First Impressions

[commodore_69]

The staff had been arriving in batches, gradually filling out the skeleton crew of Starbase 69. Commodore Otrona was careful to greet each incoming group and give them an orientation and tour of the station. A starbase was a large facility, and Tandy knew that it could be easy to lose track of personnel. She didn't intend to do that. She

Comments

[axe_kicker]

Martha tugged the hem of her tunic straight, smoothed back her hair, and tried to assume her best I-may-be-inexperienced-but-I'm-eager-to-work-ma'am expression.

She stepped out of the shuttle and swallowed hard. The woman waiting for her was wearing gold. Not Chief Security Officer Lucia Chen Aguilar. It was the Commodore herself.

And her mind had gone completely blank.

What was her commanding officer's name, she should know this, she had studied the profiles of all her colleagues and commanders on the flight, she'd loaded them into her PADD the second after she'd got the assignment, even before she'd sent a message home, what sort of security agent couldn't put names to faces, how could she forget her-

"Commodore Otrona," she said, and saluted crisply.

[commodore_69]

"Ensign Landon." Tandy returned the salute. "I'm going to apologize in advance for my informality. It's the middle of the night, station time, and I'm a little tired. But I like to meet all of my incoming crew personally."

She extended her hand - the one not occupied with a coffee mug. "Welcome to Starbase 69."

[axe_kicker]

Martha took the commodore's hand and shook it, grateful that she wasn't sweating. "Thank you, ma'am. I'm happy to be here."

And wasn't that the truth. No evil wishes for the poor guy she'd replaced, but Starbase 69 - name aside - was a sweet post.

"I appreciate the personal touch," she dared to add, and released the older woman's hand.

[commodore_69]

Tandy smiled at her. Cute kid. And her profile was promising.

"Let me give you the quick tour, then. Smith there will take your luggage to your quarters."

She headed out of the bay with the stride of a woman used to being obeyed, not waiting for acknowledgment. Landon would be following her if she had any sense.

"You've seen shuttle bay one from the inside, now. We have three identical bays operational right now. The specs allow for as many as ten, eventually, but as the station grows, I might decide to put that space to other uses. I'll show you the recreational facilities next." She stepped into a turbolift at the end of the corridor, adding, "The lifts are all programmed to take you only to habitable areas within the station, so there's no danger of an unplanned spacewalk."