Episode 38. Ready for Duty
Context
- Coordinated Universal Time
- Wednesday, July 24, 2024 - 08:01
- Location
-
- Space
- Lunar Orbit
- NATO Starbase
- USS Enterprise
- Bridge
- Timeline
- Unknown Timeline
- Previously
-
Agnes Rodriguez, captain of the USS Mercator, led the evacuation of Brussels during a nuclear crisis worsened by the appearance of a non-human vessel. After desperate maneuvers and heavy losses, the Mercator reached the NATO starbase in lunar orbit. There, Agnes and her team discovered top-secret files revealing the exploitation of extraterrestrial technology since the 1950s. Admiral Michaux appointed Agnes to command the USS Enterprise. Between political tensions and moments of everyday life, the crew now prepares for the operations ahead.
Characters
| Name | Affiliation / Branch | Title / Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Agnes V. Rodriguez | NATO / Special Fleet | Captain |
| Angie Chen | NATO / Special Fleet | Commander |
| Eric Corda | NATO / Special Fleet | Lieutenant Commander |
| Emilie Flores | NATO / Special Fleet | Ensign |
| Charlene Savea | NATO / Special Fleet | Lieutenant |
| Eros Vitos | NATO / Special Fleet | Ensign |
Manifest
| USS Enterprise | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | NATO |
| Location | 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 | Victor S. Calpel |
| Counselor/Consultant | Manu |
| Custodian | Manu |
TL;DR
The Enterprise powers up: position reassignment, weapons inventory, management of the problematic new uniforms, and one last review of procedures. The crew adjusts to its gaps, Angie takes tactical, Flores handles comms, and at 15:00 the Enterprise leaves spacedock for its first operational mission.
Story
For a good part of the day, Angie and I reworked the Enterprise's organization chart from top to bottom.
Names moved around, sections merged, redundancies eliminated... a real administrative construction site.
Admiral Michaux having left us very little time for shakedown, we had to improvise.
Once again.
The next morning, we take our shift on the bridge.
Our officers are already at their stations, focused on their tasks.
As tradition requires, Angie announces my arrival.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Captain on the bridge!
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Good morning, everyone.
You may sit back down.
I hope you recovered well.
Ah... Vitos.
You are here.
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
Good morning, Captain.
Yes.
I just finished installing your chair.
What do you think?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Indeed, this is much better than the former captain's perched chair.
Thank you for your work, Vitos.
By the way, I saw in the inventory that we have a new stock of DX.
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
That is correct, Captain.
We have fifty DX and fifty DXS.
They are all ready for use.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
DXS?
What exactly is that?
And when you say "ready for use," am I to understand that our torpedo launchers are inoperative?
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
The DXS is similar to the DX, except that it is designed to operate in the vacuum of space.
As for the launchers, they are fully operational.
Unlike the Mercator, the Enterprise has two separate systems.
A vertical launcher for the DXS, and a forward horizontal launcher for the DX.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Perfect.
Thank you, Vitos.
Your explanations were valuable.
You are dismissed.
I watch him leave the bridge, then my eyes settle on my old chair he has just installed.
The texture of the dark leather, the curve of the armrests... everything is familiar.
I sit down slowly.
I find my bearings again.
I breathe.
The Mercator may no longer be there, but its imprint still comes with me.
A discreet step approaches.
Instinctively, I raise my head.
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
Excuse me, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Yes, Flores.
I am listening.
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
Could you sign this document?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
What is it about?
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
A petition about the new uniforms, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
They are not to your liking, Ensign?
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
I am starting to get used to the crop...
But the skirt is hell.
These uniforms are not comfortable and are causing several problems among the crew.
Ask Charlene, she has already received complaints.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Tell us, Savea.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Indeed, Captain.
Manu reported inappropriate behavior.
I had to call in security several times.
And this morning, while walking through the ship, some people allowed themselves inappropriate remarks toward me.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Very well.
Thank you, Charlene.
I will sign your petition, Flores.
But I prefer to be clear: I cannot go any further.
The suppliers are civilians.
You will need to address them directly.
As for inappropriate behavior, the regulations are unambiguous.
Depending on the seriousness of the facts, you put the offenders in the brig... or expel them from the ship.
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
Understood, Captain.
For now, are we required to keep this uniform?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
I exempt you, Flores.
The priority is your effectiveness.
I will not let a stupid outfit problem get in the way of your work.
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
Thank you, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
All right... kids, that is not all.
We need to get to work.
Lieutenant Savea, what do you know about this ship's history?
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
The USS Enterprise has never been deployed on a mission.
It left spacedock several times for shakedown tests and warp-engine trials.
During the last quarter of 2023, it made about ten round trips between the Moon and Mars.
Then, in January 2024, one round trip between the Moon and Jupiter.
Its last outing dates back to February 2024.
It then passed the limits of our solar system at warp 3.5.
It returned twelve weeks later, in critical condition, at warp 1.5.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
What happened during that last test, Lieutenant?
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Impossible to say, Captain.
It looks as if that information was deliberately deleted or censored.
All we know is that when it returned to spacedock, the ship underwent numerous modifications, including hull reinforcement.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
What do the crew members who took part in that test say?
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Not much more than what is in the reports.
They all mention a warp-related problem, without going into detail.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Very well.
Thank you for that summary, Savea.
Let us move on to protocols now.
Have you studied the new procedures?
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
I have started, Captain...
But there is an organizational issue.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Which one, Savea?
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
There are only three officers on the bridge.
However, the new procedures require five officers.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
I do not understand.
We have always operated with three officers.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
That is correct, Captain.
On the Mercator, we had a pilot, a communications officer, and an operations officer.
On the Enterprise, the protocols additionally provide for a dedicated tactical station and a science station.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
I see.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
For now, I am sharing tactical with Eric, as on the Mercator.
However, for the science station, none of us are qualified.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Thank you, Savea.
We will do without the science station for this mission.
Number One, you will relieve Corda and Savea.
Take the tactical and weapons station.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Aye, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Flores, are you also having difficulties with the new procedures?
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
No, Captain.
On the contrary, they have been simplified.
I can manage internal communications more easily, locate personnel thanks to the implants, and contact them through the nearest intercom.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Excellent, Flores.
Progress never stops.
For much of the day, my crew familiarizes itself with its new environment and prepares for the operations ahead.
Operations that will begin precisely at three p.m.
The hour when the Enterprise will begin its very first official mission as flagship of the NATO fleet.
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
Captain, we have authorization to leave spacedock.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Thank you, Flores.
While everyone busies themselves at their station, the bridge's ambient light softens.
The controls glow cold blue, the monitors display the exit trajectory.
I glance toward Angie.
She adjusts her gloves, then gives me a discreet smile.
One of those smiles that means, this time, it really is ours.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Mr. Corda, it is your turn.
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda (Pilot)
Moorings released, engines engaged.
Awaiting your departure order, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Full ahead.
The Enterprise slowly pulls away from the bay, freed from its magnetic moorings.
The walls of the spacedock slide behind the forward window, replaced by the gray glow of the Moon.
Under my feet, I feel the soft vibration of the engines synchronize.
A steady pulse.
Like a heart beginning to beat.
It is the first breath of a new ship.
And from now on, it is ours.