It was late in the evening. Pike entered his quarters. They were located on deck eight, at the forward-most part of the ship's saucer section. He took a moment to look about. The rooms were luxurious. His personal effects had been neatly stacked in the center of the living room, but he didn't have time to unpack yet. There was still much work to be done.
The official introductions to the senior staff in the hangar deck had gone well. They struck him as a competent group of people, and he was sure he would come to like them all in short order. The reception in the Ten-Forward lounge had been a boisterous affair, all the crew laughing and talking and getting to know each other.
The USS Knight would launch tomorrow. Pike sat down behind his desk and slipped the data rod Admiral Zultok had given him into the receptacle. His official orders appeared on the screen:
Stardate 2460841
I. The Promotions Review Board has considered your performance aboard the USS Excalibur-C, and effective this stardate you are advanced to the grade of Commodore
II. You are therefore posted, effective immediately, to command the following:
USS KNIGHT.
Galaxy II Class
Crew Complement - 800 persons
Drive - Transwarp
Range - 20 years
Registry - United Federation of Planets, NCC-1287194III. Nature and duration of mission:
Galaxy exploration and investigation:
5 yearsIV. Where possible, you will confine your landings and contacts to Class "M" planets approximating Earth-Mars conditions.
V. You will conduct this patrol to accomplish primarily:
Earth security, via explorations of intelligence and civilizations capable of a galactic threat
Scientific investigation to add to Earth's body of knowledge of alien life forms and civilizations
Any required assistance to Earth colonists and terraformers, and the enforcement of appropriate statutes affecting Federation commerce vessels and traders as you may encounter in the course of your mission
VI. After assuming command, proceed immediately to Deep Space Nine station for final equipment loading prior to the start of your mission.
VII. Your first assignment shall be the following:
Survey probe beyond the limits of Federation space; supervise the expansion of Federation borders.
Admiral Zultok
Starfleet Command
Alpha Quadrant
Pike finished reading and snapped off the viewer. He said, "Computer, forward a copy of the ship's orders to the personal terminals of all the senior staff."
<Acknowledged,> said the computer.
Having done that, Pike decided to turn in; unpacking his stuff could wait.
The next morning, Pike was up early. He hadn't even waited for the alarm to wake him up. As he shuffled from his bed over to the replicator for his morning cup of coffee, he stubbed his little toe hard on the pile of stuff still sitting in the center of the room.
"Ow," he grimaced. Gotta unpack this stuff before I kill myself.
Hobbling a little, Pike sipped his coffee, took a quick shower, got dressed, gulped down the rest of the coffee, now cold, and headed for the bridge. All this took less than fifteen minutes.
As the turbolift doors hissed open and Pike stepped onto the bridge for the first time, a young Trill ensign at the science station noticed his arrival and announced, "Commodore on the bridge!"
Pike said, "Belay that, Ensign."
"But sir, protocol states...."
Pike interrupted the ensign with an upraised hand. He smiled slightly and said, "I don't think discipline will crumble away if we do away with this one particularly annoying regulation."
The young ensign smiled in return. "Aye sir."
Alpha shift was already on duty. Captain Neil stood beside the command chair. As Pike made his way down from the turbolift, she greeted him with a crisp "Good morning, Commodore."
"Good morning, Captain," returned Pike. He got right down to business. "What's the ship's status?"
"All systems are green, sir," reported Neil.
"Very good," said Pike. He sat down in the command chair and put his arms on the armrests. "Let's get this show on the road!"
"Yes sir!" said Neil.
Pike began giving orders. "Bridge to Engineering."
[Lantree here.]
"Lieutenant, prepare to engage the impulse engines and ready the transwarp drive. We'll be needing it shortly."
[Aye sir.]
"Mr. Harris. Notify the Dock Master that we will be departing immediately."
"Yes sir," said Tom Harris. After a moment he continued, "Dock Master reports that we are cleared to depart."
"Thank you, Mr. Harris," said Pike. He turned his attention to the helm station in front of him. "Mr. Churok. Disengage docking clamps and take us out, one-quarter impulse power."
"Aye aye, sir," Churok said. His fingers danced across his console as he guided the mighty starship out from its drydock womb. "We are free and clear to navigate, sir," he announced after a minute.
Pike was pleased with the crew's professional attitude so far. "Very good, Ensign. Set course for Deep Space Nine, warp factor seven."
"Aye sir," said Churok."
Captain Neil had meantime seated herself in the Executive Officer's chair. Now she touched a contact on her control pad and said, "Attention all decks. Prepare for warp speed." Several indicators on her panel changed from amber to green. She turned to the Commodore and said, "All decks show ready, sir."
Pike nodded in acknowledgment. He had been waiting for this moment for quite some time. He leaned forward in anticipation and addressed Ensign Churok:
"Engage!"