USS Spartan Episode 1 - [To Go Boldly, PART I]
Episode 1, Chapter 1
It was a warm July morning in San Francisco; the early morning sun shone low in the sky and created a brilliant yellow skyline that illuminated everything in the city. The towering Golden Gate Bridge cast a huge shadow over the bay area. The waterfront was almost deserted, no one was awake at this time, all were fast asleep but a tall stranger who wandered in the morning shadows. Simply strolling, nothing more, nothing less. The tiredness could be seen in his eyes, it could be seen in his aimless wandering just waiting for the passage of time.
The sun rose in the morning sky and the area became more crowded. The week had again begun and the main flow of people streamed for Starfleet Headquarters. In the corner of his eye he could see the Academy, this brought back many memories, it had always done, perhaps this is the place he was the happiest in his life. He could still remember his graduation day as if it were yesterday but over twenty years had passed in what seemed only like a few minutes. He however realised this was a long time ago, when he ended a chapter in his life and began to turn into a new one.
Today could easily be compared to that one so long ago. He was about to turn yet another page in his life, seeing the blank page in his mind he took a pen to it and began composing the future.
A steady walk had now replaced the carefree stroll and he gazed around looking for the entrance labelled "My future." He, however, had to content himself with "Admissions".
A secretary sat behind the main desk and she immediately caught a glimpse of the man. Acting like she had been waiting there for him all morning she snapped to action. He introduced himself and was immediately shown to a lounge in the back of the building. Left on his own he admired the peacefulness of the room. He stared into a mirror but seen an unfamiliar face looking right back. His eyes had opened slightly more as the brightness began to have an effect on them. But the tiredness still remained, it could be forced away temporarily but it would remain there for the rest of the day.
The last 24 hours had been one very long day. He had yesterday, arrived back home for the first time in two years, friends and relatives whom he had not seen in many a year waited for his eagerly anticipated home coming. It seemed like the whole of New Zealand had been there to welcome him back. He missed his native home tremendously in his travelling of outer space. A sudden noise made him turn around, his loneliness came to an abrupt end. A Starfleet Admiral just looked and smiled at him. "Welcome, Captain Christopher Lennon," she said, "I'm Admiral Nechayev."
Spontaneously he stood to attention and replied only, "Thank you Admiral."
She continued, "Well Captain, to get straight to the point," she gestured at the open door behind her. It was her office. The man simply walked in at sat at the empty chair on the near side of the desk.
"Tea, coffee?" she inquired?
"I think coffee would be the wisest decision," he replied, hoping that would wake him slightly.
"Well Captain," she began as she poured the coffee from the pot into two cups, "I think you know why you're here. As you are well aware the conflict between the Federation and the Cardassian Union has escalated in recent weeks, there have been reports that the Cardassians are arming for another war. I'm also sure you have heard about the fate of Captain Maxwell of the USS Phoenix. He had similar suspicions about the Cardassians but unfortunately acted without orders, if proper protocols were observed we would have investigated the matter in full and could have drawn out the facts."
Christopher Lennon simply sat back and sipped his coffee taking in every single word the admiral spoke.
"However we at Starfleet Command plan to investigate the matter further, we are sending in a single ship to the demilitarised zone, officially for scientific purposes, but unofficially to scan the Cardassian border area for any signs of Cardassian military installations."
Lennon broke the silence he had held for so long and said, " Do you expect to find any Admiral?" Nechayev paused for a moment thinking about the question, "Honestly Captain, I don't know, but this matter is to important to just let sit at the moment,"
"I agree," he reassured, still enjoying his morning coffee,
"We have been constructing a new type of ship, one that can manoeuvre easily in the Badlands, the Intrepid Class Starship. Our prototype, the USS Intrepid was launched last year; her shakedown went without significant incident. However, her manoeuvrability in the badlands has not been fully tested yet. Another Intrepid Class starship, the USS Spartan was completed last month, currently she is still on her shakedown cruise, but it is expected back at Earthstation McKinley in 4 weeks."
Lennon slowly took his eyes from the coffee beans at the bottom of his cup.
"The Spartan," his eyes widened, "The Greek god of rebellion, ironic perhaps, it could be sent to stop a war. Fate does play such tricks Admiral."
"Yes, but as Starfleet Officers we must use more reliable sources Captain,"
"Of course Admiral," he said putting his empty cup back on the table. The admiral lifted the pot to give him a refill. And continued;
"We have chosen you, Captain, to lead this mission. We are giving you that chance to test her stealth and her manoeuvrability through the badlands. You are ordered not to engage in large style conflicts with the Cardassians, if need-be defend yourself, but don't get over aggressive. If you do find military installations we will need physical proof they exist. This may call for an away team to infiltrate the installation and bring back some evidence. The Federation Council will not act on a rumour. However I don't want your team to take part in a mission of destruction. Once evidence is found we will send in an assault team, you and your crew will take no part." She paused for a moment to give him time to take it all in, but she noted Lennon's gaze never broke.
"Remember this is an undercover mission, so most of your Senior Officers have already been hand-picked, they are some of the best Starfleet has to offer. All like yourself trained in both undercover and infiltration skills."
She handed him a pad, it required a level 12-authorisation code to open it, he did so and glanced at his new crew.
"Your new First Officer is Commander Riccardo Sebastian Sara, he is a very skilled officer and will lead any away team you choose to send. Your tactical officer is a Lieutenant Commander Cumbrae; he is a Vulcan and will be essential in this mission and for recovering any clues of military build up. Your Chief Engineer is Lt. Isaac Glatzer, he has been ever present in the building of the ship and knows every bulkhead and control panel aboard the ship. Your Operations officer is Lieutenant Anel Jura, half-Human half Trill and is a skilled computer analyst and should be an asset to your crew. Your Chief Science Officer is Lieutenant Ruth Donnachie, her official objective is to gather scientific scans of the area, and she is responsible for putting up the net of 'official' matters of the ship, which is a necessity in this type of mission. The Chief Medical Officer Lucas Dayne is trained in both Human and Cardassian physiology; this could come in useful in undercover missions. Finally your Helmsman is one of the best pilots we've had graduate from the Academy in many years, Ensign Atkar e-KiPlane is Ktarian and will be useful in testing those dangerous manoeuvres through the Badlands. You shall meet up with them when I notify you to do so." Again she stopped to check his reaction to the roster.
"Is that all?" was the only reply,
"If you feel another position is essential, then ask me,"
To that he nodded and again glanced back at his crew rooster to try and read their personal details. But Nechayev felt it necessary to continue.
" I also want to draw your attention to a growing breakaway group of Federation Citizens, calling themselves the Maquis. They are against our peace treaty with the Cardassians and are likely to be hostile to both sides. I don't have to remind you Captain, although you are undercover, the standard regulations still apply, you must regularly report to me and only me." she stated. "As of this moment you are relieved of your former command aboard the USS Aintree and are now working for Starfleet intelligence. Do you have any questions Captain?"
"Just one Admiral, when do we leave?"
Episode 1, Chapter 1
It was a warm July morning in San Francisco; the early morning sun shone low in the sky and created a brilliant yellow skyline that illuminated everything in the city. The towering Golden Gate Bridge cast a huge shadow over the bay area. The waterfront was almost deserted, no one was awake at this time, all were fast asleep but a tall stranger who wandered in the morning shadows. Simply strolling, nothing more, nothing less. The tiredness could be seen in his eyes, it could be seen in his aimless wandering just waiting for the passage of time.
The sun rose in the morning sky and the area became more crowded. The week had again begun and the main flow of people streamed for Starfleet Headquarters. In the corner of his eye he could see the Academy, this brought back many memories, it had always done, perhaps this is the place he was the happiest in his life. He could still remember his graduation day as if it were yesterday but over twenty years had passed in what seemed only like a few minutes. He however realised this was a long time ago, when he ended a chapter in his life and began to turn into a new one.
Today could easily be compared to that one so long ago. He was about to turn yet another page in his life, seeing the blank page in his mind he took a pen to it and began composing the future.
A steady walk had now replaced the carefree stroll and he gazed around looking for the entrance labelled "My future." He, however, had to content himself with "Admissions".
A secretary sat behind the main desk and she immediately caught a glimpse of the man. Acting like she had been waiting there for him all morning she snapped to action. He introduced himself and was immediately shown to a lounge in the back of the building. Left on his own he admired the peacefulness of the room. He stared into a mirror but seen an unfamiliar face looking right back. His eyes had opened slightly more as the brightness began to have an effect on them. But the tiredness still remained, it could be forced away temporarily but it would remain there for the rest of the day.
The last 24 hours had been one very long day. He had yesterday, arrived back home for the first time in two years, friends and relatives whom he had not seen in many a year waited for his eagerly anticipated home coming. It seemed like the whole of New Zealand had been there to welcome him back. He missed his native home tremendously in his travelling of outer space. A sudden noise made him turn around, his loneliness came to an abrupt end. A Starfleet Admiral just looked and smiled at him. "Welcome, Captain Christopher Lennon," she said, "I'm Admiral Nechayev."
Spontaneously he stood to attention and replied only, "Thank you Admiral."
She continued, "Well Captain, to get straight to the point," she gestured at the open door behind her. It was her office. The man simply walked in at sat at the empty chair on the near side of the desk.
"Tea, coffee?" she inquired?
"I think coffee would be the wisest decision," he replied, hoping that would wake him slightly.
"Well Captain," she began as she poured the coffee from the pot into two cups, "I think you know why you're here. As you are well aware the conflict between the Federation and the Cardassian Union has escalated in recent weeks, there have been reports that the Cardassians are arming for another war. I'm also sure you have heard about the fate of Captain Maxwell of the USS Phoenix. He had similar suspicions about the Cardassians but unfortunately acted without orders, if proper protocols were observed we would have investigated the matter in full and could have drawn out the facts."
Christopher Lennon simply sat back and sipped his coffee taking in every single word the admiral spoke.
"However we at Starfleet Command plan to investigate the matter further, we are sending in a single ship to the demilitarised zone, officially for scientific purposes, but unofficially to scan the Cardassian border area for any signs of Cardassian military installations."
Lennon broke the silence he had held for so long and said, " Do you expect to find any Admiral?" Nechayev paused for a moment thinking about the question, "Honestly Captain, I don't know, but this matter is to important to just let sit at the moment,"
"I agree," he reassured, still enjoying his morning coffee,
"We have been constructing a new type of ship, one that can manoeuvre easily in the Badlands, the Intrepid Class Starship. Our prototype, the USS Intrepid was launched last year; her shakedown went without significant incident. However, her manoeuvrability in the badlands has not been fully tested yet. Another Intrepid Class starship, the USS Spartan was completed last month, currently she is still on her shakedown cruise, but it is expected back at Earthstation McKinley in 4 weeks."
Lennon slowly took his eyes from the coffee beans at the bottom of his cup.
"The Spartan," his eyes widened, "The Greek god of rebellion, ironic perhaps, it could be sent to stop a war. Fate does play such tricks Admiral."
"Yes, but as Starfleet Officers we must use more reliable sources Captain,"
"Of course Admiral," he said putting his empty cup back on the table. The admiral lifted the pot to give him a refill. And continued;
"We have chosen you, Captain, to lead this mission. We are giving you that chance to test her stealth and her manoeuvrability through the badlands. You are ordered not to engage in large style conflicts with the Cardassians, if need-be defend yourself, but don't get over aggressive. If you do find military installations we will need physical proof they exist. This may call for an away team to infiltrate the installation and bring back some evidence. The Federation Council will not act on a rumour. However I don't want your team to take part in a mission of destruction. Once evidence is found we will send in an assault team, you and your crew will take no part." She paused for a moment to give him time to take it all in, but she noted Lennon's gaze never broke.
"Remember this is an undercover mission, so most of your Senior Officers have already been hand-picked, they are some of the best Starfleet has to offer. All like yourself trained in both undercover and infiltration skills."
She handed him a pad, it required a level 12-authorisation code to open it, he did so and glanced at his new crew.
"Your new First Officer is Commander Riccardo Sebastian Sara, he is a very skilled officer and will lead any away team you choose to send. Your tactical officer is a Lieutenant Commander Cumbrae; he is a Vulcan and will be essential in this mission and for recovering any clues of military build up. Your Chief Engineer is Lt. Isaac Glatzer, he has been ever present in the building of the ship and knows every bulkhead and control panel aboard the ship. Your Operations officer is Lieutenant Anel Jura, half-Human half Trill and is a skilled computer analyst and should be an asset to your crew. Your Chief Science Officer is Lieutenant Ruth Donnachie, her official objective is to gather scientific scans of the area, and she is responsible for putting up the net of 'official' matters of the ship, which is a necessity in this type of mission. The Chief Medical Officer Lucas Dayne is trained in both Human and Cardassian physiology; this could come in useful in undercover missions. Finally your Helmsman is one of the best pilots we've had graduate from the Academy in many years, Ensign Atkar e-KiPlane is Ktarian and will be useful in testing those dangerous manoeuvres through the Badlands. You shall meet up with them when I notify you to do so." Again she stopped to check his reaction to the roster.
"Is that all?" was the only reply,
"If you feel another position is essential, then ask me,"
To that he nodded and again glanced back at his crew rooster to try and read their personal details. But Nechayev felt it necessary to continue.
" I also want to draw your attention to a growing breakaway group of Federation Citizens, calling themselves the Maquis. They are against our peace treaty with the Cardassians and are likely to be hostile to both sides. I don't have to remind you Captain, although you are undercover, the standard regulations still apply, you must regularly report to me and only me." she stated. "As of this moment you are relieved of your former command aboard the USS Aintree and are now working for Starfleet intelligence. Do you have any questions Captain?"
"Just one Admiral, when do we leave?"