Dr. who?

Arjay returned to the bridge and took his seat. Since all his senior bridge officers had been at the briefing, the bridge was staffed at a minimum level, with only two younger officers occupying the helm and navigation consoles.

Arjay quickly reviewed the event log for the past interval. Nothing of note had transpired during the briefing. Including the one he was waiting for - a reply from his missing Chief Medical Officer.

The bridge door shooshed open as the science officer returned from the briefing, and shooshed close behind her.

"Captain, we've got an incoming call from Starfleet. It's Admiral Alstani, sir," reported Green.

"Put it on main screen, ensign."

"Uh, sir, you're going to take here?"

"Is the call coming in on a classified channel, ensign?"

"No sir."

"Then I'll take it here."

Green did as he was told and put the call through on the main screen.

"Captain," greeted Admiral Alstani.

"Admiral," Arjay replied. "Sir, Dawn is ready to launch, but I've got a problem."

"I know you've been trying to contact Dr. Chapman. You can stop looking for him."

"Oh?"

"Dr. Chapman has been reassigned. He will not be joining Dawn on this mission."

"Reassigned? Sir, I knew nothing of this."

"The decision was made by Starfleet."

"Where is he transferred to?"

"That's classified."

"Classified? Dawn is ready to depart except we're waiting for Chapman. I've been looking for him for three days now."

"Starfleet apologizes for your inconvenience."

"Is Starfleet willing to do me the courtesy of telling me where he is?"

"Dr. Chapman has been reassigned. His current mission is classified."

"Admiral, with due respect, Dawn needs a Chief Medical Officer. It's kind of late for me to start looking for one now."

"We've assigned one for you. Her name is Lucy Tsui."

"I don't know her."

"She is quite competent."

"Admiral, I must object. The Dawn's crew is a closely knit team. To introduce an unknown member into a position as critical as Chief Medical Officer, is an unnecessary risk."

"Your objection is noted."

"My objection is noted? That really means my objection is being ignored, right?"

"I'm transmittng the coordinates where you will pick up Dr. Tsui."

Arjay checked a display on his command chair and noted that the coordinates had been received. He frowned as he interpreted the coordinates. "Sir, these coordinates, they're not on Earth."

"Dr. Tsui is not on Earth. Those are the rendezvous coordinates with the U.S.S. Lattice."

"Sir, these coordinates, it's going to take us two weeks to reach them."

"Yes."

"You've taken away my doctor, you want to replace him with a stranger. You're sending me on a deep space misson without a senior medical officer aboard."

"I trust your crew is in good health, and I trust your junior medical team are capable of any minor health issues that come up over the next two weeks."

"Sir, I'm not happy about this."

"Your objection is noted. Good luck on your misson. Starfleet out."

With that, the viewscreen went dark. Arjay clenched his fist in anger. He wanted to pound something. He caught himself though; that would be setting a bad example on the bridge for the younger officers. He turned around and saw Linda looking at him. She smiled, ever so slightly, at him. That helped him calm down. It felt good to have a bridge crew that knew him, that he knew he could count on.

Speaking of bridge crew, the ship was ready to leave space dock and he needed Morgan. "First officer, report to bridge."