CHAPTER ONE

From a Shakedown Cruise to Active Duty

Earth Standard Year 2291

One Year Following Graduation from Starfleet Academy Command School

"Captain's Log, Stardate 9421.4. It's been one year since my crew and I graduated from Starfleet Academy Command School. Ever since making contact with the Mechlanti and not involving them with the tensions between the Klingon Empire and the Federation, things have been going smoothly. I have my own command, and my training crew from the Academy is on board. About a week after returning to Earth following the Mechlanti mission, I am currently commanding the USS Lexington, one of the newest and sleekest ships in the fleet. It's not like being the captain of a starship in the Academy simulator, but this new command cruiser is a great ship, and I'm privileged to command her."

The ship was buzzing with activity on all decks. In main engineering on deck 24, a young chief engineer, with several other engineers on his staff, was going over figures. He leaned over a console, looking over a diagram of the ship, which outlined the effected areas where the diagnostic needed to be made. Commander Robin Brady, chief engineer of the Lexington, was an up-and-coming engineer. He was always fascinated with warp drive, warp theory, and the failed transwarp experiment. Basically, everything about a ship's engines intrigued him. When he was at the Academy, he was quite the bashful one, not wanting to interact with the crew. He changed dramatically and was now becoming one of the best engineers in Starfleet. The best; however, was without a doubt, Captain Montgomery Scott, Captain James Kirk's chief engineer. Brady had yet to meet the miracle worker. Scott was Brady's role model, and he hoped to model his engineering career after him.

What better way to model my career than to start with the basics? Brady asked to himself. He looked over a readout on the display screen before him, as one of his engineers' keyed in several commands. "The plasma generator on the port impulse engine?" Brady asked, concerned about the engines. The diagnostic officer nodded, as Brady rubbed the bridge his nose and continued talking. "Right now, it's 70% efficency. Get it up to at least 95. No telling what else may go wrong on this shakedown cruise."

"Aye, sir," his staff chimed in and dispersed, setting to work on the diagnostic. One officer remained, a female engineer. She was human, just like Brady from Earth, and like him, was the shy and bashful one at the Academy. "Yes, Ensign—" The name escaped Brady at the moment, but he knew he had seen her face before.

"Ensign Shannon Andrews, sir."

"What's on your mind, Ensign?"

Andrews stood at ease and walked toward Robin, who was working on a console behind the main work station. He had a datacount in his left hand, and his right hand was coordinating with his staff. "Sir," she began. "I'm curious. Why is a diagnostic on the port impulse engine plasma generator so—"

"Important?" Brady interrupted. Andrews nodded, still standing at ease. "It's really quite simple. The generator is what powers the engine manifolds. It keeps the structural intergrity field from collapsing around the ship should it come under attack. It's like any other ship in the fleet, but seeing as how the Lexington herself is the first of her class, there may or may not be an exception. I even heard a rumor that this ship was supposed to have transwarp drive."

Andrews nodded understanding Brady's answer to her inquiry. As Brady set to work to corrdinate with his staff, he noticed that Andrews had not moved from wheere she was. "Was there something else, Ensign?"

"It's a personal inquiry, sir," Andrews replied, almost smiling. "I wanted to know if you were doing anything later on this evening."

Brady looked nervous upon hearing Andrews' statement. He almost clamed up inside, could not move. But he breathed slowly and returned the ensign's warm smile. "Are you asking me out on a date?" Brady asked.

"I suppose I am."

"Well, I accept your marvelous invitation."

"Is 1620 hours good for you?"

"That's brilliant."

* * * * * * * *

The bridge was the busiest section on the bridge of the Lexington with its enormous command module. Always located on deck one of a ship, the bridge was where the most action and drama unfolded. Command, Communications, Propulsion, Navigation, Helm, and Science were all handled on the bridge. The helm and navigation stations were manned by two young, yet mature crewmen. At navigation, Commander Geoffery Corin turned to face the captain, who was currently signing a datacount.

Seated opposite Corin at the helm station was Commander Jana Akton, who nodded approvingly at Corin. Akton and Corin were at the Academy together, having been part of the illustrious class of 2290. They maintained a professional and personal relationship as well, which at one time did not bode well with their training captain. Then-cadet David Forester was expected to monitor his crew, but he questioned if monitoring his crew's love life was to be expected from him. With help from his Academy instructors Commander Pavel Chekov and Captain Hikaru Sulu, Forester excelled in his studies. Now, one year after graduation, he was promoted to captain and now commands one of the fleet's newest and advanced ships.

"Now entering the Sol System, Captain," Corin reported.

"Slow to one-quarter impulse," Forester said, rising from his chair. Forester heard the impulse engines hum lowly, as the ship exited from warp. The ship, which was based off of the Excelsior-class vessel, was a testbed for Federation ships to come. In addition to that, the Lexington herself was the first of her class. Forester was proud to serve as captain of this new vessel.

Forester walked over to the science station, where his science officer Commander Sturek turned to face him. Unlike Kirk's science officer Captain Spock, Sturek wore the rank of Commander. "Science department reports no irregularities, Captain," the Vulcan spoke, in a near monotone.

"Captain," a female voice said from communications. Forester whirled to see his communications officer Commander Vanda M'Giia turn to face him She was Andorian, the daugther of an Andorian diplomat. She was upper class on her homeworld because of this fact. "I'm receiving a Priority One message from Admiral Rotherfort."

If there were some things that surprised David Forester the most, it boiled down to two things. The first was his command crew from the Academy opted to continue serving their training captain, even with his rank as an actual captain. He still could not believe that he was wearing a uniform of a Starfleet officer, not a cadet's uniform. The second thing was this incoming transmission. Aex Rotherfort was his commandant at the Academy. He had been promoted to Admiral following Forester's graduation.

"On screen," Forester said casually. He placed his hands behind his back, awaiting the transmission. The view screen wavered slightly, from an image of Earth, to the emblem of the United Federation of Planets, and finally the image of Admiral Aex Rotherfort.

"Ah, Captain Forester," the admiral said, smiling on the view screen.

Forester rested one hand on his command chair, feeling the smooth leather. He looked to Rotherfort, seeing the admiral's smile. "Admiral, it's a pleasure to see you again, sir."

"I wish I could say the same, Captain, I truly do."

"What seems to be the problem, sir?"

"Beam down to my office with your command crew, Captain. I will fill you in on the details once you arrive. Rotherfort out." The viewscreen wavered back to the view of Earth.

Forester released a bothersome sigh as he watched the view screen waver off and then return to the lush sphere of Earth. Brady, who had been in Engineering after returning from this shakedown cruise, entered onto the bridge in an Engineer's attire, almost similar to what Montgomery Scott wore on the Enterprise. Brady had always looked up to the Scotish engineer. He was one of the best in the field of Engineering, and where could Brady go wrong in choosing him as a role model? "What's going on?" he asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.

"I haven't the slightest idea, Robin," David replied, rhythmically tapping the side of his chair. "But I'm sure it can't be good." As Forester headed for the turbolift, Sturek turned to face Brady to respond to the engineer's inquiry.

"It would seem that Admiral Rotherfort wishes to brief us on a mission," Sturek replied, looking to Forester. "If you recall, we went through the same ordeal when we were cadets at the Academy and in the simulator."

"But this isn't the simulator, or the Academy, Sturek," Forester answered. The message from the former Starfleet Academy commandant confused him. "What's going on, is what I want to know." David pondered what Rotherfort said in his message for a moment. "Continue with docking procedures," he said, looking at the view screen.

"Starbase 12," M'Giia said, "this is Lexington. Awaiting final approval on approach."

"Lexington this is control. Welcome back."

Forester stood from behind his chair as his command crew joined him. They walked over to the turbolift and the doors parted open. Forester and his command crew now entered, filing in according to their rank. "Deck 16." The lift doors closed, as Forester and his command crew headed for the shuttle bay.

The turbolift ride down to the shuttlebay was quiet. Forester's command walked to the nearest shuttlecraft, followed by a young ensign. The shuttlebay doors opened, once again revealing the lush planet Earth and its green, blue, white, and brown world. "Shuttlecraft Apollo, you are cleared for departure," Ensign Watson, relief communications officer, said, and then cut the link. The Apollo's impulse engines came alive as the shuttle sailed forward out of the Lexington's shuttle bay. The craft smoothly sailed into a downward arc, heading for Earth. Just over the planet hung Starbase 12.

The shuttle landed on the outskirts of Starfleet Headquarters without incident. The ride was short, as when the doors opened and slowly fell to the ground, Forester and his command crew headed for the main entrance.

"Captain's Log, supplemental. My command crew and I have arrived at the grounds of Starfleet Headquarters. The meeting scheduled with Admiral Rotherfort has been slated to start when we enter his office. I don't know what this meeting will be about, but I'm sure that it isn't about the Academy."

"What's going on?" Corin asked. "What's with the security?"

"Your guess is as good as mine, Geoff," Forester replied.

The crew arrived to a set of double-doors. Two security officers stood at attention, watching the young captain and officers before them. The guards faces were blank for a moment, not expecting a young captain such as Forester to see the admiral. "I'm Captain David Ross Forester to see Admiral Rotherfort."

"Of course, Captain Forester. The admiral has been expecting you."

The officer and two other security guards escorted Forester and his crew down the corridor to Rotherfort's office. It had been just one year since Forester had last seen Rotherfort. In 2290, his office was not located that far from the President's office. He was Commandant at the Academy. Now, he was now an admiral, one who would report to the President of the Federation.

The door chimed in front of the admiral's office, as Forester and his command crew waited. "Enter," a calm voice said from within.

The officers entered the room, and filed in, according to their rank. They immediately stood at attention as Forester spoke to Rotherfort. "Captain David Ross Forester, clearance level three alpha, oh-one gamma, reporting as requested sir," the former cadet saluted.

"Stand at ease, Captain," Rotherfort said. The officers assumed a parade rest as three men walked toward to see the officers. Nostalgia filled their faces as they saw three other familiar faces in the meeting. "I'm sure you all remember Captain Kirk, Captain Sulu, and Commander Chekov." The officers nodded at their former Academy instructors, as they now waited for Rotherfort to say something more. And indeed he had a lot to say.

Another man was in the medium-sized office as well, his hair almost a coconut brown but also black. He was Starfleet that much was certain. His burgundy uniform was decorated well with many metals and badges. He was a slender man, well into his early to middle thirties. His mustache was just beginning to grow and his posture was erect as that of a young man.

"Captain, allow me to introduce Colonel West, primary advisor to the President of the Federation."

"Colonel, it's a pleasure, sir," Forester said, shaking the man's hand.

The remainder of Forester's crew shook the colonel's hand as Rotherfort continued with the briefing. "There's no easy way to say this, Captain." Rotherfort sighed and spoke again. He stood from his desk and looked out a window, just overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. It was a breathtaking sight, even from here. Shuttles flew past with their maneuvering thrusters, entering and leaving Earth.

"The Klingon Empire, our most feared adversary, have begun a war campaign against the Federation. This time there may be no stopping them."