A Journey Begins

Posted on Mon May 31st, 2021 @ 4:04pm by Captain Temperance Harding

Mission: Mission 0: Have Wings, Will Fly
Location: Starbase 48, Cestus III

ON

The Starbase concourse was busier than she had expected. Arrival at the Station had been a blessed end to an unpleasant journey. Taking a Supply runner from Earth to the Starbase had been an excruciating thirty-five days at Warp 8. Why, in the name of hell she couldn't have been given a closer command was beyond her. If she ever found the Admin weenie who had come up with the idea, she would like to slap them.

Putting that aside for the moment, Temperance focused on what was ahead of her. A new ship. Her own Command. Making her way through the main concourse, Temperance headed for the Starship docking pylons. There were a large number of Starships in dock, either rotating crew, undergoing a resupply, or - like hers - having a refit. The main directory in the computer had given her the location, and it was just a matter of finding it.

The giant, floor-to-ceiling bay windows allowed a view of the interior docking area. The massive ships could only be seen in snippets. The reinforced transparent material that made up the windows were broken by support beams. Intermittent lights on the ships showed the limited activity. Slowing her pace, Temperance took the time to admire the ships as she walked past. Each one a vessel of the 11th Fleet.

The Fleet was operating int the southern region of Federation space. Thus Cestus III was chosen as the location for the central command structure. Pausing for a moment, Temperance watched a workbee take a circuitous route around an Akira's saucer. Her elevated cross-strut doubled as a rear roll-bar. A class she had almost expected for herself. A far cry from the Nebula that she had, in fact, been given. A fact that kept surprising her, even now.

Continuing on, Temperance tilted her head as the dock-side entrance to the umbilical passage came into view. That was odd. Four uniformed individuals were stood at the entrance, not merely waiting. Their stance was too rigid for that. No, they were guarding the entrance to her ship. That was not something she had been expecting. A small furrow creased her brow, as the minute scar lines around her eye socket resisted the shift.

Coming to the group, Temperance saw they were, in fact, Marines. Green undershirt, all enlisted, with varying grades of rate. A quick scan and she selected the senior-most of the group. "Good morning, Gunnery Sergeant."

"Commander." The man gave her a nod. "My apologies, ma'am, but the ship is off-limits to all but crew and assigned work-teams." He indicated a small terminal beside the security post. An identity scanner. Can't have just anyone wondering around while a refit and pod transfer is under way."

She supposed that made some sense. Stepping up to the terminal, Temperance set her hand, palm open on the screen, and watched as her scan results came up, and then the top sheet of her profile. Name, rank, serial code, and current assignment. Moving aside, she let the Gunny take a look, and watched as he rendered a snap salute. "My apologies, Commander. You are cleared to enter. I believe the OOD is Lieutenant Faran. Flight leader."

An etebrow arched at that. Flight leader? Were the Squadron pilots already coming aboard? With a wave to the ther Marines, Temperance set off along the passage. Narrow - maybe 15 feet across, it extended out from the interior super structure like antennae, ending in an airlock, and docking clamp. It took a couple of minutes to reach the end, where the airlock doors parted, and then the starship airlock opened.

Seconds later, Temperance Harding was standing on the deck of her ship. The deck beneath her feet. The walls, the ceiling. Her command. Officially. No observation officer. No teacher. No reports to Starfleet grading her performance. She was listed as Commanding Officer. It was enough for her to take a moment. Take a slow breath, and let it out just as slowly.

Heading for the nearest turbolift, Temperance called for the Bridge. It was finally time to get settled, to take her place, and get started with the next chapter of her life. A few moments passed, and the doors opened with a soft hiss. She stepped out, onto the aft portion of the Bridge. The arched rail separated the upper and lower portions of the Bridge. As she took a moment to take in the view, a figure rose from the centre chair and turned to look. "Ah, Commander Harding I presume?"

"Yes. Lieutenant Faran?" The navy blue department identified her as a Starpilot. Temperance crossed the Bridge, coming down to the lower potion, coming to a stop in the center.

"Aye, ma'am. Faran Essa. Flight Leader. I currently hold the Duty, as we are working at a skeleton crew. The Pod is still being installed, but personnel are steadily coming aboard."

Temperance gave a small nod. "Very well, Lieutenant. Thank you for the status report. You have the Duty. If anyone needs me, I'll be in the Ready Room." She hadn't yet thought to refer to it as 'her' Ready Room.

"Yes, ma'am." Lieutenant Faran came to attention.

With that, Temperance turned to the office adjacent to the Bridge, and stepped inside.

OFF