[USS Vanguard] shakedown
- From: "Soman Drath" <karma_tsunami@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: ncv80221@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 25 Jan 2003 16:58:41 -0500
From Christopher Jackson
Soman Drath
Following recent posts.
[Future]
Snip:
?Ensign, set course for the Merlin system, maximum warp. And open a
channel to Captain Soman Drath of the USS Marathon.?
Santos knew it was his imagination, but he knew the Vanguard, and he
could almost feel her turn and accelerate to warp, wrapping space-time
in a pinprick of light.
?Yes, sir, but that may take a moment. USS Marathon is under a heavy
communications blanket.?
?Keep trying. I?m on my way to the bridge now.?
Santos exited his quarters.
End snip.
Soman: Nic! Good to hear from you. Your timing couldn?t be better?
Santos: You might not think so when I tell you this. I?ve got to ask you to
postpone your mission to the Delta Quadrant for a short while.
Soman mulled over the Admiral?s words for half a second. His disappointment
was instantly overshadowed by his concern and curiosity.
Soman: Challis, transfer the Admiral to my ready room.
Challis complied and the holo image of Dominique Santos vanished from the
bridge. As Soman arose from the center seat, his first officer entered the
bridge.
Soman: Number 1, you have the bridge. I?ll be in my ready room.
#1: Is there anything wrong, sir?
Soman stared back into the intent eyes of his first officer.
Soman: Looks like there may be a change in our itinerary, Echeb. You have the
bridge. Continue preparations for launch.
Soman entered his ready room. As he walked towards his Bajoran Jeffa wood
desk, his eyes fell on two objects in his office: the wells class model that
stood on a table in the far corner, and the picture of the crew of the Vanguard
at the end of their seven year journey. Soman sat and cued the COM link.
Soman: Alright Nick. I know whatever is going on must be serious if you?re
calling to cancel this mission.
Santos: Postpone Captain. I hope to have this whole thing resolved in a few
days. I can?t give you too many details over channels, but I need you and the
Marathon to rendezvous with me in the Merlin system as soon as possible. I?ll
relay further information to you in person.
Soman leaned back in his chair. He knew that nothing else had to be accessed
on the matter, right now. His trust in Santos had not wavered in 15 years.
Soman: It?ll be good to see Vanguard again. I don?t think I?ve ever met my
replacement as first officer.
Santos: I think you?d like Aral. Oh, and for the record he didn?t replace you;
he only succeeded you. Speaking of first officers. . .
Soman grimaced. He knew what was coming and had to own up to it.
Soman: Alright, I owe you a dinner at the Heights, the next time we?re on
Earth. Echeb is just like I was when I was you?re first officer. There, I?ve
said it.
Soman meant every word. He considered himself fortunate that Admiral Janeway
had recommended him for Soman?s first officer. From the moment Echeb had
entered Starfleet service, his time on Voyager not withstanding, his service to
Starfleet and indeed, to the Federations has nothing short of superb.
Santos: I told you. We?ll talk more when you arrive, Drath. I?ll see you at
Merlin.
The link cut and Soman?s amused smile vanished, replaced by silent
contemplation. He moved back onto the bridge where his officers looked
intently for an answer as to why their mission was being put off.
Soman: Ana, set a course for the Merlin system.
Echeb: Merlin is almost on the other side of Federation space. Did the Admiral
say why our mission has been postponed?
Soman: He said we?d find out when we got to Merlin. I?m as in the dark about
this as the rest of you.
Challis: Sorry, Captain, but I?ve got more news. A special communications came
in while you were on with Admiral Santos, from TID. We have to pick up a
passenger from Utopia Planitia on our way to Merlin.
Soman walked over to Challis? console and read the message.
Soman: Hm, Mr. Darkwater. I haven?t seen him since the last Vanguard reunion.
Out of the corner of his eye, Soman saw Ana Leonov flinch at the mention of
Darkwater?s name.
Soman: Number 1, looks like we?ll be setting some speed records today. Ana,
set course for the Sol system, Utopia Planitia Fleet yards. Launch status?
Echeb: Status is go. Dockmaster says we are clear.
Soman: Wave port gates. Thrusters at station keeping. Stand by, impulse
engines.
Settling into his seat, Soman couldn?t help the smile forming on his face.
Soman: Ms. Leonov, one quarter impulse power. Take us out.
With that, Marathon came to life and moved purposefully away from dock and
soon, out into space
Ana: Preparing for trans/fold warp. All sections reporting green.
Soman: Mr. Stratford, last chance to come to the bridge.
=/\= Alvon, I have a good seat down here, sir.
Soman could hear the smile in Alvon?s voice; just another of the miracles on
Marathon.
Soman: Fair enough. Alright, Ms Leonov, Engage.
Marathon?s warp nacelles flared and she shot off into the distant stars, adding
her own flash to the group of pinpoint lights. Shortly there after, the true
magic of the trans/fold system began. Trans/folding had been possible 20 years
ago. The problem in application was the enormous quantum oscillation that
threatened bio-cellular disruption in the process. Through the study of the
Zytherian knowledge, a way was found to counter this. Alvon Stratford
developed a inverse harmonic resonator to counter the oscillation effect. That
coupled with the fact that the oscillation effect is decreased in warp have
helped to make trans/fold drive a viable reality. Because of this, the trip
from Touchstone to Earth, which normally would take several weeks, will take
just 2 minutes.
In a perfect universe, the trip would have gone off without a hitch. As with
any new ship, there are always bugs to be worked out.
=/\= Challis: Deck 9 reports failure in it gravity field generators, Deck 12,
section 3 has lost power completely, and Alvon?s reporting a stress fracture in
the quantum core.
Soman: Never rains.
Echeb: Could be worse. We could be stranded 70,000 light-years from home.
Soman: You?ve been waiting to use that one, haven?t you?
Echeb smirked and rolled his eyes, innocently.
Soman: Alright, you check out deck 12. I?m heading to engineering. Challis,
you have the bridge. Signal Utopia Planitia on our arrival and status, and let
me know their reaction when you tell them where we've just come from. For a
shakedown, I have to say, you all did an excellent job.
With that, Soman left the bridge heading to engineering. No problems with the
actual drive, itself. Marathon was working out, fairly nicely.
Snip:
?Captain Darkwater, this is Lieutenant Challis of the USS Marathon.
I?ll apologise for making this short, we?re a little busy here right now. What
can I do for you??
?I need to speak with Captain Drath, if that?s possible??
?I?m afraid the Captain?s very busy. I?m the duty bridge officer,
I?m afraid you?ll have to go through me for now.? It wasn?t officious,
but the obviously hurried tone told him they truly were working hard.
?I have orders from Admiral Torensen at Temporal Affairs to come
aboard, and liaise with Captain Drath on an imminent situation.?
He downloaded the orders, and waited for them to be approved.
?Confirming your orders now, sir.? The Lieutenant answered, hesitantly.
It was some time ? presumably involving checks with StarFleet Security
? but finally he was granted permission, and beamed aboard.
?Sir, welcome to the USS Marathon.? Challis, it seemed, had come
down to meet him personally. ?I?m afraid the Captain is still busy,
I could ask him to break off if it?s vital??
?I can speak with the Captain after the launch, so long as he is
made aware that I?ve come aboard. I?m sure he?ll find a moment at some point.?
?Can I show you to the Guest Quarters, Captain??
?I?d rather see Lieutenant Leonov, actually.? He replied, which startled her
slightly.
End snip:
Alvon looked over his boards, a grim look on his face.
Soman: so what?s the verdict?
Alvon: There was a .003 overlap between the oscillation and the harmonic
resonator that didn?t show up during final calibration. It?s my fault.
Soman: No,no. You know as well as I do that a starship has to be tamed after
it leaves the barn. How long will it take to correct?
Alvon: Already done.
Soman: Really?!
Alvon: of course. You know that any ship with 3 former Borg onboard has got to
be efficient.
Soman knew that Alvon was okay with that remark. It had been a long road, but
Alvon had recovered his individuality and built on it.
Soman: excellent. =/\= Soman to Leonov, as soon as all sections report in, set
course for the Merlin system and engage.
Leonov =/\=: Aye sir.
TBC.
OOC: this is more of a connecting post. The Marathon hadn't left Touchstone
station by Keiran's post. [sweet post BTW] This post, hopefully squares away
any immediate points of confusion.
---
Kirk: Spock, where the hell is that power you promised me?
Spock: One damn minute Admiral.
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