Moving Day

Posted on Fri Oct 9th, 2009 @ 7:00pm by Lieutenant Commander Mark Anderson

Mission: They Arrive on Tuesday...
Location: Shuttlecraft Raleigh, En Route to USS Endeavour
Timeline: MD04, 0820

ON: [[Shuttlecraft Raleigh, En Route to USS Endeavour, MD04, 0820]]

The soft chiming of consoles and the hum of the Raleigh's engines provided comfortable background noise as the shuttle made its way through Earth's solar system. Mark tapped a few commands and checked the shuttle's heading to ensure that they were still on course for Earth.

Originally, they had planned on disembarking the Houston at McKinley Station, but a urgent situation required attention and the Houston was diverted to handle it. That was how they ended up shuttling in from outside Sector 001. Like themselves, the shuttle was supposed to have been dropped off for the Endeavour, so it proved a lucky coincidence.

Mark heard the door to the aft compartment hiss open and turned to see James (NPC), his sixteen year-old son, emerge. The young man had a PADD in hand as he moved to take the co-pilot seat next to his father. He set the PADD to one side and looked up to see them passing the gaseous Neptune. "Almost there," he asked.

"Almost," Mark replied with a smile, giving his son a sideways glance before returning his attention to the helm, "Studying?"

"Just looking over the specs," James answered, referring to the PADD he had been carrying. He'd been trying to learn as much as he could about their new home. Having been aboard the Houston for four years, he'd gotten used to the smaller Intrepid-class starship. Now that his father was being transferred to the Endeavour, he was eager to see the larger Sovereign design in person.

Mark checked the sensors for other traffic. Pausing to look at his son, he asked, "And?"

"It's...nice," James replied. A lame answer, he knew, but what else could he say? He wasn't a little kid anymore so it wasn't like he was wide-eyed with wonder or bouncing around the cockpit. Glancing at the controls in front of him, he tried to remember what each button was for. Flight control was one of the things he had been studying, among his other school work.

Noticing his son's interest in the helm controls, Mark secured the helm controls and got to his feet. James watched his father move away from the helm with some surprise. "Let's see if those lessons have been paying off," he said, nodding to the open seat, "Why don't you give it a shot?"

Hesitantly, James slid over to the pilot's seat and poised his hands just over the console. Meanwhile, Mark took the empty copilot's chair and turned so that he could observe his son. A little nervous, James pointed to one button and said, "That's the...attitude control...right?"

"Yes," Mark replied, nodding approval. James smiled at his small victory and continued to look at the various controls. Mark knew enough not to push the lad, that he would eventually get more comfortable as time went on, but it was slightly amusing to watch.

The young man looked like he was afraid he would get shocked as he began to slowly tap out a sequence of commands. After a few seconds, his nerves began to abate and his movements became less rigid. James was quickly remembering everything from his lessons on the holodeck, which had all been in a type-9 shuttle. The controls were similar enough, there was just more mass to the craft. He heard his father chuckling quietly and looked nervously over his shoulder. "What," he asked, worried that he was doing something wrong.

"Nothing," Mark assured him, stifling the humor of the situation and reaching over to deactivate the autopilot, "Why don't you fly us in for a little while?"

"You mean it," James asked, giving his father a look of surprise. Mark nodded and the young man turned his attention back to the helm. The elder Anderson had to admit that the boy was doing a fine job of flying. He hadn't been there for all James' lessons, but judging from what he'd heard, there was a distinct possibility that he could be piloting starships in five, ten years.

As the Raleigh continued past Saturn and Jupiter, Mark continued to watch James' piloting. "So...did you take a look at those entrance exams yet," he asked, attempting to make light conversation.

"A little," James replied. It was a slight stretch of the truth. The fact was, James had been over the exams half a dozen times since his father had given him the information. At sixteen, he was on the younger side of the applicants, but he had thought about at least attempting the tests remotely. His father had always encouraged him to find his own path in life and James didn't want him thinking that it was only because of him that he wanted to become a Starfleet officer.

"Oh," Mark said, "been talking to Uncle Simon (NPC) again." He was happy the boy had such a good rapport with his uncle. It hadn't been pleasing to learn that Simon had known about James before Mark had, but he had forgiven and moved on. Now, being able to hear two opinions, Mark was sure James would be able to make a well informed decision about his future.

"Yeah," James answered, "He told me that I could get a spot at the Daystrom Institute for culture." While a Starfleet career was what James wanted, he still wasn't sure what field of study he wanted. He always liked stories about other civilizations and he rarely liked to see others fight. Diplomacy was something he found to be fascinating. On the other hand, he liked to fly. It was, no doubt, an inherited trait.

Through the viewport, the blue-green sphere that was Earth was rapidly getting larger. They were close enough to pick up all the general comm traffic that made the space around Earth so hectic. James was starting to get a little nervous with the proximity of so much space traffic. Piloting in open space was one thing, but being buzzed by a civilian transport was enough to unnerve green pilots.

"Want me to take over," Mark asked, watching his son's reaction.

"I'm fine," the boy replied, keeping his hands on the console.

Opening a channel to traffic control for the San Fransisco Yards, Mark announced, "Shuttlecraft Raleigh on approach for USS Endeavour, requesting clearance."

=^= Shuttlecraft Raleigh, you are clear to approach USS Endeavour =^= the controller's voice replied.

As they passed one of the orbital office facilities that served the San Fransisco Yards, a worker bee darted out from the station and buzzed right past the Raleigh. It was a little too close for James' nerves and he nosed the shuttle down to avoid the smaller craft. Only after he had stabalized his course did Mark ask, "Want me to finish?"

"Yeah," James conceded, a little shaken by the close call. He sat back and took a deep breath while his father took over the piloting.

"You did well," Mark said as he brought the shuttle over one of the drydock lattices.

James suddenly forgot about the near miss when the hull of the Endeavour came into clear view. Contrary to his adamant claim that he was not a little kid, his eyes widened at the sight of the sleek starship before them. It's even bigger in real life, he thought to himself. He watched with intense facination as his father maneuvered the shuttle over the saucer and down along the "spine" of the ship.

Slowly, he brought the Raleigh up and around so that he was aiming for the main shuttlebay at the aft of the saucer section. The large bay door was open and he could see cargo containers and shuttles all about. Still, there was an open space available and he was headed straight for it. The small craft slipped through the atmospheric forcefield to touch down with a small jolt on the hangar deck.

"There we go," Mark said, powering down, "Textbook."

OFF

James Anderson (NPC)
XO's Son
USS Endeavour

Played by

Lt. Cmdr. Mark Anderson
Executive Officer
USS Endeavour