"Three, two, one, hack."
With a soft tone indicating the resync of the clock was finished, Serena Cho, Security Officer of the ISF Type IV Cruiser Bos, swiftly returned the communicator device to the designated pocket on her blue uniform and turned to the mirror, carefully inspecting her reflection. Tie straightened, boots polished, insignia level, collar pressed. Not a speck of dust on her lapel, long black hair neatly combed and tied back in a ponytail, as per Dress Code Regulation 12A-5. Clacking her heels together, she gave herself a solemn nod of approval, donned her field cap, and exited her quarters exactly at 8:00.
Without an emergency or pressing event to deal with, she first set out on her usual patrol, setting off at a brisk pace down the corridors. Hands folded calmly behind her back, she surveyed her surroundings like a hawk, lingering on any crew member she encountered until they walked faster or got back to their jobs. She didn't need to say anything of course; anyone who's been on the Bos long enough knew the three golden rules for surviving their tour; don't leave your phaser charged, don't override the airlock, and don't let Serena Cho catch you slacking off.
Indeed, her reputation wasn't exactly a rosy one. Like most vessels in the Sol space fleet, it carried with it the same sort of relaxed sybaritic atmosphere that was becoming increasingly common in this golden age of prosperity and exploration, one that was anathema to someone as straight-arrow as Serena. Sure she was respected, the higher-ups liking to parade her around as a model officer, someone born into hardship and getting out of it through hard work and perseverance, but she certainly wasn't popular. At best, she was tolerated. At worst, she was thought of as a tyrant, a preening, jackbooted busybody better suited to running a dungeon then security on a starship. So much so that you could almost feel a sense of relief when her underling Jezebel Howard was selected over the more experienced Cho to take over the captain's chair.
Serena couldn't deny that getting passed over stung, but in truth she was content where she was. Working security was where she could get the one thing she never had in her whole life; a sense of stability. Her own little orderly domain in this big crazy galaxy, with a place for everything and everything in its place. Why would she ever want anything more?
Feeling a sense of serenity, Serena Cho finished her patrol thirty minutes later, strolling into the mess hall on the exact second and making her way to the dispenser for her usual breakfast.
"Plain bagel, black coffee."
The alcove built into the wall shimmered, and a bagel materialized next to a steaming mug after a low humming sound. Satisfied that the slight delay in the materializer had been fixed, she took a sip of the beautifully bitter brew and took her usual solitary seat in the center of the mess hall, allowing herself just a moment to relax before jumping to the next task on her list...
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