ST: Triangulum - Chapter One - Part One
Here's the first part of the first chapter, just to show that some progress is being made. Revisions and fleshing out of this part is bound to come. (I guess this more of an outline than anything else.)
But, anyway, here it is:
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STAR TREK: TRIANGULUM
"Across Nothingness"
by
Trekker4747
"The impossible missions are the only ones which succeed."
CHAPTER ONE
Stardate: 147644.5
August 23, 2470: 5:30 AM PDT
USS Calypso: Dry-dock, Earth.
It had been over 300 years since the human race has made its first steps into the deep unknown of their home in the cosmos, the Milky Way galaxy and in that time that had faced many pitfalls, trials, and triumphs establishing themselves as a peaceful race dedicated to exploration and peace. That time was also met with wars and battles and great technological achievements the grandest of which was set to be launched in a few short hours.
A propulsion system that can propel a craft across incredible intergalactic distances in just a couple of weeks, or more depending on the galaxy we're talking about. Though much of their home galaxy remained unexplored there where plenty of ships in the fleet to handle the exploration and the chance to head into a complete unknown were too much to resist after 50 years of development and refinement this great accomplishment hung in her berth in orbit around Earth a buzz with nervous and sleep-deprived engineers making sure she was ready for launch.
Calypso was a grand ship over a mile in length with 40 decks. Her glistening white hull shone in the orbital twilight which was just beginning to illuminate her registry number, NCC-110275 painted across the top of her primary hull (often crudely called "saucer section") a handful of workmen walked atop her hull with scanners making sure it was absolute pristine condition.
Captain Joshua Freeman was sound asleep in the bed of his Columbus home before the long day head of him for the launch of his charge all of his belongings packed away in containers, to be transported to the ship within the day, with a heavy sign and a slight groan he opened his eyes and looked across the empty spot in his bed where his wife slept. The anxiety of the day's events stayed with Freeman all night long, keeping him up for most of the night. Taking charge of a mission of this importance weighted heavily on one's mind, somehow it seemed his wife had managed to sleep through the night and gotten up before him, as she commonly did.
His Columbus, Ohio home was a spacious and well appointed affair, quite a difference from the accommodations afforded one on-ship. Since being assigned to Calypso just over a year ago he and his wife Courtney settled in his home town so he could watch over the finishing touches being laid on his new charge, a not all that uncommon practice for a Captain. Besides it was nice to live on a planet for one the adventure and excitement of life in space and on the frontier had its moments and adventure but starship life and even the simulation of environments on a holodeck couldn't replace being on a real world, especially when the world was the one you grew up on.
Josh rose from his bed and walked into the washroom to clean his face and get a sonic shower in before beginning the day-long activities that went with the launching of a new ship, or any ship for that matter, but this ship was certain to be something special and a big press circus given the unique and historic nature of Calypso's mission. Josh looked out the bay windows in the bathroom looking into his lush backyard. The trees blew strongly, the grass was a rich, deep green, and there must have been a heavy rainstorm scheduled for today by the Earth Weather Control System as the sky was darkening.
Freeman had been in Starfleet for a faithful and relatively blemish free 20 years, the last five of which he served as captain on a scout ship exploring the edge of the Delta Quadrant on the starship Dead Star where he distinguished himself as a formidable explorer and diplomat a perfect candidate to represent humanity in a new galaxy. The competition for the job was pretty fierce but he made his impression with the committee selected to elect a captain for this mission.
It was hard to tell his wife that their next home would be two million light years away from everyone and everything they know but as usual she was supportive and willing to make the trip with him. Her civilian career as an expert in arms and other weaponry would actually prove to be quite useful to Starfleet on their mission.
"So, you&'re finally up," a soft and flirtatious voice called from behind him.
Un-startled Josh turned to his lovely wife Courtney and smiled at her. She was wearing a jogging outfit and glistening with sweat her brown bangs clinging to her forehead, obviously back from her morning jog. "Guess I am."
"Big day today."
Josh smirked met hers, she was obviously being facetious with him.
"Not really. I was planning on just hanging out around here all day and run some holos."
"I don't think so, you know very well that that is all mine today," another smile.
Josh walked over to her and gave her a passionate kiss, "Ok, I guess I'll do that commissioning thing I had planned."
Courtney looked around the house, "I'm really going to miss this place."
"The accommodations on ship are supposed to be pretty nice."
Yeah, but where can a girl get a good run in?
"Well, the arboretum is supposed to have a pretty good one, with a pretty decent atmospheric simulation system too. "I'm sure it'll be adequate."
"Sure. Sure. Well I'm going to take a shower."
"I'll join you in a minute."
"You better," she said with a wink as she went into the shower room.
Freeman had been in Starfleet for a faithful and relatively blemish free 15 years, the last five of which he served as captain on a scout ship exploring the edge of the Delta Quadrant on the starship Dead Star where he distinguished himself as a formidable explorer and diplomat a perfect candidate to represent humanity in a new galaxy. The competition for the job was pretty fierce but he made his impression with the committee selected to elect a captain for this mission.
It was hard to tell his wife that their next home would be two million light years away from everyone and everything they know but as usual she was supportive and willing to make the trip with him. Her civilian career as an expert in arms and other weaponry would actually prove to be quite useful to Starfleet on their mission.
As Freeman began getting ready for his day he heard the tone of his home communication system, with a heavy sigh he answered it supposing this much was to be expected as there was plenty that needed to be done before their launch and, naturally, it was iup to him to approve and oversee everything that went on.
"Freeman here."
On the viewscreen of his comm unit appeared the image of his Chief Engineer Lieutenant Commander Robert Doud a somewhat older man than Freeman his slightly hardened, goateed face looked back at Freeman behind him he could see that his CE was in the main engineering section of the ship and was working with other crewmen to prepare the ship, "Captain. Commander Doud, here. Sir, I wanted to tell you that we're ready to power-up the warp drive and begin preparations for launch. Also, on your order, we're ready to beam your belongings to your quarters as long as you've got them all tagged."
Doud was a man who tried to be as efficient as possible but often times to a fault, always feeling the need to over-explain things to people he was talking to under the, slightly, misguided belief that unless you were an engineer you wouldn't know about "techy" things. It would be obvious to anyone who'd been involved in a move, especially to a starship, that placing tags on boxes and belongings was necessary to help the transporter know what to lock on to. But, in his mind, if he didn't tell people that there's always the chance someone either forgot, didn't know, or just didn't bother and then mistakes would happen and he'd get blamed for it. So it's probably just easier to be slightly patronizing than look incompetent.
"Thank you, Commander. Power up the warp-drive and prepare all ship systems for launch and prepare for my arrival around noon. I also want you to run simulations on the IG-Drive, I'd hate for us to get all the way to the rim with nowhere to go. My stuff is ready for transport at your convenience."
"Yes sir, I'll have your stuff transported to your quarters right away, the warp drive will be up and running in half an hour," again, any first-year student knows that a cold-start of a warp-core takes half an hour, "Doud out."
Up in his office-overlook of the main engineering section Doud looked down at the main engineering section and then directly ahead at the warp-core situated in the middle of the room. Below him several of his subordinates, consisting of many officers and enlisted men, where walking around doing their diagnostics and other tests to make sure the ship was in Bristol fashion for the impending launch. The core, a gleaming tower of strong duranium and reinforced transparent tritanium, awaited activation. Often crudely called a "swirl core" when running it would have a cloud of beautiful swirling plasma and reacting particles in it showing off the massive energies being generated inside.
He could only imagine what would be seen when the intergalactic-drive was engaged.
Doud opened the window in his office and yelled down to his crew, "Ok gang, let's get this thing running. The captain's going to want his engines ready so start charging the injectors and get the engines ready," and then slid the window closed.
Doud turned around to one of his assistants working in the overlook office and directed him to begin the transport of Captain Freeman's belongings; everyone was expecting a long day as the preparations for launch required much to get done and get ready for.
After a moment or two the silence of the ship, broken only by the soft blow of the atmosphere systems, was broken with a low rumble and whoosh as the fuel systems engaged and matter and antimatter was injected into the new warp core, Doud looked back out into the engineering section and watched as the empty, dark, core began to glow with a brilliant swirling blue light. Matter and antimatter began to mix and producing gigawatts of energy every second. The ship was coming to life and ready to fulfill its destiny.
* * *
Freeman looked out the windows of the dry-dock berthing Calypso, he smiled in awe of the grand ship hanging there in space her pristine and glistening white hull shone in the sun's light. From where he stood he could get the full scope of her size and majesty, nearly 3000 feet long she was more than an eye full. The warp nacelle field grids glowed a brilliant shade of blue and he could already see a couple people running laps inside the arboretum's windows under the primary hull, in all likelihood these figures where some of the few civilians living on ship at least he hopped that during launch his crew wasn't running laps.
Freeman turned to his wife, "Let's go," gave her his arm and escorted her down the gangway leading into the ship halfway down the ramp he could already detect that "new starship smell" from the new carpets and materials inside. The main gangway lead directly into the ship's welcoming atrium, a large room with fountains and trees, it was a plaza located in the ship to welcome visitors as well as place to relax, in addition to the lounges and other recreation areas on ship.
As Josh and Courtney stepped through the ship's airlock the where greeting inside by some of Starfleet's top brass and key personnel with a warm applause and confetti, with a big smile Josh thanked everyone and raised his hands to signal their peace.
"Thank you, thank you. Wow what's all the commotion," some warm placating laughter, "Well here we all are ready to truly step into the great unknown, Starfleet has given us a great ship and a great crew for a truly historic mission. This will be my second command and am deeply honored to have distinguished myself in such a way that Starfleet would trust me with this mission, a mission that will take us beyond the boundaries of the galaxy we call home into a place where we cannot imagine the types of life and civilizations we will discover and make peaceful contact with there are mysteries to unfold and challenges to be won so let's go out there and do it!"
His small speech was met with applause, Admiral Rowe came up to him and shook his hand a nearby crewman blew a boatman's whistle bringing the deck to attention. Admiral Rowe stood straight and called out, "Computer. Transfer all command functions to Captain Freeman. Rowe Theta-Alpha Nine Five."
The computer's soothing female voice, far less robotic sounding that previous versions, responded. "Transfer is complete. USS Calypso is now under command of Captain Joshua Freeman."
Admiral Rowe turned to Josh, "Captain, the ship is yours."
"Thank you Admiral."
"Good luck, Captain."
After an applause people began mingling about, popping champagne, syntheholioc, of course, and a small band on one side of the large room began playing lively music contemporary, classical, some Earth tunes from the 20th and 21st centuries as well as what non-Earth tunes they could with non-Earth instruments. The room was filled with laughter and hope, precisely the right feeling a ship of this nature should have before launching.
"Captain," a stern female voice called from behind. Josh turned to meet the staunch gaze of his first officer, Commander Aubrey Logan. She was standing there in her dress uniform (something Freeman had said was optional at this event) in full attention with her arms clasped behind her back. "Sir, with your permission I would like to be excused from this event in order to prepare the ship for departure."
Freeman knew little about Commander Logan, other than what he had read about her in file but he knew she was a staunch and well disciplined Centaurian officer. Centaurians where a staunch people an off shoot from early human settlers from some of the earliest sub-warp interstellar space flights in the mid 21st century when Earthbound humans where having a number of problems of their own, causing a bit of a rift between the two worlds. This left the Centaurians to pretty much form their own culture and ways, it was probably easiest to describe them as being Vulcans to the human's Romulans, though calling humans Romulans was probably a bit harsh (even though peace had been made with them their long history of xenophobia and imperialism was well known). But suffice it to say, Centaurians where far more disciplined and staunched than humans.
"Commander, there is no need to be at attention. At ease."
She relaxed a bit, if only slightly, "Yes sir. Sorry sir."
"No need to apologize. Commander, interaction with your crew is very important, especially in a mission of this length and nature. I think it would be best if you mingled and interacted with them some."
"Yes sir. But sir, with all due respect, there's time for that later. We should make sure the ship is fully prepared for the trip and traversing the Great Barrier."
Again, someone over explaining things, but in this case less to cover their own ass in case of a mistake and more to avoid awkward social situations, "Very well, Commander. See to your duties."
"Yes sir. Thank you sir,"; and with that she walked off, arms still clasped behind her back, to the nearest turbolift and departed.
"Boy, she's going to be a tough cookie, huh?"
Freeman whirled on a familiar voice behind him to meet the gaze of an old friend of his, and Chief Medical Officer, Venlar a Romulan. With a warm smile Freeman extended his hand for a moment before and shook the copper-skinned man's hand and in turn was pulled in for a stiff hug.
"Hey! How's it going? Good to see you again!"
"Indeed it is. Someone specifically asked me for this mission, cannot imagine who,” said the Romulan with a slight wink.
"Well, I wanted the best doctor in Starfleet but when she turned me down for a garbage scow I had to go to you."
Venlar gave him a slight smile, "Yeah, she beat me out for that position."
They shared a laugh.
"This should be an interesting mission with you on board. It’ll be good to share it with someone I'm close with."
"Oh? And what does that make me,” Freeman heard his wife call from behind him, apparently sneaking up behind him and Venlar as they walked the room.
Venlar smiled and gave Courtney a warm hug as they both exchanged pleasantries.
"Well," began Venlar, "This should be a very interesting trip with the three of us on board."
"I hope so," Freeman countered raising his wine glass and taking in a sip.
The rest of the ceremony continued for another hour before everyone settled down and took to their stations. The Starfleet Brass walked around and gave everyone their good lucks and good byes before departing the airlock, leaving only the crew of the Calypso on board.
Freeman called out to the ship's comm. system, "All hands to stations! Bridge staff to the bridg!" and watched as the room slowly emptied with people head towards the lifts, or left into the decks of the ship, Courtney and Venlar remained near him and he turned to his wife, "Guess I'll see you after my shift."
"Good luck captain," she gave him slight, if unprofessional, peck on the cheek before leaving herself, Venlar looked down at him, "Time to get going I guess."
"Yes. Time to get going."
Venlar nodded and walked out, headed towards sickbay.
* * *
The doors to the main bridge parted, there where already some lowerclassmen monitoring stations and tending to basic ship functions. The open and inviting bridge maintained the new smell the rest of the ship had, Captain Freeman walked across the room, stepped up onto the command center and sat down in his chair.
