This was her first day as team leader.

The First Shift

Lieutenant Kyra Danel walked into Main Engineering with her datapad pressed against her chest like a shield. The ship hummed around her—deep, steady, alive. She had always loved that sound, the quiet vibration that meant power flowed through Dauntless like blood through veins.

This was her first day as team leader.

The others were already assembled, her new team. A mix of faces she knew and trusted, and one she didn’t.

“Morning, Lieutenant,” said Petty Officer Serano, grinning. “All green on your big day.”

“Don’t jinx it,” muttered Chief Patel from the diagnostics station.

Kyra managed a smile. “He’s right. Nothing stays green forever.”

There were chuckles—soft, approving. They wanted her to succeed. That thought steadied her.

She pulled up the system diagnostics and began running the morning cycle. Energy distribution, reactor balance, grav dampers, fusion coolant flow. Every readout came back stable, perfectly within parameters.

“All green,” Kyra said at last.

A small cheer went up from the team. Even Chief Patel cracked a grin.

“Nice to hear you say it instead of your old team lead,” said Serano. “Feels right.”

Kyra’s smile wavered. Their old leader, Lieutenant Aras, had transferred to the Intrepid the night before. He’d been confident, loud, a natural presence in the room. She wasn’t him. She wasn’t sure she ever could be.

She glanced at the new face—the replacement junior engineer who’d filled her old slot. Ensign Juno, straight out of Academy, with an eager look that reminded Kyra uncomfortably of herself a few years ago.

“Ensign,” Kyra said gently, “shadow Chief Patel today. Learn how he calibrates the plasma feeds. It’ll save you weeks of stumbling.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Juno said, practically bouncing to his post.

The others settled into routine, chatting lightly while the diagnostics hummed. For the first time, Kyra stood at the front of the room with nothing specific to do. Her job now was watching, guiding, anticipating. It felt strange—both heavier and lighter than before.

Her datapad chimed with a message from the Captain. Congratulations on the post. Remember: leadership is preparation for the storm, not celebration in the calm. – Harlan

She read it twice, then tucked it away. He was right. Nothing stayed green forever. On a warship, something always broke. And when it did, the team would look to her.

Kyra studied her people—their easy rhythm, their trust in the ship, in her. She swallowed hard. She would be ready.

Mid-shift, Patel leaned over. “Lieutenant, you’re too quiet. Relax. First days don’t bite.”

Kyra allowed herself a small laugh. “Not yet.”

Serano nodded toward the reactor core, its blue-white glow pulsing steady through the reinforced glass. “That thing doesn’t care who’s in charge. Just keep her fed, keep her cool, and she’ll purr. Same as always.”

But Kyra knew better. Ships were living things. They failed, they bled, they demanded vigilance. Aras had once said engineering was ninety percent boredom and ten percent sheer terror. She could already feel the truth of it.

She took another walk around the bay, noting every flicker of light, every subtle vibration. She memorized them, building a map in her head of what normal felt like. Only then could she recognize the first whisper of trouble.

At the end of shift, she dismissed the crew.

“Good work today. Keep your kits ready. I want everyone reviewing emergency drills this week. If something’s going to break, better we’re ready before it does.”

The team gave approving nods, some murmurs of agreement. Even Patel looked satisfied.

Juno lingered as the others filed out. “Lieutenant… you were nervous, weren’t you? This morning?”

Kyra blinked, caught off guard. “What makes you say that?”

“You looked like me on my first day. But you held it together.” He gave a shy grin. “Thanks for that. Makes me think I can too.”

Kyra didn’t know what to say at first. Finally, she answered, “Being nervous isn’t weakness, Ensign. It means you care. Just don’t let it stop you from acting.”

Juno nodded, thoughtful, then left.

Kyra stood alone in the humming quiet of Engineering, hand pressed lightly against the console. All green today. Tomorrow? Who knew.

But for the first time, she believed she could face it.

WE&P by: EZorrillaMc.