Thanks everybody. The Tang sub-plot will be the last I'll introduce in this story. I think 4 sub-plots is probably enough. 
The Tang sub-plot will be the only one dealing with the upcoming refugee crisis arc in the UT universe. Cejay created some awesome graphics for it, I'm apparently not quite techno savvy enough to figure out how to show it. Oh, well. The show must go on.
******
CHAPTER 4
Stardate: 54291.3 (28 Aug 2377)
Starbase 17, Internal Docking Corridor 23, Currently Attached to USS Kitzingen
Porrima System
As Lieutenant Junior Grade Tang Zian reached the threshold of the long, mostly transparent corridor, he paused to take in the beauty of his new ship. It was a
Norway class.
Tang read up on them last night after receiving his new assignment.
Norways were almost as massive as
Steamrunner class ships. Both ships shared a non-traditional design. The Asian science officer had a fleeting thought that the ship kind of looked like a giant shovel with warp nacelles.
The major distinction between the
Independence and the
Kitzingen was their function. Both were well-rounded vessels, but
Steamrunners leaned toward the combat side of things, while
Norways were geared for scientific and humanitarian duties.
He suddenly felt a presence standing next to him. He looked over to see a young – and very cute – humanoid female. The spots on the side of her face indicated she was a Trill. She wasn’t looking at him, but the ship; just as he was a moment before. He couldn’t see her rank, but she wore the same blue uniform he did. Her skin was pale. She had the most silky-looking brown hair. It ran down well passed her shoulders. Her eyes were like emeralds.
It took several seconds for her to realize him. She was jolted away from the
Norway class ship and finally acknowledged him. She seemed surprised to see him, “Oh, um…hello. Do I know you?”
Zian shook his head, “Um, no.” He noticed they shared the same rank. “I was just looking at my new assignment.”
She pointed to the ship out the large windows, “The
Kitzingen is your new assignment?”
“Yes…” he was going to say something else, but stopped himself. He settled on just, “Yes.”
She seemed genuinely excited, “It’s my new posting, too!” She extended a hand, “I’m Ashana Zwen.” She light-heartedly informed him, “I’ll be in charge of keeping you healthy from now on.”
He took her hand and rejoined, “So you’re the CMO?”
“Yeah, I just finished my residency aboard the
Crockett.”
He nodded and introduced himself, “I’m Tang Zian. I’ll be the chief science officer.”
Still shaking his hand, she said, “Oh, the science officer. We might be working together often. Do you know anything about medicine?”
“Um…not really, no.”
“That’s ok. Neither do I.”
He withdrew his hand and looked shocked at the admission.
She looked at him for a moment and then broke out into a large grin, “I’m kidding!”
Tang sighed in relief and joined her in the joke, “You got me.”
She gestured down the corridor, “Shall we?”
Supplemental
USS Independence, Captain’s Quarters
Docked at Starbase 17, Porrima System
It was always odd for Sintina to look out her windows and not see stars. Her quarters were lit only by the many lights from the starbase outside. It was still cold onboard. The captain was out of uniform. She wore a smooth, black leather jacket; a plain white undershirt; denim jeans; and black, leather boots.
She was packing her things. As she stuffed some clothing in a case, she noticed something on the deck, half under the bed. She investigated.
It was her pistol replica. It was a working replica of a .45 caliber
Springfield Armory pistol. She had replicated bullets, a cleaning kit, and everything she needed to make it lethal. It was silver with a black grip. The weapon must have feel from its display during the battle with the
Philadelphia.
This gun saved Karim’s life once. Nicole Chase, a Section 31 operative, had disabled all the phasers on board when she attempted to kill the crew. This weapon did more than save Karim’s life, she realized. It saved all the survivors from the
Interceptor class
Independence, including her own.
She picked up the pistol and examined it, as if looking at it would force more memories of her friend to her mind. After a moment, she placed it in her case.
The door chime sounded.
“Come in,” she said quietly.
“I just heard,” said Kimula, as she walked in. “It’s not fair.”
Sintina didn’t look at her immediately. She agreed, surprisingly calmly, “No. No, it’s not.” She turned, “You know, the last two years have been the hardest in my life; even harder than the war.”
The Andorian approached her and laid a hand on the captain’s shoulder, “I know, Sintina.”
The captain seemed very distant.
“Sintina,” Kimula ventured, “You are coming back, right? You’re just going on vacation, right?”
Aurelia walked to a nearby couch and plopped down, “I never thought I’d even consider leaving Starfleet, but…”
“But?”
“With all this Section 31 crap, Starfleet isn’t what I thought it was. I’m not sure…I’m not sure I can still do it.”
“You still didn’t answer my question,” she pressed.
The captain looked at some random spot on the bulkhead, “For now, yes. I’m just going on leave, but beyond that – I don’t know.”
Kimula sat next to her, “Come with me to Earth. It’s your home planet. You’ll feel better…”
“No,” sharply rejoined the captain, “I have no desire to go to Earth.”
The counselor surmised, “Because of your father?”
Sintina didn’t respond.
Kimula pressed, “You never told me why you dislike him so much.”
Still, there was no elaboration. She did, however, change the subject, “It’ll all be different now, won’t it? You’re going to Earth. Karim’s gone.”
Suddenly, the Andorian felt so guilty. She was abandoning her friend when she needed her most. She began, “Sintina, I’m so sorry for…”
Aurelia actually reached for Kimula’s hand. The counselor could hardly believe it. It was the first time in four years that Sintina had initiated familiar physical contact with her, or anyone else that she could think of, for that matter.
Sintina said, “You don’t have to apologize, Kim. It’s a once in a lifetime thing.” Slowly, she got up and resumed packing.
Kimula held back tears. “Where will you go?”
“I don’t know,” was the reply, “Somewhere far away from Starfleet.”
I'm curious...is Zwen joined or not? (And if she is, how many hosts? Or could this be the first?)
