Chapter 16: A New Enterprise
Buffy paused before the cabin of the captain of the starship Enterprise. It had taken some doing but she and Dawn had gotten Admiral Noguchi to assign them here. Of course it didn't hurt that Noguchi was one of the few of Starfleet admiralty that had access to hers and Dawn's full files.
She stepped up and hit the button for the door chime and waited.
"Come." The door slid aside.
Buffy stepped into the room to find Captain Christopher Pike with his elbows on his desk and his chin in both fists as he gazed at the crystals that covered the desktop.
Pike glanced up at the woman before him. He let out a sigh, he had hoped Spock would get the first officer position. But she had gotten it instead. He had heard how she had some pull with the Admiralty.
"Good afternoon, Commander."
"Commodore Pike," Buffy said.
"Not commodore! Not yet. I'm still a captain till this evening." Pike swept up the crystals and poured them into a drawstring bag. They clicked and rattled.
"Very well, Captain Pike," Buffy said.
"Ship's business?"
"No, sir. The Enterprise is prepared for change of command."
"Good." He drew the strings tight, tied the bag shut, and tossed it into a nearly empty suitcase. "Not much to show for eleven years, is it?"
"Captain?" Buffy said puzzled.
"That's how long I've been in command," Pike said.
Buffy nodded. She knew that Pike had been Robert April's handpicked successor. "I know. You took over from Admiral April."
Pike nodded as he assumed she had read up on the Enterprise's history.
"And congratulations are in order," Buffy said. "For your promotion."
He smiled a private smile that did not seem to contain much humor. "Did you want to talk to me about something in particular, Commander?" he said.
"Change of command offers little opportunity for to talk," Buffy said. "I just wanted to congratulate you."
"Of course," Pike said. "Can I ask why you were assigned to the Enterprise as First Officer?"
"And why Mr. Spock was not promoted to the position," Buffy said in understanding. "The rumors are true, Captain. My sister and I have pull within Starfleet. We've been on Earth for a while now. It was time to get back out there."
She and Dawn had not left Earth since the end of Archer's own five year mission.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Dawn beamed on board the Enterprise, she stowed her things in hers and Buffy's cabin. Then she changed out of her festival costume, a long dark-red dress with Celtic embroidery at neck and wrists, and into her uniform.
As Dawn made her way through the ship, she felt the anticipation and curiosity and apprehension about the new captain mixed with regret for the departure of their respected and loved commanding officer.
She eventually found herself on the bridge and found it, unlike elsewhere, to be quiet.
"Commander," Dawn said as she nodded to Spock, who sat at the science station.
"Commander," Spock replied.
Dawn moved over to the communications station and to Lieutenant Uhura. "Any word on where we're going, and for how long?"
"We haven't received orders yet," Uhura replied with a glance toward Spock. Dawn got the impression that Uhura had asked the same thing of the Vulcan. "Our orders will of course be given first to the new captain."
"The ship is neither prepared nor fueled for a long voyage," Spock added as he moved beside Dawn and Uhura, "and the full scientific staff has not been assigned. One may deduce a trip of limited duration."
"I see," Dawn said.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
The cold woke Hikaru Sulu from a sound sleep. He could hear his communicator beeping even before he opened the door of the tiny cabin. He hurried inside and dug through his pack, finding it at the very bottom.
"Sulu here."
"Spacedock. We've been trying to reach you for hours."
"I'm on leave."
"You have new orders. Prepare to beam up."
"I need a few minutes—I'm not dressed and I'm not packed."
"No more than five minutes, lieutenant."
He scrambled into his uniform, stuffed his other clothes in his pack, and slung the strap of the scabbard of his antique saber over his shoulder.
"Are you ready, lieutenant?"
"I'm ready."
"You're on your way to your new ship, lieutenant. Transferring control to Enterprise."
"Enterprise? Wait, there's been a mistake—"
The cold prickle of the transporter beam enveloped him, sparkled him out of existence—
—and re-formed him on the transporter platform of a starship.
"Welcome aboard the Enterprise. So you're the new helm officer. I'm Kyle." The transporter technician shook his hand.
"Who's in charge?" Sulu's good mood had vanished.
Kyle considered. "Since Commodore Pike isn't on board, and Captain Kirk hasn't arrived, and change of command isn't till this evening," he said thoughtfully, "that leaves Commander Summers."
"Where is he?"
"She," Kyle corrected. "She might be on the bridge, other than that I don't know."
Sulu dropped his dufflebag and stalked out.
"Wait a minute," Kyle said. "You forgot your stuff!"
"No, I didn't," Hikaru said.
Having stormed out without asking Kyle for directions, he walked obstinately down the corridor with no directions, he walked obstinately down the corridor with no idea where he was going. Eventually he made his way to a turbolift and to the bridge.
As the doors slid open he stepped out. The bridge was crowded with techs and ensigns and other assorted crew members. A crew member nearly bumped into him on her way to the lift.
"Excuse me—" She tried to pass him.
He moved in front of her. She looked up, blinking.
"Who is Commander Summers?" he asked.
"Depends on which one you want," she replied.
"The one in command," he said.
She gestured toward the center seat where a blonde woman sat.
"Commander Summers?" Sulu said as he stepped toward the center seat
Buffy looked at Hikaru as she got out of the chair. "You would be …?" she started.
"Sulu, Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu.
"Ah, the new helm officer," she said. "Welcome aboard."
"Sir, there is a mistake. I'm not supposed to be on the Enterprise."
Buffy glanced toward Spock.
"He is assigned to the Enterprise," Spock said at the unspoken question.
"How do you know?" Hikaru asked. "I had my orders. I'm supposed to be on my way to the frontier. To join Captain Hunter's squadron."
"Then you are most fortunate to have had your orders changed," Spock said.
"Changed?" Bufyf asked. "By whom?"
"Captain James Kirk requested that Lieutenant Sulu be assigned to the Enterprise."
"Why?" Hikaru asked, mystified.
"I am sure," Spock said, "that I do not know."
Buffy shrugged. "I'm sorry, both myself and my lover were posted to the Enterprise today as well. So I don't know why either."
Sulu sighed. "I don't have any experience piloting a starship. He's got me mixed up with somebody else, or he just made a mistake—this is ridiculous!"
"If you wish to inform your commanding officer …"
Dawn looked up from where she sat at the Engineering console and frowned. "Be mindful of your emotions, Mr. Spock. Your half-human side if trying to show itself."
Spock glanced at Dawn as if to ask how she knew that.
"I'm empathic," Dawn replied. "The only human to ever be so. It is why I am third in command after Captain Kirk, Buffy and you."
Sulu sighed. "I've got to get reassigned to Aerfen."
"I will see what I can do, Lieutenant," Buffy said. "In the meantime you might make yourself at home. Transfer orders do not happen at the drop of a hat. And since the Enterprise departs tomorrow. We're going to need you till a replacement is found and transferred."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Buffy and Dawn had eventually retired to their cabin to prepare for the change of command ceremony. Buffy combed her blonde hair, while Dawn changed into her dress uniform.
"This is Commander Spock. May I have the attention of the officers of the Enterprise," Spock's voice said over the shipwide intercom. "The change-of-command ceremony will take place on the recreation deck in thirty minutes precisely. Dress is formal. Your presence is expected."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "One thing never changes, does it? He's going to be like T'Pol was in the beginning."
"I think you are right," Dawn said in agreement.
They left the cabin moments later heading for the recreation deck.