Commander’s log, stardate 78335.1

Despite a short bout of search and rescue and then convoy escort work through the Badlands, Republic has made it to Deep Space 47 on time. Apparently, the USS Atlantis only beat us here by a day, though I suspect it has something to do with the Cardassian ship that is also present around DS47.

Looking forward to hearing about that story.

Captain Theodoras and Commander MacIntyre are coming aboard shortly for an inspection. We’ve spent the last twenty-four hours getting the ship ready and I’m confident she’ll pass with flying colours.

Tensions with a couple of the senior staff and I have been waning, but I have no doubts will ramp up once we have our captain and they have someone to voice their concerns to that isn’t me. No doubt our new captain is going to have questions for me as well, but I’ve been informed that Commodore Sudari-Kravchik has parked herself in the SI offices aboard DS47, so she’ll be around to verify details.

Fun times ahead.

“Captain Theodoras, Commander MacIntyre, welcome aboard Republic,” Commander Sidda Sadovu said as she extended her hand for the customary handshake as she greeted the two officers who had just beamed aboard what was soon to no longer be her ship.

“Our pleasure,” Tikva Theodoras said as she stepped off the transporter pad, then stepped aside for Charles MacIntyre. “Hell of a ship you have here Commander Sadovu.”

“Faster, smarter and more aware than your ship ma’am.” Sidda was smiling proudly as she shook MacIntyre’s hand, then indicated the door and began to lead the visitors through to the nearest turbolift. “Though I wager Atlantis packs the overall heavier hits and the larger crew means you’ll stand up longer in a fight thanks to damage control.”

“And being an older design, the kinks are all worked out too,” MacIntyre chipped in. “I doubt we’d have had the same engine problems that Titan reported while fighting the Shrike.”

“I read Atlantis’ latest battle reports too and agree. The Sovereigns really were designed to get back into the fight as quickly as possible. Wager the Dominion War would have been a lot more different if we had more of them at the time. Round 2 certainly demonstrated that.” Sidda turned to face Captain Theodoras as they walked. “Looking forward to playing second fiddle to Atlantis.”

“Wait, what?” MacIntyre asked, the surprise obvious in how he phrased his question.

“Atlantis Squadron,” Tikva said, waving a hand in front of her as they walked. “Has a neat sound to it doesn’t it?”

“Does your career honestly have no brakes on it?” MacIntyre asked, this time his tone clearly joking. “Cripes cap, are they promoting you as well?”

“Oh hell no!” Tikva shot out with a bark. “One, I haven’t been in grade nearly long enough for that. Even with the disruption to the admiralty. Two, too much like being promoted to a desk job. I haven’t done enough daring-do and mayhem just yet. And I’ve done too much as well to be a boring, bland, generic desk jockey.”

“Lost an arm and a leg, blown up a star, made numerous first contacts, had a ship seized by an ancient AI, kidnapped by conspiratorial radicals, gotten involved in Romulan politics, roped into interstellar politics, lead an impromptu task force to rescue the Deneb system,” Mac listed off a series of achievements, counting each off on a finger as they walked. “Yeah, that’s only a few minor career events.”

“Barely worth mentioning,” Tikva said, waving the whole affair off. “Besides, a squadron command is just formalising what would happen if two ships were operating in the same area for an extended period anyway.”

“Regulation 191, Article 14,” Sidda declared. “In a combat situation involving more than one ship, command falls to the vessel with tactical superiority, should there not be a higher ranking officer present.”

“That wouldn’t apply in this situation,” Mac answered. “What with the captain here being, well, a captain and Republic only having a commander at the conn currently.”

“I’m not the ship’s captain,” Sidda answered. “Just her custodian.” She stopped in front of the turbolift doors, glancing at the indicator when they didn’t immediately open. “I have decided that waiting for the lift is a universal constant that will never, ever be resolved.”

“Fancy ship, same lifts,” Tikva joked. “I once served on a ship where the captain insisted on having more cars working the network than was recommended. Waiting for one was never an issue, but every trip was just that bit longer as cars had to move out of the way and such. Lasted about a week.”

“Bridge,” Sidda ordered after the doors finally parted and they all boarded. “Personal transporters,” she then blurted out loud. “Everyone has their own for getting around the ship.”

“Oh no, no no no,” Tikva quickly followed. “I do not want to deal with the inevitable emergency of transporter blending, or people beaming in between decks or anything like that. No, thank you.”

“Sounds horrific from a security perspective as well,” Mac added. “There is a lot to be said for a simple locked door.”

“Get a better lockbreaker?” Sidda asked as the doors opened up onto Republic’s bridge. “Captain on the bridge!”

All at once the bridge crew of the USS Republic got to their feet, coming to attention with what was obviously forewarned preparedness. The silence that followed, interrupted only by the chirping of a few consoles seeking attention, was palpable. Everyone was staring straight ahead, into the undefinable middle-distance, backs to their stations.

“At ease people,” Tikva ordered, her words dismissing some of the tension in the air.

Sidda led her guests to the front of the command level where Lieutenant Commander Matt Lake stood, giving the first impression the crew weren’t all mannequins when he gave Tikva and Mac a nod each. “This is Lieutenant Commander Matt Lake, Republic’s Second Officer.”

“Pleased to meet you, Commander,” Tikva said as she and Mac went through the motions of handshakes.

“Pleasure is mine, ma’am,” Matt said. “Eager to find out who our captain is though. Commander Sadovu hinted you would be the bearer of such news.”

“Eager to know myself,” Mac commented. “Not that you haven’t done a fine job so far Commander,” he said to Sidda. “But a ship like this, brand new, new class and all, should have a captain yes?”

“Yeah, about that,” Tikva said, turning on Mac with a smile. She held out a hand and an operations officer, a young Bajoran woman, stepped forward and handed a padd to her. “Read this, out loud, will you?” she asked as she then turned the padd over to him.

“You didn’t?” Mac asked, taking the padd and glaring at Tikva.

“Do I need to make that an order, Commander?”

“No ma’am,” Mac answered, eyebrows furrowing at Tikva for a few heartbeats before his attention turned to the padd. “Ops, shipwide comms please.”

“Shipwide, aye,” Lieutenant Jenu Trid answered before the bosun’s whistle sounded throughout Republic’s hull.

“To Commander Charles MacIntyre, USS Atlantis. You are hereby requested and required to make your way aboard USS Republic, there to assume command of the vessel and crew, as her first commanding officer. By order of Starfleet Command, stardate 78335.”

Silence hung over the bridge as Mac lowered the padd and looked up and then around the bridge, taking in the faces of the bridge crew. “I hereby assume command of the USS Republic,” he finally said.

“Computer, note Commander MacIntyre’s assumption of command in the log and transfer all command codes,” Sidda ordered of the ship’s electronic minion, answered by a confirmation chirp and voiced acceptance. “Commander MacIntyre, the ship is yours.”

“Oh we’re not done yet,” Tikva said, her smile reaching dangerous levels. Again she held out her hand, and again Lieutenant Jenu stepped forward to place a small box in her hand. “You’re out of uniform, Captain.” The box was then offered to Mac with an accompanying wink. “I recommend you fix it right now.”

“I…” Mac’s mouth moved like he was trying to say something, but his mouth and brain had gotten out of sync with each other. Then he stopped, closed his mouth, recentered and then looked Tikva straight in the eyes, gave her a distinct nod and accepted the box, opening it to look at the single solid silver pip within. “Yes ma’am,” he answered finally.

“Crew of the Republic, three cheers for Captain MacIntyre,” Sidda half-shouted, leading the bridge crew in the cheer while MacIntyre submitted himself to Tikva’s care while she fitted his fourth pip on his collar. “All hands, a party will be held in the Agora starting 1900. That is all.” And with that, the computer signalled the closing of the shipwide channel.

“You’re pathologically averse to a normal promotion ceremony aren’t you?” Mac asked Tikva, standing just that little bit straighter now, holding himself to a near-heroic standard.

“Hey, I got promoted over subspace, remember?” she shot back at him. “And thanks to that new pip, and Republic being part of Atlantis Squadron, I’ve got a few briefings I’ve got to give you over the next few days.”

“Don’t think I’ve forgotten about that mess in the Delta Quadrant,” he stated.

“Oh, are we talking about super-secret captain briefings?” Sidda asked with a smile as she sidled up beside Mac and elbowed him in the arm. “Congratulations. Looking forward to working with you.”

“And I you,” Mac said. Then realisation hit and he turned to Tikva once more. “Blake. Not looking forward to explaining this to her.”

“Oh no worries from my side of things,” Tikva replied. “Any bloodshed isn’t going to be on my decks once I throw her over the side onto Republic. After all, I think you’re down a chief medical officer right now anyways, yes?” she asked Sidda.

“Doctor Andrews is a little junior for running a full sickbay according to what I’ve read and he’s looking forward to passing the buck, so to speak,” Sidda confirmed.

“A ship, a promotion and you’re assigning Blake as my CMO,” Mac stated to Tikva. “What’s the catch? Where’s the shoe drop?”

“Already got a mission for you and you depart in the morning,” Tikva answered. “Commander Sadovu will brief you on the mission. I’ll brief you on all the captain need-to-know stuff afterwards.” She then clapped her hands, smiling at Sidda. “I was promised a tour Commander. Let’s start at the bottom and work our way back here before hitting the bar, yes?”

“That Captain, Captain,” Sidda said, acknowledging the now two captains before her, “sounds like a plan. Matt, join us, please. Trid, you have the conn.”