One Small Step for Starship

Posted on Sun Dec 31, 2023 @ 12:01pm by Captain Jason Faulkner & Lieutenant Elijah Cooper & Lieutenant Amon Narud & Lieutenant JG Adrian Hayes

1,172 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: One Giant Kaboom
Location: Stellar Cartography
Timeline: MD 01, 1500

A couple weeks into the ship's shakedown, Faulkner called his senior officers together for a meeting in the stellar cartography lab. The room had large floor-to-ceiling displays, much like that on the main bridge, and was dominated by a large table with a holographic projection system at the center. As people began to arrive, he was standing by it, studying charts of the Federation's rimward fringe.

Now that most of the tactical systems were up to snuff, Elijah had more time to roam around the ship. He tried to stay out of the hair of the other department heads but, even as much space as there was in a Constitution class, you still found yourself intruding some. He attributed it to most crew being a little stir crazy. His own people had been running their fair share of security drills to help fill in his gaps in knowledge. He hoped this little summons would come with an actual mission. He stepped into the stellar lab and gave a nod to the captain.

"Afternoon sir," he said. "Are they finally about to give us a mission?"

It has been rather peaceful, and Amon had adjusted the rosters to give those he'd asked extra hours in their shifts while those who wanted less shorter shifts. Of course as soon as trouble finds them all medical staff will report in, or assist those they encounter on their way to Sickbay. So now leaving Sickbay in relatively good hands, Amon saw he was summoned to Stellar Cartography. He'd spent a few hours in there after sorting his duties and department out prior to launch.

He found it quickly and entered. "Captain, Lieutenant," He greeted as he slowly walked around the lab looking at all the info popups of the stars he past, tapping at them each time.

"Gentlemen," Faulkner said. "Your guess is correct, Mr. Cooper. A small mission to let us make sure our boots fit and nothing falls off when we go to warp, but a mission."

Elijah grinned. "Well, I can't speak for the warp engines falling off but I know that we won't go boom the first time we hit some turbulence."

"So where we headed?" Amon asked as he walked over to his Captain and Cooper, and stood by them.

"A little planet called Karbin," Faulkner replied. "It's actually a sector over from Krios and Vault, but you probably won't have heard of it. It's a pre-warp planet."

"Pre-warp," Hayes repeated, a mix of curiosity and concern in his voice. As much as he looked forward to an opportunity to be part of a potential first contact, it did not escape his notice how close the planet the captain had identified was to the Klingon border. In fact, he wondered how much that had factored into Starfleet's decision to send a Constitution class starship rather than the usual survey vessel.

"Yes. Or rather, currently pre-warp. A week ago, a medical cruiser passing by noted subspace emissions from the system that may indicate someone doing tests of a warp drive. They were on an urgent relief mission and didn't have time to stop by and verify that - which is where we come in."

Amon raised an eyebrow. "Is Karbin in Federation space or Klingon? Or neutral?"

"It's neutral territory, as least as far as most people are concerned," Faulkner said. "The nearest Starfleet base is Deep Space Station K-12, and there are a couple small, early-stage settlements. The Klingons - this is outside even the more aggressive claims for the imperial total control zone, with most of their attention in the region pointed more towards, well - Krios and Vault." He shrugged awkwardly while looking at the doctor, knowing his personal connection to those warring planets, which thus far showed no signs of acknowledging that there was any sort of problem beside each other. "But that could readily change if they decide that a small, potentially defenseless planet with a warp-capable industrial base is an easier target."

"It is dishonourable to attack defenseless planets, at least that's what I understand of Klingon culture." Amon said, "even more so that they don't have full warp capability, but I'm a Doctor not a Strategist." He smirked softly. "Have they conducted any further warp flights?"

"Chancellor Sturka's definition of honor is a bit more flexible than that of the traditionalists who ruled before the war," Faulkner cautioned. "As for the flights, that's one of the things we're tasked with assessing. The readings could be an indication of someone testing out warp coils - basically, powering up a nacelle without actually going to warp. We need to see if they have an actual warp-capable spacecraft or just a pile of parts that won't be assembled for a few years. Basically something closer to Tellarite or Andorian warp development, as opposed to the way humans just yee-hawed their way into their first test flight."

Amon realised he let a chuckle out before he coughed to cover it. He nodded then glanced around to see if any of the other officers had any questions.

As he listened to the captain and doctor talking, Hayes did his best to stay present in the moment. Memories from the past, however, rose unbidden in his mind. He pushed them aside and turned once more to the holographic display that was still floating in front of them. "We're going to have to watch out for surface detection," he said, fully aware he was likely stating the obvious, "If they're in the midst of creating their first warp drive, then it's a safe bet they have ways of monitoring the space around their planet."

Faulkner nodded. "That's definitely one of our mission priorities. This is primarily an observation mission. We don't want to spook them by showing up in what looks to them like a hyper-advanced warship. We need to assess their situation - spaceflight development, defense capabilities, biology and medical information, political and cultural makeup, and so on - so that Command can make an informed decision about how to approach first contact. If we do well, hopefully that gets assigned to us as the existing experts. If we get seen and touch off their equivalent of World War III, on the other hand..."

He shrugged as little, as if to suggest that might poorly impact everyone's annual performance review.

"So on that bright note, we'll be leaving tomorrow at 1200 hours. It's a little hasty but it's what fits Starbase One's departure schedule, so make sure you get any last-minute supply requests in. We'll be using this as an opportunity to do a stress test on the warp drive and will be pushing max cruise the whole time. Use that time to think about your portion of the mission and come to me with any questions or suggestions you have. The computer has all the previous observation reports to look over." Faulkner grinned. "I think this is going to be a fun one. Dismissed!"

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