Disclaimer: Although Star Trek belongs to Paramount, the characters in
Millennium are my own creation.
A/N: This series takes place in the year 3001. Another thing, the word
Carmen means 'Song' in classical Latin.
Star Trek Millennium Ad Astra Per Aspera
Chapter One: Captain Amanda Lopez stared at the sweeping visage of the U.S.S. Carmen. It was the newest ship in the fleet, and she had the honor of commanding it. She had never commanded a top of the line ship in her three years of command. Actually, she'd never even seen a top of the line ship up close and personal in her twenty-nine years. She was looking forward to the experience.
Amanda's breath caught in her throat as she stepped through the threshold into her new ship. Everything was streamlined and silver, with polished ebony breaking the silvery walls. It was stunning. She was so caught in her reverie that she didn't consciously notice the sound of approaching footsteps. "Excuse me, but can I help you?" Amanda jumped back and gasped, "Damn you scared me!" The young man didn't seem to notice her shock at his presence. He got that too often to count. He sighed and continued with his well practiced spiel: "Welcome to the U.S.S. Carmen, if you could give me your name, you can go check in with the ship's doctor and nurses in the Sickbay." He paused expectantly, waiting for her to give her name. "Uh, I'm Amanda Lopez" she stuttered, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. A change swept over him when he heard the name. "Oh, Captain Lopez, it's an honor. Let me escort you to sickbay." She let herself be led, and thoroughly gave herself a neck ache by craning her neck every which way, staring at the silver walls, broken by polished black ebony, with the sparkling workstations dotting it like glittering gems.
Amanda settled into her quarters, arranging everything in her usual pattern: randomly thrown arround. She loved the feeling of the ship. Everything was sleek and graceful, boasting speed and agility, but also looking a formidable opponent in battle. She didn't think she'd ever seen a ship so beautiful. And it was hers.
Stepping onto the bridge felt like pure magic. It was a liberating feeling, and Amanda wanted to scream and shout, bragging that it was all hers. She knew that the inevitable would come, and she'd have to learn the names of five hundred and nine crew members, as was her practice. Ever since her first command- a small frigate delivering medical supplies to the old Demiliterized Zone. Even after nearly seven hundred years, the radiation was still causing trouble, and it would probably take another seven hundred years for it all to be gone, such had been the fighting.- Amanda had made a habit of learning all her crewmembers' by first name. It had been fairly easy in the past, but five hundred and nine. she just didn't know if she could handle it.
"Wait a minute, let me guess", she begged the carrot topped man in front of her. She focused and searched her mind, searching for one name out of five fundred and nine. "You're. Luke McMahon and. you're my chief engineer," she finished proudly. He smiled in response, showing that she'd done it right. She let out a sigh of relief- she'd managed to name all the members of her senior staff successfully. Now she'd just have to see about those jumior officers.
"We're ready Amanda," the young pilot, Crystal Vague (Will don't kill me! Crystal made me do it!)replied in answer to his Captain's unspoken question. She smiled happily and rose to say the famous words, "Hit it!" The pilot didn't need more encouragement- he was in his element.
Several hours later, Amanda Lopez stepped into the Messhall for the celebration. It had been Bruce Holmes's idea. The bright thirty four year old chief of security had thought that it might be fun for all the members of the senior staff to meet one another in a less formal gathering, giving them a chance to let their hair down, be loose and social.
Amanda worked to identify all the people at the party. She recognized Bruce, who'd organized the party. She also recognized Luke McMahon, her chief engineer, as well As Lieutenant Will Vague, her chief science officer, and his wife Crystal. She thought they were a cute couple. She also saw a few people she didn't recognize.
"Hey", Amanda said as she trotted over to Crystal Vague, who was nursing a shot of brandy. She looked up as her captain approached. "Hello, Captain", her voice was tight and closed, as was appropriate for the captain. Amanda shook her dark brown hair loose, her black eyes sparkling, as if to signify the point that she was about to make. "Crystal", the young ensign's strawberry blonde head jerked up at the use of her first name. Despite the glare Crystal gave her, Amanda continued her thought. "We're off duty, so please, call me Amanda." Crystal smiled hesitantly, then nodded. "Okay , I'll keep that in mind." She walked over to join her husband on the dance floor. Amanda shook her head, sat down at the bar, and started chugging drinks. It was going to be a long night.
Star Trek Millennium Ad Astra Per Aspera
Chapter One: Captain Amanda Lopez stared at the sweeping visage of the U.S.S. Carmen. It was the newest ship in the fleet, and she had the honor of commanding it. She had never commanded a top of the line ship in her three years of command. Actually, she'd never even seen a top of the line ship up close and personal in her twenty-nine years. She was looking forward to the experience.
Amanda's breath caught in her throat as she stepped through the threshold into her new ship. Everything was streamlined and silver, with polished ebony breaking the silvery walls. It was stunning. She was so caught in her reverie that she didn't consciously notice the sound of approaching footsteps. "Excuse me, but can I help you?" Amanda jumped back and gasped, "Damn you scared me!" The young man didn't seem to notice her shock at his presence. He got that too often to count. He sighed and continued with his well practiced spiel: "Welcome to the U.S.S. Carmen, if you could give me your name, you can go check in with the ship's doctor and nurses in the Sickbay." He paused expectantly, waiting for her to give her name. "Uh, I'm Amanda Lopez" she stuttered, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. A change swept over him when he heard the name. "Oh, Captain Lopez, it's an honor. Let me escort you to sickbay." She let herself be led, and thoroughly gave herself a neck ache by craning her neck every which way, staring at the silver walls, broken by polished black ebony, with the sparkling workstations dotting it like glittering gems.
Amanda settled into her quarters, arranging everything in her usual pattern: randomly thrown arround. She loved the feeling of the ship. Everything was sleek and graceful, boasting speed and agility, but also looking a formidable opponent in battle. She didn't think she'd ever seen a ship so beautiful. And it was hers.
Stepping onto the bridge felt like pure magic. It was a liberating feeling, and Amanda wanted to scream and shout, bragging that it was all hers. She knew that the inevitable would come, and she'd have to learn the names of five hundred and nine crew members, as was her practice. Ever since her first command- a small frigate delivering medical supplies to the old Demiliterized Zone. Even after nearly seven hundred years, the radiation was still causing trouble, and it would probably take another seven hundred years for it all to be gone, such had been the fighting.- Amanda had made a habit of learning all her crewmembers' by first name. It had been fairly easy in the past, but five hundred and nine. she just didn't know if she could handle it.
"Wait a minute, let me guess", she begged the carrot topped man in front of her. She focused and searched her mind, searching for one name out of five fundred and nine. "You're. Luke McMahon and. you're my chief engineer," she finished proudly. He smiled in response, showing that she'd done it right. She let out a sigh of relief- she'd managed to name all the members of her senior staff successfully. Now she'd just have to see about those jumior officers.
"We're ready Amanda," the young pilot, Crystal Vague (Will don't kill me! Crystal made me do it!)replied in answer to his Captain's unspoken question. She smiled happily and rose to say the famous words, "Hit it!" The pilot didn't need more encouragement- he was in his element.
Several hours later, Amanda Lopez stepped into the Messhall for the celebration. It had been Bruce Holmes's idea. The bright thirty four year old chief of security had thought that it might be fun for all the members of the senior staff to meet one another in a less formal gathering, giving them a chance to let their hair down, be loose and social.
Amanda worked to identify all the people at the party. She recognized Bruce, who'd organized the party. She also recognized Luke McMahon, her chief engineer, as well As Lieutenant Will Vague, her chief science officer, and his wife Crystal. She thought they were a cute couple. She also saw a few people she didn't recognize.
"Hey", Amanda said as she trotted over to Crystal Vague, who was nursing a shot of brandy. She looked up as her captain approached. "Hello, Captain", her voice was tight and closed, as was appropriate for the captain. Amanda shook her dark brown hair loose, her black eyes sparkling, as if to signify the point that she was about to make. "Crystal", the young ensign's strawberry blonde head jerked up at the use of her first name. Despite the glare Crystal gave her, Amanda continued her thought. "We're off duty, so please, call me Amanda." Crystal smiled hesitantly, then nodded. "Okay , I'll keep that in mind." She walked over to join her husband on the dance floor. Amanda shook her head, sat down at the bar, and started chugging drinks. It was going to be a long night.