Chapter Five - The Crane's Spirit: Part One

Jett stood on the upper observation level of the Zuikaku Museum, gazing at the ancestor of his ship. The great carrier had been found in 3,500 feet of water back in the early 21st century, and preservation had started by 2010.

The Shokaku-class fleet aircraft carrier, the longest-surviving carrier to strike Pearl Harbor, was in one piece, sitting on the sea floor with a twenty-degree port list. Her antiaircraft guns were still raised skywards, ready to futiley attempt to fend off the attacks that mortally wounded her in October 1944. In Jett's eyes, she was still a beautiful ship, despite the damage she'd suffered in her final battle.

Although it was after 0200 hours in the Philippines, the museum was kept open around the clock. As there were fewer visitors in the late-night hours, the museum maintenance staff usually took this opportunity to perform maintenance on the carrier's remains. Repulsor lifts held men up as they checked the massive hull for any possible deterioration. Jett had already been here for two hours, but as usual, he couldn't bring himself to leave her just yet.

"Captain."

The voice jarred him from his thoughts. He turned to see Lieutenant Commander Price standing near him at the railing, looking down on the preservation checkup going on. He was surprised to see her here, and even more surprised to see her out of uniform.

She was dressed in a simple tunic and leggings, and her hair was styled in the same way it was when she was in uniform, but to Jett she'd never looked more beautiful. The emotions he'd forced down until they'd become dormant now resurfaced full force, and he silently thanked God that Price wasn't Betazoid.

'If she had any telepathic qualities, the emotions I'm projecting right now would send her running away screaming,' he thought. Instead he turned to her with a slight smile.

"Commander Price. I'm surprised to see you here."

She rose an eyebrow.

"I have done research on the name Zuikaku, and discovered that this ancient warship was the original namesake for our vessel. My research would not be complete without a visit to this museum."

Jett nodded in understanding a silence once more took over. He groaned silently when one of the little voices in his head made an appearance.

'Ask her about her family...you know you want to. Who knows, maybe she'll open up to you.'

Rather than argue with the voice, Jett decided to take a chance.

"Are you going to visit your family while on leave?"

"I have just come from doing so. Unfortunately, they were preparing to leave for a dinner engagement, so I was unable to spend as much time with them as I had planned. I have promised to visit them again when we return from this mission."

He expected her to resume her silence, but she surprised him.

"And yourself, Captain?"

Jett thought she was just being polite in asking about his family in return, but when he glanced at her face, he saw sincere interest in the beautiful deep brown eyes.

"This is where I usually spend most of my leaves. My parents are dead, and I have no siblings, so I spend most of my shore leaves touring museums and visiting historical sites around the planet."

She tensed at his response.

"My apologies, Captain. I did not mean to bring up an uncomfortable subject."

"None necessary, Commander. I don't feel any discomfort in talking about my parents. It happened back when I was a Lieutenant, so I've dealt with it and moved on."

She nodded, apparently satisfied with his answer. They stood side-by-side, gazing at the wreckage, neither saying a word, when a man approached them.

"Sorry to bother you, sir, ma'am, but sir, I couldn't help noticing your Starfleet uniform."

The two officers turned to face a medium-height balding man dressed in a suit. Jett decided to humor the man.

"I'm sorry, I didn't get your name, sir."

"Hal Sivron, curator of the Zuikaku Museum." He paused briefly and glanced at Jett more closely. "I've seen you here before...you spend quite a bit of time here."

Jett smiled.

"I study Second World War naval history as a hobby. I go to all the museums around the world whenever I'm on leave, but this one and a few others hold a special significance for me."

Sivron nodded as Jett continued.

"Now, what interested you about my Starfleet uniform? It's just the standard uniform for a Captain."

Sivron nodded.

"Oh, I know that. I was just wondering if you knew that Starfleet has chosen the name Zuikaku to bestow upon one of its newest starships?"

Jett was stunned to see Kalinara attempt to hide a smile. He was struggling himself.

"Yes, I've heard about it...the name's been given to a Sovereign-class starship. She's a sister ship of the Enterprise."

Sivron's eyes lit up.

"A Sovereign-class! Wonderful! I've been trying to get some information on the new ship, but no luck until I met you. What's your name?"

Jett grinned.

"Captain Jethro Thomas, Captain of the Zuikaku. This is Lieutenant Commander Price, my Second Officer."

Sivron's jaw nearly hit the floor.

"What an honor! I never expected to be talking to the Zuikaku's captain! And you have your Second Officer with you! Please, both of you, come with me...this isn't where you deserve to look at the ship!"

He walked off, motioning for the two officers to follow, Kalinara regarding the departing curator with a raised eyebrow, as if she was unable to figure the man out.