Fleet Opening Mission: To Our Future

[Steve Malloway]

STARBASE THRINACIA
Fleet Commanding Officer's Quarters
12.40hours

Steve awoke suddenly, jumping to sit up on his bed.

"see, no meds necessary." He chuckled aloud as he realised his headache from earlier had gone. "Computer, time?"

*The time now is 12.40 hours*

"Oh, you're kidding." Steve groaned, standing from his bed, looking down to notice it would seem he had gone straight to sleep in his uniform; which was now creased. And no doubt smelt. Not a nice get-up for an Admiral to try and pull off, especially with the breifing in but 20 minutes time. "Sonic shower here I come."

After nearly ten minutes the doors to his bathroom opened, permitting Steve to walk back out. He wore polished black Starfleet-issue shows, the standard black trousers that were now clea and fully-pressed, and lastly the 'off-purple' jacket with red undershirt as common among Command department officers. As he came to stad byhis desk he reached out to pick up the final pieces of his attire; his commbadge which he clipped in place to his chest; his belt which slid perfectly round his waist to clasp at the front with a buckle of the Federation emblem. As he looked in the mirror he brought his hands up to his neck, placing his two rank insignia on each side of his collar, his eyes taking in the small Admiralty pips as his arms fell to his side. He stood prominantely in place. His mind wandered to the day he received the promotion some 3 years back. Jenna, his daughter, had been visiting on her leave from study. He smiled as he recalled the trip they had taken down to the surface of Salon IV; camping amongst the trees in the Great Forest of the Northern Continent. Marshmallows; one of his daughter's favourite sweet snacks. He sighed slightly, looking across to notice the time at 12.51. Always his daughter would come second to his job. As always he knew it was wrong of him.

STARBASE THRINACIA
Conference Room Alpha
12.56 hours

The doors to the Conference Room parted to permit Steve to walk in, his eyes gazing at the mass of the Commanding Officers and Executive Officers present. Some stood together, some sat, and some had decided to leave their counterparts for a moment to chat to others from the Fleet. This was the first time all the Senior Command Staff of the UFPDF had been together in one place, and it was good to see things were a nice hustle and bustle amongst them all. Some he recognised from meeting them, some he took a moment to click on. Donald McGriff was present, permitted to attend as he'd just given up command but would play a small part in looking after his replacement on the Braveheart until settled; Melanie Woodcroft and Malone Martize were also there as well as Mara Shax the Fleet JAG; Zack Gillibrand of the Independence stood talking to another Captain whom he didnt recognise by facial comparison to the manifests. Must be newly appointed. Steve thought to himself as he walked in, nodding greetings to those who acknowledged him as he saw Connor at the front, not far from John and the rest of the Senior Fleet Command Team.

"John." Steve greeted, shasking the Vice Admiral's hand. "Best we get this thing started. No doubt everyone's wondering why so many of them are here at once."

He turned back to face the COs and XOs as he stood on th central podium, noticing some look his way. "Ladies and Gentlemen, if I could ask you to take your seats, we'll get underway. I remind you this briefing is classified." His voice almost echosing across the room as he pressed the presentation button; an image of the United Federation of Planets Defence Fleet emblem prominant in all it's glory flashed upon the main presentation viewer across the back wall behind him.

TAG: ALL COs AND XOs AND AUTHORISED PERSONNEL