The Coming of Toran

Toran sat in a waiting room at Starfleet headquarters in San Francisco. A young Ensign spoke up from behind a desk in the room. "The Admiral will see you now Mister Toran."

"Thank You." Toran replied simply as he rose and entered Admiral Sutek's office.

"It is agreeable to see you again Toran." A stone-faced Vulcan in a red Starfleet Admiral's uniform said as he motioned Toran to sit.

"Thank you Admiral Sutek." Toran replied.

Toran suddenly remembered why he decided never to play the Admiral at poker.

"So I understand that you would like a posting to the new Leviathan. Why ?." Sutek asked.

"Sutek, you should know that I like exploring. My people never got a chance to do much in the Beta quadrant. Most of our exploration outside of our home quadrant centred on the Alpha quadrant." Toran replied.

Sutek stared at Toran for a moment. "I assumed as much Toran. I have reactivated your Starfleet commission and assigned you to the Leviathan as a security. Also, you are now an Ensign."

"Thank you Admiral, I owe you one." Toran said smiling.

"No." Sutek replied. "You owe me five, I have kept count."

Toran thought he saw a slight smile appear on the Vulcan's face. It disappeared as soon as it appeared. Sutek spoke once more. "Report to the Leviathan tomorrow. Dismissed Ensign."

"Aye sir." Toran replied. He left the office happier than he had in years. Not only was this old space dog getting an opportunity to be out there again, but he was an officer now.

Toran's enthusiasm faded quickly as he learned more about the ship. The slipstream drive was certainly exciting, but the Captain that was a different story.

*Great. We have a hotshot for a Captain and he doesn't even have an XO yet !.* He thought. This worried Toran. Every great Captain had a great XO. The XO should compliment the Captain, make up for his faults. What this ship seemed to need was an experienced XO, not a newbie. There weren't too many with experience through that weren't gunning for their own command. As usual Toran forgot to look where he was leaping.

Toran's Apartment

Toran stood in the middle of his bedroom. He had donned his new Starfleet uniform and a pack was slung over his shoulder. He fingered his insignia for a moment. *I'm probably the only one with a provisional insignia*

Most of his belongings had already been sent to the Leviathan al that was left was himself and a few personal items. As he stood for the last time in the place that had been his home for so long, a tear came to his eye. He was beginning a new chapter in his life. Toran wiped his eye. "Toran to spacedock."

[This is space dock, go ahead Ensign Toran.]

"One to beam up."

[Stand by.]

Toran felt a feeling that he hadn't felt in years, the tingle of a transporter beam, it was unmistakable. His form dissolved from sight leaving an empty apartment and seventy years of memories behind.

USS Leviathan : Bridge

Toran had taken a position at the tactical console. Currently the chief of security hadn't even been selected, much less beamed aboard. Toran was somewhat surprised to hear anther Ensign on the Bridge pipe up. "Commander on deck."

He hoped that the Captain would correct the error, but he didn't. Commander Devore entered his command code into the computer and decided to take the ship out for a spin, so that he could see what she could do. Toran stared down at his console, ready for anything that might come his way.