Starfleet Academy Enterprise Era Edition

Discussion in 'Fan Fiction' started by valkyrie013, Sep 2, 2021.

  1. valkyrie013

    valkyrie013 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2009
    Hi all!
    When i heard they might do a Starfleet academy series, I thought the best era/time frame would be the Enterprise/Romulan war era.
    I doubt they'd do the series in that era, so I started writing my own. ( Very first story I've written)
    So, updates, whenever I write them, Guess I'll do a PDF when I'm done per book? somewhere around there :)
    So, comments constructive criticism welcome. etc. :)
     
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  2. valkyrie013

    valkyrie013 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2009
    Sol System, January 24th,2154

    Personal Log, Commander Shannon Styles, First officer, Starship Intrepid

    Another day waiting.

    The Intrepid has been patrolling the Sol system for almost 10 months. Ever since the Xindi sent their probe, and killed seven million people, Earth has been on heightened alert, every ship available has been patrolling the solar system. When Enterprise arrived a few months after event, it was being chased by Klingon vessels, makes me wonder what Archer and his crew has been getting up to in those 2 years exploring for the Klingons to chase him. The fleet drove them off, and Enterprise was refitted and sent out to find the Xindi and find out what the hell happened and why. That was 7 months ago.

    Now were waiting. Waiting to see if the Enterprise comes back with answers, or the Xindi come back with a bigger weapon to destroy Earth.

    For the first couple months everybody was on pins and needles, always on constant alert. As anyone can tell you, you can’t maintain that level of alert all the time. People get tired, ships need maintenance. So, we got into a ship and crew rotation schedule. The Intrepid is two weeks into her month-long patrol schedule of the Solar system. So far this patrol, all is quiet, nothing on long range scans, no weird anomaly’s, nothing since the Enterprise left for the Expanse. Very uneventful, and quite boring. But we must keep up our moral, the shit could hit the fan at any minute, without any notice.

    Captain Ramirez has been a big part in the ships moral and spirit being up during these long patrols, keeping it upbeat, switching around the crew, varying the patrols, trying to keep it interesting.

    I do hope Enterprise makes it back soon, just so we can stand down and relax, hell the whole world to relax.

    End Entry.

    “Morning Commander, sleep well?” Lt. Susan Patel asks Styles as she catches up to her walking the corridor to her shift on the bridge.

    “Good enough Susan, almost got 5 hours last night”

    “About as much as I got, a lot of tossing and turning, hard to shut off the brain, the balloon could go up at any time, messes with your head.”

    “Yeah, haven’t had a good night sleep in 10 months, even when we’re in stand down for our maintenance rotation at Earth”

    “Same, even when I’m with Raul during the rotation home. He’s also quite worried, so many of his friends have taken a job at Alpha Centauri, even with Earth Cargo just to get away from the Earth, not that it makes much difference, if Earth falls, AC and all the ECS ships are not too far behind. Whatever helps people sleep at night and relax I guess.”

    “My brother just enlisted into Starfleet yesterday, he called last night to break the news.”

    “He just turned 18 the other day, didn’t he?”

    “Yeah, I kind of hoped he would follow my footsteps in to space, but under the circumstances, it’s a bit complicated. Not that being a civilian would save him in the end if the Xindi do come. I’m proud of him and told him so. He leaves for San Francisco next week under an “abbreviated” training schedule”

    “Hope he doesn’t have delusions of grandeur and joins the MACO’s”

    “That’s what I also told him, take his time, learn fast, and don’t be stupid, him being my brother, the last part will be difficult” she says laughing.

    “At least it’s a bit of bright spot in this unpleasantness, give him my regards when next you talk to him, tell him I said, I look forward to ordering you around and counting self-sealing stem bolts in the cargo area” Susan says also laughing.

    “Will do, how’s engineering?” Styles says turning the conversation back to business

    “Everything’s in top shape, last rotation we got new injectors, based on the ones Enterprise got out there, it already increased power reserves by 8%, and the new dual-phase cannons will be ready to install at the next rotation.”

    “Excellent, I’ll see you at lunch?”

    “Should be able to, in a standard schedule down there, Chief Sampson isn’t into “Busy Work” which I’m supremely grateful! Not like when we were on the Neptune, Chief Mallory was of the idea, “Idle hands do the devils work” and kept us busy, even if there was nothing to do during the weeks run to Alpha Centauri, glad to be off that ship”

    “It wasn’t that bad; I’d rather be doing boring AC runs than what we’re doing now.”

    “Isn’t that the truth, so yes I should be free at 1300 hours, baring the universe doesn’t take a big crap on us between now and then”

    “Isn’t that the truth, see you at 1300 hours or so”

    “Oh, I forgot, the Captain is taking the Beta shift this rotation, Enjoy the big seat Commander!”

    She shakes her head as she parts with Lt. Patel, and heads to the bridge.



    Shannon looks up at the view screen, bunch of stars at impulse, as usual. She notices the time 1124, still an hour and a half to lunch. Now I know why Archer has a reputation of never sitting in the captain’s chair, it gets kind of boring up here with not much to do, granted that’s everybody up here during patrol rotation.

    “Lt. Hawkins, anything new on sensors?”
    “Nothing new commander, we’ll be passing within 500 million km of Neptune in three hours, and she’s still blue and beautiful as ever. I’ve been tracking a comet, nothing that big, but it will hit Neptune around the next time we pass the planet on our next patrol round.”

    “That’s something a bit exciting, inform the crew of the expected impact time, helm, adjust our course on the next pass to coincide with the impact.”

    “Yes commander.” Helm and Science say in unison.

    Shannon smiles, and goes back to looking at her Padd, shuffling through duty schedules, fuel consumption reports, waste reclamation reports, I mean seriously, Waste reclamation reports? This is making me not want to take the captains chair, if all I do is report after report, I’ve quite better jobs than this, I think. I’ve been in Starfleet my whole adult life, so this is my only job I’ve had. So, I guess I haven’t quit one. There’s a first time for everything!

    Lt. Hawkins smiles, he always likes to be on the same shift as Commander Styles. I think it’s the red hair, so big and curly, even in her customary ponytail, it’s as if she barely contains it.

    Beep

    “What was that Hawkins?”

    “Sensors are detecting something, three AU away”

    “Just something?”

    “Its unknown commander, I can’t really specify what it is. It’s like a slight fluctuation in space time, we didn’t see any reading when the Xindi probe came through”

    “Understood, Helm, alter course, set an intercept”

    “I sir”

    “Communications, let command know what’s happening, and request reinforcements join us at the earliest, and send someone to wake the captain, he’s going to want to be up here.”

    “I sir, I’ll let the fleet know, and I’ll inform captain Shran as well, the Kumari is in Mars orbit at the moment”

    “Understood, Tactical give me an alert, Battle stations”

    “I sir, Battle stations”

    The Intrepid moved towards the anomaly at full impulse, not known to them or anyone in the Sol System, the Xindi superweapon, being so big traveling through the vortex, was pushing a wave front ahead of it, altering the conduits endpoint. The wave front wasn’t that far ahead of the sphere, so just as the intrepid is traveling to the anomaly, all hell finally broke loose.

    “Commander, I’m seeing 1 ship appearing ahead, there coming out of the anomaly, nothing matching any known ship, wait, oh my god”

    “On screen and enhance Hawkins!”

    Through the viewscreen, they see a huge sphere, the Xindi superweapon appears.

    “Helm set an intercept coarse towards that giant sphere, and keep up with it as best you can, try your best not to let us get hit by the other escort ship, Tactical, weapons free when we get into range, fire at anything within range, but focus on that big sphere as much as you can. Communications, tell Earth its here and to send anything that can fire a weapon to meet us”

    In unison “I sir”

    The intrepid races towards the giant sphere

    “Hawkins, what’s the estimated time to intercept?”

    “6 minutes Commander. Commander, we have another problem, the Yosemite 3 space station is in the sphere’s course, estimate 4 minutes till the sphere and escort ship are within range.”

    “Crap, understood, Styles to Engineering, Chief, can you give me anymore juice to the impulse drive, we need to catch up to the sphere as soon as possible”

    “Doing that now Commander”

    “Time to intercept, Hawkins?”

    “5 minutes”

    “Damn, were not going to make it”

    At that moment Captain Ramirez exits on to the bridge. “Commander, status”

    “Yes captain, the sphere appears to be headed directly to Earth, were on an intercept, less than 5 minutes, Yosemite station is in the flight path of the sphere, we won’t get there in time”

    “Communications, have you informed Yosemite of the approaching sphere?”

    “Yes captain, but as it’s a science station, there are no ships, nor escape pods, there’s no way out for them”

    “Damn it”

    “Yes sir, nothing we can do”

    “Captain, there’s another ship exiting the anomaly, no known identification, but of a different design to the escort ship”

    “Understood, communications, try to hail the new ship”

    “Aye sir, no response, but they are on a heading to intercept the sphere, they will get to it before we do, intercept 3 minutes”

    The intrepid watched helplessly as the escort ship destroyed Yosemite 3 station as the new ship intercepts the sphere and starts attacking the escort ships and sphere

    “Well apparently the new guy is on our side, Tactical, set the new ship as friendly, for the moment, when in range launch everything we have”

    “Aye Captain”

    “Commander take the engineering station, give tactical a hand”

    “Aye captain”

    The Intrepid enters weapons range, and launches everything they have at the escort and sphere

    “Captain, the Kumari has also entered weapons range, and are concentrating on the escort ship.”

    “Understood Hawkins, Helm, concentrate your course around the sphere, tactical, I don’t want to bring any torpedo’s home after this.”

    “Aye Captain”

    “Helm Evasive course Epsilon, Keep us within range of the sphere”

    The sphere was one giant weapon; however, it did have some defenses. Point defense batteries started to track the intrepid, the Xindi ship and the Kumari.

    Hawkins yells “Captain, incoming weapons fire from the sphere”

    “Helm, Evasive pattern Omega, do you best to keep us within weapons range for Lt. Thomas”

    “Aye sir, Pattern Omega”

    The intrepid starts to take fire, the hull plating taking most of the damage, but the spheres weapons are quite powerful.

    “Direct hit to the Starboard nacelle, hull plating down 45%, whatever there shooting, it’s quite powerful”

    “Understood Hawkins, we don’t need the nacelle anyways, helm, give me a slow roll, don’t let the incoming fire hit the same spot if you can”

    “Aye sir, Spiral pattern”

    Styles notices that whatever maneuver we try, they keep hitting the same spot

    “Captain, there targeting engineering, none of our evasive is working, we have to break off or we’ll have a hull breach”

    “Negative Commander, stay with her Helm, we can’t let that sphere attack Earth, even if we don’t survive”

    “Yes sir, Shit, ventral plating down to 5%, one more hit and they’ll get through”

    “Styles to Engineering, Sampson get your people out of there were about to have a hull breach in in your area”

    “Sampson is dead” Lt Patel said, “were kind of in a bad way down here”

    “Get out of there Susan!”

    “Can’t, bulkheads are damaged, we”

    Commander Styles hears a great wrenching sound, then the com goes dead.

    “Sir direct hit Engineering, we’re losing power, we can’t maintain speed, the sphere is pulling away” Hawkins reports.

    “Damn it, Tactical, fire everything we have until we’re out of range”

    “Aye sir”

    Styles looks blankly at her terminal, shocked, all of engineering, and her friend is gone. Taking a few deep breaths, she brings her head up.

    “Hawkins, engineering status?”

    “The warp core is in an emergency shutdown; antimatter pods were ejected before the last hit. That saved us from a core breach.”

    Had to be Susan, she always one to think ahead in an emergency.

    “Emergency generators are coming online; we’ll have impulse power in 45 seconds.”

    “Understood, Helm, when impulse is restored, set course back for the sphere at best speed”

    “Aye Commander”

    “Guess were out of this fight aren’t we commander” Captain Ramirez says.

    “Yes sir, we did our best”

    Thirty seconds later, impulse power was restored, and the intrepid set course for Earth

    “Commander, the sphere will be at earth in 30 seconds, there’s nothing to stop it, the escort ship was destroyed by the Kumari. The mystery ship and the Kumari are still fighting, but there not damaging the weapon. It’s over”

    On the viewscreen, the sphere stops, the mechanisms around the sphere start to rotate, getting ready to fire, then miraculously, they see explosions in the sphere, getting larger every passing moment, to a point that it engulfed by the largest explosion and disintegrates three million miles from earth orbit.

    “Captain” Hawkins says, “the sphere, it’s, it’s gone! ITS GONE!”

    Commander Styles looks at captain Ramirez “How? None of the ships got through”

    “Must have been the mystery ship. Helm, take us into Earth orbit, signal the Kumari and the other ship see if they need any help”

    “Aye Captain”

    What I didn’t know, a team from the Enterprise was on that mystery ship, and they boarded and destroyed the sphere from the inside. Sadly, at the time, Captain Archer was onboard when it exploded, but then as though another miracle, Captain Archer was found alive in the past by the Enterprise when it was supposedly thrown back to World War Two, with aliens helping the Nazi’s. I’ve seen the video files, if they can be believed, the enterprise always ends up in the most interesting places.

    The Intrepid put in for repairs, and Archer let the world know, that they were safe from the Xindi, and that we can finally rest easy.

    I went to Susan’s husband to inform him of her passing, told him that she died heroically, saving the ship when engineering was hit. Just words, she was gone, from both our lives, and only time will heal that wound, but not completely.

    Afterwards all these xenophobic people came out the woodwork, Earth First, Terra Prime, all scared of the aliens on the planet. Guess no one told them all the ones on the planet helped save the Earth, but these kinds of people go deaf when they get on these kinds of band wagons. Hopefully it’s just a phase of us being scared. Its okay to be scared, but not okay to let your life be defined by it. To scared to actually live.

    With the Intrepid down for a long refit to install a new warp 5 engine, and fix the damage from the battle, I took some time off.

    “Good Evening Commander, how is your day” Admiral Forest says as he walks up to me while I’m sitting on a bench outside Starfleet Command

    “Evening Admiral” as Styles gets to her feet.

    “At ease commander, take a seat”

    As she does that, she asks “what can I do you for Admiral, social call?”

    “Yes and no, I heard you lost a good friend when the Intrepid was in the battle with the Xindi, and that you took some time off, I came to ask if you were doing okay?”

    “Doing better sir, I knew everybody in engineering, but I knew Susan Patel for the past 5 years since we served together on the Neptune. Even got her to come with me to the Intrepid.” “Now there all gone, I’ve experienced death before sir, but nothing this personal, never a good friend, someone that I would see every day, and now won’t see every day. Just gone”

    “Shannon, I’d like to say it gets easier, that you’ll get past this. In a way you will, but it will never completely go away, she’ll still be there, in your heart. You just have to give it time.”

    “Aye Sir”

    “Now, the other reason I came by is to ask, would like to take a temporary post while the Intrepid was being refitted”

    “What kind of post?”

    “The Academy, one of our instructors is retiring. She lost a good amount of her family in the initial Xindi strike, she tried to keep going as best she could, but the appearance of the final weapon over Earth broke her, she can’t stay anymore, going to go live by family and recover”

    “I was wondering if you ‘d like to take up the position, you come well recommended by Captain Ramirez, and all your other captains, they all speak very highly of you and think you’d make a great teacher of the new kids”

    “I’m honored Admiral, I guess I could use a break from space duty, with the Intrepid in refit, and the Enterprise and the almost complete Columbia the only ships going “Out there”.”

    “I understand, you want to get out into the galaxy, not just local, its coming soon, until then, the academy could use your help, and I understand your brother has just started as well, you could look over him”

    “Yeah, Okay admiral, I’ll take the job till a berth on a warp five ship opens up.”

    “Done, you’ll be at the top of my list when the intrepid comes out of refit, until then, enjoy the scenery, and get with the commandant tomorrow at 0900”

    “Yes sir, and thank you Admiral”

    They both get up and shake hands, Shannon sits back down, as the admiral departs.

    “The Academy, huh, they must be desperate to want somebody like me” she says with a smile.
     
  3. valkyrie013

    valkyrie013 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2009
    Andoria, March 15, 2155
    Personal Log Entry: Mirai Zhu, Ships pain in the ass.


    The Kobayashi Maru has stopped at Andoria. The Andorians have agreed, as part of being in the Coalition of Planets to do a refit of the engines and reactors of Earth’s cargo fleet with better systems, bringing up the cruising speed up to Warp 3.5! That’s nothing compared to an Andorian Kumari’ class’s warp 6, but even at warp 3.5, it will cut trip time between systems down to a 1/3 and allow the current fleet to service systems farther out. The Earth Cargo association in their supreme intelligence, have agreed to discounted terms for the andorians and other members of the coalition. Captain Archer must be doing something right out there.

    But that’s just the ship, my journey, which has lasted all my life aboard the Koby since I was born, will be taking a whole new course. I got my acceptance letter for the Academy! Mom and dad weren’t too thrilled about me leaving the Koby, they were hoping I’d stick around after the refit, see more places farther out in the galaxy, farther than any human, well except the crew of the Nx’s, have gone before.

    However, they know a person must chart their own course, I’ve been following the Enterprises missions since they started back over 4 years ago, watching to see where they go. They even have a boomer at the helm, the very cute Mayweather.

    Mom says Starfleet will be dangerous, I just remind her of our own little scrapes with pirates, and other anomaly’s out here on the Koby, I Still remember the time Uncle Shinji was lost when the reactor went wild when I was 6. He volunteered to go into the reactor room to shut it down in the radiation, I’ll never forget what kind of damage Delta rays can do, and how things can go terribly wrong.

    An andorian transport will take me to Earth next week. Earth, my home planet, and I’ve never seen her in person. Sure, there’s plenty of pictures and videos, but to stand on the edge of the Grand Canyon! Sure I stood on the edge of the a canyon on Gemini 4 that was 5 times as deep, and purple, with a red sun, I guess the “Grand Canyon” is not that “Grand” in the scheme of the universe, but it is on Earth, and I can’t wait to see it in person.

    Dad say the Koby will be heading out to the Gamma Hydra sector in a couple months after the refit, further than the ship has gone before. Kind of wish I could go; I hear that there is nebula from a supernova only a couple hundred years old. Maybe I’ll go that way on a Nx class, or on a Monarch! That would be awesome!

    Welp, time to help dad install the new sensors the andorians gave us, then help mom with dinner tonight. 3 days to go, I’ll miss it here on the Koby, my home.

    End Log.

    Looking outside the viewport Mirai sees the gas giant Andoria with its beautiful silver rings and deep cyan clouds. Some of the other crew says it looks like Neptune, but bigger. I’ll take their word for it Since I’ve only seen it on vids. Not that I’m complaining. well I am a bit, but I’ve had a good life in this ship, visited 14 different worlds, seen stuff no other human has seen.

    Mirai’s mom Fan Zhu approaches from behind. As she stands with her looking out the viewport, Mirai says” Do you remember the Sol system mom? Do you remember Saturn?” I do, but it’s been 20 years since we left, but we've seen plenty of other gas giants that are both bigger with wider and more colorful rings than Saturn. “

    “I wonder, if when I see it for the the first time that I’ll look at the Sol System as home.” “Honey, you always have that look of wonder in your eyes. Every time you see something new. You may have seen pictures of Earth and the other planets, but you will look at it, with fresh eyes and see the wonder something newly discovered for you.

    That's why we left to see the galaxy. Sadly, you don't get to see too much of the galaxy too fast, on these old earth cargo ships, but at the time when we left there wasn't much other choice. No one else was really going anywhere so we shipped out on this cargo ship and set sail. And then you know I met your father he was the engineer of this old junk, and fell in love or just fell few times, but all's well that ends well. He's the captain, everything else that we wish you would stay here and maybe take over from us. But when we understand why you want to go join Starfleet, they have the flashy faster ships, and its not just a bit faster.”

    “The Andorians are being nice to us. And they're upgrading our old girl to go warp three point five, which turns months of traveling into weeks, shame we can't convince you to stay with us honey.”

    “No mom, after reading all the adventures of the Enterprise, and seeing what Captain Archer is doing, I felt like I need to be out there with them.”

    They both look out the viewport at an Andorian work pod glide by with parts for the Kobi.

    “Dad is down in the engineering compartment, complaining to the andorian engineers that are installing our new warp core, trying to say they're doing it wrong! But he's always gotten along well with them. You know dad, he’s quite easy to get along with, smooth over anything with the planets we’ve visited.” “At least it isn’t the tellarites that are upgrading us. Dad would go down there and not come up again for days during the refit. He just loves a good argument, and so do the Tellarites

    “The Andorians just seem to be tolerating him. He loves the ship and doesn't want to see anybody else, touch it. He knows they mean well. And he also knows that we’ll go a lot faster with their parts, honey.

    “Well at least I have a few days left before the transport heads out to Earth. And have my little secret surprise for me that you are planning.

    “Well, nothing really stays secret around here for too long on this ship does it, nothing really ever does.

    “Yeah, when I got my first period. It went from dad all the way down to the ship's cook in about five minutes, which was supremely embarrassing.” “But what I can say, at least there will be many cute boys at the academy, the pickings are quite slim out here.” “Yeah, not that many people on the ship your age, actually none, but the whole crew helped in raising you, and they all think of you as their own daughter”

    “I am going to miss this ship and all of you, your my family.” Mirai starts getting misty eyed, hard time talking. “Who knows mom I may find my true love out there.” “Maybe honey. I'm hoping that you do. Everyone out there needs someone.”

    Fan moves her arm around Mirai, and guides her down the corridor. “Come on honey, let’s go see if the andorians are done with the upgrade of the sensor array, and you did volunteer to cook dinner tonight for the crew! They’ll miss you for just that because you’re the best cook on the ship.” They hug while walking down the corridor “Thanks mom”

    ch'Rihan (Romulas), March 15,2155
    Personal Log Entry: Tal Shiar Operative Sollona


    Its finally time.

    “Instructor Tomir finally thinks I'm ready, after 3 years of studying vulcan, even living for 6 months on the planet, visiting the temples, even making some “friends’ in the science academy. Tomir thinks I have done an adequate job on the planet, seeing how vulcan has regressed to a more pacifist nature after the discovery of the Kir'shara and Surak's teachings, bunch of drivel. I told Tomir that we wouldn't have to worry about Vulcan, there a like a toothless Set'leth now. Tomir agreed to a point, maybe in 10-20 years vulcans would be a complete pushover, but he reminded me that there are still plenty of moderates and hard liners that would step up in a war situation and put up a strong fight. Chastened I reluctantly agreed.”

    “Now it’s my time to stand up by myself. I heard I will be the only operative in the academy.” Or so I'm told, the Tal Shiar is nothing if not tight lipped about information, even with directions to the bathroom.

    “The operatives on Vulcan, well those that weren't summarily executed from the failed operation to have vulcan and andoria go to open war, have gotten a “Suv'eth” an acceptance letter to the Earther Fleet academy. Supposedly I will be the first “Vulcan” to attend the academy. There are a few vulcan officers in starfleet that have transferred over for some reason, I honestly can't think of a reason to go over, but I guess insanity does occur in Vulcans as well.”

    “My mission is to learn everything about Earth's so called “Star Fleet” tactics and ships and figure out where starfleets main targets are located. A simple enough mission, requiring minimal effort. But it is a mission, and it is an important mission to the empire. When our glorious fleet flies to that world, I hope that I will be there to greet them!”

    “Now I get to say goodbye to my family as it were. Both my mother and father were killed when the Haakona attacked Mirhassa. Being an orphan, the Tal Shiar scooped me up quickly. I was old enough to remember my parents, how they protected me from the Haakona, but since then the shadows are my family now.” Solana thinks, there is one that I look upon as family, a young instructor by the name of K'eras. He has always been kind to me, brotherly if you will, looking out for me as best as he can. Not much older than me but displays a cunning attitude at ship battles. He is close to having an assignment in the romulan fleet, many thinks, as I do that, he will make a great commander in the days to come.

    “Instructor K’eras is transporting me to vulcan tomorrow, I am looking forward to the voyage there.” Solana adds under her breath “Most of the time in his quarters I hope.”

    End of entry.

    Sollana leaves Tal Shiar training building and ends up walking along the shore street of the silver sea. After awhile Instructor K’eras walks up beside her.” So Sollana, this your last day on Romulus for a while.” “It is, I’ll miss it but after so long a time on Vulcan over these past 6 months, Romulas feels a bit far.

    “It's understandable, we Tal Shiar don't really spend much time on Romulas, but we do fight for it as best we can, the empire needs us for it to stand proud.” Sollana knods in agreement “Are you looking forward to your time on Earth.?”

    “I look forward to serving the Empire in any capacity, but I do feel that I am destined for greater missions than prancing around an academy.”

    “Well if you recall our agents on Vulcan failed to instigate the war with andoria.” “I remember, I was there at the science academy setting up my credentials for this mission, so I didn’t take part, thankfully, if I were a part of it, I would probably have been summarily executed because they did fail.” “I think it would have worked if it wasn’t for that Earthship.”

    “That's true, they’ve been a bit of a nuisance, stepping out into the bigger Galaxy not too long ago.”

    “True, they were also there for Valdore’s holo ship mission, which ended up strengthening the bonds between the Earthers and their Coalition, if there was a worse outcome for the Empire, I can’t think of one.”

    Solana and K’reas reach a park at the end of the shore road, they continue walking to a memorial looking out over the sea”

    “Remember this place Solana?”

    “Its where the first Romulan set foot on Romulus, looking over the same sea we are looking over now. Thrown out by our Vulcan cousins during the great schism.”

    “Correct, that is one of our goals, to go back to Vulcan, show our logical cousins that we have survived, and even thrived.”

    “And that’s also why we're sending you to Earth to figure out how the Earthers think, what they're doing, what their strengths are and find any weaknesses.” “It does make it easier for us that they are so ingratiated with the Vulcans, even if they are Starfleet officers for some insane reason. For a logical species Vulcans can be very in illogical, which kind of helps me in my task, I can go around as I please.”

    “So were leaving in a few hours, take one last walk, soak up all of Romulus while you still can, it might be awhile before you get back here.”

    “You’ll be with me K’reas till Vulcan correct?” “Correct, I’m to deliver you all the way, then I’m off on my own assignment, of course it’s something I can’t tell you.” “Of course not, and if you tried, I’d have to report you, or more than likely kill you, since you’ve been kind to me, I don’t want to have to do that.”

    “See you on the ship instructor.”

    With that K’reas starts his walk back to the compound, while Solana looks at K’reas as he’s leaving, thinking defiantly see you later.


    Earth, March 15,2155
    Personal Log Commander Shannon Styles


    The Intrepid has just completed trial runs of the newly installed warp 5 engine. The tests went well, and they are now certified up to Warp 5.2. With her previous warp core, she could only get up to 3.5, better than the ECS cargo ships, but still not fast enough to make us a true interstellar society.

    The Enterprise could go a lightyear a day, getting to alpha centaur in 5 days. We would take over 3 weeks of a long slow boring trip. I am ecstatic that she can now join the Enterprise out in the galaxy.

    This comes after the Xindi conflict where the intrepid couldn’t really help Enterprise when she went into the expanse. All we could do was wait at Earth and hope they got the job done. That was a long year of waiting, many sleepless nights.

    I sleep better now, usually seven hours now, though I still have the occasional nightmare with Susan gasping for breath in a breached engineering section. Her death still haunts me. But thankfully the dreams are rare now.

    We’re about to welcome a new class of students at the academy, we even have some aliens join up from the coalition worlds and other nonaligned ones. Hell, we even have a Vulcan! As the prayer goes, may you live in interesting times. Isn’t that the truth.

    I’ve been thinking of going back out there, Starfleet has their door open for me, but I just don’t think I’m ready yet. Maybe after this upcoming semester. My brother Jacob is well into his second year, he is just thrilled to have me for a teacher this semester, poor thing.

    I get to take up the new students to the newly completed Monarch, I’ve only seen it on vids, looks spectacular, and a bit gaudy.

    Well, still have weeks till the start of the new semester, we’ll see how it goes.

    End Entry


    April 17, 2155 Earth Sol System
    Personal Log, Mirai:


    It’s been almost a month board the Andorian transport Slooqi. After my tearful goodbyes on the Kobi, I boarded this transport bound for Earth. It was a bit exciting we were going at warp 4! The fastest I’ve been in my life! I know its not “That” fast but as a prelude to future fastness, almost 5 times as fast as the old Kobi got to, it’s a great start! A few of the Andorians took a liking to me, and let me roam in areas around the ship that usually aren’t for the “Tourists” Captain Havath was a good natured woman, been traveling around the quadrant for 50 years now, taking cargo, people around to there colonies, even been on a few exploratory missions with the Imperial Guard.

    She said the guard wasn’t for her, at the time it was in the process of becoming more militarized due to the Vulcan threat to their borders, and she wasn’t a soldier, she was an explorer. We got along splendidly.

    We’re almost to the Sol system, its only the second time the Sloogi has been to Earth. Captain Havath likes what she calls the “Pink Skins” I don’t know if that’s a derogatory or a complement? I’ll roll with a complement right now!

    Due to my “Special Status” on the ship, I kindly asked the captain to take a “Tourist Approach” to the system, a few of the planets are lined up on this vector, and she’s agreed to go to impulse and take us past the ones on our journey inwards. I thanked her with a bottle of Saurian Brandy (I know I’m underage, but dad gave me a few bottles to “Smooth over” some difficulties or ask for favors, seemed like a good idea!)

    This will be my last entry on this voyage, next one I will be on Earth, my “Home” away from home.

    End Entry.

    My bottle of Saurian brandy got me the best seat in the house, well the second best, maybe third? Behind the captain and second and third in command? But I am on the bridge!

    At the helm, and Andorian shien reported, “Captain, were on final approach to the Sol system, ready for our “tourist” course.”

    “Very well, reduce speed to sub-light when ready”

    On the viewscreen, the Sloogi transitions from warp to impulse, and emerging right in front of them was the planet Saturn.

    “Wow! So that’s Saturn! It’s so pretty!”

    The captain looks at Mirai, and nods slowly, “I’ve seen so many gas giants in my travels, and each one is so magnificent, all the colors, the fiery winds just below the surface, so beautiful.”

    “I know right! I was concerned that I wouldn’t find my home system beautiful, since I’ve seen so many other systems. Glad I was worried for nothing.”

    The Sloogi travels past Saturn, passing in between the rings and the planet, Mirai’s face still plastered with wonder and awe.

    A short time later they pass by Jupiter, and see Jupiter station building a Nx class, and a couple of Comet classes.

    The captain looks at the docks “those comets are quite small aren’t they.”

    “Doesn’t seem to much on luxury does it”

    The silently watch the dock, and Jupiter pass by.

    “Aright Mirai, will be at Earth in about 15 minutes, why don’t you go get ready to disembark”

    “Can I stay on the bridge till we see Earth?”

    “Okay, not to long after, we have to do reentry and I don’t want you up here.”

    “Not a problem Captain, Thanks again”

    On the Sloogi’s viewscreen, a small blue dot appears, and then it steadily grows bigger and bigger.

    “So that’s Earth, it’s so Blue!”

    “There is a lot of water on it, but not as pretty as an all-white planet, ice is so much more beautiful” the captain looks at Mirai and winks.

    Mirai looks in awe at her home planet, seeing all the stuff she’s seen in images for the first time. A few tears start falling.

    The Sloogi enters a standard orbit, as Mirai leaves the bridge, thanking the captain and crew for the voyage and indulging her with the Tourist approach as the ship begins her reentry to Earth.


    May 3rd, 2155, San Francisco
    Personal Log Entry: Sollona


    My first day on Earth, doesn’t look to different from Romulus in a lot of ways. Lots of green. Very different from Vulcan and all that heat and sand that I don’t miss since it gets everywhere. The transport dropped me off in San Francisco, where the Academy and Starfleet command is located, a prime target for our fleet. Now that I’m Earth, I have to start playing the role of a Vulcan again. I now have to be formal and “Logical”. Good thing Vulcans have varying degrees of control, so I don’t have to be so uptight. I just have to look Stoic and say as few words as possible.

    I have a couple weeks before I have to be at the academy to start it courses. I’m currently residing in the Vulcan compound, wonder what the nightlife is like here? Probably a bunch of meditation, so boring. Guess I could play tourist, but I don’t really have any need to see anything on this mudball of a planet, guess I can see what the nightlife is like out in San Francisco. The Compound warned me of Earth First movements like Terra Prime, bunch of drivel, bunch of morons thinking that they can be xenophobic in an interstellar age, backwards looking barbarians. The Vulcans asked me not to go anywhere alone at night, like a scared Setleth, scurrying around. Ha! I may be playing a Vulcan but I’m a proud Romulan! Romulans don’t scurry around afraid of the dark.

    End Entry

    Personal Log, Mirai:

    EARTH! It’s so beautiful! And so many humans walking around! Getting a bit of anxiety being around so many people! Wow!

    The Sloogi dropped me off near San Francisco, seeing the bay bridge from the ship was so cool! Only thing is San Fran is so COLD! Burrrr! I expected it to be warmer, but someone said to me, the coldest day He’s ever experienced was a summer day in San Francisco! I thought he was lying, but after a few days here, I completely believe him now.

    Yesterday I took the trolley cars around the embarcadero, walked across the Golden Gate bridge. Fun! Today I’m taking it easy, reading some of the entrance reading. Still a couple weeks until the term starts, so plenty of time. But tonight! I’ll see what the San Fran night life is like!

    End Entry
     
  4. Sgt_G

    Sgt_G Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2013
    Location:
    USA
    Okay, please take this with the kindness intended.

    I've only read the first segment but did scan down thru the others and saw the same "issues". I do plan to read the rest when I have more time to do so.

    I know that present-tense storytelling is the current trend in the publishing world, but I don't really care for it. I'm used to stories being told in the past-tense, usually as third-person point of view. It hurts my brain when I try to read present-tense writing. I'll take some aspirin and keep reading if the story is intriguing.

    Biggest thing for me: When you have a lot of back-and-forth dialog, it's too easy to lose track and which character is talking if you don't have "Susan said blah blah blah" / "The Captain said blah blah blah." I try to not go more than three or four lines of dialog, usually short bits, without saying who's talking. And you can add a lot of "color" by describing body language and facial expressions. You don't have to say "Susan said" every time. Instead, I like to mix it up with "Susan sighed / smiled / frowned / replied / etc."

    Minor point, but you should go back thru and look at your punctuation. I noticed a lot of missing periods at the end of sentences, and I think there were a few comma issues (missing, added where not required, or should have been period or semicolon). We're not professional writers, so I can give most comma errors a pass. But missing periods jumped out at me.

    Overall: Intriguing story. Hated seeing interesting characters being killed off so soon.
     
  5. Robert Bruce Scott

    Robert Bruce Scott Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2021
    I really like the introduction of a romulan agent and telling part of the story from that POV. I've been following a superb story in another forum (To See Again the Stars of Home by GreatBirdoftheGalaxy on Archive of Our Own) that presents an alternate ending for Commander Keras. So following the early career of this romulan (who had some knowledge of and respect for humanity) is a good choice - and a nice deep dive into a favorite TOS character.

    It would be a big help if you could find a beta-reader to help you with editing. I didn't want to be the first to say it, but I'm easily distracted by issues with tagging*, grammar and usage. I'm not as concerned about your choice to use present tense, but I did notice a couple of times you slipped into past tense and you will want to be consistent. My advise to any writer is to not worry about any of that stuff while you're writing - just get your ideas out and focus on doing good storytelling. But...

    The real magic in writing doesn't happen in the writing. It happens in the editing. I give everything at least 3 or 4 editing passes, including at least two where I read the entire thing aloud - and I STILL miss a lot. There's nothing better than having a beta-reader (who didn't create any of the prose) redline your chapters after you've done all those editing passes. Another set of eyes will catch things you would never notice and it will really help your storytelling come out.

    [*Tagging - different ways of identifying who is speaking during dialogue. ("Blah, blah," said Soandso) gets boring. There are lots of little tricks to get around this. My favorite is to describe some action: ("Blah, blah." Soandso scratched her head.) That wears out fast too, so you have to keep switching it up.]

    Thanks!! rbs
     
  6. valkyrie013

    valkyrie013 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2009
    Thanks for the comments!
    First time putting pen to paper on a story, and I didn't get the best grades in English in school oh so long ago
    I'll keep on giving it a read through, if I do finish it I might get an editor/reader to go over it.

    Wanted to give a reason to why Shannon went to the academy. Losing a good friend, seeing that being a commander or captain is just alot of boring paperwork and less about exploring and having fun.

    Have an overall idea of what happens but the meat of the story is not thought about yet. Still adding characters, had Mirai and Solana long ago, only added shannon this week as I needed another character to tell another point of view. Not going to focus on 1 ship. Going everywhere.

    Thanks!
     
    Last edited: Sep 2, 2021
  7. Robert Bruce Scott

    Robert Bruce Scott Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2021
    If you will go over the first chapter and give it your best 3 editing passes, you can contact me via private message and I will arrange to provide you a redline. Just having that for one chapter would probably help you a lot. I was briefly an English teacher and later a journalist back in the 80's. These days I edit contracts - so I've made my living from writing pretty much my entire adult life.

    Thanks!! rbs
     
  8. Sgt_G

    Sgt_G Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2013
    Location:
    USA
    Regarding reading it aloud: MS Word 365 can do that for you. I did that with two of my stories and was amazed at how many missed words / wrong words I had and could never see just by reading it to myself.
     
    Robert Bruce Scott likes this.
  9. valkyrie013

    valkyrie013 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2009
    Thanks!. Appreciate it. Gave it a second look today. Will look at it over the weekend.
     
    Robert Bruce Scott likes this.
  10. valkyrie013

    valkyrie013 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2009
    So, a bit more, work has been busy the past few weeks ( of course)
    Adding more characters, One Andorian on a colony planet. One ( or a ship full it seems) of Tellerites.
    Gave the Tellerites a bit of fleshing out, They love to argue, but I added that they also like to gamble, and that ones position in there starfleet, and probably most other places, is based on there credit score/wealth. If you Do well in your job, and have good luck and have a good bank account, you get promoted, but if you lose money, you might be demoted. An idea work in progress, sounds a bit more like a Feringi on that part, but we'll see. So without further ado.



    Andorian Colony Tlolu, 7th day of Chulic, 4327 (Earth Date March 15,2155)

    Star Log, Aryhl Th'erhavet, Andorian Imperial Guard

    Another day.

    Tlolu is the backend of nowhere, but I have only myself to blame for being here. I could have resigned from the Imperial Guard. But I was too proud for that.

    I felt that I needed to be punished, and in my esteemed colleagues’ point of view, they agreed, and I am being punished, quite vigorously.

    It has been two years since the incident that got me sent to this backwater. Its needed work, surely, however it is on the other side of the empire from Vulcan, in the middle of nowhere. Not even pirates want to come here.

    The Imperial Guard, in their utmost wisdom have sent me, with a small 3-person ship to protect the colony. And in Imperial fashion, we take that commitment to hearts. Every day one of us takes the ship and patrols the system, and come back to the colony, beam down, drink Andorian Ale till we passed out after singing our exploits as the next shift does the same, repeat ad nauseum.

    The colonists appreciate that were here in a way, there is only a general disdain for us, they believe were of no use, this system is perfectly safe, has been for twenty years. But they don’t take any frustration out on us, they know were just following orders and are grateful just in case, but we try to stay out of there way and be helpful when we can.

    Some of the others of the guard have been cycled out from here to more interesting posts, while I am here for the long haul.

    So, another day.

    End Entry.



    Miracht (Tellar Prime) 38th day of Phinda (Earth Date March 15th, 2155)

    Engineers log, Khandi lorin Zhonnar, 2nd engineer of the transport ship Gort.

    I lost, again.

    First engineer Thiv has had a good time rubbing it in that one of my latest bets didn’t pay off. While it wasn’t exactly a “Sure Thing” as the humans say, the numbers did favor the Glorsk I picked to win the yearly running, and it had the best odds vs risks. If it won, it would have finally put me up enough to where I could afford to be the 1st engineer on this hauler, even the second in command and helm officer bet on my Glorsk, but they could afford to take the chance, even if they lost, they’d still be rich enough to keep their assignments.

    Alas, Thiv picked the favorite to win, not that good of a payoff percentage, but it was the odds favorite. His did win, where my glorsk finished dead last, because it did in fact die after the first turn when it tripped and got crushed by the other glorsk.

    Thiv is also having a good laugh that I didn’t get any death insurance from the Gambling Bureau. I told him that there hasn’t been a death in the past 5 running’s! And he didn’t get any for his bet either!

    Now my finances almost qualify me for a demotion to 3rd engineer, but thankfully not quite, that would have given Thiv a coronary from laughing so hard.

    So, at the moment, there goes my dreams of saving up enough to get promoted off this junk of a ship.

    End Entry

    It was a nice day on Miracht, as usual, the humans were stunned when we told them that the weather doesn’t change that much on our home world. With no large bodies of water, mostly inland seas, a mostly mountainous land area, and no large moon, that there wasn’t much weather, sure in the equatorial areas, they got some rain, but its mostly sunny with the stray cloud here and there.

    They asked, what do we do about water and crops, we said that there are many aquifers and springs under the land, and a quite large amount of lakes and rivers, and thankfully mud holes, it does get hot and dry, so we need to moisturize.

    Its nice to see other species, especially humans here on Miracht. There new to the stars, but we found out that they also love to argue, except there diplomats, they are always nice and respectful, where the ECS captains and crews are sometimes have better arguments than our politicians. That and that they love to gamble, almost as much as us, and they have their own sports, casinos.

    A few ships that have stopped over on Earth had to send search parties to retrieve all their crew. They were mostly found in Vegas, but some decided to go to out of the way places. According to sketchy reports, a few were found in a place called Georgia at a geriatric gambling place called Bingo. They apparently made quite a lot there and were most welcomed by the people. Sadly, the Ethics officers had to make sure to get the whole crew back up to the ship, but not before having played a few hours themselves.

    I haven’t been to Earth yet but do eventually plan to go see all the sites like Vegas, Macau, now this Georgia place. Should be a lot of fun, if we can get Captain Gliv to make a trip.

    “Morning Khandi!” our ships Ethics Officer Chiss Jav Thoffaal said in greetings as he caught up to me walking the boardwalk.

    “Morning Chiss, what the hell do you want? I haven’t run afoul of the Ethics division, have I?”

    “Not today, though I did hear of your bad luck at the Glorsk running, sad your bet came in literally dead last.” Chiss says with a bit of a smile.

    “Can’t win them all, though many have tried.”

    “Yes, the admirals seem to have all the luck, those bastards. And me being in Ethics, I can’t bet on to much without making sure I have zero connections, most just resign to the fact of not betting at all, poor sad, lazy excuses, of mud, if your not cheating, your not trying hard enough.”

    “So, what do you want Chiss? Do I have to start charging by the hour? Or do you have something to ask?”

    “Go ahead and charge an hour to the Ethics line, good luck in getting anything, I’ll even put in a good word.”

    “Good word? About as useless as a raincoat in Chilvi. Again, say what you want Chiss or I will start running a tab.”

    “Fine, was here to inform you that the Gort is going to ship out tomorrow morning for the Vulcan colony of V’lan.”

    “V’lan? What the Flerk? Why are we going to that dust hole of a planet? Wait don’t tell me, were transporting meditation stones.”

    “Ha! There actually might be some in the consignment!” Chiss says in a belt of laughter, “Mainly, in centrals infinite wisdom, they want a ship to pass by to see if the Vulcans and Andorians are still being nice to each other in that area.”

    “Oh for, Really? Bunch of low account, paper pushers want to see that?” Khandi thinks a bit more and adds, “As long as we get paid, I guess.”

    “Oh, I put in for the crew for 2x pay, of which accounting will skim their customary quarter.” Chiss says with a bit of a smarmy smile.

    “And they say Ethics are tight with their account strings.”

    “I’m included on this crew, and I’m with you for this simple run a civilian trader can do, so I might as well push our luck with accounting, who knows, the captain may have a word with them, and of course take his percentage.”

    “Khandi continued down the boardwalk as she continued,” Talked to some Terrans, they say there starfleet ships crew status isn’t based on one’s bank account.”

    “That is concerning, and totally true, there based on things like “Merit” and “Loyalty”.”

    “Huh, wonder if some of our “Less endowed” people may go join in.”

    “Your one to talk Khandi, your luck lately hasn’t been stella.r”

    Khandi snarls, “Watch it Chiss.”

    “Just telling the truth, Khandi. You need better luck. And as your Ethics Officer, I am just voicing my concern, you’re a good engineer, one of the best I know, it’s just your skill with money is sub par.”

    Still snarling, Khandi abruptly turns around and stalks back the way she came yelling “See you back at the ship Chiss, hope you fall into traffic on the way back.”
     
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  11. Robert Bruce Scott

    Robert Bruce Scott Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2021
    It is an interesting concept with the tellarites. One key feature of their culture is that they consider the ability to dish out and take insults a virtue. As presented especially in STE, tellarites are obnoxious and insulting, but can also be fun and easy-going once you get used to the idea that biting insults are actually compliments. Put that together with someone from an honor-based culture - like a klingon or andorian - instant humor and probably a rather nasty brawl.

    It looks like you put quite a bit more effort into editing this chapter. My offer to provide a redline still stands.

    Thanks!! rbs