<USS Avalon>

The New  Recruit
 
 
 
0607.05
 
        So this was Izar. There  was a planet, of course, but what caught 
Laney's eye was the fleet yard between  her and that planet. It was immense. 
        Bringing Einin to a full stop, she  took a moment to observe the 
scene before her, and reflect on the last week. It  had been so peaceful being 
on 
her shuttle alone for seven days. There were walls  around her as had been at 
Leavenworth, but the knowledge that she was  free easily kept the 
claustrophobia at bay. Now she was about to once  again set foot on a Starfleet 
vessel, 
and would be an officer once more.  Admittedly, she was a little nervous, not 
knowing any captain who would be  pleased at having an ex-con on his ship. 
        Shaking her head, she scanned for the  Avalon, then engaged the 
impulse engines once more and headed for it.  As she did so she opened up a 
comm 
channel.
        "Shuttlecraft Einin to  Avalon."
        A moment passed before she received a  response. "Avalon here, Einin. 
State your purpose." 
        "My name is Delaney Scott. Ensign Delaney  Scott, Avalon's new 
Shuttle Bay Deck Officer," she  responded.
        "Welcome aboard Avalon, Ensign.  Direct your path toward our main 
shuttle bay, sub-light engines only. Report to  Admiral Ketchum's ready room 
when 
docked. And again, welcome aboard." 
        Laney cut the channel and slowed, even though  she was already at 
sub-light speed. Guiding the shuttle over one drydock, she  brought it around 
to 
face the hangar door on Deck 19. It was already waiting  open for her, so she 
took the Einin in, as well as a deep breath that  she exhaled slowly. Her 
heart beat faster with each second, becoming a staccato  as she set down on the 
bay floor in an empty berth and powered  down.
        Gathering her duffle bag she exited through  the hatch, planning to 
come back for her belongings (which her parents had  already packed and placed 
into the passenger compartment for her) after meeting  with Admiral Ketchum. 
She was greeted by a man who looked oddly familiar, though  for the life of her 
she couldn't recall where she might have seen him before.  taking a quick 
glance at his rank insignia, she said, "Hello, Chief. I'm Ensign  Delaney 
Scott."
        "I'm Chief Petty Officer Elijah Farraday.  Sort of your second in 
command, as it were."
        "I have a staff?" Laney joked. "Well, I  suppose it makes sense for a 
ship this size, what with two shuttle bays and a  hangar bay."

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