1/1/2259
Hangarbay 2
As usual the massive hangar was a hive of activity. Shuttle crews preparing for departure, personnel comparing
notes, supplies being loaded. Added to that was the hum and whir of machines and automatics.
James T. Kirk used to stride through such confusion with cocky confidence. But that was then and this was now
and he was glad that Bones was beside him.
"Captain," Ahead he saw Filars waiting for him by a tiny shuttle. She greeted him with a brisk nod and smile.
"Welcome to the High Tide."
"High Tide." Kirk smiled. "I don't think I've heard a shuttle named that before."
"That's one of the quirks of Delphis class ships, they're always named after something associated with the sea
and so are their shuttles. The Saratoga has four regular shuttles: the Cloudfront, the Fairwind, the Farshore
and the Seaspice. It has a runabout for lengthy away missions: the Waverider, and this little baby for short
term recon and ship to ship transfers: the High Tide."
"I think I'm getting seasick already," McCoy muttered.
Jim grinned and clapped his friend on the arm. "All aboard, Bones."
As the shuttle rose skyward, the sprawling metropolis of San Francisco fell away below. Brown and green land
gave way to the vast blue expanse of the Pacific Ocean, which in turn surrendered to the darkness of space
and thousands of stars.
"So, Captain, have you ever been on a Delphis class ship before?" Filars asked.
"No. I've familiarized myself with the specifications, but this will be the first time I've actually been on one."
"Then, if I may be so bold, you're in for treat. The Saratoga's quite a ship."
So was the Enterprise. He quickly shoved the thought aside. "I'm sure she is."
The High Tide cleared the ionosphere and approached the immense orbiting facility that was Starfleet Spacedock.
It slowed on its approach toward one of the docked ships.
"And there she is," Filars said with obvious affection. "The USS Saratoga: Delphis class, ten decks, current crew
complement of a hundred and three. She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts."
With a pang Kirk recalled the first time he'd seen the Enterprise. She had been beautiful, highlighted perfectly
against the black of space, the sun flaring against her crisp white hull. From the moment he'd first seen her,
something about her had called to him.
And look how that turned out.
He shoved thoughts of the past aside. Look to the here and now.
He studied the tiny ship ahead. At only 180 meters long, she was much smaller than any other ship he'd
encountered.
And yet…
He sensed a personality about her, a calm confidence. There were three other ships docked; an Armstrong,
Mayflower and a Hermes class. All of them dwarfed her, but she didn't seem daunted in the slightest.
It was as if she was saying to the other ships, Am I supposed to be impressed with you guys just because
you're big? I know my worth. Do you?
He also sensed feistiness about her, as if she was saying, I may be little but don't think for one second
that I can't hold my own!
As if hearing his thoughts, Filars continued. "When I first transferred to her I'd spent three years serving onboard
the USS Kepler. The Kepler was a Newton class, the largest in the fleet at the time, and the first time I saw
the Saratoga all I could think was 'I'm going to be on that dinky little thing?' She chuckled. "She soon taught
me the error of my ways."
Her expression turned serious. "I've been with her for eight years and the Number One rule that she's taught
me is never judge anything by its size. Never make the mistake of thinking that bigger means better or that
smaller means less. The Saratoga may not big, but she's a match for any ship in the Fleet."
"Sounds like she's your baby," Kirk remarked.
"That she is. And I'm confident she'll become yours as well."
A voice came over the intercom. 'Saratoga to Shuttlecraft High Tide, you are cleared for arrival in Shuttlebay.'
