LCdr Traan had just reported for his second shift back on duty. He had been down on Mellstoxx taking a week long expedited version of the ‘Senior Bridge Officer of the Watch’ course. Suprisingly he and one other student were the only ones out of the 14 officers taking the course who had passed the final training scenario exam on the first attempt.

In Traan’s case, the scenario had involved him being the fictional CO of a mid-sized frigate that was tasked with towing a damaged freighter out of a combat zone. All while several Kzinti Patriarchy fast attack craft bore in on them. In the end, Traan had reckoned that their only chance of successfully rescuing the freighter meant having to order a pair of Aspera bombers to essentially sacrifice themselves and give them enough time to get out of harms way.

BEGIN FLASHBACK

“Lt. Acknowledge Gryphon 3’s request to intercept the Kzinti. And ask him if he knows what he’s volunteering for.”

“Aye sir. He’s responding.” The holographic comms officer replied.

“Patch it through Lt.” Traan ordered. Once the channel was open, he addressed the bomber crews directly, “Gryphon 3, I just want to make sure that you are aware that we won’t be able to support you as you intercept those Kzinti marauders. And there’s no other vessels within range.”

“Roger that Gascony(the fictional name of Traan’s ship). Gryphon 4 and both of our tizzo’s are aware that this is probably a one way trip. But if we don’t intercept them they’ll be on top of you before you all can exit the nebula and go to warp.”

“Very well pilot. You’re authorized to proceed with the intercept. Godspeed Gryphons 3 and 4.” Traan was about to close the channel when the pilot added something else.

“Uh, if you could do us all a favour sir.”

“Of course Gryphon 3, what is it?” Traan had a feeling he knew what the pilot was about to ask.

“If we don’t make it back to the fleet, can you tell our families that we love them, and that we died doing our duty.” The young pilot said with more than a hint of fatalism in his voice.

Though he remained aware that this was all simply training and most of the participants were holographic, the words caused a lump to form in the middle aged Andorians throat, “Roger that Gryphons, you have my word that I’ll deliver those messages personally.”

END FLASHBACK

“Congratulations on passing the command training Traan. I saw that you were named the Top Student of your serial.” The Director greeted his 2IC as Traan was walking in behind the console well pits in Shipyard Central.

“Thanks sir. Top Student out of 14 though, I doubt it’ll earn me an offer to take command of a starship anytime soon. I definitely learned a lot.” Traan smiled as he shook his boss’s hand and they both turned and walked toward their offices in the corner of the large control centre.

“Hahaha, well I hate to contradict you there, but actually, a temporary command might be exactly what I’m about to offer you. The new Alita class carrier in Bay 1 just completed her yard trials a few days ago, and Starfleet command wants to send her on a mission to ferry a few hundred Displaced people from a collection point on Yridia to Starbase 80 as a part of its shakedown cruise.”

Traan stopped mid-stride, “And command wants to put me in charge?”

“No, command probably doesn’t even know or care who you are, truth be told. But in their infinite wisdom, they’ve assigned a scratch crew to the ship, and ordered Bravo Fleet command to supply it with a temporary CO, Chief Engineer, along with a cadre of pilots and a small yard crew to her. I’ve been assured that the temporary assignment shouldn’t last more than a few weeks, or a month at the very most.” The Director smiled as he saw the confused look on Traan’s face remained.

“And Bravo Fleet Command has offered the job to me?”

“Nope, they delegated responsibility for selecting the officers and crew being assigned to augment the ship’s staff to me. And I have decided to offer the temporary job to you. The only other qualified officer we have that could fill the role is LCdr Tol, and he’s even less suited to starship command than you. He’s also in a less expendable billet as the Head of Construction. So, what do you say, want the job? You can always say no, and I’ll just kick the choice back up to the station’s command staff.”

Traan sighed, he didn’t think he was ready for the job his boss was offering him, but then again, he hadn’t thought he was ready for any of the positions he had been promoted to in the last year.

“Does the ship even have a name yet sir?”

“She will as of 1600h today. Originally she was slated to be called the Nimitz, but apparently a few months back, some ship on patrol near the Talarian border stumbled upon the wreck of the old Daedalus class USS Trenton. We just received supplemental orders to launch her as the Trenton, to ceremonially honour the discovery and return a ship with that name to active service.” The Director explained.

“I see. Well, I guess if it’s just temporary. I might as well put my recent training into practice. When does command need us to depart by?” Traan said, barely believing that any of this was real and still half suspecting that he was actually safely asleep in his quarters having a lucid dream.

“In about 48 hours Commander.”