The Star Beagle Adventures
Episode 1: Eye of the Beholder
Scene 4: The U.S.S. Beagle

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The U.S.S. Beagle

The U.S.S. Beagle was a complete surprise to the crew of the U.S.S. Mako. It wasn't built by Star Fleet - or any human endeavor… The Beagle was a renovated and re-christened Vulcan Science Academy cruiser - formerly the D'Metlesits. It was one of the largest cruisers the Vulcan Science Academy had ever constructed, but small by Star Fleet standards - somewhat smaller than Intrepid class cruisers.

The Beagle was shaped somewhat like a tri-bladed arrowhead interrupted about 1/3 from the rear by three interlocking rings that constituted the warp nacelles. A central strut, jutting out from the primary hull into the center of each of the rings, housed separate warp engines that powered each nacelle - a completely alien configuration from Star Fleet engine design. Vulcan ships were generally considered to be extremely fat on sensor equipment, lean on weaponry and not quite as fast as Star Fleet ships - but comparable in speed to pretty much everyone else.

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An odd party materialized in the Beagle's primary transporter room. It wasn't so much a room as a node in a vast nerve center, with large openings leading variously to areas dedicated to cargo, medicine and security, each secured by large, translucent overhead doors. A large security force of heavily armed United States Marines stood watch behind these various doors and within the transporter room.

A lovely Japanese woman in a silk, flower-print dress, stepped out from behind the transporter console. "Welcome back, Skip, Senek. And welcome to the U.S.S. Beagle, General Krank, Captain Yui and Lieutenant Commander Clark. I assume you have signed your confidentiality agreements and liability waivers?"

"I signed nothing," croaked the damaged klingon general.

"Nor were you asked to," rejoined Captain Skip Howard, turning to the general as he stepped off the transporter pad. "Those forms are for our visitors. You're one of us, now." He giggled lightly and minced away.

The Hero of Al Selem VI drew himself painfully to full height, filled his lungs to deliver a retort, then looked around and realized there really was no point. He deflated visibly with a long, audible sigh and a look of mingled pain and annoyance.

Captain Yui Song couldn't keep a sad smile of sympathy from her face. But it was Lt. Cmdr. Senek who caught the klingon general's eye:

"So you understand already. That should make things slightly less unbearable for you."

"Is he always this way?" Krank grunted.

"Oh no," Senek replied, his large, forest-green eyes as mournful as ever. "No. Today, he is on his best behavior."

The klingon general managed to look even more pained and annoyed. He hobbled painfully after the gorgeous vulcan. Captain Yui and her science officer, Lt. Cmdr. Gregg Clark, followed and were themselves followed by a rather large contingent of heavily armed U.S. Marines.

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"I don't understand how Skip Howard got a command," Clark whispered to his captain. "His grandfather opposed him even getting a commission. They called him 'Skip' because he skipped classes."

"This is Captain Howard's ship, Lieutenant Commander," Yui warned. Quietly.

They caught up to Lt. Cmdr. Senek and General Krank. The vulcan turned to his counterpart from the U.S.S. Mako: "Skip Howard was requested by Nakamura Enterprises. It was their condition for involving Star Fleet in this project. Which, in their opinion, gives them enormous influence over him."

"Surely there's more to it than that," Captain Yui responded.

"You are correct, Captain. He has demonstrated a reliable instinct for self-preservation that will hopefully serve this crew well. But the larger reason is that Skip Howard is quite probably the only person in the Milky Way who can give Commander Dutch Holland an order."

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