New Ship, New Assignment, New Start

Posted on 19 Mar 2021 @ 7:15pm by Captain Harvey Geisler & Lieutenant Parker Voss

1,202 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Extinction
Location: Aragatha Sector
Timeline: Mission Day 15 at 1000

Parker piloted the runabout Hightower out of the Potemkin's hanger deck. His transfer orders came in, ordering him to travel to the Aragatha sector to take over the position of Chief Engineer on the USS Blackhawk.

He set the course and went to warp 6.

"Computer, record. My assignment on the Potemkin was to have been a temporary one, until command could find a new replacement for their former chief engineer, who died in the line. The Potemkin's captain had contacted Starfleet wondering if I could stay, but command told her that I was needed elsewhere. And that's on the USS Black Hawk. And since the orders included that I needed to be there asap, I got permission to take a ruabout, which will be a replacement for the Black Hawk's fleet of shuttles and runabouts. It's going to take, with no delays, 3 days and 14 hours to get to the Aragatha sector. Computer pause."

Parker got up and went to the replicator. "Green tea, hot, 2 sugars, no milk in a mug." His drink arrived and he returned to the pilot's chair. "Computer, resume. It's too bad that no one else was also going to the Black Hawk...I could have used the company." He sipped his drink. "Computer, play some smooth jazz." Music started to play. "So I guess for the next 3 days 13 hours, I'll be catching up on sleep and engineering manuals. Computer, close log."

Between listening to the music, the manuals, games on the ruanbouts computer and sleeping, it was a very long 3 days and 13 hours.

~~3 days 12 hours later~~

Parker had taken a shower, shaved and changed into a fresh uniform. The computer notified him that they were approaching the system. "Computer, drop to half impulse." The runabout dropped out of warp.

And there she was, the USS Black Hawk.

Voss opened a channel. "Runabout Hightower to USS Black Hawk. Requesting approach instructions."

"This is Black Hawk flight control." The voice on the other side sounded nice. "You are cleared to approach and land. Follow the computer's flight path and the computer will land the ship. Welcome to the Black Hawk."

"Thank you, control. Setting course and computer is active." He sat back and watched the view.

The ride was smooth, and it afforded him the opportunity to look at the other ships in the area.

After the runabout landed, he exited the craft, and was approached by a squad of security officers. He identified himself, and handed over his transfer orders. The officer in charge cleared his orders with the ship's computer, and the senior officer on the bridge.

His luggage was beamed to his quarters.

First order of business...meet his new captain.

* * *

Captain Geisler, as was now customary for him, found himself sitting behind his desk buried under a mountain of reports. Not only did he have to worry about the happenings aboard his ship, Harvey was now responsible for an entire task group, and he was working overtime just making himself familiar with the vessels that were under his purview.

A notice flashed on his holographic display, announcing that a new arrival had come on board. His eyes glanced at the notification before it vanished to see that it was the new Chief Engineer. Harvey grinned, pleased that his senior staff was again complete. He tapped his badge and stated, "Lieutenant Voss, please report to the Ready Room."

Voss tapped his commbadge, "On my way, captain." He headed to the nearest turbo lift, and when the doors opened, he entered, "Bridge."

A few minutes later, the door chime to the Ready Room sounded. Harvey, used to the familiar sound, didn't look up from his paperwork and instead called out, "Enter."

Voss entered the room, and walked straight to the captain's desk, and announced. "Lieutenant Parker Voss, Chief Enginneer, reporting for duty, sir!"

Harvey fought the urge to blink. Lieutenant Voss was not the first eager officer to have served under his command, and he most certainly wouldn't be the last. But that still didn't keep him from being surprised whenever this eagerness presented itself. "Have a seat, Lieutenant," Harvey offered, gesturing to one of the open chairs in front of the desk. "How was your transit to the Black Hawk?"

Voss sat in one of the chairs. "Long, sir. I used a runabout, that is now one of your replacement ships. It took 84 hours, but I am happy to be here, and eager to get started."

"I can't say I'm surprised," Harvey admitted. "Out here in the Gamma Quadrant, resources are still rather limited. Of course, that doesn't stop ships like ourselves from getting tangled up in the supernatural or metaphysical. Right now, though, we're taking a break for that while we track down some pirates who've upended this part of the galaxy."

"Do we know anything about these pirates? Ships, weapons, how many are there?" Voss asked.

"We know very little," Harvey answered. "Hence our assignment. We know some have infiltrated Starfleet, and even this ship. Our Chief of Security conducts rather thorough background checks on everyone, so you can expect a visit from her in the near future. We also know that one of them uses a legally-obtained Saber-class vessel. It's been modified since and has been difficult to track. Other than that, it's going to be a lot of searching and investigating on our part."

"I look forward to speaking to the chief soon, captain. If there are traitors in engineering, I want to know as soon as possible." Voss paused. "Has anyone tried to record the warp trail or emissions of this Saber vessel? Maybe there's something I can do to help find this ship."

Harvey shook his head. "We encountered this particular ship inside a nebula about seven weeks ago. Our sensors weren't functioning well at the time, and any recordings we would have gathered would have been tainted by the nebula. I'm afraid we're starting entirely from scratch on this one."

Voss nodded. "Not a problem, captain. Now that I am here, engineering will get those sensors functioning at peak efficency, so the sensors will get a better reading on that ship, sir."

"That's much obliged, Lieutenant," Harvey thanked the engineer. "As for the rest of it, I may run a tight ship, but I value openness. My door's always open should you have suggestions, concerns, or just need to talk. Most importantly, if there is an issue, I do ask that you let me know right away. Don't let things fester because one, someone on this ship will find out about it and two, it's just going to cause a larger headache for the crew in the future if you don't come forward."

Voss nodded. "I will come to you if anything like that happens, sir. I wouldn't want to add to your headaches, sir."

"Any questions for me at this point, Lieutenant?" Harvey asked. "If not, I see no need to keep you here. I'm sure you're eager to see the engine room."

"Voss stood up. "Thank you, sir. I look forward to more talks with you. Permission to leave, sir?"

The Captain nodded. "Granted, Lieutenant. Once again, welcome aboard."

"Thank you, sir." He turned and left the room.

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