OOC....Backlog...first sight of Chimera for Rangi and Terek *** Promenade * SB Bragg **** Terek with his bag over a shoulder entered the promenade. Seems that nothing has changed since his first visit. He even saw a few familiar faces of some guards. {Looks like they have their quiet little jobs well kept.} As he walked to the turbolift, his sight was attracted by a wine shop and one bottle in the window. It was a spring wine. And what was his surprise when he saw a familiar name. It looked like a wine made by his grandpa on Valaris. He had to confirm what he saw and strode towards the shop, but as he was almost hypnotized by the bottle, he overlooked a woman rushing on the promenade towards the turbolifts. Unfortunately her path crossed with his right at the moment. So Terek tripped over the woman's leg and fell down followed by her, when she fell over him. "What the.... Auch... Sorry madam, are you...." but as he was getting up, he realized that the face was familiar. It was Doctor Summers. Shocked he immediately went red. "I... I'm really sorry madam, are you all right? I wasn;t looking on my way..." He began to apologize. Rangi sat up and examined her wrist. Looking up to see who had tripped her up, she recognised the science officer and gave him a weak smile. "Thats alright Lieutenant." she said "I had my mind on other things and wasnt looking where I was going." She accepted the hand Terek held out to assist her to get up and once on her feet, brushed herself down then smiled at him. "No harm done." she said massaging her wrist. "I'm really sorry, I should watch my way more carefully. I hope you are all right..." asked Terek as he saw that Rangi was rubbing her wrist. "Anyway, let me show you the reason why this little accident happened." And then he took the surprised doctor to the shop. "You see this bottle of spring wine? It has marks of my grandpa on it. It looks exactly like the ones he made. I have to ask where they get it." And with this he entered a shop, talked a few moments with the shop keeper and then came out beaming with the bottle in his hands. "It cost me five bars of gold pressed latinum, but it is worth it. It really is my grandpa's wine. I will save it for a worse days as this year was really a good one. You are sincerely invited when I open it, as a little replacement for this unpleasant incident. Anyway, where are you going right now?" "To the docking ring...to the new ship" Rangi replied. She eyed the bottle."Your grandfather makes wine?" she enquired "Me to, mind if I join you? I'd like to take a peek of our new ship before it gets too crowded..." Then he paused for a moment as he was remembering something from the past. "Yes, my grandpa was making wine... few years before he died. Nor him nor my grandma are still alive. They brought my family to Valaris during th occupation of Bajor and they settled in the Federation colony there. Then my grandparents choose to serve as Fed scientists.as they were quite good in genetic agricultural research. When they reached their retirement age, they could focus on their hobbies and my grandpa loved to make his own spring wine. So he tried to modify the plants for the environment on Valaris and created a new subculture which prospered there and he was able to make his own wine. It is a bit more sour then the original from Bajor, but I like it. It is somehow fresh and the year from which this bottle comes was a good one. A year before grandpa died. This year is one of the best my grandpa made, but I've never thought that there was some more bottles. My parents have two hidden for special occasions, but they told me that all other are gone." Now Terek looked at the bottle and shook his head in disbelief. "Well I suppose I was lucky.......Oh and one more thing. " he turned to Rangi. "Congratulations on the promotion, I hadn't chance to speak to you at the ceremony." Rangi smiled, both at the enthusiastic reply her question had brought and also in acknowledgement of his compliment. " And to you. " she answered.Glancing towards the turbolifts, she said. "Shall we walk together then?...if you dont mind being seen in the company of the XO that is!" Terek smiled at the last note from Rangi. "Well, should I? " He said in a merry tone. as they continued their way to the turbolifts. ** The journey to the observation deck was uneventful. The lift became crowed after twice more on its way up, so by the time they reached their level, Rangi was standing on the opposite side of the lift to Terek. The doors opened and everyone streamed out. Rangi stepped to one side and waited for the lieutenant to join her. When Terek finally pushed himself out of the turbolift with the rest of the crowd he found Rangi standing aside. "Now that was really....refreshing." sarcastically mentioned Terek when he remembered the sweating officer in front of him. Rangi laughed at his expression, then, moving a step or two forward said.. "I think its this way." eager now for the first glimpse of the ship that would become 'home' to her and others. "I dont remember ever seeing a Katana Class before." she told Terek "Apart from holographs ofcourse." Terek looked around which way they should take, but as he was a bit disorientated right now, he just followed Rangi's steps. "Well lead the way commander. "No I haven't seen it either. It is quite a new class isn't it?" But in that moment they passed those few meters where the solid walls were and came into the observation area. An amazing sight opened in front of them. Almost the whole view from this section of base was filled with one ship. One beautiful elegant ship. Painted in usual grey colour. The sight absolutely overwhelmed him. "That is....." he couldn't find a words but just looked at commander at his side. Rangi stopped dead, her lips parted in awe.The registration detail was visible from here. {NCC 96899 - A...USS.Chimera} "Ohh...my" she breathed and slowly looked at the vessel in front of them. It was very close and filled almost the entire view from the large viewing ports where a number of other Chimera crew were standing. Worker 'bees' shuttled to and fro completing last minute jobs. Rangi slowly walked forward, forgetting for a moment that she had a companion. Terek had hard time of sensing something else except the ship in front of him. He dropped his bags on the floor and just stared. The ship seemed so close that it was almost like he could touch it. They just stayed there and watched for the last flight preparations outside, but then someone walked right in front of Terek's face and the moment was gone, he looked around himself seeing that also other crewmates are in same kind of trance, so he smiled a bit, grabbed his bags and put his hand on Rangi's shoulder returning her into reality. "We should get aboard..." he said quietly. His touch caused her to turn her head.Seeing his smile she responded but stepped back a little. "We should" she agreed but glanced back at the ship. "It's so impressive isnt it?" Another second or so passed before she looked at him again. "Home" she said, voicing her thought. When she stepped back, he realized that it was a mistake so he put his hand down. "Yes it is amazing sight..." agreed Terek thinking that those are types of moments that he will remember for the rest of his life. Home. In this word image of their house on Valaris rose in his mind, but it was no longer true. Chimera was his home now. And if he could tell, it felt that way on the board of the previous one. He only hoped that on this it'll be the same. He gave this beauty one last look and then headed for the docking port where other people were embarking on the new baby. Rangi lingered a moment longer, caught in the Chimeras spell, then followed his steps. *** End Log *** Ltjg Terek Weranis ASciO USS Chimera & Commander Rangi Summers XO USS Chimera