Time for Shoreleave?

Posted on Mon Jun 28th, 2010 @ 4:23pm by Captain Alexander Gunning & Commander Dietrich Reinhart & Captain Liarra Von & Lieutenant Commander Nilani Prax & Lieutenant Commander Melissa Daniels M.D. & Lieutenant JG Callaigh Roland & Chief Warrant Officer Daniel Maddux

Mission: Welcome to Archa IV
Location: Starbase 332
Timeline: Shoreleave Day 1 - 1800hrs

[OOC: At this point in time we don't know that we're being reassigned to the Starbase and therefore we just think we're getting shoreleave.]

[OOC PS: I've already established in a post on the Endeavour that some of the crew of the base are running a sort of sweepstake on who will be the new station CO. Because we've been out of contact with the fleet during the previous mission, it was between us being the new senior staff and the Utica crew, just to explain that a bit]

[ON]

Bringing a ship out of warp was as simple as stopping something from going 196,663,852 kilometers per second to an almost dead stop, comparatively. In fact, if the ship's "inertial dampeners" quit working at any time for any reason, the entire crew would smash against the front bulkheads. The whole science to faster than light travel was really a stretch of the imagination with some fancy math to back it up. At least, that's all that Dietrich thought of it as he disengaged the warp drive.

Within a microsecond, the Jackal dropped back into sub-light travel, moving at about 10,000 kilometers per second, which was a healthy speed. Taking it for granted, he forgot that he could have, and should have, just died. I need to get a really powerful seatbelt with an airbag, he considered. A quick punch of a button flashed the ship's transponder code to the system, which was a broadcast stating that a friendly Federation vessel has just arrived. "Setting course for Three-Three-Two, sir," the pilot and XO announced.

Dockmaster Onogawa had registered the approach of the small escort on his sensors around twenty minutes before they dropped out of warp. Well, that answers that then, he thought as he tapped his commbadge, "Eerjik, put my latinum on that Gunning character from the Jackal for station CO."

He knew it was bad form to cheat like that but in three days he'd be on his way to Risa to live out the rest of his days gambling, drinking and taking pleasure in the... finer things in life. He really didn't care who passed through the Spacedoors these days. After sixteen years of telling vessels they were clear to dock he was pretty much ready to jack the entire thing in.

Admiral Wellington had arrived aboard the Hurwitz around six hours ago but he had been off duty when the ship had begun its docking procedures and some over-enthusiastic young enlisted man had assigned the vessel a bottom row berth next to a clapped out Excelsior class. It had taken him about two hours to manipulate a new berth for them, closer to the top of the docking ring. When it came down to it, he was willing to admit that it didn't really matter but it was a status thing. The newer the ship and the brassier the ranking officer, the higher the berth.

Nilani smiled, and suppressed a slight laugh as the station came into view. Throughout all her lifetimes, the Stardock class line of stations was ranked amongst the top three achievements she had seen the Federation accomplish, and the sight of such a station always reminded her of Earth Stardock, back in the Sol sector. The thought brought with it a realisation that Nilani herself had yet to visit Earth (one of Prax's favourite locations, considering the amount of time the symbiont had spent there) since the Academy, and she resolved to save some shoreleave up for a trip back there soon.

Liarra sat idly at her station. Being in such close proximity to the starbase meant that her security scans weren't really necessary. Taking a look over at the viewscreen, she was reminded why. No one in their right mind would attack a station like this. Ships of all sizes appeared insignificant compared to the immense size of the Stardock class station. She had no doubt that the tiny Jackal was nothing but a speck compared to this structure. It was certainly a marvel of engineering.

Maddux stood quietly at the back of the bridge, leaning against a bulkhead with his arms crossed. He knew the general consensus among the Jackal's crew was that they were being granted shore leave, but Maddux couldn't help but wonder. Tensions on this end of the galaxy were heating up, and an armed-to-the-teeth escort was one of those vessels that Starfleet would be sure to put to work. It just didn't make sense for the ship to be granted shore leave right now. However, Maddux couldn't really decide why they were here if it wasn't shore leave. Disciplinary action for the Utica crew on board, including himself? Perhaps. Maddux remained in a brooding mood as the starbase grew on the viewscreen.

Lt. Allein was paying no attention to the view outside, eyes trained on her console as she ran a few subtle scans of the station and the ships around it. She had no idea why they were being ordered here, but was optimistic, for once, that it would turn out to be something useful -- like a ship transfer. She didn't expect to read much that was inside the station, but the ships that were milling about in open space were not exactly noteworthy. Oh well, if they were only here for shoreleave at least she would have some time to work through her latest work-up of the Jackal's thruster controls. Running a hand over her still scraggly eyebrows she wondered why the hell she was feeling so optimistic.

Callaigh, on the other hand, was practically glued to the scene unfolding. There were so many things she hoped to take advantage of upon the base. There was shopping to be done, people to meet, maybe even some research to work on. She also intended to find out who headed up the counseling department here. With a stroke or two of luck, maybe a familiar face would be present. The counselor bit back a yelp of excitement, drinking in the presence as they drew closer. Definitely shopping first.

"USS Jackal, this is the Dockmaster. You are clear to dock, please follow the automated guidance protocol which will guide you to your docking berth. Dockmaster, out."

The doors to the Stardock were open already, and the computer handled most of the guidance. It only took minor corrections and an attentive eye to steer the Jackal into port. Station procedures had the Instrument Docking System programmed such that each ship would be uniquely guided into a specific berth (or out of one). The only vessels that would be free to move about (but still under control of the Docking Chief) were workbees and shuttles. An impressive array of vessels lined the berths of SB-332. Sovereign's, Prometheus-class, a Nebula. And one of them ugly Centaur-class. Man that thing looks awful. Dietrich tried to pay more attention to the controls while en-route.

Nilani was struck by the sheer number of ships that were within the enormous station. Though she had seen Earth Stardock externally a number of times before, she had never actually been inside. She stared out at the viewscreen for moments, feeling dwarfed so much by being in such a tiny ship amongst the presence of so much size. Her eye was caught by one starship - possibly the largest inside the station - near the lower edge of the viewscreen's given vision on the current external camera - an immense Sovereign-class ship, attached by at least half a dozen different points to the station's internal structure, and gleaming as though she had just been repainted. Along the dorsal area of the ship's saucer section was stencilled USS Endeavour NCC-86105. The nearest ship to it was a Steamrunner class - this one stencilled with USS Thunderchild - the angle of the camera prevented her from reading the registry number of the ship, but the vessel looked like a toy compared the ship whom served as her current neighbour.

"Just look at that ship," Liarra said excitedly, pointing at the Endeavour. "I've always loved the Sovereign class. Maybe I'll serve on one in another life." More ships came into view as the Jackal maneuvered towards their assigned dock. She could only imagine how difficult it would be to coordinate all the activity of these ships. She did not envy the station's staff, that she was certain.

Now the engineer did look up, eyes scanning the ships before them with the critical eye of someone who knows just a bit too much about how they were designed. In an unusual show of restraint she bit back a comment about her own dislike of the Sovereign class and felt her bottom lip wedged between her teeth. No one could deny that it was an impressive sight and Mara felt the usual rise of excitement that came over her when she came face-to-face with so many ships. If it came down to it, really, being stationed somewhere like this would almost be as interesting as at Utopia with all of these ships in need of repair and upgrade. She pushed that thought away, no point in getting her hopes up. Oh well, she would enjoy the time they had here and maybe the station's engineer would appreciate a little help. It was the most she could hope for, really.

Melissa entered the bridge. Stardock Class Starbases were impressive. Maybe she could find a Manicure shop here on the Promenade. The Medical Center here was large and impressive. She was just glad she wasn't the one running it.

Smiling at the Security officer's remark, Callaigh really couldn't comment one way or another on the organized mess that surrounded them. Ship classes had never really been her thing; she much preferred the living breathing parts of the universe to their achievements.

"What a piece of work is man," came the quiet mutter from the back of the bridge. "How noble in reason, how infinite in faculties..." As his quiet voice trailed off into silence, Maddux's eyes scanned the numerous ships docked in ports that stretched away from the eye in every direction: up, down, left and right. The sight was impressive, even to a jaded man whose eyes had seen too much. His career had rarely seen him on a major starbase such as this.

Maddux's words were enough to draw Callaigh's gaze from the viewscreen to him and the counselor smiled in good humor. "Shakespeare was on to something, too, when he said all the world was a stage," her smile widened a bit, "do you ever wonder how different his works would have been if he'd known what the descendants of his race know now?" Her fingers motioned to the viewscreen in reference.

"I never could figure out what you humans and the Klingons saw in Shakespeare," Liarra mused. "Nicara Tanas, now he was a writer. It was a shame Tanas's other hosts didn't share his talent."

Melissa spoke with a smile, "Angels and ministers of grace defend us! Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damn'd, Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell, Be thy intents wicked or charitable, Thou comest in such a questionable shape That I will speak to thee: I'll call thee Hamlet, King, father, royal Dane: O, answer me!" She responded.

"Alright, Doctor. You win. I'm not going to get into a quoting match with you. Just promise you'll give Nicara Tanas a shot, and I'll reconsider your Shakespeare."

The guidance system flashed on the Helm, signaling it was about to disengage. It was time for Dietrich to take over, and guide the Defiant-class escort into her temporary home. Cutting the engines, Reinhart stabilized the ship's path manually with the chemical thrusters. Slowed to a near stop, he activated the aft side thrusters to rotate, then the forward to compensate. The manuever pivoted the Jackal while still maintaining enough speed to inch forward toward the umbilical. Just like in atmospheric flying: anyone could pilot a ship in open space. Not everyone can land it a starship, or in this case mate it with another starship which was also in motion around a planet also in motion around a sun also in motion around a galaxy. But it was all in a day's pay for the German, who smiled when the Station Docking Clamps attached to the little warship. When the station's power chords were connected to the newly docked starship, he signaled for Engineering to cut it's power. "Docking sequence complete, Captain."

"Okay, everyone. You are relieved. Enjoy some shoreleave. I'll let you know if you're required in due course." The Commander looked around the busy little bridge. "Mister Maddux, don't wander too far off, okay?"

[OFF]

Commander Alex Gunning
Commanding Officer

Lieutenant Commander Dietrich Reinhart
Executive Officer

Lieutenant Liarra Von
Chief Security/Tactical Officer

Lieutenant Allein Mara
Chief Engineering Officer

Lieutenant (JG) Nilani Prax
Chief Science Officer

Lieutenant (JG) Callaigh Roland
Chief Counselor

Lieutenant (JG) Melissa Daniels M.D.
Chief Medical Officer

Master Warrant Officer Daniel Maddux
Intelligence Officer - Currently Unassigned