The USS Enterprise-D has entered the fleet. We are now an active Starfleet ship, currently warping to our first assignment – a science mission to the Tellidaris Nebula 45 light years from Earth. At warp 9 we will arrive at the nebula in eleven days, spend two weeks conducting tests and gathering data, and then return home to Earth next month.
As of right now, we have a full crew, although we are still waiting on our Chief Medical Officer. Commander Beverly Crusher is scheduled to transfer to the Enterprise, however, she is currently aboard the USS Prometheus (Nebula-class) on deep space assignment, and won’t be available until early May. Our new medical staff will cover the position until she arrives.
Now that we are underway, and the day’s events are behind us, we can sit back and unwind a bit. Yes, I did write and release a full recap of the day’s events – as promised – I just won’t post it here due to the length. You can, however, find it contained within the Enterprise public events packet that I sent out via commship.
In summary, it was a good commissioning ceremony. Nearly 1,200 civilians, media and dignitaries showed up, as well as a surprise contingent of Vulcan officials from the Vulcan Embassy in Paris (on Earth). Admiral Edward Janeway was the presiding flag officer who opened the ceremony, and issued our orders. The Starfleet Command chaplain gave an invocation, the Federation Anthem was played, flags were hoisted in the commissioning hall, and Captain Halloway accepted command.
Our ship’s sponsor, the sister of Captain Rachel Garrett (the captain of the USS Enterprise-C, killed at Narendra III, 19 years ago), also shared some remarks as the first crew shift took their stations on the bridge, and then she issued the traditional order, “Man our ship and bring her to life.” The honor guard fired a rifle salute, Admiral Edward Janeway delivered an inspirational address, a brief video tour of the enterprise was shown on the hall screen, gifts were presented to Captain Halloway by the ship sponsor, builder, and USS Enterprise Society, and the ceremony came to a close.
An hour later, the Enterprise slipped out of her moorings at McKinley Station, and we were underway to the Tellidaris Nebula.
The Enterprise-D is a ship of the fleet now. It’s time for our missions to begin.
-Lieutenant Sam Archer
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March 10, 2363 -- (Original Devron Timeline // Devron Timeline w/ Temporal War Reset)
(Devron Timeline 3.0 // Devron Prime Timeline)