Joint Log | SFCinC & Enterprise CO | FAdm. Malone & Capt. Carpenter

Posted on 241402.19 @ 1:30pm by Fleet Admiral Kerry Malone & Captain Eric Carpenter

Mission: Where no man has gone before.

= Starfleet Headquarters, San Francisco, Earth =

Arriving at the public transporter that serviced Starfleet Headquarters, Eric stepped down off the pad, and was waved through to the security checkpoint. Once here, he showed his ID to the security personnel on duty, and was waved through without need to search his person, and walked out into the central plaza at Starfleet Campus.

This area was a haven in a crowded world. Beautifully manicured lawns were intersected by paved walkways, trees, fountains, flowerbeds sporting flora and shrubbery planted into rich dark soil. In the center of the plaza was the large black marble IDIC chevron that was the memorial to the Sol Siege of 2413. A veteran of that affair, Carpenter took a moment to gaze up at the oblisk as he walked along the central through-fare that lead to Starfleet Tower.

Dotted around the plaza were the various support structures that housed various independent commands and staff offices. All of them servicing Starfleet as a whole, but all dependent on the giant thirty story glass tower that dominated the horizon. This massive structure was the administrative home of Starfleet Command - often called "Admiralty Tower" by lower ranked personnel - as you had to be a flag officer to even have an office in this building. The higher the floor you had your office on, the more senior your standing, at least, that was the theory. This culminated in the 30th floor being completely for the Commander-in-Chief.

Eric entered the tower, and was greeted by yet another security checkpoint, this one slightly more thorough, and he had his ID verified, and was scanned and retinal checked before he was admitted into the ground floor lobby of the Tower. This was decorated in white floor tiles, and in the middle was a large fountain that had a glass Starfleet Chevron in the middle that rotated slowly. There were potted trees and other decorative items, and a central information desk off to the left hand side of a quad-bank of glass elevators.

Making his way over to the elevators, he was guided into one and informed to head to the 29th floor, from where he would take a ramp up to 30th, as there was no direct elevator access except the executive elevator. Eric rode up alone to the top of the tower, and exited onto the 29th floor, where he was greeted by a circular corridor that ran right around the circumference of the building, and was lined with offices. Just in front however, were two curved and sweeping ramps that lead up to the 30th floor, and the CinC's private office.

He headed up the right hand ramp, and was greeted by a huge floor-to-ceiling window that looked out over the campus below. The floor was covered in a thick blue carpet that covered the entire circular room. Dotted around the room were white leather armchairs and two sofas. These were arranged around a crest embroided into the carpet of the Starfleet Commander in Chief. Just after the crest was a wooden reception desk, behind which sat one of the duty aides. This desk was positioned so that you had to approach it before gaining entrance to the CinC's inner office. Behind the desk were two large wooden doors, which lead into the office itself.

The reception area covered most of the 30th floor, with the exception of what was covered by the large office beyond. Eric approached the desk and informed the female officer there who he was, and why he was here. She intercomed through to the inner office, and after a few moments smiled and looked up at Carpenter.

"This way please Captain." She said, and lead him to the large wooden doors. She tapped on the door quickly before she opened it. "Captain Carpenter, Admiral." She said, and quickly withdrew, closing the door behind her - leaving Eric alone in the middle of the large office.

Coming to attention, Eric spotted the Fleet Admiral moving away from a sideboard on which sat a tea-service. The Admiral himself was holding a white porcelain cup and saucer, each with a gold rim, and sporting a blue Starfleet Command crest on them. "Ah, Captain Carpenter." Kerry said, as he moved towards his high-back green leather office chair, and sitting in it. "Please, have a seat." He gestured towards the two green leather armchairs before his polished mahogany desk.

Carpenter relaxed and took a seat in the offered chair, wondering why he was even here. You didn't get summoned to see the CinC on a whim. So he was either in really big trouble, or something else. Perhaps it was in relation to his current assignment hold... that was too much to hope for, right?

"I suppose you're wondering why you're here." Malone said. "Well, I'll get right to it. You might've noticed that you didn't get a new assignment after the Gordon was decommissioned, and that no one has been able to tell you when you'll get a new post. I'm afraid that is my doing. You were slated to take over the USS Eisenhower, but having read your file, I put a hold on any future transfers."

That caused Eric to snap his attention onto the Fleet Admiral, who was calm-as-you-would stirring his tea with a silver spoon, looking completely unphased at what he'd just said. "May I know what I've done to displease you sir?" He asked, with barely contained anger.

"Displease me? Nothing at all." Kerry said. "You're a fine CO, and all your fitness reports atest to that. And the work you did at the Siege of Sol was outstanding. I was most saddened to hear that the Gordon was lost on a simple convoy escort, but you pulled a rabbit out of your hat with that one. Most impressive. You're the kind of captain we need around here. The kind who thinks through all options, and comes up with the one that offers the least risk, with the best chance of success."

"Then why was I not given a new command, sir?" Eric asked.

"Because, Captain, I have been saving you for a special assignment, and I had to wait to get it completely vetted before I could inform you. These damn civilians are making my life ten times harder, insisting on approving every promotion from Commander onwards, and all new command appointments." Malone sighed. "In any case, I've got it cleared now, so I can tell you what it is."

Eric leaned back, trying not to look too eager. This could be anything, and given that Malone needed civilian approval, it could be a kick upstairs to the flag ranks. There was no secret that the admiralty had been hit badly by the Cardassian attacks, and they were scrabbling to replace the losses. He didn't want a flag billet, but god knows what was going on these days.

"McKinley yards has been working on a new variant of the Odyssey class. We only had four of them in service, and they're battlecruisers, but Starfleet needs to move beyond the combat hype. We need to get back to our core principles of scientific discovery and exploration. The Odyssey platform is a great ship for that mission, but in its current design, not very practical. To that end, the Shipyard Division has designed a new retrofit for the class, which gives plenty of scientific focus, and more comfort and long range abilities. As well as the latest technology from a combined Klingon/Federation research project - giving your new command Phased-Disruptors. I've read the specs, very nice." Kerry explained.

"You will be assuming command of the USS Enterprise, NCC-1701-F, from McKinley Yards." Malone said, finishing. As he rose, he picked up a PADD and passed it to Eric, who was standing because Malone was. "Your orders, Captain."

Eric accepted the PADD with excitement and trepidation. The Enterprise was the command most people lusted for all their lives. After the E had been laid up, the name had been put into retirement - apparently until now. "Thank you, Admiral." He managed.

"Report aboard as soon as is convenient." Malone said. "I've taken the liberty of selecting a few names for your senior staff, pending your review and selection. I'd recommend Commander Thelin th'Zarath for first officer though. He pissed off some brass a while back, and got stuck in the diplomatic corps. I like him, he speaks his mind, and he pissed off people I don't like all that much."

Eric nodded, and reviewed the service jacket that was in the second PADD that Malone handed him. "Sounds good to me."

"Alright, I'll have his orders cut. He'll meet you aboard." Malone said. "You might want to go get your affairs in order, your new assignment is going to take you out of the neighborhood for a while."

"Oh?" Eric asked, perhaps a bit quickly.

"Indeed. You're going to be spearheading my new drive to get exploration back on the top of our agenda. The Enterprise will be heading out 'where no man has gone before'." He smirked.

Eric chuckled at the paraphrasing the Fleet Admiral had just done. "Yes sir."

"Dismissed, Captain." Malone said.

= End Log =

Fleet Admiral Kerry Malone
Starfleet CinC

&

Captain Eric Carpenter
Commanding Officer
USS Enterprise
NCC-1701-F