The senior staff looked through the starbase viewport towards the San Jose, a brand new California Class. Scott, her new Captain, smiled proudly as he looked out over her hull. This would be his first brand new ship, and he was quietly excited at the idea of her first stories being at his hands. “Look at that, Bema, isn’t it great?” he sais, turning to his old friend, and new XO.

“She is beautiful, Captain” he replied, looking out over the saucer section, to the designation emblazoned, and now illuminated, just in front of the main bridge viewscreen. “I daresay it will be nice to relax on this commission, after all the bullshit we went through in the war.”

“Yes,” Scott said thoughtfully, ” I suppose it will be nice to slow down a little before retirement. Spend more time ferrying dignitaries and supplies, and hopefully, less time getting shot at. That’ll make the Doctor happy anyway.”

“Excuse me for being tired of closing wounds and treating phaser burns” cut in the Doctor, playfully. “If not for me, you would all most likely be dead.” He let out a laugh and clapped Bema on the shoulder.

“Yes, but you don’t seem to be tired of bringing it up whenever possible.” Bema said with a smirk and an exaggerated eye roll. The conference room door opened and a tidy young ensign popped his head in, letting the team know the ship was finally ready for boarding. They fell in behind the ensign, and he led them to the transporter room. “The rest of your staff are on board.” he said, motioning them to step on to the pad.

A moment later they were aboard the brand new ship, and before them stood Vail O’Donnell, the Chief Tactical Officer. “Captain on deck!” she ordered, and at once the people in the room snapped to attention. “Welcome aboard the San Jose sir, where would you like to go first?” she asked.

“As you were” Scott said first, and he watched as the crew members in the room relaxed, and then continued in their duties. “From the bottom up, I believe Lieutenant. I’m sure Bud is itching to see his new warp core.”

A few hours later, the tour had been finished, and the officers were in their respective positions. Scott was sitting in his chair, looking through the brand new viewscreen. “How are we looking, Number One?” He asked, turning to face his old friend to his right.

“Everyone reporting Five by Five Captain” Bema replied diligently.

Scott pushed a few buttons on his chair console and opened a channel to the Dock Master. “This is Captain Bowman to Starbase, we are ready to go” he said.

“Affirmative, Captain” came a reply over the comms, “Docking clamps are being released now. Good luck, and God’s speed”. A few seconds later, the unmistakable shudder and hiss of releasing clamps came over the ship, and Scott took a deep breath, and closed his eyes. He spent a few seconds listening to the hum of the warp core, and the beeps and pings of the bridge around him before standing up in his customary way when giving headings and orders. Scott loved this part of his job the most. Watching the galaxy warp and bend around them as they streaked through space is where he felt the most at home.

“Ensign Bennett, one half impulse speed out of Stardock if you don’t mind.” Said Captain Bowman. Ezra complied, tapped some buttons on his console, and the ship started to slowly turn and move away from its moorings,  out into the deepest black for the very first time.

“Where to, Captain?” asked Ezra Bennett, who had just been assigned Alpha Ship Pilot, turning his chair around to face the center seat.

“We have a mission to ferry a relief delegation of engineers from Starbase One to the Providence Fleet Yards to oversee some decommissioning procedures, which seems like a wonderful opportunity to test out our new vessel. That being said, Helm, please plot a course to Starbase One, Warp Factor 5. We don’t want to push her too hard on her first time out.” Captain Bowman.

“Course plotted, Captain, waiting on your word” Ezra said, letting a smile creep across his face. Ezra had been a pilot for Scott before, and Captain Bowman had what he considered his favorite Warp Line.

“Turn and Burn, Ensign.” Scott commanded, and then he sat down as his new ship instantly vanished out of sight.