Miles Llewelyn felt the hum of the delta flyer class shuttle underneath his feet as he looked over his book.
Miles had a fondness for old fashioned books even in his modern century. He listened partly to the universe around him and fondly at the book he was reading.
“Project Hail Mary” was a recent gift from a dear friend and love Shallana. She knew of his fondness for old earth books and especially Science Fiction. So far the book had not disappointed him he had a blend of hard science, humour and some heartfelt moments in it.
“Anastasia you are clear to deliver Admiral Llewellyn and party to NCC-121021-E, Welcome back to Arise Station. You will be entering USS Fortitude Airspace in 2 minutes. Transferring traffic control to USS Fortitude.”
“Acknowledged, switching to USS Fortitude Airspace, thank you Arise control” Came the response of the acting flight control office Cmdr. Fox White.
He was one of many offices that where new or on temporary assignment to the USS Fortitude.
It had been 11 months since the loss of the USS Fortitude “D” and Miles let his mind wonder for a moment letting out a deep sigh.
The Fortitude had a knack for sometimes being in the wrong place but at the right time. When they had fought the Mirror Borg normally the Lexington class Fortitude would have been with her carrier group but she was solo but had held the line but at create cost.
So Miles now was taking command of the new Fortitude. This time line a main front line ship but commanding a newer and smaller Exeter Class Starship.
Miles had a fondness for these ships as it took inspiration from the older Shangri-La class and constitution class ships of the 23rd century. Miles had been given a golden ticket of pick of ships and assignments. It had surprised many in Starfleet Command at his choice of smaller ship but Miles wanted to go back to his younger years. Miles felt Starfleet had put to much emphasis of larger ships and to much technology of late and he wanted to be a driving force in emphasising the small ship classes like the Exteter and Plymouth class ships. The latter which had fought with the Fortitude as the support ships of the station they had evacuated.
“USS Fortitude to Anastasia you are now in our airspace, you are clear to dock in the main shuttle bay. Welcome home Anastasia.”
“Admiral where clear to dock, with your permission Sir?” Cmdr White reported.
Miles placed his bookmark into his book and stood from his rear seat and walked to the front of the shuttle.
“Please Do Cmdr. I appreciate your help in our shake down, I understand the Asclepius is having a system update so your soon be back with her and your family.” Miles answered.
“No problem Admiral I was happy to help, they may be smaller than some of the newer ships in the fleet but the Exeter class has those old lines you just can’t beat. She is old school charm and they are pretty besides… these ships have legs, at sub-light these ships are just as fast as escorts but you can take a lot more punishment” Fox responded.
“Very true Commander and I also appreciate that one of her designers will also be piloting for me for the shake down.” Miles answered placing his hand of Fox’s shoulder.
Miles looked up watching the Anastasia pull into the main hanger of the Fortitude and saw his senior command staff in the main shuttle bays observation bay waiting his landing.
Miles watched quietly as the Anastasia deftly touch down with barest hint of the artificial gravity of the Fortitude taking over and the ship landing so deftly.
As Miles felt the engines slowly powering down Cmdr White stood and motioned to the main exit hatch.
“After you Sir?”
Miles nodded and walked over to the main hatch and keyed the command to unlock and open the hatch door.
As the swoosh of the hatch opened the sound of the bosun’s whistle sounded and Miles heard the voice of his first office.
“Attention. Captain of the Deck”
Miles stood on the Deck of the new USS Fortitude he looked at the ships crest, name and registry number above the main exit before turning his attention to his first office Cmdr Teshla Phyhr his female Andorian.
“Thank you number one, how is wife? I apologies your where due to go one shore leave together?” Miles addressed his first office.
“It was ok, she sends her love and wishes she could be here but her work also had a break thru in regard to a dilithum replacement project.” Teshla answered.
Miles nodded. There had long been a debate not for some time about the how long dilithum supply there would be in the future and although the Federation council was worried about the consumption of dilithum within the United Federation of Planets it had decided to start a project for the future to look at alternatives.
Miles was brought out of his thoughts by his number one.
“May I present your Senior command staff Sir”.
Miles nodded.
“Stand easy everyone.” Miles requested not one for to much formality.
Miles looked over his senior staff.
Peny White was chief engineering officer a Cmdr and a borg assimilation survivor from the delta Vega when the Borg attacked them.
Cmdr Rose Harrington was Chief of Operations, born on earth and close friend and confident to Penny. They had been thru the academy together and had assigned different ships but there friendship has endured.
Neku Langi was the Chief Science officer and a Saurian. She had a keen intellect but was prone to be a little cold hearted but had warmed to the crew of the Fortitude and the senior staff after severing for so long with Miles.
Twimek Vodokon was the Chief medical officer officer and a reman and had joined the crew after the encounters at the vault. He preferred to stay in the shadows but had grown accustomed to shipboard light. He was loyal to the crew and to Miles. He had come as a rebel to Miles but had earned the right to be an officer in Starfleet and the new Romulan republic navy.
Akadia Nilona was from the new Romulan republic navy. She was a Commander and on lone. She was chief tactical officer and had a keen sixth sense about things, she also doubled as the Fortitude’s intelligence officer.
Lastly there was Fasu Lira, she was an Orion KDF officer that had left the KDF during the last civil war and had joined the Khitomer Alliance. She was as honourable and determined to the end.
“Thank you everyone, its good to see you all and I will catch up individually with you all later today, shall we get settled?” Miles requested.
Everyone murmured their agreement and they all headed to the turbolift.
As the turbolift slowed and the door opened Miles was greeted by the familiar hum and sounds of the bridge.
The active secondary duty officers when on the bridge.
The Emergency Conn holograph was sitting centre chair. Nerul was sitting at Tactical two station. Vucnak was at Engineering one and Telinka at Engineering two station. 43 of 47 the ships deflector officer ran science one and Felica Eiser ran mission ops 1, one of the ships resident nurses.
“Captain on the bridge.” The Emergency Conn hologram reported and everyone stodd and came to attention.
“As you where everyone.” Miles reported.
“Welcome back Captain.” Stated Felica.
“Thank you” responded Miles with a respectful nod.
“Captain.” Nurse Felica replied.
“Right than number one, shall we get going?” Asked Miles.
“I think so Captain, Stations everyone?” Teshia asked.
“Ms Eiser please get me the dock master?” Miles asked motioning to the Conn officer in his chair that Miles now had the conn.
“Control tower reading Captain.” Felica answered.
“Control tower this is Fortitude requesting permission to depart?” Miles requested.
“This is the control tower, Fortitude is cleared for departure please use lane seven for departure please maintain sublight speed till past the outer marker and you are than clear to navigate and to engage warp drive” Reported the dock master.
“Roger that that control tower, see you after the shake down.” Miles reported.
“Clear all moorings, prepare for departure” Fox White reported now sitting at the Helm.
“Confirmed, moorings cleared, we are ready for departure, all shuttle craft and work bee’s accounted for and now personnel on EVA activity. Our Airspace is green for go.” Rose reported from Operations stations.
“Very good, bring up the warp core to standard configuration, bring the main deflector online and thrusters only hold station, confirm all is green” Miles requested sitting centre Chair and feeling just a little nervous.
“Propulsion set to standard cruiser, deflector online and all drive systems show green on the board.” Penny reported.
The Fortitude’s systems cam online and the small ship main deflector came online and the engines held the Fortitude in positions and her running light came on one by one.
“Ready for departure Captain.” Fox reported.
“Thank you helm, ok everyone this is just a week long shake down to see some test to make sure this new ship is all good, hopefully just a easy cruise.” Miles addressed the bridge.
“Nothing like a shake down to clear the co-webs” Teshla learnt over from her number one seat next to Miles right side.
Miles winked at her.
“Mr White, thrusters ahead one quarter. Take her out” Miles ordered letting his back go back into the new smelling Captain’s chair.
“Aye, aye sir” Fox answered his hands moving swifty over the controls.
The USS Fortitude, NCC-121021-E pulled out of the dock yard eager for new adventures to follow.
NRPG: The tales of the Fortitude will be built from the crew in the Star Trek online so will be included there stories as time moves on:
