitted. She frowned, "Let's see where the orders originated."

"Huh, a admiral," Mariner started then both blinked in surprise.

"ADMIRAL ERICA ORTEGAS?!"

End...?

Notes: I just wondered, wouldn't they send a science team to check on the portal? Or Starfleet Corps of Engineers?

This assumes Erica SURVIVES till the end of Strange New Worlds, of course. I assume anyone other than Pike and the TOS crew could go.