Starting a new chapter...

Posted on Wednesday, 18 March 2020 - 10:53am by Lieutenant Raith Kolani

Mission: Operation: Overdrive
Location: Runabout en route to Taurus Shipyards
Timeline: Previous to arriving on board the USS Fontana

Raith picked up his freshly replicated Ginger Beer from the pad and walked over to join Ensign Krail at the controls. Having received his new orders from Starfleet re-assigning him to the USS Fontana, Raith had found out that the Runabout Great Ouse was due for refit at the Taurus Shipyards and had managed to get Captain Rhae to secure his passage on board with Ensign Salek Krail from DS12.

The trip had so far been uneventful, although the Ensign had been full of questions, to begin with. With his time in Starfleet so far spent during what some would call rocky peacetime, Raith was happy to respond to the young officer's enquiries. It made a nice change from some of the trips he'd had to make all by himself...and some of those were some damn long trips.

Raith took the co-pilot seat, having taken a turn earlier in the trip at piloting the Thames whilst the good Ensign took a rest break. With his drink secure, Raith updated the PADD that he was working on during the trip.

"So, as we've been on this journey for the last several hours, can I ask what it is your working on, sir?" asked the unjoined Trill officer. Raith smiled as he put the PADD down for a second.

"Ah, that's simple, this is my to-do list for once I'm on board the Fontana," he explained. "Captain Rhae was able to pull a few strings and was kind enough to provide me with a report of where the Fontana is with her refit so far. This way I can arrive and be prepared to get to work as soon as possible."

Salek smiled as he took Raith's answer. "A Senior officer that's prepared before he arrives at his next assignment, imagine that," he answered in mock surprise. "It's not often you find many of those in the fleet."

Raith took a sip of the fizzing Ginger Beer. It felt good to have a sip of his favourite drink again, something he saved for only special occasions or for times of relaxation. "You know, some of us Senior officers try to be organised, especially the ones from both Operations and Engineering, seeing as we have such amazing reputations ahead of us already."

Raith put the PADD down and looked over the console. "How far away are we?" he asked, resisting the urge to ask "Are we there yet?" to his colleague.

Krail looked down at the console and smiled. "We're about several minutes away now, I'm just about to contact the shipyards to let them know we're en route to our final destination," he reported. Opening hailing frequencies, Krail made contact with the Shipyards Operations team. "This is the Federation Runabout Great Ouse calling Taurus Shipyard Operations, please come in," he requested.

Raith nodded as their message was received and they received a response back. "This is Commander McGregor, Great Ouse, go ahead."

"This is Ensign Krail from DS12, transporting the new Chief Operations Officer to the Fontana and to bring the Great Ouse in for its scheduled refit, awaiting instructions, " Krail answered. Raith nodded quietly to himself at the efficiency of the young officer, making sure that all of the boxes were ticked.

"Ah, good, you're ahead of schedule Ensign, we weren't expecting you for another hour or so, you've made good time. I have Lieutenant Kolani expected on the Fontana. I'll notify them of your arrival. Go ahead and drop him off first and then bring the Great Ouse to the Shipyard Station, docking bay 34. We can handle things from there." Krail typed in a course correction for the Fontana and moved the Runabout to a new course.

"Understood Commander, Great Ouse, out," he answered before looking at Raith. "So, the Fontana? you never mentioned it was one of the new Federation Starships you were joining... I thought you were headed for another Vesta class starship, sir," he responded kindly.

Raith fought back a smile. "Careful Ensign, you might not make it to Lieutenant," he mocked. "I've served on two different Vesta Classes before and I fancied a change, what with all of the sweeping changes in the fleet and with all the newer classes being sent out into the black." He updated his PADD with another job before taking another sip of ginger beer and enjoying its moreish taste.

"What class is she, may I ask?" Krail asked and when Raith looked up, he could see a giddy schoolboy look in the unjoined Trill officers eyes. He admired that look, several years ago, Raith would have had the same look as well.

"The Fontana? She's one of the newer Merian Class Starships that the fleet is employing as they expand their exploration types in the fleet once more," he explained.

"The fleet expanding for exploration? I thought that they were consolidating the fleet in its current state," Salek responded, noting that the Fontana was coming up on their starboard side. "Here she is."

Krail guided the Runabout on its delicate course between the various docks to find the drydock that the Fontana was located in and set a course for one of the shuttle bays. As they approached, Raith opened a channel.

"Fontana, this is the Runabout Great Ouse on approach, carrying Lt. Kolani for drop off, please acknowledge," he requested. A Few moments later, he received an answer back from the Operations Officer, an Ensign Thal.

"Go ahead Great Ouse, this is Fontana Operations, your cleared for landing in shuttle bay two," he responded. Raith smiled as he sat back in his seat and finished his drink. He admired the view as Krail steered the Runabout to its destination.

"She's a beauty, an absolute chariot to the stars, don't you think?" Raith asked his colleague. Krail smiled before answering.

"Oh I don't know, I prefer the Luna Class and Vesta Class myself... If I get re-assigned from DS12 anytime soon, I'd love to serve on one of those ships first....you know, the newer feel and all that," he answered. "We're coming in to land sir."

Raith sat tight as the Ensign brought them on and put the Runabout on the deck with a smooth landing. Raith got up from his seat and went to collect his bags from the aft section. Once he came back through, he put on the deck before heading over to the Ensign. "Well, never miss the chance to serve on a classic or a new starship... Thank for the lift, Ensign, its much appreciated," he said, shaking hands with him.

"It's my pleasure to play chauffeur, sir, always happy to help out a fellow officer and get off the station every now and then," Krail responded. He sat back down in the pilot's seat as Raith disembarked and left the Runabout. He headed across the shuttle deck and headed for the nearest turbolift, already sensing a level of calm and that homely feeling.

Once he entered the turbolift and called for his deck, Raith stood for a moment with both of his bags around wondering how he had accumulated so little to bring with him for his new assignment. Hearing his PADD beep for attention, Raith made his way out of the turbolift and headed for his quarters. Once inside he set down his bags and pulled out his PADD.

With the refit report complete on the PADD, Raith ordered a drink from the replicator in his quarters and started reading up on the reports he had been sent by Rhae, knowing that soon he would need to check in with the Chief Medical Officer and then met with Lieutenant Commander Victrix. He also made a note to take an unguided tour of the ship to make himself familiar with his new home.

Interesting times were ahead...

 

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