Mission 1 - Return to Sector Epsilon

As the Captain was finishing his studies of the mission he was assigned, he heard the computer indicate there was an incoming message from Commander Kee. Lou opened the message and read the report with a smile on his face. He saw that all the systems were ready to carry out the stated mission and it also showed what type crew he had. After the CO finished the report he asked the Computer to log it for him.

Capt Marino: Computer, log report into the ship's records and official Captain's Log.

Sutherland-Com: Understood.

Lou walked to the Ready Room doors, with all the nervous butterflies hitting him, he straightened his uniform, then nodded to the heavens above after saying something to his deceased mother, Nancy. The Captain walked onto the Bridge of his Nebula Class Starship and addressed the Bridge Crew.

Capt Marino: Thank you Commander Kee and all of you here for your efficiency in getting the pre-flight check done. Now let's do this for real.

The CO looked to the Ops Station at the front of the Bridge, beside the Flight Control Station.

Capt Marino: Mr. Boffi, prepare us for launch. Contact Dock Control to request clearance to the Space Doors. Once we're given clearance, detach the moorings and retract the Gangway.

As Lou waited on his first order on the Bridge to his crew to be followed, he walked over to the center chair between Cmdr Kee and LtCmdr Elbrun, taking a moment to calm the butterflies, he took a seat. The Captain's Chair was comfortable, to say the least...

Michaelangelo did as the Captain ordered and acknowledged before opening the communications between Sutherland and Dock Traffic Control.

Lt. Commander Boffi: Aye Sir! All hands, this is the Bridge. Prepare for departure. Clear all moorings and retract the Gangway. Sutherland to Dock Traffic Control, request clearance to the Space Doors. We're powered up and ready to go.

SB34: Sutherland, this is Dock Traffic Control. You're cleared to the Space Doors.

LtCmdr Boffi watched his console and saw that all the moorings had been detached and the Gangway retracted. The maneuvering thrusters were automatically keeping them in place within their berth.

Lt. Commander Boffi: Captain, all moorings detached and Gangway retracted. Maneuvering thrusters are keeping us in place within the berth. Dock Traffic Control has given us clearance to the Space Doors. We're free to head on out, Sir!

The Chief Ops Officer looked over to his right, where Lt. Thomas was seated and smiled, then mouthed the words to Dylan You're up next! The Lieutenant smiled back and nodded in acknowledgement. He knew Lt. Thomas was anxious to pilot Sutherland out of Space Dock, they just had to wait for Capt Marino to give the order.
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Lt. Commander Michaelangelo A. Boffi
Chief Operations Officer, USS Oriskany

Lou was overwhelmed with excitement but kept it under wraps. Although, he was pretty sure Counselor Elbrun could sense his enthusiasm. The Captain let LtCmdr Boffi know he did a good job at clearing them to the Space Doors.

Capt Marino: Great job, Mr. Boffi.

The CO looked over at Lt. Thomas, the young pilot sitting at the Flight Control Station.

Capt Marino: Mr. Thomas, take us out the Space Doors if you will. Maneuvering thrusters, full reverse. Take us out of the berth nice and easy, we don't want to damage the paint job. As soon as we're clear of Starbase 34's Approach Control Area, I'd like you to set a course for Sector Epsilon, Warp 6.

The Captain watched the Main Viewscreen as he waited to see his ship moving in reverse, away from their berth in the Space Dock of SB34. He was so excited that he felt his intestines gurgling around and building up gas. This was so not the time and place for something like this, so he did all he could to hold it in.

Dylan was happy to oblige Capt Marino's orders and used the maneuvering thrusters at full reverse to back Sutherland from it's berth. He smiled to himself as he made sure not to put any scratches on the exterior of the ship per the Captain's orders.

Lt. Thomas: Thrusters at full reverse, Captain.

In a steady motion, the ship moved seamlessly from where it was docked, to the open area inside Space Dock where Lt. Thomas rotated the Nebula Class vessel on it's axis so it could point the bow towards the Space Doors.

Lt. Thomas: Rotation complete, Sir. Thrusters at full forward.

The Lieutenant piloted Sutherland right down the lit path to the Space Doors, which began to open slowly before them on the Main Viewscreen. In a few minutes they cleared the doors and were in SB34's Approach Control Area.

SB34: This is Approach Control to Sutherland, you are clear to maneuver using one quarter Impulse Power till you reach the outer markers. Once you're there, Warp Speed is at your discretion. May the wind be at your backs, Approach Control out.

Dylan shutdown power to the maneuvering thrusters and brought the Impulse Engines online and powered them up to one quarter. As the distance between SB34 and Sutherland grew at a steady pace, the Lieutenant informed Capt Marino of their status.

Lt. Thomas: Now moving at one quarter Impulse Power towards the outer markers, Captain.

It wasn't long before the outer markers appeared on the Main Viewscreen and in a few short minutes they were beyond them. Dylan powered down the Impulse Engines and brought the Warp Engines online.

Lt. Thomas: Warp Engines online, Captain. Warp 6, engage!

As Sutherland jumped to Warp Speed, Dylan's heart was pounding with excitement. This was the largest vessel he had ever piloted, and all the systems operated so smoothly. The Lieutenant was quite impressed with the Flight Control Station of the newly designed Bridge of this Nebula Class vessel.
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Lieutenant Dylan S. Thomas
Chief Flight Control Officer, USS Whitestar

Lou was happy to be watching the Main Viewscreen while they were at Warp 6. The CO was curious how long it was going to take for them to reach the location of the abandoned vessels in Sector Epsilon, so Lou made an inquiry of his Chief Flight Control Officer.

Capt Marino: Mr. Thomas, what's our ETA to our destination in Sector Epsilon? I'd like for us to drop down to one quarter Impulse Power once we're closing in on it, that way we can get to work right away.

The Captain waited to hear how long it was going to take to reach the vessels they needed to patrol and protect. Lou hoped it wasn't going to take too long, he really wanted to get to the actual work of the mission itself. Granted they just left SB34's area in Sector Alpha and have only been at Warp 6 for under 10 minutes, he was looking forward to a short trip in getting to their destination.

The Lieutenant immediately went to work using his console to determine the ETA to their destination in Sector Epsilon, as the Captain had asked. It didn't take Dylan long at all to calculate the travel time and he informed Capt Marino right away.

Lt. Thomas: By my calculations, our ETA to the destination in Sector Epsilon is 14 hours. Not too bad for Warp 6, Sir.

The Chief Flight Control Officer monitored his console, making sure everything was operating within specified parameters. Since everything was, he just had to sit back, relax and enjoy an uneventful ride to Sector Epsilon. After all, that's how his last mission to that location started out...
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Lieutenant Dylan S. Thomas
Chief Flight Control Officer, USS Whitestar

The Captain was somewhat disheartened by the amount of time it was going to take to reach their destination, but he knew it would go by fast.

Capt Marino: Understood, Lieutenant.

Lou thought for a moment and the addressed the Bridge Crew.

Capt Marino: Since we have time to get settled, why don't you all attend to some down time. You can take some time to explore the ship, we'll convene for a staff meeting in the Briefing Room at 1200 hours, but till then take some time to yourselves. Mr. Thomas, you have the Bridge

The CO waited to hear what anyone of his Bridge Crew had to say about their newly inherited personal time. Unfortunately for Lt. Thomas, somebody had to stay behind and maintain the Bridge and since he was a Senior Officer, the task fell upon Dylan this time. After the staff meeting at 1200 hours, Lou would make sure his Chief Flight Control Officer had some free time to himself.

Dylan was really surprised to placed in charge of the Bridge while the rest of the Bridge crew was given time to themselves to explore the ship. This was the first time in his career to have this opportunity, and it was one the Lieutenant welcomed openly.

Lt. Thomas: Aye, Sir! I'll let you know if you're needed on the Bridge for anything!

The Chief Flight Control Officer was excited at his latest task of being in charge of the Bridge and took it quite seriously. Dylan continued to monitor their progress to Sector Epsilon on his console, making sure to steer clear of any hazards along the way.
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Lieutenant Dylan S. Thomas
Chief Flight Control Officer, USS Whitestar

The Captain smiled at Lt. Thomas' enthusiasm. Lou thought he would give the young Lieutenant a boost of confidence by telling him how he was viewed.

Capt Marino: Mr. Thomas, I have faith in you and your reputation for being a competent pilot so I'm comfortable in leaving you in charge of the Bridge while you take us to Sector Epsilon. You will get time off to explore and relax after the staff meeting and while we're on our patrol of the abandoned vessels, we may be out there for a while.

Lou looked over at Cmdr Kee and gave him some instructions before he left the Bridge.

Capt Marino: Commander, make sure the Bridge Crew takes some time to relax before the meeting at 1200 hours. I'll be in my Quarters checking on my fish, if I'm needed.

The CO smiled at the XO and rose from his seat then walked over to the Turbolift and exited the Bridge. He proceeded to his Quarters on Deck 8 and entered to see it brilliantly decorated by his Yeoman. The lad was certainly deserving of all Como Carpathia's praise.

James got up from the Executive Officer's chair and looked around the Bridge at the officers at their stations. Nobody seemed to be securing them and exited the Bridge, so he wanted to make sure they knew it wasn't a request.

Cmdr Kee: You all heard the Captain! Let's get to relaxing, we've got a few hours before the meeting in the Briefing Room, so go socialize, explore Sutherland, decorate your Quarters or get something to eat. Captain Marino wants all of you relaxed before the meeting, except for Lieutenant Thomas here. He's has the Bridge while we're off doing our thing, so let's snap to it!

The First Officer waited for the Bridge Crew to secure their stations and file out of the Command Center before he would find himself something to do. Perhaps he'd get something for a late breakfast since he skipped it to get to the launch on time. He'd find the Sutherland's version of the Ten-Forward Lounge which was designed into the fore section of Galaxy Class vessels. It was a foregone conclusion that since the saucer section of this ship was extremely similar to that of a Galaxy Class, it would be in the same location on Sutherland.
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Commander James L. Kee
Executive Officer, USS Oriskany