A Brand New Beginning

Posted on Sat Sep 26th, 2026 @ 1:42am by Captain Mhiess Hru’da & Commander Alec Hunter

1,943 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Bloodline
Location: USS Saratoga
Timeline: 2439-08-12, 23:30

The soft, resonant hum of the Warp Drive dropped into a low sublight purr as the Saratoga dropped out of Warp, sliding into high orbit over the rendezvous point. In the Ready Room, Captain Mhiess Hru’da sat rigidly upright behind his desk, his dark eyes absorbing an encrypted priority dispatch bearing Rear Admiral Wazeiya’s signature.

The directive was absolute: Commander Fox had been reassigned as Chief Operations Officer, a mid-transit adjustment orchestrated directly by Admiral Wazeiya from his command suite aboard the Saratoga after the ship was already underway. In Fox's place, a new Executive Officer had been dispatched via transport to assume the First Officer position. Mhiess’s stoic expression remained completely unreadable, though his cold, hyper-analytical Romulan mind evaluated the tactical implications of an Admiralty reshuffle executed mid-deployment beneath his own hull.

The companel chimed, breaking the quiet tension of the room.

"Transporter Room 1 to Captain Hru'da," called out Transporter Chief Miller over the comm line. "The transport has matched our orbit, sir. Your new Executive Officer is locked on and ready to beam aboard on your mark."

Mhiess cleared the display with a single, precise sweep of his gloved hand over the LCARS surface. He stood up to his full height, adjusting the tunic of his uniform with measured discipline. "Acknowledged, Chief, energize on my arrival."

Exiting the Ready Room, he crossed the Deck 1 command well with deliberate, even strides, stepping into the Turbolift. Mid-flight personnel swaps were an administrative inefficiency he disdained, but as the doors parted onto Deck 8, Mhiess entered Transporter Room 1 prepared to measure the newcomer not by Admiralty politics, but by absolute operational competence.

The Familiar blue/white light and it's hum was fading as Mhless entered the transporter room. As the pattern solidified and took place it revealed a human male mid-thirties, well built with sharp alert eyes. His eyes swept the transporter room before settling and locking on Mhless. he stepped down from the pad. "Commander Alec Hunter reporting for duty sir." The voice level, calm and as cool as ice as he stood in front of Mhless.

Mhiess stood with absolute, rigid composure near the threshold of Transporter Room 1, his broad frame cutting an imposing figure against the metallic bulkheads. The hybrid stood evaluating the newcomer's posture, composure, and razor-sharp focus in a fraction of a second. He noted the absence of hesitation and the controlled, ice-cool cadence in Hunter’s voice - traits Mhiess respected far more than blind enthusiasm or theatrical deference.

"Commander Hunter," Mhiess acknowledged as he clasped his hands behind his back and stepped aside, slightly, to grant the new Executive Officer room to clear the pad. "Welcome aboard the Saratoga. Your transfer orders were logged as we entered orbit," Mhiess continued smoothly, his voice completely level despite the unusual circumstances of the mid-transit swap. "Rear Admiral Wazeiya’s administrative reshuffle was... unexpected, but operational continuity remains our primary objective. Commander Fox has already transitioned to his new post at Operations, and the ship’s primary systems are fully green across the board."

Mhiess gestured toward the open corridor, "Walk with me, Commander."

Alec's eyes remained on Mhiess and he didn't interrupt as Mhiess spoke for Alec was evaluating the captain as much as he knew the captain was him. He stepped down from the pad but didn't move further. Alec noticed the sharp eyes, the rigid stance, the captain's attention to detail. Even when Mhiess had finished speaking Alec didn't offer a reply. When Mhiess gestured towards the open corridor, Alec fell into step beside him as they proceeded down the corridor.

Mhiess matched the Executive Officer's steady, unhurried stride as they cleared the Transporter Room doors and entered the quiet curve of Deck 8. The silence between them was not uncomfortable; rather, it served as a mutual, silent appraisal between two seasoned officers who recognized the value of restraint over unnecessary conversation.

"We will take the lift to Deck 1," Mhiess stated calmly as they reached the turbolift alcove. The doors slid aside with a quiet hiss, "I prefer to review our patrol parameters in the Ready Room before introducing you to the Bridge crew. Deck 1."

The pair walked in comfortable silence that seemed to surround and envelope them. Alec inclined his head fractionally at Mhiess's statement but made no comment. Only when the pair reached the turbolift did Alex speak. "As is your prerogative Captain. It is a wise and prudent decision."

"Prudence is a necessity when the Admiralty reshuffles command structures mid-transit, Commander," Mhiess noted as the Turbolift doors sealed shut. The lift smoothly engaged its ascension toward Deck 1 as the Captain continued, "Rear Admiral Wazeiya does not orchestrate last-minute personnel swaps on a whim. If you were selected to replace Commander Fox, it tells me Wazeiya expects this deployment to require a specific operational edge."

The Turbolift slowed, deceleration humming softly through the deck plating before the doors parted onto the perimeter of the Bridge. Mhiess stepped out of the lift with long, deliberate strides, before gesturing toward the doors to the Ready Room, "In here."

Stepping into the Ready Room, the architectural elegance of the split-level workspace opened before them. Warm ambient lighting illuminated the sleek layout, where three large, deck-height windows in the lower sitting area offered a sweeping, panoramic view of the starship's nacelles and the starfield beyond. Mhiess mounted the short step to the elevated platform, stepping behind his curved desk.

"Before I hand you the Saratoga's daily duty logs," he did not sit, nor did he offer either of the two guest chairs positioned in front of the desk. Instead, he turned his full, stoic focus onto Hunter, his broad frame illuminated by the subtle glow of the computer displays, "I need some clarity: were you briefed on specific parameters for this mission prior to your arrival, or are we both navigating Wazeiya’s redacted mandate?"

Alec met Mhiess's gaze unflinchingly. "As for clarity. I was not briefed on any specific parameters in regard to this mission. I received new orders to report to this location and assume the position of Executive Officer. I do not know what Admiral Wazeiya expects. I know he summoned me and I am here before you know. Have you considered speaking to the Admiral about this shuffling of personnel?"

"Interrogating an Admiral regarding their administrative prerogative is an inefficient use of leverage, Commander," Mhiess replied smoothly, his unblinking eyes holding Hunter's gaze. "Rear Admiral Wazeiya operates within his authority. If he chose to place you in my First Officer's chair and shift Fox to Operations without prior consultation, he did so because he believes the Saratoga's mission warrants it."

Mhiess reached out, his gloved hand resting lightly on the edge of the curved desk as he activated the duty roster display between them, "My concern is operational readiness. Commander Fox is a capable officer whose expertise fits the heavy computational demands of our Operations station. You, however, are an unknown variable to me that is now responsible for execution, internal discipline, and Bridge oversight. I do not demand blind devotion to Federation ideals, but I do demand absolute competence, tactical discipline, and unyielding focus. Your record suggests you possess all three but see to it that you prove it on my Bridge."

Alec didn't flinch at Mhiess or his directives. "If you have doubts about me and my ability Captain, I suggest you read my file. It may help you come to grips with whatever doubts you have about me. As for blind devotion. I have never practiced it nor do I intend to start now. I am the executive officer, the liaison between you and the crew. Part of my duties is to provide a united front in front of the crew. I will however ask questions about missions and decisions as the situation warrants in private. I can be a hard ass but I am fair. I am not judgmental. I am open minded and willing to listen to point. If these are the traits you want in your executive officer. Here I am."

"I have read your service record, Commander," Mhiess answered softly, his voice cutting smoothly through the quiet hum of the Ready Room. "I am well aware of your flight hours from the Serling to the Cutlass, your commendation at Chin Noga IV, and your tenure as Second Officer aboard the Arlington. Your competence as a pilot and a Tactical Officer is not in question."

Mhiess stepped down from the elevated platform, taking a slow, deliberate pace toward the lower sitting area where the three deck-height windows framed the twin nacelles of the Saratoga against the backdrop of high orbit. He turned back to face Hunter, clasping his hands behind his lower back. "Your willingness to speak directly without diplomatic fluff is a quality I respect, Commander," Mhiess added, a cool, pragmatic edge returning to his tone. "And as for your background... an XO who can 'fly a rock' and speaks enough Romulan to know when he is being discussed in private is a useful asset on the frontier."

"Knowing Romulan and speaking it does have its advantages." Alec confirmed.

"My concern was never your ability to execute," Mhiess continued smoothly, his voice devoid of heat, "it was the Admiralty swap executed mid-deployment beneath my own hull; however, I accept your terms. Challenge my tactical decisions in private, maintain a united front before the crew, and keep this ship running with absolute efficiency. That is precisely what I expect from my Executive Officer." A faint, almost imperceptible tilt of Mhiess's head acknowledged Hunter's surprisingly straightforward demeanor.

Alec gave a nod of his head. "Then I accept the posting to be the Saratoga's executive officer." He replied without fanfare.

"Agreed," Mhiess acknowledged, his voice steady and measured as he turned back toward his desk LCARS terminal. He tapped a key, authorizing the transfer of executive clearances and command-tier encryption keys directly to Hunter’s personal access interface.

"Your quarters have been assigned on Deck 2, Suite 201," Mhiess continued, stepping back up onto the elevated desk platform with deliberate, measured strides. "Commander Fox has already moved his primary operations station. I suggest you use the remaining hours before the morning watch to familiarize yourself with the ship’s internal department logs and confirm duty rotations."

"We brief the primary department heads in the Executive Briefing Room at 0800 hours," Mhiess instructed calmly, his dark Romulan-Klingon eyes steady and calculating. "Until then, Commander... you have the ship. Dismissed."

"I shall do exactly that sir. Like to hit the ground running." Alec answered crisply. "Until 0800 in the Executive briefing Room Captain. For now however I am going to go to my quarters and go over ship duty rosters and the internal departments." He finished as he turned sharply on his heel to leave the Captain's Ready Room.

Mhiess watched the door close behind Hunter, his expression remaining impassive as the quiet hum of the Ready Room settled around him. The mid-transit insertion of an experienced, pragmatic First Officer confirmed his suspicions - Wazeiya anticipated resistance, either from the Free State or within the intelligence core itself. Alec Hunter was direct, unapologetic, and sharp; qualities Mhiess valued far more than blind deference.

Stepping to his desk, Mhiess cleared the administrative logs and brought up the primary tactical sensor grid for Sector 413. With Hunter establishing control over the duty rosters and Cleminson plotting their entry vectors, the Saratoga’s command structure was aligned. Mhiess leaned slightly over the terminal, his dark eyes tracking the pulsing crimson marker inside the Neutral Zone. The pieces were on the board. All that remained was the drop out of Warp.

RSS Feed