Launch!

Posted on Sun Aug 18th, 2019 @ 6:51pm by Commander Curtis Thibideaux & Senior Chief Petty Officer Harriet Hastings & Commander Natan O'Donnaghue & Commander Daynah Ral & Lieutenant Day Smith & Lieutenant Rianna Repatha Thibideaux & Ensign Justin Flynn & Commodore Tyler Malbrooke

2,155 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: New Beginnings
Location: Docking Bay 94 OFHQ
Timeline: NB +13

Curtis looked around Valiant’s bridge, noting each bridge officer was where they were supposed to be at the appointed time. The ship was officially cleared and checks had been done several times.

Power hummed through all of the consoles and the lighting was dim, with the counsels and running lights providing illumination for the crew. There was some chatter and it sounded like the rest were as excited as he was. There was also a hint of nervousness.

But then there was a fine line between excited and nervous.

Curtis grinned as he looked around at the faces of the crew again, then back to his own duties. He was seated at the helmsman’s position, Curtis was really looking forward to piloting the ship out of the star base.

He hadn’t done that before. He triple checked his helm control configuration and checked the chrono. The Captain should be here any moment.

Daynah stepped on the bridge and she could not tell if it was her excitement building or Ral's. All day Ral had been sending messages talking about what it was like for Alaryc to take a ship out for the very first time. You see Daynah had been aboard many starships before, but never at the launch of one. She smiled at two crewmen working at the aft table, then made her way to the forward starboard side of the bridge. This was where the small science station was located. "Computer activate science bridge station. Authorization Ral-Jazra-Pi-112." The computer chimed it's response and activated the station. Immediately a listing of the full compliment of probes was shown as was all the sensor data. A small brief on all the experiments currently running in the lab was there as well. This was all to the Trill's personal settings.

Daynah leaned over to Curtis "Well roomie it looks like we are going to blow this pop stand." She smiled broadly...

Glancing up and toward the Valiant's science officer, he nodded. "Aye aye, miss. It's starting to look that way. And the Val wants to get going. You can feel it in her controls."

Daynah smiled "Well I just wish she would realize that she is going exploring now. The science systems are still sluggish and coming out of the stone age. I guess that is what happens when you take a ship built for combat and re-purpose her. She will get a hold of her new mission sooner or later."

Curtis frowned at that and nodded. "They call it a shake down for a reason. We'll do a level one diagnostic of those systems. It could be the repeater relays from the sensors suites to the main computer and then to the dedicated stations have cracked crystals or need upgrading to match things up. The yard birds will replace systems out, but often don't get to that part of the upgrade. I'm pretty sure we've enough replacements on hand that we can replenish stocks at SB80."

Richelle appeared and took her customary seat, "Computer open engineering console Sorenson Theta Pi 759", and the customary ping alerting that her console was online. "Now my lady Valiant let's see how you are running my love", Richelle said lovingly.

Daynah glanced at the Engineer with a smirk on her face. She always found it funny how Engineers thought of ships as alive.

After everyone had walked on the bridge, Natan decided it was high time to make his appearance. He walked to to the doors to the bridge and they opened for him. He stepped on the bridge and stood a moment looking around. An ensign was standing next to the door and stood at attention and then said, "Captain on the bridge." Natan nodded to him, "Thank you, Ensign."

He then walked to the center chair and took a seat. "Helm, lay in a course to the starbase 80, ops contact to head quarters to release docking clamps."

Richelle picked up the comminique. "Captain I have an incoming communique from the TGCO."

"Put it on screen, Lieutenant," Natan said as he looked to the main screen viewer.

The image of a ruggedly handsome man with brown hair appeared as he sat in the command chair of an Intrepid Class starship. He was surrounded by the rest of his bridge officers, a blonde woman with short hair sat at the helm, a blonde woman with long hair was at the engineering console. At tactical a stern looking man with deep black eyes stood. A woman with shoulder length red hair stood at the Operations console. A Romulan in science teal sat at the science station, and seated to the Captain's left was a man with a long face and typical Irish features. The Captain smirked. "Commander O'Donnaghue a pleasure to see you out here at last."

Natan smiled back. He had his share of captains and admirals in the past. This was the first time he was face to face over subspace with Captain Malbrooke. And of course news travels fast in a Federation of planets and his reputation was already known to him. "Captain, I wish I could say the pleasure is all mine, but unlike you I wasn't in pursuit of this center seat. But we will see how things are going right." He smirked. "So any words of wisdom before we leave and head out in the great unknown?"

"Yeah trust in your crew they know a lot more than you do." Tyler said with a laugh, his crew can be seen smiling in the background. "Commander in all seriousness I would not have given you the ship, if I thought you could not do the job. Starfleet in a way is about faith, I have faith in you, you in turn need to have faith in your crew and your own abilities. Just know this, after you complete a few missions you will come to Empok Nor and give us all a story of what's out there. I will make sure to keep a docking port open for you."

"Thank you for the invitation, captain," Natan said, "I will will hold you to that."

Daynah looked toward the screen and her eyes widened for a second. The stories of Captain Malbrooke and the Pioneer were already making their way through the fleet. She heard a lot of them first hand from her brother who was serving aboard that ship. She had not realized that they would be serving under Malbrooke.

In her mind, Rianna thought, 'Who in the name of Kahless is that?' She was curious about this new ship and what it would mean for her lady, Valiant.

Curtis mentally sighed and tended to business. "Yard reads all mooring beams and docking clamps singled up." A secondary window popped up to display he docking bay doors opening at the far end. Beyond the forcefield that had flickered to life seconds ago, was open space.

"Captain, I can feel the beckoning of open space calling to us. Time to put my lady, Valiant through her paces", Rianna said smiling.

The XO punched up preset navigation information, fed it into the active ship's mode and began cycling through helm controls when a light began flashing on his panel and he touched the earbud he was wearing. He listened for a moment, then half turned to look at Natan, "Captain, we have a flash hold from docking control. Apparently there's last minute crew persons arriving? Transferring data to your monitor."

Curtis touched a control and said, "Confirmed, Control. Valiant is holding until further orders."

Justin walked through the Airlock, bag in hand and touched his Combadge "Ensign Flynn to Bridge, permission to come aboard"

A stoutly built woman with dark hair and eyes wearing a Senior Chief Petty Officer's insignia arrived at the lock. "Right. They're busy, both of you give me your dunnage and report to the bridge." She held out a hand for their bags with an expectant look.

"Thank you Chief," Day immediately handed the bag over and stepped past the CPO and Ensign. She turned her head to make sure she didn't show the greyness of the bruise on her cheek. The class' design was simple, elegant, small. She knew there was a lot of power distribution issues, especially during firefights, but she had been excited about the opportunity to actually work on those issues up close.

"Thanks Chief" Justin Said, Slightly sheepishly as he hurried past the CPO towards the Turbolift.

Natan looked around the bridge. "Well, Captain, it was nice talking to you, but we better get going. See you out there, sir." He said. He nodded to his chief engineer. As the image of captain Malbrooke disappeared. "Lieutenant," He looked over to his chief engineer, "Are we clear to disembark?"

Tyler smiled broadly before the channel went dead. "We are Starfleet... Pioneer out"

"The last of our late personnel are aboard and OPS is on her way to the bridge. Docking clamps are disengaged and we are clear to disembark", Rianna replied.

"All labs are secure for departure. Sensors are at station keeping. She's ready to see what's out there sir." Daynah's soft voice said as she turned toward the center seat. The excitement had been building up in her for sometime and she can feel Ral projecting Alaryc inside her. Telling her to make sure Natan did certain things. Daynah ignored these impulses, such was the life of a joined Trill.

It was only a short ride up to the Valiant's bridge. Day stepped out of the small capsule and onto the main bridge. There were plenty of people there already and some of them turned to greet the new additions to the crew, "Lieutenant Day Smith, reporting for duty, sir." She stood at the most rigid attention a humanoid could muster, arms tight next to her body, chin slightly lifted, awaiting the call from the CO.

"Ok, very good Lieutenant," Natan said, "Take your station!" He then looked around the bridge. And then said, "Well, I should probably say something profound now. This will be our first ride together as this crew." He was silent a moment, as he looked to each of the faces.

Daynah noticed the new arrivals and smiled as she leaned over to Curtis again. "That is not the best of impressions to make. To hold up the ship's launch because you were late."

Curtis nodded agreement as he viewed the new officers, "Fashionably late only applies when there's a bar present. But, it was easier than sending a shuttle after us while we were still in dock, I suppose. We're not in a departure pattern yet. I do know who's buying the first round when we hit port again, though," he smiled.

Rianna watched the new officer and her mind told her that holding up a ship was not the best way to impress the captain. Definately not good.

Daynah chuckled, "I like my whiskey as straight as an arrow" She smirked, "Now I think it might be time to get this show on the road."

He took a deep breath. "This will be my first ride as commanding officer. This is my first command. They say your first command is always your most memorable. So, I think we should make some good memories. I haven't met you all personally yet, but I will try to do that in the journey ahead. But I have a feeling you all will do great." He straightened his back. "Helm, let's get out of here."

Curtis touched the controls in front of him and nodded. "Aye, Captain." He contacted the Base control and ahead of the Valiant, a set of large doors...the entire hull plating slid apart. He sat his hand son the controls and brought thrusters up as mooring beams flash out and caught ahold of the Valiant's hull and began tractoring her form the docking bay.

Slowly, the ship emerged from the bases hull and a few beats later, Curtis stated. "Yard reads clear." The mooring beams winked out and he acknowledged, "Mooring beams clear. We are under local control." His hands brushed over the controls and Valiant's drive and thrusters flared, moving her away from the base and into the station's pattern where the ship's impulse drive kicked in and as clearance came in, the station fell rapidly behind her.

"We're clear of the pattern, Captain. Ship reads ready for Warp," the Executive officer stated, glancing over his shoulder toward the Captain.

Natan looked a moment as his arm rest. "Commander, warp 8, head for starbase 80. Let's go!" A smile formed on his face when he gave the order.

Curtis touched a control and the star field left as the USS Valiant entered warp. She climbed steadily for a few minutes as he increased power until, "Warp factor 8 Captain. All the boards are green. We have a ship!"

 

RSS Feed