1
Captain's
Personal Log Stardate: 9603.5
So
much has happened the the last six months that it is difficult
to find a place to begin. With the establishment of the Klingon
Peace Treaty, there is no more hostility between the Federation
and the Klingon Empire. It is my guess, however, that there will
continue to be some friction between our two peoples as change
is very hard to take. And with the indictment of Admiral Cartwright
and his coconspirators Starfleet Command has been in upheaval
for the last few months. I was privy to a party some months ago
that saw the retirement of my dear friend Jim Kirk. It had to
be the least fun I have ever had at a party. Obviously Jim didn't
want to retire and no one was going to convince him otherwise.
My condolences, Captain Kirk.
On to new business: I have had the honor of accepting the command
of a newly commissioned Enterprise Class starship called
Independence. I have yet to meet my entire command crew
but I have taken the last two days to read each person's personnel
file. I am a bit concerned having a newly promoted Executive Officer.
With her lack of experience could come some problems, but I am
confident that Starfleet Command has prepared her well in classes
and simulations. Well now off the the damned party.
Captain Jonathan K. Taylor pressed the
recording button on his personal log and committed the entry to
the system's memory. He stood and straightened his uniform tunic
and smoothed his gray hair and beard before striding to the door
and out of his sparsely decorated office. He had been stationed
at Starfleet Headquarters for only the last few months but his
very skin itched to be back in space. His posting to Independence
couldn't have come at a better time, if only he could avoid all
the ceremony that went with the launch of a newly commissioned
starship. Ah, Starfleet, such tradition.
Taylor stood at the entryway to Starfleet Command's Recreation
Lounge where the Commissioning Ceremony was being held. Most of
his new crew was expected to attend the function, and many had
gathered already. A picture of the Independence hung over
the main speaker's lectern. Chairs and long tables flanked the
pulpit on both sides, and Starfleet brass had already taken some
of the seats.
"Ah, Jon," a small man in an Admiral's uniform said
as he approached Taylor. As he came closer, Taylor recognized
the venerable Admiral Nogura, Starfleet's Commander-in-Chief.
"You are a bit early. Here to see if you can meet your crew
or just here for the free food?" The sparkle in Nogura's
eyes was contagious. He was a man who commanded respect and got
it by the mere nod of his head.
"Uh, yes sir," Taylor smiled. "The free food. I'll
be eating synthesized food for several years on the ship and I
thought it might be nice to have a real meal prepared by a chef
tonight."
Nogura laughed. "Your speech will be after mine, and then
we can break the champaign bottle and go home." Taylor sensed
that Nogura didn't want to be at this function any more than he
did. Oh well, Taylor thought, I'll be on the ship tonight and
on the shakedown cruise in three days.
Taylor found his way to the buffet table and began to fill his
plate. The junior officers had apparently felt the same way as
their new captain about synthesized food as the spread left by
Starfleet food service was nearly decimated. Taylor took some
of what was left and found his way to the main table. The name
plate at his seat read: "Captain Jonathan K. Taylor Commanding
Officer U.S.S. Independence." Taylor smiled at the
thought of being a starship captain.
Dinner wound on and more guests made their way to the buffet (some
a bit surprised to see that little was left of the giant spread).
Officer after officer came up to extend a hand and a congratulatory
pat on the back to Taylor.
After nearly everyone had arrived and sat down, Taylor realized
that his rather meager dinner had become cold due to all the interruptions
from the throngs of well-wishers. Oh well, he moaned to himself,
I'll probably be missing more than one meal in the coming years
due to ship's business; no time to practice like the present.
A spoon tapping on crystal should have done nothing to attract
the attention of the large and raucous crowd gathered in Rec Hall
1, but the man tapping the glass was Admiral Nogura and the crowd
quieted. "Now that you have had your dinner, it's time to
pay for the soup," Nogura said smiling. The officers all
laughed knowing that the next step in the evening's agenda belonged
to the speakers.
"Tonight, we gather to send a new starship into the heavens
and on to the farthest star. And while we do this with some regularity
here at Starfleet, this is by no means a regular occurrence. Sending
a ship of the line into duty is never done with anything less
than our utmost respect and awe. Tonight we christen a ship, send
her on her maiden voyage, and commit her to her glorious tradition."
Nogura waited for the applause to die down. "It is my great
honor and privilege to introduce our main speaker for the evening,
Captain Jonathan K. Taylor, commanding officer of the newly commissioned
U.S.S. Independence." Again applause rocked the large
gathering as Taylor rose and accepted the traditional Captain's
saber from Nogura.
As the ovation died down, Taylor took his place at the lectern
and opened the paper on which he had scribbled a few notes. "Tonight,
I have the honor of standing before you as the captain of the
U.S.S. Independence," Taylor began, his soft Scottish
burr giving each word a slight trill. "I accept this honor
and challenge with great anticipation of the adventures this vessel
will see over the coming years. I challenge all here tonight who
will be boarding her with me tomorrow to look at the history of
the the Enterprise Class and in so doing challenge yourselves
to live up to her name, her honor and her history. We will write
the history of Independence. We will be responsible for
her safe keeping. We will be the bearers of her yolk. Go to the
stars with me, she tells us, and I will bring you home safe again.
"I have not had the privilege to meet all of my command staff.
But I guarantee that you and I will know each other well after
our two week shakedown." Taylor paused as a laugh rippled
through the Independence's crew. "To my crew I say
only this: I may ask you to run into hell and back, but I'll always
be there beside you and we will run through hell together. Thank
you." Taylor folded his notes and turned to sit down as the
room erupted with a rousing applause. Each of the Independence's
new crew members stood and shouted a hearty "Long live the
Captain!" as was Starfleet tradition.
Admiral Nogura stood and offered his hand to the Captain of the
Independence. Taylor smiled and took the outstretched hand
and shook it. Nogura then turned to the crowd with the champaign
bottle in his hand.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I hereby christen U.S.S. Independence,
naval registry 1865. Captain, may the wind be at your back."
Nogura swung the bottle and broke it on the picture of the ship
hanging over the lectern. Taylor felt the spray of the French
wine as it exploded over his head.
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