=Tarangor/Aeran Shipyard=
=Aeran System=
Rick walked up to a small group of officers and crewmen, who stood
next to a large window looking out at the Detector, which was still
moored in the shipyard's drydock.
"I not one for words, especially these days," Rick started. "I first like
to say good job to everyone. You did good work on Detector and
doing good work on shipyard. Efforts here will go ways in helping
end war."
He took a deep breath before he continued.
"We here to dedicate first ship completed here. Even though Detector
construction started decades ago, she finally finish today. It only
fitting that we give ship proper send off. Lieutenant Karn?"
Karn walked up to Rick and handed him a bottle.
"Commodore Guzman and Colonel PontBrillant unable to be here
today as they in middle of war meetings. So, it up to us to dedicate
Detector. This wine is vintage year same of that when ship construction
started. Pretty good vintage from what I told, but what I know about
wine?"
Rick placed the bottle into a small hatch and closed it.
"Chief Weathersby, would you please do honors?" Rick asked.
"Why me?" she asked.
"Because you discover ship in shipyard database, and I think I heard
it said that it good luck to have a woman christening ship."
"Really?" she walked up to where Rick was standing.
"That what I heard once," he responded, then nodded to the console
next to the small hatch. "Just push that button."
"OK," she said. "Do I need to say anything first?"
"Something like 'I christen thee,' or 'I christen thee, Detector,' or
something like that."
"All right. Well, then I christen thee, U.S.S. Detector," she said before
pushing the button.
The bottle shot out of the hatch and made its way to the fore of the
Detector. Everyone patiently awaited for the big smash.
And waited.
And waited.
"Maybe I should have put more force behind the ejection," Rick
thought out loud.
On board the Detector, a small, thrown together bridge crew was also
waiting to move the ship out of dry dock following the bottle hitting
the ship.
Then, the big moment came as the bottle slammed against the hull
... and bounced off.
"That not good," Rick muttered. "Not good at all."
"Oh," Jo responded.
"It is said to be bad luck if the bottle doesn't break," Karn added.
"Yeah, good job Jo," Rick said sarcastically. "Now Detector jinxed."
"Hey! It's not my fault! I didn't have anything to do with force behind
the settings. I didn't program it."
"I should had Ensign Otontia do it. She probably have better luck,"
Rick said, getting an approving nod from Karn.
"I'm not going to stand here and take the blame for this," Jo said.
"Maybe Crewman Potter would have been a good choice," Karn said.
Rick nodded, but couldn't hold back the grin.
"Very funny," Jo said. "You probably did the whole thing with the
bottle on purpose. It was probably unbreakable."
"No, it real bottle," Rick said. "It just not break. Thankfully, I not
believe in luck."
"Commander, the Detector is wanting to know if she can leave
dry dock," someone manning the comm station said.
"Tell Detector she had permission to leave," Rick said. "I beam
aboard shortly."
"Aye, sir."
Rick walked over to the shipyard's lone transporter room. Jo
followed.
"So, what kind of bad luck are we talking about?" she asked.
"Jeez ... get over it," Rick replied. "No such thing as good or bad
luck."
He stopped and turned to face her.
"But if there was, then it be really bad luck ..."
He paused
"Really bad," he said before continuing on to the transporter with
a wide grin on his face.
This time, she didn't follow.
Commander Rick Rodgers
Assistant Engineering Officer
Starbase Unity
and
Chief Petty Officer Jo Weathersby (npc by Rick)
Chief Engineer
U.S.S. Qashqai
and
Lieutenant Karn (npc by Rick)
Engineering Officer
Starbase Unity
Quick access to Windows Live and your favorite MSN content with Internet Explorer 8.
