The RAdm was nervous. She was swiftly being carried away from her former life in Region One. “The Mighty First” Fleet had held nothing for her, so she had asked for and been given approval of, a transfer to the newest ship in the Fleet. It was a luxury liner built solely for the R&R of the space-weary, with occasional jaunts into the world of ambassadorial diplomacy. She sighed inwardly and looked at her children, who were quietly talking to each other. They seemed to be handling the change well. She hoped that this new assignment would turn out to be a boon for the three of them. It was long past time that they had a long, happy series of events.

Her reassignment had meant giving up the command of the starship, USS Questar, and more than a few eyebrows had been raised at the news. RAdm Goldbach did not care about that. Being Captain of a starship was glamorous mostly in name, not in the day-to-day sequences of a person’s, or a ship’s, life. In fact, she had grown tired of the drudgery and was ready for a new direction, new faces, and most definitely new experiences. The only thing that had really concerned her was how easily this new position had fallen into her lap. After she had accepted the spot, it had been made clear to her that a good part of her new job was going to be keeping an eye on her new CO, RADM Macleod Zadornin Antfortas. Fleet HQ did not trust him, no not at all. She had had extensive experience in dealing successfully with people that HQ did not trust, and this part of the job was going to be as interesting as any of the others had been.

The USS Pride Of Scotland was something new called a starliner, a sort of combination cruise ship/amusement port/vacation spot. The ship’s purpose would be to spend most of her time making sure that her passengers were completely and totally spoiled rotten, and had some of the thrills of their lives while cruising along the stars. Even the smallest and cheapest cabins had the highest quality of linens and furniture. Each meal was held to gourmet standards and the ambiance of the entire ship was one of luxury and opulence.

This was RADM Goldbach’s second trip to the new ship and this time she would have a few days to get herself and her girls fully acclimated to their new home before the Pride Of Scotland took off on her maiden voyage. Her first had been about a month before, when she had had a ship’s tour that took 3 days. The ship was that large and Goldbach was a stickler for detail. Every machine on that ship had to be working fully and properly or she would not authorize her as space-worthy. The rest of her time had been spent meeting the crew she would mostly be dealing with, some of the vendors, and of course, her new boss. The ships’ Captain was everything she had expected and then some. She was glad that she had had to leave to finish up her transference from the USS Questar, collect her children and belongings and then head back to the Pride Of Scotland. She had had time to get used to the idea of not being “the boss”, and time to get used to some of Captain Antfortas quirks. She was sure that she was not yet fully acclimated to being a First Officer and Chief Science Officer, but she felt ready and was itching to get started.

She was irritated that Space Dock had, for some reason, shut down the entire transporter system for maintenance. This had forced her and the girls to take a shuttle over to the ship. Still, it would be very interesting to see Stephanie and Samantha’s reactions upon arriving. They were going to go through the Main Gangway, which was where each new arriving passenger would be greeted. It was impressive; filtered sunlight seemed to beam down upon a huge garden facing the newcomer, with white archways extending high up and supporting walkways and shops overhead and towards the back. Benches in various natural tones were scattered along the walkways extending away from the central entrance. The check-in point looked like a huge white gazebo and was large enough to house the greeting staff, a band, and a small contingent of ceremonial Marine Guards.

At last, they were docked and ready to disembark. The girls were strangely silent, yet seemed excited at the same time.

“It’s OK kids,” she reassured them. “This is our new home and you’re going to absolutely love it!”

With that, they all headed for the Main Gangway.

“What the…?!” Karen’s eyes grew wide, while the girls pace slowed to match that of their mother’s. A bagpipe was being played. The check-in point contained the proper staff all right, and each was standing at full attention, waiting for her arrival and inspection. Just beyond them stood the Pride’s CO and ship’s doctor, both grinning ever so slightly.

“Well! I can see that things are starting off the way I expected… somewhat unpredictably…” the new First Officer thought.

The Piper was dressed in the purple tartan “Pride Of Scotland” kilt and of all things, playing “Scotland the Brave”. Such honors were generally NOT accorded mere First Officers and while pleased, Karen wondered what her new CO was up to. She properly acknowledged each crewman, walking and nodding along the path right up to Captain Antfortas. She stopped just in front of him, girls flanking her.  Her heart skipped a beat, just like it had every time she had been in his presence before. Watching him was not going to be something that she had to force herself to do. Good thing that he was her boss. The thought helped her to focus on her duties, like the matter of being welcomed aboard…

Antfortas snapped to attention, immediately followed by the Doctor and crew.  The Bagpiper continued playing, while all crew stood in salute.  The Captain waited for her to return the salute.  ‘I sure hope this is not going to become a requirement of the job’ Karen thought as she raised her hand in somewhat of a military fashion.  ‘Sadly I must admit it has been some time since I was involved in such pomp and circumstance.’  While she stood in front of the Captain, he responded with one of the sloppiest salutes she had seen in some time.  The First Officer was not sure if he was mocking her or if he had been even more out of practice than she was.  

He looked at her eye-to-eye, and then looked to the girls, winked at Stephanie and stuck his tongue out at Samantha.  Goldbach quickly began to see why Starfleet HQ did not like him.  If he had been meeting some dignitary, would he do the same thing?

“Permission to come aboard” she said.

“Please do Number One,” Antfortas said, “or can I call you Karen.  Formalities are quite tedious.”

Goldbach looked around for responses to the Captain, but the crew remained in strict formation, the Bagpiper entered the second verse of Scotland the Brave, and the Doctor was almost snickering behind his warm smile.  She did not know how to take this introduction.  ‘Go with it,’ were the words that came to mind, from an inner voice that she was not sure was hers.

“Thank you Admiral, Number One is fine” Karen replied, knowing that he would lead the way with either the formal or informal communications.

“Call me Antfortas,” he replied, “or if you have to…Captain”.  he said in a warm yet respectful tone.  He then turned and welcomed the girls, addressing them as Countessa Stephanie and Countessa Samantha.  It seemed like someone else had already decided that these two young ladies were going to be spoiled rotten as well.

“Thank you Captain,” I replied.

Antfortas sighed slightly, “If you must,” he said as he turned back to introduce  the ship’s Doctor.  His dour tone seemed to be focused on her lack of informality, she would need to work on that.

“Karen, this is Doctor Salob, an old friend of mine and a pretty good doctor as well.” The Captain slapped Dr. Salob on the back as he stepped forward with hand extended for a truly old-fashioned hello.  Karen took a hold of his hand and gave him a hardy shake hello.  The Captain was going to do things his way, she saw.  Well, she supposed she would have done the same if she were in his spot.

“Hello Doctor, it is a pleasure to meet you.  I am happy to see we have such a specialist on our ship.  Your work on-“ Dr. Salob chuckled, which stopped her cold.

“Karen,” he started.

‘Now the Doctor is doing it too,’ she thought.

“I am just a Doctor, and with all the technologies of the day, I am just as much a tourist here as I am a medical professional.”  Dr. Salob said with a humble tone.

“Hi Samantha, Hi Stephanie,” Dr. Howard said as he faced the girls and gave them a hug hello.  Neither of them were prepared for that.  The Dr. then pulled two large lollypops from his lab coat.  One was full of colors for Stephanie and one was chocolate and shaped like a dragon for Samantha.

“Girls, what do you say?”  the Mother in Goldbach took over.  The girls thanked Dr. Howard and when Samantha thought her mother was not looking, she stuck her tongue out at Antfortas.  A mortified mother prepared to correct her when the Captain did so for her.

“Excellent Countessa, I am happy you feel at home.” Antfortas said to Samantha with a big smile and put his hand on her shoulder, having to lean over a bit to do so.

By this time, the Bagpiper had finished the last verse of the song, and the crew went to At Ease.  The Captain stood up again and said as he turned around to head for a turbo lift, one of the hundred or so on the ship, “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Please make yourselves at home and join me for dinner at your convenience.  When you are ready, I will be ready”

With that, he left, and the crew started to go back to their work.  A small detachment remained and looked at the Doctor for direction.

Dr. Salob smiled, “would you kind folks take the Admiral’s and her families’ belongings to their suite?”  The crew snapped to it.

“I must retire to the Main Sickbay, many doctor things to do…”  He smiled, and gave the girls another hug each, shook her  hand again and departed.  “See you at dinner.”

The crew picked up their belongings and carried them right off to one of the tramways which ran on the interior of the ship along over a half dozen of different levels.  Karen watched with much joy at the looks of amazement on the girl’s faces as they saw the immensity of the Pride of Scotland.  

Three days later, it was Monday and the official start of the Pride Of Scotland’s first voyage. That first dinner had been a fairly simple affair, although they had eaten in the Main Dining Hall. Pizza, salad and brownies had been the entire menu. Karen had noticed that wine was served the adults, while the children had had their choice of colas. She found it amusing that even a simple meal of pizza had to have its “touch of class”. The girls were thrilled with their new home/playground/park/ship and everything in between.

The ship’s First Officer had then settled herself and her girls into their new quarters, gotten to know a few of the other officer’s and their families, and taken self-guided tours around the ship. Karen had dropped the girls off at school- the POS Academy of Education- and briefly met with the Headmistress, a Ms. Marlene Miller. Karen liked what she had seen both of the school and Ms. Miller. She hoped that she would not have too many encounters with the Headmistress on a professional level, though. Sam could be bit spunky and hard to handle.

RAdm Goldbach made her way to the Bridge. It was one of the most modern in every way, and even here, the luxury was noticeable. Many of the metallic details gleamed in brass, while the Command Chair was the finest cordovan leather. The main color of the Bridge was a deep soothing red, with warm lighting, and splashes of yellow detailing on the walls. There were even a few plants spaced about. Excepting for the stations for the crew, it did not look much like the bridge of any other ship in the Fleet. She made her way to the Command Chair and stood, waiting for her CO to acknowledge her.

‘Karen! Glad you could make it.’

The First Officer wasn’t sure what to make of the statement. She was early to her post. She grinned, ‘ Can’t let you take her out without me to do the backseat driving now, can I?’

Antfortas gave her a long look. He seemed amused, but said nothing.

‘Hansberry, check with Engineering and see if we are ready to get underway.’ The Captain shifted slightly in his chair, he was all business now. Leaving Space Dock was no small matter for a ship as large as the Pride Of Scotland.

‘Engineering reports Ready, Sir’ stated Hansberry.

‘Then we have a go for launch. I suggest that you make it so, Hansberry.’

The ship began to move ever so slightly, according to the viewscreen. Goldbach stood at attention next to her CO’s chair. Everything was going by the book. A slight snapping sound reached Goldbach’s ears, which she traced to Hansberry as he deftly moved his hands over his console and guided the ship out into open space. Once she was clear, he asked for further orders.

‘First, get rid of the gum. No one chews gum on my Bridge.’ The Captain of the ship stated. ‘Then set course for Risa at warp 4. That should get us there in the required 7 days.’

A red-faced Hansberry made a visible swallow, and then nodded in the affirmative. The viewscreen immediately went to the signature “warp-look” of radiating white lines.

Captain Antfortas turned to his Number One, obviously pleased. ‘Do you want to take the Bridge for a bit?’ he asked.

Meanwhile, in the Aloha Lounge, a few folks were getting an early start on the partying….