New Orders, A New.....Big...Home.

Posted on Fri Feb 3rd, 2023 @ 11:18am by Lieutenant Commander Ferrand Beaulieu

927 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Ethics, Morals & The Prime Directive.
Location: Transit to U.S.S. Dreadnought
Timeline: 46 hours before departure.

Ferrand was making final launch checks for his craft having been given his new orders. When he read them he was expecting a Starbase or anti-piracy duties for a remote region so the surprise on his face when he found out he was heading to the Dreadnought gave him cause for pause as he leaned against the fighter.

Most people had heard about the ship's recruitment inclusion for Starfleet and its looming presence on almost every military and civilian ship nearing Earth Spacedock. Instead of 14 fighters in his squadron, he'd now be commanding an entire wing of over 150. He was not sure why he, a Lt. Cmdr would be picked for such a posting considering there were Commanders and Instructors and Deans that could have filled the role. But....it was his. His orders were to report to the ship within 48 hours but Ferrand didn't want to wait, the flight would take only a few minutes but he didn't see the point in delaying.

He walked to the flight registration office and filed his flight plan and destination, signed for his crafts transfer to the Dreadnought, and loaded his personal effects into the small storage compartment which thankfully he didn't have much that wasn't service supplied. Once it was done he bid his goodbyes to the team that he'd flown and worked with for a good while now and climbed into the cockpit of his fighter for a preflight start-up. Ferrand didn't expect any issues as he'd taken good care of the craft along with his ground team, he'd had this particular fighter for a while and he was a fond practitioner of taking care of his craft ensuring it takes care of him.

Once everything checked out he was ushered out of the hanger and given clearance to depart. There was almost a saddening moment leaving something so familiar but ahead of him he knew would lay new challenges. As the blue sky surrendered to the chill vastness of space he could already see Earth Spacedock with other ships around it like little insects. The Dreadnought was not hard to pick out from the gathering because of the large clear area around it, his sensors told him there was a perimeter cordon around the ship.

As soon as he drew near he was intercepted and required to identify himself. It was a routine thing, his name, clearance code and his business with the ship conveyed he was permitted on his way. There was a measure of pride as it was clear the craft that intercepted him was from the ship and the professionalism of the pilot he noted.

He opened a channel to flight operations on the Dreadnought. "Flight Control, this is Lt.Cmdr Beaulieu, requesting clearance to land. I have been assigned to the ship as her new CAG." There was a brief pause as his information was verified.

"Permission granted, Hanger Bay 1 is available portside. The ground crew will be waiting for you."

"Merci Control." Ferrand closed the link but took a moment for a little circle of the large ship. He could see that some of the hangers were closed behind massive armoured doors, others open with the familiar bright light hue emanating from them. As he circled towards the rear of the ship he could see where the two large hangers that housed the two Defiant-class ships that were assigned. It was a little strange for a starship to have other starships assigned to it but the Dreadnought was perhaps not the average run-of-the-mill vessel.

His console showed him the flight path he had to take, and his HUD displayed the same at eye level and forward so he didn't have to take his eyes off where he was going. He was surprised as he passed through the forcefield to notice that every single craft on the deck, arranged in neat rows, all facing forward as if ready for take-off were Gryphon-class Advanced Tactical Starfighters. The cream of Starfleet's fighter craft. By some spaces being vacant he assumed that some were on CAP patrol that he ran into earlier or they were still loading the fighters on board.

When he landed and powered the craft down, the cockpit sliding open he hauled himself out of the seat and down the ladder down the side of the fighter. He saw a young woman flanked by 4 others ready to greet him. "Commander Beaulieu, Specialist Fiona Nezar, I'm your crew chief. Specialists Swo, Decan, Holland and Barut. We will be taking care of your fighter sir once it arrives."

"Once it arrives?" Ferrand spoke, confused.

"Yes sir, you will be getting one of the Gryphons." Nezar answered.

"What will happen to this one?" Ferrand spoke thumbing the fighter over his shoulder.

"It will be returned to your departure station."

"I have some effects in the rear storage," Ferrand spoke somewhat bothered at the concept of losing the craft he'd had for a while. He also knew that even if pilots grew attached to the craft they flew, it was common it would change from time to time. Now was his time.

"We can remove them and have them taken to your quarters for you sir. You probably want to report into the Captain, orders are to prepare for departure." Nezar spoke waving two of the others to fetch the Commander's things.

"Yes, that's true. Thank you Nezar." Ferrand spoke after Nezar had pointed him to the exit and directions to the nearest turblift.

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