USS Trafalgar
Dave
Member
The Battle of Trafalgar has gone down as one of the most famous naval battles in Earth's history. The story of Admiral Lord Nelson's victory over the combined French and Spanish fleets during the Napoleonic War has endured for centuries. Fitting then, that a ship named for that legendary battle would be launched at the height of another war, whose mettle would be tested during one of the key battles of that war, and whose reputation as a combat vessel was matched by few others.
The Trafalgar spent the next two decades taking on a wide variety of mission profiles, whether it was scientific exploration, border patrol, humanitarian response, convoy escort or whatever else Starfleet Command required Despite her age, the Trafalgar is still a capable multi-mission platform that Starfleet can call upon whenever necessary.
Now under the command of Captain Thomas Forrester, the Trafalgar is currently assigned to the Fourth Fleet's Task Force 86, her crew ready to take on whatever assignment that Starfleet Command asks of them.
These are the continuing adventures of the U.S.S. Trafalgar and her crew.
Comments
Looking back, he wouldn’t be able to say how long he stood there, watching the activity through the viewport. Two minutes? Possibly. Five Minutes? Probably. Work Bees buzzed around hauling cargo or carrying hull plates. An occasional shuttle flew across his field of vision; right to left and left to right. In the middle of it all, like an ocean of calm amidst all the activity, was the Akira-class starship that would be his new home.
Her nacelles were dark, their usual blue glow absent as the ship drew power from the Starbase. Were it not for the lights shining from windows dotted around the hull, she would have looked completely lifeless. A spotlight from somewhere within the spacedock accentuated the name that graced her hull; U.S.S. TRAFALGAR NCC-75180.
Alexander Mitchell had been waiting for this moment for six months and it had not disappointed. For a while, he wasn’t sure he’d ever wear the uniform again, much less be assigned as Chief Flight Controller of a starship. But here he was, standing at a viewport admiring his new assignment…his new home.
So engrossed was he in the view before him that it took a few seconds for his brain to register the presence of someone standing to his left. He didn’t have to look to know who that person was. In all his travels, he’d only ever met one person who wore that cologne. ‘Nice to see some things never change.’ The briefest of smiles pulled at his lips.
“Hell of a view.” The familiar voice announced, a hint of awe in his voice.
With a lopsided smile, Alexander nodded in agreement with his old friend. When he glanced to his left, that smile disappeared. Tom’s face was different than he remembered. There were more lines, he’d grown a beard which only aged him further and flecks of grey had started to appear in his brown hair. Before returning his gaze to the Trafalgar, Mitchell glanced down at the chest of his friend’s uniform; there were four silver pips, as he’d expected.
Once upon a time they’d been peers, classmates at the Academy, friends. Now, thanks to some random stellar phenomenon, there was a decade of experience and life setting them apart. An invisible hand reached into Alexander’s chest and started slowly squeezing his heart, or that’s how it felt at least as the extent of how much he’d missed hit home once more.
An awkward silence fell between them and lasted for what felt like minutes but was probably more like twenty seconds until Captain Forrester spoke again. “How’re you holding up, Xan?”
“I’m fine.” The reply came quickly, too quickly. It had become an automatic answer to a question that Alexander heard multiple times a day. The truth was that Alexander was still struggling to wrap his head around his new reality. He took a deep breath through his nostrils, held it for a second and let it out audibly through his mouth as he prepared himself for the conversation he was about to have.
“I am fine.” He repeated honestly. “That wasn’t a lie, just a kneejerk reaction to that question. But I wake up in the morning and for a few brief seconds, it’s still 2389. Then I remember it’s 2399 and it all hits me again. It’s like waking up to a punch in the gut every morning.”
Thomas listened silently as his friend spoke. He considered offering a few platitudes, but he knew they were empty and meaningless. Instead, he asked another question, “What about other members of the Hypatia’s crew? It might help to talk to other people going through the same thing as you.”
“The counselors at Starfleet Medical set up a bunch of support groups when we got back.” A smile pulled at the right corner of Alexander’s mouth. “We call them ‘Rip Van Winkle Groups’.”
Forrester let out a chuckle. “Except you guys didn’t sleep for a decade. The Hypatia was pulled into a temporal rift and skipped ten years in the blink of an eye.” He pointed out, his predilection for pedantry coming to the fore.
“Yeah, but that doesn’t quite have the same ring to it.” Mitchell shot back lightly.
Tom seemed to consider his friends words for a few seconds before agreeing. “Good point.” They fell silent once more and Thomas’ tone became serious again. “Y’know, if you need more time…”
“The last thing I need is more time.” Mitchell cut him off quickly, louder and more harshly than he had intended. He could feel the heat rising in his cheeks as he noticed the eyes of passers-by looking his way. “I’ve spent most of the past six months on leave dwelling on everything.” He admitted, having taken a few seconds to calm himself. “I need to get back to work. I need to feel like I’m useful, like there’s still a place for me in Starfleet.”
Forrester nodded slowly. “I’ve seen the scores from your flight re-certification. You’re still one hell of a pilot. That’s why I requested you for this assignment.” He placed a reassuring hand on his friend’s shoulder. “If you say you’re ready to get back to normal life, then I’m satisfied.”
“Normal.” Alexander repeated, the word seemed completely alien to him at that moment. “My brother and sister are now older than me. My baby brother outranks me. I’m not sure I know what normal is anymore.”
Thomas glanced to his right. “Well, you’ll just have to discover what normal is in the months and years to come.” Forrester told him. “Let’s start by getting you onboard and settled in.”
“I appreciate you giving me this chance, Tom.” Alexander told him earnestly as both men turned to face on another. “I don’t know that too many other COs would have taken a chance on me the way you have.”
Captain Forrester smiled at his friend. “You deserve it.” A thought occurred to him suddenly and quickly added, “But once we get onboard you should probably only use my first name when we’re alone.”
Mitchell replied with a smile of his own. “Don’t worry, I’ll remember my Ps and Qs from here on out, sir.”
“Alright, Lieutenant Van Winkle. Let’s get aboard.”