Lieutenant McMillan and Lieutenant Gregholt were in the shuttle bay at the time,
assisting with the loading of the equipment that the Valarian government had
requested.
The main cargo bay was already full of equipment and so the smaller items were being stored in the rear crew compartment.
"That's the last of the equipment loaded." Gregholt announced as he exited the Flyer.
"Then there's only the data transfer left." Tricia replied "Let's get the link up and start the transfer."
"I'm still curious as to exactly what it is that we're transporting." Steven stated.
"Are the new holo-emitters installed ?" Tricia replied.
"Only on the flight deck." Gregholt replied. "There wasn't time to install them in the rear quarters. We'll have to do that after we return."
"Well as soon as the program's loaded, let's take a quick look." Tricia said with a smile.
They both walked aboard the Flyer and looked at the crates of equipment stacked to the rear of the crew compartment before heading onto the flight deck.
Gregholt sat at the Engineering console, whilst Tricia sat at the Ops station.
"Computer systems are on-line and the database is ready to receive the program." Tricia announced.
"Establishing data link. Accessing the Ronin's main computer core. Downloading the program 'Valaria medical database one Alpha'." Steven replied.
The computer announced.
"Computer, how long until the database file is transferred ?" Gregholt asked.
The computer replied.
"That's one large program. "Tricia announced.
"It's getting late, we have a long flight ahead of us tomorrow." Gregholt replied. "Maybe we should go get some sleep, we can always check out the program tomorrow."
"OK. Is everything else prepared for tomorrow ?" Tricia asked.
"Sure is and a good job if I say so myself." Steven replied.
"Then I'll see you at 05:30 hours, Mess hall." Tricia replied, rising from her seat.
They both left the Flyer and Tricia closed the hatch.
Curiosity started to get the better of her and she walked towards the front of Flyer. Over the front of the Flyer's nose was a large brown tarpaulin, hiding what was underneath.
"Not until tomorrow." Gregholt announced, noticing Tricia heading towards the tarpaulin.
Tricia turned back towards Gregholt and headed out of the shuttle bay.
Next Morning
Tricia was eager to get up and set off on the away mission. By 04:15 she was
already up, showered and dressed in her uniform. She passed the next hour going
over the Delta Flyer specifications, the flight plan and the cargo manifest.
The computer announced.
*Breakfast time.* Tricia thought.
Packing the Padds she'd been reading in her bag, she rose from her seat and headed for the mess hall.
As she walked into the mess hall, she looked around. The room was fairly empty, the Gamma shift wasn't due to finish until 06:00. Very few of the Alpha shift crew had breakfast in the mess hall, preferring to either skip the first meal of the day or eat in their quarters.
Tricia noticed Captain Evans sat at his usual table in the far corner of the room. This table allowed the Captain to look across the mess hall and view his crew. The table seated four, but no-one else ever sat at this table whilst the Captain was there, unless they were asked.
"Tricia, would you care to join me for breakfast ?" Ryan asked.
This was the first time she's been asked to sit at the 'Captain's table'.
"It would be a honour." Tricia replied. "I'll just get my breakfast."
Tricia walked to the replicator and orders a bowl of oat porridge and a cup of Raktajino. She then carried the tray across the room to the table and placed it down.
"Lieutenant, I'm curious to know why the senior staff have been requested to meet in the shuttle bay." Ryan asked.
"Beat's me." Tricia replied. "I know nothing about any meeting."
"I think the girl protests too much." Ryan replied, noticing the smirk on Tricia's face.
"You'll get to know with everyone else." Tricia replied.
"OK. I see you're not going to give anything away." Ryan replied. "All prepared for your away mission ?"
"Yes Captain. I think Lieutenant Gregholt is rather looking forward to returning to Valaria. Keeps talking about seeking out an old friend." Tricia replied.
"We'll be approaching the Pluoria asteroid belt at around 06:30 hours, as soon as we arrive you'll be clear to leave." The Captain reported.
"And our passenger." Tricia enquired.
"You'll rendezvous with a transport vessel when we arrive at the asteroid belt and Klara will transfer to the Flyer." Ryan stated.
"Great." Tricia said taking a sip of her Raktajino.
"Then I'll see you in the shuttle bay." Ryan replied, leaving the Lieutenant alone.
As the Captain rose from his seat, Lieutenant Commander Karissa Bentara walked into the mess hall. She instantly looked towards the Captain and noticed Tricia sat opposite with her back to the door.
Ryan passed Karissa as he walked out of the door. Karissa gave him an annoying look as he passed. When the Captain had left, Karissa ordered an orange juice and half a grapefruit from the replicator and started to walk towards where Tricia was sat.
Tricia was just finishing her Raktajino when the Commander sat down opposite, taking the recently vacated place of the Captain.
"Commander." Tricia acknowledged rising from her chair.
"Lieutenant." Karissa replied.
Karissa attempted to read Tricia's thought, but for some reason she wasn't able to. That annoyed the Commander, because she was curious as to what the Captain and Tricia had been doing before she had arrived. Everyone knew that the Captain preferred to eat breakfast alone, why would he have wanted company, especially the company of a young, attractive girl like Tricia.
"I'll see you at 06:00 hours ?" Tricia enquired.
"Sure, most of the crew are curious about what's happening." Karissa replied.
Tricia walked back to the replicator and placed the tray with the empty bowl and mug down. She pressed the recycle button and the tray disappeared. Tricia started to walk out of the mess hall, but stopped by the door and returned to the replicator. She replicated a small bottle and left.
Karissa recognised the bottle as being a bottle of champagne, smaller than the one Admiral Pike had used to christen the Ronin, but definitely champagne.
*I wonder who that's for.* Karissa thought.
06:00 ... Shuttle bay.
All of the senior staff, bar Commander Nige were present as Tricia and Steven
walked into the shuttle bay. Tricia still had in her hand the bottle she'd replicated
earlier. She walked towards the Captain and handed him the bottle, whispering
something in his ear. Klarissa was standing too far away to hear what was said.
The Captain, Tricia and Steven all walked towards the nose of the Flyer.
Captain Evans turned around to address the 'audience' and cleared his throat before speaking.
"Lieutenant's McMillan and Gregholt have asked me to perform a small task, for which I am glad to perform. As Captain of a Starship, my position gives me certain privileges." He announced.
"Not another wedding." Lieutenant Wang said under his breath. Dinara who was standing next to him, elbowed him in the ribs. Wang flinched at the slight pain. Fortunately, no-one else around hear his outburst or his cry of pain.
"Therefore it gives me great pleasure to re-name the Delta Flyer..." Ryan continued. He paused, realising that he didn't know the name Tricia and Steven had given the Flyer.
As the Captain had started his speech, Lieutenant Gregholt had walked around to the other side of the Flyer and taken hold of the tarpaulin. Tricia was doing the same on her side. Together they pulled the tarpaulin off the nose to reveal some additional lettering in red and a small emblem. The emblem was a red dragon in front of a medieval broad sword.
Ryan read the single word.
"I re-name the Delta Flyer, The 'Pendragon', may she serve the Ronin and her crew well." Ryan said, taking the bottle Tricia had handed him earlier and smashing it over the nose of the Flyer. "A waste of good champagne if you ask me."
The Captain picked up a piece of glass from the deck and looked at the label.
"I take that back, a waste of very good champagne." He remarked. "Dismissed."v Everyone bar the Captain, McMillan and Gregholt left the shuttle bay.
"Thank you Captain." Tricia said.
"I'm amazed that you got the right Pendragon symbol." The Captain stated. "Very few people realise that the dragon for King Arthur is red and not white."
"It took some extensive research, but I found the right emblem." Gregholt replied.
"This King Arthur person was an interesting fellow. But I think the records are inaccurate, there are inconsistencies." Tricia stated.
"I'll see you when you return
from Valaria, good luck and see you in two weeks." Ryan said.