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Message #:382
Time to look for the author...***1934: A Time To T'Kil |
SNIP:
It made him chuckle. Perhaps Patriot was the right ship to give him. He thought of himself as a patriot to the cause of Humanity.
The time had come to leave the rustic comforts of the cottage on Chincoteague. Above him somewhere, floated a ship that was both familiar and foreign to him.
It was time.
ON:
The sleek shuttlecraft angled upward towards a moonless sky. Moonrise wouldn't be for another hour. Still, the stars shone bright......but none as bright as the burnished pewter light they were now headed for.
NCC 84777. United Federation of Planets Starship Patriot. Sovereign-class. She was as gorgeous a design as he'd ever seen. Sleek and powerful. The structures of the shipyards surrounding her did nothing to take away from her beauty. In fact, they served to enhance it.
She looked much as he remembered her. Of course, there were a few signs of upgrades here and there, which was the case with most ships as they progressed through their service lives.
It was funny. He'd been through a trip to an alternate universe with this ship, much as he'd been with Challenger. In fact, it was that very trip that had gotten Quentin Mallory to choose him for his sliding project. Now here he was......full circle.
The launch bay was open and waiting. If memory served, most of the crew was still on leave. The ship had been undergoing a refit of late, and wasn't expected to rejoin the active-duty roster just yet. All the better. It would give Jim time to get reacquainted with the old girl.
The launch bay was almost empty, except for a small honour guard of junior officers......the most senior of which piped him aboard. Jim formally took command, then dismissed everyone. Not exactly by the book, but then, when had he ever been????
The memories lay there. He recalled meeting Captain Kaylan Zen in this very bay when he'd arrived aboard to become her Second. He remembered the events surrounding their trip to another universe......his strange condition where he'd nearly gone insane, coming home......the inquest......helping Captain Jessica Knight during the slaver incident that had ultimately cost her command of the Whiteknight.
Funny, how when he'd actually left this ship, he'd rarely thought of her and those times.
As Jim walked towards the door to the bay, he wondered at how soon he'd be meeting with the command crew of the vessel. He wasn't even up to speed on the roster yet.
Outside in the corridor, things were something of a mess, which was typical of a starship on refit. At first, his presence went by unnoticed. It didn't last long. Crew members began to snap up at his presence. He had to force himself not to smile. However, one face in particular did make him smile.
"Joe!!!!!! You old hound dog you!!!!!! What are you doing here????"
Lieutenant Commander Joe Pavao smiled warmly. "Fixing things. It's what I do best. You should know that by now."
The two men gave each other a backslapping bear hug. Two old friends from way back.
Joe stepped back and appraised his old friend. "So......after all the work I did on Endeavour, now you get this ship?? Sheesh!!!!!!"
Jim chuckled. "Just lucky I guess Budski. So......how is the old girl?? It's been years since I served on her."
Pavao grinned. "This one's a firecracker for sure Jimmy. Anichent was always fond of the Galaxies. Me......I liked the Sovereigns best. As for how she is......well......we have alot to do on her still. However......I think you should come see the Bridge."
Hunter grinned. "By all means."
The two men made their way to a 'lift, which carried them upward at a rapid pace......finally slowing as they reached their destination. With a 'whoosh', the doors slipped open before them. Jim stepped out and stared. This wasn't the place he remembered.
Joe clapped him on the back. "Like it??"
Like it......I love it!!!!!!
Hunter walked out into the busy room. It had been completely rebuilt. While the colours and textures were familiar, the design was all new. Gone were the many cubby-like stations that had been a hallmark of this class. In it's place was a classic circular design, with a central command chair. Looking around, he noticed that there was no door for the Ready Room where it had once been near the fore section of the Bridge. He glanced back at Pavao. "No Ready Room??"
Joe shook his head. "There's still one. We just revamped the design. It's at the back, to the left." He pointed to the aft section where the Master Status Display was.
Jim couldn't suppress the smile. "If I didn't know better, I'd say I'd seen this design before."
Joe nodded. "You have. While we kept the controls and such modern, the basic design was taken from the Excelsior-class. With all that's going on, Starfleet Design Bureau felt we needed to simply our design philosophy. With that in mind, we came up with a good, solid, basic design that hopefully will become a standard throughout the 'fleet. Of course, there will be minor differences depending on hard mounting points and such with each ship class......but a basic design will allow for greater flexibility and interchangeability between ship classes, and easier integration for crews. Patriot is the first to use this design. While it mirrors alot of the look and feel of her old Bridge module, we used the solid, basic design of the old Excelsior-class to give her a new look."
He couldn't stop laughing now. "Knowing you and your love of antiques......I figured you'd like it. How fitting that you're getting her."
Hunter nodded. How fitting indeed. Look......they even put in a railing again!!!! I never realized until I served on Endeavour how much I missed Challenger's Bridge railing.
It was a lovely surprise to see this. It wasn't the Bridge he remembered of course......but in this time of new beginnings......it was perfect.
He motioned to Joe to follow him to the Ready Room. "C'mon......we need to talk."
Hunter, Captain James David
Commanding Officer,
NCC-84777, USS Patriot
Pavao, Lieutenant Commander Joseph Emanuel
Yard Master,
Utopia Planitia, Mars
