André stood in front of a mirror. A smug look adorning his face. He had made it. An officer in the Eurasian Starfleet. With special access and a highly classified mission to boot. So classified in fact that he didn’t even know what it was yet. Granted whenever he had played out the scenario in his head it had been a lot more eventful. A ceremony, with people watching him receive his commission. Something with music and reverence, or at least a sword. He had certainly never imagined being alone in his room the first time he donned his stripes. Not that it made much difference. He had no one to invite. The uniform was all that really mattered.
“You coming out?” His captain’s voice came from the corridor. “Can’t stay in there admiring yourself all day, we’ve got work to do.” André sighed. He took one last look in the mirror, straightened his collar and walked out to greet the only other person he would see for the next few years. Leena Celero, Captain of the ESS Argo.
“Looking every bit as boring as I expected commander.” Leena’s attitude towards uniform was anything but uniform. Andre couldn’t describe her appearance as anything more than lacklustre, and only that if he was being overly polite. Even whilst actively in command of a vessel she wore the same ripped jeans, metal studded boots and faux leather jacket. “I’m glad it fits, but I’m afraid you’re going to have to take it off.” André’s face turned bright red. His eyes widened as panic settled onto his face. “Relax man.” The captain laughed. “I don’t want you to strip, I just mean I’m going to need you to get changed. No uniform on this ship.” His eyebrows fell, from panic to fury.
“I am a Starfleet officer!” He protested. “And I intend to dress apro-”
“You are a military intelligence officer on board a covert ship.” She snapped. All her child-like playfulness gone. “And I am your captain!” André’s head fell. “A Starfleet uniform could compromise our operation. Whilst on board this vessel civilian clothing will be worn at all times. Is that clear?” André nodded. “I said, is that clear?”
“Yes sir!” He lifted his head and looked into her eyes. She was smiling again. Her hand reached forward and patted him on the cheek
“I’m glad you agree. Now hurry up and get changed. I’ll meet you on the bridge for a mission brief.”
***
The Argo’s bridge was more impressive than its exterior, if that was possible. There were sensors an instruments that not even the top end battle cruisers had. Stasis controls, dark matter sensors, a Hermes drive. That wasn’t something you found on a ship this small. You generally needed a crew the size of a small town before anyone even considered light speed. Of all the spectacular equipment though, one thing caught his eye more than anything else. Something he’d never seen before. Something he didn’t even know existed. A small purple button labelled stealth cloak generator.
“That’s enough gawking.” The captain stood, gazing out of the window. “There’ll be plenty of time to admire her once we’re star-bound. For now, focus on the mission.” André frowned.
“I still don’t know what the is.” He said. “How can I help if I don’t know what we’re doing?” A sly smile drew its way across Leena’s face.
“Did you ever hear the theory about the pyramids in ancient Egypt?” she asked. Lowering her voice and moving in close. He nodded, still confused. He was familiar with it, but what could a bogus conspiracy about pre historic extra-terrestrials have to do with them? His mouth opened but Leena ploughed over him before he could ask his question. “Turns out it was true.” Her voice quickened with excitement. “And not just the pyramids. Hundreds of ancient monuments are actually just crash-landed star cruisers.” André could hardly believe his ears. Surely this was an elaborate hoax. Even if aliens had visited Earth several millennia ago, what could they do about it now? “An expedition team discovered a hidden room under Giza. The pyramids are space ships, and humanity were the pilots. We don’t come from Earth.”
The captain paused, waiting for the revelation to sink in. She reached forward and caught André’s jaw as it made its way to the floor. “I was speechless too.” She said. “We don’t know for certain where we actually came from, but they found coordinates in the logs for the last known location of the Pyramids of Giza. That’s where we’re going, that’s our mission. Plot a course for the Pandora system.”