[USS Juno] First Impressions

Posted on Fri Aug 3rd, 2018 @ 12:47am by Captain Harrold Anderson & Lieutenant Avril Taylor
Edited on on Sat Dec 8th, 2018 @ 1:09pm

2,596 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: [USS Shanghai] S1, E1: So it Begins
Location: ESD, Lounge Area
Timeline: MD001 2000 hrs

12/26/2394 @ 2000 Hrs

Harry was relaxing on ESD at the local lounge on Deck 100 of the station. The station was very old, but was well maintained and the one thing this station had, more than any other place he had been, was it's concentrated amounts of bar lounges. He grinned as he wondered logistically how they were able to keep up with the station's request for alcohol.

Starfleet offered synthohol, but no one really drank that garbage. He was more of a fan of real drinks, not replicated ones that at had an artificial taste to them. He sat in the lounge, because he did not want to be alone in his small temporary quarters on the station.

He found a table and just sat down looking at his ship from the portal. The Vesta class line, was a very pleasing to the eye, well Harry thought so at least. He was surprised, to be given such a fine ship.

In his hand, he had an andorian ale. He took a small sip, admiring the USS Juno from a distance. Tomorrow he would board her for the first time, the corps of engineers were working hard to make sure she was ready for his arrival tomorrow.

Bervag had just beamed over from the Defensia, his collar slightly heavier than before. A new hollow pip haad been added where only fabric had been before. He rubbed it, letting the feeling sink in. He wasn't due aboard his new ship until the next day so the newly minted Lieutenant Commander was basically left to his own devices

Luckily the Defensis's CO was the helpful sort. Before Bervags departure he dropped the hint that ESD had a Lounge on level 100. At a loss of what to do he decided that he might as well see for himself. He hopped a turbolift and within a few minutes he was there.

Not on duty he decided to let his hair down, to a degree. He ordered himself a whiskey and scanned the room for a table.

Harry took another sip of his ale when he noticed a familiar face. He remembered approving the appointment of his first officer. Now here was the man standing in the lounge. He could tell that the first officer was also admiring the beauty of the USS Juno. "This must be a small universe," he grinned as he stood up and motioned for Bervag to join him.

"Commander Bers, it is great to meet you in person." He said watching the man walk over to him. He reached out to shake his hand. His voice was grateful, at least now he did not have to sit down alone. He was a very social person. And the first officer was person he could socialize with.

Bers nodded, taking the offered hand. "Likewise." he smiled, his voice grateful as well.

"Have a seat Commander, I could use the company." Suggested Harry as he sat back down himself.

"Thank you!" Bers said, sitting down himself. "I'd be glad to." he smiled

Harry noticed they were both staring at the USS Juno. "She is a beaut, if I may so, we are damn lucky to command her." Said Harry with a big grin.

Bervag returned the grin, agreeing wholeheartedly. "A thing of beauty to be sure." he nodded

Harry noticed from the corner of his eye, a young attractive lady entering the bar. Harry had a keen eye that attracted him to beauty. She walked close to the table. "Damn this universe must be a small place, three senior officers all converging at the same place." He suggested waiting to see what Avril was going to say.

Avril came straight out of the academy with a shinny extra pip on her collar, she was first in her class in flight school. Which made her proud, she had the option of starting her career as a department head. She wanted to be become a starship captain someday and an instant promotion and starting off as a department head was good start.

Everyone must of had the same idea, she thought as she saw an attractive slightly older man trying to get her attention. "Thank you Sir." Simply said Avril as she looked at the USS Juno, realizing that she had stopped and was probably blocking his view of the space port window. "Sorry Sir, I was admiring the ship I will get to fly soon, have a good night sir." Said Avril. Having no idea that was her captain. She had yet to meet him. Her appointment to department head was handled by starfleet command.

She noticed another officer sitting with him, she really felt bad for blocking both of their views. She smiled as she got ready to walk away.

"Have a seat Lieutenant." Softly ordered Harry with a big grin. She was nice distraction to look at, but it would be inappropriate for him to continue to look at her.

Avril did not want to be rude, but at the same time she was not sure she wanted a Lieutenant Commander hitting on her either. She saw the way he looked at her. She still had no idea this was her captain. "Very kind of you sir," she said. She hoped she was not making a mistake taking him up on his offer to sit down. She did not want to give him any ideas.

"Lieutenant Avril Taylor, tomorrow, I will be flying that baby." She grinned as she pointed out the USS Juno to two higher ranking men she was sitting with.

"I am Commander Anderson, the new Captain of the Juno, and this is Commander Bers, the new First Officer of the Juno." He suggested, waiting to see how she was going to respond.

Avril was not sure how to respond to that. So far she had said nothing wrong. He clearly invited her to sit with him, because he had to known she was a member of his crew. "It's nice to meet you gentleman." She said, noticing they both had drinks and she did not. She wondered if it was wise to be drinking with the Captain and First Officer.

"Like wise Lieutenant. Commander Bers, did you know Lieutenant Taylor was top of her class in flight operations and is now our new chief control flight officer." He asked, putting Avril on the spot.

Bers perked up at that. After all, once upon a time he was a pilot himself. "I didn't. Pleasure to meet another pilot." he beamed.

"Thank you sir," she said. What she really wanted to ask him, was, what type of ship did he fly last? The vesta class was her first ship out of the academy, and she was grateful for that.

"Anytime, lieutenant." he said. Bers made a mental note to get some pilot talk started later.

"Lieutenant pick your poison?" Insisted Harry, as he noticed no drink in her hand. He knew she just arrived at the lounge.

Avril smiled, "I would have said Synthol, but after looking at your drinks, maybe a warp core breach." She said with a grin on her face.

After hearing her order, he grinned and flagged down a waiter. He ordered her a drink. And another drink for himself.

He looked at Avril and Bervag. He raised his glass for a toast. "To the Juno," he toasted with his arm up high.

Avril grabbed her drink, and raised it up in a toast. She gently tapped on the captain's glass for the toast. "A fine ship to fly into the unknown, and bring us back again." Confidentially stated Avril.

"May success follow her name." Bers said, tapping the others glasses.

The three officers took a sip. Harry was feeling very good from the drink, and his first officer and new helmsman seemed nice enough. He hoped so, because they were signed up for the ten year mission.

In all fairness, Bervag could accept promotion in a couple of years, if it happened, he could always take him back to DS9. But for the moment he did not have to worry about that.

The three officers sat down, Avril sitting next to Bervag. "So Commander Bers, do you mind if I call you number one?" Asked Harry, being polite.

"No problem at all." Bers said. With was true. It worked for Riker he thought.

"I know your from Trill and your joined, but what can you tell me about yourself, that is not in your file?" He asked, trying to make small talk.

"I like to dabble in art." he began. "Working my way up so to speak. Stick figures so far." he sad, laughing. "Always open to trying anything at least once."

Harry looked over to Avril. "Same question for you, Lieutenant Taylor." He said, realizing since he asked them, he should probably tell something about himself. He sat their thinking.

"I like to socialize, but you may have already figured that out, I also like to dance," he grinned with a smile, trying not to smile or give Avril the suggestion that he would totally hit on her if he was not her CO.

Avril could tell that her boss liked to socialize, he was in the lounge after hours with a drink in his hand and a warm smile on his face. She noticed that her captain was a ladies man, she wondered how this was going to play out for him? Being the captain does not allow you the opportunity to flirt with any starfleet personal. For his sake, Avril hoped the 75 civilians on board, one of them would be suitable for the captain.

"I like to knit from time to time, beyond that socializing sirs, is my hobby. Who would have thought pilots love to socialize." She said with a grin as she took another sip from her drink.

Harry tried not to laugh. Knitting, he would have never pegged her as the knitting type. She took another sip from his drink. He smiled as he noticed another officer walking into the room.

"I think I am going to need a bigger table, Hello Doctor T'San, please join us. And you sir, must be Dan my new Chef." Said Harry as he stood up and moved over to allow them in the booth. The booth could only hold six adults, three on each side. It was getting a little cozy but not uncomfortable yet.

T'San gave a nod before she sat down and said, "Thank you, sir, don't mind if I do." Dan took the seat next to her. "Yes, I am Dan," said Dan enthousiastically. "Your new chef."

"Lieutenant T'San our Chief Medical Officer, Meet Lieutenant Commander Bervag Bers our first officer" Pointed out Harry as he pointed at Bervag.

"A pleasure, Doctor." Bers said, raising his glass.

T'San nodded to the first officer. "Commander!"

"This is Lieutenant Avril Taylor, our new helmsman." Pointed out Harry as he pointed at Avril.

Avril was not sure what to think of the Vulcan's. They few she had in her class, were deprived of emotions. Well she felt they were deprived. But this was not really the place or time for Avril to be passing judgement. She noticed this Vulcan was a little different. She did have a human companion. "Hello Doctor, or should I call you Ma'am?" Asked Avril. T'San was a full Lieutenant not a Junior Grade like her.

T'San nodded to Avril. "Lieutenant," she said with her almost straightened face, "And no Doctor is fine."

Meanwhile Dan looked around and waved to a weighter to come by, so he could order a drink for him and the misses. As one came, he said, "I'll have an ale and my wife would like a ... a rootbeer right, dear?"

T'San looked to her husband. "Yes!"

Dan looked around to the company while grinning and said, "she likes the bubbely taste in her mouth."

"Ahh yes, the finest chef in the galaxy." Said Harry buttering up a little to the new chef. "I am delighted to have you aboard, and I think the crew will be as well, are you ready to feed 853 personal daily?" He asked.

Harry knew that some of the crew would probably just replicate food, he was honestly not sure how many people the mess hall can accommodate. If he had to guess maybe 200 - 300 personal maybe more or maybe less.

"853, wow, well, I think that's what I gotten close to at the academy. I could recruit some helpers among the crew.

"We can discuss the details, tomorrow, I will set up an appointment to visit you in the mess hall, maybe get a small sample platter, of your fine cuisine options?" Asked Harry.

"Ah sure, I can whip something up tomorrow for you all to feast on." Said Dan.

The root beer and ale drink arrived at the table. Harry remembered what Dan had said, that she liked the bubbly sensation of the drink.

Harry raised his glass, "Tomorrow, I will give a grand speech, but each of you represent my senior staff. I want to thank each of you, Starfleet may be mad or insane, but I am determined to carry out her vision." He said, taking a moment to allow the seriousness of the mood set in for all.

We will carry out the first ten year mission, Starfleet has done several 5 year missions and 7 year missions. But no crew has ever attempted a decade. Not since the time of Captain Kirk, has this been attempted. The crew of the original Enterprise, completed a five year mission in deep space and stayed together closer to Earth for the remaining 17 years." He started off, taking a breath for a moment.

"Voyager trekked for seven years to get back home, we will attempt to trek ten years into the unknown, we will explore the Gamma Quadrant. We will set the path for others to follow." He insisted as he tapped his glass with the others.

They all took a sip. He then looked at Bervag and then the others. "I know I am asking a lot from each of you, and no so is Starfleet. But we can do this together." He grinned with a smile on his face.

Bervag smiled as well."Hear, hear." he said. "Starfleet has proven itself a resilient bunch, dating back to Archer." Bervag said, adding in his two cents. "Besides, we're the United Federation of planets. Once together, we can do anything."

"I am looking forward to the long road ahead of us, reaching out to the unknown and making first contact in a new sector of space. Well make you proud Captain, we will make Starfleet proud," suggested Avril with a grin. She was grateful for the opportunity, but sad she would be leaving her family for ten years of their lives. A lot can happen in ten years.

She was torn, but she had made her choice. The chance to partake in a historic event, was to good to pass up on. She raised her glass and took another sip. She knew the commitment she was getting herself into. "To the Federation, to Starfleet, to the crew of the Juno." She said as she raised her glass. The scene starts to end.

Harry looked around the table, with a big on his face. This was nice, he thought. Having the senior staff together for drinks. He needed to make sure they carried this tradition going forward on the U.S.S. Juno.

The scene fades.

 

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