The Hecate - Part III

Posted on Thu Jul 13th, 2023 @ 2:47am by Captain Robert Burke

947 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: EPISODE 1: SHAKEDOWN
Location: Mars - Utopia Planitia One
Timeline: Five days prior to launch

::ON::

The party stepped into the umbilical as one, walking in lockstep across the short gap between Utopia Planitia One and the Hecate. As he looked out the side of the reinforced viewports of the umbilical Burke saw this was but one of many between the station and the ship, feeding it air and power until it was ready to get under way.

Burke endured a frustrating few seconds at the airlock to the ship as he waited for Desen to key in her code once more to unseal it. The door hissed open, and he stepped across the threshold.

There was no bolt of lightning, no electric current running up his leg. No tingling of the senses. Still he felt a sense of satisfaction. This was his ship, his hard work, and no-one would be able to take it away from him. Burke straightened slightly, tugging at the hem of his jacket.

Desen led the party to the nearest turbolift. She nodded at Burke who acknowledged, and spoke out loud. ‘Main Engineering.’ The turbolift awoke, and with a faint background whirr, sent them on their way.

Kovacs cleared his throat nervously. ‘I meant no disrespect earlier, Captain. I don’t believe there are many Titanians in Starfleet?’
Burke shook his head, and cocked a smile, ‘not many. Titan is still a small, independent world. Only a handful of us serve in Starfleet currently,’ he waggled a hand, ‘proportionally the same as from Earth or Mars, but our population is much smaller.’ He grinned, ‘there’s currently only one Titanian Commanding Officer, and you’re looking at him.’

The Martian nodded in acknowledgement. ‘I think there have been only a handful of Martians too,’ he conceded. ‘Still an extraordinary feat.’

‘Mars has a proud tradition in Starfleet. And in humanity’s spacefaring history in general,’ Burke continued, oblivious to the other two Starfleet officers present. ‘Why did the Confederation government feel it necessary to have a representative here today?’

Sighing, Kovacs looked to the ceiling for a moment, clearly composing his words carefully. ‘The Martian Government as a whole believes that humanity’s future is in the stars. We have colonised so many worlds – Delta Vega, Deneb and Alpha Centauri amongst them – and they are fast growing in prominence in the Federation.

‘Although Luna, Mars, and the other planets of the solar system were colonised before them, we are being left behind. All of us lumped together with Earth. Our proximity to the … black hole of her cultural, military and political pull has meant our concerns are disregarded.’ He looked at Burke pointedly, ‘even when it was abundantly clear Titan could function on her own, it took a decades for Earth to recognise it and allow you to become a Federation member on your own terms.

‘Mars set out the Utopia Planitia plan to show the Federation that Earth’s nearest colonies can contribute just as much, and our voices should be counted just as loudly as our ancestor planet,’ Kovacs’ face lit up as he continued enthusiastically. ‘Mars shouldn’t be seen as humanity’s laboratory. We should be seen as an equal member, just as able to contribute to our civilisation as others. That’s why I’m here today, why I’ll be at the next launch, and the launch after that, and Allah willing, every possible launch I can be. To remind Starfleet, and the Federation, that we can make a success of things just as much as Earth.’

Feeling the tug of Kovac’s words, Burke couldn’t help but be stirred. This man will make a great politician. Ever the diplomat, Burke reigned in his stronger feelings and nodded as the ‘lift slowed. ‘I think Mars has proven it – you just have to look out the viewport. Very few Federation worlds could have built these engineering yards from scratch within less than a decade.’ He shrugged, ‘I’ve even heard this safeguards our manufacturing ability for the next century at least. They only really talk like that about the Andorian and Vulcan shipyards.’

There was a quiet huff from Gosevv, but she opted for uncharacteristic tact, perhaps realising this was an internal human matter.
The Martian nodded excitedly, jabbing a finger in the air, ‘that’s it precisely, Captain. Precisely!’ The doors opened, and the Martian looked a little sheepish. ‘Perhaps Gosevv should, uh, take the lead on the tour.’ The three Starfleet officers exchanged glances, then nodded at Kovacs with a smile.

The turbolift drifted to a halt gently, the doors opening with a pneumatic hiss.

‘Deck Eleven,’ the Main Computer announced as Gosevv ushered them out into the corridor. ‘This deck houses the shuttlebay, machine shop and other support areas,’ she said as she led them through the maze of corridors.

Burke could see that the ship was clean, spotless and new. It would be a shame to see her dirtied in the course of her duties. ‘Here,’ Gosevv waved at the door ahead of them. ‘Upper Engineering Support Bay.’ She flashed a toothsome smile at the Captain, ‘I’m sure Burke will enjoy this.’

The grouplet stepped through the door, and Bennett took a sharp indrawn breath. Ahead of them, pulsing gently, was the column of the warp core. The subdued cerulean patterns shifted and warped lazily, as if asleep.
Just waiting to wake up, Burke thought reverently.

[To Be Continued ...]

Captain Robert Burke
Commanding Officer
USS Hecate

Commodore Desen [NPC]
Hecate Project Supervisor
Utopia Planitia

Lieutenant-Commander Zuhavn-bin-Gosevv
Hecate Project Chief Engineer
Utopia Planitia

Petty Officer 'Ian' [NPC]
Shuttlecraft Pilot
Utopia Planitia

Takeshi Kovacs
Civilian Liaision
Confederated Martian Colonies Government

 

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