Pt 1 - Departure

Posted on Mon Apr 6th, 2026 @ 12:41am by Commander David Wallace
Edited on on Mon Apr 6th, 2026 @ 12:42am

Mission: STELLAR NURSERY
Location: USS Cascade
Timeline: --Cascade Mission Day one --

David pulled his uniform shirt over his head in a futile attempt too finish getting dressed before he was interrupted again, he barely managed to get a shower before engineering had called reporting the last of the pre flight checks had been finished, then while he was standing in his underwear he'd been called by the bridge that the last of the supplies for the mission had been loaded and the remaining scientific instruments were being transferred too the labs for the geologist's work related to the experiments and work they were going to do. He'd managed to get his boots on when the door chime too his quarters rang, he rolled his eyes 'Next time I make sure I have a first officer before I set out on any missions.' He thought

"Enter!" he called out as he slid his feet into his boots

The door hissed open, David looked up, "What can I do for you Lieutenant Clark?"

"I'm sorry too interrupt your morning Captain, I was just wanting to stop by and thank you for transporting us too the Deveron sector." She started her right hand was unconsciously fiddling with a long strand of loose hair.

"It's no problem was all of the remaining equipment brought to the lab?" David said as he lifted his uniform jacket.

"Yes Doctor Raymond was quite pleased to get it all arrived and he's been planning out the drop pattern for the seismic sensors along with the atmospheric probe he asked for is well above the specifications he asked for." Sara said as she stopped playing with her hair, "How long will it take us to arrive?"

"Right now our flight plans will have us there in about seven and a half hours, which if I read the reports could give us about six to ten days before the eruption happens." David said as he stood

"That's wonderful, I didn't know that the slipstream drive was so fast, I've never actually been aboard a ship equipped with one." Sara said trying too keep the conversation going.

David wasn't clear on her intent but then again his limited Betazoid capabilities he couldn't ignore certain obvious signals too, "Why don't you come with me too the bridge then, you can see the departure for yourself."

"I'd love too sir." Sara replied unable to hide her excitement.

As the two officers walked the corridor too the turbolift and took it up too the bridge David couldn't help but notice her physical features, something she didn't exactly try to hide under her uniform, David kept things professional until the doors closed he wanted to make a comment to cut what he felt was about to become an awkward moment when the doors slid open again and the bridge was revealed.

David stepped on the bridge the modest but effective bridge was simple in layout, as with the majority of designs in Starfleet the Captains chair was in the middle, the helm and ops stations were in front, behind the captains chair was the tactical station and four other stations, one dedicated too engineering and three more that served a multi-purpose role, for the up coming missions they had been preconfigured for sciences David looked too the tactical officer "Status?"

Ensign Lyla Powel the youngest member of the crew spoke first "All stations are ready, Station ops has given us clearance to depart, engineering reports all systems are green, the last update from the volcano was relative quiet, the evacuation was completed four hours ahead of schedule."

David motioned for Sara to take the science station too the right and behind him as he strode forward, "Helm, begin departure."

As the Cascade began it's departure procedures David looked at the main viewer, the doors out into space opened, David looked at the command readout on his chair, "Ahead thrusters, take us out." David commanded, he caught Sara staring at him and then at the viewer. He stood up as the ship glided out of the starbase what what felt like the last time, "Full impulse until we're in the clear, then punch it up to slipstream speed..." David paused "What's the estimated ETA?"

Ensign Bear spoke up without looking up "Flight time will be eight hours forty-five minutes."

"Thank you helm, Check in with the monitoring station on the current situation with the super volcano, and update them with our arrival time." David said as he saw the light bending from the slipstream drive engaging "I'm going to be in the ready room if anyone needs me." he said as he turned to his right too walk too the ready room.

As he started to walk he passed Sara on his left hand side, she let out a small smile, her face almost blushing as he walked by. As he entered the ready room he let out a small sigh, He had to step carefully in case something happened.

End