Slings and Arrows 01_ Sea of Troubles - J. Steven York [4]
“It’s a new ship, Number One. Perhaps it is time for some new traditions.”
Lieutenant Hawk turned his chair to face Picard. “Captain?”
Hawk hesitated, and Picard nodded an acknowledgment. “Yes, Lieutenant?”
“One of those officers is an Academy classmate and a friend of mine. Permission to accompany you?”
Picard hesitated for only a moment. Several of the new crew would be serving on the bridge. Hawk would make a good mentor, and he could act as a liaison to get them acclimated. “Granted.”
Hawk stood and fell in behind Picard as he stepped into the turbolift.
Picard shifted his feet slightly. He’d never been good at small talk with junior officers. Perhaps it was time to change that as well. “My compliments on your flying skill today, Lieutenant.”
Hawk grinned slightly. “I told you she’d hold together, Captain.”
“You’re proud of this ship, aren’t you?”
“I’ve been with the E since her keel was laid down in drydock, Captain. I’ve always heard plank-owners had a special bond with their ships, but I never really understood that until now.”
“I envy you in that, Lieutenant. The Stargazer was an old ship when I first lay eyes on her, and I even missed the shakedown on the EnterpriseD. Just once, I’d like to share that experience, but I’m afraid at this point in my life, I never will.”
“It could be worse, Captain. Even if I weren’t a plank-owner, I could spend the rest of my days serving on the E and be a happy man. She’s a good ship.”
“Indeed she is, Lieutenant. Indeed she is.”
The turbolift doors opened and they stepped into the corridor. Picard looked over at Hawk. “This classmate of yours?”
“Lieutenant Linda Addison.”
“Our new security chief?”
“Yes, sir. We were drinking buddies back in the day, and did some rock climbing together. We’ve fallen out of touch, but every six months or so one of us remembers to send the other a message catching up. Last I heard, she was headed for Vulcan to take some leave time.”
Picard nodded. Addison had served as a security officer on the EnterpriseD under Worf. With the Klingon now serving as strategic operations officer on Deep Space 9, his old job was open, and the newly promoted Addison had taken it.
They stepped into the transporter room. Chief Mun Ying stood at the console, a stocky man with thin black hair. “Ready to transport on your command, Captain.”
“Energize.”
Even the transporter, Picard noted, had a slightly different sound on the new ship. He felt a pang of regret for the old D. It seemed a much more common emotion lately.
The first group of six officers shimmered into solidity on the pad. Addison was not in this first group.
“Chief, bring the rest over at will.”
He turned to the new arrivals, who were all looking at him with a mix of anxiety and anticipation. “I’d like you all to remain here for the moment.”
The remaining two officers beamed over. He immediately recognized Addison: a tall woman, thin and athletic, dark-skinned, with short, curly auburn hair. Picard gestured for them to join the others.
The new crew members formed a single row, and without prompting they each assumed a formal posture. Picard stood silently and looked along the row, taking in each somber face. They knew, as he did, the importance and the danger of their mission.
He straightened his back and addressed them. “As you have likely deduced, I am Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Welcome to the Enterprise-E. You are privileged to serve on the flagship of the Federation. She’s a new ship, but she has a proud history behind her name, and a fine crew. I fully anticipate that she has great days ahead of her, and today, you are lucky enough to find yourselves in a position to share in that destiny. She deserves the very best from each one of you, and I expect no less.” He glanced at Hawk, who stood at his side,