Ensign Andrea Vasquez entered her quarters and sat down at her desk.
She slowly eased off her boots and tossed them at the bathroom door.
They bounced against the door and landed at the foot of the door.   The
door opened.   It was a little game she played.   If she could toss the boots
just right the door sensor would open the door and the boots would land
in the bathroom.   She removed her socks and they followed the boots.
They hit the door and landed on top of her boots.   This time the door
did not open.   She snorted to herself.   She had adjusted the sensor a
few times with varied results.

What a day, she said to herself with a smile.   Arching toes and ankles
she relished the feeling of freedom for her toes.   When ever possible
she loved to go barefoot.   She turned to the desk and her computer
display.   "Computer, display my most recent orders."  The computer
screen glowed to life and showed her orders.   She looked at the words
and again smiled.  "Computer, read the orders to me."

The computer spoke in the soft low toned male voice, which reminded
her of her father.  She had modified the computer’s voice speech
patterns in her quarters to suit her.  "Ensign Andrea Moia Vasquez on
this day is hereby promoted to Auxiliary Specialist, aboard the Federation
Star Ship Alliance NCC-77841.  She hereby is to assume that position and
duties.  Signed: Lt. Comdr. Maxine Taggert, Chief Engineering Officer."

She had received the orders at an impromptu promotion party at
Jake’s Place after her duty shift had ended.  She was very pleased with
herself.  She sat back in her chair.  Her promotion to Auxiliary
Specialist was a step upwards, she thought.  It also meant a lot more
responsibility.

That put her in charge of all of the Auxiliary craft aboard the Alliance.
That included 2 runabouts, 8 shuttlecraft and 4 transports.  And when
necessary to provide support for the Warrior.   She was not sure about
the staffing requirements.  She and her team.  There were several
changes being made to engineering staffing and she was not sure how
things would shape up.  But she would have a team that reported to her.
She just had to tell someone.

"Computer, check for live communication with my family."

"Working," replied the computer.

Andrea called out.  "Computer, dinner."

"Specify."

Andrea thought about that.  Whenever she was really satisfied with a
day’s work she would order a hot turkey dinner with all the trimmings
of a Thanksgiving dinner.  "One plate of Thanksgiving Dinner, a cup
of my tea blend number 2 and a glass of rose wine."

"Working."

As the replicator produced the food the computer spoke, "Lt. Susanna
Vasquez-Hitchcock is within range.  Commander Jose Vasquez is within
range with a ten-minute signal delay.  All other family membersare over
the specified 10 minute delay."

"Please contact Susanna," ordered Andrea.

She got up and retrieved her dinner tray and brought it over to her desk
and sat down.  It smelled wonderful.

The screen displayed the Star Fleet symbol and then cleared to show
her older sister.  "Andi, nice to see you.  How are you?"  Andrea raised
her glass of wine.  "Just got my Aux.  Specialist rating."

"Wonderful! Congratulations," stated Susanna.  She looked off screen,
"Bob bring the girls, it’s Andrea."

"Susanna, have you eaten yet?" asked Andrea.

Her sister looked back at her.  "No, we were just sitting down, let me bring
you over to the table.  We can talk over dinner, do you have time?"

"Just sitting down myself," stated Andrea.

"Good! Hold on while I move to the table," stated Susanna.  Susanna
picked up the computer terminal and for Andrea it was like walking to
her sister’s table.  She could see the twins and Bob who was clearing
a spot for the monitor.

"Hi, Robin, Hi Rose," she said to the twins.

"Hi, Aunt Andrea," they said.

"Hi, Bob, how’s the doctoral theses going?"

Bob leaned towards the screen.  "Slow.  I was on an away mission that
took me three weeks.  But, it’s coming along."  Bob leaned away and
sat down.

Andrea could see all of them.  She smiled.  Even though they were light
years apart, whenever they could they sat down to dinner together and
kept each other up on current events.  All of her family did this when
conditions and events allowed.  They were all close and the dinners
together helped.

Susanna looked around the table.  "Ready?" she asked.  She turned to
her daughters.  "Rose," it’s your turn to say grace."

Robin spoke up.  "Let Aunt Andrea say grace."

Susanna asked Rose, "Is it okay?"

"It’s okay," stated Rose.  "She has not had dinner with us in nearly a week."

Bob spoke up.  "All yours, Andrea."

Andrea smiled.  "Okay." She bowed her head.  She crossed herself.  It had
been awhile since she had last gone to church services, she reminded
herself.  "Bless this food to give us strength.  Bless our elders to give us
wisdom.  Bless our family to keep us safe.  Bless those who have died and
bring them home.  Amen." She looked up at the screen and watched her
extended family cross them selves.

Bob raised his glass.  He waited until his wife and daughters did also.
He looked at the screen and Andrea raised hers.  "To our missing family,
Franklin, Glen, George, Sally, Jessie, Kevin, Francine and Markus."

They all drank.

Susanna looked out at from the screen.  "So, Andi, tell us all about your
new job."

Andrea picked up her fork and preceeded to tell her sister and family
about her new position.

The End