First Order of Business
Posted on Mon May 4th, 2026 @ 6:36pm by Ensign Millicent Ambrose & Ensign Astrid Renfield
Edited on on Wed May 6th, 2026 @ 8:04am
1,289 words; about a 6 minute read
Mission:
Episode 17 - Going Home
Location: The Quarters of Astrid Renfield & Millicent Ambrose - Deck 3 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD024 1800 hrs
Astrid stared up at the ceiling of her quarters, the silence pressing in around her. Shore leave had officially begun… so now what? She wasn’t sure what she wanted to do with her free time, but she found herself wondering what Millie was up to. Odds were, her roommate already had plans...Millie had bloomed into something of a social butterfly lately. Astrid didn’t mind. Honestly, it was good to see her coming out of her shell.
After a few more moments, Astrid sighed and rolled out of bed. She tossed her hair up into a ponytail, pulled on a tank top and a pair of comfortable shorts, and headed into the common room. First order of business: coffee. Then maybe she’d figure out what kind of trouble she wanted to get into for the day.
Millie had just stepped out of the refresher, putting on a robe. To her nostrils came the scent of fresh coffee. She had gotten an older form of a coffee pot that would brew coffee and it not being replicated. And the scent told her that it was ready. She walked out tying the wine colored robe closed, noticing her roomie there.
"Hi there, Astrid" Millie greeted her with a smile. "Smells like coffee is done." walking over to pour a cup.
Astrid glanced over at Millie and smiled. “Morning.” She said, her gaze drifting to the robe. “You look… freshly scrubbed.” As she poured a cup of coffee Astrid added. "Clean and caffeinated...what more could you ask for?”
After pouring the coffee she stepped over, offering the cup, but not before giving the edge of Millie’s robe a light, teasing tug. “There you go, fresh one for the fresh one.”
"Aww quit your teasing." Millie huffed, but had a twinkle in her eyes. "thanks." accepting the cup of coffee.
"How have you been?" moving to the small table in their quarters. Millie adjusted her robe before she sat down. She took in a deep breath of the dark liquid in her cup before putting a couple of spoons of sugar into it, stirring it while the sugar dissolved.
Astrid followed Millie to the table. Her mug warning her hands. With a grin, she gave the robe one last teasing tug before dropping into the chair across from Mille with a soft thump. She watched her roommate doctor her coffee with an amused expression.
"I've been..." She paused, thinking. " Figuring out how to function without a warp core humming in the background." She took a sip, then set her mug down and turned more fully toward Millie. "I was thinking of heading down to Earth. What about you? Any big plans for your shore leave?"
"Oh I do have plans, one of them going to see my family. They would be disappointed if I didn't go see them" Millie took an exploratory sip of her coffee, making a wry face. She wasn't up for bitter coffee, a little bit more sugar would be good. Adding two more spoonfuls.
Tasting it Millie gave a nod. "Do you have family, friends, that you'll be looking up?" looking at Astrid.
“Not really.” She said. “No family on Earth. Most of the people I used to be close with are scattered across the stars… or just scattered, period.”
After another sip, she added. “I might look up a couple of my instructors, maybe check in with one or two old mentors from the Academy if they’re still around. Other than that, I’ll probably just wander. See where I end up.”
She glanced over at Millie’s cup. “Better with the extra sugar?”
A nod after another sip of her coffee, "Today I don't feel like drinking from a bitter cup. Just wanted to make a bit of a balance. Bittersweet which kinda will be that sort of visit, when i get to Earth. Family and trying to see if I can make amends with some friends."
Another sip, then Millie gave out a gasp, abruptly got up from the table, setting down her coffee cup, it almost spilling some of its contents upon it.
"I've gotten done with your moccasins!" going to retrieve them.
Astrid had been ready to ask more about Millie's family, but as her roommate suddenly bolted from the table, she leaned back . Lifting her mug, she took a slow sip and waited. Truth be told, she’d figured the moccasins were a forgotten promise. Not that she’d ever admit it to Millie.
Having a worried and hopeful look in her eyes, Millie brought over the moccasins to Astrid.
"I know that we had spoken about the design and the size you wore. I really hope they fit." handing them to Astrid, then held her breath as she waited for her roomie to try them on.
Astrid set her mug down and took the moccasins. "Let's see what you've made me." She said slipping them on one foot at a time. She stood and took a few steps around the room, testing the fit. "They fit like they were meant to." She said glancing at Millie. "And the design....it's prefect" She walked over to Millie and gave her tight hug. "I'll wear these until they fall apart."
Returning the hug, Millie smiled, feeling all warm and tingly inside. "I am very glad you like them" just beaming. "I can make you another pair if you'd like." releasing Astrid from her embrace. "Another color perhaps?"
Walking over to the table to pick up her coffee, Millie took another drink from her mug, it beginning to cool down.
"You know I do plan on taking Vura on a motorcycle ride, just so she can experience it. Would you like to join in?"
Astrid dropped back into her seat, wiggling her toes with a small smile. “Only if you’ve got the time." She said, glancing at Millie before looking down to admire the moccasins again.
At the mention of a motorcycle ride, her gaze flicked back up. “You, me, and Vura? That sounds like trouble waiting to happen.” She smiled remembering their shopping trip. Vura was trouble for sure.
"Yes! Do you want to be a part of it? I think it would be rather fun in taking in the surroundings, the wide open road." Millie giving a smile.
Astrid titled her head, considering it for a moment. "Yeah." She said with a smile. "Alright. I'm in."
"That is awesome! I am so looking forward to the trip, I need to definitely let Vura know as to the plan." Millie giving a huge smile.
"Now to catch up on some news on your end, how have you been? I know I haven't been around much." Millie giving a chagrined smile.
Astrid gave a small shrug. “I’ve been alright. Not nearly as much going on as you." She said with a faint smile. “Mostly just keeping busy with work.”
"Well all work and no play isn't good at all." she gave a friendly shoulder nudge.
At the friendly shoulder nudge, Millie gave a chuckle. "We ought to plan on doing something."
There was a ping on her PADD, and she pulled it out from her pocket. Her eyes widened, "Oh crud I've got to get going. I'll see you later on! "
Millie gave Astrid a hug dashed out of the quarters, she was going to be late in talking with her parents.
A Joint Post By
Ensign Millicent Ambrose
Engineering Officer, USS Pioneer
Ensign Astrid Renfield
Quantum Slipstream Specialist
RSS Feed