Best Speed

Posted on Fri Nov 27th, 2009 @ 10:56pm by Captain Benjamin Byrne & Lieutenant Commander Mark Anderson & Lieutenant Chihiro Ogino MD & Lieutenant JG David Solomon & Lieutenant JG Charlie Hamilton

Mission: They Arrive on Tuesday...
Location: USS Endeavour - Bridge
Timeline: MD10 1200hrs

Ben strode at a brisk pace - his confidence in knowing his way around the ship by now clearly evident - through the side access door onto the bridge. "Everyone report in," he said, as he made his way to stand infront of the centre chair.

"Helm reports ready sir, spacedock still has full control." Dave said, taking a deep breath, "Standing by for transfer of control."

In the security department, Karadis heard the order for all departments to check in. Risingfrom her seat, she poked her head around Charlies door and said "Bridge wants all departments to check in now prior to departure Sir."

"There is an intercom you know" Charlie said.

"But don't you find it endearing that I choose to bother you by telling you here" Karadis smiled disarmingly.

Charlie pretended to pick up and PADD and throw it at her "Get away with you and get on with bothering someone else."

Karadis disappeared back to her desk, and Charlie hit the COMM button on his console =/= Hamilton to bridge, Security at departure stations, out.=/=

=A= Sickbay to Bridge, we're all ready, all staff and supplies now aboard =A= Chihiro reported from the sickbay down in the saucer section.

"Very good," Ben said, as he lowered himself into his chair, hands holding the edges of the armrests. "Number One, notify Yard Control that we're preparing to leave spacedock."

Seated to the commander's right, Mark laid a hand on his console and tapped in a quick series of commands. With the channel to yard control open, he said, "Yard control, this is Endeavour. Requesting permission to depart."

=^= Permission granted, Endeavour =^= the cool voice of the dockmaster replied =^= You are cleared for departure. Congratulations and Godspeed! =^=

"Yard control reports we are cleared for departure, commander," Mark reported, "all departments report departure stations." He glanced toward the man in the center chair, a small smile playing across his lips as he allowed the thrill of the impending launch to wash over him. No matter how many times one was present for a starship launch, it never got old.

Ben took some time to savour the moment before giving the order. "Mister Solomon. Thrusters full ahead. Take us out."

"Aye sir." Dave said with a bit of a smile, it had been awhile since he piloted a ship out of spacedock.

As the form of the USS Endeavour came to life, she slowly slid out from within the grasping arms of the dry dock structure, her 685 metres of length smoothly passing the most forward part of the docks metre by metre. Within the dry docks' habitable areas, various crewmen, officers and civilians watched through clear windows as the Sovereign class starship moved past, until finally, she was free and in open space.

"Bring impulse engines online," Ben said, grinning despite himself.

"Lay in a course for Cestus III, Mister Solomon," Mark ordered, tearing his eyes away from the viewscreen to check the readout on his console, "Warp 8."

"Aye sir, setting course." Dave said as he pressed the panel, bringing the ship's engines to life, "Warp 1.." Dave said, counting up as the ship moved faster, "Warp 3... Warp 4... Warp 5... Warp 6... Warp 7...", he paused for a moment, "Warp 8.." he breathed.

Benjamin felt a great sense of excitement build in him as the warp speed was announced. It had been some time since he had commanded a newly constructed ship out of spacedock, and never had he commanded something as powerful as the ship in whose seat he sat. He took some time to simply savour the moment, and the emotions he had flowing through him, before issuing the next order.

"We have a long journey ahead of us," he said, speaking on the ship intercom. "Two hundred lightyears is not a journey that most starships would undertake as their first - and we're just going to the parking lot. It will take us three weeks to reach Cestus III at best speed, and that doesn't count the cool-down time we will need to keep our systems from overloading. I expect everyone to use this time wisely. Get your departments in order. Get your staff in order. I want this ship ready to receive nothing but the best results from a brass inspection by the time we arrive." Benjamin looked around at the officers on the bridge, gauging their reactions to what he had said so far.

"We will not be receiving our orders until we reach Cestus III, so I want everyone to be prepared for any kind of mission profile," he paused, having finished his speech, and realising that at some point, he had stood and started to pace around a little as he talked. "Mister Solomon. Increase speed to Warp 9.7, and hold for 12 hours."

"Aye sir, increasing to warp 9.7." Dave breathed, as though a large weight had been lifted from his shoulders, he punched in the command on the controls.

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

Lieutenant Commander Mark Anderson
Executive Officer
USS Endeavour NCC-86105

Lieutenant Chihiro Ogino
Chief Medical Officer
USS Endeavour NCC-86105

Lieutenant JG David Solomon
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Endeavour NCC-86105

&

Lieutenant JG Charlie Hamilton
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Endeavour NCC-86105