“All hands, attention to orders  From Starfleet Headquarters, Office of the Admiralty, to Captain Cambil Bexa. As of this date, you are requested and required to take command of U-S-S Themis. Signed, Vice Admiral Zack A.J. Marshall-Bennet, Stardate seven-seven-nine-seven-seven point seven.” Bennet smiled as he passed the PADD with said orders to the Themis’s new commander. “Computer, transfer all command codes to Captain Cambil, authorisation Bennet-One-Seven-Bravo-Foxtrot.”

“Command codes transferred. U-S-S Themis now under the command of Captain Cambil.”

Cambil grinned from ear to ear at the admiral before speaking. “I relieve you, sir.” 

“I stand relieved,” The admiral replied.

Cambil looked around the bridge at the crowd gathered around as they started to clap after the ceremony ended. Most of them were her crew, along with a few members from the starbase including Admiral Vallis. The Vulcan woman who commanded the base and the Delta Exploration Initiative remained as quiet and calm as a statue. 

“Dismissed,” Cambil ordered everyone around her as Bennet closed the distance between them. He had been standing in front of her new chair. 

A former captain himself of a handful of ships, Bennet had risen through the chain of command rapidly recently within the Fourth Fleet. “She’s a fine ship, Bexa. Look after her!”

“I will, sir,” She replied to the director of fleet operations.

Bennet gestured for them to head towards her ready room for them to have some privacy. Once they were in, Cambil offered Bennet a mug of tea. She knew he was an avid fan of the hot beverage, so she wasn’t surprised when he accepted her offer. Going to the replicator, she order two mugs of Bajoran Deka tea and took them over to him. “Here you go, sir.”

“Thank you, Bexa,” Bennet said with an appreciative smile. He had settled onto the long corned sofa that ran in the opposite corner to the door. 

Joining him on the comfortable sofa, its new smell still apparent, Cambil took a sip from her tea. “It’s not quite as good as the real stuff,” She muttered.

“Nothing replicated ever is,” Bennet responded after a sip of his tea before setting it down on the small circular coffee table by their feet. “I have to say Bexa, I am intrigued what made you reconsider a starship assignment, let alone your own command?”

Smirking at that, Cambil had wondered how long it would be before the admiral asked her why she placed herself back on the active starship assignment roster. “Well with the Starfleet Academy campus on Olbari Two falling through, my life on the colony was becoming a bit…” She paused as she considered the phrasing. “It was too consistent.”

Now the admiral chuckled. “Too consistent? Otherwise, nothing exciting was happening.”

“Indeed,” She laughed back. “My husband, my sons and I loved being home. Olbari is where I grew up during the occupation. I was fortunate enough to be far away from the horrors so many of my people endured. Olbari is a peaceful planet, almost like a second Bajor, but besides the arrival of an orb at a local monastery, nothing else was happening. The Starfleet Academy Campus project that I was leading was almost ready to go, but when the Star Empire collapsed and the Federation still recovering from the Century Storm, resources were relocated. With the entire project left on hold, sitting at home and waiting made me feel useless.”

“I get that,” Bennet said. “It’s something about wearing the uniform that you need to be doing something all of the time.”

“Exactly, sir,” She said with a nod. “My husband noticed how restless I was becoming and he suggested that I look at finding either an assignment nearby or somewhere we could move to which would allow families. My sons were also bored to death on being a planet. I suppose they were used to be raised on a starship.”

“So I suppose my offer of joining the Odyssey was something you couldn’t resist?” Bennet asked before picking up his tea and sipping on it again.

Cambil answered with a simple, “Yep,” 

“Well, I won’t lie Bexa, I never thought we would see you back out in the field. You’re a fine officer, and I hope you enjoy the centre seat on the Themis worth your time,” Bennet mentioned. 

“I hope so too, admiral,” She replied. “I take it from the message I received earlier that my old commanding officer is eager to chat with me?”

“Eager? I think James may have an aneurysm if you don’t talk sooner,” Bennet stated with another chuckle. “I know the news of his promotion and the squadron came out of the blue, especially the fact that your request to fill most of the senior officer positions with Odyssey crew.”

“Yeah, I feel he may demand something back for that one, but I’m sure if I cook him his favourite hasperat, then I may be back in his good books,” Cambil shared. 

“I would,” Bennet insisted with a wry smile. “However, I think having his former first officer as his deputy out there would be a welcome change, especially with where you’ll be heading.”

“Deeper into the Delta Quadrant, I see from the briefing package I got from Admiral Vallis’ office this morning,” Cambil stated, picking up a PADD on the small side cabinet behind her. “A course that almost follows the same one that Voyager took, beyond the Gradin Belt and towards the Swallow Nebula region.”

“There’s still so much we don’t know about what has happened in that area, having a presence like your expeditionary force out there will greatly assist.” Bennet shared. “We know the Malon, Hirogen and most recently the Devore, are still active, but knowing the status of other powers in the region would be helpful.”

“I kind of feel that perhaps you should be sending a fleet of Cali-classes to do this, sir!” Cambil joked.

“Don’t suggest things like that, otherwise I think Fleet Admiral Ramar may propose it at the next meeting I have with him!” Bennet replied. “Back to one of my earlier points, are you sure you want to wait until you rendezvous with the rest of your new senior staff in the Delta Quadrant? Are you sure you have enough experienced hands in the meantime?”

Cambil nodded with confidence. “Absolutely, I suppose having a blank canvas in building up the crew of the Themis has given me an opportunity to ensure that everyone who is on board knows their stuff.”

“I suppose with the Themis’ earlier refit did force her former captain and crew to take up positions elsewhere,” Bennet commented.  “Captain Kamzo sends his regards. However, I think he is enjoying the command of a brand new Vesta-class to be an easy distraction in getting over being reassigned from the Themis.”

Hearing that the former Saurian captain was happier in his new assignment made Cambil feel assured she was no longer a stranger on someone else’s ship. The Themis had been dry-docked at Starbase 38 for some time now, receiving an early refit so she could join the efforts in the Delta Quadrant. When the Star Empire collapsed, Starfleet quickly moved Captain Kamzo and his entire crew from the Themis to a brand new ship that was just about to be launched from Devron Fleet Yards to assist with Starfleet’s response in aiding their Romulan neighbours. “Please pass on my thanks, if you hear from him again, sir,” Cambil said.

Bennet nodded and finished the contents of his mug. Standing up, he pushed his uniform down, “I best be going, but good luck Bexa.”

“Thank you, sir.” Cambil, standing up and shaking the admiral’s hand. “I feel blessed by the Prophets.”

“Then may you walk the path they have laid for you,” Bennet said.

Appreciating that blessing, even though she knew he was a non-believer, Cambil took every piece of good luck she could get in taking command of her first ship. She had some big boots to fill but was looking forward to it.

Once her entire senior staff had finally arrived. 

She walked the admiral out of her office before turning back around and heading straight to her desk to prepare her message back to her new/old commanding officer.