Episode 101: Open Doors (Part 1)

[UltimateTrekker]

Gavin Jefferys had finally made it out of the reception and headed to the holodecks.

"Computer, which one of these blasted things is Stirok in?"

"Stirok is in Holodeck 3."

Gavin walked over to the door for the holodeck and pushed a few buttons.  The doors opened to reveal the Engineering section of a Sovereign class starship (Gavin could tell by the size of the bulkheads if he needed to).  Stirok was busy working on one of the panels.  A klaxon was sounding off.

"WHAT IN THE BLAZES ARE YA' DOING?"

"I am attempting to stop a warp core breach."

"COMPUTER, <cough> TURN THAT... <cough> BLOODY," Gavin began to get very dizzy and started to get weak in the knees.

"Computer," Stirok said, "return environmental controls to normal and end simulation."  He walked over to his new Captain and helped him stand up.  "I turned the oxygen level to 50% to reproduce to conditions during a hull breach in the outer hull as I attempted to keep the core from loosing anti-matter containment."

"What.. <cough> the hell for?" Gavin was starting to regain his composure.

"In case we were ever in a similar situation."

"You mean, you're preparing just in case we ever have a hull breach and are losing containment and you're the only one in engineering, with that blasted Klaxon blurring out your thoughts?"

"Affirmative."

"Well, if you can spare the time, you might want to head to the party we're having.  First time these 400 people are getting together and they may want to get to know their Chief Engineer."

"I fail to see the logic in that, Captain.  My record is available for anyone to look through."

Gavin rubbed his head, trying to think of the words to use.

"Aye, but they may wish to get a handle on your personality."  Stirok raised a single eyebrow.  "Aye.  Never mind.  I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yes, Captain.  Computer, start program Stirok Hypothetical 9,345."

Gavin left the holodeck and headed back to the mess hall.

[Rhai]

"I believe," said Rhai to the Doc and Will, "we are waiting for the Captain to return to make the announcement of the ship's name. I heard it had been decided on just a few minutes."

She shifted her gaze towards the doorway expecting the captain to be walking through at any minute. As she was staring at the doorway she suddenly felt like she was being studied. She turned to the two gentleman she had been standing by and watched at Will quickly turned his head the other way. She smiled and curtly straightened the creases in her dress .. she caught a far off look in his eyes as he turned his head to speak to the man they were to call Doc.

"Any clue as to what they have decided to name this lovely ship of ours Doc?"

"No. Actually I thought we might be traveling without a name, but if Rhai knows what she is saying than I assume the decision has been made and we shall be finding out quickly"

Rhai turned to glance back at the older man of the two and sighed. Must all of the men aboard this ship be so much older than her?

[Mentat_Tir]

Lieutenant Stirok continued his simulation.  Despite the klaxons and smoke, he felt comfortable.  The engine room of a starship was where he belonged.  Matter/antimatter reactions, plasma conduits, warp fields...there was all a certain logical order to it.  To him, even something as dramatic as a warpcore breach was nothing more than an equation to be solved.

He was satisfied that the captain had found him in the holodeck.  Although he did not understand human behavior, Stirok thought it was logical to conclude that the captain would be pleased at his diligence.  However, he thought, it may also be wise to associate myself with my crewmates.  Although "friendship" was an emotion, becoming associated with the behavioral patterns of those around him would improve his performance.

The idea of being in a crowded room did not please Stirok.  He had never mastered the art of “mingling,” even less than most Vulcans serving onboard a starship.  His last assignment aboard the Polaris had sent him in deep into the Beta Quadrant, light years away from Starfleet and other officers.  As a result, he came to know his crewmates aboard the Polaris over the years.  However, he was not looking forward to repeating the process.

As he walked towards the mess hall he recaled how he had helped design and developed the Sovereign Class at Utopia Planitia.  It was one of the reasons, he theorized, that he had been assigned to this ship.

The doors to the mess hall parted, revealing officers of every rank and position.  The noise level of multiple conversations was uncomfortable.  The mixture of voices was chaotic and if there was one thing that Stirok did not like, it was chaos.

Stirok reluctantly stepped into the crowd…

[UltimateTrekker]

Admiral Harrison ran into Captain Jefferys in the hall.

"Gavin, I thought you might want to come back to the Mess Hall, we're about to reveal the name of your ship."

"Aye, that may be a good thing to stick around for.  Now, I've heard some pretty absurd rumors..."

The Admiral laughed, "I'm sure they're all true.  You knew it was going to be named after ME didn't you."

"Really," Gavin said, "Had I known it was going to be the USS Horses Arse, I'd have requested transfer."  The two men laughed.

"It's a good think you fixed my replicator for 5 years, Gavin, or I might take that as an insult."

"The 4 glasses of Denobulan Whisky helped too, don't ya' think?"

"Yes, that too.  Come on, Captain.  Get your senior staff together, we've got seats for them up front."

Gavin stepped in to the mess hall as was happy to see that Stirok had joined the crowd.  He walked around and managed to finally find them all.

They took their seats on the stage that was setup in front of the windows.  Gavin sat in the middle with his crew on either side.  The band started to play the Federation theme all eye eyes faced front.

Admiral Harrison took the podium.  "Thank you all for coming to the unveiling of our next Starship and her crew.  Let's just start at the end of the table.

"There's the Chief Science officer, Lieutenant William Brandt; Chief of Security, Lieutenant Commander Thram; Chief Medical Officer, Dr. James Johansson; Chief Engineer, Lieutenant Commander Stirok; Counselor Tae Rhai; Executive Officer, Commander Zack; and, of course, Captain Gavin Jefferys."

The crowd applauded.  Ensign Alia Kenek felt a slight pang of jealously.  She was to be the main helm operator, but since she was only and ensign, she wasn't technically a senior officer.

The windows, which had been opaque until now, started clearing up so they could be looked through.  The new ship became visible.  It was huge compared the room, which stood an amazing 4 stories.  The ship itself had 24 decks!

It had been turned to face the mess hall windows and the name and registry number had been covered by a small holographic projector.

"And now," said Harrison, "I give you..." and as he spoke the name of the ship, the holographic projector turned off...