The outer reaches of the nebula reflected the nearby star’s light gently. An expanse of stars and interstellar phenomena lay before her as she looked to the wonders yet to be seen. Newly promoted Commander S’Minn’s nearly black fur was perfectly groomed with a natural sheen. Her mane a dark grey giving her the appearance of having a full head of hair currently kept in a shoulder length bob of a human style she took on during more peaceful times. She wore the golden command tunic, it was a woman’s cut, more of a dress almost. She thought the style was pleasing but completely stupid as a member of Starfleet on active duty, being more suitable for a dress uniform than general use. The Caitian commander cut a very predatory figure, looking like nothing more than a humanoid cat, nearly a panther in her physical features, though her demeanor was much friendlier than her carnivorous ancestry would suggest.

Her ear twitched then as she heard Lieutenant Stephan’s attempt at sneaking up on her. “Come to see me off Herrrman?” She purred. With a chuckle and in his nasally voice he responded, “I couldn’t let you go without at least a final farewell, could I?” She gave him a smile, a toothy one that all Caitians have. Lt. Herman Stephan was a skinny man mostly of Mediterranean ancestry, he wore the blue tunic of the science division proudly. The two of them met while she was in Starfleet Academy. He had picked a fight with an Andoran in a bar, it was going badly for the scrappy human when she broke up the fight. After a few choice words with the cadet, she thought nothing else of the incident, three weeks later Herman had joined the academy, citing the incident as the catalyst. She never would have guessed that they would get along so well, and when he finally graduated she was surprised to see him assigned to the Sydney where she had been serving as helmsman.

“I’m glad you were given the honor of serving on one of the most advanced ships in Starfleet, you always did want to go bolder than anyone else.” Herman let out a sigh, he’d been away from his fiancé for too long, “Hey, you tell Rrrrebecka hello forrrr me, I look forwarrrd to meeting herrr on my next shorrre-leave.” She gave him a friendly bat on the shoulder. “I will,” he smiles as he looks out with her into the infinite horizon, “are you nervous?” Her tail slowly sways side to side, “I’d be lying if I said no, but I have been given the position of firrrst officerrr aboarrrd a starrrship of the United Federrration of Planets, I would not have been chosen if someone did not think I was fit forrr the position.” “Well, last I heard your new post was a few minutes out, they should be here any moment now.” She gave a chuckle as she turned back to the window, “You still owe me two drrrinks frrrom last month’s crrribbage tourrrnament.”

A sudden bright star appeared in the blackness. A single blue streak coming to a halt about five kilometers away from the Sydney’s starboard side. Sliding stately along as a dancer, the nebula’s luminance reflecting off her hull as though a spotlight had been shone on her for her grand performance. Her twin nacelles slowly spinning down, the blue glow of the warp coils getting fainter as they returned to standby, perched atop their pylons connecting them to her secondary hull sweeping outwards giving the impression of a sprinter and hint of the tremendous speeds she could reach. But the most prominent of her features, even including her brilliantly glowing bussard collectors and gleaming copper coloured primary deflector dish, was her saucer section. Large and circular, the primary hull was held high on an elegant neck, as though a swan swimming in the dark waters of a still pond.

She slowed, her impulse engines shutting down and maneuvering thrusters began firing to bring her alongside the Sydney. She brought her name plate into view, “The Endeavourrr,” S’Minn beamed as she purred the name, “she’s beautiful.” She knew this was the beginning of the most important adventure of her life.

She had no idea.

Higher res on my Sofurry I think.