STARDATE: 98865.6
LOCATION: 40 Eridani A Construction Yards, Vulcan System
A Class 8 Shuttlecraft makes an “Enterprise” lap around The USS Mad Dog, which sits quietly in drydock. The pilot of the shuttle turns to the Captain who can be seen looking out of the view screen at the vessel, taking it in from every angle. “I could dock sir, Shuttle bay 3 shows to be clear for landing.” Maze shakes his head, “Nah…If we land, they will be compelled to do that whole ‘all hands’ formation thing. Ill just transport aboard, less hassle for everyone that way.” The Human Captain smiles, still not taking his eyes off his new ship.
Two years, Ten Months, and Four Days…that’s how long he had been away from all of this. After the endless war and combat, he thought he could just retire and have a quiet family life. But despite all the hardships that made him want to leave this all behind, being back was almost as exciting as the birth of his daughter. “SS Scuttle-Bug to USS Mad Dog, I have one Captain Maze Heinz awaiting Transport Clearance.” The Pilot called over comms.
“Uhh, that’s clear Scuttle-Bug, please stand by.” The ship responded. The nervous sounding officer on the other end made Maze chuckle to himself, as he too remembered the anxiety aboard when expecting a new captain. It didn’t take long for the Mad Dog to come back, “Scuttle Bug, Transporter Room 1 Standing by for transport, at the Captains Leisure.”
“Well, that’s enough sight seeing…” Captain Heinz announced as he got up from his seat to approach the shuttlecraft’s transporter. “…Thanks for the lift Chief!” he waved, as the Pilot programmed the transport coordinates into the computer.
LOCATION: USS Mad Dog, Deck 7, Transporter Room
The Stout Tellarite Commander rushed through the corridor as a poor ensign did his best to swerve out of his way. Crossing into the Transporter Room and looked to the transporter chief, “We Ready?” he asked a bit out of breath. “Yes sir, just in time.” The chief responded as Normand took the moment to calm his breathing. “Blood hell…” he muttered under his breath before nodding, “Alright, let’s get this party started. Energize.”
Captain Heinz materialized on the Transporter pad before him. His White shoulder pads, and four pristine pips along his collar made him immediately stand apart from everyone else. The Transporter Chief, upon seeing the captain immediately snapped to attention, but Normand only approached with an extended hand. “Captain Heinz, Welcome aboard the USS Mad Dog. I’m acting C.O. Commander Normand, Chief of Engineering.”
Seeing the Tellarite approach, Maze smiled and met his handshake. “Glad to be back in the saddle.” He responded as he stepped off the transporter and handed Normand a Small Data PADD from his pocket.
Commander Normand Taahzh, USS Mad Dog, as of Satrdate 98865; you are hereby requested and required to relinquish command of this vessel to Captain Maze Heinz as of this date, Signed Vice Admiral Chal Rexx.
Nodding in recognition to the orders, Normand called out “Computer, Transfer all command codes to Captain Maze Heinz, Voice Authorization Normand Zero-Three-Two-Gamma”
There was a momentary pause before the computer’s voice replied “Transfer Complete.” Immediately after, a boatswain whistle sounded on all decks, as the computer made the ship wide announcement: “All Hands, Now hear this. USS Mad Dog now under command of Captain Maze Heinz” “Welp, now everyone knows I’m here.” Maze said with a smirk.
There was a deep sigh from both men, which they each noticed and laughed over. “Been that good huh?” Maze asked as the two men departed the transporter room. “Aye, Don’t get me wrong, ship and crew are just fine. But I’m an Engineer, not a bloody paper-pusher.” The Tellarite replied with a chuckle. “Been docked so long, the crew stopped sneaking in terminal games and started doing actual work to stave off boredom.” He joked.
“I have to admit, I kind of got throw back into the mix, and haven’t had time to review ship and crew dossiers. Mind giving me the sweet and dirty of it?” The Captain asked. “Ahh, Well, The Mad Dog is a Bozeman Class Frigate. Its what you get when they let a Reliant Shag a Soyuz.” The Engineer stated curtly. “14 Decks, Workin with a skeleton crew of about 25 officially assigned with about the same amount on rotation. Armed to the teeth, Quad Cannons, Phasers for Days, and Enough Torpedo Tubes to glass a continent.” He continued as they headed down the corridor towards the turbolift.
“Quantum Capacitor Warp Core, and Hyper-Impulse Engines keep us bobbin and weavin, and we have an advanced set of sensor arrays for both scientific and tactical application. Oh…and we can Cloak…but that’s a recent upgrade.” Maze perked a brow at this as the Turbolift doors opened, “We have a cloak?” “Yup, shady Intel types came around and installed it last week. Haven’t had much chance to test it yet. But now that you’re here, I doubt were going to keep sitting here collectin’ space dust.” Normand explained, throwing in the command “Bridge” to the turbolift.
“Well, this aught to be exciting.” Maze admitted, “And yes, We do have new orders, we should be reporting to—” he started, but the turbo lift stopped, the doors sliding open revealing a petite Trill officer in a uniform skirt holding a padd. Normand Crossed his arms and looks at the girl with a grin, “Just couldn’t help yerself, ey lassy?”
The Trill gave a telling smile, as her eyes crossed over to Maze, “Sorry sir, I heard the announcement and meant to make it to the bridge first.” She explained. “uh huh…” the Tellarite stated, his tone indicating he wasn’t ‘buying’ her story. “I wouldn’t be much of an engineer if I couldn’t feel when the Turbolift is being re-directed mid transport.” He teased, opening his hand for her padd. The trill reluctantly handed over the padd, which displayed the ships Turbolift Grid. Stepping inside, Normand cleared the recent ‘redirect’ code, allowing the elevator to ACTUALLY head to the bridge. “Sir, this is Lieutenant Sarah MacIntyre, our Chief of Operations. Brilliant little imp.” The Commander introduces.
“A pleasure to meet you Lieutenant” Maze said, holding his hand out to shake hers. Sarah’s face turned flush as she shook his hand and turned to face the door. “I apologize captain, I did mean to hijack the turbolift, but I didn’t know YOU were on it, I just didn’t want to miss your entrance on the bridge.” She admitted sheepishly. Maze chuckled, “Its ok Lieutenant. I understand. Little young to be a section chief? I don’t mean to pry, but are you joined?”
“Oh no, I’m just regular ol’ me. No parasite attached, unless you count my ex-boyfriend, but he’s a whole quadrant away!” she replied cheerfully. Normand pinched the bridge of his nose at her over-sharing. “Social Awkwardness aside, the lass is one of them think-tank geniuses, so made her a natural for the job.” Normand explained to the Captain.
LOCATION: USS Mad Dog, Deck 1, Bridge
The doors to the turbo-lift slid open and Sarah scurried out to her station ahead of the two other officers. After passing a small ingress arch, Maze could see the bridge of his new ship in all its splendor.
Counting Sarah, there were Four other officers in the room, each who began to turn to face the turbolift entrance as he entered. Another boatswain whistle sounded as Normand made the call, “Captain on Deck!” The other officers stood up at their stations at attention, as both captain and crew began to examine one another. “Please, as you were.” Maze announced, as the crewmen relaxed some.
“Hello everyone, I am Captain Maze Heinz, and for those who may have already looked up my record, yes. I am coming back after a very short retirement. I look forward to meeting with you all to get to better know you, with such a small crew, that shouldn’t be too much of a task given the voyage we are about to embark on. Helm, please set a course to Starbase 514 in the Antos Sector, at our standard Cruising Warp-speed.” With that order, the tall bald officer at the helm returned to his seat, and began typing away. Following along with Normand, Maze approached the helm to find the officer was in fact an Android.
“Docking Clearance Received, departing station at one quarter impulse. At Warp 8.27, we will arrive at Starbase 514 in approximately 92 Hours.” The android responded. As Maze approached, two other officers approached his flanks, each of them as he was, looking at the View Screen. “Four days to cross the Alpha Quadrant isn’t so bad…” Maze remarked.
The Android turned in his seat and rose to his full height before the captain, towering over him well past 6ft. “Greetings Sir, allow me to make introductions less cumbersome for you. My name is Ensign Dell, I am a A700 Android, Beta Model. Yes, I am of the same androids that were in use during the Mars Incident, and I can assure you the Beta model line have increase security measures to prevent such hacking attempts. I serve as Ships Pilot, Decryption Data Analyst, and as Sub-Commander Tal’umn explains it, ‘Mobile Can-Opener’.
Puzzled, Maze turns to the Romulan in the off-designed uniform that the Android directed too at this. “Can Opener?” The Romulan chuckled, “A700’s have super-human physical strength. Dell here can open a bulkhead with his bare hands, or open a can of whoop-ass on a would be boarding party.” He explains.
“I assure you captain, since my commission aboard this vessel, I have yet to engage in any acts of physical violence towards another organic species.” Dell verified. “Give it time! Your hanging with the right crowd!” Normand jeered from one of the side terminals. Shaking off the exchange, Maze focused his attention to the Romulan to his right, “Sub-Commander? Republic?” He inquired. Tal’umn nodded. “Sub-Commander Tal’umn, Chief Tactical and Security. Was Normand’s XO while he was playing captain, Here on a permanent Officer Exchange Program.”
“I didn’t know those things were permanent.” Maze remarked. Tal’umn shook his head, “The way they see it, the longer I’m here with ya’ll, the longer I’m not back home making some aristocrat look like an ass.“ Maze shrugged at the assessment and shook Tal’umn’s hand. “Well good to be working with you Sub-Commander.” He then turned to his left where a Dark skinned Vulcan stood by patiently. He extended his hand as well to her, “And you are?” he asked brightly.
“Lieutenant Commander T’Valla, Chief of Science and Intelligence sir.” She stated coldly, returning his handshake briefly before returning to her stoic pose. “You and I will have much to discuss” Maze confessed to which the Vulcan only replied with “Agreed.” Before returning to her station. “All right you lot, back to work! Need to get the captain settled in, plenty of time for Q and A later!” Normand announced stepping forward and directing Maze to the other side of the bridge.
The doors opened to a fairly vacant office, several PADD’s were strewn across the desk which Normand was quick to rush too and sort out while Maze took his seat. “Sorry, I didn’t do much with the room as I was sure I wouldn’t -stay- C.O. for very long.” He admitted as he finished stacking the pads in a neat pile at the end of the desk. “How long were you acting?” Maze inquired. “Oh…about 6 months?” Maze seemed a little taken aback by this information. “Ship’s been drydocked that long?”
“Oh no, she’s been inactive for about as long as you have. She got real banged up after that whole H’urq business in the Gamma Quadrant. It was actually the Romulans who fished her out, and they ‘forgot’ they had her for a while. That’s how we got Tal’umn, he’s the one they sent to bring her back to us. She spent about a year at SB 234 gettin’ swept over makin’ sure they didn’t bug her none before they started the actual repair and upfitting process. Most of us have been transferred slowly over to give her a full crew complement. Oh…speakin’ of” Normand confessed as he straightened up in his chair. “Computer, Activate EMHV” he said out loud.
As if on Que, an Emergency Medical Hologram appeared in the office, the standard Mark 5 Variant. “Please sate the nature of the Medical Em— Oh.” The doctor began. “Greetings Captain.”
“Captain, allow me to introduce Doctor V, our Chief Medical Officer.” Normand explained. “An EMH CMO?” Maze inquired. “Worked for voyager, and they had four times tha’ crew we got.” The Engineer shrugged.
“I assure you Captain, the Mark V programs were designed for extended use, and I am programmed with the same medical capabilities as some of the greatest minds Starfleet has to offer.” The doctor explained. “I hope you do not mind, I took the liberty of downloading your biometric data from your initial transport aboard, however I will still need to schedule an initial physical for ships records.” The Hologram added.
Maze nodded, “Well, If its not broke, don’t fix it. Appreciate the heads up Doc, once I get settled in Ill find my way to Sickbay.” With a nod of approval, the Hologram dissipated from the Captains Office.
“So…Starbase 514?” Normand asked. Leaning back in his chair, Maze nodded. “Yes, we have been assigned to the United Sector Taskforce of the 5th Fleet, operating out of SB514. Once we arrive, I will need to speak with Rear Admiral T’Sai to learn more of our specifics. I suggest we spend the next 4 days doing as much catching up as we can to prepare for whatever we may face.”
“That’ll do sir.” Normand stated, getting up from his seat and ready to leave. “Oh, commander, one last thing.” Maze added. The Tellarite turned to look at the Captain with an inquisitive look. “I don’t have a problem with you resuming your duties as Chief Engineer, however, I would like for you to also be my interim First Officer. Tal’umn can serve as 2nd in both of our absence.” Maze addressed. “Aye, I can do that sir, and you don’t have to worry about Tal’umn. He may be a green blooded knife eared hob-goblin, but he’s good people.” Normand explained.
“Thank you, that will be all!” Maze dismissed.
