Hunter Meets Trellis
Posted on Mon Jan 5th, 2026 @ 7:14pm by Lieutenant Junior Grade Galen Trellis & Lieutenant Junior Grade Jack Hunter
Edited on on Sat Jan 10th, 2026 @ 8:18am
1,354 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Episode 17 - Going Home
Location: Empok Nor Various
Timeline: MD001 1300 hrs
Lieutenant Galen Trellis sat at one of the small tables outside a modest civilian-run café on the promenade, nursing a Tarkalean tea and watching the station's traffic flow past with the kind of hollow attention that came from having too much time and not enough to do.
The loGret mission had concluded and Galen had returned to Empok Nor as promised. Captain Jelane had been right—the Pioneer was supposedly back. Or at least, that's what the station logs claimed.
Except when Galen had checked with operations, he'd been told the ship was still in final systems checks and wouldn't be ready to receive crew for another twelve hours.
Of course, he thought bitterly, taking another sip of the floral-scented tea. Another delay. Another wait.
The Cardassian architecture of the promenade pressed in around him, all harsh angles and utilitarian design. Dorian's memories whispered warnings about occupation, about enemies hiding behind every corner. Galen pushed them down with practiced effort, focusing instead on the present moment.
Near the security checkpoint, a Ferengi was still arguing with a guard about some disputed cargo, drawing the attention of several passersby. Galen barely registered the commotion—it was the kind of thing that happened hourly on stations like this. What caught his attention instead was the Starfleet officer in yellow who emerged from the checkpoint, duffel slung over his shoulder, looking equal parts exhausted and irritated.
Galen recognized the body language immediately: new arrival, fresh off a transport, already fed up with station bureaucracy. He'd been there himself not that long ago.
The engineer—based on the uniform color—walked past the café, muttering something under his breath that Galen couldn't quite hear but could certainly sympathize with.
"First time on Empok Nor?" Galen called out, his tone carrying just enough dry humor to be friendly without being intrusive. "Fair warning: the security lines are the least frustrating part of being stationed here."
Jack glanced toward the voice that had cut through the hum of the promenade. He caught sight of the man at the cafe. He was a lean, thoughtful-looking officer in, a half-finished tea steaming in front of him.
Hunter’s shoulders eased a little. “That so?” he replied, adjusting the duffel strap over his shoulder as he stepped closer. “Because I’ve already been through two security scans, one lost clearance code, and a half-hour argument about whether I’m real or a holoprojection. If that’s the easy part, I’m in trouble.”
Galen blinked, then let out a short, surprised laugh. "A holoprojection? Seriously?" He shook his head, gesturing to the empty chair across from him. "Please, sit. If you've survived that particular brand of paranoia, you deserve a break."
As the engineer approached, Galen extended his hand. "Lieutenant Junior Grade Galen Trellis. Chief Flight Control Officer for the USS Pioneer—though I've spent more time on this station than on my actual ship." There was a trace of wry humor in his voice, tempered by genuine friendliness.
He took another sip of his tea, studying the newcomer with open curiosity. "The holoprojection accusation is new, though. Usually security just questions whether your credentials are valid or if you're carrying contraband. I suppose that's what happens when you turn a Cardassian station into a Starfleet outpost—no matter how many upgrades they install or how many Federation flags they hang, this place still feels like it belongs to the Spoonheads."
Galen's jaw tightened slightly at his own words, and he caught himself. Dorian's memories again—the Marine's casual contempt for Cardassians bleeding through.
Lieutenant Jack Hunter set his duffel down beside the table with a soft thud, accepting the offered seat. “Don’t worry,” he said, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “You’re not wrong. The corridors still look like they were designed by someone allergic to round edges.”
“I’m Jack Hunter, new Chief Engineer of the Pioneer. Just transferred from the Aquarius.”
Jack extended his hand for a shake.
Galen shook Jack's hand firmly, a genuine smile crossing his face—the first one in days that didn't feel forced. "Chief Engineer? Well, that's excellent. The Pioneer's going to need someone who knows what they're doing in Engineering." He gestured for Jack to sit, then flagged down a passing server. "Get whatever you want. My treat. Consider it a welcome-to-Empok-Nor gift—though I'll warn you, the replicators here are programmed with Cardassian temperature preferences, so everything comes out slightly too warm or too cold."
"So what brought you to the Pioneer?" Galen asked, his curiosity genuine.
"Transfer, promotion, or did Starfleet do that thing where they tap you on the shoulder and say 'congratulations, you're going to the Cardassian border'?"
Jack let out a quiet, tired sigh as he eased back in the chair.
“Honestly?” he said, rubbing the bridge of his nose fidgeting.
“Transfer.” he began. “I’d been on the USS Aquarius for about five years. Good ship. Solid crew. But after a while… I don’t know. I just felt like I was patching the same plasma conduits and recalibrating the same EPS relays on the same deck for the hundredth time. It was comfortable, sure, but…”
He shrugged. “Comfortable gets boring.”
Galen nodded knowingly, "I get that. Comfortable gets boring, and boring makes you start questioning why you joined Starfleet in the first place." He took another sip of his tea, his expression thoughtful. "Five years on one ship is a solid run, though. Most people don't last that long before either getting promoted out or requesting a transfer to something new."
Galen gestured vaguely at the station around them. "I can't speak for what the Pioneer's been up to—since I haven't actually been on her yet—but if the last few days are any indication, 'routine' isn't really in the vocabulary out here." He said wearily. After days of tense interactions with intelligence operatives and uncomfortable meetings with Cardassian station personnel, it felt good to just have a normal conversation with a fellow officer.
"Do you think the Pioneer's going to be the adventure you were looking for?" Galen asked pointedly.
Jack was quiet for a moment, eyes drifted past Galen to the steady flow of people along the promenade
“Adventure?” he repeated softly. “I think that’s the word they always use in the recruitment ads.”
He leaned forward, forearms resting on the table. “I don’t think I was looking for adventure, exactly. I’ve had enough of that in the wrong places. Warp core breaches, antimatter containment explosions, torpedo malfunctions in the tube.” Jack said while using his hands as descriptors.
Jack exhaled slowly. “I think I'm looking for purpose. A ship that needs fixing because it matters, not just because it’s overdue for maintenance.” His jaw tightened slightly. “From my understanding, the Pioneer has a reputation. Long patrols. Complicated missions that don’t fit neatly into a log entry.”
He shrugged. “That sounded better than another five years of safe and predictable.”
He took a final sip of his Tarkalean tea and set the cup down. He glanced at his chronometer and grimaced slightly. "Speaking of which, I need to head out. I've got an appointment with Colonel Tremble in twenty minutes, and showing up late to meet the XO seems like a bad way to start."
"Welcome to the Pioneer, Jack. Something tells me we're both going to earn that purpose we're looking for."
"Thank you. Good to meet you." He got up to shake his hand as he headed out. hunter as well will be meeting the XO shortly for introductions.
Hunter looked around the promenade and just gazed all around him amazed with the activity.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Junior Grade Galen Trelis
Chief Flight Control Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Junior Grade Jack Hunter
Chief Engineering Officer, USS Pioneer
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