Taxiing A Starship

Posted on Fri Jul 22nd, 2022 @ 1:26am by Captain Akeno Misaki & Lieutenant Avery Coyle & Lieutenant Commander Raelyn Mckenzie & Lieutenant Luna Eclipse of the House of Martok & Lieutenant Commander Jonathan Miller & Ensign Magnum Rhodes

Mission: Arista
Location: Arista Colony, USS Wayfarer

[USS Wayfarer Bridge]

Akeno strode out of the ready room onto the bridge. The bridge had its usual light chatter and conversation amongst the bridge officers. She made her way to the center of the command area.

"Lieutenant" she said addressing Avery. "Are you ready to taxi this ship and show the rest of the fleet just how good of a pilot you are?" she asked.

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll thread the proverbial needle. Ready on your order,” replied Coyle.

"Ok everyone. Lets have some silence" Akeno called out addressing the rest of the bridge. "We don't want to scratch the paint or squash anyone on the ground"

"Captain Misaki to Commander Miller" Akeno called as she tapped her comm badge. "Are your ground crews ready to guide us into a good parking spot?"

=A=Affirmative, Captain,=A= Johnathan radioed back. =A= The colonists have cleared us a large patch of land adjacent to the main settlement; Luna, Magnum and I will be on standby to help you line her up. =A=

"Right then" Akeno said as she made her way down to stand behind Lieutenant Coyle. "Computer, switch main view screen to exterior camera mode, split-screen. Ventral, Port and Starboard angles"

The viewscreen split into six individual panels showing the underside of the ship and a view of each side from both fore and aft. Akeno tapped Avery lightly on the shoulder. "When you're ready Lieutenant. Take her up slowly and proceed slowly towards the new landing site"

“Aye, Captain. Engaging thrusters. Here we go.”

Thrusters under the Intrepid Class starships saucer fired briefly as the Anti-gravity generators powered up. Slowly the three hundred and forty four meter long starship rose from the ground and hovered for a few brief moments.

"Retract the landing struts" Akeno ordered. "Don't want to damage those" she added. She was still behind Avery, not just to watch over the movements, but to show him she was there to assist if needed.

Luna was almost shivering with excitement. This was the biggest thing she had ever been a part of. "This is so CRAZY! I'm gonna throw up! Luna Eclipse of The House Of Martok! You are a Klingon, and Klingons don't throw up before battle! They...they focus on their job is what they do," Luna chided herself in her mind, adjusting her grip on the light paddles and tricorder she held. The vibration of the ship could be felt before Luna caught a glimpse of the Wayfarer through the trees as they came alive in a swaying dance from the ship's backwash.

"Here she comes, fellas!" Johnathan called out as he started waving the Wayfarer towards the designated landing area with his light-up paddles. "Nice and steady now..."

The Wayfarer seemed to float closer, the thrusters under the primary hull glowed as they kept the ship just above the tree tops. Slowly she began to rotate as the aft nacelles swung around to line up with the colony buildings.

"Wayfarer to Miller" Akenos voice called over Millers comm badge. "We're working your instructions now. You have open comm to helm"

=A=Copy that, Wayfarer,=A= came Johnathan's reply. =A=You may proceed towards the designated landing area at 1/10-impulse.=A=

"Nice and steady, come on, Girl," Luna whispered under her breath, watching the Wayfarer move into position. She moved her paddles in sync with Commander Miller, her heartrate accelerating as the minutes passed and the Wayfarer shifted, groaned, and huffed, it's nacelles pulsing brightly then dully.

As the Wayfarer hovered directly over them, Johnathan happened to steal a glance to his left and observed that the starboard Nacelle was getting a little close to one of the buildings.

"What are they doing?" he muttered, before tapping his comm-badge. =A=Ground crew to bridge; you're getting a little close to those buildings; I would strongly advise a slight turn to port, about... 10 degrees, I reckon?=A=

=A= Acknowledged, Mr. Miller. Initiating turn 11.25 degrees. Showing plenty of clearance down there. Getting ready to set down. Engaging landing struts. =A=

Luna tensed as the Wayfarer drifted toward a building, it's Nacelle wash starting to char a black spot in the building. "What the Star Base are they doing up there!?" Luna thought feeling the tension rise as she caught Commander Miller tapping his comm-badge out of the corner of her eye.

"Misaki to MIller. Hows it looking down there? We're about ready to touch down" Akeno asked over the comm as the Wayfarer gently moved away from the building.

Johnathan bit his lip as he watched the gap between the building and the Wayfarer's starboard nacelle began to widen.

=A=Looking good, Captain,=A= he radioed back once he was certain there was enough distance between them for the Wayfarer to land safely. =A=You are cleared to set her down, over.=A=

The Wayfarer began to slowly descend towards the ground, the landing struts extending from the secondary hull and folding outwards.

"Might wanna step back, fellas," Johnathan warned, motioning for Luna and Magnum to retreat to a safer distance. "I'm told the jetwash can get pretty intense up close."

Magnum stepped back as he continued holding up the light paddles. He began to brace himself for the jetwash.

Luna scurried back as the Wayfarer started it's decent, awed all over again at the grace with which the ship moved despite it's massive size. Her ears where filled with the thruster's roar as the ship floated toward the ground, the multiple struts seeming to magically appear out of nowhere beneath the ship.

The thrusters on the undersaide of the Wayfarer fired. The jetwash from the force caused dirt and dust to throw up into large clouds around the area some reaching high into the air. The ship slowly decended and finally with a loud bump sound, touched down on the ground.

The landing struts under the secondary hull buckled as designed to take the ships weight. The dust began to settle, to reveal the majestic ship towering over the settlement.

"Extend shields over the colony" Akeno ordered.

Lieutenant Mckenzie had both the viewscreen and her console in her vision. "Extending shields now Captain" she called out, hoping that they would extend the whole way across the colony.

The shields glistened as the dome extended over the colony, eminating from the ship. Their blue and silver colour flickered and danced as they held over the area like a large protective dome.

"Good work people" Akeno ordered. "Lets get those faraday cages installed and then set up defensive positions"

"Wayfarer to ground crews. Good job down there. We'll begin beaming supplies down from the ship. Have all your people ready" Akeno said tapping her comm badge. She gently patted Avery on the shoulder. "Nice flying Lieutenant"

“Thanks you, Cap’n”. It got a little hairy for a minute. Just glad it all worked out and got the job done.”

"Great job, fellas," Johnathan smiled, patting Luna and Magum on the back. "I don't think I could've pulled off a better parking job if I tried."

Luna grinned happily. It had been a bit scarry, but the ship was now on the ground and supplies were about to start arriving. "Thank you, Commander. That was kinda fun, wasn't it Rhodes?" Luna asked, turning and raising her hand to give the other Ensign a high five.

Magnum accepted the high five. "It sure was" he smirked.

Posting by

Captain Akeno Misaki
Commanding Officer

Lieutenant Commander Jonathan Miller
Executive Officer

Lieutenant Avery Coyle
Chief Flight Control Officer

Lieutenant Raelyn Mckenzie
Chief Security/Tactical Officer

Lieutenant JG Luna Eclipse of the House of Martok
Flight Control Officer

Ensign Magnum Rhodes
Flight Control Officer