Reporting In -Part 1

Posted on Tuesday July 21, 2026 @ 3:14pm by Captain Luna Janeway & Commander Braxton Haynes
Edited on on Tuesday July 21, 2026 @ 3:15pm

2,011 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: The first Steps to the Unknown
Location: Captain's Ready Room, Uss Intrepid
Timeline: Current

Braxton wanted to surprise an old friend, it was hard to visiting the crew not to inform their captain that their new first officer had arrived. He snuck in with the other corps of engineers. He made his way to the bridge and tapped on the intercom door as he waited for Luna to respond. He couldn't wait to surprise her, this is going to be a good reunion between them.

A while ago, Captain Luna Janeway sat at her desk in the ready room, eyes fixed on the latest crew manifest updates flickering on a padd. Suddenly, the soft chime of the door echoed through the room, a subtle alert of an incoming visitor. “Enter,” she called smoothly, her tone calm yet alert, thinking it might be an ensign with urgent reports. The doors hissed open with a faint sigh of air. She looked up, a polite nod as the figure stepped inside. "Can I help you?” she asked, placing the padd down with a mixture of mild curiosity and readiness for anything to come.

"I hope so Captain. It's Braxton. Officially Commander Braxton Haynes reporting for duty. Here are my orders." Braxton said as he handed her a data pad and snapped to the position attention.

Janeway’s posture straightened subtly as she heard the familiar voice. Her light brown eyes widened just a fraction in surprise, and a small, composed smile touched her lips.
“Braxton?” she said quietly, genuine surprise in her tone. She rose gracefully from behind her desk. “Commander Braxton Haynes… I must admit, I was not expecting you to sneak in and walk through my door today.”
She accepted the data pad from him, her fingers briefly brushing his as she set it aside for a moment without looking at the contents.

“Yes, I believe you may be of some help,” she replied with a touch of warm amusement, gently acknowledging his “I hope so.” “This is a most welcome surprise. Starfleet informed me a new First Officer would be reporting in today, but they neglected to mention it would be an old friend.”

Janeway gently motioned toward the seating area near the viewport. “At ease, Commander. Please, have a seat.” She looked at him kindly, the small smile still on her face. “How long has it been? And could you kindly tell me how you came to be assigned as my Executive Officer aboard the Intrepid?” She paused briefly before adding softly, “May I offer you something from the replicator? Coffee, perhaps?”

"I would love a cup do you remember my preferences?" Braxton started to say with the living smile. And then he went on as he took a seat. "I saw an opportunity and I applied for the position. Apparently your grandmother pulled a few strings to make sure it happened. Or that's what I'm assuming." Braxton said in relations to him being signed as her first officer.

Janeway’s small smile deepened with quiet amusement at the mention of her grandmother. She tilted her head slightly, studying him with a mix of fondness and captaincy composure.
“Yes, I do remember,” she replied warmly, the corners of her eyes crinkling. “Black with two sugars, if my memory still serves.”

She moved to the replicator and ordered two coffees — one prepared exactly as she recalled his preference, the other her own. As the drinks materialized, she carried them back and set one in front of him before taking a seat across from him in the comfortable seating area near the viewport.
“My grandmother has always had a talent for gentle persuasion,” Luna said with a soft chuckle, her light brown eyes meeting his. “Though I suspect you earned this position on your own merits. Still… I’ll have to thank her later for the surprise.”

She took a sip of her coffee, then leaned forward slightly, her expression warm but attentive.
“Very interesting indeed, Braxton,” she continued, her voice carrying quiet curiosity. “Did Kathryn really pull strings, or did you simply see an opportunity and take it? And more importantly, are you truly ready to step into the role of my First Officer on a ship heading into the unknown territory of the galaxy? The Intrepid is bigger than that ship. We’re just new lieutenants?”
She paused, giving him an easy opening, then added lightly, “I’m listening.”

"What happens if I tell you it's a little of both? The Admiral wanted me, and I wanted to be here?" Braxton said with the big smile on his face, and then he went on. "The exploring me would love to explore the unknown, it's whatever explorer dreams of. Now to address your comment about you and me I won't lie, I thought about it. We've always maintain a good friendship even though we grew apart over the last few years. I know you moved on had a couple kids. I think we can be good friends. And we know that we can work well together as Captain am first officer." Braxton suggested to Luna, hoping that would put her mind at ease.

Captain Luna Janeway took a slow sip of her coffee, her light brown eyes watching Braxton over the rim of the cup. His honesty and that familiar big smile brought a soft, genuine laugh from her.
“A little of both,” she echoed softly, setting her cup down. “That really sounds like you.”
She leaned back slightly, her expression warm but thoughtful.
“I appreciate your honesty, Braxton. Life has pulled us in different directions — the twin girls keep me quite busy these days.” A small, nostalgic smile touched her lips. “But I’m really glad you’re here. The Intrepid is going to need someone I can trust at my side.”

Luna paused for a moment, then continued with quiet sincerity.
“As for working together again… I believe we can make this work. We always did, didn’t we?” She offered a small, genuine smile. “As Captain and First Officer.”

She tilted her head, curiosity returning to her eyes towards her Commander. “So tell me — when you say the exploring part of you wants to chase the unknown… what exactly are you hoping to discover out here in space during the journey of exploration, Commander?”

"I didn't realize we were so formal captain, it's okay to call me Braxton. Unless you prefer the titles?" He started to say with the warm smile and then he went on, realizing he didn't actually answer her question. "My last assignment was a patrol assignment, and secondary protocol for diplomatic situations. It's not why I joined Starfleet I wanted to be an explorer. So, when I saw the opportunity aboard the intrepid, I applied for it."

Janeway’s light brown eyes sparkled with quiet amusement as she set her coffee cup down. She tilted her head, a small, genuine smile on her lips.

“I suppose I did slip into ‘Commander’ a few times,” she admitted warmly. “Old habits from the center seat. But you’re right — it’s just us in here. We can drop the ranks when we’re alone if you’d prefer.”
“Braxton it is, then,” she continued softly. “We’ve earned the right to first names in private.”
She leaned back slightly, studying him with fond curiosity.

“I’m glad you’re here for the right reasons. The Intrepid is heading into true unknown territory. A Pathfinder-class ship like this one is going to push us both.”
Luna took a sip of her coffee, tone nostalgic.

“The twins keep life interesting these days, but on this bridge, we’re going to be a team again. Just like the old days.”
She paused, then asked gently, eyes meeting his, “So tell me… what are you most looking forward to about serving as my XO on this beautiful big starship?

"I guess compared to the Polaris is a big ship." Braxton said as he thought about it for a second. "The area space the intrepid is assigned to you is new and unexplored, I can't wait to see what's out there."

Luna smiled softly, her fingers tracing the rim of her coffee cup as considered his words. The bridge hummed quietly in the background.

" I agree Braxton she said warmly. "The Unknown has always called me too. Out here beyond the familiar stars.

that's where we discover who we really are."

Luna met his eyes with quiet anticipation. "The Intrepid may not be the biggest ship in Starfleet but she has heart with you as my XO, I know we'll face whatever's out there together. "So, tell me- what's one thing you hope discover on this voyage?"

"That's a loaded question, Captain. Hard to know when we don't know what we will discover. However with that said I am looking forward to getting out into the unknown. Seeing what's out there, and being a part of it is what I'm really looking forward to." Braxton said hoping that answered her question but realizing it probably didn't.


Luna met his eyes with quiet understanding, a soft, knowing smile touching her lips. She could see the honesty in his answer — the real hunger to explore shining through the uncertainty.

“I appreciate that honesty,” she said warmly. “Many officers say they want the unknown… but few truly mean it the way you do.”

She set her coffee cup down and leaned forward slightly, her light brown eyes steady and sincere.

“Then let’s make that our mission, Braxton. Not just seeing what’s out there — but this time we are discovering it together. As Captain and First Officer and as friend each other again.”

Luna paused, letting the moment settle between them. The hum of the ship filled the comfortable silence. Then her expression softened with quiet honesty.

“Welcome aboard the Intrepid, old friend. I’m still really glad you’re here.”

She gave him a small, genuine nod toward the viewport where stars streamed past.

“Shall we head to the bridge? I’d like to show you your new chair and introduce you to the crew.”

"I thought I was going to have to beg." Braxton said with a teasing grin on his face. He was eager to get the chef operational and on her way. He stood up and snapped to the position of attention.

Luna let out a soft, genuine laugh at Braxton’s teasing remark, the sound warm in the quiet ready room.
“Begging won’t be necessary,” she replied with an amused smile. “Though I must admit, seeing you snap to attention like that does bring back memories.”

She stood up smoothly, adjusting her uniform with practiced ease. Her expression settled back into calm captaincy, though the fondness in her eyes remained.

“Come on, then,” she said, gesturing toward the doors. “Let’s get you to the bridge. I’ll introduce you to the senior staff and show you your station. The Intrepid is a big ship — you’ll want to get familiar with her quickly.”
As they stepped toward the doorway, Luna glanced sideways at him, her voice softening slightly.
“It really is good to have you here, Braxton. I meant what I said earlier. Having someone I trust at my side it means a lot on a ship heading into the unknown.”

She paused just before the doors, giving him a small, him a small expectant look.

“Shall we, Commander?”

"Of course captain, just like old times right." Braxton said as they both walked into the bridge.

“It really is good to have you here, Braxton. I meant what I said earlier. Having someone I trust at my side means a lot on a ship heading into the unknown.”

Luna paused momentarily before adding with a subtle, sincere smile, “Just like old times… only now with larger chairs and significantly greater responsibility.” The turbolift doors parted with a soft hiss, and she gestured for him to step inside first. She followed closely, the gentle hum of their vessel elevator system them as they commenced the brief ascent towards deck one bridge.

 

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