"Steady as she goes!" by Mumacik ====== Entry portal, connection between SB Bragg and USS Chimera ===== Shane was on his way back from the last meeting with the SSF Commander Colonel Cole. She gave him additional details about the new mission and stressed how important this mission was for the whole federation. If certain details about the Einhoften facility would became public or if the whole Einhoften business would turn to be a big mistake ... several levels of fleet Command would shake violently. Shane just arrived at the connection tunnel between Bragg and Chimera and without a world stopped and looked at the Sergeant standing there. The Sergeant was immediately aware of Shane and he hasted to the new CO saying: "Clean like a plate you eat your meal from sir". Shane critically looked at the floor and pretended to examine the ground closely. At last he looked up at the sergeant again and smiled: "Right so Sergenat, you see you can manage that" A sign of relief was visible in the Sergeant face as he replied dryli: " Yes, sir". Shane poked the marine on his shoulder and said in an conversation like tone: "Next time Sergeant, I wont repeat my orders, I hope you understant me ..." "Sir, yes sir" was the marine's reply. He felt a bit odd to be yelled at from a young man like Shane was. It happend when Shane was leaving the ship some 30 mins ago and the floor was all but clean. The sergenat forgot about the order to make the corridor clean ASAP ... but Shane didnt. Only now ... when the floor was like a mirror, the CO was satisfied and the sergeant thought that the new CO wont be such an easy nut to crack as many of his buddies thought. On his way to the bridge, Shane did met a lot of his new crew. Everyone knew that the departure of the Chimera was a matter of a 12 hours, so all did their best to prepare the ship for its first cruise. Engineers and technicians were busy with ODN relays and things, medical crew was busy in gathering and distributing medical supplies and the rest of the crew was busy in getting settled in their new department rooms and offices. A little time later when Shane was walking near the Science rooms he's seen a heap of blue collared crew under the lead of the fresh backed LtJg Terek trying to push a large piece of equipment forward along the narrow corridor. Shane noded while passing the group wondering why didnt they use the good old transporters for the job. At the end of this particular corridor Shane saw for a brief moment an officer wanishing in a nearby turbolift. This man was strangely familiar to him even if he was turned with the back to the lift's door and thus his face was not to be seen. Slightly taller then 5 feets with a light brown hair color ... Shane would guess for an bajoran ... wearing a blue collar as well. Shane couldnt dismiss the idea that this man was good known to him ... but had no luck when trying to assign a name to the man. Shane wondered a bit what were all the ODA guys doing. Till now he's met only two or three of them, what was quite untypical cause normally there was always at least a dozen of them wandering arond the ship looking for troubles. Shane thought if Walsh was doing some sort of war games for the guys and wondered what was it this time. {Ferenginar under Romulan siege?} he guessed. ====== CO's ready room, 12 hours later ====== Shane looked at the little chrono that was displayed on the table computer pannel and yawned. He's been on duty for almost 14 hours by now and he was getting quite tired. He would get to his own quarters hours ago, but Shane wanted to leave Bragg as soon as possible and the arrangement with Rodgers say 12 hours ... and that was almost now. Shane put the PADD he was holding in his hand on his desk and pushed it away, beeing quite anooyed about it content. It was a message from Commodore Stevenson from SSF Operations. The good Commodore expressed his slight wonder about some of the latest promotions Shane did just 12 hours ago. He was 'concerned' that an Warrant officer should be in charge of the chimera's medical. He addmited that there have been simiral cases in tha past and starfleet regulations allowed the CO to put a WO in charge of an department but pointed that it was high unusual and 'suggested' a 'rethink' of this appointment. Another concern of the good Commodore was the appoitment of Rangi as Executive officer and the 'romantic relationship' she was having with him. The Commodore was not questioning the decission of the CO, but he 'strongly advised' a more poper officer beeing appointed as XO instead of 'Miss Commader Summers'. It was plain that just the weak link between Shane and the SSF Commander and the Shane's very high evaluation from the pen of General Bretam prevented the high ups from SSF Ops from messing up with Shane's crew. "Its time to go" Shane said quietly to himself, "the sooner the better". He stood up from his chair and took the PADD in his hand to bring it to the replicator for recycling. {A proper place for proper words} he thought when the door chime annoinced someone wanting to see him. "Enter!" he called. Rangi hurried inside, her expression one of concern and disbelief. "What's going on?" Shane asked suprised to see Rangi in this condition. "You wont guest where I have just been." she said in a tone Shane didnt liked the sound of. Shane shrugged not knowing what is she reffering to. Wasting no time Rangi said: "I was on a questioning. Commodore Stevenson, General Hadfield...and Commander Taege were there ..." she said. {So they ARE already messing with my crew} Shane thought and went even more anoyed by the way of SSF ops. He raised his hand and stopped Rangi's words. "I've been just reading a little note from the Commodore" he said, "but we will deal with it later. Noone of those guys can say whom I promote or appoint and mess up with any of my crew. I think its time to leave the base ... and leave the OPS politics behind." He smiled at his beloved: "I need you Rangi ... on the bridge". ====== Bridge ===== Shane waited a moment before Rangi sat herself in the XO's seat and then turned slightly to see the young vulcan cadet C'el and said: "Red alert cadet!" C'el chowed no sign of surprise on her face but it took her two seconds to before ste tapped few buttons away on her console and say: "Yes, sir". Just a moment later the all-to-familiar sound of red alrert klaksons sounded through the bridge and all the ship and the bridge dimmed slightly as the red-alert illumination schema changed the standart one. Shane grined slightly at Rangi. The red alert was not neccesary but he knew that NOW all crew will be listening to what he has to say. He tapped two buttons on the chair console and opened the ship-wide COMM Channel. "Commader Guzman speaking. All hands prepare for the launching procedure. We are leaving the base in 5 minutes. Guzman out" {short and sweet, hope none of the crew is AWOL somewhere on the station.} Shane thought. Turing in his seat to see the OPS station Shane ordered: "Lieutenant Foster request leaving clearance from Bragg's flight operation". "Yes sir" was the guy's reply as he started to tapp his console away. A moment later his clear voice announced. "Clearance granted sir. They are opening the main gate". "On screen" Shane commanded. The main screen flashed for a moment and then a clear view on the slowly opening main gate of the SB Bragg's docking area appeared. Shane could leave this maneuver to Rangi as his XO, but she was still getting used with her new position and this was the first time the Chimera will start under his command ... he didnt want to miss this opportunity. "Connection tunnel to Bragg closed and sealed" announced Foster, "we are ready to go". Shane noded and said towards the HELP station. "Commader Palmer, take her slowly out". Shane knew the reasons he accepted Samantha's application for the HELM position just a day ago and hoped she wont dissapoint him. "Understood" she replied and the ship started to move slowly and smoothly out of the mighty Bragg station. After a while of flying with on thruster power only, the Chimera left the station and was in free space. The main screen changed. Instead of the illuminated standart gray of the inside of SB Bragg the pitch black of the universe illumintaed only by the lights of stars appeared on the screen. "Set the course for planet Sidos Commader" Shane ordered. "Course set sir" she replied almost immediately. "Warp six Commander" Shane said with his eyes glowing, "steady as she goes!" ===== End of log ===== Cmdr. Shane Guzman CO USS Chimera