Daughter of the Stars

Lightning Storm in Space

Stardate 2258.42

After reading out her designated list of Cadet ship assignments, Sala made her way to a shuttle that was bound for the USS Enterprise, the newest ship of the fleet. The shuttle flight was quick for the young woman and once she was aboard the Enterprise, she made the point to quickly change into her uniform.

Though it was most common for women to wear the dress styled uniforms with either long or short sleeves, Sala was one of the fewer women permitted to wear a female uniform of regulation pants and a tunic in the color of their designated division. Sala was given the approval for this uniform because of the conservative nature of Vulcan culture; the culture she grew up with.

After getting changed, Sala made her way to her post at the bridge. Being a Cultural Appropriation and Relations Officer, she was a key adviser to the Captain of her ship. It was therefore only logical that she be located where the Captain was while on duty; meaning most often on the bridge.

Captain Pike, the current Captain of the USS Enterprise, was not yet present on the bridge when Sala arrived, though most the bridge crew was already present. She was, however, shortly joined by Spock on the bridge.

"Mr. Spock," Captain Pike said as he entered the bridge.

"Engineering reports ready for launch," Spock said as he sat at and prepped his station.

"Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen the maiden voyage of our newest flagship deserves more pomp and circumstance than we can afford today. Christening will just have to be our reward for a safe return home. Carry on," Pike said while briefly circling the bridge before taking his seat in the center. He then pressed the button for a ship-wide message, "All decks, this is Captain Pike. Prepare for immediate departure. Helm, thrusters."

"Moorings retracted, Captain. Dock control reports ready," The helmsman relayed, "Thrusters fired. Separating from space dock," He paused as he maneuvered the ship into position, "Fleet's cleared space dock, Captain. All ships ready for warp."

"Set course for Vulcan."

"Aye aye, Captain," The helmsman said before turning to face Captain Pike, "Course laid in."

"Maximum warp. Punch it."

The helmsman turned back around before working with his interface. Sounds of the ship priming for warp could be heard before dying down. The ship, however, was not at warp. Slowly but surely, the members of the bridge crew turned to look at the helmsman, curious as to what was occurring.

"Lieutenant, where's helmsman McKanna?" Captain Pike asked.

"He has lung worms, sir. He couldn't report to his post," The helmsman said before turning to once again face Captain Pike, "I'm Hikaru Sulu."

"And you are a pilot, right?"

"Uh, very much so, sir," Sulu said before turning back to his interface, "I'm, um, I'm not sure what's wrong."

"Is the, parking break on?"

"Uh, no," Sulu said, ending the reply with a small laugh, "I'll figure it out I'm just, um-."

"Have you disengaged the external inertial dampener?" Spock asked.

Sulu did not reply, only after a moment was he pressing a few buttons on his interface, "Ready for warp, sir."

"Let's punch it," Captain Pike said simply, a small smirk playing on his lips.

Sulu once again interacted with his interface and the sounds of the ship priming for warp could be heard. The difference was that this time, the ship did engage warp, heading on its way to Vulcan.