Welcome to Star Trek Simulation Forum

Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to contribute to this site by submitting your own content or replying to existing content. You'll be able to customize your profile, receive reputation points as a reward for submitting content, while also communicating with other members via your own private inbox, plus much more! This message will be removed once you have signed in.

Sign in to follow this  
Followers 0
FredM

The Journey

“The Journey.”

Stardate 1402.20

 

As with everything in life, expectations and aspirations are a key component of success. The need to ensure that an individual has a systematic process in place to think globally, to think of the big picture, is something vital. A part of that process is sometimes viewing data to see what information it may provide for the future. What trends are present? Are things on track for continuous improvement? Are there problems which need to be addressed? Simply put, where are we and where are we going?

 

The problem with this picture is that sometimes…most times…eventually a person must accept the prospect of diminishing returns. In all aspects of life, as time moves on, the energy required to keep moving forward increases. Suddenly, that same energy is now required just to keep from moving backwards. Finally, in the end, a slow decline begins. Sometimes this is because of circumstances under one’s control. The trend is known, actions can be taken to try to improve and time exists to help the situation. Continuous improvement can restart the cycle and reset the clock.

 

Most times, but not all.

 

With their success in finally putting to put an end to a dark episode in Starfleet history, the accolades which were originally given had been deserved. The organization which had eluded the efforts of two of the galaxy’s major super powers was brought to justice. Those involved would never again be in a position to cause the level of devastation seen a decade before. Plans they had been developing over the years for a future attack thwarted. As one Admiral had put it “a solid win for the good guys.”

 

Then the meeting had turned to the aftermath. A weapon of mass destruction had been used not only once but twice in as many months. Public fear and recognition that planetary systems were being destroyed for no good reason were creating panic not seen since the Soran incident almost two decades earlier. The realization that a rogue power had not only developed such technology but actually used it was causing concern everywhere. Privately, every intelligence service known in two quadrants were questioning if this was to become the new norm in the future.

 

Yet for McQueen, the aftermath was more direct.

 

The forces involved in the mission had taken catastrophic losses by most standards. The loss of life had been high and with over 2,000 still listed as missing in action. For her part, the Reaent had succeeded in taking yet another pounding but succeeding in the ultimate goal. It was the latest in a series that seemed to be haunting the ship, causing some within the Starfleet Corps. Of Engineers to jokingly note “Reaent: We Really Need Repairs” should become the new motto of the vessel. The problem was, diminishing returns had caught up.

 

Since the launch of the Ambassador Class starship series, the surviving fifteen ships of the class had all been through at least two major refits. Seven, including the Reaent, had completed a third within the last five years. These modifications had been intended to attempt to keep them practical assets for a changing environment. It was not an unheard of practice and had become quite common over the past quarter century within the fleet. One only needed to look at the still utilized Excelsior, Oberth or Miranda class vessels to see the success of the program. Although they had reset the clock, it had not been stopped. Within the past decade, new Nova Class starships had almost completely replaced the entire Oberth science vessel fleet. The defining Miranda Class starship design, within over 110 years of service, was rapidly being phased out of service by the Intrepid Class. Even the Excelsior class was slowly giving way to the new Vesta Class explorers.

 

For Reaent, time had finally caught up to her.

 

By the time the mighty ship had docked, the laundry list of repairs that were outstanding was an impressive one. However, alone these were not the major problem. A hull breach could be repaired, conduits replaced, sections completely rebuilt. Heck, one simply had to look at the Enterprise-E to see how much of a ship could simply vanish and yet still be back on the front lines within a few months. The problem was the Reaent-G was not a Sovereign Class vessel and it was showing.

 

Over thirty percent of the ship was in need of essential reconstruction. Another fifteen percent required substantial repair. A late thank you gift from recent adventures, space frame stress points which had been monitored since the ship’s carrier refit were worsening into micro-fractures. Fifteen had been identified so far…that was just in the drive section. The ship’s EPS grid was now due for a complete overhaul. The warp core had been scheduled to be replaced a year ago, only to have the process delayed because of problems making the newer technology compatible with the older structure of the ship. Even one of the auxiliary computer cores was hitting an end of life cycle milestone.

 

So what does one do when you have half of an aging starship requiring repairs that is also showing increasing structural instability? Could problems be permanently solved or would it simply be another band aid? Do you use the resources or place them elsewhere? What about the next time a problem occurred? Was it worth putting the ship through several months of upgrades? In most cases the answer had traditionally been yes.

 

That was then, but this is now. Now, there would be no reset of clock this time. Now, there would be no overhaul. Instead, repairs would be completed on critical systems. By the time the Reaent would leave port, while she would look scarred and battered, the ship would be in relatively solid working order. Well, at least half of it anyway…but at least the holodecks and the bay doors would be working.

 

But this would be her final journey.

 

Officially, and now public, NCC-3345-G had been ordered to report to Starbase 709. Once there, approximately half of her assigned compliment would disembark for new postings. Some were leaving even before they left. Being repurposed for others in need, offload of material and ordnance was scheduled to occur at the same time. With the base being the hub for operations near the Romulan Neutral Zone, it wouldn’t take long for the supplies to find a good home. The ship would then depart for a rendezvous with the USS Churchill, an Akira Class vessel. There, the remains of the fighter squadron would depart to be integrated into a new home.

 

Finally, the Reaent would return to the Sol system and Utopia Planetia Fleet Yards. Here, tentatively scheduled to occur in three weeks, a ceremony would mark the end of her journey and inactivation from the fleet.

 

Patrick McQueen himself would also be moving into a new place…retirement. There simply wasn’t the drive or energy to try it all again. While his career had spanned decades, this had been his home. This was the family he had grown attached to, through good times and bad. There had been great sacrifices, great pain…but great joy and celebration. He wouldn’t trade any of it but also knew it was time to let focus on new endeavors. McQueen was tired and those who knew him had seen it only getting worse.

 

Now, it was time to finally rest. Their journey was soon coming to a close. Yet before that could happen, there was a lot to do and not much time to do it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Fair winds and following seas, Captain. And to your crew.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!


Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.


Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this  
Followers 0