Southern Cross by Windstar

Clarice showed up five minutes later. It didn't escape Julie that her Provost showed up on the
same lift as her Chief Engineer. Lieutenant Sanders, if Julie wasn't mistaken, had been laughing.
Something that she hadn't known the tall blond to do often since she'd met her. Julie raised an
eyebrow as Clarice jauntily crossed the command deck towards her command station.
"You seem to be in a good mood today."
"I had a very nice breakfast."
Julie grinned and waited. The ex-Marine looked slightly uncomfortable but stared back almost
defiantly.
"Should I even ask who you ate said breakfast with?"
Her Provost's eyes flicked towards the engineering station and Julie chuckled. Clarice stiffened
and her features stiffened.
"Is there a problem, Guardian?"
"Dear God, of course not, Clarice. You do remember who it is that I'm dating right? Just don't let
it interfere with your duties, Clarice."
Her Provost's body relaxed at that and she smiled.
"Thank you, Julie. I like her. I don't think she's ready for a relationship, but it's nice to have her
as a friend."
"Well, good luck."
"Thanks, Ma'am, I think I'm going to need it."
"I think both of us are going to need that luck to get out of this one."
Julie settled down into her couch and let her connection with her ship self deepen just enough so
that she could take over helm control.
"Here we go, time to cross the sensor sphere. Mr. Weber relay the status of Home Fleet to Mars
and Earth. Inform them that we will be going to silent running in two minutes."
The newly arrived Com officer nodded and set about sending the signal before they passed
through the sensor sphere.
"It's amazing, Clarice, they built this sphere of sensor stations without us ever knowing about it."
"It took them a long time to do it, Ma'am. I expect we'll be needing it pretty soon."