Off We Go!

Posted on Thu Sep 8th, 2016 @ 10:14pm by Colonel Damian Highsmith M.Eng & Lieutenant Ryan Rose & Captain Luke Smith

Mission: Bad Moon Rising
Location: USS Hammersley, Various Locations
Timeline: Mission Day 6, 0430

ON:

***** Commanding Officer Quarters, Deck 2, Section Alpha -3 *****

Damian rolled over in his bed as the communications console beeped rapidly at him, its alarms steadily growing in volume and pitch. Holding a pillow over his head, he groaned slightly. He had gone to bed after midnight after spending a late night in Engineering correcting a cycling error in the warp engines. Checking the glowing face of his chronometer, he saw that it read 0430. Coming to the sad realization that he would never be able to get back to sleep in time, he rolled himself into a sitting position and launched the pillow he was holding across the room, where it struck the console and shut off the awful noise. Pulling a t-shirt over his head, Damian walked over to the console where he saw the characteristic smirk of one Corporal Simon Lansley.

Running his hand through his hair, Damian sighed. "What do you want, Corporal?" he asked, his frustration becoming more evident as the seconds dragged on.

Apparently protocol dictated that he should have an enlisted aide based upon the technicality that he was between a Brigadier General and a bog standard Colonel. This, coupled with the fact that he now commanded a ship, annoyed Damian to no end and his many attempts to rid himself of the Corporal had proved fruitless. In fact, the personnel officer at Starbase 329 had informed Damian with no shortage of glee in her voice that he had no choice in the matter and he would be stuck with Lansley for the duration. This, compounded with Simon's smug attitude and his annoying tendency to attempt to be helpful- and bungle them, was incredibly frustrating and Damian feared that Simon would drive him to commit murder if he wasn't careful.

Simon smirked slightly. "Sir, just providing your wake up call. We're scheduled to depart at 0600-"

Raising his hand to stop the overly helpful Corporal, Damian sighed again. "I'm quite literally directly below the bridge and it takes me less than 30 minutes to get ready. If you decide to pull something like this again Corporal, I'll personally demote you to Private. Highsmith Out." Damian terminated the link and looked longingly at his bed, fighting back the urge to climb back into it and snuggle with his pillows. Reluctantly rising from his desk, he walked over to the counter and flicked on the coffeemaker and heard a small hiss as superheated water rushed through the fresh beans he had managed to procure. The smell of a dark roast pervaded his quarters as he Damian walked over to his closet and pulled out a fresh uniform. Selecting a green turtleneck, he laid it out on his bed and entered the bathroom, activating the sonic shower. Stepping inside, he let the hot steam wash the dirt and the cares away for the moment...


****** Chief Security and Tactical Officer's Quarters, Deck 2 *****

Meanwhile across the USS Hammersley's saucer section, an alarm clock started ringing, only for a fist to smash into it, effectively silencing it. "I know what time it is...” Yamaguchi growled softly as she blinked her eyes awake while she sighed softly. "I need another new alarm clock..." she paused. “Maybe while I'm tinkering with the guns on this flying crate, I can get a metal one that stands up to my abuse." she said aloud. "Plastic doesn't cut it... Ahhh... I hate these early morning starts." as she hauled herself out of bed.

Plataea's sleep attire was a pair of shorts and a tank top, simply because of the fact that her youngest children might sometimes climb into bed with her, it was something she did not miss as she staggered to her feet. "I'm an Engineer that’s playing with ordinance... I bet Elizabeth must think her mother has lost it." Plataea muttered to herself as she stripped off what little clothing she was wearing before she padded into the bathroom.

Ten minutes later she came back out and then she donned her uniform before she pulled her hair back into a simple but elegant ponytail. "Asa no sekai. Watashi wa anata no subete o korosu tsumoridesu." she said to herself in flawless Japanese as she replicated herself breakfast.

Plataea ate breakfast and then it was out the door she went after snagging her boots from where she left them, she quickly slid on her boots one at a time as she moved down the hall towards the turbolift.

******* Sickbay *******

Ryan stepped into sickbay. He'd gotten up at 3am to have time for the gym and once least check over of sickbay before they left. He greeted the
Gamma Shift and started looking over the inventory and other last minute matters. This was it, they were about ready to go.

*********Main Bridge********

The turbo lift doors opened and like stepped off, he looked around for his display and headed towards it. It was a while since he's seen a starship like this one but was happy to serve on one as agile as this one. He had versions of wearing body restraints as the helmsman would negotiate tight turns in a nebula or an asteroid belt. He walked up and relieved the lieutenant, who nodded before he took over. The LCARS display was a simple standard display with different icons flashing at him, "Computer, register Marine Captain Luke Smith to Operations."

"Marine Captain Smith is now assigned as Chief Operations, you may configure this panel."

He navigated through it and reorganized it slightly so he could bring up what he needed to bring up at a moment’s notice.

(Tag All)

Damian stood in the turbolift as it shot upward from Deck 2, a fresh cup of coffee in his hand. With his jacket slightly unzipped, he could feel a slight chill in the air in spite of the incredibly warm uniform he wore. As the turbolift stopped, Damian checked himself over, took a deep breath, and stepped out onto the bustling bridge. Taking a quick look around as he walked around the Security and Tactical station, he could see that Captain Smith was tapping away at his station. Placing a hand on the armrest of the command chair, Damian watched for a moment as he took a seat. Taking a careful sip of his coffee, he simply absorbed the noise and waited for the rest of the bridge crew to arrive.

A moment late the turbolift doors opened and out came Lt Commander Plataea Yamaguchi, she went over to the tactical station, and ran her fingertips over the edge of the railing, a soft smile appearing on her face. "Mmmm... You ready to go girl?" Yamaguchi inquired aloud in a soft tone.


***** Main Bridge, 0530 *****

Damian walked out of his ready room and back onto the bridge. After a lengthy chat with Captain Bartlett, he had decided to take his station and ready the ship for departure. Striding out, a fresh cup of coffee in hand, he quickly sat in the firm blue Captain's Chair that was reminiscent of the ones aboard the Excelsior Class. Swiveling as far as he could to the left, he turned his head towards Commander Yamaguchi and Captain Smith.

"Commander, bring us to Alert Condition Blue." Damian lifted his coffee cup and took a long draw from it. "Captain Smith, open a ship wide channel and sound departure stations." Damian ordered, turning to face the front of the bridge again. This feeling he was getting deep in his gut was beyond exciting- they were about to take a journey further into the cosmos, further than anyone had ever gone before- truly allowing them to live up to the immortal words of the officers who had come before them.

Luke was continually navigating through the LCARS, " =/\= All hands to departure stations, base side docking bay crew to mooring control, shuttle bays, secure craft, transporter rooms, are all crew aboard? =/\="

"=/\= Just got the last of the cargo =/\="
"=/\= Removed the last tribble =/\="
"=/\= Late arrivals have turned up and sent to security =/\=
"=/\= Thanks guys =/\=" Luke heard from the various transporter rooms that had different or multiple tasks.

Taking the PADD in his hand, Damian typed out a quick message to Tanner.

== GOOD MORNING, SLEEPYHEAD. IT'S TIME TO GET MOVING... ==

Yamaguchi nodded her head. "Going to condition blue." she responded to the Colonel's order. "All decks checking in.... and.... all decks report ready to proceed." she added.

Damian nodded. "Very well." Taking another sip of his coffee, he began rattling off orders. "Ops, signal for departure clearance and detach umbilical." Standing from his chair, his face bathed in blue light, Damian looked to the assembled bridge crew. "Alright, boys and girls, this is our last chance before we head to the other side of the galaxy. If anyone wants to step back, now is definitely the time. No one will think less of you for it." he said.


Turning to the helmsman, Lieutenant JG Jordan Maledon, Damian nodded. "Helm, take us out and lay in a course for the Epatha Gateway. Warp One, if you please."

Maledon gulped and nodded. "Aye, sir. Course is laid in. ETA 9 hours." he said as he rested his hands on the helm console.

Yamaguchi gently tapped the tactical display before her. "Soon... We will see if the shipwrights made you as good as you look... Besides the Avalanche has already started, it’s a little late for the pebbles to vote." as she watched the stars stat to elongate as the warp effect began, she could rattle off the warp formula that made the entire effect possible but she opted to keep her mouth closed as she appreciated the view.


Damian tapped his commbadge to open a shipwide channel. "Attention all hands, this is the CO. We have taken the first steps on a journey that will take us into the Delta Quadrant. Please know that once we cross into Gateway, we will lose contact with the Alpha Quadrant until we can re-establish communications with the MIDAS array. Since we don't know how long it could be before that happens, I urge you all to say your final goodbyes to your families. Furthermore, I urge you all to remember your oath and not simply obey, but to live those ideals." Taking a breath, Damian continued. "Department heads will report to the Conference Room at 1300 for a mission briefing, after that you will receive further information. Highsmith out." Closing the channel, Damian sighed and looked forward, taking in the vibration of the deck plates and the dimly lit bridge. Everything he surveyed within this saucer of metal, circuitry, and wires was now his to command and safeguard. He only hoped that he could handle this responsibility again.


: OFF