(This takes place about 10 years after the Charter is signed, and 7 years after the commissioning of USS Renown, NCC-103)
“Didn’t I tell you to go home?” Commander Tracken asked of his chief engineer, Lt. Commander William Stockton.
“No. Yes. Yes you OW!” Will was buried waist deep in a jefferies tube, and he had just dropped his laser torch, causing it to bounce and land flame-down perilously close to his foot. “Sam, I just wanted to get this fridge unit fixed before the base teams came in,” Will said as he clambered out of the tube.
“Yes, yes, I know you want the crews from the starbase to have as little contact with ‘your ship’ as possible, but we’re here for a complete refit, and most of these systems are going to be replaced anyway. Most notably, that food cold storage unit you’re trying to fix. You know we’re getting replicators installed, so why waste the time? You’re supposed to be on vacation anyway.” Sam Tracken has served with Will Stockton since their first posting out of the academy, before the Charter was signed.
“I know, Will, you’re right, I’m wasting my time. Let me show you something.” As the pair walked to the docking port, they stopped at the galley. “Cookie, do you have one of those famous pecan pies?”
From the back of the kitchen, a loud clatter was heard, then a decidedly unhappy chef came out, dabbing tears with his apron. Will leaned over to whisper to Sam, “Cookie’s out of a job. He’s been a ship’s cook for twenty years.” To Cookie, “Hey man, what’s that all about?”
“My discharge orders came in today. Starfleet doesn’t need my services anymore, not with the new replicator technology being fit throughout the fleet. I don’t have the pull to be reassigned to planetside duty, but I didn’t sign up to pound ground, I want to be up here with you guys, exploring the unknown. What am I going to do?”
“Cookie, it’s not the end of the world. You’re the best chef I know!” Sam glanced over at Will with a ‘what are you on about’ look as he tried to placate Cookie. “There are new starbases and colonies that would welcome your services with open arms. I hear the new Earth Starbase is going to need a restaurant and you could use your pension to start up. I could put in a good word with Admiral House?”
“Commander, that’s a sweet offer, you’re a good man, but I don’t want to impose…”
“Nonsense!” Sam and Will both said. Will continued, “I’m going on leave today, I’ll talk to the Admiral on my way off base. No trouble at all.”
Cookie bent down and retrieved two pieces of pecan pie. “Thank you, thank you very much! If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some more cleaning to do.”
Will and Sam turned and left the galley with their pies and continued toward the docking port. It wasn’t until they got to the lift when either man spoke again.
“E deck. Will, was that what you wanted to show me? A blubbering Cookie?” Sam was confused about what that had to do with Will’s reluctance to leave Renown.
“Sam, what that was is what happens when technology replaces people. Renown won’t be the same without Cookie’s Italian crooning wafting from behind the counter, and I can guarantee you that no replicator will be able to match his lasagna. Ever.” The two officers hand their plates to a passing crewman. “I won’t miss the dishes though.”
“Will, that’s why we’re installing replicators. Utensils take up space. Foodstuffs take up space. Food preparation and storage units take up space, resources, and as you can attest, manhours. I feel bad for Cookie, but it’s a change for the best.”
“You’re going to miss him and you know it.”
“You’re right, I am, but we’ll all get over it. Things change. Speaking of things changing, there’s talk of decommissioning Renown.”
At the sound of the ‘D’ word, Will stopped dead in his tracks, grabbed Sam’s arm and whipped him around. “WHAT?!? Renown’s only three years old! There’s nothing wrong with her! I’ll quit along with Cookie if Starfleet does something that stupid!”
The USS Renown was technically the seventh and last NX-class starship, but since she was built and commissioned after the United Federation of Planets Charter was signed, she carries a UFP registry, NCC-103. NX-01 Enterprise sits at a museum berth at Starbase 1, in orbit over UFP headquarters as a symbol of what brought Humans, Vulcans, Andorians, and Tellarites together. The rest of the NX class serves proudly as the Federation’s exploration and diplomatic fleet, even though three NX ships still carry the Earth registry. The last three are Federation ships. Lt. Commander Stockton has served on one NX the Renown his entire Starfleet career. Chief Engineer on an NX seemed to him to be the pinnacle of any Earth engineer’s career.
“Will, WILL, relax! The refits we’re undergoing will make sure Renown will serve many years to come.” Commander Tracken’s sense of humor runs to the dark side, if not downright mean. “We’re not getting de..”
“DON’T SAY IT!” Will interrupted
“Haha, you’re hilarious, you know that? Have you seen what refits we’re getting?”
“Um, no, that list I was told was for Commander rank and above. You know how many times I told them I was Chief Engineer and *needed* to see that list? If I didn’t know any better, I’d say I’m going to be replaced! Ah, Captain? Captain!”
Captain Rita Torini was just on her way through the airlock when she heard her favorite Lt. Commander hollering his way down the corridor. “Commander, what’s all the shouting for? Do you know how sound carries in a metal tube?!?” Captain Torini asked, wiggling a finger in one ear.
“Sorry Captain, but I have an urgent matter to discuss with you. See ya in a week, Sam.” Lt. Commander Stockton said.
“Commander, I know what this is about, and,” she glanced at Commander Tracken’s smiling face to know the cat’s still in the bag, “I was hoping to be able to surprise you tonight. Seeing that Sam here convinced you to go on leave…”
“Dragged is more like it, sir,” Will said as he winked at his friend
“…anyway, you’re going on leave so you likely won’t be around for the ceremony,” the Captain finished cryptically.
“What ceremony? Come on, spill it,” Will Stockton liked secrets as much as the next guy, but seriously…
Captain Torini took a small box out of her pants pocket and opened it to reveal a single solid-gold rank square.
“Congratulations, Commander. You now have access to that list of refits. But don’t let me catch you near this ship for the next week, understood?”
Commander Stockton could only stare open mouthed as his boss replaced the black square with the new gold one.
“Psst,” Sam leaned over, “shut your mouth, you’re drooling on the Captain.”
Will shot his friend a look as he said, “Well I’ll be damned… Sir, I’ll get right on that list…”
“That’s great, Commander, but do it from a beach, a barbecue, or skydiving, or whatever it is you do when you’re not on the clock. I mean it, I don’t want anyone telling me you’re here for the next week. Sam’s your friend, but he’s still your boss, and he will still tell me you’ve jumped the gun. Besides, “the Captain touched Will’s shoulder for emphasis, “I know how much you hate demolition, and that first week is just going to be pulling stuff out to make room for the upgrades.”
“All right, Captain, I’m going. Can I ask you for one small favor?” Will asked.
“Sure thing, as long as it doesn’t involve helping you move,” Captain Torini replied.
“Can you talk to Admiral House about letting Cookie open up a restaurant on the new Earth Starbase? He’s losing his job with the upgrades and taking it pretty hard.” Will Stockton keeps his word.
“Yeah, I can do that. I sure will miss him. That tortellini… mwah! Now get off my ship!”
“Didn’t I tell you to go home?” Commander Tracken asked of his chief engineer, Lt. Commander William Stockton.
“No. Yes. Yes you OW!” Will was buried waist deep in a jefferies tube, and he had just dropped his laser torch, causing it to bounce and land flame-down perilously close to his foot. “Sam, I just wanted to get this fridge unit fixed before the base teams came in,” Will said as he clambered out of the tube.
“Yes, yes, I know you want the crews from the starbase to have as little contact with ‘your ship’ as possible, but we’re here for a complete refit, and most of these systems are going to be replaced anyway. Most notably, that food cold storage unit you’re trying to fix. You know we’re getting replicators installed, so why waste the time? You’re supposed to be on vacation anyway.” Sam Tracken has served with Will Stockton since their first posting out of the academy, before the Charter was signed.
“I know, Will, you’re right, I’m wasting my time. Let me show you something.” As the pair walked to the docking port, they stopped at the galley. “Cookie, do you have one of those famous pecan pies?”
From the back of the kitchen, a loud clatter was heard, then a decidedly unhappy chef came out, dabbing tears with his apron. Will leaned over to whisper to Sam, “Cookie’s out of a job. He’s been a ship’s cook for twenty years.” To Cookie, “Hey man, what’s that all about?”
“My discharge orders came in today. Starfleet doesn’t need my services anymore, not with the new replicator technology being fit throughout the fleet. I don’t have the pull to be reassigned to planetside duty, but I didn’t sign up to pound ground, I want to be up here with you guys, exploring the unknown. What am I going to do?”
“Cookie, it’s not the end of the world. You’re the best chef I know!” Sam glanced over at Will with a ‘what are you on about’ look as he tried to placate Cookie. “There are new starbases and colonies that would welcome your services with open arms. I hear the new Earth Starbase is going to need a restaurant and you could use your pension to start up. I could put in a good word with Admiral House?”
“Commander, that’s a sweet offer, you’re a good man, but I don’t want to impose…”
“Nonsense!” Sam and Will both said. Will continued, “I’m going on leave today, I’ll talk to the Admiral on my way off base. No trouble at all.”
Cookie bent down and retrieved two pieces of pecan pie. “Thank you, thank you very much! If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some more cleaning to do.”
Will and Sam turned and left the galley with their pies and continued toward the docking port. It wasn’t until they got to the lift when either man spoke again.
“E deck. Will, was that what you wanted to show me? A blubbering Cookie?” Sam was confused about what that had to do with Will’s reluctance to leave Renown.
“Sam, what that was is what happens when technology replaces people. Renown won’t be the same without Cookie’s Italian crooning wafting from behind the counter, and I can guarantee you that no replicator will be able to match his lasagna. Ever.” The two officers hand their plates to a passing crewman. “I won’t miss the dishes though.”
“Will, that’s why we’re installing replicators. Utensils take up space. Foodstuffs take up space. Food preparation and storage units take up space, resources, and as you can attest, manhours. I feel bad for Cookie, but it’s a change for the best.”
“You’re going to miss him and you know it.”
“You’re right, I am, but we’ll all get over it. Things change. Speaking of things changing, there’s talk of decommissioning Renown.”
At the sound of the ‘D’ word, Will stopped dead in his tracks, grabbed Sam’s arm and whipped him around. “WHAT?!? Renown’s only three years old! There’s nothing wrong with her! I’ll quit along with Cookie if Starfleet does something that stupid!”
The USS Renown was technically the seventh and last NX-class starship, but since she was built and commissioned after the United Federation of Planets Charter was signed, she carries a UFP registry, NCC-103. NX-01 Enterprise sits at a museum berth at Starbase 1, in orbit over UFP headquarters as a symbol of what brought Humans, Vulcans, Andorians, and Tellarites together. The rest of the NX class serves proudly as the Federation’s exploration and diplomatic fleet, even though three NX ships still carry the Earth registry. The last three are Federation ships. Lt. Commander Stockton has served on one NX the Renown his entire Starfleet career. Chief Engineer on an NX seemed to him to be the pinnacle of any Earth engineer’s career.
“Will, WILL, relax! The refits we’re undergoing will make sure Renown will serve many years to come.” Commander Tracken’s sense of humor runs to the dark side, if not downright mean. “We’re not getting de..”
“DON’T SAY IT!” Will interrupted
“Haha, you’re hilarious, you know that? Have you seen what refits we’re getting?”
“Um, no, that list I was told was for Commander rank and above. You know how many times I told them I was Chief Engineer and *needed* to see that list? If I didn’t know any better, I’d say I’m going to be replaced! Ah, Captain? Captain!”
Captain Rita Torini was just on her way through the airlock when she heard her favorite Lt. Commander hollering his way down the corridor. “Commander, what’s all the shouting for? Do you know how sound carries in a metal tube?!?” Captain Torini asked, wiggling a finger in one ear.
“Sorry Captain, but I have an urgent matter to discuss with you. See ya in a week, Sam.” Lt. Commander Stockton said.
“Commander, I know what this is about, and,” she glanced at Commander Tracken’s smiling face to know the cat’s still in the bag, “I was hoping to be able to surprise you tonight. Seeing that Sam here convinced you to go on leave…”
“Dragged is more like it, sir,” Will said as he winked at his friend
“…anyway, you’re going on leave so you likely won’t be around for the ceremony,” the Captain finished cryptically.
“What ceremony? Come on, spill it,” Will Stockton liked secrets as much as the next guy, but seriously…
Captain Torini took a small box out of her pants pocket and opened it to reveal a single solid-gold rank square.
“Congratulations, Commander. You now have access to that list of refits. But don’t let me catch you near this ship for the next week, understood?”
Commander Stockton could only stare open mouthed as his boss replaced the black square with the new gold one.
“Psst,” Sam leaned over, “shut your mouth, you’re drooling on the Captain.”
Will shot his friend a look as he said, “Well I’ll be damned… Sir, I’ll get right on that list…”
“That’s great, Commander, but do it from a beach, a barbecue, or skydiving, or whatever it is you do when you’re not on the clock. I mean it, I don’t want anyone telling me you’re here for the next week. Sam’s your friend, but he’s still your boss, and he will still tell me you’ve jumped the gun. Besides, “the Captain touched Will’s shoulder for emphasis, “I know how much you hate demolition, and that first week is just going to be pulling stuff out to make room for the upgrades.”
“All right, Captain, I’m going. Can I ask you for one small favor?” Will asked.
“Sure thing, as long as it doesn’t involve helping you move,” Captain Torini replied.
“Can you talk to Admiral House about letting Cookie open up a restaurant on the new Earth Starbase? He’s losing his job with the upgrades and taking it pretty hard.” Will Stockton keeps his word.
“Yeah, I can do that. I sure will miss him. That tortellini… mwah! Now get off my ship!”
