CHAPTER TWO
Jack Bairnson had been given a week to assemble the few members of his new crew that he would be able to choose while the Excelsior made its way to the Starfleet shipyards in the Antares solar system. Many of the lower-ranking officers that he had asked jumped at the opportunity to serve aboard the new vessel which had been granted an historic name.
Bairnson was now making his way to the lower levels of the Excelsior. The lift doors hissed open and Bairnson stepped off the turbolift and into the corridor. He strode down the length of the corridor and finally passed through another set of hissing doors. He found himself in the engineering section of the Excelsior surveying the vast number of engineering specialists busy at work in the immense room. As Bairnson casually walked through the room searching out one particular individual, the Excelsior's Chief Engineer, Harrison, came up to him.
"Hello Commander, or should I say 'Captain' now?" Harrison smiled.
"How are you Harrison?" Bairnson replied courteously.
"The news of your promotion is all over the ship, sir. Congratulations."
"Thank you."
"I also hear you're looking to fill some positions on the new ship. Anyone I would know?" Harrison was obviously intimating himself.
"Perhaps," Bairnson replied looking around anxiously. "Is Johnson on duty today?"
"Yeah, he's over there, sir," Harrison pointed over towards a young brunette man working by the interior computer boards that monitored the dilythium crystal chamber. Bairnson thanked Harrison curtly and then walked over towards Johnson.
He had quite obviously brushed Harrison off. Bairnson had never really liked the chief engineer too much. Maybe it was the fact that Harrison was such an obnoxious individual whose only interest was self-promotion. Maybe it was because he was such an incredible suck-up. Maybe it was that barroom brawl incident on Rigel 3 that left Bairnson alone against three really big and very drunk Rigellians when Harrison made an innocuous comment about their questionable sexual practices. Anyway, Bairnson was not at all crazy about Harrison.
He liked Lieutenant Ryan Johnson better than any other person on the Excelsior. The pair had been roommates at Starfleet Academy when Johnson was just a young freshman and Bairnson an up-and-coming senior cadet leader. Bairnson had helped Johnson through some of the rougher times at the Academy, making him an effective cadet-leader by the time of his own graduation. Bairnson had been Excelsior's first officer for two years when his young friend ended up serving on the same ship as his former roommate.
The two had often hung out together on the ship during off hours and Bairnson had often commented on what a great chief engineer he would make if given half the chance. Well, Bairnson was about to give him that chance.
He approached the lieutenant who was now ten years Bairnson's junior. Johnson was heavily intent on his work at the moment. Bairnson often marveled at the drive this young man had, in fact sometimes he worried about it. Bairnson's credo had always been "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." He had tried to show Johnson that work wasn't everything but sometimes he felt that in this area, Ryan Johnson was a poor student.
"Am I going insane or did the captain call a red alert and not tell me?" Bairnson began.
Johnson was briefly startled, but then turned to see his friend, "Huh? Why do you ask?" Johnson replied. "Sir?" He added almost forgetting that he was on duty again.
"Well, you seemed so intent on your work, I thought we might be under attack or something."
"Oh, no sir," Johnson apologized and immediately turned away from the terminal which hadn't been registering anything important anyway. "Well, what can I do for you, sir?"
"I suppose you've heard about my promotion?" Bairnson inquired only half-seriously.
"I think half the quadrant knows by now, sir."
Now Bairnson was embarrassed. How could anyone be expected to surprise friends and/or relatives with good news if everyone was aware of it already? Oh well, he thought, press on and hope for the best. "Yes, well then I suppose you know that I'm looking for people to fill a few positions on the ship."
"Yes, sir."
"Well, one of the positions that is available is the chief engineer." Bairnson paused to let this sink in Johnson's mind, then added, "I'd like you to fill that position, Ryan."
Ryan Johnson seemed to Bairnson to be almost as surprised by the offer as Bairnson himself was to his promotion. Ryan had to sit down once again to let it all sink in.
"Uh... well, gee sir," Johnson hesitated. "Do you really think that I'm the one you want on the Enterprise, sir? I mean Harrison is more qualified than I am."
"Yes, but then I didn't ask Harrison, did I? I asked you."
Johnson was completely amazed. He was still a young officer and really didn't see himself as ever advancing this far in so short a time. He thought that maybe in a few years or so, he might become the chief engineer aboard some Federation starship, but not this quickly. And certainly not aboard the new flagship; not aboard the ship named Enterprise.
"Sir," Johnson began again hesitantly. "All my life, I've dreamed about becoming a chief engineer aboard a Federation starship. I've worked hard to get where I am right now, and it's not that I'm not grateful to you for the offer. But I'm just not sure that I'm ready for a major change like this. Not so soon anyway."
"Johnson," Bairnson began, but then continued more gently. "Ryan, I wasn't sure myself that I was ready for this position. But Starfleet has shown confidence in me. Captain Sulu has shown confidence in me. Now, I'm showing that confidence in you. I think you're ready for this position."
Ryan Johnson sat pondering for a moment longer before finally answering Bairnson. It wasn't the answer Bairnson was hoping for, but it was all Johnson could offer. "All I'm saying sir, is that this is such a big decision for me to make. Can you give me a little time to think about it?"
Bairnson hadn't realized how much he had been pushing people to make decisions concerning their new postings. He was anxious to get under way, perhaps he hadn't thought about how any other people felt. But Ryan had made Bairnson realize that other people's feelings were involved. Giving Ryan ample time to make a decision was the least he could do. Bairnson smiled at his friend. "Okay. But try not to think too long. We arrive at Antares in two days."
Johnson nodded as Jack Bairnson strode out of the engineering section and back into the corridor towards the turbolift. Ryan Johnson then returned to his terminal screen, not so much intent on work that needn't be done, but on the prospect of being the chief engineer aboard the Federation's new flagship.
Some time later in the evening, Captain Jack Bairnson was relaxing in his quarters for what would be one of his last times. He had spent the first half hour of his off-time reviewing some of the names of the people he had chosen for his new crew. But after he became bored with the review, he activated the computer and it began to play some of Bairnson's favorite music. A little something from the twentieth century which the music connoisseurs of the time referred to as rock-n-roll.
Soon even the music became tedious and Bairnson opted for a change of pace, something soft and melodic. He then showered and slipped into a comfortable robe that he had picked up on Golina. The material was similar to Earth silk but much finer, softer, and more shear. He then sat in his recliner, put his hands behind his head and closed his eyes, letting the music wash over him like a gentle wave.
Suddenly, he heard the familiar chime that indicated someone was at his door. Bairnson groaned with some annoyance. He hadn't been expecting anyone and had been close to falling asleep on his recliner. Reluctantly, he rose from his comfy chair and walked to the door calling for whoever was at the door to enter.
The doors parted and there to Jack's surprise was Janet Sunset. Jack's hazy eyes brightened at the site of the petite lieutenant. Sunset was from Earth herself and her ethnic background classified her as what used to be referred to as a Native American. Her dark hair and eyes and slightly tan complexion gave her an exotic beauty that most men, both human and not, found difficult to resist. Only she could make a Starfleet uniform look like something out of a fashion magazine. At the moment however, she was dressed much more casually, and a bit more sexily than what most Starfleet officers thought of as "standard."
"Late night tonight, Sunset?" was all Bairnson could manage to say. Even then it sounded like a stupid come-on line.
Sunset stared up at Bairnson with those dark, dewy eyes that reminded Jack of a crater pool on Alpha Centauri. "No later than the one you're having, sir."
Sunset stared at Bairnson for what seemed like hours but was really only about a minute. "Is it alright if I come in?" Sunset finally said.
Jack realized for what must have been the hundredth time today that he had lost track of reality again. He motioned for Sunset to enter his quarters. Sunset surveyed what she could in the dim lighting which Bairnson had programmed. "Doing some heavy reading, huh?" Sunset said picking up the crew listing Bairnson had written up.
"Well, not that heavy. I knew what it said while I was writing it."
"Yes. Rather fine job you did too." Sunset said admiringly. Sunset then slinked over to the recliner Bairnson had been sitting in only a moment ago. She slowly reclined onto the plush chair and stared up at Bairnson with those eyes again.
Bairnson tried to compose himself from the obvious erotic excitement she was causing him and asked, "I uh..., take it by your presence here that you've had time to think about the chief of staff offering I gave you?"
"Mmm-hmmm," she nodded quite slowly and deliberately.
"And uh..," Bairnson continued, "what have you decided?"
Sunset then calculatingly rose from the recliner and glided smoothly towards him. With each step Bairnson's heart rate increased. With each step he felt the rather conspicuous stiffness at his waist, until Sunset put her arms around his neck and seductively drew his mouth to hers. They kissed as only lovers do. Their tongues flicking playfully with each other until finally she broke off and looked Bairnson square in the eyes.
"I take it that's a 'yes?'" Bairnson finally said. In reply Sunset kissed him yet again; not as long, but with just as much passion. Jack was beginning to love the way his fiancée communicated.
The remaining days passed very quickly for Jack Bairnson. He finished up what little duties he had to accomplish while still Excelsior's first officer, and by the last day, had settled back for the last few light years of the journey to Antares.
Now the Excelsior slowed to impulse power as it neared the planet on which it would lose several members of its crew. Jack Bairnson stood to the right of the captain's chair as the looming image of the earth-like planet Antares 5 gradually filled the bridge's main viewing screen. Captain Sulu turned to his now-former first officer. "Like to take her in one last time, Jack?"
Bairnson turned to face the man he admired so much. "If it's not too much trouble, sir."
Sulu rose from his chair and motioned Bairnson to assume the command of the Excelsior one last time. Bairnson settled into the command seat with the confidence and ease of an experienced space veteran. He sighed as his hands gripped the arm rests.
"Alright helmsman," Bairnson began. "You've done this a hundred times already but... standard orbit."
"Aye, Captain," came the young helmsman's response.
The Excelsior glided easily into the gravitational pull of Antares 5. The actual effect felt by a starship in a standard orbit maneuver was minimal, but to Jack Bairnson it felt as if his entire world was experiencing what shuttle pilots called the "hammerhead stall." Turning up in the air and completing an almost 90-degree arc.
"Standard orbit achieved, sir," the helmsman reported.
"Nice job, Jack," Sulu complemented. Bairnson only smiled and nodded in acknowledgement of Sulu's praise. "I think you'd better go and prepare for your departure," Sulu added.
With that, Jack Bairnson rose from the command chair and stepped toward the turbolift. As the doors hissed open, Bairnson turned to the bridge crew and waved goodbye to his friends who would be unable to attend his send-off. The assembled personnel said their goodbyes, each in his or her own way. Bairnson then stepped through the doors and onto the turbolift for the final time.
Jack Bairnson hadn't entirely finished packing his things the night before. Another visit from Sunset had kept him occupied for the entire evening once again. So he hurriedly packed the remaining remnants of his life aboard the Excelsior into his travel bag. When he finished he headed for the door, but as it opened into the corridor, Jack suddenly turned and surveyed his quarters.
It was only at this time, that he fully realized that his life was changing. The emptiness of the room which had once been his haven on the ship overwhelmed him. It seemed like a barren, lifeless asteroid now that all his personal possessions had been transferred to the new Enterprise. How many memories there were in this room; both happy and sad. If the walls could only talk... what a stupid thought! Whoever had first uttered that phrase must have been very sentimental, indeed. But, the past was the past and future lied straight ahead. Out the door of the quarters that once belonged to Jack Bairnson.
Jack Bairnson confidently strode the corridor towards the transporter room where his send-off was to be held. Along the way he stopped in front of Janet Sunset's quarters just as she was coming out of the doors herself. She had a travel bag slung over shoulder as well and was dressed in the same Starfleet uniform that she always wore. Like Jack, her rank insignia had changed. Hers had become that of Lieutenant Commander, while Bairnson's was a shiny new Captain's brass displayed proudly on the white shoulder strap of his maroon jacket.
"Well," Sunset began. "Don't you look official?" She smiled the smile that had made Jack fall for her in the first place then continued, "Ready to go?"
"No," Jack sighed. "But let's get going before they think we've pulled a Finney and hidden in the lower levels." Sunset chuckled and together they headed down the corridor to the turbolift. The doors opened and the pair stepped onto the lift. Then the doors closed and Captain Jack Bairnson and Lieutenant Commander Janet Sunset disappeared from the now completely empty corridor.
The turbolift doors finally opened on the level that housed the transporter room that Sunset and Bairnson were leaving from. As they hissed open, Bairnson received the surprise of his life: over a hundred crew members lined either wall of the corridor. Dressed in their best uniforms the assembled mass stood at attention as Bairnson and Sunset stepped off the lift and proceeded down the corridor towards the transporter room.
Bairnson smiled the most modest, congenial smile he could manage as he slowly walked down the corridor. "You're glowing," Sunset commented out of the side of her mouth.
"Am I?" Bairnson turned to Sunset worriedly as they walked.
"Don't worry," she said reassuringly. "It becomes you quite nicely." She then smiled at her new commander and offered him a little wink that expressed her admiration of this new side of his personality. In all the time that Janet Sunset had known him, she had rarely seen Jack Bairnson express much joy. He was always so serious about himself and about his life. She knew that he liked to think he was fun-loving, but deep down she knew him better than anyone else on the Excelsior. The smile was a sign that he was improving, though.
Together, the pair rounded the corner and entered the transporter room where Captain Sulu stood in front of the pads awaiting their arrival. The two captains exchanged greetings, shaking hands with each other. Sulu then offered his hand to Sunset smiling. "I hope you two aren't going to forget about me at your wedding."
Sunset chuckled somewhat embarrassed. "No sir," she replied. She then leaned and whispered into Sulu's ear, "You couldn't speed things up between us on that track by any chance could you, sir?"
"He and I are the same rank, Sunset. My hands are tied," Sulu whispered back.
"Damn!" Sunset cursed humorously. She then returned to Bairnson's side as Sulu addressed him.
"Well Jack," he began. "It's been a good five years. You deserve all the best wishes that I and everyone on this ship can offer."
"Thank you, sir," Bairnson replied with a lump in his throat.
"Good luck."
Bairnson nodded in acknowledgement of his captain's send-off and together he and Sunset stepped onto two of the five pads on the floor of the transporter area. As Sulu was about to give the order to the transporter chief to energize, a cry was heard out in the corridor. "Wait!" it called.
Bairnson and the other crew members in the transporter room turned towards the doorway as Ryan Johnson stepped through, panting from exhaustion. Bairnson smiled again as the young officer adjusted his travel bag over his shoulder and straightened up his uniform. He then turned to Bairnson on the transporter pad. "Is that offer still available, sir?"
Jack beamed proudly at his friend from engineering. "Come on up, Mister Johnson."
Johnson smiled and excitedly leapt up onto the transporter pad beside Jack Bairnson. Sulu shook his head in mocked exasperation and addressed Bairnson and the assembled mass. "Any other late-comers?"
A roar of laughter erupted from the crowd including Bairnson and Sunset. Johnson was the only who didn't seem to like the laughter at his expense, but a good-natured rib-poking from Bairnson soon had him joining in the joke too. After only a few seconds, the laughter died down and Sulu returned to what he was about to do. Before he gave the energize order he said one last thing to Captain Jack Bairnson.
"As an old friend of mine is fond of saying: 'Remember that a starship is a lady. Treat her like one and she'll always bring you home.'"
Bairnson nodded taking the last bit of advice from Sulu as a son would from a father that he was leaving for the first time. With that, Sulu ordered the transporter chief to energize. Soon Jack Bairnson, Janet Sunset, and Ryan Johnson, sparkled with the transporter effect and within seconds they disappeared from the deck of the U.S.S. Excelsior.
Captain Hikaru Sulu couldn't help but feel a sense of loss.