The first officer’s seat was the only place on the bridge unoccupied the Captain had given his First Officer a well-deserved shift off. Although the Lowell was a science vessel it was still only a few short years after the end of the Dominion War and old habits died hard, especially for tactical officers. The Tactical officer, a Tellerite, busied herself on yet another scan of the surrounding space. Science officers manned most of the bridge stations and chattered amongst themselves. The bridge of the Lowell was a hive of activity. The Nova class science vessel USS Lowell was ten orbits into her mapping mission, sailing with ease across the face of the world. A tiny form orbited miles above her atmosphere. She was a bright and shiny world resplendent in whites and greens. The planet Amalthea 2 hung like a giant jewel against the blackness of space.
