Star Trek Adventurer

Chapter 7: Second Star To the Right and Straight On ‘Til Morning

“Captain on the Bridge!” a man stated from the command chair.

“I have command, Mister Watson,” Korolevna stated.

“Logged, Captain is in command,” Watson stated, rising from the chair.  He headed directly for Tactical, where Erra stood.

Captain Korolevna stepped over to command chair and motioned for Taka to take the seat off to its side.  Taka did without hesitation; a rush of emotion flooded her mind.  She was here; she was really doing it.  All the courses at the Academy she had taken had not prepared her for the fact that she would, on her Midshipman Cruise, be sitting in the executive officer’s chair of one of the prestigious and coveted Vesta-class starships.

Hell, after Io, she had doubted she would ever get a chance to make a Midshipman’s cruise.

Or graduate for that matter.

“Captain, Sector 001 Control says we are clear for departure,” Erra relayed.

“XO, would you care to do the honours?” Korolevna asked, motioning with her hand.

Anxiety gripped Taka.  The sudden awareness that everyone on the Bridge was watching her, was waiting for her commands, came to her.  She swallowed and rose, tugging on her Academy uniform, pulling it tight against her and subconsciously fidgeting with her collar.

You can do this, Takala.  You can do this, she thought to herself.  She glanced at Captain Korolevna.  “Destination, Captain?”

“Andoria, then Vulcan.  We have two passengers to take on before we head to our final destination.”

“Aye, sir.”  Taka swallowed again.  She ran the checklist in her head.  They weren’t in Spacedock, no need to worry about the moorings and umbilical lines.  “Ops, ensure shuttlebays are closed and secure.  Engineering, bring the engines up to full power, we’ll be going to warp very soon.  Midshipman Netu, confirm path clear to Luna.  Helm, once verified, set course for Andoria, full impulse until we’ve cleared Luna.  Once clear, maximum warp.”

“Aye, XO,” they said in unison.

“Shuttlebays are secured,” Midshipman Kirby stated from Ops.

“The core is at full power,” M’Akl reported, her voice flowing from the armrest on the executive officer’s chair.

“Path confirmed clear,” Erra said.  Her tone carried her acidic feelings and Taka frowned.

If everything went wrong, Erra would be confrontational throughout the entire cruise.  Six months was a long time to spend with anyone cooped up on a starship, but that would only be worse when that someone hated you.  And Erra definitely hated Taka.

“Course set, engaging impulse engines,” Straala said from the Helm.  “Time to destination, one day, two hours, three minutes-”

“Understood,” Korolevna cut her off.

On the viewscreen, the stars shifted as the Adventurer came about on a course for Andoria and Taka’s homeworld.  She couldn’t stop staring, though.  They twinkled like a thousand lights in a black snowfall and they were beautiful.

“Captain, Luna control asks that we hold at Copernicus Fleet Yard outer marker for the launch of the Aeneid,” Erra stated.

Taka glanced back at Korolevna, who nodded.  “Helm, hold at outer marker and await further orders from Luna Control.”

“Aye, sir.”

On the viewscreen, the image of Copernicus Fleet Yards appeared.  It was a strange juxtaposition as the Adventurer moved forward to the outer marker; lights shone from the surface of Luna - New Berlin, Tycho City, Aldrin Habitat, even the waters of Lake Armstrong - and the metal floated in space, reminders of human interference.  Yet, much of the surface of the moon was still its natural appearance, cratered an all.  Taka smiled at the image; there were some that said they could see it from Starfleet Academy on a clear day, but she’d never been able to.  Being out here and seeing it - though not for the first time - was enough to remind her that beauty existed, even in the midst of the conflict Starfleet was fighting.

Then the Aeneid began moving from its dock.  The massive hull glowed in the sunlight and what illumination was cast on it from the facilities in Luna orbit.  She turned sharply and began following the Adventurer’s original course before the Vesta-class vessel was cleared to continue, trailing behind the Odyssey-class Aeneid.

“Now that’s a ship,” Erra said absently from behind Taka and Korolevna.  “Weapons systems abound; type XIV arrays, torpedo bays port and aft.  She’s made for the year the galaxy’s been having.”

“Not everything is a combat situation,” Watson stated from beside Erra.

“Now, now, Commander, let’s not stifle the enthusiasm of our young officers,” Korolevna stated with a smirk.

On screen, the nacelles of the Aeneid glowed blue before she streamed into the distance and disappeared.  

“Course set, sir, awaiting orders,” Straala said.

“Engage,” Taka ordered.  She sat down in the executive officer’s chair again.

“‘Second star to the right and straight on ‘til morning’,” Korolevna quoted under her breath.

“Sir?”

“A novel from the 19th century,” Korolevna answered.  “Characters who never age in a place called Neverland.”

“Feeling old, sir?” Watson whispered as he leaned over the back of her chair.

“Maybe a little around all this youthfulness and excitement,” Korolevna smiled.

On screen, the stars streaked as the Adventurer jumped to warp and headed into the final frontier.