Coming Home - Part One

Posted on Wed Nov 30th, 2022 @ 6:10am by Fleet Admiral Heather Duval & Captain Astrid "Alex" Yamaguchi

Mission: Mission 116: All Along the Watchtowers - Part One
Location: Various Locations - USS Ulysses/Starbase Vanguard
Timeline: 0900Hrs, December 10th, 2393

The stars flashed and the starlines snapped back to points as the USS Ulysses emerged from warp near the Starbase, on the viewscreen the planet appeared going from nothing to filling half the screen almost instantly, as the Starbase appeared before the ship. Yamaguchi smiled. "Take us in Daniel, nice and slow..." Astrid Yamaguchi smiled as she regarded the Starbase, she missed being home and she did not care about who knew it. Yamaguchi turned to the Bolian woman at Operations. "Salihan, get us clearance to dock." the averaged sized human female commented with a gentle smile on her lips.

"Helm, drop our speed to two hundred kilometres a second," Commander Darman Secura ordered. He was a larger than average human male, he was almost twice the size of his commanding officer in terms of size and scale as he was over six feet and change in height and massed over two hundred and seventy pounds. He had the build of a walking tank.

Lieutenant JG Daniel Hurley nodded his head. "Two Hundred KPH, aye Commander," he answered in clipped tones.

Lieutenant Commander Salihan Vexx tapped the display before her. "Approach control, this is Ulysses, ready for docking manoeuvre." the young woman addressed the com system, her gentle tones indicating her accent was unusual, a cross of Bolian and Myrmidon. Two of the Bolian main worlds.

"The answer was quick and simple. "Ulysses is cleared to dock." came the answer, quick and simple.

Yamaguchi nodded her head. "Lock on."

Vexx worked her pannel as she smiled. "Systems locked."

The lights around the bridge seemed to dim while turning from their usual colour to a deep blue tone.

Secura grinned softly to himself. "Vanguard, you have control," he commented

The answer from the Starbase was clear and quick. "Affirmative Ulysses, enjoy the ride and welcome home."

Yamaguchi answered this time as she shifted her position in her chair. "Ulysses confirms."

The Ulysses slowly moved through the massive hulking slabs of metal that passed for the docking scaffold, Hurley smiled as he watched the displays on his pannel. "Vanguard is moving us into position," he reported.

"Stand by to Dock," Secura commented from where he was sitting. He watched the display on his panel.

"Ready to dock sir," Vexx answered in her usual crisp tones.

Secura smiled as she nodded. "Engage mooring beams and lock off..." he ordered.

Hurley nodded. "Aye Commander." he slowly smiled as several new sounds could be heard throughout the massive ship as she came into position.
"And... Docking complete." Hurley reported as a loud series of booming sounds could be heard as the Ulysses physically connected with the Starbase.

"Thank you, number one." Yamaguchi smiled as she rose to her feet. "Well done everyone. I know this has been a long and exhausting mission. It's been my privilege to serve as your Captain and when you get to The Heavens Devil's Bar, the first round.. is on me." she paused. "Commander Secura, Lt Commander Fordragon, you two come with me... Everyone else, see to the safety of all hands and pass the word about shore leave, three weeks worth, so I expect you all to go and enjoy."

Lieutenant Commander Micheal McNeal nodded. "Yessir." and with that, he departed the bridge, Lieutenant Commander John Pertama following the security Chief after a moment. While Yamaguchi and Secura went into another turbolift. "Primary Airlock," she commented in an even tone of voice.

Secura held his silence while the lift started to move. "This will be an interesting debriefing," Secura commented to Yamaguchi in a light tone of voice.

Yamaguchi nodded her head in agreement. "Aye, it will be... Still, the crew performed magnificently for a new green crew, wouldn't you say?"

Secura smiled. "Oh, without question," he answered in an even tone of voice, the turbolift door opened in the middle of his answer before Yamaguchi moved out into the hallways. Secura followed in silence as the third member of their party came from around a corner. "Captain, Commander, fancy meeting you two here..." Fordragon commented evenly, with a large PADD in her delicate looking fingers, while the light of the hallways glinted off of her eyes as she grinned at her two companions.

"Indeed Chief." Secura addressed her by position rather than rank "Besides. I am told that weather planetside is lovely for this time of year." as the tall human grinned at the two women before him. "The weather is a balmy seventeen degrees with a chance of rain for later," Secura answered Fordragon in the same tone as she had addressed him and Yamaguchi in just a moment earlier. The Captain for her part simply chuckled in amusement while the three of them reached their destination. "Here we are..." Yamaguchi added.

"Starbase maintenance team approaching the main airlock." was the voice from the Master Chief, a male voice rather than the usual female voice that people were used to, the ship's new AI had taken a little getting used to but neither Yamaguchi or anyone else had seemed to mind all that much, they were the prototype for the new mass-produced shipborne AI's that would soon enter the fleet if this project went smoothly.

"Thanks, Chief, open the airlock and allow them to board," Yamaguchi commented evenly.

The hatch opened as two people stood before the assembled welcoming committee, one was a massive looking white-skinned male and the other was an older female with dark skin, she smiled as she nodded to Yamaguchi. "Permission to come aboard Captain?"

"Of course Admiral, welcome. This is Commander Darman Secura, my first officer, and Lt Commander Fenna Fordragon, my Chief Engineer."

Duval nodded to both of the other officers. "Well, I know you've met Captain Tirion Fordring before Astrid. He is the Starbase Chief Engineer and he'll be looking after your youngest child for the next few weeks while you enjoy your time off." Duval then grinned.

"Hello Tirion, It's good to see you again... How's Galiaan doing these days?" Yamaguchi asked.

"Lo Astrid. Galiaan is well, she sends her regards." Fordring answered before he greeted the other two officers standing with Yamaguchi.

"Now. Why don't we let our Engineers get to know each other, Captain, Commander... You two, come with me." and with that Duval turned and departed the Ulysses as Yamaguchi and Secura followed. Fordragon looked up at the man who was twice her size. "Well, umm... Hi, welcome aboard. Can I show you around?" she inquired.

"Sure Commander." Fordring smiled down at her. "Let's drop by Main Engineering and I can see how your issues are doing and arrange for Ulysses proper tender loving care."

Fordragon walked beside the massive man beside her. "You almost sound like a parent... What species are you... There is no way, that you're human..."

"Nope. I am a Vrykul. Physically we look alike to humans, we can have children with them as three of my children have families with humans." he explained with a gentle and happy smile. "Galiaan and I have much to be happy about and proud of with our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren," he explained with a smile, enjoying the smaller female's reactions to his comments.

"Oh wow, you look good for your age," Fordragon answered, for lack of anything better to say.

"Thanks." Fordring grinned at her. "You are quite the beauty yourself." as he regarded her.

"Umm... Thanks.." Fordragon answered as she took a moment to look left and then right. "Err... This way... lets. Umm. Engineering is this way." the smaller female stammered, Fordring followed, with a soft grin as he laughed softly while he walked beside her. "Commander, I like you. Most don't have a sense of humour but I like you."

"I try..." Fordragon answered as she turned a shade of deep brown.