On the Road Again

Posted on Wed May 29th, 2019 @ 11:55am by Captain Wilkan Targaryen & Galatea & Captain Nathan Bishop & Commander Nathan Hawkins & Commander Sherwin Porter & High Commissioner Jasmine Haynes & Lieutenant Commander T'Lisha "Hawkeye" Bishara & Lieutenant Avir Yavan
Edited on on Thu Jan 2nd, 2020 @ 5:33pm

1,511 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Atlantis
Location: Main Bridge, Starfleet One
Timeline: 2429-12-02, 11:30

Admiral William Teagarden stepped onto the Bridge of Starfleet One and quickly surveyed his surroundings, excited for what was about to come. The former Commanding Officer of Starfleet tugged on his uniform jacket as he watched his crew for a moment, his excitement growing at the prospects of what lay ahead for them. Every time that a new mission began he had this same feeling of eagerness, almost like a child going to school for the very first time, and it had never lessened.

"Admiral on deck!" Lieutenant Avir Yavan called from the Helm.

"As you were," Teagarden ordered as he approached the starboard railing. With a proud smile, "I don't know about the rest of you but as much as I love Earth I love being on the open road even more. Anyone else ready to get underway to our next mission?"

Bishop turned and looked at the Admiral and then rose from the center seat. Hell, he was only keeping it warm while the Admiral was at Starfleet headquarters. "Just say the word Admiral and we'll get this show on the road." He answered with a smile. He wouldn't tell anyone though he suspected Hawkins knew, he hated being at Earth. It reminded him of Catlin and all he'd had lost. Being out exploring allowed him to be an explorer again.

"XO begin departure checklist," he said coming around the railing toward his Captain's Chair in the center. Lieutenant Senak left the Ops Panel next to the Helm to allow the XO to take his position as the Admiral sat.

"Aye sir." Bishop replied crisply as he slid into the seat at the Ops station and began the checklist to get them back out among the stars where they belonged. They were explorers not glorified chauffeurs for the President.

The Chief Medical Officer had stepped away briefly from the machinations of Sickbay and was standing toward the rear of the Bridge. His first time back aboard the Enterprise had been full of emotion: grief, fear, regret, excitement, friendship. Still, it had convinced him that this was indeed the right time for him to join the living again. He tilted his chin up, "Medical is ready, Sir."

William nodded, "Thank you, Doctor." He said glancing up from his chair. He looked at the Engineering stations, "Please bring our Coaxial Drive online and standby for departure. Standby defensive systems and take us to Black Alert."

Jasmine began to check, each deck, and one by one they proceeded to black alert. With a big smile on her face, she called out. "All decks report black alert, Admiral." She was eager to leave Earth, and get out to deep space. Where were they off to next? What adventure awaited for them?

Daeren Iril, Federation Secretary of Defense, watched their departure of Earth from Starfleet One's observation deck. As he was not crew, it wasn't proper for him to be on the ship's bridge unless invited--certainly not during so critical a time as leaving the orbit of a planet whose nearby space was as crowded as Earth's. Trill had a similar amount of traffic. 

Earth was a pretty world--all blue, brown, and swirling clouds that made it look more like some sort of frosted confection hanging in space than anything else. At the moment it took up a good portion of the viewports, but Daeren knew it would soon vanish into the distance, once the coaxial drive--or even impulse power--was enabled. He waited and watched as Starfleet flight control cleared a path for them.

With everyone busying themselves with the ship, Vikki had hoped for some quietness in order to observe their departure; she hadn’t expected the shadow by the observation viewer. Hesitating for a moment, the woman moved to step to their side as her own eyes never left the sight through the glass. “The calm before the storm.”

Daeren heard the faint hiss of the door as it slid open and closed and then the slight unevenness of gait as someone entered. He turned to see who had come in and gave the woman in the blue uniform a brief nod. "So it appears," he agreed, "and a beautiful calm it is, Commander--?"

"Green." The pretty blonde made her way to her station, "Cscio." She took it and began to run some checks. After a few minutes, she looked up. "Science is ready, Admiral." she said in a business-like tone. "All sensors calibrated, we have a full complement of probes if required. Awaiting your orders, sir."

Bishop turned from his console ,"Checklist complete Admiral. We're ready for departure just give the word."

"Very good," Teagarden said from the center seat. He checked the readout on the display, "Bring the Drive to full power."

Lorina turned to Herrera, "Have you seen the coaxial drive before?"

"I've read about them, but never seen them in action, the theory seems simple enough. There's only one way to find out how it works operationally". She entered the commands on the control panel, and the drive hummed into life

"It looks like it's working OK. Now let's see how she operates on full power"

She brought the drive to full power and let her rip.

Already sitting in her chair, just finishing her checks of her systems, "Helm is ready, navigational systems, and deflector are online", T'Lisha stated, without turning around. Then remembering, "Fighter Bay secured and ready for flight on your orders Admiral."

"Lay in a course for the signal. Let's go."

"Course plotted and laid in, engaging one quarter impulse power until clear of station", T'Lisha said as she eased the ship away from her moorings.

Starfleet One separated from the external docking ports of Spacedock, still far too large to dock inside the bay despite the upgrades to the Station's design in recent years. Even at 1/4 Impulse it wouldn't take long to clear Spacedock's airspace. They had one advantage though. With Starfleet One having the Coaxial Warp Drive she wouldn't have to clear the Sol System before engaging the drive. They would just have to be far enough from any other vessel to prevent damage.

"Set Nav Point One," William ordered knowing that it had been cleared for their use. "Standby Coaxial 3," he looked at his Operations Officer, "XO, please ensure Nav Point One is clear."

"Aye sir." Bishop replied crisply as he checked his console, making sure all was as it should be. Satisfied, he turned in his seat and addressed the Admiral. "Nav. Point One is clear Admiral. We can engage the Coaxial Drive."

William stood in front of his chair, crossing his arms as they waited. "Deflectors full," he ordered as the Black Alert Klaxons flashed. "Go."

T'Lisha, didn't need to be told what to do. She eased the ship into the recommended safe speed, and watched the stars zip by almost making her slightly dizzy. "Admiral engines engaged , travelling at recommended safe speed and on course sir", she said.

Carla advanced their sensors to full maximum and wide sweep. Her eyes on the board, she watched for anything unusual in their path.

From his position on the bridge Hawkins observed the crew at work, leaving dock and setting sail for the great unknown always gave him a thrill, the addition to the unique Warp Drive as an extra bonus.

In an instant Starfleet One began to change as the energy of the Coaxial Warp Drive began to influence space itself. As the neutrino envelop surrounded the ship it would look to anyone passing by as if the ship was being covered by the Aurora Borealis. As quickly as it happened they were gone. On the viewscreen the stars whisked by at incredible speeds, the light swirling similar to the effects of travelling through a tunnel in space.

"Pretty exciting to be travelling at 6 light years a minute isn't it?" The Admiral asked absently as the ship manoeuvred. He turned toward Galatea, "Can you put me on a shipwide broadcast?"

Galatea nodded. "Channel open."

"Attention crew this is the Admiral. Starfleet One has been assigned by the President to investigate a distress signal located in uncharted space. Our unique engine means we're the only ship capable of reaching the signal in time, but we're going to be on our own. I need all personnel to be prepared for what we encounter. We will be travelling at Coaxial 3 which means we should arrive a little after 1300 hours. We will remain at Black Alert until we return to normal space so please remain at stations. Teagarden out."

When the channel closed, William looked at his First Officer, "Commander, you have the Bridge. I'll be undertaking a training exercise. Commanders Hawkins and Haynes are with me. If anything happens and you need me give me a call."

"Yes sir." Bishop replied as he vacated his seat at the Ops station and moved to the center seat. "Do have a good time Admiral." A little smile coming to his face.

As the Commanders joined him William smiled, "I'm sure that we will. Carry on."

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