Lieutenant JG Nog, the first and, for the moment, only Ferengi in Starfleet, was satisfied with his handiwork in Engineering, once the realm of Senior Chief Petty Officer Miles O’Brien, the man who had taught him the better part of what he knew about engineering.
On those days, there was not much to do, and he was happy to do idle things such as fixing EPS conduits without the pressure of war or guerrilla (he had been one of the pilots who had led the U.S.S. Defiant into battle on more than one occasion, alongside the freshly promoted Commander Jadzia Dax); now, all he had to do was be sure that all worked well within normal parameters in a base station no more on the front line of war.
His combadge chirped, and the voice of the new XO issued from it: «Commander Dax to Lieutenant Nog.»
«Nog here, Commander.»
«Would you please report to my office, Lieutenant?»
«On my way, ma’am.»
After rearranging his toolkit, he left Engineering and walked to the nearest turbolift and had himself carried where Dax’s office was located, near one of the station's main science labs.
«Come on in,» called Jadzia from behind the closed doors that obediently opened before him, granting the Ferengi access to Dax’s working sanctuary: «Lieutenant Nog reporting, as ordered.»
«At ease, Nog. Please, take a seat.»
He complied, taking the seat in front of the desk and leaving his toolkit at his side. Then he put his hands on his knees, the organic ones and the synthetic one that had replaced the one he had lost during the war and that, every now and then, gave him a little pain. Nothing he wasn’t accustomed to, by now.
Although Jadzia had been promoted to full Commander (as the pips on the right collar were stating) and she was now the First Officer of Deep Space 9, she still wore the sciences blue uniform that she had always wore, implicating that she still held the position of Chief Science Officer, alongside that of XO, and that she had chosen to maintain that department’s color.
«I’ve received a transfer request for you, Nog,» said Jadzia, without preamble and going straight to the point, «from the U.S.S. Challenger. It’s a Galaxy-class starship, commandeered by Captain Simm, a Vulcan, and it’s in dire need of an engineer that could also display skill in piloting starships and shuttles alike. They’ve asked specifically of you. Captain Simm told us that his XO was impressed by how you conducted yourself during the Dominion War, Lieutenant.»
She smiled: «From what I’ve gathered, Commander Tyler Hunt isn’t the only staff officer who is impressed by your service record, Nog. Even if he is Vulcan, I’ve got the impression that Captain Simm was also struck with what you’ve accomplished since you’ve gotten out of the Academy.»
Nog was genuinely surprised. He wasn’t expecting an offer from one of the Galaxy-class starships that were still part of the fleet; he had grown up with the stories told him by Miles O’Brien, who had served aboard the U.S.S Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) and the reports and stories he had heard during his training at the Academy. Thanks to the flagship, the Galaxy-class was still highly regarded, notwithstanding the presence of more powerful starships currently being built and on service in the fleet.
«I’m flattered, Commander,» he said, but he clearly was at a loss.
«If you accept my suggestion, Nog…»
«Please,» nodded the Ferengi.
«It’s a great opportunity. One you needn't and shouldn’t pass only because you think you’re in some sort of debt towards any of us.»
Jadzia smiled when she saw the surprised look in Nog’s eyes.
«You see, Commander Kira and I talked about this before calling you here, and both of us believe that you should accept the transfer. You could gain new experiences, experiences that here at DS9 you couldn’t possibly acquire, even with the Defiant dispatched to the Gamma Quadrant. And,» she added, implying she wasn’t yet finished, de facto postponing his possible comments on the matter, «it is important that you learn how to work out your comfort zone. Here, you are at home, with your father, your uncle, even with what is left of the old command staff. Aboard the Challenger you’ll be completely on your own, even if alongside other Starfleet Officers. You wouldn’t know them, any of them, and you’ll be forced to think and act without the security of a familiar place or familiar faces.»
«I never thought one day I might leave Deep Space 9,» admitted Nog after a little while. It was clear from his tone of voice that he was still thinking, at least partially aloud. And it was equally clear that, deep down, he was intrigued by the prospect of a new challenge, one that possibly didn’t involve fighting an apparently never-ending war with an enemy ready to slaughter without mercy its adversaries.
«Nothing will prevent you from returning here for your next assignment or the following one, if you want to. But it would be a pity not to gain new experiences, since you’re given the possibility.»
«You’re right, Commander,» nodded Nog. He did realise that the suggestion was sounding, especially coming from an officer like Jadzia Dax, whose culture was around giving new experiences to the symbionts that a little percentage of them was trained to carry around in a pouch on their bellies (that was the case for both Lenara and Jadzia, even if the two of them had decided to incur in the displeasure of the Symbiosis Commission when they decided to give a chance to their relationship).
«Very well, then,» he finally uttered, «I think I’m going to follow your suggestion, Commander. When will I be joining Challenger’s crew complement?»
«You’ve made the right choice, Nog, really,» smiled Jadzia.
«Commander Hunt will be pleased too. The Challenger is scheduled to make a stop at Deep Space 9 to deliver some supplies and some of the new personnel due for the latest crew rotation.»
Nog nodded, and Dax continued: «You have a week before Challenger docks. I’m sure you’ll personally want to inform your Uncle Quark and send a subspace transmission to Ferenginar, so that your father and Leeta are informed too.»
«Thanks, Commander,» nodded the young Ferengi. «If it’s alright with you and Commander Kira, in those last days aboard Deep Space 9 I want to finish some of the work I’ve scheduled.»
«By all means, Nog,» smiled Jadzia, «but take all the time you need to pack your belongings.»
Nog nodded and, after asking to leave, took his toolkit and left the room, while Jadzia followed him with her eyes. She was sure that the new experience aboard the Challenger would hone the skills that the young engineer had demonstrated to possess during its Academy training and during the last months of the Dominion War.
It could be bad to remain in the same place for more than a few years, especially for someone as young and promising as someone like Nog; since the war had opened some interesting possibilities, due to the high number of casualties suffered during the fights, there was a higher request than usual of officers, noncoms and crewmembers.
When the door hissed closed behind the Ferengi’s back, Jadzia let herself showing a little smile: Nog was a good lad, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to rise up to new challenges. She returned her attention to the PADDs in front of her: they were going to need a new Chief of Operations, since Miles O’Brien had accepted the posting on Earth as an Academy professor; also, since Constable Odo had decided to be reunited with his people, with the objective to cure them from their illness, they were going to need a new Head of Security.
She and Kira had talked about it at length, and had decided to organize the security of the base within the Bajoran Militia, while Starfleet Security Officers would do simply as support, as it was during the first years aboard Deep Space 9 under the command of Benjamin Sisko. So, they would have to look for a Head of Security from the Bajoran Militia, alongside one from Starfleet, both of them in need to coordinate themself with one another in matters of the base station security.
For the Bajoran Militia’s one, they had little to no problems in choosing, since Odo had left some recommendations that leaded them to select between Lieutenants Brilgar and Onara - finally converging in promoting the second, Onara, as the new Chief of Security, as the second preferred to join the Federation Security forces and serving aboard a starship in that capacity (de facto refusing to be Onara’s equivalent for Starfleet). Looking throughout the list of Starfleet personnel, finally, they had stumbled over a familiar name: the one of Ro Laren, once serving aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) before she had decided to have a change of heart and go with the Maquis.
Notwithstanding her past, she was again serving in Starfleet ranks with the rank of full Lieutenant (a peculiarity in itself, since she defected to join the terrorist group of the Maquis) and had outstanding reviews from the very same Commanding Officer she, somehow, had betrayed with her decision: Jean-Luc Picard.
Since their curiosity was picked up, Jadzia had the interesting task to contact Captain Picard to ask and talk about all it was to be discussed about it. Preferably before asking to have Ro Laren reassigned to the Starfleet Security detachment aboard Deep Space 9, with a position like that. They needed to be sure.
It took some time for the communications relays to connect Deep Space 9 to the U.S.S. Enterprise (NCC-1701-E), but finally the contact was established and the communications officer aboard the Sovereign-class starship put her through to Captain Jean-Luc Picard himself, apparently seated in his ready room. Knowing what was said about him, and what had happened related to the Bajoran, it was only logical he had preferred to have this conversation in as private a setting as his ready room was. Or his own quarters.
«Captain Picard,» greeted the Trill, «I’m Commander Jadzia Dax, DS9’s XO.»
«Commander Dax,» acknowledged Picard, with a polite nod, «to what do I owe the pleasure?»
«To whom, more than to what, Captain. I’m here to talk about Ro Laren.»
He stiffened. Then: «Why?»
And so, she explained why. When the conversation was finished, and both of them had signed off, she thought at length about what had transpired during the exchange between them. Picard hadn’t been particularly forthcoming, notwithstanding all the talking they had done, but in the end she had made up her mind. After all, if Captain Picard himself had been prone to vouch for Ro Laren, even after what she did and what had transpired from the official reports, then Commander Dax would be prone to have the Bajoran aboard Deep Space 9.
*
«Enter,» called Commander Kira Nerys when she heard someone asking admittance to her office; the doors slid open, giving admittance to her Trill executive officer, who entered with a bunch of PADDs in her hands.
«I don’t really know how Captain Sisko was able to keep up with all of this,» muttered Kira, looking helplessly around her desk, before looking up to Jadzia, «Please, have a seat.»
Dax smiled, sitting on one of the chairs right in front of Kira’s desk, and offered a little joke: «Well, most of the time he simply ignored the better part of the reports he was given. Truth to be told,» she added, when Kira looked at her with surprise, «he had good help from the various Department Heads. And from you.»
«Are you telling me you’re not doing a great job, as my exec?» It was Kira’s time to make a little joke, even if she knew full well that it wasn’t Dax’s fault, but the fact that the times were what they were, with Deep Space 9 in great need of new personnel.
«I never told I was ready for the job,» retorted back Jadzia, smiling, before returning serious and to the matter at hand: «Talking about personnel, I know it falls on my shoulders, but for this particular situation I wanted your input too.»
«What is it?»
«I’ve reviewed some of the candidates for the position of Strategic Operations Officer/Chief of Security for Starfleet, since Starfleet Command is so eager to have a complement in support of the Bajoran Militia, as it was the case before the Dominion War.»
Kira nodded, knowing very well what Dax was referring to. Starfleet Command had agreed to leave to the Militia the security for Deep Space 9 and for Bajor, but with the presence of a Starfleet complement, placed on DS9 under the command of a Starfleet officer, who was to coordinate with its Bajoran counterpart.
«Go on,» she prodded Jadzia, who continued: «Okay, well, I think I might have found someone for the job. But I wanted to talk with you, before formally submitting the request.»
«Who did you find fitting for the position?»
«Ro Laren,» said simply the Trill.
«I believe she could be a valuable asset. She had served aboard the Enterprise under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard for a while, before being recommended by Captain Picard himself for the Advanced Tactical Training and earning the rank of Lieutenant.»
«I’m acquainted with her file, Jadzia,» nodded Kira, thoughtful.
«I’m not so sure that Starfleet would approve this request. If I am not mistaken, she defected from Starfleet for the Maquis.»
«Yes, I know that,» said Jadzia, «but the peculiar thing is that Captain Picard had recommended her to Starfleet. To have her back. And without being bunked back to Ensign.»
«Very well. Go ahead. Let’s see what Starfleet Command does with our request.»
Jadzia nodded and stood up: «I’ll send the request immediately, then. I’ll keep you posted.»
«Thanks. See you later at Quark’s?»
Dax shook her head, a small and embarrassed smile on her face: «No, not today.»
Kira looked at her a little confused, before it dawned on her: «O-oh, it’s the big day, isn’t it?»
«Yeah,» answered weakly Jadzia, «I thought it would be now or never. Please, don’t tell anyone. Especially Julian, or he will mock me forever.»
«My lips are sealed,» promised Kira, «but, as I told you more than once before, I don’t think she’s going to tell you no. Both of you have sacrificed a lot to be here and she loves you profoundly, as she had demonstrated more than once. And I know for a fact that you love her the same way and with the same degree of her commitment and love for you.»
The Bajoran stood up and, after joining Jadzia near the entrance, gave her a hug, before taking the PADD from her hands and ushering her out from her office: «Go. I can send the request for Ro Laren’s transfer to Starfleet. Right now, I want you to go to Lenara. Go. She’s more important than a personnel request that, at least today, I'm sure I can manage myself.»
Dax nodded, surrendered the PADD to Kira and left the office, with the Bajoran behind her who smiled softly and sent, silently, a prayer to the Prophets: they deserved happiness, after all the sacrifices both of them had been forced to make, in name of their relationship.
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