"Captain On Deck"

Logan was sat in the Security officer, 'his' office now he reminded himself looking over the new crew rosters and double-checking their credentials. Suddenly the security alarm activated, pulling Logan's attention away from the Padds he had been reviewing. Logan moved across to the console and checked the board. A shuttle had just entered sensor range, one of the Taurus's shuttles to be exact which meant that the ship's new Captain was on his way.

Most of the ships systems were routed through Engineering, allowing control of the ship to be run from there. Ship security was obviously routed to the security office, as was the external and internal sensors. The Bridge was empty, there wasn't much point in manning that area of the ship whilst the vessel was in dry-dock.

Officially it would have been the outgoing Captain's duty to greet the new Captain, but Logan had already spoken to Captain Scully, to telling her about the promotion and the fact that the new Captain was coming aboard. During the conversation it had come out that Commander Doggett hadn't been the only supporter of Logan's rise to his current position.

When he'd mentioned to Captain Scully that the new Captain was on his way, she had requested that Logan be the one to greet Commander Buford and bring him upto her ready room. With no executive officer assigned to the Taurus, the Captain and Commander Doggett half-way between assignments and the Chief Engineer still not aboard, Logan realised that he was senior officer aboard ship. Logan accepted the Captain's request and greeting his new commanding officer was to be his first official duty as chief of security.

Logan stepped out of the security office and headed down the corridor.

"McQueen to Engineering." He announced as he tapped his comm badge.

[Engineering here. What can I do for you McQueen ?] The voice on the other end announced.

"Are the turbolifts operational yet ?" Logan enquired.

[Negative. Why do you ask ?] The voice replied.

"Our new commanding officer will be arriving in around five minutes and I would prefer to take him to see Captain Scully without having to take him on a tour of the ship's Jefferies tubes." Logan explained.

[I'll have a couple of the cabs operational in a few minutes.] The voice confirmed. [Engineering out.]

Logan smiled, at last he had persuaded Engineering to turn the turbolifts back on, something he'd been attempting to do for the past week. Although he didn't dislike crawling through the ship's Jefferies tubes, turbolifts made life easier.

McQueen entered the shuttlebay just as the type-9 shuttle landed on the deck. As the antigrav motors powered down and the shuttle doors opened, Logan walked forward to stand just a few feet from the shuttle.

The first person out was a young male, about an inch taller than Logan with close cut brown hair and a broad smile across his face. Logan recognised the Commander from his service record image, but wondered what the smile was all about. As he stepped onto the deck plates, a whistle could be heard from the speakers and the computer announced "Captain on deck."

"My very own ship." AJ Buford stated under his breath.

"Commander Buford." Logan announced, more to confirm his own presence to the Commander than identifying the Commander. "Captain Scully has requested that I escort you to her office."

"And you are ?" AJ enquired.

"Lieutenant McQueen, Logan McQueen." Logan replied. "Chief of Security."

"You don't sound too sure about that Lieutenant." AJ commented. "And I was under the impression that the security chief wasn't yet aboard ship."

"To be honest Commander, I've only had the title for a few hours." Logan replied. "Commander Doggett, the previous holder of the title only informed me this afternoon about my new assignment."

"Well I guess congratulations are in order." AJ stated, extending his hand out to Logan for him to shake. "For both of us."

Logan shook the Commander's hand quickly and firmly. Then Ensign Davis stepped out of the shuttle, her post flight checks complete.

"Ensign Davis." AJ announced. "Let me introduce the Taurus's new Chief of Security, Logan McQueen."

"Sir." Davis replied, coming to attention in front of two superior officers.

"Relax Ensign." AJ announced "Or you'll sprain something."

"Ensign Davis, I believe you have quarters assigned to you on deck six." McQueen announced. "And welcome aboard."

"Thanks." Ashley replied. "Commander, Lieutenant."

Ensign Davis headed back into the shuttle and started to unload the cargo they had brought, including both her own and the Commander's personnel luggage.

"If you will follow me Commander, I'll take you to see the Captain." Logan announced. "I'll also see if I can find someone to transfer your luggage to your new quarters."

Logan and AJ walked towards the turbolifts and after waiting a few minutes for a cab, they stepped inside.

"Deck One." Logan announced. "Sorry for the wait Commander, but Engineering have had most of the cabs offline for maintenance. We've spent the last week traversing the ship through the Jefferies tubes."

The turbolift doors opened and both officers stepped out of the cab and onto the Bridge. As soon as they did, the doors closed behind them and sped off elsewhere. At first the Bridge was dark, but as soon as the officers stepped out, lights began to bring it back to life.

"Not much point in manning the Bridge whilst here." Logan commented. "Most of the ships functions have been re-routed else where."

Logan walked across the Bridge and pressed the door chime to the Captain's ready room.

"Come in." A female voice announced from inside and the doors opened.

"Captain Scully. May I introduce Commander Alexander John Buford." Logan announced.

"My friends call me AJ." AJ commented as he entered the room.

Captain Scully was sat behind her desk, a slim figure with greying hair. Although her hair was mostly grey, there were still signs of the Captain's original red hair. She stood up and walked around her desk to greet her guest.

"Commander Buford, it is a pleasure to meet you." Scully announced.

"If that is all Captain, I'll be going." Logan suggested.

"We'll see you at 19:00 hours ?" The Captain enquired.

"Holodeck one." Logan replied. "I wouldn't miss it."

Logan left the two officers behind and headed back to security office. On the way he ensured that the new Captain's luggage was taken to his quarters.

"Please sit down Commander. Would you like a drink ?" Scully asked.

"No thanks." AJ replied. "What's happening at 19:00 hours ?"

"A little party for the departing crew, including myself." Scully answered. "You should come down, it would be a good chance for you to meet some of your new crew."

"I'll take that under advisement." AJ commented.