The young blond got up to stop the intruder, and saw the pins on the man's neck, and the red and black uniform. "Oh," she said with a smile, "Commodore Hunter has been expecting you, Commander Palatio." She opened the door to the Commodore's office ushering him inside.
"Thank you, miss." Joel walked into the Commodore's office. The commodore seemed very busy looking at electronic PADDs scattered all over his desk. The door closed behind the Commander, and he stood there for a few minutes. Hunter was so busy that he didn't register the other man in the room. Joel had to clear his throat several times to be noticed. He crossed his hands behind his back.
Commodore Hunter looked up from the PADD he'd been reading, completely surprised to find someone in the room with him. How long had the man been standing there? He silently laughed at himself that he could be so absorbed in dull fuel consumption reports that he'd blanked out everything else. He rose to his feet. "You must be Commander Joel Palatio. Been standing there long?"
"No, I haven't been here long, sir." Joel stood there in parade rest.
"Good. Have a seat."
"Yes sir." Joel took it as and order and sat down. He was straight as a rod as he sat there.
"Relax, will you? If you don't un-tense, something's liable to snap off."
"I'll try to relax, sir." He seemed to kind of slag a little, but only a little.
Hunter smiled and shrugged. "It's a start." He stepped away from his desk towards the replicator niche in the office's back wall and continued speaking in a conversational manner. "Did you just arrive on Serenity? Heckuva long trip through the Briar Patch. You must be tired. Or thirsty? You want something to drink? I'm going to get myself another cup of coffee. God knows I need it after reading all those reports." He pointed to the pile of PADDs on his desk.
"Coffee will be fine." He looked at the tired out Commodore. "When will they move the starbase and have the outpost placed in orbit, sir?"
"Straight to business, Commander? Okay." Hunter returned from the replicator and handed Palatio a steaming cup of coffee. He reseated himself behind his desk and took a careful sip of the hot liquid before setting it on the desktop. "I have some good news and some bad news for you," he said finally.
"The bad news is that it'll be another six weeks before the Black Gate is aligned with the destination along the Tholian Border where Command wants to send Starbase 901. After that, it'll be another week before the Starfleet Corps of Engineers can start construction on your new K7-class supply depot. Construction will last a couple of months. I figure you'll be up and running around the end of the year.
"The good news is that that means you've got easy duty until then."
"I see." He started to smile. "Then I can go and hang around Serenity for a while."
"Sure, Commander. It's your time. But I'm sure we'll be able to find things for you to do until your command is available."
"I see." The smile left his face and he set the cup on the table. "You need help around here. Not enough officers in the Colony." He leaned on the chair. "I heard that the Marines had no officers and that they got integrated into the SAR department."
Hunter's smile grew wider and he chuckled. "I wouldn't repeat that within hearing distance of any Marines, Commander. Besides, it's not entirely true. While the Marines have sent a large part of their force back home since the war with the Mullurans ended, the Marine FARP is still manned and operational. And they definitely haven't been combined with any Starfleet units."
He sighed. "I have a question, sir, if I may."
"Of course."
"Is it true that there is a new empire that contacted us? And that there have been reports of Romulans hanging around or close to Serenity Colony borders?"
Commodore Hunter's smile faded. "They say rumors travel at warp 10," he grumbled. "Again, only partially true. There is a newly emerged government along the Romulan border called the Cellione Republic. Their planets are settled by Romulans, Vulcans, humans and a few others. They fly ships similar to Romulan warbirds, and have approached us with trade proposals."
"I see."
Hunter's smile returned, and he said, "So if you're sitting up there on your supply base and a winged ship decloaks, don't start shooting right away, okay?"
"I'll try to remember that, sir." He gulped down the coffee. "Hmmm good."
Hunter stared at a man that could drink hot coffee like that. "Doesn't that hurt?" he asked.
"Oh." He looked at the empty cup of coffee. "I think I overdid it. Starfleet sent me on a runabout and their replicators malfunctioned so everything was cold." He started to feel a bit of a heartburn. "I'll be ok in a bit."
Hunter looked skeptical but gave the young mane the benefit of the doubt.
"Will that be all sir? I know you're quite busy, and I need to get acquainted with the Colony." He put the cup on the table again.
"Yes Commander. That's all for now," replied Hunter. "Just don't wander too far afield."
"Yes sir. I'll be ready for duty if you need me."
They shook hands and Joel left the Commodore to his demanding work. On his way out he nodded to the Yeoman and went on his way to explore his new home.
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