[Galaxy] [SCE] 29 September, 2162, "Did someone call for the AA?"

[Mark Berry]

OOC : There is a time jump between Daedalus' commissioning and this post of
about two weeks. Intrepid is merging with Yorktown and this post is part of
the merger process as Intrepid as been severely damaged due to
environmental reasons and the crew is being forced to abandon ship. To the
Yorktown folks, just thought I'd start cross-posting myself so you guys had
some idea of what was going on from the Intrepid side.

[USS Daedalus, NCC-100, En route to the Moana system]

Markus Kravchik had never been a starship captain. He had possessed
the rank and spent his entire time at that rank on Earth. Then the SCE
found itself tasked with supplying the bags of tricks for a war effort
and the SCE exploded in size. The Captain that had been in charge of a
research and development division quickly found himself a Commodore
and running a massive operation that was focused on multiple projects
at once. With the Romulan War over and the Federation now no longer a
talked about dream but reality, the SCE was set to continue to grow.
War was good for business. Peace was looking like it was going to be
better.

Still, there was job perks to being head of the SCE. He did get to
command Daedalus on her maiden voyage, seeing as how Operations still
hadn't selected a suitable Captain for the ship and she was required
urgently, at least according to Admiral Brown. So, while the ship had
been commissioned, she was technically still in the hands of the SCE
for a shakedown cruise and post-mission overhaul. Only when Markus was
satisfied with the ship's performance and any last minute notes needed
for the other ships that had been ordered by the Federation Council,
would he hand her over to Operations for active duty.

At least that was the creative lie being used by the SCE and
Operations to get a ship to USS Intrepid without assigning an actual
Captain to it and allowing a Commodore to instead command.

The chime from the ready room comm unit stirred Markus from inactivity
and back to reality before the voice on the other end spoke.
"Commodore, we've established a communication link with USS Intrepid.
Captain Armstrong will be with you shortly."

"Thank you Ensign McEnroe. Put him through as soon as he's ready,"
Markus answered as he swivelled the chair towards the main monitor in
the ready room and ran his hands quickly through his hair to help wake
himself up from a midday nap.

Admiral Brown's promises that someone would come to rescue the crew of
Intrepid had been firm and Ethan had not doubted them. But as time
drew on and no plan materialised he had to admit to a bit of
over worry. It was with relief he heard a ship was on the way, and was
now about to speak with its captain.

= "Greetings Commodore, it is good to see the face of our rescuer. My
comms officer informs me you are calling in from the.. Daedalus. Is
that THE Daedalus?" = Ethan asked.

"Confirmed Captain. You are to far out for the announcement from Earth
and the subspace repeaters are after all for priority use still,
especially out in your neck of the woods. We're currently en route to
your position and holding steady at warp seven point two."

="Seven point two. Remarkable! And I bet she could handle a bit more,
if the situation called for it"= Ethan breathed as he considered the
raw speed. ="I can't think of a better, faster, rescue ship. What is
your ETA, sir?"=

"One week, four hours by my clock. I waited to call you until Daedalus
was in range for direct communication. I have my suspicions regarding
the subspace repeaters and thought we might as well try and keep
Daedalus as secret as possible for the next few months as to where she
is in the galaxy." Markus then tapped at a button to send a file
through to Captain Armstrong on a second channel. "Daedalus is
currently running with a skeleton crew, so once we pick up your crew
I'll need some of them to pick up the slack while we ferry some of you
to Yorktown. My boys and girls will be looking forward to a nap no
doubt once they can get one. I've just sent you a series of crew
reassignments for some of your enlisted personnel who will be staying
with Daedalus until we get back to Earth. I understand Yorktown is
getting the creme of the crop, but I might as well try and steal what
I can."

="We still have several systems to take offline but a week is the time
scale my Chief Engineer and I had planned for. Coming in from Sol
that's pretty good going sir. If Daedalus is half the ship that I have
heard about then she's a secret worth keeping, but one that I suspect
will become impossible."= Ethan paused as he saw the file coming in
about reassignments. ="I will make sure the transfer orders are passed
on to the appropriate people sir. It is sure to generate a lot of
excitement below decks. Good news is in short supply lately. Regarding
Yorktown; since I am being reassigned there my orders state she is
picking us up from the Tellarite mining outpost in Dori III in a week
and a half."=

"I've already been told by Admiral Brown that Yorktown will be told to
be expecting us. I'm sure Chief Brown in Engineering here will be
pleased to let the engines rest while we take on your crew and
equipment and most displeased when I order the engines up to seven
point three in order to make Dori III in time. At seven three we
should hopefully be able to beat Yorktown there."

="I am looking forwards to seeing Daedalus in action sir and I am sure
my Chief Engineer Lieutenant Commander Merrick would be keen to take a
look at things and perhaps help out if that is authorised."=

"Merrick?" Markus asked as he brought up the Engineer's profile. "Ah,
of the Merrick Shipping Consortium Merricks. Yes, well, I'll see what
I can arrange for you and your command crew Captain. I suspect
wherever Daedalus goes we'll be giving tours to interested command
crews. Might as well let people see them before they end up serving on
them. We've already got over a dozen hulls being started in three
separate ship yards."

="Thank you sir and I am glad to hear development has reached this
advanced stage. Guess it means the start of the end-times for the NX
Class."= Ethan speculated.

"Not just yet Captain. It'll be another year or so before I feel
confident to release the first build ships to the Fleet. Daedalus
herself might get turned over within a few months though. The NX ships
will still be on the front line for a bit longer before we bring them
home for a well deserved rest."

="I have to say, I'm glad to hear it. For all the Daedalus' positive
traits she isn't as pretty as the NX. But then it's what's on inside
that counts"= Ethan remarked with a grin.

"Well Commander, I'll be seeing you in person in a week. In the mean
time I should leave you to finish shutting down Intrepid."

="Aye sir. Armstrong Out."

----------

Captain Ethan Armstrong
Commanding Officer
USS Intrepid, NCC-07

&

Commodore Markus Kravchik
Commander, Starfleet Corps of Engineers
Commander, USS Daedalus
Resident Mad Scientist
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