Episode 31. Welcome Aboard
Context
- Coordinated Universal Time
- Monday, July 22, 2024 - 08:37
- Location
-
- Space
- Lunar Orbit
- NATO Starbase
- Docks
- Timeline
- Unknown Timeline
- Previously
-
The USS Mercator led the evacuation of Brussels in the middle of the nuclear apocalypse, facing a UFO probably of non-human origin. Badly damaged, the vessel managed a heroic escape to NATO's starbase in lunar orbit, at the cost of questionable choices and heavy losses. At the station, Admiral Michaux rules out court-martial, decorates the crew, and gives Agnes Rodriguez command of the new USS Enterprise, with Angie Chen as first officer. The Mercator will be dismantled; an extraterrestrial threat remains in the background, while highly confidential documents have been announced.
Characters
| Name | Affiliation / Branch | Title / Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Agnes V. Rodriguez | NATO / Special Fleet | Captain |
| Angie Chen | NATO / Special Fleet | Commander |
| Manu | NATO / Special Fleet | Requisitioned Civilian |
Manifests
| USS Mercator Out of Service | USS Enterprise | |
|---|---|---|
| Affiliation | NATO | NATO |
| Location | Docked at the NATO Starbase | Docked at the NATO Starbase |
| Captain | Agnes V. Rodriguez | |
| First Officer | Angie Chen | |
| Pilot | Eric Corda | |
| Communications | Emilie Flores | |
| Operations | Charlene Savea | |
| Advanced Weapons | Eros Vitos | |
| Infirmary | N/A | |
| Counselor/Consultant | N/A | |
| Custodian | N/A |
TL;DR
After the tense debriefing with Michaux, Agnes and Angie run into Manu, who is busy emptying his things out of the Mercator. He is about to join the station as a simple employee, but jumps for joy when he learns that his two commanders have inherited the Enterprise. A fan of an old 1960s science-fiction series, Galaxy Patrol, Manu is even carrying a model of the USS Advance, which he almost confuses with the new flagship of the NATO Special Fleet. In the end, Agnes and Angie invite him aboard, making his place in the new adventure official.
Story
That meeting with Admiral Michaux has left me a little stunned.
It must be said that he is nothing like good old Hamilton, tucked away in the Brussels bunker, with whom everything felt simpler, more human.
No sooner has the office door closed behind us than Angie suddenly turns around... and gives Michaux the finger with perfectly assumed virility.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Angie...
What has gotten into you?
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Blah blah blah... Chen, you are a hothead...
Blah blah blah... Chen, you are irresponsible...
And blah blah blah... with his big alpha-male voice.
I mean, honestly...
Who does that dumbass think he is?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Calm down, Angie.
Think about what he just gave us.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Oh yeah...
Well, I would give him a cucumber.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Angie... lower your voice, he might hear you.
Come on. We are going to see the Enterprise.
It will take your mind off things.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Yeah...
I will try to jump for joy. Just to make you happy.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Good grief...
Grumbler...
We leave the administrative sector and emerge onto the vast circular dock that rings the inside of the starbase.
Beneath our feet, the metal floor echoes dully, mingled with the distant rumble of the generators.
All around us, Nauvoo-class vessels are docked to their ramps, bathed in the white light of the central dome.
Aligned. Clean. Intact.
Then, around the guardrail, something is wrong.
An isolated vessel.
Off-axis.
Its damaged hull clashes violently with the elegance of the others.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Wait, Angie...
Look over there.
It is the Mercator.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
At least... what is left of it.
The Mercator is nothing like the vessel we knew anymore.
Its hull is torn open in places.
Cables hang into the void.
Armor plates are stacked on the ramps like simple debris.
Through the breaches, we can see workers in suits, methodically dismantling every section that can still be used.
They move crates, extract electronic modules, recover even the control panels.
Everything is precise. Organized. Cold.
It looks like a hive in full activity, every piece torn from the vessel disappearing immediately into the logistics flow.
It is strange.
And painful.
Like watching, live... the autopsy of our ship.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Maybe we should go recover our personal effects... before they vanish into recycling.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Personal effects, Agnes?
We never had a cabin on the Mercator.
We did not even have a drawer to ourselves.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
True.
But my bike is still lying around in the shuttle bay.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Oooh...
I thought it had stayed in the bunker parking lot.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
No.
I had a bad feeling, right before the attack on Earth.
I asked Vitos to bring it aboard.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
At least it reassures me to know you did not lose everything.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
You did not either, Angie.
You can use the opportunity to have your shuttle transferred.
What is it called again?
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Hmm...
My little Herbie 53.
But the most important thing... is you, Agnes.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Now that touches me right in the heart.
Wait...
Looks like someone is waving at us over there.
On the Mercator's access ramp.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
It is Manu.
He is pushing a cart full of crates.
Come on...
Let us go say hello.
We follow the dock A markings along the guardrail, passing around two docking ramps.
As we approach the Mercator, Manu's silhouette becomes clearer behind his cart, loaded to the brim.
At last, we arrive at the foot of the access ramp.
He is waiting there, leaning against his cart, forehead sweaty... but with that broad smile we know so well.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Hi, Manu.
Manu (Requisitioned Civilian)
Hi, Agnes.
Commander Chen.
How are you today?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Pretty well, as you can see.
What are you carrying in that cart?
Manu (Requisitioned Civilian)
Oh, that...
These are my personal belongings.
Since the Mercator will not fly anymore, I am moving onto the station.
They offered me a corner in shared quarters with other employees... and a position as custodian.
But honestly... I am going to miss this ship.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
I am going to miss it too, Manu.
But if your new position does not suit you... you can always follow us.
Manu (Requisitioned Civilian)
Seriously?
That would make me really happy, Agnes.
Have you already received command of another ship?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Yeeep.
Manu (Requisitioned Civilian)
Which one?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Just turn your head a little... to the right.
Manu (Requisitioned Civilian)
Noooo...
Not that one, Agnes?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Yes, Manu.
Manu (Requisitioned Civilian)
The USS Enterprise!
Holy little moth in a sweater!
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Besides... I see you already have the ship's model in your things.
Manu (Requisitioned Civilian)
Uh, no, Agnes.
That is the model of the USS Advance, from the series Galaxy Patrol.
Do you know it?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
It is crazy how striking the resemblance is.
Yes...
I know that old sixties series.
Thanks to Angie, who is an absolute fan.
Manu (Requisitioned Civilian)
Is that true, Commander Chen?
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Nothing gets past you, Manu.
Yes, it is true.
Manu (Requisitioned Civilian)
Then you must know the adventures of Captain John V. Clark... and the big-eared Venusian, Splick?
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Exactly.
Manu (Requisitioned Civilian)
It is still a shame the series stopped after only three seasons.
I would have loved to see William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy reprise their roles in a sequel.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Nothing is stopping you from imagining one.
The Enterprise should give you plenty to inspire you.
And for the rest, we will manage.
Right, Captain?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Of course.
We can do that for him.
Manu... you are welcome aboard.
Manu (Requisitioned Civilian)
Awesome!
Thank you, Commander Chen.
Thank you, Agnes.
You are the best.
With infectious enthusiasm, Manu starts pushing his cart again and heads toward the Enterprise to board.
Angie and I resume our path.
Toward the Mercator's shuttle bay.
It is time to go retrieve my Ducati.