Chapter 3: The biggest surprises come last.
The admiral looked at the assembled officers. He smiled as he saw the amazement, exitement and disbelief on the faces of the officers. He liked breaking big news in a shocking way. Now it was time to have some of that fun with one of the two commanders... or maybe even both.
"You have all been assembled here because you will be in command of this vessel" the Admiral announced pointing at the larger viewscreen on the wall which now showed a view of a very large vessel. "The ship has been designed to be the largest force that Starfleet can bring to bair in history."
"The design has been kept hughly classified and even our allies don't know it ever was designed. The ship is being built in the New Antares Shipyards."
Before I tell you all your respective assignments I assure you that even though you might feel you have been misassigned, either to the wrong duties or the wrong station, you are not. Starfleet has selected you all for very good reasons and assigned you with carefull consideration of each's personality and each's capabilities. If you feel you have been missasigned, please go through proper channels and submit an official complaint." The admiral stated as if he would take it personal if someone complained.
"Very well... Commander Falo Itarac." The admiral called out. Falo stood up and stood to attention, expecting to be promoted to captain. He'd been commander long enough, serving as first officer onboard 8 different classes of starships before coming here. The admiral continued: "You shall be first officer of the USS Shake, and you will Captain the USS Dutch, one of the vessels carried by the Shake." He said to the commander, handing him the padd containing the official orders. He understated the description of the USS Dutch deliberately.
It was a vessel very similar in sise to the Interpid class starship, although it bears more firepower. Falo Itarac had served on an intrepid class for the last year.
Besides sise the difference lay in the technology aboard, and the fact that the vessel was not only a vessel but basically part of another vessels hull.
Falo did not look at the orders, but merely stood frozen. He hadn't heard a word after first officer, realizing he wasn't going to be captain. He mumbled a quick "Yes sir" and sat down disillusioned. The Admiral had some difficulty holding down his smile. He knew the commander wanted a captains seat, he also knew that the commander would turn around as soon as he read the specs on both Shake and Dutch. They sure were no ordinary starships.
"Lt. Commander Nesnaj Odu, you shall act as the ships Chief tactical Officer. When launched you shall be in command of the USS Authority, and the wings it commands. Here are your orders, and design specs to which you have clearance." The admiral said facing the Bajorran.
Odu had expected tactical and security to be assigned to him, but never expected to be in command of an entire vessel of any sise. Exitement and pride eminated of of the Bajorrans face as he took the PADD that the admiral offered him and uttering a "eer... yes sir admiral sir...". He sat down and looked up the specs of "his" ship.
It was one of the 2 tactical advanced defiant class vessels, carried by the Shake. The only thought in his mind was "Wow! A Tactical command battlecruiser! And two wings of five Defiants to play with to!"
The Defiant class. Espescially designed to do battle!
"Leutenant Ezri Dax, you will be chief science officer on the USS Shake. You shall also be taking command of the USS Commander and it's wings when it is launched." The admiral called out. "Here are your orders and the specs your security clearance clears you for." He said as he handed her the PADD.
She looked at the Admiral, and was going to say something but changed her mind and just said "Yes sir, thank you" and sat back down, sunk in deep thought. The years after the Dominion war hadn't brought much change in Ezri's life. After being joined, startingat (or returning to) DS9 and the Dominion War she actually liked how little her life changed. It gave her the opertunaty to process the events of that turbulent time. That was over now.
Sorry sir, I do not mean to interrupt or to be insulant, but a starships Science officers is required to hold the rank of the Vulcan suddenly spoke as the Admiral turned his face away from Ezri.
Yes mr, Treeg I am aware of that, but in contrary to you, I am not a Vulcan and therefore capable of experiencing joy out of keeping surprises for the right moment. You ve managed to spoil that opertunity for me now. Thank you! The admiral interrupted. The Vulcan pulled his eyebrow as vulcans do when they are surprised at something illogical.
The Admiral turned back to Ezri, who d not even been aware of the converstation until the silence fell and she noticed everyone staring at her. She saw the Admiral looking at her and stood up again. The admiral spoke in an official tone of voice.
As our Vulcan friend her e pointed out, a Leutenant is not allowed to hold the Chief Science officers commission on a Starfleet Vessel. As your record is exemplary and Starfleet feels you re value would be greatly enhanced by this post, you are hereby promoted to Lt. Commander with all privileges, rights and obligations the rank holds, Congratulations Dax, I know you re the right person for this job. You ll make us proud! he said to Ezri.
The meaning of it all went past Ezri. She was dazed by the realization she d no longer be on DS9 from now on. She nodded a thank you sir I;m honoured and sat back down. The Admiral looked puzzled for a moment but went on anyway.
Lt. Commander Dnevel em Leov, you are the USS Shake s Chief of Security. You shall command the 400 Starfleet Security officers on the vessel. These security officers will allso be trained in special forces techniques. You will allso oversee these trainings. Here are your orders and the new security protocolls starfleet wants you to implement.
He looked as the young Andorian twiched his antanneae and smiled. You want ME to be CHIEF security Officer on a ship THAT sise? he asked. Indeed we do. You have shown great potential during the war and afterwards you ve shown to be an excellent leader, the admiral replied, strangly, in a reassuring and fatherly tone. Dnevel took the PADD and thanked the admiral.
"Leutenant Lerak Lalbeohk, You will be the carriers chief engeneering officer. As you are deemed vital to the Carrier you shall not be assigned a vessel to command. You shall be needed to keep the vessel running and coordinate engeneering across all ships the carrier carries. You shall also be responsible for selecting and training of each vessels Chief engeneer." The admiral went on,
handing a PADD with orders and specs to the Cardassian. The Cardassion smiled and took the PADD. "Thank you sir. I am honoured." He said, sitting back down.
For Larek life had been against him from the second it started. Because he was found on a deralict Cardassian vessel by Human salvage workers he'd been raised on a Human Colony. Being the only Cardassian was difficult. It did prepare him though for Starfleet Acadamy, and later active Starfleet duty, where he also was the only Cardassian.
The Dominion War didn't make things easier offcourse. Larek never lost confidence in himself and the ideals Starfleet stood for though and this was the moment that all paid off. This vessel was every Engineers wildest dreams and more, but he and noone else was it's Chief Engeneering Officer. Larek unknowingly smiled with pride.
Through all of this time Christ had been silent, carefully examining the reaction of each person as they received their assignments. The reactions told Christ a lot about the person.
"Leutenant Nereeh Lehceim, you are to be the chief medical officer of the vessel. You will also be responsible for selecting the Medical personall for this and the other vessels" the admiral said. The Dewordian took the padd, and simply said, "Eye sir, understood" and sat down mear seconds after getting up. Christ couldn't detect any emotion in the expressions of the Dewordian. It fascinated him.
The Admiral turned to the Vulcan now.
Ensign Naj Treeg. You are hereby promoted to Lt. Junior Grade. You shall be the USS Shake s helmsman. Your exceptional skills in piloting anything that flies have not gone unnoticed. You shall also be responsible for selecting each of USS Shake s vessels helmsman and for their training scheduals. You shall coordinate those training efforts with the USS Shake s tactical officer, You shall also analise each confrontational or otherwise exceptional manouvaring of the USS Shake and come with recommendations based on the analisations. As there is no other vessel to reference with, all future crews will learn from your experiences.
The Vulcan heard the Admirals words without twitching a muscle. Yes Admiral, I will endevour to perform efficiently and logically. Thank you sir And sorry for spoiling your surprise a moment ago. Suddenly the young Vulcan smiled saying that. As vulcans never smile, everyone noticed and gasped for air . A vulcan with emotions which doesn t go completely bonkers . Unbelevable.
Christ looked at the Vulcan amazed. Since his stay on the Vulcan Vessel USS Illogic he d been fascinated by the vulcans. This one was no ordinary one.
"Lt. Jr. grade Aerd'na Ejte'llurp, you shall be communications officer and be responsible for the communications staffing on the carried vessels." The admiral had already turned his attention to the Peljanite. The Peljanite took the padd, nodded and sat back down.
"Not very talkative for a comms officer" Christ thought.
"And the next assignment today is for you, Lt. Jr. Grade Lucyanna Troi, you are the Chief councelor and in general you are responsible for all counceling related matters on all vessels. You are free to determine councelling needs in reference to personalll and material." The admiral handed the last padd to her. She also nodded and sat down. Christ was now ready to be addressed by the Admiral, wondering why he was last in line to receive his assignment.
"You now have your orders, and assignments. I suggest you now get your personal effects together and start packing. You'll be catching a ride to the Shipyards at 0100 hrs tonight with the USS Deuzige. Be ready to board at docking pylon 3 before than." The admiral continued.
At that time, Christ though the time had come to say something. "Scuse me sir, do I actually have anything to do with this?" He asked sarcasticly. The Admiral turned and looked his way. "I was wondering when you'd jump in!" he staded, looking straight into his eyes. "You must have really impressed someone in Starfleet" The admiral said with eyes twinkling as if he had a double hidden meaning in that statement.
"Commander Christian Arend van Silfhout, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Captain. This promotion is a direct result of the courage, skill and determination you showed during the Missions of the USS Neanderthall inside of enemy territory. You are hereby ordered to procede to the antaris shipyards and take command of the USSc Shake and its crew." The admiral said, with a loud voice as if making the announcement before a very large audience instead of the small assembly.
Christ looked at the admiral in disbelief. Thoughts raced through his mind: "Captain? Me, captain of the most powerfull and advanced ship in the entire known space? They've gotta be joking!"were his first thoughts. They changed real fast though "No their not! I've always known I'd be Captain. They're right! I CAN AND WILL DO THIS AND I'LL DO IT RIGHT!"
As the admiral looked into Christ's eyes he saw something change. From disbelief emenating from Christ's eyes the look changed into a new look, which read great pride and determination to succeed, and show starfleet they hadn't made a mistake by giving him this chance of a lifetime.
"Yes sir, admiral sir. And thank you sir, I will not fail." He said to the Admiral and sat down, taking the PADD and looking at it intensively. Christ never heard the last part of what went on in the meeting. He looked at the PADD, deeply In thought. As the admiral gave the standard speech for new command crews.