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The double doors to Thom’s Tavern part with a reluctant hiss, as if the Starbase itself is exhaling after a long shift. A battered Type-9 Shuttle registry NCC-47911/3 “Old Mule”—is still venting plasma from its starboard nacelle in Docking Bay 17, visible through the wide transparisteel view port. The scent of replicated Klingon targ stew and Andorian ale hits like a transporter buffer.
Ensign Ani Hawkins steps through, duffel slung over one shoulder, Tricorder already chirping at the ambient radiation from the Shuttle’s lingering damage two bays over. Her hazel eyes flick to the chalkboard specials
Raktajino – Extra Strong – Ask About Our Deltauran-Proof Blend
and the cluster of off-duty officers nursing mugs.
Ens Hawkins:
Ensign Ani Hawkins, transferring in from Voyager Memorial Outpost. Reporting for eventual duty aboard USS Eureka… once the Xenomorph barbecue on New Bajor cools off. Anyone seen a Yeoman with a PADD and a caffeine addiction?
Ani spots an empty stool near the view port, drops her bag, and taps her Combadge.
Ens Hawkins:
Hawkins to Starbase 34 Ops
! Ensign Hawkins, arrived via Shuttle Old Mule. Requesting temporary quarters, science lab access, and directions to the nearest replicator that doesn’t serve decaf. Also—any word on the fleet’s ETA? My tricorder’s picking up residual phase variance in the refugee cargo holds. Could be nothing. Could be Deltauran. I’d like to rule out the latter before I unpack.
A grizzled CPO at the bar, CPO T’Vara, a Vulcan, three hash-marks and one star on her collar insignia raises an eyebrow.
CPO T’Vara:
Phase variance? You’ll want Lab 4-B, Sub-Level 3. Professor Brewer’s old haunt. Still smells like burnt isolinear rods. Welcome to the madhouse, Ensign.
Hawkins grins, orders a raktajino, hot with no sugar, and pulls out a PADD to sketch the Galleria layout:
• Quark’s Bar & Grill, Ferengi-owned, suspiciously profitable.
• Bajoran Shrine with candles flickering for the New Bajor evacuees.
• Holosuite Arcade, currently running Grand Theft Starship: San Francisco Shipyard Heist
Ens Hawkins:
Note to self: Scan the Holosuite power grid. If someone’s running GTA V physics in 2401, I want in on the beta.
She turns back to the room, voice warm but professional.
Ens Hawkins:
So - who’s got the best story from the New Bajor op? I’ve got Deltauran data from the Kankakee incident, 2381. Trade you for a seat and a refill.
She raises her mug, hazel eyes scanning for takers - ready to listen, learn, and maybe - just maybe - convince Engineering to let her borrow a spare Warp Coil for
Science.
_________________
Ensign Ani E. Hawkins
Asst. Science Officer, USS Eureka
