Star Trek : Athena

Episode 1: Just Another Day

Ensigns Log:
Stardate 2264.156
It has taken me several hours to reach Starbase 12.
The shuttle ride has been uneventful and the child two seats ahead of me has stopped screaming. I feel like [censored.]
Oh yeah, I'm more than happy to reach my destination on time.
I'm assigned to the USS Athena, an old Hermes class ship under the command of Captain Mohan Solmani. I'm joining in the middle of its three-year mission.
I can't help but be a little nervous.
I've heard many rumours about the old ship and her captain. Some good and some not...so good.
Trust me, I should know how the rumour mill works given that I've been the victim of it waaaaay too many times. It's like those rigged balloon games at a carnival...sometimes you hit one and most of the time you don't.
But I can't help but wonder what this will mean for my career — not that there's much of a career at this point.
I hope that this time around it will be different.
I just...[sigh]...really, really need this to work.

Miram Tauri feels her shuttle rattle and shake as it approaches Starbase twelve, cutting off her log. Her insides twisting in excitement and fear.

Several of her fellow passengers glanced out the port windows, chattering with excitement as they grew closer to their destination. They've been in the cramped shuttle for almost twenty four hours, eager to disembark and she shared their sentiment.

Miram felt her spirits lift once she saw the starships that were docked. The sun crested over the surface of the bright planet below, throwing its golden light over the well worn hulls of the starships.

Her eyes fell onto the closest one. It was newer than the rest, almost glowing. Although its hull was partially damaged, scorch marks adorning the metal plates like abrasions, It didn't take away from its beauty or splendor .

She put down her PADD, allowing herself to marvel.

Miram loved starships ever since she was a little girl on her home world. They were beautiful and frustrating machines that hurled through space with incredible complexity. She had made it her mission to know every single ship that Starfleet had, even the sub classes that were no longer actively deployed. But this...this was something else.

In front of her was a whole yard full of ships. Different shapes, different classes, and differences vessels. One of these would be her home for the next two years.

The shuttle rattled again causing her press back into her seat. She closed her eyes and wished that she could get off this shuttle faster.

It had taken them fifteen minutes to disembark. Miram was more than relieved. She presented her PADD that had all her paperwork and travel documents to the security officer. He looked at her strangely and then at her PADD. She resisted the urge to squirm, reminding herself that she wasn't breaking any rules. Not this time, at least. He nodded after a long moment, handing it back to her.

"Welcome to Starbase 12, Ensign Tauri. Docking bay six is on the left. Next!"

She smiled, feeling relieved. "Thank you, sir."

She shouldered her bag and stepped through the doors, feeling a whoosh of air as they closed behind her. The entryway had led her to the second floor promenade that overlooked the main complex of starbase 12.

There could be no better representation for the Federation than this.

Tauri leaned on the railing as her eyes followed the teeming masses below. There were shops and stalls, all set up in misshapen ways as their employees echoed their wares. People dove in and out of restaurants and stores, their laughter and words mingling in the air. A cacophony of languages filled her ear.