New Shoes

"Lieutenant McQueen. We're approaching the wormhole." Ensign Ashley announced.

"Take us out of trans-warp and approach at one quarter impulse." Logan ordered.

"Wormhole in three minutes." Ashley replied as the USS Taurus returned to normal space. It was hard to think that just ten days ago, they had left DS9 and the Alpha quadrant behind to perform a routine staff rotation at a Federation research outpost.

Since then, the Captain had been injured and the XO killed. At the other end of the wormhole was a new XO, plus a Chief Science Officer and a Chief Engineer. Logan had contacted DS9 and Starfleet informing them of the situation and they had confirmed that they would be assigning a new Captain as soon as possible. Time was however of the essence and until a new Captain could be found, the XO would be taking command of the Taurus and the mission.

Fifty minutes later, the Taurus emerged from the wormhole and back into the Alpha quadrant.

"Lieutenant, we're receiving a message from DS9." Lieutenant Lune announced from the operations console.

"Put it onscreen." Logan replied.

[Deep Space Nine to USS Taurus.] The Ensign announced as she appeared on the main viewscreen. [Welcome back, you are cleared to dock at upper pylon three. Major Kira has requested that you come to her office as soon as you arrive Lieutenant McQueen.]

"Understood DS9. Taurus out." Logan replied. "Helm, take us in."

Half an hour later, Logan was stood in the operations centre of Deep Space Nine, a mixture of Starfleet and Bajorian personnel working hard at the various consoles.

"You can go in now Lieutenant." A young human Ensign in a gold uniform announced.

Logan stepped towards the doors of the Commander's office and as they opened he stepped inside.

"Welcome to DS9." Major Kira announced, rising from the sofa where she had been sitting. "I am just sorry that we meet in such unfortunate circumstances. I've just spoken with Doctor Bashir about the Commander and his injuries are far worse than you first suspected."
[Major, I have Lieutenant J'ross waiting for you.] The comm officer announced from outside.

"Send her in Ensign Taylor." The Major replied. "Time to meet your new executive officer."

Logan watched the door as they opened and in walked someone rather special. At first Logan was shocked, then regained his composure as the feline form entered the room. Logan recognised that the officer was a Caitian, although there were very few still in Starfleet and he'd never met one before.

"Lieutenant McQueen, may I introduce Lieutenant M'eko J'ross, the new executive officer for the Taurus." Nerys stated. "Lieutenant J'ross, Lieutenant Logan McQueen, the Taurus's Chief of Security."

"I am looking forward to working on the Taurus." M'eko announced. "But I am still unsure as to why the vessel requires a new XO so soon after being re-launched."

"She hasn't been briefed ?" Logan exclaimed.

"Not yet." Kira replied. "That is why I asked her here."

Logan explained about the attack on the Juno III outpost by rogue Jem'Hadar, the abduction of the Federation scientists, the involvement of the Dominion and the death of Lt. Commander Vossik at the hands of the Jem'Hadar prisoner. He continued onto what they had found at the Dominion outpost at Tartan Genoa System and how the Commander had been injured, forcing the ship to return to DS9.

"So we have no Captain ?" M'eko asked. "Will one be assigned ?"

"For the moment, the Taurus will continue without a Captain." Major Kira announced. "So until that happens, you'll be in command of the ship. We can't afford to wait for Starfleet to assign the Taurus a new Captain and have them transferred. The scientists are too important to let the trail go cold. The ship must be ready to resume the search in twelve hours."

"Then I guess we better get started." M'eko stated.

"Lieutenant Damson Rhee, your new chief science officer has been awaiting your return for the past week. I'll have her report to you immediately." Major Kira said. "I also believe that Lieutenant Chris Cutal your new chief tactical officer arrived a few hours ago."

"Thank you Major." Logan stated, rising from his seat. "Ma'am, shall we return to the Taurus."
Lieutenant M'ross sat almost motionless for a moment until she realised that Logan had been addressing her. She looked at Logan and stood up.

"Lieutenant will be fine, M'eko when we're off duty." M'ross replied. "Shall we get going, I'm eager to see the trans-warp drive, advanced propulsion has always been an interest of mine. Last year I made a request to join the USS Leviathan-A and work with their quantum slipstream drive, but the ship was lost before my transfer was approved."

The two officers left the Major's office and headed back to their ship.