Main Bridge, USS Culver City, 0950 hours

Every station on the bridge was active and staffed. Bridge officers and other personnel interacted with multiple LCARS screens in quick succession, making several final checks before departure. The murmurs of the crew weren’t yet backed by the quiet hum of an operable starship, but that ambience would be present soon enough.

The center chair awaited its occupant. Commander Brian Park was no doubt in his ready room, still reviewing the department readiness reports from the senior staff briefing just hours earlier. Though the seat was empty, both armrests held short stacks of PADDs for further review.

The operations station, port side of a line of consoles that included flight control at center and engineering at starboard, was beeping to the rapid inputs of its bridge officer. Lieutenant Commander Pix Cullain, executive officer and chief of operations, was processing the final cargo manifests and deck readiness reports before getting underway. To their delight, the cargo and supply lists were extraordinarily detailed–Ensign Hexalera made Pix’s job far simpler.

The last of the reports logged, Pix swiveled in their chair to turn to the flight control officer. “Lieutenant Fairfax, do we have our departure clearance?”

Lieutenant Haley Fairfax looked up from her own console to respond. “Not yet, Commander, I was just about to request it.”

Pix nodded in acknowledgement. Haley tapped a few commands to contact Starbase Bravo Clearance.

“Bravo Clearance, USS Culver City november-charlie-charlie-seven-fife-fife-seven-tree, request clearance to depart station and exit starbase control to Colludia System.”

“Culver City, Bravo Clearance, standby datalink message,” a controller responded. A few seconds elapsed, and Haley’s console beeped indicating an incoming message.

“Commander, we’re cleared to depart Starbase Bravo Spacedock, then exit Starbase control area via vector tree-two-zero-mark-six, then own navigation. We’re to contact Dock Control for dock movement and engine startup,” Lieutenant Fairfax reported.

“Thank you, Lieutenant.” Pix leaned slightly to get Lieutenant Commander Lucas Olivarez in sight. “Commander, engineering status?”

The chief engineer had his answer ready. “Impulse and warp engineering sections ready, all systems standing by.”

“Very well. Commander, start main power,” Pix ordered.

Olivarez tapped his combadge. “Bridge to Impulse Engineering, start fusion reactors five and six.”

“Aye, sir,” responded Lieutenant Hayle.

The word was given and the time had come. Lieutenant Denver Hayle stood at his console in Impulse Engineering, monitoring the umbilical EPS feed from Starbase Bravo, ready to start the fusion reactors and get the Culver City under her own power.

“Lieutenant T’Sha, station power feed is nominal. We have good EPS levels for reactor start,” Hayle reported.

The Vulcan senior impulse engineer confirmed on a PADD. “Very well, Hayle. Proceed with reactor start on five and six.”

Denver selected the reactors on his console panel, and pressed the START key. Gauges and indicators appeared on the LCARS monitor, showing the automated start procedure in progress. Deuterium fuel flow increased, and the reaction confirmation indicator turned green. The fusion output indicators for both targeted reactors increased above 22 percent, and then decreased to stabilize at 20 percent. The EPS flow diagram was now showing power coming from the two fusion reactors; the starbase connection showed available but idle.

“Lieutenant, reactors five and six at flight idle. EPS flow now switched to shipboard power; station power to standby. Maneuvering thrusters powered and standing by,” Denver reported.

Lieutenant T’Sha nodded and tapped her combadge again. “Impulse Engineering to Bridge, main power online.”

“Acknowledged, T’Sha,” Olivarez responded. “Startup confirmed here.” Olivarez turned again to Commander Cullain. “Starship under shipboard power, Commander.”

“Thank you, Chief.” Pix tapped their combadge. “Captain, we’re ready for departure.”

A moment later, and Commander Brian Park stepped onto the bridge from his ready room. “Captain on the bridge!” shouted Commander Cullain, standing to attention as all the other offcers did the same.

“Thank you, Commander. As you were, everyone,” said Brian, waving his hand to emphasize his request. Brian stepped to stand in front of his chair and turned to face the forward viewscreen. He noticed all of the officers surrounding him were staring back at him, anticipating the word, and possibly a rousing speech. Sensing the latter, Brian sighed and smiled. “I’ll save the profound remarks for our first real mission. Right now we’re just headed to Colludia to drop off supplies and go on vacation. Commander, departure stations!”

Pix acknowledged the command and sat at their console, tapping the shipwide com key. “All hands, blue alert, departure stations!” The alert lamps flashed blue and a low alert tone sounded five times across the ship. Within mere moments, the Ops console indicated the deck reports. “All decks report condition blue, ready for departure, Captain,” Pix reported. “Lieutenant Fairfax, request maneuver and engine start clearance.”

“Aye, Commander.” Haley switched to the dock control channel and tapped her com button. “Starbase Bravo Dock Control, Culver City, request push and start.”

“Culver City, Bravo Dock Control, cleared to disconnect and maneuver to taxilane, cleared to start impulse and warp engines. Port gates available in ninety seconds.”

Pix tapped several more keys to continue the departure process. “Boarding gantry disconnected. All starship turbolifts confirmed back on board. Service umbilicals disconnected. Mooring beams off; starbase confirms mooring systems cleared. Lieutenant Fairfax, reverse thrusters.”

“Reverse thrusters, aye,” Haley acknowledged.

The USS Culver City methodically moved away from dock four, backing into the maneuvering lane. Lieutenant Fairfax fired thrusters to slowly rotate the ship into an orientation ready for forward movement to the space door exit lane.

Pix was about to give the next order. “Commander, if I may?” Brian interrupted.

“Of course, sir.”

“Chief, start all engines.”

Lucas smiled. “Yes, Captain. Bridge to Impulse Engineering, start remaining reactors and impulse coils.”

“Start reactors and impulse engine coils, aye,” responded Lieutenant T’Sha.

60 seconds elapsed, and the four other fusion reactors reached flight idle and indicating on the chief’s bridge console. The impulse engine coils showed powered and ready. “Impulse engines online, Captain. Bridge to Main Engineering, start warp systems.”

Lieutenants Alavan Xenn and Ian Rockwall were waiting with baited breath at the console below the towering warp core–the core still silent, but not for much longer. Lieutenant Rockwall checked the EPS power flow to the warp reactor control systems–all nominal now with the full complement of fusion reactors online. Lieutenant Xenn confirmed the numbers.

“Power flow is good. All pre-start checklists complete.” said Xenn. The console display in front of him had an activation slider and START button prominent and ready for selection. “Initiating auto-sequence.” Xenn slid his finger along the activation slider, unlocking the button. He gently touched START.

The lieutenants’ consoles lit up with sequence progress indicators. Deuterium and anti-deuterium fuel flow increased. Core vacuum confirmed–absolutely no other particulate matter in the constrictor chambers. Dilithium matrix aligned. Multi-stream constriction mode ready. The telltale blue glow of the magnetic constrictors pulsed into the central core, slowly, then rhythmically until reaching the desired thrum, thrum, thrum of an operable warp core.

Xenn called out the final readings. “Matter/antimatter reaction at 21% power. Core at flight idle. Shipboard EPS balance nominal, standard flight conditions. Main Engineering to Bridge, all systems online. Full power available.”

Olivarez gave the nod to Commander Park. “Engine room reports full power available.”

“Very well, Chief,” said Park. “Lieutenant Fairfax, forward thrusters through port gates.”

“Forward thrusters, aye.”

The Culver City traveled forward, slowly but purposefully, along the internal taxilane to the space doors. Haley Fairfax gently rotated the starship to align with the final lane, and pressed forward thrust further to clear the port gates into open space.

“Departure vector, Lieutenant,” Park commanded.

“Departure vector aye, tree-two-zero-mark-six. Cleared spacedock perimeter.”

“One-quarter impulse power.”

“One-quarter impulse, aye.”

The Culver City turned to her assigned vector and proceeded faster away from Starbase Bravo and toward her exit of the Mellstoxx System.

“Overlay nav display, please?” Park asked.

Lieutenant Fairfax punched a few keys to display an overhead view of the system, with their current exit path displayed, but no other course set.

Her console made a tchrrp tchrrp sound–incoming hail. “Incoming from Starbase Bravo Terminal Area Control.”

“On audio.”

“Culver City, Bravo Terminal Area Control. Departing starbase movement area, no traffic between you and the edge of the system. Cleared to engage warp speeds along this vector. Enjoy shore leave!”

“Cleared to engage, Culver City. Thank you Starbase.” Brian didn’t look at his flight controller yet. “Computer, set underway music.”

“Underway music armed.” the computer responded.

“Captain?” Pix turned and looked at Commander Park, inquisitively.

“A little morale boost on our way out, Commander.” Brian turned to look directly at Lieutenant Fairfax. “Direct course to the Colludia System, Ms. Fairfax, warp eight.”

“Direct course for Colludia, speed set warp eight, aye. Ready sir,” responded Haley, her hand hovering over the Warp System Engage button.

Every member of the bridge crew turned to look at Commander Park. He looked at them, confused for a moment, then rolled his eyes at the realization.

“I’m a traditionalist. Engage!” Brian commanded. Some smiled and nodded in agreement, some rolled their own eyes like it was cliché. Nevertheless, the stars beyond the viewscreen stretched as the USS Culver City shot to warp speed.

An ancient earth music tune started playing on the com system throughout the ship. The four-on-the-floor beat pulsed with the synthesized hits, the funky bass, and the guitar jams, followed by groovy strings.

“Really, sir? Disco?” Pix judged.

“Disco never died, commander.” Brian smiled, doing a cabbage patch in his chair.

Pix rolled their eyes and turned back to their console. Either they were going to get used to Commander Park, or cause a mutiny.

The Culver City was finally on her way.