Infinity's End - Part Eleven

Posted on Mon Feb 28th, 2022 @ 7:17pm by Division Admiral Thomas Lasky & Captain Sarah Horner & Commander Kolar, Son of Magh'tor

Mission: Mission 108: Grains of Sand
Location: Various Locations - Starbase Vanguard / USS Farragut
Timeline: 1500Hrs - October 28th, 2393

The time had come and so Sarah Horner was now wearing her new uniform, with command red and four solid golden pips, all of which made the tall female realize that she no longer recognized herself in the uniform. "I hope this goes well." she mused to herself before she tugged on the new boots that she had replicated specifically for this occasion before she set off for the Admirals office. She wanted to finish her lunch before she departed as she encountered her new first officer en-route to her destination. "Kolar." Horner greeted him with a soft purr in her tone. "Fancy meeting you here."

"Indeed... Are you prepared?" Kolar inquired of the human before him.

"I am, shall we?" Horner asked him.

The two officers reached their destination, she was permitted entry as she nodded to Lasky. Lasky grinned as he regarded the tall female before him. "Sarah..." he nodded to Kolar. "Kolar." he greeted the two officers as if they were old friends, which from his perspective, they were indeed friends as he had served with both officers before.

Horner grinned at Lasky. "Look at you, an Admiral huh..."

"Well someone must have thought I was worthy, I am still adjusting to command my own group of ships," Lasky answered with a grin. "Of course, Plataea and the kids help too in their own ways."

Kolar smiled. "You have proven yourself Tom. Do not be troubled on that concern." he rumbled. "As an officer, as a leader... and as a father..."

Horner knew of where Kolar spoke and she knew that until recently Lasky had been alone in the universe, with no other relatives anywhere, blood or otherwise. "How is the family doing these days anyway?"

"Plataea loves Operations, she gets to hack into the system and make people cringe, moan, and scream... For her, its something other then the warfare she's done and hated." Lasky explained. "Oliver keeps us both busy but then so does Nigel and Kurt. Who'd have thought..." he paused, as he knew these two were present for something other than a happy reunion. "Are you two ready to go over to your command?" Lasky inquired of her.

"Yes, Admiral. We're both so prepared," Horner responded with a smile.

Lasky nodded his head. "Alright, lets head on over to your new command." as he came out from behind his desk, then past her and out of his office, Yamaguchi followed in silence.

The two of them stepped into a nearby transporter room and they emerged next to a hanger bay. "Some traditions are best kept around, wouldn't you agree?" Lasky inquired of the tall female beside him. Kolar trailed one step behind, he was happy to hold his tongue and keep his silence.

Horner nodded her head. "I do." she regarded him as the three officers entered a shuttle, it was one of the now elderly types eight shuttles that had now seen almost twenty years of service, these new type eights were almost a different design than the originals that had been deployed when he was a fighter pilot on the Courageous. Lasky smiled as he slid his fifty-year-old body into the pilot's chair, he nodded to Horner who sat down next to him. He sealed the hatch behind them which slammed shut with a gentle clanging sound. Kolar took the seat behind Lasky in silence as he began assisting with the preflight checks.

Lasky smiled as he tapped the display. "Hanger eleven tower, this is the shuttle, Red three-three, request permission to launch, the destination is the USS Farragut," he commented.

"Red Thirty-three, confirmed, clearance to depart, granted. smooth sailing Admiral." came the response from the tower. "The skies are clear, you can depart any time you're ready," he added.

Lasky activated the engines as the shuttle left the deck before she moved in silence out of the hanger, the only sound that could be heard was a hissing zapping sound as the shuttle pierced the hanger forcefield. Lasky turned his attention to the female beside him. "I believe Starfleet Command will be reassigning you away from this area and out of the Taurus Reach. To the best of my knowledge, you'll be heading for the Scorpius Great Wall. I believe Admiral Sam Antilles and the Fifty-Sixth fleet is what you'll be calling your boss and your home for the next few years..." Lasky smiled. "I think you'll be fine."

Horner regarded Lasky as the shuttle flew through the area around the starbase. Horner smiled as she listened to him speak, she processed all of what he was saying to her. "Sounds good sir," she answered while the shuttles passed the various docking scaffolds that had been clustered together in high orbit over Utgarde Four as they approached a Guardian class starship that was floating free from any constraints. "There she is, your new command. Make sure to treat her like a lady and she will always bring you home Captain."

Horner nodded her head. "Yessir." while Lasky tapped the display. "This is shuttle Red three-three to USS Farragut tower control, requesting permission to land.?"

"Confirmed, decks yours, come on down Admiral." came the unexpected answer.

Lasky smiled while he gently guided the shuttle around the Guardian class ship before he guided the shuttle to its landing in the main hanger. He then opened the hatch as Horner and then Kolar both exited first, they both took in the scene before them with over two hundred souls all standing in rows several layers deep. Horner smiled as she nodded to them, several of the people gathered nodded back to her, these would be her crew and she was happy to see them. Kolar regarded the crowd as he nodded his head.

Lasky went over to the podium that had been set up for this occasion. "Attention on deck," he commented as Horner moved to take her space before the podium while Lasky rattled off his speech for the occasion, most of it was short and sweet. "So Today. The USS Farragut gets her official Captain and First Officer," he commented before he went over to stand before Horner as he handed the tall female before her a PADD. Horner accepted the PADD and began to read aloud. "To Captain Sarah Horner, you are hereby requested and required to assume command of USS Farragut, effective Stardate Seven One Eight Two Three point Five One," she explained. "Signed Admiral Jake Yamaguchi, Starfleet Command." before she lowered the PADD.

Lasky smiled. "Computer transfer all command codes to Captain Sarah Horner. Authorization Lasky Nine One Nine November Foxtrot."

The computer's answer was quick. "Command codes transferred. USS Farragut is now under the command of Captain Sarah Horner." came the response.

Horner's smile was telling in of itself. "I relieve you, Admiral."

"I stand relieved," Lasky commented. "She's all yours Sarah. Now go enjoy this fancy feast the messhall staff put together for you." the tall human male commented before he gently shook Horner's hand with his own, he then went over to Kolar. "Kolar, I know you and I have not always seen eye to eye... But you know you are the perfect Exec for Sarah."

"Your words honor me Admiral." and with that the two men shook hands. "Qua'pla Kolar. I hope you die well when the time comes..."
Lasky responded he knew how to speak to a Klingon.

"Likewise Tom. The Black Fleet will cower in your presence."

Lasky grinned. "I'll bring the bloodwine."

Kolar smiled in response.

Meanwhile, Honer went to the podium as she decided to address the crew. "Hello everyone, this is the best greeting I've ever had, thank you all for coming out to greet me on this fine afternoon," she commented. "I'll meet the rest of this crew as time permits. While I will strive to lead you, I will also remember that you guys are the heart and soul of this ship and I am humbled to serve with each and every one of you. Thank you. Dismissed." and with that, the crew turned and departed in order.

Horner smiled before she turned and went over to her new senior staff, the dozen or so personnel who were clustered together. They all turned to face her in silence as the senior ranking officer nodded. "Welcome aboard Captain."

"Thank you, I'm happy to be here. I hope I can be worthy of you." Horner smiled at the gathering.

"Worthy?" the female medical officer regarded her. "Not what I was expecting you to say, skipper. It's we who should be worthy of you."

"Well. If nothing else, I'm looking forward to the days to come..." Yamaguchi responded as she smiled. "That said... Where do we stand with the ship's shakedown?" she inquired. "What about the crew?"

"The paperwork is in your ready room skipper, do you want to go over it now or do you want a tour.?" the second officer who was wearing Operations sand answered with a smile before asking his question of her.

Horner smiled. "I'll take the tour first and settle in." she paused. "Everyone, this is Commander Kolar, our new first officer, I've served with the man before..."

There were welcomes and handshakes all around while various people introduced themselves. "Also. Since the first job will be to finish our shakedown... I want to give the crew some extra time off, I want to work the ship but not kill the crew with overwork."

"Sounds great skipper. I'll see to it." the second officer answered. "Shall we start the tour?" the younger male asked of Horner

"Lead on, let's go and see the ship." Horner grinned like a child when she had gotten that one toy she had been asking for all year. Kolar followed along in silence, one step behind everyone else as always.