Taming the Minotaur

Posted on Wed Jul 18th, 2018 @ 5:35pm by Commander Abigail Prescott
Edited on on Mon Sep 3rd, 2018 @ 3:46pm

1,356 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Mission 1: The Return to Faltan
Location: Utopia Planitia and USS Minotaur
Timeline: MD-07 - 1 Week before MD01

Mint stretched in the bed of her temporary quarters, reveling in the feeling of freedom for the first time in years. She turned to the picture of her mother she'd placed on the nightstand and smiled. "This is going to be a great assignment, Mom," she touched the picture's face. "I can feel it in my bones." Another stretch and then Mint sat up, happy to be alone with her thoughts.

After a quick shower, Mint packed her sparse belongings, laying the picture carefully on top of her clothes. It was time to head out for her new assignment, Faltan Station, where she sincerely hoped no one knew of her. But first, she had to collect the USS Minotaur, a task she was actually quite nervous for. A week Commanding a newly created ship on its way to her new home was actually quite scary to Mint. She'd never been in control of a ship for longer than a shift. Now it was a week! With nerves threatening to turn her legs into jelly, Mint set out for her temporary command.

Luckily, no one at the Utopia Planitia Shipyards knew anything about her, so no rumours of infidelity or using her body to advance were being whispered as she passed. She passed many crews bustling around, and saw several ships being prepared through the various portholes. Being somewhat early, Mint stopped for a moment at one ship to watch the worker bees flit around a ship she heard was called the USS Tornado. It looked like it would be a fine ship, whenever it was finished.

However, she was blown away when she reached the Minotaur's berthing. It was a magnificent new ship and made her feel even more intimidated to be commanding her on the journey to Faltan. A lump formed in her throat and she swallowed it down forcibly as she moved closer to the airlock. Two security officers saluted her as she approached. "Commander," the one on the left greeted. "Orders, please?" the one on the right asked.

Mint handed over the PADD with her orders and watched as the pair read over them. "Looks like all is in order," the one on the left said with a smile. "Welcome to the USS Minotaur, Commander Prescott," they said in unison. Mint was actually quite impressed with this duo, they seemed to be totally in sync with each other. "Thank you, gentlemen," she nodded as they let her through the airlock.

Inside the ship, an operations officer waited for her. "Welcome, Commander Prescott," the young woman sounded nervous. "I am Ensign Matthews," Matthews sounded more confident now. "Allow me to show you to your quarters, or would you rather go straight to the bridge?"

"No," Mint gave a small shake of her head. "I'd like to put my things in my quarters first."

"As you wish," Matthews nodded. "Please follow me," she spun on her heel and walked toward the lift. Once they were inside, Matthews called for Deck One. The two women were silent during the trip, Mint trying to quash her nerves and the young woman too nervous to speak to her temporary commanding officer beyond what was necessary. Once the doors opened, the young woman seemed to sigh in relief. "This way, Commander," she used her arm to indicate the direction.

Mint followed the woman to the Commanding Officer's quarters, idly wondering if she should take the XO's quarters instead. Though, along the corridor, the woman babbled on about who was already aboard, and made a brief mention of her temporary XO already being there. Mint smiled as she listened, not wanting to interrupt the woman's carefully prepared speech. It was only once they reached the door to her quarters that Mint spoke. "Thank you Ensign," she gave the woman a warm smile. "I can find my way from here," she watched Matthews deflate slightly. "I appreciate your directions and update," she added and the woman swelled with pride. "Dismissed."

Mint didn't wait for the woman to disappear before entering the quarters. As soon as the doors swished closed behind her, she leaned against the wall and released the breath she didn't realize she was holding. "I can do this," she whispered. "Snap out of it Mint. This is no different than a shift command. You're just delivering the ship to the station," she smacked her cheeks lightly to get herself back in the moment.

A few minutes later, Mint walked out onto the bridge with an air of confidence that masked her nerves. She had been the last to arrive, and the Minotaur was already ready for departure when she arrived. All they needed was her. "Captain on the bridge!" was called out from somewhere to her left, but she didn't react. Her hands started to tingle, feet began to feel numb, but she carried on toward the center chair. "At ease," she said to the bridge officers. "I am Commander Abigail Prescott, Executive Officer of Faltan Station," she looked around at the officers now seated at their stations. "I will be Acting Commanding Officer of the Minotaur for the journey to Faltan. I have every confidence that we will work great together and this will be a boring journey. Now, are we cleared to get underway?"

"Yes, ma'am!" a Lieutenant Commander standing in front of the Executive Officer's seat responded. "Ready when you are, Commander!"

"Report?" Mint asked as she sat down in the center seat.

"Sensors all green across the board," someone called.

"Helm ready," the Lieutenant at the forward station reported.

"Engineering on standby."

"Operations ready."

"Medical ready."

"Security and Tactical ready."

Mint grinned, this was her first time saying the commands she heard so often, and to be honest, it felt good. She hoped she would get this opportunity more often. "Lieutenant Greene, contact Ops and request permission to depart."

"Aye ma'am," Greene spun back to his console. "Station Ops, this is the Minotaur requesting authorization to depart," she said into the headset then waited a beat for the response. "We have been granted authorization to depart, Commander."

Mint nodded. "Lieutenant Davidson, clear all moorings and take us out. Set course for the outer marker, one quarter impulse," she tried to keep the nervous waiver from her voice.

"Aye," Davidson responded, hands flying over his console. "Clearing all moorings," there was a slight shudder as the ship was freed from its dock. "Course set for outer marker, one quarter impulse."

Everything after that was a blur. Mint tried to keep her focus, but nerves started to take hold. Once they jumped to warp, she excused herself to the Ready Room with instructions to her XO to take the bridge and alert her if anything happened. Once inside the ready room, she nearly collapsed from wobbly legs.

When she finally reached her desk, she slid into the chair and opened a channel to her father. She smiled with tears in her eyes when his face bloomed across her screen. "Abigail? What's wrong kit?" concern etched into his forehead, wrinkled his nose, and turned the corners of his lips down. "Did something stop the Minotaur from departing?"

"No, Daddy," Mint wiped the tears from her eyes. "I did it, I got us underway. Mom would have been so proud."

"Yes, kit, she would have been very proud of you," Hawke's features relaxed and then he started laughing. "Did you at least get to warp before you ran off the bridge?"

Mint giggled. "Yes," she rolled her eyes. "I'm not that silly. We are on our way to Faltan, so far so good. I just wanted to let you know we'd departed."

Twenty minutes later, Mint turned off her console and leaned back in her seat. This was a very strange beginning to what she hoped was an amazing adventure. She couldn't wait to get to Faltan Station and see what wondrous things they could accomplish there. Her mind was already ablaze with engineering projects.

 

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