Albion Beginnings: An Empty World Sings

[Cptn Neptune 0]

On this half lit day

With your crown beneath your wings

Ev'ry word just echoes

And the empty world sings

 

The graceful lines of the Albion glinted under the lamps of the dry dock facility. Utility bots buzzed, and shuttles ferried supplies and crew towards the newest of the NX-class starships. The shuttlepod carrying her new master approached slowly, letting the full view of her bow fill the panorama of the view port.

 

When he'd lost his command of Challenger it seemed no ship would ever look the same as she had when he first laid eyes on her circling the red-iron sandscape of Mars, but now as he approached the glimmering hull of the Albion his heart skipped a beat.

 

True he'd been master of the Challenger, but he knew in his heart it was never his. The Albion though, she belonged to Neptune to shape into his own vessel. There was a sort of excitement in him now that had been absent for so very long. The cares of the war, and the pain of being stranded on Earth while his friends and colleagues went off to fight seemed to melt away with the anticipation of shaping the future of Earth as command of the Albion.

 

“We're on final approach now, Sir,” the voice of his pilot interrupted the train of thought.

 

“Of course, signal the bridge I am on my way.”

 

“Understood.”

 

The shuttlepod continued her approach and docked along the waiting starboard airlock. Standing from his seated position, and in dress uniform, Neptune moved towards the opening doors.

 

The bosun whistle followed “Captain on Deck!” cried the Chief of the Boat as Neptune's first first steps fell gently on the gleaming, waxed deck plates of the NX-26, and the assembled crew took a sharp attention in unison.

 

“As you were,” Neptune said in a slightly raised voice so they'd all hear him.

 

The crew resumed their at ease posture, looking on to the man who would command them. “COB,” he said warmly. “You've done an excellent job.”

 

“Thank you, sir.” The COB said with a proud expression. “I expect you'll want to take a look around?”

 

“That would be satisfactory,” Neptune said, motioning for the COB to lead the way.

 

--

 

As the tour ended, Neptune found himself on the bridge of the Albion for the first time, perched in her command chair,which for some reason, felt more comfortable than Challenger ever had—a new model perhaps? Regardless, the Albion felt like home already.

 

Looking at his bridge crew, he smiled. His helmsman was a young ensign fresh from the academy. He looked to be in his early twenties, and from the American northeast—from his accent. His communications officer was a linguistics specialist whom he'd met a few years prior when he was still on the Challenger in that same role. He'd only met his science and engineering chiefs in passing, but he'd have more time to meet them on the way to their first destination.

 

And then there was Bill Gamble, his first officer and Security Chief/Tactical officer. He'd known Bill for nearly three years now off and on, and the two worked well together. In fact, Bill had been his first choice as XO for Challenger but the admiralty had killed that idea in favor of Giovanni, who himself ended up as Commanding Officer of Challenger.

 

“Captain,” Bill said from behind the Tactical console. “We're cleared for departure, all hands and supplies have been brought aboard. The last shuttle pod just cleared the dock.”

 

“Excellent,” Neptune said standing from his chair. “Activate running lights and clear all moorings and retract docking clamps.”

 

“Moorings cleared, retracting docking clamps. We are free to navigate.”

 

“Ahead full thrusters.”

 

Outside the sparkling hull, now lit by running lamps slowly lurched forward under her own power, clearing the dry-dock facility.

 

“Bring impulse engines on-line, set course for the Asteroid belt. Ahead full. Once we've cleared the asteroid belt, lay in a course for the Ventax system, Warp 3.”

 

“Aye, aye Captain.”

 

And the impulse engines came to life, surging the Albion forward. And so the mission began, and an empty world sang with hope.