Bending the Rules

Posted on Tue Sep 1st, 2009 @ 11:47am by Captain James Montgomery

560 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: Prelude: Blowing away the Cobwebs
Location: Jupiter Station, USS Orion
Timeline: current

ON

'That was far too easy, really I should report them' murmoured Lieutenant-Commander Montgomery as he stepped aboard the USS Orion. The Ship was currently off limits while it's refit was carried out, but with a combination of his rank and some holodeck credits thrown in he'd managed to pursuade the security detail at the airlock that as the new commanding officer he was exempt.

A shudder passed over him from the thought of having violated even the simplest regulation, but it was quickly dismissed and replaced with the warm fuzzy feeling of knowing that this ship, the USS Orion was his first command. And what a ship! An older design perhaps, but her sheer size and impresive bloodline were not to be reckoned with, and of course this overhaul would see her brought right up to date with the latest technology starfleet had to offer.

To start with, Montgomery wandered aimlessly, caught up in the occasion. He had learnt the schematics off by heart - but in the flesh every new bulkhead and corridor was as new and exciting as the next. He didn't have much time but he needed this sneak peak, waiting another week for the official handover would be unbearable. The cool blue light that bathed the ship was somewhat eerie, far removed from the bright warm glow that the 'family friendly' Galaxy ships had originally been fitted out with.

"Deck One, Main bridge" - no response came from the turbolift. "Crawling up through the Jeffries tubes it is then" James said brightly, as he returned to the corridor and opened the access hatch. He suspected that in the future he would curse having to crawl in these tight spaces, but for now it was just as exciting as the rest of the experience.

The Bridge, a classic Galaxy layout greeted the Commander, but that was about it. Pulling himself upright he walked to where the Command chair should have been, it was on the floor in the corner, still wrapped in antistatic cover. Some of the consoles were in place but there was still much to be done before it was a fully functional command centre. 'I wouldn't mind doing the work myself it'd get done quicker' he thought to himself, not quite sure why the huge stations staff couldn't work shifts round the clock to get her ready.

'Where next?' The choice was made for him, the room spun and dissapeared before re-appearing looking much like a transporter room. A well built officer in a yellow uniform, sporting Lieutenant-Commander's rank pips on his collar stood before him, the Security officers who had granted him access to the ship a few minutes previously, stood in the corner looking sullen and sheepish.

"You are not authorised to be aboard that vessel" the officer said in a sergent-major style, "I should report this matter to your superior, but..." he paused, and shot a piercing glance in the direction of the security officers, "As station security is also to blame we'll forget the matter this once."

James stepped down from the pad, offered a jaunty salute and a smile to the other officers who did not return it, and headed for his temporary quarters on the Station. His senior officers would start arriving in the morning, the heart of the ship would start to take shape.

OFF

 

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