"I hope so." Jim used to think that he deserved such a position, an arrogant assumption that he belonged in the captain's chair regardless of his lack of experience or precedence. He knows better, now. Knows he has to earn it, every day, to be worthy of his crew. And this time, he feels he's up to that challenge. Proud to do it, even. "A captain is only as good as his crew, and mine's the best there is."

His nervousness has all but melted away, lost in the confidence he's regained in his crew, his mission. It's easy to forget how worried he was about tonight, seeing that fond look in Hunter's eye.

And the food is good, which helps a lot. Jim digs into his meal, familiar Andorian vegetables pairing well with the classic Italian seasonings, and he makes sure to slip a bite-size sample of the kookh alla parmigiana onto Hunter's plate, casual and easy.