Tour the Valiant
Posted on Tue Nov 26th, 2024 @ 10:51am by Commodore Tyler Malbrooke & Commander Rhupert Tyree
Edited on on Wed Nov 27th, 2024 @ 12:58am
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
Episode 16 - Silent Cries
Location: Empok Nor, Docking Bay 94
Timeline: MD002 0800 hrs
Rhu leaned against USS Valiant's forward landing strut, having done a walk around checklist to visually check items off his list. Valiant was going into the yard for the better part of a month and there were a handful of items the yard-birds really needed to pull apart and look at. The fight against the pirates in the Djux IV system had been rather hard on the escort and it was almost certain she'd be in the thick of things again sooner than later.
Rhu was also waiting. He'd extended an invite to Commodore Malbrooke to look Val over informally since both ships were at Empok at the same time and their crews on leave. Being assigned to FI but part of a Fleet (if in name only) was bound to raise some eyebrows and he kinda wanted to get any uncomfortable questions out of the way in private.
Since Valiant was able to dock physically in one of Empok's large, converted warehouse bays Rhu wasn't required to keep a skeleton crew aboard. Station security provided an outer screen and Rhu was only required to keep a deck officer aboard. Two ratings were on-call, but Rhu had feathered that out into four hour shifts for the enlisted personnel.
Everything else was automated.
Stretching, Rhu walked over to a small table and brace of chairs he'd had put in place for the watch standers, adding to the novelty of being in the shadow of the small starship and picked up the self-heating mug of coffee he'd been working on for the past hour.
Tyler was not sure when the last time he had a chance to put his Task Force Commanding Officer hat on was. But he was glad to have it on now. After getting cleared through security he entered the bay where the Valiant sat. There was something special about a starship that was powered down. It reminded Tyler of a sleeping giant, he smiled at the ship and at Rhu as he approached. "Captain Tyree allow me to welcome you to Empok Nor. Glad you were able to make it in one piece."
"Thank you Commodore. We've had a busy month or two. I hope you don't mind but I scheduled your tour while most of the crew are on leave. It's kind of nice to walk around a ship that's not bustling, especially the size of Valiant. And something of a novelty, literally being able to walk around her."
"Not at all Captain. This is something of a rare treat for me as well. With everything that is going on within this sector getting my Task Force hat on is something of a rarity. Officially the Valiant will be remaining under my purview. However, your ship will be loaned to Starfleet Intelligence. Can't say that I know everything you are going to be getting up to. But, with intelligence folks nothing is ever too dull for long. I am rather interested to seeing and hearing about life on a Defiant Class. My Pioneer is no Sovereign Class but it is large enough for the crew to spread out. It is my understanding that ships like the Valiant were not built for comfort." Tyler looked around the ship as he spoke. It was a distinct treat to be this close to the exterior of a Starship, especially for an old operations officer like Tyler Malbrooke.
Smiling, Rhu decided to let Malbrooke decide what he wanted to look at. The Defiant classes were hardly new. "As you're aware, Escort ships mean either convoy duty or in rare cases, fleet actions. That means we make Ports of Call more often, so it's not too bad. From what I read, it's more in tune with what ancient sailing ships on earth...or their 20th century submarine's experienced. We're rarely more than a month or two in space before stretching out legs. The Intel part should make things interesting. We'll just have to get through the growing pains sir."
"I can imagine. It seems that experimentation is the way of things for Starfleet right now. Your ship and Intelligence, and the Pioneer having Marines integrated into the ship's command structure is just the beginning I feel. Well, there is no need to stand any further on pleasantries. Lets start with the engine room. I am curious to see exactly how they overcame the power issues on the Defiant Class." Tyler smiled and motioned toward the ship as if to say lead the way Captain.
"Aye aye, Commodore," Rhu smiled as he led the way aboard Valiant. "What seems to be helping most is running constant recalibration and harmonics resonance flux of the dilithium chamber."
A Joint Post By
Commodore Tyler Malbrooke
Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer
Commander Rhupert Tyree
Commanding Officer, USS Valiant
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