Launch Day

Posted on Tue Apr 30th, 2024 @ 6:53pm by Sub-Commander T'shir & Colonel Josiah McEntyre & Commander Saul Whitford & Commander Gunnar Magnusson & Lieutenant Commander Gabriel Calhoun & Lieutenant Commander Alexander Coleman & Lieutenant Kayoko Himeji & Lieutenant Jack Peters & Lieutenant JG Elspeth McArthur & Captain Johnathan Reece & Rear-Admiral Ahayla Hunter

1,616 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: First Deployment
Location: Unicorn - Main Bridge
Timeline: Launch Day - Coridan Campaign T-14 Days

Launch day. After delays and delays and the raid by the Romulans, finally, the Unicorn was able to cast off and fly. It was a somber day though as her launch was marred by the drum beats of war and the rapidness of forming up a fleet to retake Coridan at the behest of the Government of Coridan and their vast dilithium supplies that was sorely needed for the war effort.

Stepping onto the bridge, the sharp whine of a coxswain whistle filled the room, a MACO sentry announcing:

“Commander on Deck!”

Most of the enlisted stopped and stood to attention, also noting the entrance of Rear Admiral Hunter behind the Colonel.

----------

Meanwhile, Commander Calhoun was in final preparations to get the ship underway. He called an impromptu gathering to “rally the troops”.

“Alright, people. Launch time is upon us. We need final spot check of the plasma injectors and impulse control system. Carmichael, take the injector ports, Borgia, tighten up the plasma flow. Everyone else, you know your job. Antimatter flow regulators, magnetic constrictors, and dilithium matrix. The Colonel wants us underway in two hours. I’m not gonna be the one to disappoint him. Let’s get to work, folks!”

----------

Standing at the Armory duty station, Whitford stiffened to attention as Colonel MacEntyre was announced on the Bridge. Today his uniform collar felt tight, the new insignia weighing heavily. This was his first shift since his unexpected promotion to Commander and First Officer of the Unicorn. And what a way to mark it, he thought to himself. Launching one of the most advanced ships in the fleet, and the flagship for their operation to rescue Coridan. No pressure.

"Stand at ease."

Josiah said as he stands next to the Captain's Chair at the center of the bridge. He looks around the room for a moment before he taps a button on the chair and opens a ship wide channel.

"All hands, this is the Colonel. The day is upon us, as we stand to slip the bonds of drydock and let the Unicorn fly. I wished it was under more optimistic circumstances but we'll have plenty of time for celebrations once our mission is complete."

He pauses a moment, pulling out a padd from his vest pocket.

"I've also been instructed to read the following from General Casey and Admiral White."

He clicks on the PADD.

"Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of the United Earth Starfleet and the Military Assault Command Operations! Today, is the day of days, the day we take the fight to the Romulans. The eyes of the galaxy are upon you. The hope and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the Romulan war machine, the elimination of Romulan tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Coridan and Berengeria, and security for ourselves in a free galaxy. our task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle-hardened. He had fought and will fight savagely. We have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory! Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking."

Josiah turns off his PADD.

Calhoun reached and tapped the intercom button to call the bridge. “Calhoun to bridge! Impulse and warp drive ready to go! All systems primed and ready to roll. Engine efficiency is as good as it’s gonna get, Colonel.”

Josiah taps the reply button. "Very good, Commander."

Johnathan stepped onto the bridge, and reported to Josiah. "Colonel, all hands accounted for and on duty." He then took up his position behind the Colonel's left shoulder.

“Thank you, Master Sergeant,” the Colonel replied to the Top Kit of the Unicorn before turning to give his attention to the new Rear Admiral.

"Admiral, I believe we are ready."

"It's your ship Colonel." The admiral nods, standing behind the command chair as Josiah sits confidently as he turns his head to the helm and navigation stations.

"Navigator, compute course for the Coridan staging area; Helm, seal the airlocks, release docking clams and clear all moorings."

Kayoko worked her console pressing buttons and then finally taking the control sticks. "Airlocks sealed, releasing docking clamps," she reported. There was a slight shake as the ship was released from the clamps and the sound of a distant thud vibrated through the ships structure.

"Engaging aft thrusters," Kayoko said as she gently guided the Unicorn out.

Admiral Hunter turns to T'shir.

"Sub-Commander, clear us with the dockmaster and order the fleet to assume formation with Unicorn."

T'shir nodded in affirmation at the Admiral's orders. "Aye Admiral, we are cleared to assume position. The fleet has been directed to assume formation."

Down in Engineering, Commander Calhoun watched and listened enthusiastically as the power conduits came to life. He understood that Unicorn would soon be in formation, but he couldn’t wait to initiate warp and see the reactor glow as the ship reached faster than light speeds.

The ship lurched as it began to move, free from it's docking collars and umbilicals. Clearing the dock, she was finally free to spread her wings, so to speak. It took her a few minutes to form up at the center of the formation of Intrepid Class Destroyers, Daedalus Class Frigates and a fleet of Ten Hayes Class Troop Transports carrying the 3000 Troops that made up the 12th MACO regiment.

-----

With Dr Coleman on the bridge, Jack stayed in sickbay, going over files and final supplies inventory. It was going to be a long trip. Petty Officer O'Flynn was assisting the doctor in doing the inventory.

-----

"Course for the Coridan Staging Area has been plotted and is on the board." the young ensign at the Navigator's station reported to Josiah, who nodded in response.

"Helm, Warp 5...Engage!"

Engineering was a buzz of activity as Unicorn’s warp reactor came online. Commander Calhoun could hardly contain his excitement as he strolled through the department checking the status monitors.

Dr. Coleman was sitting at one of the newly minted stations on the bridge that was dedicated for the medical officer on call, when they were on duty down in Sickbay. Once the ship was underway, Coleman looked back at the Colonel and said, "Well, Dr. Peters and Petty Officer Flynn are down in Sickbay, going over some last minute prep work for our long voyage. But, we're prepared on the medical front, Colonel."

'All stations are squared away,' Whitford said officiously as he looked at the status updates coming in from across the ship. 'We're all showing green so far, no major blips.' He gestured to the viewer, where the Fleet was displayed, 'if we keep like this, we should make good time to Coridan.'

"With the Delta's escorting us, we can make Warp 5 easily but it'll still be a week trip there," Josiah commented.

'You know, I've heard the Coridans have Warp Seven engines. Can you imagine that?' Whitford asked, 'maybe we should ask for some in exchange for our help. Would speed things up a bit.'

"Lieutenant McArthur," Sub-Commander T'shir's voice broke through the Bridge. "You are responsible for the primary communications station for the rest of the shift."

McArthur merely nodded. Sure she would do the job. "Aye" She replied. And just what would her boss be doing?

"Commander Magnusson, I am sending information to your station for analysis. Preliminary reports on devices being used by the Romulans to interfere with communication signals," T'shir explained. "Perhaps if we work together we can create an efficient workaround."

Gunnar favored the Vulcan woman with a rare smile. He was well known for being a stone-faced Icelander, as cool and calm under pressure as they come. “Thank you, Sub-Commander T’shir,” he said, as per his penchant to address others by their rank and name unless otherwise instructed. He nodded his head in acknowledgment. “I have the file. Give me some time and maybe we could meet in one of the labs later on…?”

"That would be prudent. It will give Lieutenant McArthur time to familiarize herself with the reports as well," T'shir responded.

Dr. Coleman looked at Colonel McEntyre and asked, "Do we have any sort of scans or analysis of the Romulans, by chance? I know that the Enterprise has had some dealings with them, so I wasn't sure if they had sent over any information about their biological scans or not."

"To my knowledge, doctor, there hasn't been. It is one of our objectives to obtain scans of our enemies but so far, no one has been able to obtain any. The enemy seems to recover their wounded and dead quite quickly."

For the rest of the shift the officers busied themselves learning about what obstacles lied ahead, and shared information as it came in. Excitement and tension rising now that the Unicorn was finally on its way to join the fight.

[End]

Colonel Josiah McEntyre
Commanding Officer/MACO Commanding Officer
Unicorn NX-151

&

Commander Saul Whitford
Executive Officer/Chief Armory Officer
Unicorn NX-151

&

Commander Gunnar Magnussan
Chief Science Officer
Unicorn NX-151

&

Sub Commander T’shir
Chief Communications Officer/Officer of the Watch
Unicorn NX-151

&

Lieutenant Kayoko Himeji
Chief Helm Officer
Unicorn NX-151

&

Lieutenant Commander Alexander Coleman, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer
Unicorn NX-151

&

Lieutenant Jack Peters, M.D.
Surgeon
Unicorn NX-151

&

Lieutenant JG Elspeth McArthur
Communications Officer
Unicorn NX-151

&

Master Sergeant Johnathan Reese
MACO Raider
Unicorn NX-151

&

Lieutenant Commander Gabriel Calhoun
Chief Engineer
Unicorn NX-15

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