The Table Has Arrived

Posted on Tue Nov 17th, 2009 @ 4:47am by Captain Benjamin Byrne & Lieutenant Commander Mark Anderson

Mission: They Arrive on Tuesday...
Location: Observation Lounge
Timeline: MD08, 1304hrs

Ben was standing in the observation lounge, once again looking at the busy space-lanes that surrounded the home planet of the Federation, when his com badge chirped with the call.

"Commander Byrne, Commander Anderson. We are ready to bring in the conference table to the observation lounge."

Ben smiled to himself. Somehow he had always felt that having the empty space in the middle of the room was somehow signifying their lack of purpose and assignment. Having it here would make the Commander feel as if they were getting somewhere, despite the fact that almost everything else on the ship was now in place. "Go ahead," he spoke into his badge, just as Anderson entered the lounge himself to make sure that it was delivered correctly.

The table was too large to carry through the ship - it wouldn't fit in turbolifts, and it would barely fit through the double doors throughout the ship (thankfully, the single-door rooms weren't common enough for large objects to have to be carried through). It would instead be delivered by transporter beam.

A few short seconds after Ben had given the go-ahead, the large, ten-person table materialised in the centre of the room, it's curve matching that of the windows perfectly, with two technicians to ensure that it was placed correctly and interfaced with the ship's computer systems. The chairs would be arriving tomorrow.

As the two technicians left, satisfied, Ben studied the new item of furniture, speaking to his first officer as he did so. "It looks like we're finally getting somewhere," he said.

"Indeed," Mark said, also looking the table over. Like most briefing rooms on larger starships, the conference table was not simply fashioned from metallic and artificial compounds. Instead, it was a blend of artificial and natural materials. To Mark, it signified the important bond between a ship and its crew, the Federation and the wider universe.

Ben walked over to the head of the table and tapped a few controls on the surface there, watching as the holographic display of previous Endeavours melted away to reveal the screen behind it, testing the table's functionality regardless of the fact the technicians had just ensured it worked properly themselves. "I spoke with Admiral Sanchez this morning," he said, glad for the opportunity to speak to his number one now, rather than having to go and find him to tell him later. "We've got two days to finish preparations and launch, and then we need to make our way to Cestus III".

"Something urgent," Mark asked, wondering why the admiral had laid out such a short timeline for completion. Things had been settling into place the last couple of days but to be completely ready in two days would mean some extra work or extra hands.

"He didn't sound urgent," Ben replied, thinking back to his conversation with the Admiral. "I think that the time frame he gave us is probably more to do with the fact that he wants as many of the ships in the fleet to be at the patrol zone as soon as they can. There are maintenance and supply facilities in the Cestus system, so we can leave anything that isn't urgent and we can't get done in two days until we get there, I should think."

He tapped the controls to revert the room's display back to the holographic ships, before pacing to the windows, cupping his chin in his hand as he folded the other arm across his chest. "No, the thing that has me wondering about the conversation is that he didn't specify our mission, even when I asked for it."

"Well, you know command," Mark said, "they like to have their mysteries. I'm sure he'll brief us before we're do set out." Indeed, he had had many such experiences with command. Whether it was for security of information or the simple pleasure in dangling an assignment over an officer, admirals liked to have their own fun.

"The higher up they get, the more mysterious they like to be," Ben agreed. "But normally they drop the act if it's something mundane. Makes me think that our first assignment might have something interesting to it."

Nodding, Mark chuckled a little. "Well, they never said the life of a Starfleet officer would be normal," he pointed out, "With a ship like this, I think that'd be more true."

Ben chuckled. "I suppose so. Anyway, we only have a day and a half left before we need to be ready for launch, so I want you to make sure that everything is as ready as it can be. Assign acting department chiefs for those without for the moment, if we can't pick someone up for the position in two days, we'll have to get them at Cestus III."

"Understood," Mark said, making a note on the large PADD he held in his hand, "There are some who are wondering if there will be a launch party in the Great Barrier Reef. What did you want me to tell them?"

"I'll leave that in your capable hands," Ben smiled. He wasn't one for organising parties, but if his number one was up for it, he thought it would probably help give morale a good start, in their newly-named crew lounge.

"Aye, sir," Mark replied, glancing at the PADD again to see if there was anything else he had to discuss with the commander. He didn't see anything as he scrolled through the information, so he lowered the PADD and looked across the table at where Byrne was. "I suppose I should start cracking the whip then, sir," he said with a slight laugh, "Wouldn't want to be late for our own launch."

"No, we wouldn't," Ben agreed, a smile on his own face. "You'd best get to it then."

--------------
Commander Benjamin Byrne
Commanding Officer
USS Endeavour NCC-86105

&

Lieutenant Commander Mark Anderson
Executive Officer
USS Endeavour NCC-86105