The Launch

Posted on Tuesday, 7 April 2020 - 2:04pm by Commander DeVala Victrix Ph.D & Commander Soral

Mission: Operation: Overdrive
Location: USS Fontana | Main Bridge
Timeline: 2393 - Launch

{ON:}

Soral watched Victrix stroll onto the bridge. This was it. The launch. Soral stood and moved over from the command chair to the XO chair. He tapped his arm panel. "All hands, prepare for launch." He gave a nod of greeting to Victrix.

Walking onto the bridge like she had done for the past several days, Victrix expected the feeling to be as ordinary and routine as it had been. This time; however, it felt completely different. They were preparing for launch which in itself was something she had never experienced herself. Any time she had served aboard a starship before it was already on its way. She was brought aboard via transporter. She approached the command pit and greeted her First Officer with a nod "Commander," she said to him. The look in her eyes did not conceal her nervousness and excitement. "No time like the present" she added.

Victrix took her seat in the Captain's chair and took a deep breath. "Commander, please begin all department reports" she directed. This was it. All the 'pre-flight' information would soon be coming in. Departments would be reporting. Stations would be preparing for departure and standing by. Once that was taken care of, they would request departure from the Fleetyards and clamps would bein to be released.

"Aye, Aye, ma'am." He hit his com button. "Pre-flight check ins to command all departments." he could almost sense the hum of the ship. Soral looked up, "All departments report ready. Engineering and Ops on standby." He looked towards the helm. "Helm prepare for taxi out speed."

The young man at the coms swallowed nervously. "Yes, sir." His hands tapped a few buttons. "Ready sir."

Soral turned to Victrix. "On your mark ma'am."

"Helm, take us out" the woman ordered. She turned to her Vulcan First Officer "Status report on the QSD?" inquired Victrix.

Eyelaya sat at the engineering station on the bridge. "We're ready ma'am slipstream drive is active and at your command!" She called before the XO could. "We're prepared and ready for zooming!" She made a flying motion with her hands.

Victrix tried her best to conceal the small giggle that she was experiencing. There was something about Eyelaya's enthusiasm and the several dozen quirks that either made you like her or made you irritated by her. Victrix liked her well enough. She was best in small doses though. "Glad to hear it. Let's keep the QSD on stand by. I want to get out of here smoothly. We will use the QSD when we are well and clear."

Soral shook his head slightly and then shot to his feet. "Helm. Pull to port" There was a jolt that sent Soral back to his seat and a short scraping sound.

"Ensign, I said smoothly," Victrix said tightening her grip on the armrests of her chair. I may want to restructure the flight control department duty rotations she thought. They had yet to choose a candidate among the flight control officer they had for the Chief Flight Control position. Victrix looked at Soral. Her eyes said it all Take him off this shift.

He gave a subtle nod. Standing he walked over to the young man. "Ensign." The young man looked up feeling defeated. Soral motioned for Eyelaya. "Can you handle her Chief?"

Eyelaya smiled, "Aye sir."

She quickly took the seat. Where the ensign would have moved off Soral snapped his fingers and pointed to a spot near helm. "Watch please." He placed a hand on the Ensign's shoulder. "I once broke a warp nacelle." He took his seat again. "Chief?"

Eyelaya understood. "I've stabilized the thrusters...the safety was on. We're on target now." The ship cleared the station. "Ready for impulse QSD up and ready when we have cleared the system. Two minutes."

Victrix looked at Soral "Commander, I want to hold off on the QSD for the time being. When we are clear of the fleet yards, we will traverse at cruising speed at warp. No better time than now to test out the warp engines and ensure they run properly while we are close to home. I'd hate to slipstream out towards the Camelots location then switch over to traditional warp and experience difficulties. That would leave us stranded in the middle of nowhere if it weren't for the QSD."

"Aye Captain." He turned to Eyelaya. "Stand down QSD."

Eyelaya gave a nod as her hands flew over the consoles. She turned over her shoulder and looked up at Victrix. "Warp ready. On your mark Captain."

Victrix has the last known coordinates for the Camelot. "Helm, Lay in a course for the USS Camelot" she ordered.

"Course laid in ma'am,"

Lieutenant Commander Victrix smiled as she used the control panel between her and Soral to access the ship's internal comm. She opened a general ship-wide channel so that all could hear her from every part of the starship Fontana. "All decks, this is your Captain speaking. I know that you all have been putting in long hours, extra shifts...don't think for a moment that goes unnoticed whether you properly documented those extra shifts or performed them off the record. I've seen how hard some of you have been working, helping the fleet yard engineers with our refit and upgrades. Thank you. Thank you all of you for what you do.

My time aboard with you has no determined date. We have a mission ahead of us as shepherds to find one of our own and bring him back into the fold. We will be searching near and far for Commander Barret Stillwater, and when we find him, you will become his crew. I do not know what my future holds, but I know that I will look back upon this time as a momentous occasion in which I served alongside some extraordinary individuals, a truly remarkable crew. I know that you will continue burning the midnight oil and shining brightly. This is only the begining of your voyages aboard, be proud of yourselves and make Stillwater proud to be your Captain.

We are about to embark on a voyage to the galactic deep south, close to the galactic barrier. There's a lot of unknown out there, but I believe in this crew. When we reach our destination, we will be docking with the USS Camelot. I'll grant ship-wide shore leave when we reach our destination. For now, prepare for us to engage the warp drive. We will be switching over to our quantum slipstream drive in due time" announced Victrix.

She looked over at Soral "Have any closing remarks to the crew, Commander? Maybe one of those cherished Vulcan live long and prospers?"

"Perhaps." He held up his hand. "Live long and do not damage the ship," he dead panned.

Well, that ones is for Eyelaya thought Victrix containing her laughter. She left the man's deadpan delivery speak for itself. "Wait until you hear him at open mic night" added Victrix. "Captain out" she finished, closing the channel.

"Helm, warp factor seven....engage" she said with a gesture of her hand.

"Aye ma'am." Eyelaya engaged the warp engines and the speed switched smoothly to warp. Eyelaya had a way of steering the ship. She locked the controls and stood letting the previous helms man take her place.

Soral stood and walked over. He placed a hand on the Ensign's shoulder. "Easy and slow." He came back to his seat. "I believe humans have an expression in times like these."

"I'll be in my Ready Room" Victrix said swiftly as she stood from her seat. "Commander, the bridge is yours" she added.

He gave a bow. "Aye Captain."