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"New Command, New CEO"
[Previous post - NONE]
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Time is a unforgiving master yet once in a while it displays a compassion and understanding that leave us to question and wonder as to the true nature of the universe.

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Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Section B, Level 7, Observation Platform
Stardate: 30145.0600

Erik Morningstar, a 20 year Starfleet veteran, stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze locked on the distant SCARAB-Class vessel that he had been placed in charge of.  The USS ANUBIS was a magnificent ship, one that demanded immediate respect by its simple appearance.  The aged Native American had never been one to allow his pride to show, but this particular instance would be a rare exception.

With a new crew the ANUBIS would soon resume its timeless mission to protect the interests and citizens of the Federation.  Times had changed but the threats had remained as well as the need to confront them with courage and determination.

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Setting: USS ANUBIS, Deck 22, Main Engineering
Stardate: 30145.0620

The imposing Oltharian smiled as he watched the redheaded Lieutenant as she gently caressed the cold inactive core.  The tenderness of her her touch had not at all struck the former Chief Engineer as odd.  In fact Elan understood with ease the thoughts and feelings behind the act.

"I can already see that the two of you will get along just fine," Elan mused with a hint of envy in his voice.

Lt. Paquette turned to face the towering seven foot tall alien, and paused for a moment as she took in the sight.   "Sir, if I may. Why are you not staying on the ANUBIS?  I can see and feel that the two of you are connected, so why have me take over?"

"There comes a time in each of our lives when we have to let go of the past and embrace the future," Elan replied his eyes admiring the dark tower of the warp core.  "The ANUBIS needs you as in many ways you need her, just as I did many years ago."

"Showing the new Chief Engineer around are you Elan?" Erik said as he joined the two officers.

"Captain Morningstar," Sonja gasped as she stood to full attention not having expected the ANUBIS' CO to appear as he had.  "Commander Fairborn was just giving me a quick tour and trying to make me feel more at ease."

"Elan has spoken highly of you since the first time he read your file," the Captain stated as he glanced to the imposing giant. "I have the utmost confidence that you will do just fine as the ANUBIS' new Chief Engineer."

The Oltharian smiled in response to the Native American's words.  "I have one last thing to show you before I go," Elan said to the redhead as he noticed a unique person heading their way.  "Lieutenant Paquette allow me to introduce to you Annie, the ship's Avatar."

"A Sung-type android?" Sonja asked in amazement never actually having seen one before.

"She's a lot more than that," Erik chuckled. As a former Chief Engineer himself the new CO of the ANUBIS had been quick to understand the uniqueness of a being like Annie.

"The best way I explain Annie is this," Elan began his voice filled with admiration and reverence.   "She is the ANUBIS given human form."

"Whoa," Sonja softly gasped.  "Are you communicating with the ship's systems through some sort of subspace link or are your processors actually fully integrated with that of the ANUBIS?"

"For simplicity's sake I *am* the ANUBIS," the Avatar replied with a distinct hint of pride in her voice.

"With fully integrated bio-neural processors you can control any and all functions of the ship from anywhere on board," the new CEO grinned like a child having been given a state of the art new toy.

"Actually, thanks to a special encoded subspace link I am able to remotely access the ANUBIS' computer core from up to 10 000 kilometres," Annie clarified with a meek smile.

"Girl, you and I are going to gave a long chat," Sonja said as she took hold of Annie's arm in her own.

"Yup, she'll do just fine," Erik said with a huge grin as he shot a teasing glance up at the towering Oltharian standing next to him.

--==(/\)==--

Francois Charette

Captain Erik Morningstar
Commanding Officer
USS ANUBIS, NCC 18501

AND

Lt. Commander Elan Fairborn
Robotics Engineering Officer
NEW ALEXANDRIA