(This was an experimental story which I do not as of yet know I will finish. Please read and if I get enough replies to it I will continue it. To comment please email me at jrrace@earthlink.net)
Introduction
Captain's Log, Stardate 52741.2: The newly christened U.S.S. Argus is preparing to leave Earth orbit for the first time. With all of my Senior Officers reported in, we are beaming up the rest of the Engineering detail now. We will be headed to Starbase 214 to pick up my Chief Engineer, Mark Halon. The Argus is scheduled to leave orbit in two hours, pending Starfleet approval.
Captain James Collins ended his log entry by pressing the control on his desk. He stood up from behind his desk and walked to his Ready Room's view port. From this view, James – or Jim, as his friends called him – could see the Earth rotating underneath him. A mix of whites, browns, blues, and greens, the planet was beautiful. We have discovered great new worlds, explored new sections of the galaxy, Jim thought, but nothing can ever beat the view of your home planet from space.
He heard his chime ring, and vaguely remembered it chiming once before. Interrupted from his thoughts, Captain Collins cleared his throat and said "enter."
It was his Head of Security, Lieutenant Commander Surok. Jim had specifically requested a Vulcan on board – not for their tactical experience, but for their gift for science and logic. As Surok walked through the door, Collins made his way back to his desk.
"Well," the Captain said with a little smirk, "look what the cat dragged in."
"Cat, captain?" Surok said, raising his eyebrow. "I have seen no cat in the vicinity, nor do I recall being 'dragged in' by one."
Collins, pleased with the reaction, held up his hand and laughed. "Come On, Surok," he said, knowing that the Vulcan knew what he was talking about. "It's a figure of speech. It's a human way for saying hello."
"Ah yes, Captain, I understand. Humans have the impeccable capability for disguising a normal greeting with a metaphorical statement," Surok said. Anybody other than Jim would have thought this was a logical, normal statement for the Vulcan. The Captain and Surok, however, had known each other since the Academy, and picked up the humorous undertone of his statement.
"Of course, Mr. Surok," the Captain said, acknowledging the Vulcan's joke, even if Surok would never admit that it was in fact a joke. "Is there something I can do for you, Commander?"
"Yes, Captain," he replied. "The last of the Engineering detail has beamed aboard. Here is the total crew manifest." He handed a PADD to Collins, and clasped his hands behind his back in normal Vulcan fashion.
"Let's see what we have here," Jim said as he looked at the PADD. He scrolled through it and got up from his desk. He walked around to where the view port was and said, "6 Senior Officers, 476 Enlisted, and 200 Crewmembers. That makes for a total of 682 people." He walked back to Surok and handed him the PADD. "Very well, Commander, see that this information is transmitted to Command Headquarters for recording."
"Aye, Captain," said Surok, taking the PADD.
"Oh, and Mr. Surok," Collins said, "welcome aboard."
"Thank you, Captain," he said, and turned and walked out the door.
As soon as Surok was gone, he walked over to the replicator. "Coffee, Swiss Chocolate, Hot," he commanded the computer. Seconds later, the replicator produced a hot, steaming cup of the Captain's favorite blend.
This will be a very interesting crew, the Captain said, as he went and relaxed on his sofa and drank his coffee.
Introduction
Captain's Log, Stardate 52741.2: The newly christened U.S.S. Argus is preparing to leave Earth orbit for the first time. With all of my Senior Officers reported in, we are beaming up the rest of the Engineering detail now. We will be headed to Starbase 214 to pick up my Chief Engineer, Mark Halon. The Argus is scheduled to leave orbit in two hours, pending Starfleet approval.
Captain James Collins ended his log entry by pressing the control on his desk. He stood up from behind his desk and walked to his Ready Room's view port. From this view, James – or Jim, as his friends called him – could see the Earth rotating underneath him. A mix of whites, browns, blues, and greens, the planet was beautiful. We have discovered great new worlds, explored new sections of the galaxy, Jim thought, but nothing can ever beat the view of your home planet from space.
He heard his chime ring, and vaguely remembered it chiming once before. Interrupted from his thoughts, Captain Collins cleared his throat and said "enter."
It was his Head of Security, Lieutenant Commander Surok. Jim had specifically requested a Vulcan on board – not for their tactical experience, but for their gift for science and logic. As Surok walked through the door, Collins made his way back to his desk.
"Well," the Captain said with a little smirk, "look what the cat dragged in."
"Cat, captain?" Surok said, raising his eyebrow. "I have seen no cat in the vicinity, nor do I recall being 'dragged in' by one."
Collins, pleased with the reaction, held up his hand and laughed. "Come On, Surok," he said, knowing that the Vulcan knew what he was talking about. "It's a figure of speech. It's a human way for saying hello."
"Ah yes, Captain, I understand. Humans have the impeccable capability for disguising a normal greeting with a metaphorical statement," Surok said. Anybody other than Jim would have thought this was a logical, normal statement for the Vulcan. The Captain and Surok, however, had known each other since the Academy, and picked up the humorous undertone of his statement.
"Of course, Mr. Surok," the Captain said, acknowledging the Vulcan's joke, even if Surok would never admit that it was in fact a joke. "Is there something I can do for you, Commander?"
"Yes, Captain," he replied. "The last of the Engineering detail has beamed aboard. Here is the total crew manifest." He handed a PADD to Collins, and clasped his hands behind his back in normal Vulcan fashion.
"Let's see what we have here," Jim said as he looked at the PADD. He scrolled through it and got up from his desk. He walked around to where the view port was and said, "6 Senior Officers, 476 Enlisted, and 200 Crewmembers. That makes for a total of 682 people." He walked back to Surok and handed him the PADD. "Very well, Commander, see that this information is transmitted to Command Headquarters for recording."
"Aye, Captain," said Surok, taking the PADD.
"Oh, and Mr. Surok," Collins said, "welcome aboard."
"Thank you, Captain," he said, and turned and walked out the door.
As soon as Surok was gone, he walked over to the replicator. "Coffee, Swiss Chocolate, Hot," he commanded the computer. Seconds later, the replicator produced a hot, steaming cup of the Captain's favorite blend.
This will be a very interesting crew, the Captain said, as he went and relaxed on his sofa and drank his coffee.