The Utopia: a Starfleet Novel

Chapter One: Adelaide Rhyder

Commander Adelaide Rhyder stepped on to the bridge of the Starship Utopia. The Utopia was finally ready for boarding from Starbase 4172. Adelaide glanced around the spacious bridge. Wow she thought I am working on the most advanced Starship with the best of the best. At the end of the war with the Dominion, Starfleet decided that they needed to reinvent the image of the Federation. So they got the best minds in Starfleet to come together and design perfection. A perfect ship; a Utopia in an imperfect world. They put together the best, the people that are as close to perfect as we'll ever see in this mortal world. But why am I here, I mean, I got perfect scores on every test Starfleet ever gave and my IQ is one of the highest in the Alpha Quadrant. They are still not totally convinced that I am not biologically engineered. Yet still, I am not brave or confident. I can never be like the amazing captains of our past. Adelaide sat down at her post, and pulled out her lightpad. When they designed The Utopia, they decided that they wanted to reinvent technology that makes up a Starship. Lightpads are personalized tablets that are similar to 21st Century tablets in look, except lightpads shrink and condense to the size of a 2x3in. and about 1mm. wide and expand to the size of a 9x7in. Lightpads glow and connect to the ship in a similar fashion to a 21st Century tablet connecting to wifi.

She entered in her PIN for her lightpad and looked at her post wall to see when they would be departing. Just then, another person stepped on the bridge. Adelaide looked over to see a dark haired volcan with striking brown eyes and pale skin, and a smattering of freckles. He had long, gorgeous eyelashes and lush lips, tinted with a pale pink. Adelaide quickly glanced away, afraid he might have seen her looking at him. The Volcan took a seat at the science station and soon pulled out his own lightpad.

Adelaide look back down at her lightpad just as the turbolift doors opened again to reveal the famous Captain Talox Leighton. "Captain on the bridge," said an Andorian Ensign Adelaide didn't know the name of. The Captain was a tall, imposing man. He literally could read your mind because he was a Betazoid. He smiled at the bridge crew, and what a smile it was. Captain Leighton was like the new James T. Kirk. A young, brilliant man who loved the ladies and had the looks to back it up too. The Captain had a copper colored hair, almost red, but not quite. He was about 5' 11', and in his mid 30's. "Commander Rhyder," he said, "My ready room, now."

Commander Adelaide flushed nervously as she followed her commanding officer into his ready room. All those eyes, staring at her!

The Captain took a seat at his desk. "Commander, do you know why I chose you as my first officer? I did because I am impressed by you, and I think have potential. You just need more experience. I have never had a female first officer. I want you to know that you get no special treatment. I expect great things. Alright?" Adelaide realized he was talking to her.

"Yes, Sir."