Full Speed Ahead

It had been six hours since it was decided to allow the Vorta to set up an interface and the Taurus had been fully stocked. Lieutenant J'ross stepped onto the Bridge for only the third time, but this was the first time in real command. It did feel disorienting. Especially after being a Second Officer for so long. Lieutenant McQueen stood up as M'eko walked by and sat down in the Captain's Chair. He immediately sat down in the Executive Officer's seat as he was temporary XO.

"Are we ready Lieutenant McQueen ?" M'eko asked while turning towards him.

"Systems are ready, engines are hot, and all crew are aboard." He replied without missing a beat.

Getting a new Commanding officer was hard enough on a crew. Especially when the Captain was a good friend and was forced to withdraw his command for an injury. But the mission had to be completed.

"Good." M'eko replied, checking the command codes in the arm display of the chair. "Helm, clear all moorings."

"Moorings cleared and clamps released. Airlocks also off. We are drifting free." Came the response from Helm.

M'eko stopped for a moment, took a look out the viewscreen and ordered "One quarter impulse. Straight ahead."

The ship moved away from the docking tier swiftly and was quickly at a safe enough distance to manoeuvre. Lieutenant J'ross ordered the ship into the wormhole, and in less than forty five minutes, they were back in the Gamma Quadrant.

"Exiting wormhole, we are in the Gamma Quadrant" The helm officer said quickly.

"Set course for Bopak III maximum warp." M'eko ordered. She was still trying to get comfortable at the prospect of being in total charge of the ship (even if it was supposed to be temporary). Having nobody to report to onboard was a daunting prospect, but doing it immediately after serving a two year second officer position amplified it.

"Lieutenant, at maximum warp it will take us four days to reach Bopak III." Logan stated softly into M'eko's ear.

Lieutenant J'ross suddenly realised what Logan had been prompting.
"Bridge to Engineering." She announced. "What is the status of the transwarp drive ?"

[Engineering here Captain.] The voice of Ensign Luwall replied. "The drive is still a little fragile, I would have preferred to have run a level eight diagnostic before we left. I'd suggest not exceeding transwarp six.]

"That would still cut a day off our trip." Logan whispered.

"Thank you Ensign, Bridge out." M'eko replied. "Helm, how far are we from the wormhole ?"

"Sixteen light-minutes." The helm officer replied.

"Prepare to engage the transwarp drive at transwarp six." M'eko ordered.

"Transwarp six, yes Captain." The Ensign repeated.

The ship started to accelerate to transwarp speed and disappeared into the depths of space.