Prologue 4


Lt. J.G. Vosch Karenek


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Lt. J.G. Karenek

Personal Log: It has been three days since I departed the U.S.S. Brathwaite. I truly never understood why different races would say they hated a goodbye, that is until now. I know that I can talk to my former shipmates at any point in time, but it isn’t the same when you wake up and they are not there. The Brathwaite is such a close-knit family type atmosphere, very similar to home. Now I am going to a much bigger ship in comparison. I wait with a sense of fear and excitement and anticipation. *chuckles to self* My goodness, Morluck would be appalled if he saw me allowing emotions to get involved.


{Shuttle}

“Lt. Karenek, there she is.”

“Please, Mark, call me Vosch. We are all equals in the grand scheme of existence, no one better then the next. Save the formalities for when they are required.”

Mark was a young pilot and my escort to the U.S.S. Griffin. He always tried to impress and in a way, humans like that. I suppose he will some day make a great officer.

I looked through the cargo bay window and there she was, in all her glory. I had been so used to smaller more quaint vessels. Maybe the Griffin is not so impressive to most who are used to such vessels as her, but to me, she rivaled some of the most impressive Tsarn ships. While I was entranced by her visage, the feelings of anticipation soon got stronger and more intense as I heard Mark begin his approach.

“U.S.S. Griffin. This is Ensign Mark Cardigan, pilot of the Shuttle NS1402G of the U.S.S. Brathwaite. Permission request for docking.”

A voice in return over the speaker replied, “Hold your course Cardigan. We will bring you in.”

I could feel the sudden pull of the tractor beam at the same time as the shuttle bay opened. I looked at Mark, “Well I guess this is the beginning.”

Mar replied with sarcasm, now that he knew he could, “Or the end.” He winked and then continued, “ You will do just fine here Leuiten… I mean Vosch. They will learn quickly to like you like we did.”

I closed my environmental suit. “Even in this, eh? I remember when you first saw me in this. I thought you were going to cry and maybe even shoot me. By the way I am winking even though can’t see me.”

Mark chuckled and placed the Griffin on the main viewer. “Vosch, some day. Some day I will be commanding a ship like that. Or maybe even a bigger one. You are so lucky.”

“Thanks, but I am here for the learning and the science. I will leave command decisions to those like you.”

As we entered the hanger Mark shut down the engines and let the Griffin do the rest of the work. Once we touched down Mark enquired, “Ready?”

In retort I used one of the catch phrases I had picked up from my human encounters, “Ready as I will ever be.”

After the bay doors closed and the cabin was pressurized, we opened the hatch and were greeted by three individuals. I recognized Lt. JG Krasinski from my computer files, and the other two by uniform gathered to be members of the security team.

Mark addressed the welcoming committee in the most of professional voices he could muster, trying not show that he was more impressed with the vessel then those he was speaking to, “Ensign Cardigan and Lieutenant Junior Grade Karenek requesting to come aboard sir, ma’am, sir.” The telltale signs of embarrassment infused with the eyes of wonderment allowed Krasinski to over look the formality feaux-pa’ and even allow a small as semblance of a smirk momentarily crack her stoic gaze.

“Permission granted, Ensign.” Pointing to the two on either side of her, she confirmed my guess, “This is Ensign Chris Edwards and Ensign Zosin K’amast. You must be tired from your *cough, cough, cough* trip.”

“Are you okay?” I enquired.

The smirk that had been trying to crack her visage clearly gone as a tone of irritancy came forth, “I am fine Lieutenant. Just fine.” She turned her gaze to Mark who was attempting to hold back a comment like (crash and burn eh Vosch?) or some kind of snicker. “Something funny Ensign?”

“Not at all Lieutenant.”

“Good. Ensign K’amast will bring you to your quarters until your schedule departure back to the Brathwaite.” She then focused on me; “Edwards and I will show you to your quarters.”

As we exited the shuttle bay and entered the main ship, needless to say I drew lots of attention, probably as much as I focused on K’amast. I had read of Cardassians, but never met one in real life. Then it came to me, most of my new shipmates have probably never mate one of my people before and were probably even more curious over my environmental suit. I was just breathing a sigh of relief that no one could see me staring. That in many cultures is considered rude, and since I already scored brownie points with asking Krasinski if she was okay…

“Lieutenant Karenek,” Krasinski’s voice popping my consciousness back to where it should be. “Here are your quarters.”

She excused Edwards and followed me in. “Karenek, I would like to apologize for my short temper in the shuttle bay.” It was hard to tell if she was being polite, or if she really meant it. “I have been a little stressed as of late and so little things sometimes irk me. Thank you for your concern.”

“No need to apologize Lieutenant.”

Krasinski nodded in fashion that indicated to me the subject was now closed and we should move on. She continued, “You are familiar with the various types of computers and replicators and such, correct?” I nodded in the affirmative. “Good. Your schedule is on the computer.” She then placed on the desk a PADD, “This is your own private security access code. Bring yourself up to speed on wormhole space anomalies and technologies that affect it. The ship’s doctor will meet you at 0900 tomorrow and Captain Myst, well, she will see you when she is ready. After you review your schedule and meet with the Captain, meet me in my office and we will begin setting up training schedules and routine assignments. I will let you settle in now because you have a lot of homework and desk reading ahead.”

Krasinski left the room and now I could actually look and absorb. I began to feel the same wonderment that Mark had when suddenly the tones of the door went off. “Please enter,” I said.

Krasinski came back in with the stoic visage she had all throughout our brief encounter. “By the way, you like baseball do you Karenek?”

“To a fashion. It is the closest thing to a game that I used to play back on…”

“Good. I will see you on the holodeck right after your appointment tomorrow,” she interrupted. Just as she was leaving, “By the way, welcome aboard.”

As she turned to walk out, I thought I might have caught a little glimpse of a smile, but I wasn’t sure. I did however hear that nagging little cough she has.

I turned to my computer and proceeded to bring myself up to speed as she had requested.


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