Starship Grenada – “Against the Tide”
A tale from the 11th Fleet Universe
(Special thanks to Gibraltar for the use of Donald Sandhurst in a cameo appearance.)
Introduction
The USS Grenada (NCC-11861) is a Constitution II–class (Block 3) starship originally built as the USS Hornet in 2286. Constructed as a heavy cruiser/explorer, she served faithfully in that capacity until shunted aside by the larger, faster Excelsior-class ships and the cheaper to build Mirandas. Thus, in 2317, the Hornet was decommissioned, her anti-matter removed and her name was stricken from the list of active Starfleet vessels. She was encased in durapolymers and left to drift, forgotten and alone, in the boneyards of Klaamet IV.
But not everyone forgot her. In 2328, Vice-Admiral Jaiden Nurr, formerly Chief Flight Control Officer of the Hornet, ordered the reactivation of five decommissioned ships, including the old Connie. An urgent need for hospital ships and supply vessels had arisen due to an outbreak of Blood Fever in the Arkella system plus a civil war amongst the Kynercians of the Ul’urnunth Cluster. The former Hornet was refit and refurbished as an armed supply ship. The living quarters in the engineering hull were removed to make space for machine shops, cargo storage and additional fusion reactors. Upgrades in the systems reduced the minimum crew size from 400 to just over 200. The newly refit ship was commissioned as USS Grenada, under the command of Captain Armand Groothuis.
With the end of the crises in Arkella and Ul’urnunth, Grenada was assigned courier duties with the Federation Diplomatic Service for several years before being placed in the Ready Reserve Fleet in 2342. Once more, her fires were dropped and she slumbered in the void awaiting her next call of duty.
The call came in 2351 as the clouds of war appeared on the horizon. Tensions with the Cardassian Union continued to escalate over border disputes. Grenada was reactivated as an armed supply ship and helped evacuate the colony of Boca Azure. She was en route to help evacuate Minos Corva when the Cardassians attacked that colony, destroying half a dozen Border Service cutters and severely damaging the USS Cairo. During the First Cardassian War, Grenada was tasked with picket duty, escorting convoys and serving as a supply vessel for the front-line fleets. She and her crew served with distinction, earning three battle stars.
With the cessation of hostilities, the USS Grenada again served faithfully as a courier ship until once more placed in the Reserve Fleet in 2359. There she would remain until late 2375 and the closing days of the Dominion War.
This story is about what takes place after that.
Chapter 1
Starbase 71 (TOT11F Universe)
March 2376
If you were to look up the word “ordinary” in a dictionary, you might find a picture of John Urquhart beside the entry. He was an unremarkable man for a Human, perhaps on the shorter side of average with an unassuming build. His face was pleasant though unremarkable – not unattractive but certainly not memorable. Typically, he wore a friendly if somewhat puzzled expression – giving one the notion that he was late for an appointment but not quite sure where or when he was to show up.
His sandy brown hair was shifting towards gray and styled in a thoroughly regulation manner. His record was unremarkable – he received promotions in the due course of time, had received a typical number of citations for good conduct and consistent service but he never served on any ship of note. He had never fought in a major battle, never served under a famous captain, nor did his ancestry reveal any extraordinary historical predecessors. Back home on Earth, (London, to be precise) his mother had been a civil-servant and his father repaired replicators when he was sober.
It was this last bit that moved John Urquhart up from the level of slacker to ordinary. His father’s frequent embrace of single malt Scotch gave John ample opportunity to hone his own repair skills, lest his father’s business fall to ruin. To his surprise, John Urquhart discovered his one extraordinary talent.
He could fix things.
And not only could he fix things, he could do so without instructions or even the proper tools. Many were the occasions when he repaired a given-up-for-dead replicator with nothing more than a soldering torch, pliers and conductive grease. No one ever told him he was doing it wrong, for no one ever took the time to instruct him how to do it right. His father would merely grunt and offer a begrudging, “adequate, I s’pose,” and deliver the refurbished appliance back to its owner.
Unfortunately, his repair skills were John’s only true gift. He was an average student, a klutz at sports and a total washout when it came to romantic relationships. It was on a dare from one of his few friends that he decided to apply to Starfleet Academy.
To his great incredulity, he was accepted.
To his befuddlement, he passed the entrance tests.
And, to his utter astonishment, he discovered a place where he fit. Granted, he did not exactly excel in his class-work, but he absorbed what he needed to know. His grades in the engineering curriculum were actually rather good but these were offset by barely passing grades in xeno-politics and interstellar diplomacy.
He graduated 197th out of a class of 240 and received a commission as an ensign in Starfleet and assigned to the Corps of Engineers Base on Al’Quan VI. There, he was assigned to repairing replicators.
All in all, it was a satisfactory life for Ensign Urquhart. He had found his niche.
In the subsequent years, he proved to be a dependable if not a memorable officer. He served billets on C.O.E. ships, various starbases and three ship yards before finally doing a stint as Chief Engineer on the USS Recalcitrant, an aptly named Constellation-class vessel where things were constantly in need of repair.
For Urquhart, it was pure bliss. He spent many a happy hour crawling through the bowels of the old starship, dragging his tool kit along. Seldom was he spotted without a smudge of grease on his face or coolant on his vest. Even the Captain, an over-the-hill Caitian with patchy mange and a habit of coughing up hair-balls took note of his devotion to duty.
The Dominion War came like a sudden storm and Recalcitrant was deemed too old and ill-equipped for front line duty. She served in quiet dignity as a courier behind the lines for the duration.
During those dark days, Urquhart carried a vague sense of guilt. He understood that he was doing his duty, but he felt ashamed that others were going off to face the enemy while he spent his days patching up a ship whose best days had been before he was born.
The end of the war brought a sense of relief and a return to normalcy for Lt. Commander John Urquhart. He happily spent his duty shifts tinkering, patching, repairing and repurposing. Urquhart had a unique ability to turn something useless into something useful – though not necessarily in a manner the manufacturer intended.
And he would have been quite happy to do so for the remainder of his days in Starfleet.
But all that changed in March of 2376 when Captain Hu’Chuuk entered his office in Engineering, coughed up a fur-ball and spat it on the deck as he handed Urquhart a PADD.
“Congratulations, Mr Huurquhart” *Hack* Hurk*. “You are hereby promoted to Commander and assigned as First *Hack* Officer of USS Grenada. *Horf* Here, you can read the rest. *Hack* So, when are you going to get my *Hack* holographic scratching post fixed?” *Hurk*
“Um, this afternoon, latest.” Urquhart paused as he picked up the PADD. “Ah, excuse me Captain, what did you just say . . .?”
* * *
And so, a somewhat bewildered Commander John Urquhart now stood in a crowded passageway on Starbase 71 en route to Star Station Gamma. Several ships had recently converged on the base – some for shore leave, some for repairs and one for a major refit. The resulting influx of Starfleet personnel was disconcerting to the newly frocked commander. Enclosed spaces did not bother him but he was not used to crowds.
He frowned at an information display, attempting to decipher the arcane directions to landing bay Beta-3 (navigation had never been one of his strong points) when he heard his name called out.
“John? John Urquhart!”
Surprised, he turned to spy a familiar figure approaching through the teeming throng. A smile spread across his face.
“My God, it’s Donald Sandhurst!” he exclaimed in pleasure. It had been years since he had last seen his old Academy classmate.
Sandhurst grinned in return and grasped the outstretched hand of Urquhart. “What are you doing way out here? The last time I saw you, you were still with the Corps of Engineers.”
“I just wrapped up a four-year stint on the Recalcitrant as Chief Engineer. How about you?”
Sandhurst glanced around at the crowd. “Look, I’m about to grab some lunch – do you have time to join me? We can get out of the traffic and catch up.”
Urquhart nodded. “I have three hours before my runabout departs.”
“Good. Come on, follow me – there’s a replimat not too far.”
They made their way through the crowd and soon came to a large open area which was surrounded by banks of replicators. Urquhart ordered fish and chips – a favorite from his childhood days while Sandhurst opted for a salad. They took their trays to an empty table in a somewhat quieter area of the replimat.
“I don’t remember you being into rabbit food, Donald,” remarked Urquhart, gesturing at the salad.
Sandhurst patted his mid-section with a wry grin. “I’ve packed on some ballast serving as First Officer of the Venture. Our CMO threatened me with physical abuse if I didn’t drop a dozen kilos.” He stabbed a leaf and regarded it sadly. “No more meatball subs for a while.”
Urquhart splashed malt vinegar on his fish and fries. “So what’s it like serving under Captain Ebnal? I hear he eats anti-matter and pisses Deuterium.”
Donald shook his head. “No, no, you have it all wrong. Lucian Ebnal is a black hole that sucks the life-force from those that displease him. I’m lucky to leave the Venture with my eternal soul intact.”
John lifted an eyebrow. “Leaving the Venture? So you’re going on to command a ship of your own?”
Sandhurst stared at Urquhart before bursting into laughter. “Are you crazy? Hell no! Starfleet Command finally came to its senses and is sending yours truly to Utopia Planitia as Chief Yardmaster. Somebody finally realized I had no business sitting in the center seat of a starship.” He regarded his old friend thoughtfully.
“So what about you, John? I couldn’t help but notice the red collar and three pips.”
Urquhart shrugged. “Just the opposite of you, Donald – I’m heading out to Star Station Gamma to meet up with the Grenada as her new First Officer.” His expression was rueful. “Apparently not everyone at Command has come to their senses.”
“I’m sure you will do fine, John,” encouraged Sandhurst. “Hey, if I can manage it under Captain Ebnal you can manage under . . .” He paused. “Hell, I have no idea who your new C.O. is going to be.”
“Captain Kelzo Dregg. He’s an Orion. In fact, most of the senior staff is non-Human on Grenada.”
It was Sandhurst’s turn to raise an eyebrow. “Does that trouble you?”
“Oh no, I don’t have xenophobia, if that’s what you’re wondering. It’s just . . . well, I have a hard enough time relating to Humans . . . I wonder how I can be responsible for a crew with such a diverse makeup?”
“You’ll find a way to manage. Just take things a day at a time – you’ve always had a knack for figuring things out.”
Urquhart snorted. “Sure – if you’re talking about machinery. I’m not quite so skilled with organics.”
Sandhurst chuckled. “Spoken like a true engineer.” He glanced up at a bulkhead chronometer. “I hate to run but I’ve got to get stuff packed on Venture before I catch a runabout to Mars.” He stood and extended a hand. “Really good to see you again, John. Good luck with your new billet.”
Urquhart stood and clasped his friend’s hand. “You too, Donald. And for what it’s worth, I meant what I said about you commanding a ship. You always had a way for bringing out the best in people. I wouldn’t have made it through the Academy without your help. Someday, I bet I’ll be hearing about Captain Donald Sandhurst.”
An odd expression crossed Donald’s face, but it quickly passed and he grinned. “Maybe in some twisted parallel universe, John, but not in this reality. Take care of yourself.”
Urquhart watched as Sandhurst moved off and disappeared into the crowded passageway. He envied his old friend but he was also happy for him. Utopia Planitia would be a great billet for an engineer.
He sighed. No point dreaming about what was not to be. Urquhart took his tray to the ‘cycler slot and moved off in search of bay Beta-3.
* * *
To be continued . . .
A tale from the 11th Fleet Universe
(Special thanks to Gibraltar for the use of Donald Sandhurst in a cameo appearance.)
Introduction
The USS Grenada (NCC-11861) is a Constitution II–class (Block 3) starship originally built as the USS Hornet in 2286. Constructed as a heavy cruiser/explorer, she served faithfully in that capacity until shunted aside by the larger, faster Excelsior-class ships and the cheaper to build Mirandas. Thus, in 2317, the Hornet was decommissioned, her anti-matter removed and her name was stricken from the list of active Starfleet vessels. She was encased in durapolymers and left to drift, forgotten and alone, in the boneyards of Klaamet IV.
But not everyone forgot her. In 2328, Vice-Admiral Jaiden Nurr, formerly Chief Flight Control Officer of the Hornet, ordered the reactivation of five decommissioned ships, including the old Connie. An urgent need for hospital ships and supply vessels had arisen due to an outbreak of Blood Fever in the Arkella system plus a civil war amongst the Kynercians of the Ul’urnunth Cluster. The former Hornet was refit and refurbished as an armed supply ship. The living quarters in the engineering hull were removed to make space for machine shops, cargo storage and additional fusion reactors. Upgrades in the systems reduced the minimum crew size from 400 to just over 200. The newly refit ship was commissioned as USS Grenada, under the command of Captain Armand Groothuis.
With the end of the crises in Arkella and Ul’urnunth, Grenada was assigned courier duties with the Federation Diplomatic Service for several years before being placed in the Ready Reserve Fleet in 2342. Once more, her fires were dropped and she slumbered in the void awaiting her next call of duty.
The call came in 2351 as the clouds of war appeared on the horizon. Tensions with the Cardassian Union continued to escalate over border disputes. Grenada was reactivated as an armed supply ship and helped evacuate the colony of Boca Azure. She was en route to help evacuate Minos Corva when the Cardassians attacked that colony, destroying half a dozen Border Service cutters and severely damaging the USS Cairo. During the First Cardassian War, Grenada was tasked with picket duty, escorting convoys and serving as a supply vessel for the front-line fleets. She and her crew served with distinction, earning three battle stars.
With the cessation of hostilities, the USS Grenada again served faithfully as a courier ship until once more placed in the Reserve Fleet in 2359. There she would remain until late 2375 and the closing days of the Dominion War.
This story is about what takes place after that.
Chapter 1
Starbase 71 (TOT11F Universe)
March 2376
If you were to look up the word “ordinary” in a dictionary, you might find a picture of John Urquhart beside the entry. He was an unremarkable man for a Human, perhaps on the shorter side of average with an unassuming build. His face was pleasant though unremarkable – not unattractive but certainly not memorable. Typically, he wore a friendly if somewhat puzzled expression – giving one the notion that he was late for an appointment but not quite sure where or when he was to show up.
His sandy brown hair was shifting towards gray and styled in a thoroughly regulation manner. His record was unremarkable – he received promotions in the due course of time, had received a typical number of citations for good conduct and consistent service but he never served on any ship of note. He had never fought in a major battle, never served under a famous captain, nor did his ancestry reveal any extraordinary historical predecessors. Back home on Earth, (London, to be precise) his mother had been a civil-servant and his father repaired replicators when he was sober.
It was this last bit that moved John Urquhart up from the level of slacker to ordinary. His father’s frequent embrace of single malt Scotch gave John ample opportunity to hone his own repair skills, lest his father’s business fall to ruin. To his surprise, John Urquhart discovered his one extraordinary talent.
He could fix things.
And not only could he fix things, he could do so without instructions or even the proper tools. Many were the occasions when he repaired a given-up-for-dead replicator with nothing more than a soldering torch, pliers and conductive grease. No one ever told him he was doing it wrong, for no one ever took the time to instruct him how to do it right. His father would merely grunt and offer a begrudging, “adequate, I s’pose,” and deliver the refurbished appliance back to its owner.
Unfortunately, his repair skills were John’s only true gift. He was an average student, a klutz at sports and a total washout when it came to romantic relationships. It was on a dare from one of his few friends that he decided to apply to Starfleet Academy.
To his great incredulity, he was accepted.
To his befuddlement, he passed the entrance tests.
And, to his utter astonishment, he discovered a place where he fit. Granted, he did not exactly excel in his class-work, but he absorbed what he needed to know. His grades in the engineering curriculum were actually rather good but these were offset by barely passing grades in xeno-politics and interstellar diplomacy.
He graduated 197th out of a class of 240 and received a commission as an ensign in Starfleet and assigned to the Corps of Engineers Base on Al’Quan VI. There, he was assigned to repairing replicators.
All in all, it was a satisfactory life for Ensign Urquhart. He had found his niche.
In the subsequent years, he proved to be a dependable if not a memorable officer. He served billets on C.O.E. ships, various starbases and three ship yards before finally doing a stint as Chief Engineer on the USS Recalcitrant, an aptly named Constellation-class vessel where things were constantly in need of repair.
For Urquhart, it was pure bliss. He spent many a happy hour crawling through the bowels of the old starship, dragging his tool kit along. Seldom was he spotted without a smudge of grease on his face or coolant on his vest. Even the Captain, an over-the-hill Caitian with patchy mange and a habit of coughing up hair-balls took note of his devotion to duty.
The Dominion War came like a sudden storm and Recalcitrant was deemed too old and ill-equipped for front line duty. She served in quiet dignity as a courier behind the lines for the duration.
During those dark days, Urquhart carried a vague sense of guilt. He understood that he was doing his duty, but he felt ashamed that others were going off to face the enemy while he spent his days patching up a ship whose best days had been before he was born.
The end of the war brought a sense of relief and a return to normalcy for Lt. Commander John Urquhart. He happily spent his duty shifts tinkering, patching, repairing and repurposing. Urquhart had a unique ability to turn something useless into something useful – though not necessarily in a manner the manufacturer intended.
And he would have been quite happy to do so for the remainder of his days in Starfleet.
But all that changed in March of 2376 when Captain Hu’Chuuk entered his office in Engineering, coughed up a fur-ball and spat it on the deck as he handed Urquhart a PADD.
“Congratulations, Mr Huurquhart” *Hack* Hurk*. “You are hereby promoted to Commander and assigned as First *Hack* Officer of USS Grenada. *Horf* Here, you can read the rest. *Hack* So, when are you going to get my *Hack* holographic scratching post fixed?” *Hurk*
“Um, this afternoon, latest.” Urquhart paused as he picked up the PADD. “Ah, excuse me Captain, what did you just say . . .?”
* * *
And so, a somewhat bewildered Commander John Urquhart now stood in a crowded passageway on Starbase 71 en route to Star Station Gamma. Several ships had recently converged on the base – some for shore leave, some for repairs and one for a major refit. The resulting influx of Starfleet personnel was disconcerting to the newly frocked commander. Enclosed spaces did not bother him but he was not used to crowds.
He frowned at an information display, attempting to decipher the arcane directions to landing bay Beta-3 (navigation had never been one of his strong points) when he heard his name called out.
“John? John Urquhart!”
Surprised, he turned to spy a familiar figure approaching through the teeming throng. A smile spread across his face.
“My God, it’s Donald Sandhurst!” he exclaimed in pleasure. It had been years since he had last seen his old Academy classmate.
Sandhurst grinned in return and grasped the outstretched hand of Urquhart. “What are you doing way out here? The last time I saw you, you were still with the Corps of Engineers.”
“I just wrapped up a four-year stint on the Recalcitrant as Chief Engineer. How about you?”
Sandhurst glanced around at the crowd. “Look, I’m about to grab some lunch – do you have time to join me? We can get out of the traffic and catch up.”
Urquhart nodded. “I have three hours before my runabout departs.”
“Good. Come on, follow me – there’s a replimat not too far.”
They made their way through the crowd and soon came to a large open area which was surrounded by banks of replicators. Urquhart ordered fish and chips – a favorite from his childhood days while Sandhurst opted for a salad. They took their trays to an empty table in a somewhat quieter area of the replimat.
“I don’t remember you being into rabbit food, Donald,” remarked Urquhart, gesturing at the salad.
Sandhurst patted his mid-section with a wry grin. “I’ve packed on some ballast serving as First Officer of the Venture. Our CMO threatened me with physical abuse if I didn’t drop a dozen kilos.” He stabbed a leaf and regarded it sadly. “No more meatball subs for a while.”
Urquhart splashed malt vinegar on his fish and fries. “So what’s it like serving under Captain Ebnal? I hear he eats anti-matter and pisses Deuterium.”
Donald shook his head. “No, no, you have it all wrong. Lucian Ebnal is a black hole that sucks the life-force from those that displease him. I’m lucky to leave the Venture with my eternal soul intact.”
John lifted an eyebrow. “Leaving the Venture? So you’re going on to command a ship of your own?”
Sandhurst stared at Urquhart before bursting into laughter. “Are you crazy? Hell no! Starfleet Command finally came to its senses and is sending yours truly to Utopia Planitia as Chief Yardmaster. Somebody finally realized I had no business sitting in the center seat of a starship.” He regarded his old friend thoughtfully.
“So what about you, John? I couldn’t help but notice the red collar and three pips.”
Urquhart shrugged. “Just the opposite of you, Donald – I’m heading out to Star Station Gamma to meet up with the Grenada as her new First Officer.” His expression was rueful. “Apparently not everyone at Command has come to their senses.”
“I’m sure you will do fine, John,” encouraged Sandhurst. “Hey, if I can manage it under Captain Ebnal you can manage under . . .” He paused. “Hell, I have no idea who your new C.O. is going to be.”
“Captain Kelzo Dregg. He’s an Orion. In fact, most of the senior staff is non-Human on Grenada.”
It was Sandhurst’s turn to raise an eyebrow. “Does that trouble you?”
“Oh no, I don’t have xenophobia, if that’s what you’re wondering. It’s just . . . well, I have a hard enough time relating to Humans . . . I wonder how I can be responsible for a crew with such a diverse makeup?”
“You’ll find a way to manage. Just take things a day at a time – you’ve always had a knack for figuring things out.”
Urquhart snorted. “Sure – if you’re talking about machinery. I’m not quite so skilled with organics.”
Sandhurst chuckled. “Spoken like a true engineer.” He glanced up at a bulkhead chronometer. “I hate to run but I’ve got to get stuff packed on Venture before I catch a runabout to Mars.” He stood and extended a hand. “Really good to see you again, John. Good luck with your new billet.”
Urquhart stood and clasped his friend’s hand. “You too, Donald. And for what it’s worth, I meant what I said about you commanding a ship. You always had a way for bringing out the best in people. I wouldn’t have made it through the Academy without your help. Someday, I bet I’ll be hearing about Captain Donald Sandhurst.”
An odd expression crossed Donald’s face, but it quickly passed and he grinned. “Maybe in some twisted parallel universe, John, but not in this reality. Take care of yourself.”
Urquhart watched as Sandhurst moved off and disappeared into the crowded passageway. He envied his old friend but he was also happy for him. Utopia Planitia would be a great billet for an engineer.
He sighed. No point dreaming about what was not to be. Urquhart took his tray to the ‘cycler slot and moved off in search of bay Beta-3.
* * *
To be continued . . .
Of course, as any sound 24th century financial planner will advise concerning starships: Always buy used. Those shiny new Sovereigns depreciate about 20 million credits the moment you pull them out of spacedock.
