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With the last crewmembers aboard and the duty roster completed, Sulu began to relax, at least a little. Now he could concentrate on getting underway. He looked around the bridge one more time. What a crew! In all of Starfleet, no ship had more experienced personnel. Walking Bear had called it overkill, but did nothing to reduce numbers or specific assignments. He knew the success of the mission depended on having the right people in sufficient quantity.
Enthusiastically, Hikaru Sulu tabbed the intercom for a ship-wide call. "This is the Captain speaking. We will be getting underway shortly. After clearing the dockyard, Enterprise will proceed at point five sublight. Upon passing Jupiter's orbit, we will increase our speed to point nine five. Once we pass Pluto and the outer markers, we will engage the warp drive. All hands prepare to get under way; report readiness and any problems to Mister Kyle ASAP. Captain out!"
Then, re-tabbing the intercom, he called to Scotty. "Engineering, are you ready?"
The Scotsman had been waiting for the call and fired off a snappy response. "Gie us th' word, Admiral!"
Smiling at his friend's challenge, the Admiral, now officially the first Captain of the latest ship to be called Enterprise, responded. "Mister Scott, the word is given and don't forget our little bet. I can already 'taste' victory."
Scotty laughed out loud and then retorted, "Dinna hold your breath lad. I've already planned a victory party of my own and you're not invited; Scott out!"
Sulu turned to Uhura, "Is he serious about that party?"
"Of course; at least, I'm invited," she deadpanned.
"Me, too," added Chekov enthusiastically.
"And me," Kyle announced, smiling.
The admiral suspected his leg was receiving a gentle tug, so he ignored the crew's comments and refocused on the departure, "Prepare yourself for the shakedown of a lifetime!"
The bridge crew laughed, more from the relief of preflight tension than from their captain's implied warning.
Regaining his 'captainly' manner, Sulu began the process of getting underway. "Helm, maneuvering thrusters on standby. Uhura, are we cleared by the dock chief?"
Uhura became business like, even though she was still grinning. "All clear for departure, sir."
"Departure course is laid in, sir," Stiles added.
"All those parties not wanting to 'boldly go' had better leave the ship."
Just as Sulu was about to initiate departure procedures, Scotty called. "Admiral, I need you in engineering, right away!"
The urgency in the man's voice was a cause for concern. Maybe something was wrong with the ship after all and the mission was in trouble, "On my way!"
The ship's CO jumped up and nodded to DeSalle, "Hold down the fort; I'll be right back!" Sulu then headed for the turbolift at a dead run. Once he entered and the doors closed, the remainder of the bride crew exchanged looks of dread.
In engineering, Scotty was surrounded by about a dozen civilian yard workers and contractors. All were engaged in a heated discussion, with the ship's engineer as the focal point. Sulu was stunned. They should have left thirty minutes ago. Why were they still here?
Pushing through the small group, Hikaru ignored the others and 'consulted' his own officer.
"What's going on here?"
Sulu's sudden appearance and forced entrance got the group quiet, at least for the moment. Scotty heaved a heavy sigh. "It seems Mister Clayton and th' others are demanding ta be part o' our 'shakedown cruise.' They hae a contract, part of which includes monitoring th' systems they installed ta be sure all is well and to make adjustments, if necessary."
Inside, Sulu shuddered. He was caught up in the deception of taking a shakedown cruise to mask their departure for the mission. To anyone else, it was a routine event; to these people evidently it was part of their job. How had Sulu and Kyle overlooked this simple, but complicated detail when planning the mission? If he removed them, an inquiry would be made and that would make their normal departure appear very unusual, not what he wanted or needed.
As if to make matters worse, the intercom whistled. Uhura sounded almost apologetic. "Captain, I have an incoming communication from Admiral of the Fleet Walking Bear."
Scott nodded towards his nearby duty office.
"I'll take it in Mr. Scott's office, Uhura."
Rushing to the room, Sulu was dreading what the man wanted. Had the civilians already lodged a complaint? Was there already a problem? Had the mission been cancelled already?
Inside the secure space, a moment of silence was followed by Walking Bear's distinctive voice. "Admiral Sulu, are you leaving soon?" The man sounded more hopeful than inquisitive.
Not wanting to complicate the situation, Sulu was slightly evasive. "Very soon, sir, just a few 'last minute details' to take care of."
Again, the silence, then, "You need to leave, now. A few people in the Diplomatic Corps got a hint of our... intentions and are... not happy."
Sulu understood the implication and acknowledged crisply, "Yes, sir!"
Tabbing off the intercom, he stared at the civilians through the office window. The agitated contractors, supervisors and technicians were a genuine problem. It was the Kobayashi Maru scenario all over again. Forcing them to leave would be difficult, especially after Walking Bear's warning. If he allowed them to go on the mission... no one could know what the ramifications would be. Spock might even cancel the whole thing!
He straightened his tunic and put on a face of no nonsense and fierce determination, then moved quickly to resolve the issue. Soon he was nose to nose with the most vocal of the group, Clayton. Sulu spoke directly to him. "That was the Admiral of the Fleet. He would prefer that you would not be aboard for this particular shakedown, a matter of... safety --"
"Not possible! I have my 'orders' as well, from the President of Dark Star Shipbuilders." Clayton looked smug and self-important.
Another man stepped forward, "I'm under pressure from my company to get this job done at the insistence of my boss at Ingraham Industries. He was pressured by Mister Scott to get the job done ahead of schedule." The man was pointing at Scotty, who looked trapped and exasperated.
Clayton continued his rant. "It's about time all you 'Admirals' got your stories straight. Anyway, we're staying or we lose our bonuses and, maybe our jobs as well!"
Shrugging, Sulu looked at Scotty, "Very well, if you chose to ignore the advice of Mr. Scott, myself and even the Admiral of the Fleet, you may stay. But be aware that Starfleet did not ask for, or endorse, your presence."
The civilians looked satisfied and left the office. Sulu turned to leave but Scotty approached him, concern etched in his face. "Do ya' think that's wise?"
Getting close to his friend, Sulu whispered, "We have no choice; I'll explain later, okay?" Then, at a trot, he made his way back to the bridge. He had to leave now, before anything else went wrong!
Stepping out on the bridge once more, Sulu was confronted with multiple stares of worry. He tried to ease their fears, real or imagined. "We're leaving, now!"
Stopping at Uhura's station, he spoke quietly as the others busied themselves. "As soon as we clear the dock, we will have an intermittent loss of communications."
Uhura looked surprised but said nothing.
Continuing, the Admiral remained quiet and stoic. "Better log it, officially, as soon as it's... appropriate."
Now, the communications officer began to protest, albeit, quietly. "Logging a false entry could cost me my retirement pay, Captain."
"What if that allowed us to continue on our mission... otherwise, we might pick up an abort order."
She was surprised but nodded in understanding. "I think I've already noticed a few... gremlins, sir."
"I thought that might be the case." Sulu smiled in appreciation and directed his attention to Chekov. "We've got civilian contractors aboard. Be sure they behave themselves. If Spock finds out... the mission may get cancelled."
A very surprised Chekov was about to ask for details, when the bridge crew began reporting readiness of for departure.
DeSalle vacated the captain's chair as the CO approached. "All is ready, sir, whenever you are."
"Good! Disconnect umbilical and away all moorings."
The voice of the dock chief came over the ship's speakers. "All clear, Enterprise. Umbilical disconnect confirmed and all moorings away. Have a safe shakedown and good luck."
"Thanks, Chief; Enterprise out." Once the comm channel was closed, Sulu spoke again, "Time to leave, people; helm, thrusters ahead full."
Starfleet's newest starship moved out slowly. With the exception of a few yard workers, the event went unnoticed, a major difference from most launches. However, the previous Enterprise suffered the same indignation when it left to intercept V'ger.
"Dock Chief is signaling that we've cleared, sir."
"Thank you, Nyota." Sulu felt the slightest bit of tension as he gave his next order. "Ahead, sublight point five."
"Aye, sir; sublight point five."
The main viewer reflected the change in speed, but no one on board had felt it. Sulu was beginning to worry about his bet. Impulse engines were good, as were the inertia dampers, main viewer, turbolifts, transporters and a host of other systems. The ship was performing up to spec.
The big test was yet to come however, warp drive. Actually, Sulu knew the engines would probably be just fine. As a matter of fact, he didn't really want any problems, since any major delays could ultimately delay or even cancel the mission.
Saturn's big rings began to appear as if one could actually reach out and touch them. The sight always stirred Sulu and the feeling prompted his next command, "Warp point nine five."
The crew was sharp and quick to respond, "Full speed sublight, sir."
In the back recesses of his mind, Hikaru Sulu was harboring a doubt. It was just a little beyond this point that the old Enterprise had gone into a wormhole. Like this ship, it had also been taken out without the benefit of regular and extensive testing and put into immediate service. The thought of that incident now caused him to hesitate in ordering warp speed.
He shook the unpleasant thought from his mind and gave the bridge a quick once over and then hit the intercom, "Scotty, ready for warp speed?"
The engineer sounded a bit insulted, "Admiral, she was ready for warp speed two months ago."
Sulu smiled outwardly, "Okay, Mister Scott, have it your way." He closed out the channel and addressed his bridge crew. "Helm, engage warp drive; warp one at your discretion."
Leslie was smiling. He had been waiting for this particular order since arriving on the ship. "Aye, sir; warp one." His acknowledgement registered about ten points above enthusiastic.
Stifling an urge to laugh or even comment, the ship's captain studied the main viewer and the helm's readouts, alternatively.
Within seconds, the familiar sight of a blurred star field appeared on the viewer. The bridge crew cheered and, although he couldn't swear to it, it seemed as if he could hear the rest of the crew join in.
Leslie turned to face Sulu and announced proudly, "Warp one, sir."
After all the cheers died down, Sulu decided to push the engines to the max. If they were going to be difficult, better find out now rather than deep inside Romulan space. "Helm, warp nine as soon as she will take it."
"Warp nine, aye." This time, Leslie's response was a bit more subdued.
Just when Sulu began to relax, an intercom call made him snap to attention and he turned to Uhura. She nodded, notifying the captain that the call was for him and he activated his command chair circuit.
"Sulu here."
"Kelowitz, sir, we have a small problem."
A deeply puzzled Admiral paused. Kelowitz was the second shift security officer. Certainly the Klingons weren't misbehaving, he just left them. Also, the ship wasn't due for a weapons check until later. "What's the problem, Michael?"
"I've located a stowaway, sir, in the deck five mess room. And, sir, you know him."
The last bit of information started Sulu thinking. It wasn't one of the civilian workers, so who could it be?
"Got that, Nyota?" Sulu was staring at the comm officer with a confused expression.
She nodded and relayed the information, "Security alert, intruder in deck five mess room."
Sulu turned to stare at Chekov. First it was civilian contractors, and now this! The Russian slumped in his chair and gave a nod to DeSalle. The first officer jumped, "I'm on it, sir. I'll report as soon as I find out what's going on."
DeSalle made the lift in record time. As the first officer disappeared, Chekov rolled his eyes and sighed. "Just great, ve're supposed to be on a top secret mission and already security has been breached." He let out another sigh and then continued, "There goes my next promotion."
"Barely a half hour out of dock? I'd say so Pavel." Uhura couldn't resist the jibe, but maybe it was a serious matter. How could someone sneak aboard and why wouldn't they be noticed?
The intercom whistled again and Scotty's voice came over the speaker. "Bridge, ye can hae warp nine point seven if ye want. She'll hold that speed until I can finish my bottle o' five hundred year old scotch whiskey."
Sulu took the insult with aplomb, "Thanks for the extra speed, Mister Scott. Sulu out!"
Only minutes later, Uhura spun around in her chair and smiled, "Security is already enroute, with the stowaway."
Before anyone could react, the turbolift doors opened and out stepped DeSalle, Kelowitz and Martine, followed by a slightly disheveled and embarrassed Kevin Thomas Riley.
Trying to sound as if he were genuinely upset, Sulu lit into the security team in indignation. "What the hell is this civilian doing on my ship? Mister Chekov, you're security chief, do you have an explanation for this?"
The Russian was at a loss for words. "Kevin, vhat are you doing here?"
Kevin had a sheepish grin on his face. "I went for a cup of coffee and... guess I forgot to get off."
Chekov was more than slightly perturbed. "Kevin, Command gave me specific orders thet only authorized personnel vere allowed on this ship! In fact, Starfleet may even cancel the mission!"
Kyle spoke with a gleam in his eyes. "Why not throw him in the brig?"
That comment got a laugh from everyone except, of course, Riley.
Sulu eyed the Irishman for a moment and then spoke as a commanding officer and not as an old friend. "Actually, Kevin, he's right. If Spock finds you wandering around the ship, he would be within his rights to cancel the entire project. I've already got my hands full with a group of stubborn civilian contractors, but they will be removed from the ship before we enter the Neutral Zone."
Riley was stunned and tried to talk his way out of the difficult situation. "I just wanted to be part of this mission. After all, I've been very helpful. According to Scotty, he said my work was vital. Besides, Mister Spock is a civilian and he is --"
"-- an official representative of the Federation's diplomatic corps and jointly appointed by Walking Bear and President M'Sheera." Sulu had a look that said he wasn't kidding.
Riley sank visibly, "You're not joking, are you?"
The admiral stood up and moved away from his command chair and approached his old friend. The crew grew very quiet, expecting the worst. "Kevin, I'm sorry, but if I don't remove you from the ship, we will all be in trouble. We can put you out with the other civilians. You will remain in isolation there, with them, until our mission is complete and then you can arrange for transport. It's the best I can offer."
Nobody commented, but the thought was on everyone's mind, transport from any deep space post was very difficult to arrange. Any place off the regular shipping lanes would be lucky to have ships arrive once every four to six months.
"There is another possibility," Saavik said quietly, "as Mister Spock is fond of saying." She activated her console. "You are forgetting an obvious solution, Admiral."
Sulu walked over to her station and looked at the viewer. She was pointing to a read out on the screen and had a smug look on her face. That made Kevin nervous.
Sulu read the text to himself and commented quietly to Saavik. Then he turned to Riley with a broad grin. "She's right, Kevin, we don't have to put you off the ship." He motioned for Riley to look at the readout for himself, as it was posted on the main viewer.
After reading, Riley groaned, "Oh, no."
That broke up the entire bridge crew. After a good two minutes of hearty laughter, a voice rang out. "Excellent!" Chekov was smiling with a devilish grin. "It's chust vhat he needs." The Russian would be getting revenge for spending a night in jail after all!
Kevin shook his head in disbelief. "Are you serious?"
Admiral Sulu didn't give an inch. "Yes, Kevin, as serious as a Vulcan graduating from the Kolinahr ritual."
Riley stood quiet as Sulu went back to his command chair and tabbed the intercom. "Bridge to sickbay, Doctor McCoy, are you available?"
McCoy's familiar drawl came back over the speaker. "It depends on how young she is and whether or not she can mix a respectable mint julip. Why do you ask?"
A few minutes later, in sickbay, a very surprised McCoy and Chapel were trying to figure out what was going on when Riley showed up with a security escort. "I don't understand, Kevin. What are you doing here?"
Kevin shuffled his feet and spoke quietly, as if each word were painful. "Something about a little known, seldom used, reserve activation clause."
McCoy broke out in a fit of laughter and Chapel joined in, while a totally baffled Tavar stared at the pair in disbelief.
Kevin turned bright red and added, "I'm here for my enlistment physical exam."
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© 2024 Brad McDonald / U.S.S. Kitty Hawk
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