New Beginnings, Part III

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“New Beginnings” Part III

 

Log entry 03(47): SD 9401.09

 

 

 

 

Present day.

 

 

 

 

The small transport vessel was now arriving at the Utopia Planetia facility which orbited Mars. The destination sign informed him that he was approaching the grand construction facility. Rolf grabbed his belongings from the overhead bin and unbuckled himself from his seat as the craft made a soft touchdown on of Utopia's landing pads.

 

 

 

 

Stepping off the transport, Rolf was greeted by a young man in construction overalls and a hardhat. “Sir. I'm to take you to the foreman, who wishes to see you” he replied. Nodding Rolf slung his bags over his shoulder and followed the man in the hardhat. He followed him up a lift and past a row of offices. A corridor leading to the foreman's office offered a 360 degree view of all the projects going on.

 

 

 

 

Rolf looked on impressed as he followed the man. So many projects all at once. He strained to see if he could find Challenger, but he couldn't. “We're here sir. The foreman is ready to see you” replied the man in the hardhat. He stepped inside and shook hands with foreman Bill Bailey. “Never amazes me how impressive this place can be” replies Rolf.

 

 

 

 

“Yeah, even after all these years, there's always something that the remains impressive about this place” replied Bailey. “Thanks for the opportunity of letting me take a look around” said Rolf. “Sure” Bailey says simply as he pours of Jack Daniels whiskey into two glasses. “Want yours on the rocks?” Rolf nods. “Please”

 

 

 

 

Bailey hands Rolf his glass. “Well, then. I suppose we should be on our way. If you'll follow me” Bailey gestures back to the exit. Rolf takes a sip of his whiskey and follows him out. They arrive at a changing room nearby, where they change into regulation safety vests and hardhats. “Gets pretty dangerous in here, eh?”

 

 

 

 

Rolf nods silently. The two men take a lift down to a shuttle dock, where they enter a small travel pod.

 

They pass by silently over other work projects, vessels undergoing construction and refits and some also getting extensive repairs from battle damage sustained after their last missions. But they also pass over a lot of Excelsiors, making it hard for Rolf to tell which ship is his.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The pod turns sharply, but smoothly around a bend, before coming across an Excelsior Refit, bathed in spotlights and surrounded by work bees and other vessels. “There we have it. Job 1363769, or what will eventually become the USS Challenger” Bailey slowly moved the pod alongside the ship, which still resembled an empty shell.

 

 

 

 

Three of the work bees were aligning one of the nacelles into place while workers from below guided it into its proper slot. To Rolf, who never witnessed a ship under construction before, it sort of resembled an old jigsaw puzzle or one of those plastic model kits he made when he was a kid. It was hard to believe that this mess would soon become a fully functional starship.

 

 

 

 

“Construction's about halfway completed” replied Bailey. “Most of the outer hull has been completed. But there's still a lot to do, particularly inside as nothing has really been installed yet. And, with Starfleet's decision that ships be fully equipped by their launch, it'll be even harder to get her ready by February”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“But, no worries. We're getting more reinforcements as we speak and equipment is being rushed in to expedite the construction” replied Bailey. Rolf's gazes wandered around. “But it must be hard getting more resources for so many ships” he wondered aloud.

 

 

 

 

“It is, but we're not worried. It's important for Starfleet that all of its ships launch on time with minimal delays, so our needs are one of its top priorities. Or so they say, but, it'll be hard. I won't lie to you. Now, it's crunch time and we'll have to be on our best to get it done on time”

 

 

 

END