-Trip Tucker Maintenance and Regeneration Base, Mojave, CA-

Six years ago..

It was well over thirty-eight degrees and the California desert stretched out in all directions broken by craggy looking Joshua trees and creosote shrubs.  The desert was broken by a series of dirt roads with derelict snall ships and shuttles parked in neat lines.  Vegetation grew up around the landing struts. In some cases Joshua trees even grew into open exhaust ports and around cockpits.

The craft were mostly shuttles,  and many were very old, including several shuttle pods that would have been used by the original warp five ships.  But there were decommissioned runabouts, newer shuttles and even an Intrepid-class dominating the skyline in the distance.

“Where are we going,” Trinity asked as their anti-grav speeder bounced over the rough terrain.

“Not too much further,” Ethan replied as he turned right at a junction where an old mid-23rd century shuttle sat where it had spent neary a hundred and fifty years being cannibalized for spare parts leaving only an empty shell streaked with weathering. The red stripe down the hull had faded to pink, and the black lettering nearly sand blasted away left the ghost of NCC-1701/3.

He continued down that road for another 200 meters before pulling up to a stop in front of a nearly intact Raven-class survey ship with USS Meadowlark NCC-32455 painted in bold black letters on the side of the hull.

Trinity looked up at the ship and frowned. “You turned down a Steamrunner-class for this?”

“Don’t you see,” he pleaded, “this is a civilian ship.  It is definitely not a warship.   Wherever we go it is not going to turn heads. It won’t raise suspension from crime bosses, or whoever we don’t want to attract attention from.”

Trinity sighed. Ethan was right.   They could fly under the radar better with this ship.  And because of its design less crew meaning smaller team making them more flexible,  and it can land on planets and fit into tight spots

“You have a point. But Meadowlark?”

Ethan sat back in his seat and grinned.  “I was thinking about that, it is what’s available here, but not a fan personally.   How about Zebulon Pike?”

Trinity frowned, “What?”

“Not what. Who,” Ethan replied. “He was an explorer of the American West and army officer.   Seems more fitting to our mission profile.  And besides Pike is easier to say.”

Trinity giggled, “Okay fair enough,  but we need to refit this ship.”

“That much is a given. Shields, weapons and what not.  We don’t need the science labs, nor any of the diplomatic suites.  I also think we should have a holodeck. “

“Holodeck? Why?”

“Training and mission briefing,” Ethan replied.   “That alone makes it too valuable not to have.  And since we’ll be crammed into small quarters we’ll need it for morale too.”

Trinity nodded, “I guess we need to get our moms on the paperwork.”

“I already got my mom to sign off on us in regards to the ship itself. I just need yours to get us into McKinley  Station for the refit.”

“I think I can do that.   Especially with your mom already releasing the ship for assignment.  I’m going to insist on heavy weapons and shields,” Trinity stated.

“I would expect nothing less.  And I have an idea to give us another ace up our sleeve. “

“Which is?” Trinity asked suspiciously.

“Well, you know the Narlin Emperor owes mom a favor?”

“Your going to try to weasel yourself one of their cloaks?”

“Whu not?  It’s not like the Treaty of Algeron is still in effect with the Romulan Empire being broken and scattered and Starfleet being friendly with the dominant faction.”

“In that regard,  I suggest treading very lightly.”

“I always do.”