Sail Away

Posted on Sun Jun 21st, 2020 @ 3:34am by Captain Nycolas Temple & Commander Owen Nash & Cailus Griffin & Lieutenant Commander Janet Glyndar
Edited on on Wed Jun 24th, 2020 @ 6:43am

Mission: New Moon Rising
Location: Bridge

=/\= Luna Ship Yards =/\=
"This is Anna Oaken from the Federation News Service, star date 47634.44, bringing you live coverage of the launch of the USS Pandora! This is a bright and proud day for the Federation as we say a bon voyage to the first exploration vessel to sail into the Inconnu Expanse since the loss of Deep Space 7." Exclaimed the excitable young reporter as she moved about the crowds gathered around the Observation Deck, a remote camera hovering close behind. The footage was being beamed across the FNS channels and into the Pandora's shipwide communications.

In the background, the Pandora was illuminated radiantly with all her lights gleaming, as the dock crews departed and the renovation equipment was pulled away from her hull.

"The mood is excited and tinged with anticipation here on the Luna Shipyards as we await the ship's official launch." Oaken declared with a smile.

=/\= USS Pandora, Bridge =/\=

Shuttle by shuttle, transport by transport; the rest of the crew and passengers joined the USS Pandora. Her corridors, quarters, and offices were quickly filled with the busy sounds of a full personnel compliment, as everyone arrived and soon settled in. Before he knew it, Commander Temple was receiving permission to depart from the Luna Ship Yards and make their way to the Carnwennan station.

Temple arrived on the Bridge as the ship's first watch were making preparations to depart. As Lieutenant Commander Glyndar sat in the command chair, Nyx made his way to stand next to Lieutenant Commander Nash at the Ops station.

"Commander Glyndar, what is the morning report?" He asked over the console.

Janet looked at the man. We are not under attack so I would say a good morning report she thought to herself. "We haven't been shot at, scanned, probed, invaded, raided, or thrown into any temporal anomalies that I am aware of, Captain" she reported. "I believe everything is operating perfectly" she added.

"Seems like a good day to set sail then," he announced, smiling to the assembled crew.

Owen looked at the Captain and smiled as he nodded in agreement. "Yes sir, the skies are clear and as a famous Starfleet Officer once said... The wind is at our back," Owen said as he ran a systems check.

"Power distribution systems, Sensors & Transporters are operating at Nominal capacity Captain...meanwhile the Chief Operations Officer can't wait to get going..." Owen confirmed.

Temple gave a boisterous laugh, "What say you crew, do you share Mr. Nash's impatience?"

There was a general agreement from the Bridge crew, much to Nyx's delight.

"Yes sir," Cailus agreed neutrally from Tactical. Compared to their illustrious and enthusiastic CO, Cailus looked downright Vulcan with his blandness.

"Mr Griffin, please ensure all Pandora personnel are present and accounted for, and all renovation crew have disembarked." Temple requested, giving the stoic Security officer a nod.

"Aye," Cailus replied promptly, working his console swiftly. It was oddly exhilarating to be there once more, running through protocols and routines that hadn't changed much in centuries. "Confirmed: all dock workers have disembarked and all Pandora crew are aboard. Security and Tactical stand ready for departure."

"First, I believe we're going to receive some parting words from an Admiral," Nyx replied, "Let's put the Luna yards on screen."

At the Captains order, Owen tuned into the Dockyards visual frequency.

=/\= Luna Ship Yards =/\=

Oaken had hustled up to the front of the crowds, her camera hovering close behind her. She gained a decent position just to the right of the Pandora and began to broadcast again,

"For the renovation crew, this is indeed a milestone. Every ship they build, refurbish and successfully launch is no doubt a special achievement to them. No two ships are alike and that was especially true for this deep-space explorer. Her additions and improvements are state of the art and her unique recreation facilities will hopefully help the crew endure their long and dangerous mission." She said. "Look, it appears someone from the Admiralty is about to speak."

The reporter turned swiftly to her left, the camera following her movements. On a nearby podium, Admiral Thurston strolled up to the stage and addressed the waiting crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming here today and thank you especially to the Luna Ship Yards crew for all their hard work renovating the USS Pandora."

Applause rang out amongst the crowds, and Thurston nodded respectfully to the assembled workers who had just completed the final touches on the ship.

Thurston continued, "This is indeed a momentous day for the Federation. The day that humanity began exploring again!"

Again, the crowd applauded but this time it was a little louder, a little more enthusiastically. Even Oaken joined in their cheerfulness.

"The Dominion Wars and Breen Crisis are over, the militaristic mentally that has permeated into Federation operations is now surpassed again by humanity's noble intentions to discover and appreciate the galaxy. " The Admiral spoke, "This is the true purpose of the Federation, as the quote often goes. To explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before."

The crowd cheered now, clapping even louder than before. Thurston nodded along, giving a wave to the appreciative audience. "Godspeed USS Pandora, we wish you all the best. A safe and prosperous mission to you!"

Admiral Thurston waved to screen, giving a proud smile as he moved off stage.

"Bravo!" Oaken cried over the noise of the applause. She turned back to the camera, smiling, "What a speech. Well, it appears the Pandora is about to launch now, so we watch with baited breaths and a very good luck to them all."

=/\= Bridge =/\=

Nyx looked around at the crew, his own face beaming, "On that note, let's not leave them waiting any more. Let's drop anchor and shove off." Nyx smiled, still working those nautical references to death. "Commander Glyndar, please do the honours."

"As you wish, Captain" said Janet as she stood up from her seat, crossed her arms and stared ahead at the back of the helmsmen's head. "Helm, take us out...and don't scratch anything" she instructed a bit unconventionally.

The new Pandora's engines blazed back into life with a bright blue glow, as the ship began to slowly cruise out of the yard. She gently glided forwards out of the docking bay and over the observation deck, the crowd below waving to her hull as it passed over head. Once clear of the Luna Yard, the ship banked slightly to her left, the Earth sitting not too far away in the distance, and she paused.

"Onwards to the Carnwennan Corridor," Nyx requested, taking a seat in the command area. "Warp seven."

"Begyne!" Nyx replied with a smile. There was silence around the room and Nyx scratched his beard with embarrassment. "Sorry, Danish. I mean... Engage!"

The Pandora's warp drive powered up completely and like a lightning bolt through space, the ship throttled onwards towards the Inconnu Expanse, leaving a sparkling blue trail of warp particles in her wake.

OFF