Terra Firma

Posted on Mon Aug 10th, 2026 @ 6:19pm by Lieutenant JG Terra Redclaw

467 words; about a 2 minute read

Mission: Welcome To Your Life
Location: DS12

The transport from Sol to Deep Space 12 had been long and uneventful. A few dozen Starfleet officers in temporary quarters aboard an old repurposed Oberth transited from Spacedock to the space station in the Briar Patch, where they could take positions aboard any of the starship docked there.

For the newly-promoted Lieutenant JG Terra Redclaw, it had been an opportunity to think.

Graduation had only been two years ago. She’d work hard as an Ensign on Eris Station, managing communications and cargo and space traffic. She’d wanted to be helpful; part of her also wanted to be seen being helpful. Well, someone had, because she’d been given a fancy new rank pip and orders to report to USS Intrepid, along with an e-ticket for a berth on a personnel transport.

She’d found a spot near the forward viewport of the lounge when the transport entered the Briar Patch. The area had become well trodden, and paths to the station were navigable (she’d studied the maps), but the clouds of metreon gas were still awe-inspiring.

The station and its many docked ships were even more so.

Terra was well traveled, of course. She’d gone all over Federation space—and to the capital worlds of a few foreign powers, both ally and adversary—with her mother over the years. She had seen stations much more physically imposing than this one, with so much traffic it was confusing.

But still. This station was special.

Because it was where the next step of her journey would begin.

But where would it take her?

That was the exciting—and scary—part. It could be anywhere. It would probably be places she’d never dream of going. Maybe places no one had been to before.

Was she ready?

The bosun whistle carried across the comm system. “Now hear this. We will be docking with Deep Space Twelve in approximately ten minutes. Gangways will deploy from the portside airlock. All passengers must disembark and follow signage to the appropriate Transporter room for your onward destination. Do not deviate toward other parts of the station unless your final destination is Deep Space Twelve or your assignment has not yet arrived. Orders will be checked at debarkation. Personal effects will be brought to your assigned starship within one hour. Queries may be directed toward Station Operations crew.”

Again, was she ready.

I suppose she’ll need to be.

Well. Now’s the time. Docking wouldn’t be the best show. Best to be near the front of the queue. She picked up her bag, hefted it over her shoulder, and headed for the portside airlock.

And then?

USS Intrepid.



Lieutenant JG Terra Redclaw
Soon-to-be Chief Operations Officer, USS Intrepid
A bit excited

 

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