TEASER

FADE IN:

1 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE

The Defiant sits at its usual spot on the docking ring, and on an upper pylon sits the Akira-class USS James T Kirk. We close in, approaching the tip of a different upper pylon.

2 INT. DS9 – UPPER PYLON AIRLOCK

VAUGHN strides into the airlock, with PRYNN close behind. They approach the window, looking out across the breadth of the station towards the other pylon, where they see the ship docked. Prynn gawps with excitement to see it.

PRYNN
You got an Akira?! Oh my God,
Akiras are awesome! I loved
working on the Sentinel.

VAUGHN
Lieutenant Tenmei, please meet
the USS James T Kirk. Akira-class,
twenty-six decks, crew of five-
hundred... ish. Commanded by
Captain Elias A Vaughn.

PRYNN
Wait wait wait. You said you were
off on an exploratory mission.
Akiras aren’t explorers. They’re
troop carriers and heavy defence.
You should have got a Galaxy or
a Sovereign or something.

VAUGHN
Sadly there aren’t many of those
to go around. Plus, Starfleet is
still rather skittish about its
borders. And while I have no
plans to go to war again, I don’t
mind having a ship that can
defend itself if necessary.

Prynn nods with understanding, and gazes quietly out of the window at the new ship. Now that it’s physically here, she can’t deny it any longer.

PRYNN
When do you leave?

VAUGHN
Eleven-hundred hours. Transfer of
command takes place at ten-thirty.
They’re moving all my belongings
on board right now.

PRYNN
At least you’ll be back in some
proper Starfleet quarters again.
And not some tiny poky little
thing like the Defiant.

Vaughn gives a small wistful smile, and reaches out to stroke the bulkheads of the station.

VAUGHN
Oh, I don’t know. It hasn’t been
so bad living here. I can see why
people are taken with the place.
(rallies)
But I don’t regret going. It’s the
right thing to do. I said I had a
new lease on life, Prynn.
(re Kirk)
Well, there it is.

Standing upright and straightening his uniform, he offers his arm to Prynn. She straightens likewise and takes it.

VAUGHN
Come on. Last tour.

They stroll back into the depths of the station together.

3 INT. DS9 – MAIN OPS CENTRE

The turbolift rises into Ops, carrying Vaughn and Prynn. Around the room are all the senior staff, gathered and waiting for this moment. BOWERS at tactical, CANDLEWOOD at sciences, NOG at engineering, BASHIR, EVIK and CENN at the central Ops table, and RO standing outside the office.

Vaughn and Prynn step off and head down to the table.

VAUGHN
Would you join me, Commander?

With a deep breath, Ro descends the steps and joins Vaughn at the table. Vaughn pulls out a padd and reads from it.

VAUGHN
All hands, attention to orders.
The crew comes to attention.

VAUGHN
Captain Elias Vaughn, commanding
officer, station Deep Space Nine,
star date 56632. You are hereby
requested and required to relinquish
command of your post to Commander
Ro Laren, executive officer Deep
Space Nine, as of this date. Signed,
vice admiral Marta Batanides.
Computer, please transfer all
command codes to Ro Laren,
authorisation seven-delta-six-
four-green, execute.

COMPUTER
Transfer complete. Deep Space Nine
and all assigned vessels now under
command of Commander Ro Laren.

RO
I relieve you, sir.

VAUGHN
I stand relieved.

Vaughn shakes Ro’s hand, and the entire crew applauds.

The crew goes back to work, clearing space for Vaughn and Ro to speak more casually.

RO
Got everything you need?

VAUGHN
Yep. Cleared out the office and my
quarters last night. The place is
all yours, Commander. I dare say
it should have been all along.

RO
And you and me... we’re okay?

VAUGHN
Far more than okay. Just consider
what I’ve said. I’ll do the same.
(straightens)
Permission to disembark.

RO
Permission granted, Captain.

Vaughn nods acknowledgement and turns towards the transport platform. He takes Prynn with him on the way.

VAUGHN
Beam over with me?

PRYNN
Actually... I’d rather say my
goodbyes here. If that’s okay.

VAUGHN
Of course it is. I have to go
through the whole thing again on
the Kirk anyway. And then out
towards the Taurus Reach.

PRYNN
Eeshk. Watch out for Tholians.

VAUGHN
I will.

PRYNN
Just make sure you stay in touch,
okay? I don’t want to go years
without speaking to you again.

VAUGHN
No fear of that.

They hug firmly, and Vaughn steps onto the transporter.

VAUGHN
Vaughn to Kirk - one to beam aboard.

Vaughn makes eye contact with Ro, nods his respect. Then the transporter takes him away. Ro watches him go.

Once Vaughn is gone, Ro centres herself and turns towards the office. She climbs the stairs, enters the office...

4 INT. DS9 – COMMANDER’S OFFICE (CONTINUOUS)

Ro walks up to the commander’s desk, touches it, makes sure it’s real. She looks around the space, strolls the floors. It’s all hers now. It’s going to take some getting used to.

She walks to the big picture window behind the desk, gazes out at the stars. She’s thinking. She nods to herself at a decision made, then turns to exit.

5 INT. DS9 – MAIN OPS CENTRE (CONTINUOUS)

As she exits back out onto Ops again, Nog turns to her.

NOG
USS James T Kirk signals ready,
requesting clearance to depart.

RO
Thank you, Lieutenant. Major?

Cenn checks his boards, confirms.

CENN
Clear to depart.

RO
Hail the Kirk, and put it on the
viewscreen, Mister Candlewood.

CANDLEWOOD
Aye, sir.

The viewscreen shows an image of Vaughn, at the centre of an Akira-class bridge (as seen in 8x81 “Lesser Evil”).

VAUGHN (screen)
Commander? Everything alright?

RO
I just wanted to wish you a safe
journey, Captain.

VAUGHN (screen)
To us all, Commander. Kirk out.

CENN
(off boards)
USS Kirk is releasing docking
clamps... and she’s away.

RO
Thank you, Major. Now, if you would
please, prepare a runabout for
departure ASAP.

CENN
Are you going somewhere?

RO
I am. And you’re coming with me.

Off Cenn’s reaction to that...

FADE OUT:

END OF TEASER