Chapter 1
Issac Gerovnir's head jerked up at the sound of his alarm clock beeping in his ears, and he slapped his hand across the power switch silencing the infernal noise. Issac mumbled and rolled over, deep in a wondrous doze. But 5 minutes later an automated voice chimed off its repetitive message, "Mr. Gerovnir, your wake up call."
Grumbling, Issac switched the voice off and rose like a dead man from a grave, lumbering across his gray carpeted floor he reached the door to his shower and clumsily switched on a searing hot stream of liquid water. He barely flinched as it coated his orangish skin trickling down his back.
Issac was a Ghix, once a proud indipendant species of 134 worlds and moons, they had joined the Borfalkian Empire by choice and received a vast reward and prestige. That had been 326 years ago...long before Issac had ever been born. In exchange for becoming a part of the Empire, the Ghix received dominion over 3 unexplored galaxies, three imperial fleets and a massive shipyard in the Ghix home system. The shipyard increased Ghix jobs, profits, and wealth. Now the Ghix were a proud and powerful member in the massively vast Borfalkian Empire, which included millions of worlds and species. This was why Issac had joined the Borfalkian Imperial Star Navy, so that he could see other realms. Issac wanted to see the universe, see other races and travel the vast sea of the void called space.
After taking a long shower Issac dressed into his cadet uniform and strolled down the hallway to the nearest dining lounge. On his way he looked out onto the barren gray surface of the moon, this was Ghentris 6's third moon, a major Cadet training facility in this quadrant. With under ground facilities that housed 4 million cadets and officers. The Ghentris system was uninhabited otherwise.
Arriving in a half full dining hall Issac seated himself on a table alone with some food and began dining. He had nearly finished when a senior officer walked up to his table. Issac didn't recognise the man, Lt. Jyter, a pure Borfalkian. But when Issac began to salut him Jyter quickly spoke up.
"Mr. Gerovnir, you are to report to a meeting at 9:00 tomorrow, your time table has been taken care of, just come with your travel bag." Jyter, stood up and briskly left the hall.
Travel bag? All cadets were permitted a small alowance of possessions at school so they could move about easily, Issac was especially lucky to have his own puny quaters, he had been at this school for 3 standard years now. Maybe this was what he had been waiting for, a promotion, an assignment on a vessel? He hoped so, and it sure sounded like it.
Issac went off to his Engine Core Assembily class wondering about the next day.
Chapter 2
Meeting Centre 2765-Epsilon
Issac stared at the blue text on the doors, then he went in and took a seat at a large wooden conference table before him. Before long the room filled with a small compliment of ten other people, nine of which had bags just like Issac. Two other cadets like Issac, four leftenants, two commanders, and a captain. The man with out a bag was an admiral, and Jyter was no where to be seen.
"Damn Jyter..." Issac whispered under his breath after saluting all the higher ranking officers.
The Admiral took a seat at the head of the table and smiled, "Good morning people, most of you know why you're here, but for the three new ensigns I'll go through every thing in full."
Issac's ears perked up, ensign? He had waited for ever it seemed, finally he had been promoted.
"The B.R.S. Mingus is a escort just out of dry dock, it was compleated a mere month ago." The Admiral went on, "One of the first ships of its class it's part of a recent order put through from High Command for 6000 of the vessels. The Mingus however is your new ship my friends, as of now you ten officers will be it's crew, and will be departing for the Caesurique Shipyards after this meeting. My job is to brief you on the vessel, your fellow crew, and of course your mission."
The Admiral tapped a few buttons on the small inset computer pad before him and the lights grew dim. A hologram materialized above the centre of the table. A vessel rotated before them and the admiral continued, "The Mingus is a Derut Class Escort designed my the Utrian Ship Yards, yours has been outfitted for extreamly long range exploration, that's right your going to be exploring where our people have never even set eyes on. Don't worry though the Mingus is definetly your ship for the job, with four decks, she has ten private quarters for each of you, two holodecks, two main cargo bays, a shuttle bay with two shuttles, the best cruising speed in the Empire, an impressive energy weapons array, a transporter room, planetary landing gear, and a full bridge. It goes on, some might say she's a frigate, but she's still too small for that."
"You can make further relations with your crewmates once you get on your vessels, but for now you can see the names and ranks." The Admiral handed them all com-pads.
Issac looked down the list briefly:
Captain Reatik Hyss: Borfalkian (male)
Commander (2nd in command) Gyres R. Feres: Omparian
(male)
Commander Nifig Ionu: Borfalkian (male)
Leftenant Hiant Morev: Selician (male)
Leftenant Idrius Paxez: Selician (female)
Leftenant Quertius Brown: Borfalkian (male)
Leftanant Rymes I. Jicks: Vokell (male)
Ensign Melist L. Waters: Omparian (female)
Ensign Issac Gerovnir: Ghix (male)
Ensign Millar T. Jacks: Borfalkian (male)
Interesting crew thought Issac, he was already getting excited about the mission.
The Admiral went on, "Your primary mission will be to travel to the explored rim and leave it far behind, we want to explore deeper into the unknown, you're to make allies, locate potential thrreats, enemies, and make scientific exploration on a long range basis. You'll be going where no one here has ever been before, so we wish you well, you mission has a minimum leangth of five years before return and maximum of fifteen. Do well and you could make history, I'll see you all at the docking bay to the Mingus after our flight."
The Admiral, who still hadn't given his real name officially, got up and strode out of the room. Issac slowly stood up and then swiftly left, he had ten minutes to get to the transport, the officers behind had the same motivation and it seemed the crew would have to meet and talk when the had finally left on the Mingus. For now Issac was only concerned in getting on his transport to the Caesurique Shipyards, he hurried down the corridors for the last time with a smile across his orangish face.
Chapter 3
Crowding onto the massive terminal for departure to Caesurique Issac felt like a flea on a beach. Thousands of people rushed by on their paths to different transports.
"Imperial Transport 04561 to Caesurique Shipyard now accepting passengers." A computerized male voice rang out across the terminal. Issac looked down at his pad and scurried across the floor to a hover taxi which wisked him off to the main line to the transport. After checking on Issac found himself in a puny room with 6 other beds, here he would travel for the next 2 weeks. Issac walked over to the small half meter wide window and stared at the barren moon, his home for the last three years. Strange, Issac felt saddened at the departure of this familiar place. A small smile brushed his face as he looked at the glitter of the cities on the other side of the planet, shrouded in night.
"Good riddance you piece of trashy rock!" Issac jumped as he heard a deep voice bellow out beside him, turning he saw a large man with pale white colored skin and purple eyes. What race was this?
"Farak Corzon, I'm a Uderwid we joined Borfalkian last year, I was working as a miner in the Fedoc 56 system and I'm going to a new job. Why we stopped here I'll never know, what a crappy hunk off rock!" Farak laughed, "Did I startle you boy? Where you heading?"
"No, it's okay. I'm on my way to Caesurique." Issac motioned to his uniform.
"Ahhh..." Farak smiled, "I see well enjoy it looks like the cabins full, we should be leaving with in the hour."
"Good." Issac turned back to face the window."
After about twenty minutes the clang of the docking clamps releasing was felt and heard through the vessel and the rumble of the sub-light engines increased as the massive transport pulled away from the large docking facily in orbit of Ghentris. After five minutes Issac heard the roar of the power building as the transport fired up the main engines and left the small moon far behind them. Issac sat down on his bed and took out his pad, accessed a technical report on the Mingus, and settled in for the rest of the passage.
~~~~~~~~~~
One week and 3 days later the transport made a stop at a System called Yelvac Erdon and proceeded to dock at a massive station in orbit around a gas giant on the outer edge of the system. They unloaded at least three quarters of the passangers and cargo before setting our, including the man named Farak. Issac breathed a sigh of relief, he didn't have to listen to anymore mining jokes now, he shared the room with three others now who he hadn't really bothered to get aquainted with. Issac went to the nearest ship dining hall and seated him self at a large table and before long a Vokell sat down across from Issac. the Vokell was sipping on Telerium Mint Tea and smiled as he began to talk, "So I suppose your on route to the shipyards?"
"Bingo, I have my first posting to be assigned there." Issac looked up from his salad.
"I figured as much, your rank." The Vokell motioned to Issac's square pins on his left jacket lappel. "Yes, I'm just a programmer on his way home, after Caesurique we make a stop at Kornell and then Brace Jacket 12G, that's my stop. I live in a fair sized water world 2nd from the systems binary suns. Quite a nice planet really, they call it Beacton."
"Interesting." Issac took a sip of wine. "So if you program why are you on this ship?"
"Well I was visiting my grandfather on a remote farming colony on the galactic rim."
"I see, enjoy your stay?"
"Very much so, the planet is very isolated and peaceful, a nice break from the more developed regions." The Vokell chuckled. "Only 20,000 inhabitants."
Issac coughed with surprise, "20,000, that is small!" After a few seconds he continued. "Come to think of it though I might be seeing far worse, my mission is a deep space exploration one, long term."
"Really? That would be interesting, you'll be changed forever after this." Draining the last of his tea the Vokell stood and said, "My name is Cevidor Tysh, and you are?"
"Ensign Issac Gerovnir, I'm Ghix."
"I can see that Mr. Gerovnir, what do you say to breakfast tomorrow?" Cevidor smiled at Issac in satasfaction as he put his mug onto the table.
"Sure, breakfast it is Mr. Tysh, see you in the morning then."
Later that evening Issac went to sleep with a smile on his face, this trip had just taken a turn for the better, he looked forward to the following days and beyond.
Chapter 4
"Now approching Caesurique Docking Bay 14, please prepare for disembarkment." The computer chimed away for the 3rd time.
Issac swiftly
moved forward to the gates as he felt the ship vibrating from its engines
in reverse thrust. The noisy clank of the docking claps securing
against the space worn hull resonated through out the vessel. "Docking
comleate please stay calm and ordered while disembarking the transport."
A distinctively human voice spoke out through the hum of conversation.
After checking out through Imperial Customs Issac found a shuttle that took him to the docking area for the Mingus and went to the Spaceyard Command Office. Issac entered a large room with several sleek blue desks, approaching the first one he said, "I'm Ensign Issac Gerovnir, Imperial Navy, I'm here for the Mingus-"
The woman at the desk cut him off, "Of course, yes take the corridor to the left and go to briefing hall 9-B, the Mingus' mission staffing office is there."
"Thank-you." Issac hurried down the corridor to the briefing hall, upon entering he noticed most of the origonal meeting members were present, minus two or three.
"Ahh, Gerovnir!" The Admiral looked up, "You're right on time, we're just waiting for-" The doors swished open and three officers hurried in.
"Excellent, this is good, every one has arrived on time then. Since we have such wonderful punctuality why don't we get down to business? This launch is informal so if you'll follow me I can take you to the Mingus' entrance hatch."
Bustling after the admiral, every one followed with clear intrigue. After few turns they arrived at a large window looking out onto a vessel aparently from the top. Approximately 10 meters below the window was a ship, "I give you Mingus, your new home for quite awhile." The admiral whitled softly, "Beautiful ship..."
The Mingus had a new look to it, the unblemished dark grey hull sat serenely in the dock. The registry and name were painted in the top in small text. The windows were ovals horizonally streached out, tucked deep under a top hull plate that sat upon the swept back belly of the ship. The engines gleemed a deep green and luminated the surrounding hull with their soft glow, set upon the rear they sat embedded and tucked mostly on the underside. Visible weapons arrays protuded slightly from the top. Issac guessed the shuttle bays were bottom, probably dropped out on Class 7 shuttle clamps.
"Sorry to break your view people, but if you'll follow me down this elevator we can reach the ship. I promise you like the inside even more, we wanted to make this ship siutable for the time yu'll be in it. I trust you enjoy you quarters, I'll give you your assignments and a short tour once we get on board." The admiral chuckled and strode into a large industrial lift.
Reaching a thick airlock the admiral put his eye up to the sensor and entered a code. The door audibly depressurized and slid open revealing the estended boarding hallway. After following about 30 meters of this the reached another door, it was round and had Mingus written on the front. 'Docking Port A' was spelled out in tiny print underneath, the door was obviously made to be a part of the hull by default but was locked open for now. On the other side Issac could make out a small cargo bay which was well stocked with various crates and such.
"Here you go people, the Mingus, from here on your Captain is in command of this ship, and you are respnsible for it. No cerimonies, I'm sorry but if the Empire did it for every little ship we lauched...well you get the idea. After I give you the tour you can have your own cerimony and briefing in the ship's galley. With out further adue let's proceed then."
~~~~~~~~~~
After clearing the cargo bay they entered into a warmly lit corridor which had light gray walls and a very light blue carpet, illuminated by a nice line blending white light along the bases of the walls and at the cieling. Though softly lit, it was well illuminated as to allow compleate and more than easy vision. As they proceeded down the hallway Issac established that they were on deck 3. They entered a small science lab and the admiral showed them various consoles and the testing labs. Issac took little notice and was generally uninterested at the moment in the little bright lab, he glanced out the small meter wide window behind a desk at the back of the lab watching a shuttle flick by.
After the lab they continued back into the hall, across it was another lab, but they just continued on. Small empty aquarians occasionally lined the walls, the admiral mentioned picking up foriegn species for pets, after rounding a corner they reached main engineering. Issac perked as they entered the large room, a bright green glowing tube stretched across the room 2 meters in the air, extending up and down one whole deck, the large room was full of panals and equipment. A pulsing low key hum rumbled soflty in the background. Issac spent the whole time listening and exploring, here was where he would be spending most of his time. After listening to the admirals speel they left the room and went down to the 4th deck, composed of Cargo facilities and the shuttle bay it was a colder bleaker area. Issac's asuption about the launch system and placement of the two shuttle was correct, he was also surprised to dicover just how much cargo space the unassuming ship contained.
They returned to the lift after a few demonstrations and went up to level 2, here they again entered the corridors and passed the door to the top level of engineering. They arrived at the transporter room which had 4 pads and one bulk matter pad, it was fairly unassuming and so they continued to Holodeck B, after a short peek they made round trips to the top five ranking officers quarters, Issac's quick few of the captain's left him slightly jealous. The officer's deposited their luggage into their respective quarters as they came to them and then they came to the bridge. Stopping the admiral stated that they save the bridge, ready room, and briefing hall for last. They entered the Sick Bay and Issac took some interest in the sterile room, windowless and brightly lit with white over head lighting the sick bay contained 5 beds, one of which was in a special operating side room. The office had a nice seat that looked ready to allow for long peiods of sitting. Then they went up to the top of the ship.
Coming to the 1st deck they passed Holodeck A and then dropped off the next five officers' luggage, Issac got practically no view of his surprisingly nice quarters before they moved on. He thought that he wasn't going to mind spending so much time on board this ship, in fact he was already begining to get a nice liking for it. Stoping at the mess hall which was situated at the bow of the Mingus the crew took a rest, unfortuanetly the ship faced the station giving them a view of metalic hull plating and a few windows. The kitchen included two replictors, a full cooking center and a serving bar, with two stools. The galley had five dark, handsome, shiney, heavy wooden tables, with seats around them. The huge window ran along the whole wall in a slow curve and went from roof to floor, it was paralell to the bar and on the same floor as the tables which were elevated above the bar by two wide steps spaning the length of the room. A soft light with just a tinge of yellow illuminated the room from the steps and wall brackets. The crew instantly began to relax as they looked out the window and then the left to go view the bridge.
Entering the bridge from behind they came in a door placed in the center of the wall in the back. Three consoles stood side by side in a arc before them and the middle one was a meter or so forward. The side walls had panaling which ran down with the slope of the floor to the command and navigation area. Behind them on either side of the door were other consoles, each side with a seat just like the others. On the lowered forward floor were were three seats, the center being slightly back from the others, obviously the captains chair, it was light brown and was heavily padded. The view screen was massive by far the biggest Issac had ever seen on a frigate, the whole front wall was screen and it curved in along the sides slightly as well. On the floor before the command chairs was a glowing blue circle surrounded by a green arrayed ring, the holo emiter which was an option for a more 3D viewing if needed. Issac stared in awe, this ship seemed like it needed more crew, the compter must be very good. He supposed that the crew could fill in the stations on the ship to amplify a service when needed, after all they were an exploration ship.
On the right of the bridge was the door to the Captains ready room, it was a small room with a cot, desk, chair, computer console, a small roof based holo-emiter and a replictor in the corner. Once again an aquarium sat on the wall, this one was 3 meters wide an sat mounted behind the captains desk, behind the aquarium was a window into space, once filled the aquarium would prduce an interesting spectacle. Before the desk sat two empty chairs.
On the other side of the bridge was the door to the briefing hall. Along one wall was a half meter high window which ran along the whole side. Two plants adorned each end of the room and a large table dominated the room, the other wall was covered in computer consoles and moniters. Twelve chairs sat at the table, five on side and one on each end.
They ended back at the galley where they sat and began preparing a meal,
seating at the table conversation began and Issac smiled as he sat with
the other two ensigns, he was home, on board the Mingus.
