Star Trek: Ascendant - Shakedown Cruise IC

[Rhun]

With a nod to the Commodore and the Admiral, Hale moves from the tactical station to the "hot seat," gingerly sitting down. After a moment, he relaxes slightly, and sits back into the chair. He turns his head to the communications station. "Lieutenant D'Vassa, signal all department heads to confirm ready for departure."

"Yes, sir," responds the Lieutenant, working the communications controls.

As a couple of minutes pass and the department heads check in, Hale familiarizes himself with the chair and its controls.

"All department heads confirm ready for departure," says D'Vassa finally, after what seemed like an eternity for Hale (having the Commodore and Admiral standing right behind him wasn't the best for his confidence).

Hale nods. "Open a channel to Utopia Planitia Control."

"Channel open, sir."

"This is the USS Ascendant, requesting clearance to depart." Hales voice is clear, and more confident now. He was growing more familiar with the seat, and he had seen this procedure done many times.

"USS Ascendant, you are clear for departure. Godspeed."

"Thank you, Control. Lieutenant Martinez, clear all moorings. Prepare for departure."

"Aye, sir." The lieutenants hands tap the control console rapidly. "Moorings clear. We are ready to depart."

Hale smiles, and turns his head to the helm. "Ensign Benson...ahead, thrusters only. Let me know when you've cleared the spacedock."

 

[HolyMan]

"Aye," Benson responds (finally ) "Spacedock will be cleared in 40 seconds."

 

[Rhun]

Hale nods, and leans forward. "Once we've cleared the space frame, go to one-third impulse power until we're clear of the station perimiter."

 

[ethandrew]

Lieutenant Commander Winters is hardly sitting in his chair, overwrought with a flood of emotions. He watches the viewscreen, intermittently peeking at the engineering console.

 

[HolyMan]

"One-third impulse, aye sir." Benson says by routine. Seems I still remember how to do this, he says to himself.

 

[Rhun]

Hale smiles again as the ship goes to impulse, feeling just the briefest sensation of acceleration before the Inertial Dampening System kicks in. "Well done, Ensign." Of course, Hale realized that it was a simple maneuver, but he was a firm believer of building a good rapport with those crewmen he worked with; he had learned early on in his career just how important morale could be.

Even at one-third impulse, it didn't take long before the Ascendant was clear of Utopia Planitia's outer perimeter. It was time to get on with the shake-down cruise. "Set course for Jupiter Station. Full impulse."

 

[HolyMan]

"Course laid in," Benson says tapping the controls. "Full impulse on your command, sir."

 

[Rhun]

"Engage."

 

[knightemplar]

"Mr. Martinez, ship-wide broadcast please.", said the Commodore.

"Your on, Senora.", replied the man from the Ops station.

"Ladies, Gentlemen and other beings, Welcome to the U.S.S. Ascendant. I am Commodore Rardon. I don't know all of you individually yet, but I guarantee you I will before long. That is not a threat.". There is an appreciative chuckle from some of the crew standing around, as the Commodore flashes a reassuring smile.

"The Ascendant is a small community, a family, if you will. I make it my business to know who everyone is. There may be times when my life and that of others depends on what you do. I know there will be times when all of your lives will depend on what I do. I want to have complete confidence in you, as I hope that you have in me. I believe that Starfleet has always attracted the best and the brightest. I trust that you will prove my belief is sound. Our first mission together will be one that most of you will consider tame, something fairly routine. However ...", and here the Commodore pauses for a second for dramatic effect.

"I can assure you that no mission is ever just routine. Everytime we go out we learn something. We blaze new trails into the unknown. But remember, space is not our ally. The Ascendant is. This is a fine ship, and I insist on a superior crew. I know you'll live up to my expectations. I look forward to meeting you all personally.", she said picking up her datapad, and reviewing the file.

"Before we progress to Starbase 39-Sierra, a few of the senior staff have mentioned that they would like to test the new systems a little better. To do this we are going to make a brief stop at Jupiter Station and use one of the firing ranges. I for one, would like to make sure every thing is fully operational before we actually need them. After that we rendevous with Starbase 39-Sierra and pick up the rest of our family there."

"Then we are going into a dangerous situation near the Gorn border. The Discovery was attacked by three Gorn warships that crippled the Discovery and left her captain and most of her crew badly wounded. Starfleet is concerned about the Gorn, and from the reports I am reading rightly so."

"Just do your jobs to the best of your abilities and I can ask no greater of you. For now though assume Battlestations for systems testing."

"Mr Martinez end ship-wide broadcast.", she says as she taps Hale on his shoulder. "I relieve you Mr. Hale, take your station."

"Ms. D'vassa, hail Jupiter Station please.", she says, as the Commodore sits down in the Command Chair. "Mr. Hale you did a fine job, congratulations on the first time for taking a ship out of spacedock."

 

[Rhun]

"Thank you, ma'am," answers Hale with a smile on his face. "It was my pleasure." The Lieutenant Commander then moves to take his post at the tactical station. He performs a quick check to make sure all systems are operating properly, again noting that torpedo launcher 17.6 is down. He'd have to make sure the engineering teams got that fixed before the reached the Gorn border.

OOC: How long to Jupiter Station? I know there are a lot of different "standards" for impulse speed, with full impulse being anything from 0.2C all the way up to like 0.8C.