Story:Star Trek: Athena/Beginnings Part One/Chapter Two

She walks onto the Bridge and see it's the same design as the Daedalus-Class Battlecruisers, as she sees the Captain's Chair and sat down in it.

Comfortable chairs, Anastasia thought to herself as she repositioned herself in the command chair. She looked to her right to see a face of pure beauty, one which Adam fallen in love with many years ago. A woman who was now also her first officer and Adam's superior officer next to the Colonel, "So tell me, Major, what’s our first job?"

She looked into her eyes and smiled. "Well, Colonel we're to proceed to Midway Space Station and head to the Pegasus Galaxy. To intercept the Wraith supply lines and put a stop to their access to the Milky Way," Major Hailey says as she looks at Colonel Dualla.

The new Midway Space Station had only been completed a few years ago, replacing the long-destroyed space station that had once defended the Federation from the Wraith. Some people said that had the station survived, the war might have ended much sooner.

With the launch of the Athena somewhat rushed, they still were missing about a quarter of their crewmembers, including their senior operations officer.

"Very well," she replied, leaning back in her chair. "Hail the Hephaestus Base."

"Channel open," A Ensign stated from her forward position at Ops, left of the tactical station between the main viewer.

"This is Lieutenant Colonel Anastasia Dualla aboard the Athena," she began. "We request permission to depart."

Permission granted, Captain. Take her out at your leisure." There was a pause for a moment. "I know this might sound odd to you, but…take care of her for us, will you? We’ve grown quite attached to the little hatchling."

Anastasia smiles and responds,"Don’t worry…we’ll keep her in one piece, one way or another."

"I’ll hold you to that, Captain… Hephaestus Base out."

Anastasia nodded her promise to them one more time before she focused on leaving. "All right, everyone. Let’s get this beast moving. Bridge to engineering, bring main power to full."

Aye, sir," Commander Hoshi replied. "Warp reactors Alpha and Beta are online and producing nominal power. Fusion reactors are all functioning properly. We are ready!"

Colonel Dualla smiled again and ordered, "Helm, activate thrusters and place them at station keeping."

"Thrusters online," Lieutenant Mitchell reported. A moment later, he confirmed, "And are at station keeping."

"Release docking clamps and umbilical," Major Hailey ordered.

"Umbilical retracting," The Ensign at the Ops console replied. "Docking clamps…released."

"Let’s take this slowly," she said. "Aft thrusters ahead sixty KPH."

"Aye, sir," Lieutenant Mitchell replied.

With only a moment of hesitation, she finally ordered, "Engage."

With that order, the newest of Starfleet’s magnificent ships began its journey. She watched as the ship slid past the outer doors of the DCF, marveling at just how smoothly the thrusters pushed them. As a pilot herself, she recognized that some ships jutted forward quickly when thrusters were activated. Even though inertial dampers compensated and no one ever felt it, she knew how to recognize it by sight. The Athena, probably due largely to its great mass, accelerated smoothly.

Within moments, the ship found herself in open space, with only the stars between her and her destination.

"Course laid in for the intergalactic void," James confidently reported.

"Very well, Lieutenant. Let’s give her some breathing room. Engage at Maximum Slipstream!"

Mr. Mitchell inputs the command into the helm.

And the Athena's hull surges with energy and opens a Slipstream event and enters it.

Colonel’s Log, Stardate 52157.2 Starfleet’s mission has always been one of peace and exploration. For centuries, we have explored the great unknown, the ‘final frontier,’ as well as ourselves. We’ve expanded our knowledge of not only the universe, but also of ourselves. We have also defended our beliefs, and have time and again prevailed.

The Dragon is a living extension of that mission! We will continue the journeys humanity has just begun. We will seek out new life and new civilizations. And, just like every other Federation starship before her, the Athena will boldly go…where no one has gone before! "All I ask for is a tall ship, and a star to steer her by…"

On the Bridge the crew are all at their stations just working on their tasks as Major Hailey is sitting in the Captain's Chair.

I can’t believe how comfortable this chair is! Elizabeth thought to herself. No wonder Chris was reluctant to give command over to me.