Assembling the Officers

It was quite early in the morning and Fleet Captain Allen Samji had gotten barely any sleep. The events of the night before, with the Alsea arriving so late forced him up into the late hours, finally only giving an announcement of the impending meeting at 0300. He watched, feeling a bit overwhelmed, as all the various Lotus Fleet officers filtered into the conference room with stadium seating that were arranged in a semicircle around a gigantic holographic display behind him. The seats rose to an area where three sets of sliding double doors were arranged around the circle and were opening and closing with a "swish-swash" sound as each officer entered. They were on Deck Seven of the massive city-sized Starbase 10, home to Lotus Fleet. The room they were in took up almost the entirety of Deck Seven, and yet the deck itself was barely a tenth of the diameter of the Promenade Deck in the middle of the base.

He waited for all the senior officers to arrive, carrying a cup of Darjeeling Tea that he sipped at as he approaching some of the officers when they entered.

The first person he encountered was Kletan, a Trill science officer that had left Starbase 10 a few months prior. "How was the joining?" Samji asked. It was his first opportunity to speak to the newly joined Trill since he arrived.

"It was satisfactory, Fleet Captain, thank you," his new Science Chief responded. "Rexil is unnerved to be all the sudden in such new environments and company, but my relief to actually be back balances it out somewhat. Thank you for my new post and rank, Fleet Captain, and congratulations on yours."

"Thank you," Samji replied. "Speaking of unnerving," he laughed, and gave Lieutenant Commander Kletan Rexil a friendly pat on the shoulder before moving along.

He saw Lieutenant Commander Marksus Sangliar, the Tellarite chief who had transferred from the Artemis coming in as he moved toward his Operations Officer and Second Officer, Lieutenant Commander Grok who was standing with his Executive Officer, Karen Schmidt. She was a new transfer from Starbase headquarters, sent after he voiced his objection to have been given the task of running an entire Starbase and Lotus Fleet on his own. Her job would be to take some of the general base management tasks off his shoulders so he could focus on their ships during this busy time.

"Welcome to Starbase 10, Commander Schmidt. Has my Ferengi friend here gotten you all set up?" he asked.

"Yes, he and the Quartermaster..." she struggled for a name for a moment... "Petty Officer Stock were most helpful, Sir," she sad with a smile.

"Least we could do," Grok replied, "to make you comfortable, so your mind is properly focused on the events to come."

Samji nodded in agreement, and then saw some of the ships' officers arive. He moved along toward the newcomers and let his First and Second Officers continue their discussion.