Weeks passed quickly as the Ranger was prepared for her shakedown cruise. The passageways slowly filled with crew as the ship started to take on life. This morning found the Captain sipping coffee as he skimmed department reports. Things seemed to be coming along with relatively few hiccups as he prepared for his first official department head meeting. He'd met with each department head repeatedly in the past two weeks as they came aboard and began taking over control of their departments. His department head roster was bigger then any other ship in the fleet – as more then a few departments had to be created from what was normally under a single head on most ships. That just hadn't been an option here.

They were all about to find out though, that despite their own little fiefdoms, this ship belonged to the captain, and they – to a man were under his command.

The door chime broke his reverie, glancing up he took a sip of coffee, "Enter."

Commander Nyes stepped through the door and glanced around the office she was becoming somewhat familiar with. The Captain had finished his decorating shortly after he had come aboard, and she had to admit that she liked it – even if it was a bit Spartan, the lithographs of the ships the man had served on graced one wall, and were balanced on the other by lithographs of famous ocean going carriers of Earth's past – and the fighter craft they carried. Finally, behind him was a lithograph of the Ranger, and her first two certified fighter types.

It was the Captain's only decoration, and it fit him rather well. Well, that and the stainless steel coffee machine he'd had shipped up from his home in Wyoming. While her pallet didn't notice the specific differences between a fresh brewed cup of coffee and that which came out of the replicator, she had to admit it did add a somewhat enticing aroma to the room.

Coming to attention she nodded, "Sir, reporting as requested."

Putting down his mug he rose, "We've had this discussion before Commander, behind this door, formality goes out the airlock. I need you to be willing to talk to me – no matter the situation – even if you think I'm wrong. Out there – I expect you to toe whatever line I have – but here, I want to know what you think and feel. And that means you don't need to come to attention every time you walk in here."

Caroline didn't have an answer to that – the man's relaxed policy flustered her to no end. But he was the captain. "Aye sir." She replied – out of reflex.

"See now? That's what I'm talking about. Don't 'Aye sir' me Caroline. If you must you can continue to refer to me as Captain, but take that durasteel rod out of your ass and sit down. Now, can I get you a mug of coffee?"

Looking all the more flustered at the Captain using her name she sat down slowly – they'd had this conversation at least five times, and she still wasn't quite sure how to deal with it – but she was a new FO, and she'd be surprised to know that once upon a time her Captain had been the same way. After a moment she replied, "Ah, no that's ok sir."

Devin nodded as he expected this was going to take a while for her to learn to relax. "Alright, first departmental meeting is coming up. What are the issues we can expect?"

"Well. Things are progressing rather nicely. I know that Ops is a bit ticked that the flight deck was pulled into a separate department – and I think the Security department is somewhat surprised that the Marines are not considered under their jurisdiction." She thought for a moment, "Other then that, the only major issue is that our nuggets are getting tired of having the tar kicked out of them by the Wildcards and the Reavers in training ops. But both Red and Gold squads are coming together and starting to gel into units."

"They haven't come up with Squadron names yet?" Devin queried, interjecting into the Commander's line of thought.

"Ah, no sir - there were some names nominated – but no decisions have been made." Caroline paused and glanced at the PADD she'd forgotten she was carrying, "Other then that though – I think it'll be a smooth meeting."

Devin grunted, "Good. Pass the word to Commander Wellington that I want Red and Gold squads to come up with monikers before next Monday. It'll be good for morale, and I for one am tired of calling them by colors. That's something you do in flight training – not out in the black." Tapping a couple of keys on the recessed keyboard in his desk he brought up something on his screen, "Our SAR and Salvage teams are coming on board this week, correct?"

"Aye sir, they're the final additions."

"Good. We're still on schedule for shakedown in three weeks then. Our department head meeting starts in ten minutes. Let's go get it out of the way."

Rising he keyed a quick sequence into his console that locked it from prying eyes, and then led the way from his Ready Room, across the bridge and into what had become known as the "Situation room" to the department heads. Instead of the usual conference table layout – the room was dominated by a large rectangular holotable, which could display three dimensional or flat images as well as be used as a systems console. A second screen mounted on the wall completed the look. There were no chairs in the Situation Room – which is why Devin decided to place most of his department meetings there – it kept people on their toes.

There was a second conference room attached to the bridge, just off the primary turbolift – but the Captain had already determined that would be for use with VIPs only.

Stepping into the Situation room he tapped the holotable as he passed, which brought the system up from standby. Turning as he reached the head he tapped in a quick series of commands which brought up a wire diagram of the Ranger. Straightening he sipped his coffee and waited.


They didn't have to wait long. A couple minutes later the Department heads started to make their way in. The first – unsurprisingly was Commander Wellington – the CAG. He was still wearing a regulation flightsuit and had his flight helmet tucked under his arm. He nodded to the Captain and the First officer and took up his post off to the side of the holotable.

Next was the Ranger's CEO or Chief Engineer – Lieutenant Domino Cortana – a five foot nothing Irish redhead with a reputation that matched her fiery mane. But so far the Captain had no complaints, and her Engineering crew ran like clockwork.

Right behind Cortana was Lieutenant Commander Sol Vertung a Bolian who was the Ranger's CSEC/TAC who ran the boats Security Department, which also handled Tactical on the bridge. While it wasn't common to see a Bolian in Security, his record was excellent and Devin was looking forward to having the man aboard.

A minute or two passed before Major Bill Maddock came in, in full marine uniform – a somewhat jarring change to the normal Starfleet fair. His Marines were pretty much aboard, and while the 'fleeties' were still getting used to the idea, Devin was glad to have them.

Lieutenant Helen Selvin was the ships CMO, and by all accounts an excellent practitioner and a good surgeon.

Commander Terrik, a Vulcan was the head of Operations – he took up a post near the foot of the holotable. Behind him, came the head of the newest ship department – and the woman with perhaps some of the heaviest weight on her shoulders because of that, Lieutenant Commander Kim Tae – a joined trill. She headed up the Flight Ops department. Her two most senior staff, Lieutenants Kel Vance and Igor Ivanovich the senior Airboss and Deckboss respectively followed her in.

Lieutenant JG Rilo Grigs, the Chief Science officer and Lieutenant JG Melissa Fero – the ship's counselor were the last to arrive.

Even so – everyone was on time. As soon as everyone had arrived, the meeting started. Caroline cleared her throat to get everyone's attention.

"Welcome aboard the Ranger everyone. Over the past few weeks we've all spoken and gotten to know each other, but today is the first official department head meeting. I'm glad to see we're all on time – and I know we all have a lot to do yet to get the Ranger launched on time. With that in mind, I'll turn the meeting over to our Captain - Sir?"

As the commander stepped back, Devin stepped to the head of the table and glanced around at his senior staff. "The first thing I need to re-enforce here folks is that you all work for me. This is my boat – and I won't have any inter-departmental tiffs going on. A little rivalry and competition is good for morale – but we're all part of one whole. Let's not forget that. There is no ship without its Captain, but there is no Captain without a crew. And each of you have some of the best and brightest, along with some of the most experienced people in their fields in your command. We all need to work towards the same goal, which is to make the Ranger the most successful first ship of a class in the last century or so. Understood?"

He glanced around the table as his officers as for a moment they all pondered his words, and then as if rehearsed, and as one voice responded, "Aye Captain!"

He grinned, "Good. Now that the usual bull is out of the way – let's get down to business. Engineering, we'll start with you. What have you got for me Domino?"