New Beginnings
Posted on Sun Aug 2nd, 2026 @ 8:56am by Commander Percival "Percy" Tapper & Lieutenant Commander Samuel Jameson
1,709 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Escape Velocity
Location: Various
Timeline: Pre-Launch
Sam watched from his seat in the shuttle as it approached the Eventide. When Captain Jennings had called him to the mess hall, only to arrive and see it decked out he had stopped at the door...
[USS Freedom - 2 days ago]
Jennings grinned at Sam's obvious surprise. "Front and Center Lieutenant."
Sam grinned and stepped smartly, being sure to give his heel a sharp click when he stopped i front of the Captain. "Lieutenant Samuel Jameson, Reporting as ordered Sir."
The Captain went into a little speech about Sam's background and his time aboard the Freedom, his growth over the years, the contributions he'd made, the adventures they'd all shared, the friendship forged, etc.. When he was done he unzipped his chest pocket, "...All that said, it is my privilege to award you the rank of Lieutenant Commander and as a consequence of that rank you are hear by ordered to report to the USS Eventide; as her Exec and Chief Science Officer."
Jennings was grinning from ear to ear at the shock on Sam's face and leaned in as the room filled with applause and congratulations, " Pick up your chin...not a good look for an exec."
The pair shared a handshake followed by more of the same, mixed with claps on the back, several hugs, and a few kisses on the cheek. The next several hours was his promotion party as people came and went as they were able.
Once the party was over he was in his quarters packing up his gear when his door chime sounded. Opening the door he saw Lt. Emily Fitzpatrick standing there. "Can I come in?"
Stepping aside to give her room she came in, stopping in front of him, closing the door and locking it. "Since you're not my boss anymore..."
[USS Eventide]
A bump as the pod landed in the shuttle bay brought Sam back to the present. "All right Commander, all clear sir."
Grabbing his two duffles he stepped out of the hatch, "Thanks for the ride Andy, safe trip back to the Freedom."
Turned in the pilots chair he scetch a salute, "Thanks. But before you go. I was told to give this to ya."
Sam grinned shaking his head as he was handed a bottle...a bottle of Jameson scotch. It had been a sort of the running joke on his old ship, but this time it was a very old bottle of vintage reserve. Reading the tag tied, Best of Luck as you embark on this next chapter. Fair winds and Following Seas. Captain and Crew of the USS Freedom
Slipping the bottle into his bag he gave the pod a double bump with his fist and stepped back as the hatch closed.
Turning Sam stepped away from the pod as a crewman approached.
"Lieutenant Commander Jameson?"
Sam nodded to the woman's question. "Yes."
Her questioning expression turned to a smile. "If you'll come with me sir, I'll take you to Commander Tapper."
Gesturing with a duffle, "Lead the way."
As they left the bay she looked back, "Can I take those for you Sir?"
Looking to her with a grin, "Now that would be very gentlemanly of me know would it?"
Giggling slightly she waved over an another member of the crew as they neared a lift. "Tommy, can you take the Commander's bags to his quarters?"
Pocketing his tablet he closed the distance quickly. "Absolutely. Welcome aboard Sir."
Handing off his bag to 'Tommy', the trio entered the lift. After the sort trip up a deck Sam and his escort stepped out onto the bridge and Tommy remain taking the lift back down to deck 5.
Main Bridge
The bridge still smelled new.
The sounds of preparation drifted through the bridge in small layers. Engineers knelt beneath consoles with diagnostic PADDs balancing on knees and sitting precariously on the edge of chairs. Another pair of engineers stood inside an open bulkhead discussing plasma flow tolerances. Aft, another pair were lost in a hushed but heated conversation over the ergonomics of a comm panel.
Commander Percy Tapper rested one hand against the back of the centre seat, his attention fixed on the large cutaway holo-schematic hovering between himself and Commander Akahito Kikuchi. The holographic image rotated slowly, exposing deck after deck of conduits, structural members, and systems that still had numerous coloured overlays from the morning's acceptance trials. He had spent the better part of three days aboard Eventide, and the ship still felt less like a command than an enormous archaelogical site whose builders happened to be standing right next him, explaining why they had laid each stone where they were left.
Kikuchi enlarged the engineering section with two large fingers. "The Bonaventure Mark II was never intended to compete with the NX or Columbia programs for sustained speed," he said, his tone measured and instructive. "Our field geometry favours long-term stability over peak performance. At warp five-point-eight, the stress distribution across the primary field coils remains comfortably within design tolerances for approximately seven hours. Warp six is attainable, though the gravimetric shear imposed on the coil assemblies increases exponentially. After roughly two hours, thermal expansion within the verterium cortenide lattice begins exceeding acceptable margins, and engineering will ask you to reduce speed. Hopefully politely."
Percy's eyes remained on the highlighted components for another moment, nodding. "So if I insist on maintaining warp six?"
Kikuchi's expression didn't change but there was a faint suggestion that he had been waiting for that exact question.
"Doing so will shorten the operational life of the components. You don't want that."
The comment earned a small and quiet smile from Percy. "I imagine that if we regularly require two continuous hours at maximum warp, something has already gone wrong."
"That's precisely the conclusion the design committee hoped the commanding officer of Eventide would reach."
The turbolift doors opened.
Stepping from the lift Sam took in the organized chaos that was the current situation on the bridge. Sam hadn't expected to see technicians still putting things together but he guessed that was to be expected on a brand new ship being readied for her maiden voyage.
Even though the ship was still short several senior officer he recognized the Commander immediately and moved towards him. "Commander Tapper. Lieutenant Commander Jameson reporting for duty."
Percy turned from the hologram as naturally as if the interruption had been part of the conversation all along. His eyes settled on the newly-arrived officer before a warm smile found its way beneath his beard.
"Jameson," he said, stepping forward to offer his hand. "Welcome aboard Eventide." Percy had spent enough years around universities to know that first impressions were made outside of official words.
Taking the Commander's hand. "Thank you sir." Glancing to the work still being completed on the bridge, "Seems there's still some work to be completed as well as crew to arrive and integrate. Anyone of the remaining senior staff arriving soon?"
"A great deal of work remains," Commander Kikuchi interjected.
Percy's eyes found the engineer's and then gently meandered back to Jameson. "Yes, as Commander Kikuchi was saying, there are several final touches to be made before Eventide can leave spacedock."
"Benchmarks and final diagnostics," Kikuchi added, disabling the holoprojector. With a curt nod to Percy, the engineer muttered, "I'll be in main deflector control."
Captain Tapper bowed his head slowly and Kikuchi departed into the turbolift Sam had recently arrived in.
"As far as I'm aware, Commander," Percy said, stepping out of the way of a pair of passing engineers, "you and I are the first to arrive."
"Well in that case I'd better get to work. A few crewmen were kind enough to see to my things so 'settling in can wait." Rubbing his hands together, "Anything you want me to see to first Sir?"
Percy nodded with a warm smile. "See to your quarters for now. Please join me in the Captain's Mess at eighteen-thirty hours for a meal. I'd also like to discuss our Denobulan Armoury Officer who should be arriving tomorrow--as well as our Communications Officer."
To be honest he was taken by surprise by basically been given the afternoon off and then invited to the Captain's Mess. Given the situation he'd have thought he have been put to work right away or to at least get up to speed on the ship's status. Then again the yard master was still technically in charge of finishing things up and no doubt the last thing needed was the ship's Exec hoovering.
Smiling, "Roger that Sir." However he thumbed towards the science station, "Since I'm here mind if I familiarize myself with the science station?"
"Yes, absolutely." Percy glanced over to the chair and nodded.
With that he turned walking over to the open console, taking a seat and rotating towards the station. Unlike the NX layout there was nothing but a rail between him and the rest of the bridge. With a glance to his left he had a full view of the main view screen an a full turn he could face the Captain's chair.
He ran a general systems check, extended the his viewer briefly before pushing it back into place. He'd have to reconfigure a few of the switches to his personal preferences but nothing major in that. Opening a compartment he smiled so see it packed full of data solids and he pulled several as he recorded the current status of the ship and it's personnel. the schedules for the ship's completion, as well as supply, cargo, and crew arrivals.
Pocketing the solids for review later he turned back to the Commander as he signed off on a report of some kind, handing it off to a crewman. "See you tonight, sir."
Percy turned back to his Executive Officer and flashed a warm smile. "Until then."
Commander Percival Tapper
Commanding Officer
USS Eventide
Lieutenant Commander Samuel Jameson
Executive Officer & Chief Science Officer
USS Eventide
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