Location: Overwatch Station, Corridors to Promenade

Elsie walked into the security office. He was looking for Sotti. “I thought you said you’d be ready to go?” Elsie said if she gave her sleep teasing grin on her face.

“Well sometimes I have too much time on my hands and I look for a way to fill it I apologize ma’am.” Sotti said if she stood up from her desk and walked around. “I am ready to proceed when you are.”

“I can’t believe it’s only been a couple days and they’re thinking this New Providence going to be ready for inspection. What are your thoughts on that?” Elsie asked as she looked over to Sotti.

“ElsBeth is a great officer, I know that she’ll done her best to make sure that this place is operational.” Sotti said with all the confidence in the world, she believed in her fellow officers and their capabilities.

“Well I’m glad to hear it, of course I’m supposed to be a little skeptical because it’s my stamp of approval that’s on the line here.” Elsie pointed out to her. She didn’t like being a bad guy but in this case she had no choice.

“I understand ma’am, but I think you’re going to be impressed.” Sotti said with the humbling smile on her face. She was really impressed that Elsie was willing to sit down with her and chat with her. Well they weren’t technically sitting there walking but the sentiment still was the same.

“Well in either case, I’m glad you’re here to join me on this. Now I expect you to be very thorough on the inspection. I know there are friends but at the same time we have to make sure it’s up to standards.” Elsie insisted to Sotti.

“Yes ma’am you can count on me to be thorough. I’m going to be using this Promenade so I want to make sure it’s up to specs, you can count on me.” She said with the big grin on her face, thinking to herself yep she was going to use the hell out of this Promenade area. It’s smaller than she was used to but she was grateful that they built it. Now she just needed to get it approved so they could actually start using it.

“Me too, I am looking forward to it.” Elsie said. She wanted to shop around the promenade. “2 weeks after this, the shops and restaurants will open up.” Elsie pointed out to her. There was a tone of excitement in her voice.

“I can’t believe our Chief of the Station is leading the Promenade Association.” Sotti said, she was little surprised. In reality she shouldn’t be she is Ferengi after all and they love a good business opportunity.

“I have no doubt in her skills, and I know she’s going to do well in that position plus let’s be honest most of the station personnel are enlisted we have a few officers so this will be right up her alley.” Elsie pointed out to Sotti.

“I’m excited that we’re going to have a boutique in a couple restaurant style kiosks.” Sotti said thinking on the possibility of having a mini Promenade on the station.

“well it shouldn’t take it that much longer, to get there so since we have a couple minutes let’s talk.” Elsie said if she transition the conversation away from the Promenade.

“Okay ma’am, what would you like to talk about?” Sotti ask, she was a little curious to know what the Commodore wanted. She hoped it wasn’t about Tolis. Because she was still trying to process her feelings about that guy.

“Just to see how you’re doing and how you’re settling in.” Elsie said with the tone of sincerity in her voice, she had no ulterior motives. She meant everywhere she said to you. She didn’t want to be that committee officer that was super distant, she wanted to get to know her crew how to help them and their personal lives and their professional lives with Starfleet. She wanted to make friends she knew there had to be some separation between them since she was her commanding officer and she was one of the departments heads. But it didn’t mean that they couldn’t have a friendship. Several captains at friendships with their crew and several admirals, even though she had a hard time accepting the fact that she was now a commodore, she had to accept it for the sake of her crew.

Initially she took on the role of commodore so she could have time to rehabilitate herself after what happened during Frontiers day. But now she thinks I might have been foolish because of what happened more recently with the Vaadwaur. Starfleet was always going to have its enemies, and it would be up to the officers and enlisted who served to deal with those situations. But I didn’t mean that the Federation couldn’t still be about exploration, Starfleet itself had to be both explorers and defenders and she knew that.

“I believe for the most part I’m doing pretty well, I love my job I’m getting familiar with everything here. I love the fact they have the new Promenade coming in and I’m already making friends here.” Sotti said hoping that was the answer that Elsie wanted to hear.

“Well I’m glad to hear that, I realize right off the bat I just went directly into duty duty duty, I want us to be more than that I want us to feel like a close-knit family so with that said and you’re under no obligation but out of curiosity did you purposely choose a station or were you hoping to get on his ship?” Elsie asked being a little nosy, she was just curious because nobody knew yet but she was seriously considering some crew shifting in her division, and she wanted to make sure everybody was happy where they’re at.

“I let Starfleet decide my fate, there are benefits to both serving on a Starship and serving on a star base. The department head on a star base is not an easy feat so this will definitely help me in future when I want to get promoted and become a commanding out for my own vessel or station down the road.” Sotti said, hoping that satisfied her answer.

“Let fate decide your career huh, that’s not a bad thing, especially if you’re looking for a fast track promotion system. One of our first officers in our division kind of went down that path and now here she is a lieutenant commander and XO of the Oakland.” Elsie advised her, not really trying to push her in that direction but letting her know that that is an option if that’s the direction she chooses.

“Well I believe in duty and honor above all, and I had a feeling Starfleet would send me where they need me most. And Starfleet decided I needed to be here.” Sotti simply explain, in her eyes duty mattered the most. She was an honor bound type personality, and what is more honorable than duty to Starfleet.

“Well it’s refreshing to see an officer that puts duty above all, but I also want to point out to you so don’t forget about family. Loyalty and duty to your family is also important, and I hope the station becomes like a family to you.” Elsie pointed out with a big red on her face.

Sotti grinned as she then responded. “it’s the way I was raised Ma’am, duty and loyalty mean everything to me. And I took an oath to serve Starfleet. Especially during times like when the Vaadwaur attacked us on provocated. I want to be there for the good times and for the bad times I want to do my part to help out.”

“That is very commendable of you, and I appreciate everything that you do for this station and for my division.” Elsie said with a big smile on her face.

“It’s my pleasure, it’s the least I can do for you and for Starfleet. I’ll continue to offer my services for as long as they are needed.” Sotti explain to Elsie. She meant everywhere she said too, he wanted to be there to help support the division, to support Elsie and to support Starfleet.

“If there’s anything I can do for you please do not hesitate to ask me.” Elsie said with a big grin on her face, she like helping people go on a fast track for promotion. “So you’re definitely interested in the command track program, because we can look at getting you some holiday time to start taking some of the command level programming courses.” Elsie said as she waited for Sotti respond.

“That would be great ma’am. Thank you so much, I mean that from the bottom of my heart.” Sotti said as the scene starts to fade away. She really appreciate the fact that Elsie took the time to get to know her a little bit better and she also liked the fact that Elsie was willing to help her advance her career.

Location: Overwatch Station, Mess Hall

“Thanks for agreeing to have dinner with me tonight, I hate eating alone.” Quincy said with a big smile on his face as he and Katie walked towards one of the tables. They were eating a little later most of the senior officers are already left by this point. Both of them had extra duties tonight and so they both agreed to have dinner afterwards. Not because of romantic interest but due to the fact that neither one wanted to eat alone.

As far as Katie was concerned he was a nice enough person but she just wasn’t interested in a romantically, she thought about it but she just couldn’t get behind the idea.

Katie wasn’t the only one that couldn’t get behind the idea of being romantic with quincy. Cuz he had the same thoughts. Katie was very attractive however he just wasn’t attracted to her. And he didn’t want to be unfair to himself or to her, so in his eyes they were only friends.

“So how are things going down in sick Bay doctor?” Katie asked as she waited for a response.

“It’s okay to call me quincy, and pretty mundane now that all the physicals are done I’ve only had a couple of minor scrapes and cuts, nothing to write home about at least.” Quincy suggested to Katie.

“I know I shouldn’t be a worry wart. However my team is coming back today and I’m eager to get their results. Yeah I talked to the chief almost every day but I have been dreading the fact that I was unable to go on this trip and now that it’s over I’m dreading getting the data results. Does that make sense to you cuz it doesn’t to me.” Katie said is she looked over to Quincy hoping that he might have some answers for her.

“Well you really wanted to go on the trip and when you couldn’t you live vicariously through them and now that they’re coming back that trip is now over and you have to accept the reality of that.” Quincy pointed out to her, has electric straight in the ice to let her know that he was sincere about that.

“Doctor you always have an answer for everything, and I am grateful dark don’t get me wrong sorry Quincy. I will remember to call you Quincy.” Katie said with a big smile on her face, kicking herself because she called him doctor again after he said to call her Quincy.

“For the record we don’t know everything, but we do our best to. For the record you’re doing a good job, stop kicking yourself just cuz you couldn’t go on the mission you’re real two choices are to transfer back to a ship or learn to accept your new reality in your new role. I’m not trying to be mean I’m not trying to be harsh I’m just trying to be realistic with you.” Quincy said hoping what he was saying was kind of sinking into her, and his mind he thinks that Katie should transfer to a ship then she wants to be part of the away mission maybe she’s not ready yet for senior command. People on a station have a better chance of getting promoted to like Captain and Commander in first officers and things like that but with her being focused on wanting to still do the missions it was going to start her growth in her career with Starfleet.

“I know you’re right, and I do want to get promoted and become a captain someday. But it’s just so hard to give up the command track. Part of me is considering asking for a transfer but I’ll probably wait a year at least give it that long.” Katie suggested to him.

“It’s your call, but if you’re unhappy and if you’re this unhappy why wait a year. That’s just putting yourself in misery. The only way I would suggest staying in your current position is if you can come to grass but the fact that you’re probably not going back out in the field again.” Quincy pointed out to her, hating the fact that he was being the cold-hearted doctor type, but it was a type of friend she needed at this moment not somebody who would just be a yes Ma’am and tell her what she wants to hear instead of what she needs to hear.

“You know you’ve given me a lot to think about, and I appreciate you for that. Even if it does seem like I might be a little annoyed cuz I don’t like the answers you’re giving me. But I do appreciate the fact that you’re being honest with me. And you’re right I have to decide am I going to come to fate with the decision that I may never go on another way mission or do I want to stay on track so I can get my own command in the next few years?” Katie said more as a rhetorical question to herself not one that she really expected Quincy to answer for her.

“I know I’m giving you a lot to think about, but I know you got it within you to figure this out. As your friend I would say follow your heart, as a chief medical officer I would also say the same thing follow your heart now if I was your commanding officer I would say get promoted girl what are you doing. That’s the three pieces of advice I could give you but I’m not your commanding officer I just want to point that out.” Quincy said with the big smile on his face.

“I really appreciate everything you said, and I’m really going to take it all to heart. I’ll let you know when I make a decision. Again Quincy thank you for everything, come on let’s see before this food gets cold.” Katie said as they both sat downstairs to eat silently not because she was trying not to have a conversation with him but she was super hungry.

Quincy also sat down and started Union street, after a few minutes they both started talking having small conversation nothing of significant importance. Mainly just talking about how their days went. He said what he needed to say to her, and he hoped that

she would take what he said to her and make a decision soon. The scene starts to fade away.