Heading for the Taurus

The Hellcat glided through the depths of space, heading for Bopak III in the Gamma Quadrant and the USS Taurus. James Wright a self-proclaimed "Intelligence Diplomat" sat back in the sparse quarters that had been his home for the duration of the journey to the Taurus. He sat drinking a mug of steaming black Andorian Coffee. He sighed a heavy sigh as he thought of his parents on Bajor, the luck things. His thoughts then shifted to his friends he had abandoned on Bajor to join the Academy. However as he thought, he was interrupted, the door sounded.

"Come in." He said.

Captain Aki Taybar, the new commanding officer of the Taurus stood in the doorway. Her tiny frame seemed to glow with power and awe. James didn't know whether to be glad or sad, either way she was there at the door, hands on hips, in a Kathryn Janeway like fashion, Kathryn Janeway scared Wright, a lot.

"Can I come in." She said softly,

"Certainly sir, er.. ma'am." James half-stuttered ."Which ever one you like."

"You can call me sir or ma'am when it's crunch time Lieutenant, of course Captain is also acceptable. But now it's not crunch-time and as I’m not officially your superior until we reach the Taurus, Aki will be fine." She said in a Janeway like fashion. She smiled her unique smile.

"What can I do for you Captain ?" James asked standing up and putting his mug of coffee down on the table that was located next to the chair.

"You could get me a mug of that steaming coffee." Aki answered.

James smiled. Aki didn't understand why.

"Why are you smiling ?" She enquired.

"You act like Admiral Janeway." James replied.

"I do ?" Aki said curiously. "You’ve met Admiral Janeway ?"

"Yes Captain." He confirmed, walking to the replicator and ordered the mug of black steaming Andorian coffee his commanding officer wanted. He walked back, holding it in his hand and gave it to the Captain, who sipped it.

"Hmmm...very good for a replicator." She smiled again and sat down on another chair. "How are you finding things ?"

"Fine, missing Earth. But fine." James replied. "I’m looking forward to being back in the Gamma quadrant."

Aki suddenly turned serious. "I read your service jacket, you are a wonderful officer, Starfleet needs people like you, if only you could have seen some of the things in the Dominion War."

"I did Captain." James replied. "I was stationed on a remote Federation research station in the Gamma quadrant as part of my second year at the Academy. I was supposed to be there for six month, but the Dominion war broke out a month after I arrived. We were preparing to abandon the base when the Jem'Hadar invaded the station. Several of the people I was with had been in the Bajorian resistance and we tried to drive the Dominion off the station."

"Did you succeed ?" Aki asked.

"Unfortunately we failed." James admitted with a note of disappointment in his voice. "We did eventually manage to ‘borrow’ a small supply vessel that allowed us to evade the Dominion forces around the wormhole and return to the Alpha quadrant. After that I went back to the academy. Once I’d completed the academy, the war was over."

Aki nodded but said nothing. There was a silence between them, until she spoke up as she rose and drank the remaining coffee.

"We arrive in three hours at the Taurus, report to the Bridge in two." With that she left, in a Janeway like fashion.