“Captain’s Log, Stardate 77341.9. It’s a big day for those of us of the brand-new Federation starship Kison. No doubt we’ll run into our fair share of trouble, but that’s what it’s all about out here, especially where we’re going. We have orders from Commodore Th’arc to locate and assist the starship Altai, out near the Breen border. Not to mention our captain’s out there on a housecall. What the Hell was she thinking, haring off like that with the Kison almost ready? I guess she thought that the crew of the Altai must have needed help really badly, but to go off in her own personal runabout without us? How irresponsible can she possibly be?”

Liz cut the log off at that point, wondering whether or not she should have said anything in the log. Oh well, she thought. Wouldn’t be the first time I got my ass in hot water for saying what I really think. Come to think of it, I really should work on that.

“Tara, get us underway. Notify the dockmaster and clear us for departure. When you get clearance, take us out at one-quarter impulse power, and once we clear Utopia Planitia, set course for Outpost 1-SZ, maximum warp,” Liz ordered.

“Aye, ma’am. Dockmaster reports clear, and we are clear for departure,” Tara replied. “Accelerating to one-quarter impulse power for departure.”

“Outstanding, Ms. SanMicheli,” Liz replied. “We’ll make a helmsman out of you yet.”

“Clear of Utopia Planitia facilities. We are free and clear to navigate,” Tara reported, her hands flying across her panel.

Liz Vauxhall wasted no time: “Set course for Outpost 1-SZ, maximum warp.”

Any other helmsman would have asked why, but Tara was not the kind.
“Aye, ma’am, heading zero-three-seven mark zero-two-nine, speed Warp 8.”

As the stars turned into streaks in the viewscreen, Liz only hoped she was in time for her Captain and the crew of the Altai.