Two weeks after the momentous meeting with Admiral Pike, Commodore Rick Hunter and newly-promoted Commodore Dee Hunter were packed aboard the USS Sutherland, along with several crates of personal belongings, and shipped off to the very edge of known space. Even at a steady and impressive warp 13, the month-long journey was not one that many chose to undertake, and no one undertook it lightly, because the terminus of the voyage was the Briar Patch Sector, the latest hotbed of Galactic unrest.
The only types of people who did make the trip were those who thrived on action and adventure, those looking to start a new life for themselves, or those who were out to make a quick credit -- at everyone else's expense. And Starfleet of course.
After being Academy Instructors for so long, living and working in San Francisco, both Rick and Dee were unprepared for the culture shock of living aboard a starship again, and at the end of their month-long voyage, were eager to depart the Nebula-class for real ground under their feet again.
They were met in the planet-side transporter facility by a Klingon!
It took Hunter a few seconds to realize that there was a standard Starfleet command uniform behind the man's gold warrior sash. It took him another few seconds to realize that the Klingon was speaking to him and holding out his hand.
"A pleasure to meet you, Commodore Hunter," repeated the Klingon, in a typically rough Klingon voice.
Hunter snapped out of his astonishment and took the Klingon's hand, shaking it firmly. "Thank you, Commander..."
"Commander K'Tag, of the House of Mogh," supplied the Klingon. "I am Serenity Base's Executive Officer."
"Ah, I see. Well, nice to meet you too then," replied Hunter, releasing K'Tag's hand. "And this is my wife, Commodore Dee Hunter."
Dee stepped off the transporter platform and shook the XO's hand. "A pleasure, Lieutenant," she said warmly.
Hunter walked the few steps over to the room's large bay window and looked out at his new command. Apparently, the transporter room was high in one of the base's towers, because the rest of the facility's buildings, hangars, warehouses, barracks, and spaceport lay spread out below him. About a mile distant, across low rolling hills of green grass, he could see the city of Serenity, a bustling metropolis of a few hundred thousand people. It was the largest, but by no means the only, settlement on the planet Serenity. Distant, blue-tinged mountains in the background hinted at what wonder lay beyond the horizon.
This was his new assignment -- correction: their new assignment, for Dee had been promoted to the rank of Commodore right there in Pike's office and given co-command at his side -- the planet Serenity. Third planet of the Serenity system, nestled here in the shadow of the Briar Patch in-between the upstart Mulluran Empire and the Federation border and within spitting distance of the Ferengi Alliance and the remnants of the Cardassian Union, it was their new home. It was a frontier world of hardy settlers and bright-eyed entrepreneurs, and one other thing...
He turned back to K'Tag, who had been patiently waiting all through Hunter's daydream. Commander, where is the nearest boat marina?"
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