The Big Test Run
Posted on Fri Oct 30th, 2020 @ 4:37pm by Captain Luka Mahone & Lieutenant Alan Harrison & Ensign Eris Ch'Thinor & Lieutenant Veaya Zai & Rocoa Lotor
Edited on on Fri Oct 30th, 2020 @ 4:38pm
1,089 words; about a 5 minute read
Mission:
Equivalent Exchange
Location: Merian Vessel NCC-62812, Bridge
Timeline: MD 12 : 1283 Hrs
Through some stroke of luck, Luka had managed to procure himself a small team for the test flight he and Lieutenant Harrison had requested. The pair currently sat in what would be their typical Bridge stations, with their various guests about them.
"Ensign," Luka held back his excitement, sitting upright in his seat, "Are we clear for take off?"
The young ensign who had given them their tour sat at the communications station, in a similar state of wiggly happiness. "Yes Sir, we are," she managed a level tone for her simple statement, before Luka could hear her chattering on comms with the crew down in Engineering.
"Then if we're clear, I think we should get going, hm?"
The officer at the conn station gave a quiet nod, going to work, and soon enough, the group was off. Luka's brow quirked. "... Lieutenant, how's it look from Engineering?"
Alan checked over the information on the panel in front of him. "All systems nominal, Captain. The QSD team reports that they're ready to spin up the drive at your command!" He could barely contain his excitement.
"Good. We should find ourselves a nice spot to zip too." Luka gave a small nod, unable to resist his smile any longer. "This should be a smooth cruise. "Lieutenant Zai, I know this is our first time meeting, but you have to admit... this is a little cool."
Veaya looked up from looking over the Security checks that were needed. "A little, I suppose." She had never been on a QSD ship before but she did not want to let on her inexperience when she was stood on the bridge handling the security of one.
"It is very cool," Rocky Lotor agreed, ears perked upward. "QSD in a small agile ship with enough room and flexibility to meet any number of mission requirements. Indeed an elegant design." His keen eyes darted around the bridge. "Of course, right now this is a very basic Merian class configuration, and while I'm sure you've been briefed on the standard modifications available, there are other more specialized options."
Eris’ antennae wriggled with excitement as they queued up the status display for the QSD. As a child they had watched many ships come and go from Starbase 7’s spacedock, but never one as technologically advanced as the Merian class vessel they were now aboard. They took a moment to appreciate the elegant way the ship’s horizontally mounted warp core connected to the navigational deflector before minimizing the window and opening up the control window for the ship’s sensors. They turned their attention back to the bridge and Lieutenant Harrison’s report.
Luka sat upright, swiveling in his chair to observe those who had decided to tag along, as well as the small crew from the Titania that had been voluntold for the short voyage.
And then his eyes rested upon the fuzzy Procyor who had decided to tag along. The one that Koplo convince Luka to bring along with him. Because Merian-class ships were ill-equipped for battle. And, as much as Luka did not want to accommodate someone who sold weapons, he also did not want Lotor around Koplo any longer. Not after what happened during their first test run.
It did also mean he had to ... humor... the both of them. "How about I let you pitch me whatever you had in mind after we see how fast we can go around the system, hm?"
"Of course, Captain," Rocky replied placatingly. He knew his audience and was not about to suggest the weapons suite to a doctor turned commander with no appreciation for it. "This is a shakedown to get a feel for performance. My only role here is to be available to provide suggestions to best meet any additional needs." He grinned. "Customizing solutions to provide optimal performance for our Starfleet customers is one of my mandates."
"... I see." Luka seemed... mostly relieved to hear that. Without another word, he whirled the chair to the front. "If we have the all clear, I think it's time you took this out for a spin, Lieutenant."
After a curt nod of affirmation and the press of a few buttons, the familiar hum of the engine and the sight of the stars moving through the viewports signaled that they were indeed off. As they drifted to a safer distance on cruising speeds, Luka couldn't help but stand from his spot, flitting between the navigation and science consoles to see what exactly everyone was looking at. Then to the engineering console, where he was curious to even see what readings the ship was giving off. It was not enough to ask. He had to see.
Alan noticed Luka excitedly reading the engineering console. "Engineering reports that we're at a safe distance from the planet and all other celestial objects. We just need to pick a destination now, Captain."
"Ah huh." For a moment, Luka was off in a land of readings and charts, eyes alight with curiosity. "Destination, right..." A moment later, his eyes snapped toward Alan, realization that he was the one in charge coming back to him. The excitement and curiosity disappeared from his gaze. "Right. Destination."
He swiftly returned to his seat, eyes on front and center. "Set course to... the edge of the system, and we can go around the long way to return. Let's see how fast we can go there on our fastest non-QSD speed. I know we all want to try that drive out, but I don't want to find us in some awkward end of a Quadrant. I do hear this ship can go pretty fast otherwise."
Alan monitored the drive status as they set off. He'd only been instructed on the details of the QSD recently, but he'd sort of gotten the hang of it. Feeling the ship enter the slipstream, he grinned and said to Luka, "Hopefully we'll get a chance to use this thing for more than just running tests at some point!"
Veaya wanted to argue but shook her head. She was not going to have that discussion, it would just end in her showing off how scared she was about a ship with QSD.
"At one point or another, I'm sure we'll have to... run an errand, or something." Luka stated. "... But, until then, we can put this ship through her paces in other ways. Lieutenant, care to demonstrate how fast she can go?"
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