A shuttle was leaving orbit from earth heading towards their new home. Most of the ladies in the shuttle were peering out the front viewport. "Hey move your head Sam. I can't see."
"Ah, it's only another assignment; it'll last what -- six months at most," a Lieutenant Commander said sitting towards the back of the shuttle. The shuttle began to approach the spacedock at half impulse.
The Hornet was in Spacedock; all the work around her hull had been completed. Hornet's internal systems were about 94% complete. The shuttle approached from the rear of the ship, where its main shuttle bay was. As the ship approached, work crews could be seen outside the hull doing last minute checks.
The pilot of the shuttle was a young human ensign enjoying his job immensely. The shuttle entered the shuttle bay as routinely as any other shuttle dock. When the door opened up, the women were shocked to see a familiar face standing at the exit doors of the shuttle bay to the rest of the ship. The man was 40 years old with dirty blonde hair and a Commodore's uniform. The gloomy Lieutenant Commander seemed to perk up.
"Commodore Wallace?" three of the ladies said at the same time.
"Welcome aboard the Hornet, Banshee Squadron," Wallace said with a smile. The ladies smiled as they picked up their duffel bags and approached the Commodore.
"Sorry I couldn't reveal your new Commander sooner. I thought it would be a nice surprise," Carter said being the first member of Banshee to enter the hallway.
"Your quarters are on Deck 4. You have a briefing at 1730 hours. Hopefully our Conn, CMO and Executive officers arrive," Wallace said leading the way to a turbolift, passing a few Engineers. "So how's the station holding up?" Wallace asked having a certain soft spot for his first Command assignment.
"It's going fine. You know that Major Boyle was passed over for Lieutenant Colonel," Carter said sounding a little disgusted. She didn't like the 58th all that well personally but respected their skills.
"Well I guess my reprimand didn't help," Wallace replied sounding firm.
"You entered an official reprimand into his record?"
"Yes. That whole bar fight was his and Deveraux's fault. Deveraux couldn't help it he's got something wrong with his mouth. Called 'Foot-In-Mouth Syndrome'. Boyle is a Major and should have known restraint better."
"But sir, we were equally all at fault," Jo said interrupting. Wallace turned around to look at the ladies. "Turbolift, halt. I read the reports, however Boyle is a drunk with a history of bar fighting. He knew better than to drink on SB901. I warned him about what would happen if he was involved in as much as a shoving match. Turbolift, resume." Wallace turned around and faced the door again. It was rather quiet until Banshee reached Deck 4. Richard went on to Deck 1 -- the bridge of the ship. He had a few senior officers that had arrived just as Banshee did. These officers chose to beam aboard.
The bridge was rather busy with last minute tests and such. Richard walked into his new Ready Room which was now his new office. He had spent the last 5 weeks decorating it as he would like it to look. He had a few antiques -- mainly an old ship's clock from the original Hornet, an aircraft carrier. He also had an old Cavalry saber on the wall behind his desk. A sofa finished off the room. The sofa could sit six rather easily.
The door chime went off reminding Commodore Wallace of why he had returned to his ready room. "Enter!" Wallace yelled. A familiar young man walked in wearing a red uniform and two gold pips and a black one on his collar. Richard gave a big smile and stood up and walked around his desk to greet the young man. "Hello Commander. I see you received your orders."
"Lieutenant Commander David McAllister reporting as ordered." The Commander gave a big smile, knowing that Wallace had returned a portion of a favor, by saving him from an unimportant assignment. Wallace shook his hand and gave a smile.
"Glad to have you at the helm Commander."
"Thanks Sir. That assignment was almost a nightmare. Those cadets can't fly worth a darn sir," McAllister said shaking his head in disgust.
"Well Commander, you better get settled in. We will be leaving space dock in about an hour. So 'til then."
Richard walked around and took a seat back at his desk and picked up a PADD containing some information about the new Medical officer. It was indeed enlightening. He was found in the Briar Patch and seemed not remember anything before that. The door then chimed again.
"Enter."
Two officers walked in and stood at attention. One wore blue and was male and the second wore red and was female. Wallace easily figured out who they were.
"Commander Jenna Wolf reporting for duty sir." She then handed a PADD over to Wallace who took it and read it briefly.
"Sir, Lieutenant Axeline Joxal Redinium reporting for duty as well," The man said with a little hint of a smile.
"Welcome aboard the Hornet both of you. Doctor Redinium I suggest you go and meet your team. We will be leaving for Supply Base 901 within less than an hour," Wallace said handing a PADD over to his new Chief Medical Officer.
After the Doctor left, Wallace then focused his attention on his Executive officer. "Commander, take a seat. Our mission is going to be one of exploration and charting. We however could run across Mulluran threat forces. I want to prevent another conflict. So I suggest you study all information that was gathered during the Mulluran conflict.
"I also see this your first spot as Xo on a ship." Wallace paused.
"Yes sir, I am sure, if you have doubts, I am rather able to command," Wolf replied.
"No doubts. I want you to speak up and speak freely when you think something is wrong or we need either a more aggressiveness or a more passive approach. If you seriously disagree, then pull me to the side. I don't want verbal debate on the bridge in front of junior officers," Wallace said picking up a PADD and pressing a few buttons.
"That's understandable Commodore."
"Good. We're going to launch in about 25 minutes. So you're dismissed."
The bridge was filled with what senior staff had arrived and some of the junior bridge officers. The other crew would be picked up at Supply Base 901. Wallace stood at his command chair and read off a PADD. He felt joy at this assignment but didn't want to make a big deal or ceremony out of this launch. Sure it was going to be a ground breaking assignment. Richard just wanted to leave without a big fuss. After all, he had entered Starfleet quietly enough.
"As of October 30, 2384, the USS Hornet is assigned to explore the area on the far side of the Nebula called the Briar Patch, for a period of 3-5 years. Signed Fleet Admiral William Ross. Report to your duty stations.
"Commander McAllister, prepare to leave space dock.
"Mister Matthews, power up the transwarp drive. Once we've cleared space dock I want to go to Warp 10." Wallace sat down and could hear the consoles beeping and chirping. The Hornet slid out of it's birth at 1/3 impulse power. The running lights came on and as it cleared, McAllister announced the progress. "Sir we are clear of spacedock."
Richard turned and looked at Commander Wolf and said, "Commander Wolf, would give the word?"
"Yes sir, with pleasure. Mister McAllister, engage." And with that the USS Hornet set out for its journey. What new worlds and wonders would it find? It seemed to give the crew a bit of excitement that they were on their way into the history books of some sort. The Hornet excelled at high warp speed moving at a speed the human eye wouldn't be able to pick up.
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