To Work

Posted on Fri Oct 9th, 2009 @ 5:14pm by Captain Benjamin Byrne

Mission: They Arrive on Tuesday...
Location: Shuttlecraft Shackleton - Sol Starsystem
Timeline: MD01 1030 hours

It took another hour and a half at impulse speeds to reach San Francisco Fleet Yards, during which time the Byrnes sat down to have breakfast while the shuttle flew onwards on autopilot. Space traffic was heavily regulated inside the Sol system, to account for the sheer number of ships that visited the Federation's birthplanet daily. Young Jacob spent most of the time (when he wasn't spending it eating) staring out the viewports at the various ships that passed by, or trying to see if he could spot ones that he recognised in the near-distance. Exactly an hour and a half after dropping out of warp, Ben called his son back into the cabin.

"Jake! Come here and have a look at this."

As the young boy stepped through back into the cabin and looked out the forward viewport, he couldn't help but stop a "Wow" escape his lips, just as his father had predicted. For floating ahead, just far enough to still fit whole in the viewports was the Sovereign class starship Endeavour. An impressive vessel by any standards, it was also the longest Federation starship class currently in service, out-stretching even the massive Galaxy class cruisers. Sleek and powerful-looking, the Sovereign was designed to inspire awe and admiration in any who saw her.

"Is that the Endeavour, Dad?" Jacob asked, still gazing out the viewscreen as they neared her.

"Yep. That's our new home." Benjamin was only mildly surprised that the morning had gone by so far without his son insisting he be taken down to the surface. He'd never been to Earth, unlike his parents.

"Shuttlecraft 86105/02, this is San Francisco Yards Flight Control. Please state your destination and passenger load."

Benjamin keyed the comm. system, opening a two way channel with the Yards officer. "San Francisco Yards, this is the Shuttlecraft Shackleton," he always made a point to let officials know of the name of his craft, even though it should be appearing on their screen. Even though they were only shuttles, he hated having to be referred to as a number. "Commander Benjamin Byrne piloting, with my family. Requesting docking permission with USS Endeavour."

There was a momentary pause while the officer checked the credentials. They dealt with dozens of new ship commanders regularly, and the operator was only a flight control officer - he wouldn't instantly know of Benjamin's status.

"Copy that, Shackleton. You are cleared to dock in the main shuttlebay. Commander S'Task will be there to meet you."

Benjamin knew that Lieutenant Commander S'Task had been the project manager during construction of the Endeavour, as well as the commander during the brief run she had to Pluto and back on systems checks. The Vulcan had a reputation amongst those who had met him for being an excellent engineer, who made sure that all malfunctions during construction were seen to immediately, in a by-the-book manner.

"Roger, San Francisco Yards. On approach."

As Ben piloted the shuttle towards the large opening at the back of the saucer section, he heard his wife once again come through from the aft compartment to join him, putting her hand on his shoulder as she watched the ship that was to become her home. They'd been talking about what she could do aboard, now that Jacob was getting to the age where he didn't need her constant attention, and they decided that if enough children came aboard, she would be able to work as a teacher. Benjamin had been used to having children aboard the Antartic, but he wasn't sure how he felt at having a large group of them on his own ship... he was comfortable with the responsibilities of the lives of his officers, but their children was another matter.

As the ship flew through the opening, they watched the blue screen appear as it made contact with the hull - the specially designed force-field made to keep the air in, but allow shuttlecraft and officers in EVA suits to pass through it unhindered. Invisible when left undisturbed, the force-field glowed a brilliant blue as it slid along the length of the shuttle's hull, as Ben piloted the vehicle gently into the bay. Landing it in the centre for the flight control crew to deal with and stow away later, he opened the airlock, and locked down the controls, with Lieutenant Commander S'Task standing immediately infront of the nose of the shuttle, knowing where the commander would logically land the vessel.

"Commander Byrne," the Vulcan began. "I understand it is customary among humans to welcome one onto the ship when it is their first visit. Welcome aboard the USS Endeavour, NCC-86105. I am Lieutenant Commander S'Task. I oversaw construction and testing of the vessel."

"Good to meet you, Commander," Benjamin replied, doing his best to hide his ever-present amusement at Vulcan mannerisms. Indicating his family as they exited behind him, he said, "This is my wife, Sarah, and my son, Jacob." As he said his son's name, Jacob came and stood infront of his father, and Ben rested a hand on each shoulder.

The Vulcan bowed towards each of the Byrne family as they were introduced. "If you will come with me, Commander, I shall give you a tour of the primary facilities," he said, turning and leading the way out of the shuttlebay, Byrnes in tow.

Their first stop was sickbay, which S'Task explained was the primary of the ship's pair of sickbays, the other being located on deck 16. It was an impressively large facility, and its walls and equipment were coloured a glowing white, in contrast to the standard greys and browns throughout other rooms and corridors on the ship.

Next, S'Task took them to main engineering, where he paused momentarily outside the doors before having Benjamin confirm that his family - civilians as they were - were authorised to enter the heart of the ship. The Lieutenant Commander showed them the impressive Class 8 Matter/Anti-Matter Reaction Assembly designed by General Electric especially for the Sovereign class. He explained how Main Engineering on the Sovereign class was the first engineering room designed to make the most use of the Jeffries Tube system, which had previously been under-utilised on other starship classes.

Taking them upwards after their continual descent, S'Task took them next directly to the bridge, once again checking with Benjamin if the two civilians were authorised. With Ben starting to think that the Vulcan might make an even better Security officer than he did Engineer, he listed as the man explained how the Sovereign class bridge was based on the Galaxy class, which had proven to be a very efficient design over the years, and how the Sovereign's standard bridge capsule was rapidly becoming a standard template for most new starships being constructed, including the Luna class.

"I've noticed," Ben said, as the Lieutenant Commander finished his explanation of the main bridge. "There seems to be only minimal crew onboard. Do you know when the rest of the ship's compliment is arriving?"

"Starfleet Command has scheduled for the non-commissioned and junior officers to board the vessel in three phases;" the Vulcan explained. "One each day starting tomorrow at oh-nine-hundred. I understand that you have yet to select the majority of your senior staff, and so they shall begin arriving upon the times you will arrange with their current commanding officers."

Benjamin nodded, but before he could ask his next question, the Commander spoke again. "There are still a number of items still to be installed on the ship, including the conference table in the observation lounge," he indicated with his outstretched arm towards the rear of the bridge, where the lounge was located. "Their arrival times are logged in the stationmaster's report, which should be in your personal files in your ready room."

"Very good, very good," Ben said, rubbing his hands and looking around the bridge, eager to get started. "Was there anything else?"

"No Commander, unless you have anymore questions." It wasn't an invitation really, as the Vulcan felt it logical that after Ben's last question, he wouldn't have anymore for the engineer. "Then I shall transfer the command codes over to you. Computer, transfer all command codes to Commander Benjamin Byrne. Voice authorisation: S'Task-Delta-4."

The computer chirped a response. "Transfer complete. USS Endeavour now under the command of Commander Benjamin Byrne."

With a bow once again towards the three new arrivals, S'Task headed back into the turbolift.

"So, what do you think?" Ben asked his wife and son.

Sarah smiled at the enthusiasm she knew her husband was hiding just beneath the surface. "It's nice. Certainly bigger that the New York."

"A bit empty," Jacob chimed in, looking around the bridge, which had noone else on it except for the three of them.

"It'll soon fill up," Ben said, putting his hand on his son's back affectionately.

"I'll take Jake down to find our quarters," Sarah said, reaching out a hand for her son's. "We'll let you get started on all the important stuff," she smiled at him, knowing that he'd pick up on the silent joke at the end; like making sure the replicator in your ready room works. He'd complained for the first week to the Chief Engineer on the New York, about how when he ordered coffee, the replicator would give him chocolate mice.

Benjamin chuckled. "Alright. They should be on deck 2, the computer can direct you to them." He lent in to give his son a kiss on the head, before giving his wife a kiss as they moved towards the same turbolift S'Task had used a few moments ago. "Right," he said, as the doors closed behind them. "To work."

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

Sarah Byrne (NPC)
Captain's Wife
Played by Cmdr. Byrne

Jacob Bynre (NPC)
Captain's Son
Played by Cmdr. Byrne

&

Lieutenant Commander S'Task (NPC)
Senior Engineer, Project Supervisor: USS Endeavour
San Francisco Fleet Yards
Played by Cmdr. Byrne