“Captain, we are arriving at the rendezvous point with Dragonfly.”

Captain Samara Ki stood from her seat and walked forward. “They’re on time. Captain Pantuso does not disappoint.” She gently tapped the pilot on the shoulder. “I hope we get to meet again, Marcus.”

Lieutenant Marcus Henry’s face remained placid, “I’m not sure I share that hope, ma’am. Your arrival into my life was not a pleasant one. I’d like never to experience that again.”

She shrugged, “You learned quickly…and adapted to your training, lieutenant. That counts for something.”

Marcus tapped at the console, “Dragonfly reports ready to transport you aboard, ma’am.”

She stared at the back of his head, annoyed and pleased. Annoyed this was the last time she would see the thirty-year-old intelligence analyst. Pleased he had managed to learn so much in the short time they had known each other. “Very well, Lieutenant Henry.” She stepped back through the runabout to the rear transport pad. Moments later, she vanished into the bright ether. Marcus didn’t wait. He slammed the runabout into its next course and was gone in under thirty seconds.

“You’ve read her dossier.” Captain Alexandra Pantuso walked with Commander Charlie Hargraves through the corridors of the Dragonfly. They were minutes away from arriving at the pickup point for a surprise passenger – a captain in Starfleet Intelligence.

As they entered a turbolift, Charlie scoffed, “What little there was available. The redactions leave plenty to the imagination, and I’ve worked long enough in Diplomatic Operations to know what that probably means. She’s a spook. Not just a standard spook. She made captain at forty-five. I don’t want to know how many she had to kill to get there.”

Pantuso stopped the turbolift, “You take a dim view of intelligence, don’t you?”

Hargraves stilled his nerves. He’d only worked with her a short time. He’d started on his back feet when she’d charged onto the Dragonfly. He’d ever so gently begun pushing back against her style and substance – he was reasonably sure she was going to kill him. Charlie had decided to take to death if need be. “They do a great job of it on their own, captain. I’m the careful hand and delicate discussion end of the spectrum. They’re spooks and spycraft.”

Alexandra raised her eyebrows, “You don’t trust her, do you?”

He volleyed her question back with his own, “Do you?”

She measured him, “You took my directive to be on the opposing counsel quickly. Although to be clear, I don’t trust her much either. I’ve never run in her circles and only know her through brief bits and bobs from others that I shared orbits with.” She tapped at the turbolift, and the journey resumed. “We’re going to have to tread carefully with her, commander. No doubt she’s done her homework on us – ship and crew.”

Charlie grumbled, “I hate Intelligence.”

“Let’s try and not let it show, mmkay?”

The lights faded. Samara Ki stepped down from the transporter pad, “Captain Pantuso, Commander Hargraves. I’m Captain Samara Ki.”

Pantuso returned the polite, thin smile the intelligence officer had offered, “Welcome to the Dragonfly. We can show you to your quarters.” The three left the transporter room and walked at a leisurely pace. “We received your list yesterday – our engineering and security teams have completed the upgrades and installs you requested.”

Samara’s face remained serene, “Thank you, captain.” They walked on in silence. Pantuso had been given little notice of her arrival and had made a concerted effort to keep her distance from intelligence over the years. She was questioning her decision as they continued down the corridor.

They rode in silence in the turbolift. Pantuso stepped out and led them down the corridor. She tried gamely, “How was the trip to us, captain?”

Ki replied, “Uneventful.” They walked further until they reached the door to her guest quarters, which she opened using the security code on the wall console. As the door opened, she pulled out a PADD and handed it to Pantuso, “I have several interviews I will be conducting with members of your crew. Their names, positions, and times are outlined there. Please ensure they are facilitated to the letter.” She walked into her quarters, and the door closed behind her.

Pantuso walked away as Charlie remained staring at the door, “Don’t stare, commander. She’s probably watching you.” He startled and caught up with her as she scanned the list, “It’s most of our security and operations staff—the good ones, too.”

Hargraves asked, “You think she’s building her staff for the station?”

Alexandra corrected him, “I don’t think…I know that’s what she’s up to. I’ll see if I can limit the damage with Fontana running some interference for us. Start looking at security and operations officers in the nearby and far sector who are free agents or are interested in a transfer. I’d rather prepare for the worst than fight for the leftover scraps. We’ve got a few days in transit. Let’s hope our Squadron CO’s got some tricks up his sleeve.”