CHAPTER ONE: NEW HORIZONS (part 3)

 Fleet Captain Samji then just stood and nodded, not sure

what to say in response.

"I will expect a full crew roster to be completed within the

next few weeks. We are working on repairs to the Horizon

after the last battle with the Klingons at the end of Operation

Horizon... and I will expect you will want to add your own

personal touches and ideas. Also, " he added after a short

pause, " your first mission will be a routine trial run to work

out any of the kinks and test the transwarp system, to be

sure it can hold up after multiple runs without repair. We're

not sure exactly when launch will be, but it will be dependent

on repair time, which could take a couple of months."

Kheren stood at the same instant as his commanding officer

did and spoke, having seen the shift in bodyweight that told

him Samji was about to rise and conclude the meeting.

"Aye, Sir. We will be ready."

" I have no doubt about that. I expect that you will be just

as ready for the commissioning ceremony. "

The antennae dropped on the Andorian's head.

Not another one!

And this time, he would be the one speaking before all his

fellow officers... and senior officers... and crew... and the

media... with both wives watching...

As he left Samji's office, Captain Kheren was considering

how best he could, maybe, use the MACOs...

                                              *     *     *

 At that moment the door chimed drawing their attention to it.

"Ah.." Samji said "That must be our 'young' Commander Redding now, enter."

The door slid open and a vary large man entered the room and snapped to

attention.

"Commander Neil Redding reporting in, fleet commander."

He gave a quick nod of respect for Kheren's superior rank before continuing

to address the starbase commander. 

"I was instructed to report directly to you upon arrival, Sir, for reassignment 

to a duty post."

He stood just over one point nine meters in height, with extremely broad

shoulders and weighed in at about a hundred kilograms, giving him the

overall look of a football linebacker. This was almost a stark contrast to

what Samji remembered when they had met before. At that time, he had

graying hair and a gaunt, almost 'shrunken', look to him due to advanced

age and moved at a more deliberate and careful pace. Now, he seemed

imposing and a bit brash, as if just entering a room was to challenge anyone

else that was in it.

Kheren also was taken aback by the imposing figure of the man. he had

never met him before, but it took much to make an impression on the Andorian.

This man looked born to command, reminsecent of those ancient mythological

figures of heroes and great warriors of Earth or of his own homeworld. The

stance was firm and proud, the stare straight and true, the voice strong and

confident. It started to dawn on him why Starfleet Command tought so highly

of this man, even without considering his accomplishments and their debt

towards a man who had sacrificed himself for the sake of duty and fellow

officers until the very end... now a new beginning.

Kheren knew from both instinct and experience how to assess a man. Despite

his apprehensions and misgivings about the officer who had manipulated a

central part of his life without his consent or even good justification, he had to

admit to himself that he was impressed by the officer now before him.

Impressed... but still apprehensive. This was a man who was a natural born

leader, of strong will and character, therefore one not prone to obey others

easily. And although Kheren was a patient man, he was not a tolerant one.

He would not have another N'Eligahn Etarudbo on his ship. 

Thus, he would have been very interested in listening to his appointed first

officer right here and now... but  this was Samji's office and his own meeting

was over. Staying would have been an intrusion upon the commander's

privilege to meet and discuss his status with the executive commanding

officer of the fleet before coming... or not...  to his expected commanding 

officer. Doing so with his captain was for after things would have been

decided here.

And so, Kheren excused himself.

" Taking my leave of you now, Fleet Captain. Commander, a pleasure to

meet you. And later, perhaps. "

Redding gave him a curious look then a spark of recognition was in his eyes

"Captain Kheren is it not? You're quite the celeberty around here, Sir. And

may I say congratulation on your recent marriage."

He completed this with a traditional Andorian 'I wish you strong children'

expression in passing, if not perfect, Andorian.

" Thank you, Commander. And despite of course missing the

ultrasonic syllables of certain words, you do speak Graalek very well

for a Human. If this is a small sample of your talents, you will be a

major asset to this fleet. "

It was direct enough and noncommital enough to aknowledge one

another's respect and give them both room to become better aquainted

without forcing issues. Kheren might have had reservations, but he

never went without giving anyone a chance to prove him wrong, friend

or foe.

And of all people, the man before him, at least, deserved that.

As Kheren left the room, Redding turned his full attention back to the

Fleet Captain.

"I hope I didn't interrupt anything sir, I was told to you were expecting me." He said with a stern expression.

Fleet Captain Samji took a moment to assess the newly restored Redding with interest just as Captain Kheren did before him. Samji had met Admiral Redding once, when assigning him to the Alsea mission that had attempted to make contact with the Klingons and come to a peaceful resolution. Despite the fact that they had to engage in combat, he had done well in that mission due to his prior relationship with their Captain, Ja'rod.

Samji wondered what, if any, of that knowledge or associations with Klingons he had retained. It was not likely they would have to deal with Klingons in a long time, however, with their former chancellor and Captain Ja'rod now considered a disgrace and outcast for escaping combat instead of dying in honorable death, and the rest of the empire in chaos with houses fighting each other to seize the throne.

All he saw at the moment, however, was an energetic officer, who happened to only be a few years younger than Samji, who seemed, however, anxious to prove himself to Samji and to Lotus Fleet as a whole.

“Not at all, Commander,” Samji responded pleasantly. “Come have a seat.”

He in turn, took his seat and waited for Commander Redding to do the same.

“I'm not sure how much Rear Admiral Kotari told you beyond the fact that you were to be assigned to Lotus Fleet. He is interested to see how well you will adapt to command again, since it is clear you already possess the knowledge and experience of many years as a bridge officer.” Looking down to his PADD, Samji noted, “Also, according to your aptitude tests, you can actively take over or assist in the roles of engineering, tactics, science, navigation, helm, and field medic.”

Leveling his gaze to meet Redding's, he asked, “You seem to possess all the qualities valued in a first officer, so my question to you is... are you interested in pursuing a career in Command?”

Redding paused to consider his answer "It's strange sir, I've had 50 years of experience reintegrated into my memories from a past life. I've been in command of a star ship twice and was even promoted to rear admiral, at some point it seems I even went back to live with the Klingons for a few years before our house fell."

He took a breath "I won't lie to you, it's been an adjustment going from what I remember over a 150 years ago to what I know today. The ships are bigger and faster and have features I never even dreamed of, such as Multiphasic shielding and holodecks. And star fleet is far more integrated than I'm used to, in my time you had only a few member races represented on a star ship, now it's dozens."

Then his face took a stern look "But I don't see these things as problems fleet captain, just challenges. And a good challenge is a working mans bread and butter as my father used to say. Am I still interested in command sir? that will never change no matter how long I live, hell yes sir, first officer or admiral I'm your man."

"Very good, I like your enthusiasm," Samji replied. "I like a good challenge too, and like to hear when those under my command are encouraged by one as well. It keeps you sharp on on your toes, and, if you succeed, makes you all the more ready to meet it a second time."

He stood and looked out his office's window where he could see the docking ring and was in a position to see half of their new flagship, the Horizon. He motioned for Commander Redding to stand beside him. "That challenge will be great. There is no ship more modern, and thus with more things to learn, than the USS Horizon. Captain Kheren has just been put in command of her, and we want you to be her First Officer. I won't ask you a lot of questions as if this is an interview. Kotari has already vetted you and Captain Kheren has already accepted you to the position. The Horizon is the largest ship ever constructed. She is majestic and beautiful, but also powerful and deadly. She possesses the weapons for war and the diplomatic functions of peace. She is as fast as anything with her transwarp capability, but with the functionality of a mobile starbase, including her own attached escort vessel, the USS Polaris."

He turned and offered his hand to shake in a gesture indicating the meeting was coming to a close. "This paradox of a ship, will be your life and your home, hopefully for years to come. Take good care of her, of her crew, and of her Captain, Mister Redding."

Redding took his hand readily enough but his face displayed genuine surprise. "First officer of the Flag ship sir? That's more than.." But changed both his tone and his expression "Yes sir, thank you sir. Just the fact that you and a man like Captain Kheren think I'm ready for such a reasonability is more than enough to inspire anyone to excel at their job." He then came to attention than asked permission to be excused.

As he left the office he stopped and turned to look out at the docking ring and looked out at his new ship, the USS Horizon and said to himself. "It's a dam good start" and left to retrieve his gear.