[Galaxy] 2161.12.03 - Cochrane Arena - Capt Spearling

[Anna H.]

//  San Francisco, Earth  \\
 
 
She had an itch in the middle of her back.  More than likely it was the scar again, she'd forgotten to moisturize after her shower and now the damn thing was letting her know of her lapse.  Shifting position, Sasha tried to put it out of her mind.  Now was not the time to appear twitchy, here in front of what was presumably the entire galaxy.  
 
Captain Archer's speech had been everything she'd been expecting.  He was a masterful speaker, and his message was one of unification and forward-thinking optimism, just what was needed to keynote these proceedings.  She'd cheered and applauded along with everyone else, her admiring gaze locked onto the famous commanding officer of the first working warp-capable exploratory starship from Earth.  It didn't hurt that he was also easy on the eyes:  a tall handsome man, straight-backed and sharp-eyed, everything you'd expect to find at the head of a starship.
 
Now they were awaiting the next speaker.  Sasha saw, with the great view from the CO's box, Commodore Sheppard coming forward.  The Vulcan ambassador, was it T'Jan? -- waited behind her.
 
Earlier in the day, Sasha had wished Dhurme good luck and good times as he'd dressed to leave her temporary living quarters.  The Andorian male, although young, was intelligent enough to know that they had no future of any permanence before them, and that anything they did together was temporary and only meant for "fun".  And it had been fun.  Very.  She'd kissed him goodbye, patted his lovely pale blue cheek, closed the door behind him, and then promptly forgot about him as she turned to her messages.  
 
The ship was still waiting in line for repairs and refit.  There wasn't a lot to be done mods-wise -- this effort seemed more like bringing the rest of the Fleet up to Freedom-refit standards.  Which was /great/, and about time! Almost all of the crew had scattered once they'd docked, which was also great.  They deserved time off, /real/ time off in which they could get back to Earth and enjoy whatever their hearts desired -- although all had returned for the ceremony.  
 
Soon enough they'd be back out there again, going forward in the new environment that this meeting would make for them.  It was good to have friends.  It would be good to know that, as they went back out in the Challenger, that any member world ship they met would be a /friend/.  It was slightly exhilarating to consider.  She looked forward to it.
 
As she watched Archer speak with Sheppard, the two shaking hands, Sasha considered what other changes might be in store for them.  Ambassadorships, certainly, to all the member worlds.  Interplanetary trade (maybe Andorian ale wouldn't be so pricey and rare), more places for ships to stop if they needed supplies or repairs.  The expression left her face as she thought of the next thing:  reduction of conflict.  Thank the gods, if you believed in them.  The successful outcome of this meeting would mean Earth's /known/ enemies shrank down to a grand total of three:  Romulans, Naussicans, and Klingons.  Known enemies, but still.  Three.
 
Against those three, now the Earth vessels that left Sol would have /friends/ to back them up.  Two are stronger than one.  Three stronger than two.  And on and on.  With a good charter to guide them, inter-Coalition squabbles should be kept to a minimum or at least kept to a diplomat-handled level.  Wonderful.  No more worrying if the ship you met would fire on you in a moment of pique.  No more worrying if the Andorians had your back.  It sounded fantastic.
 
Sasha looked back at the dais again.  It appeared that Commodore Sheppard was going to speak.  At the moment she was looking out at the cheering crowd, which still hadn't quieted from Capt. Archer's speech.  Looking down, Sasha saw that her own hands were also clapping.  She looked around the arena, at all the people who were applauding, some with tears running down their cheeks.  They were applauding Archer, they were applauding the Enterprise, they were applauding all the people who'd been lost in the Romulan War ... and they were applauding /themselves/.  
 
Captain Sasha Spearling quieted her hands, folded her arms, and looked at the Commodore.  She sensed a feeling welling up inside her, one that was rare for Sasha.  Optimism and hope for the future, joined together, making her chest hurt.  She looked around her and picked out members of her crew, standing proudly, representing the Challenger, representing Star Fleet, representing Earth.  She was so proud of them!
 
Optimism and hope for the future, from a position of strength.  Yes.  A good way to go forward.  
 
 
Captain Sasha Spearling
Commanding Officer
FCL-04 Challenger   
 
     
 		 	   		  
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