Launch
Vulcan Space Program Headquarters, New Shannai'Kahr, 2285.121, 1933 hours. Commander Ulshan had had a cardiac event 6 days earlier, leaving Lieutenant Commander Veren in charge as interim Chief Engineer. Almost simultaneous to the Commander's medical problems several serious issues arose on the engineering deck, sending the team scrambling to rectify all the pre-launch glitches. With 2.13 days left until the launch tonight was the scheduled final walk-through and Captain Evanna's eyes roamed the deck taking in every detail.
"The plasma regulator output readings that were malfunctioning earlier…"
"…have been resolved. Subsequent tests have shown our output is within normal operating parameters," Veren evenly replied.
The Captain nodded and looked around some more. T'Alora clasped her hands tighter behind her back and dug her nails deep into her arms. She did not want anything more to go wrong. "And the deuterium cartridges …"
"…have been delivered and tested and are now secure below deck where they belong."
The Captain approached one more console, conferred quietly with the Lieutenant Commander, then proceeded toward the exit. Their supervisor waited until she was out of earshot to address them. "You have all performed admirably this evening. You are now dismissed."
The pressure in her chest instantly dissipated and she eased up on the harsh grip on her hands. T'Alora watched everyone file out, presumably for a night of rest and relaxation, and was the last to head to the turbolift when she saw that the Lieutenant Commander was at work on one of the consoles. She begrudgingly admitted that he had proven himself quite capable; he was a strong leader and now knew the engineering deck almost as well as herself. While she was still disappointed for having been overlooked for the position she no longer held the Lieutenant Commander wholly accountable.
"Will you not also depart?" she inquired.
He looked up from the task at hand. "There is still work to be done. I will return to my quarters when I am sufficiently satisfied that it is completed."
T'Alora was torn. Her parents and her sa-mekh-al had arrived in town this afternoon to visit with her before the launch. Dinner reservations had been made that she did not want to miss, yet she could not bring herself to walk away when her superior officer remained. She briefly considered inviting him to join them out of politeness but was not keen to follow through on the idea. The Lieutenant Commander seemed to sense her dilemma, saying, "I would not have dismissed you if your assistance were required. You are free to spend your evening however you choose."
"Very well." Consulting her internal chronometer T'Alora determined she had just enough time to change her outfit before meeting her family.
0054 hours. They had closed down the restaurant after partaking of a delicious meal and spending hours sitting and enjoying stimulating conversation. T'Alora had thought that they would part company there in the city yet her parents and sa-mekh-al insisted on accompanying her back to Headquarters. The hover cab now sat idling outside the main gates while her mother had her arms wrapped tightly around her.
"Mama…"
"I'm not letting go 'til I'm good and ready," she replied.
T'Alora allowed herself a very small smile. "That is very well; however, I was about to suggest that you loosen your grip so that I may receive the necessary amount of oxygen to maintain vital life functions."
Her mother's sharp, barking laugh rang out across the silent grounds and she slackened her grip. "Better?"
"Better."
"Now you stay safe up there—there are always risks but don't you take any unnecessary ones. And call home as often as you can to let us know how you're doing, ok?"
"I will, Mama."
She kissed her gently on the cheek. "I love you."
"And I you."
Mama gradually relinquished her hold and T'Alora was surprised when she was soon swept up into Sa-mekh-al's embrace. She returned the hug with equal vigor. "I will miss you very much," he whispered in her ear.
"I will miss you as well." It was true—ever since her installation at the VSA they had enjoyed a much closer relationship than they had previously, and she would miss his calm presence and wise counsel greatly while she was abroad.
Just then her sa-mekh stepped up, tapping his sa-mekh on the shoulder. "I apologize, however, I must interject."
"Of course." Sa-mekh-al stepped away and turned his back; still, she thought she caught him wiping the corner of his eye with his sleeve.
"T'Alora."
"Sa-mekh."
He said nothing, yet he broadcast so strongly across the bond that she understood his sentiments as well as if he had spoken them aloud. Pride, affection, joy, awe, love…and intermixed among so much emotion was the fear that she would not return. His grief at the prospect of facing this scenario was almost suffocating, and while there was a 9.17% chance that such a situation would come to pass she could not easily alleviate his concerns. Meaningless platitudes did not suit either of them and so she let her actions do the talking, giving him a kiss on the cheek before leaning in until their foreheads touched.
"I have not amply expressed how fortunate I am in having you for a sa-mekh."
"You will never have to communicate such sentiments to me," he replied. A brief flash of memory was transmitted—it was from their living room on the Enterprise, 23.2 years ago; Sa-mekh was holding her and rocking her to sleep. "And it is I who is most fortunate in having you for a ko-fu." With great reluctance he stepped away. "Work hard in all your duties."
"I will," she solemnly replied. Mama reached out for one more embrace before following Sa-mekh and Sa-mekh-al back into the hover cab. As they parted company T'Alora found her eyes filling with tears.
Vulcan Space Program Headquarters, New Shannai'Kahr, 2285.122, 2130 hours. After dinner in the Mess T'Alora returned to her quarters and gathered her pre-packed duffle bags. She was not slated to move her belongings onto the ship until the morning, however, there was no regulation that prohibited her from moving on-board prior to that time so she decided to take advantage of the loophole.
The bunks aboard the T'Kara Mol were Spartan when compared to the berths she and her family formerly occupied on the Enterprise. Each room was 2.4 meters long by 4.5 meters wide with a single round viewport on the wall opposite the door that also held a personal comm station and desk directly below. A small private bath was installed to the right of the front door and three steps in and on the left was the built-in bed situated atop a meter tall platform with visible shelving and storage underneath. T'Alora surveyed the space, quickly deposited her belongings on the mattress, and left.
She knew that tonight presented her with a unique opportunity, one that she would not receive again; the chance to fully explore any and every crevice of the ship far from prying eyes. As T'Alora exited her bunk, looking first to her left and then to her right down the empty hallway, she felt a trill of delight run up her spine. She quickly entered the turbolift and keyed in her ultimate destination-the Bridge.
The room was dark when the doors opened but the lights queued up as soon as she set foot inside. While the Bridge was of equal size to that of the Enterprise the T'Kara Mol was of a vastly different configuration. The Captain's chair was secured to the floor and sat on the long side of a 2 meter long table located 4 meters opposite the view screen; there were also 4 more seats, 2 on each end, also secured to the floor and allowing for the heads of departments to sit and confer with the captain. To the left of the planning table was the Tactical console while to the right was the Operations console, each with three seats ready for the officers manning those stations. Every last bit of hardware was polished to a high shine.
After several seconds of study T'Alora strode up to the Captain's chair. Although she knew herself to be quite alone she still cautiously looked around the room before settling herself in the seat. Back straight and hands gripping the armrest she stared at the blank view screen and envisioned what it would be like to run a ship such as this; after all, Uncle Jim had been promoted to captain when he was only 1.86 years older than she was now.
So engrossed was she in her imaginings that T'Alora did not notice that she was no longer alone.
"I trust that the cushioning on the seat is supple, yet firm, as per my request." T'Alora jumped at the Captain's voice and immediately stood at attention. "At ease, Lieutenant." She shifted her posture ever so minutely at the order but still avoided the older woman's gaze. Captain Evanna stepped forward toward the view screen then turned to examine the expanse of the Bridge. "I have awaited this particular moment for 7.89 years," she remarked, "And it is better than I could have envisaged."
This declaration pleased her; it meant that she, as well as the rest of the team that had assembled the T'Kara Mol had done their jobs well. She also took the hint. "I will not trespass on your domain any longer."
"Do not leave on my account. It is my understanding that the T'Kara Mol is as much yours as she is mine."
T'Alora arched an eyebrow at her. "You are referring to my work in engineering?"
"I am referring to your contributions to the field of engineering at large."
Unbidden, she felt the blush rise to her cheeks at the compliment. "I am gratified by such high praise."
The Captain sidled over and stood on the opposite side of the chair, her hand grazing over the panel on the armrest. "I also understand that you have done much to ease Lieutenant Commander Veren's transition from the Mahar'oth to our ship."
She made a little bow. "I have done no more than any other member of our team has done."
"And yet he has sought out your expertise more than any other; this pleases me also."
T'Alora turned away and moved toward the tactical console. "May I inquire as to what your connection is with the Lieutenant Commander? You seem to take an eager interest in his affairs."
"Certainly," she replied. "I was the one to recruit him when I spoke with Commander Ulshan. The Commander was a professor at the VSA at the time and Veren was his protégé. I believe the humans would say that I caught 'two birds with one stone' with regards to that recruiting trip."
Before she could stop herself T'Alora asked, "Are there any members on board this vessel that you did not personally enlist?" Shocked by her own behavior, she chanced a glance over at the Captain and caught sight of the twinkle in her eyes.
"Of the 84 crewmembers set to board the T'Kara Mol there are only 17 that I did not inspect personally—so in answer to your original question no, I did not recruit them all." She sat down and spread her hands over the table, calling up the interactive screen therein; the Captain then began reviewing all the major systems. "Tomorrow will be a momentous day."
"Yes it will." There was more she wanted to ask the Captain but she could see that the woman's attention had already moved on to more pressing matters, such as the intricate details surrounding tomorrow's launch. T'Alora left without another word.
Vulcan Space Program Headquarters, New Shannai'Kahr, 2285.123, 1059 hours. She sat strapped in at her console while the countdown from Command was broadcast shipwide.
22 seconds...
21 seconds...
20 seconds...
T'Alora turned to look at two of her colleagues, Lieutenants Rion and Portak, who were sitting as she was poised and ready to go.
15 seconds...
14 seconds...
13 seconds...
Her entire body trembled with excitement. This was it—the point that she had been working toward for the last 1.96 years.
4 seconds…
3 seconds…
2 seconds…
1 second…
There was a tremendous amount of force as the ship was propelled upward and T'Alora grinned to herself throughout the entire bumpy ride. Once the ship broke through the atmosphere, however, she maintained a neutral expression and set about dutifully checking her readings. She was situated on a long-term space-faring vessel once more.