Captain Mason sat in his ready room, looking over a display of the ship's
schematics.  He looked up from the display, realizing he had forgotten to
make his log entry.  He tapped his communicator pin, "Captain's Log,
Stardate 52008.4.  Captain Frank Mason commanding.  I have been briefed on
my mission aboard the Equinox.  The ship is still docked at Deep Space 3
pending completion of an upgrade to the deflector and the arrival of a few
more crew members, but we should be underway shortly."  He stopped there,
hearing the indicating beep of an incoming transmission from his computer
display.  He touched the panel, and the ship schematic was replaced by the
image of Rear Admiral Robert Winston.  Mason smiled, "Robert.  I was
wondering when you were going to call.  Congratulations on the promotion."
Winston looked at his uniform, "The uniform feels a little big on me right
now, but I'm sure I'll get used to it.  I just thought I'd say hi to you
before you took my ship out into deep space."  Mason laughed, "She's my
ship now, Robert.  They don't give you that Admiral's uniform for free."
Winston grinned, "I suppose not.  Just bring her back in one piece.  Have
you been briefed on your mission?"  Mason nodded, "Admiral Vonitoff
already briefed me, and I was just reviewing the mission directives.  It
seems like a fairly routine mission, explore the region of space beyond
the Milari system.  As I understand, it's been charted to an extent, but
so far unexplored."  "There's one other thing," Winston picked up a PADD,
looked at it for a moment,then looked back into his viewscreen at Mason,
When you reach the Galana system, Starfleet wants you to be sure to take
some samples of a specific ore on Galana 3. Your Chief Science Officer
has already been given the details.  By the way, have you had a chance to
meet thecrew yet?"  Mason said, "Yes.  There was a reception earlier this
morning.  Most of the crew was there.  They made a good impression."
Winston smiled, "Well, I can't speak for the transfers or the new
recruits, but the ones I left you are good officers. They should serve you
well."  Mason paused, "I hope so."  Winston nodded, "Well, I've taken up
enough of your time.  Good luck on your journeys Captain."  Mason replied,
"Thank you, Admiral."  "Winston out."  The screen went blank.  Mason
touched the panel and the ship schematic came back up.  He stared at the
screen, thinking hard about something he saw there.  Then, he highlighted
a couple of areas and appended some notes to the file.  He once again
touched the panel, then spoke to the computer, "Computer.  Encrypt file.
Encryption code 9, 9, Bravo, 1, 3.  Authorization Mason, Alpha, 8, 3, 7,
Alpha."  The Computer responded, "File encrypted."  Mason sat for a few 
minutes, thinking, then got up from his chair and walked out onto the 
bridge.