USS MILLENIUM: a new ship and crew
Posted on 04/24/2017 @ 11:27am by Commander David Rogers & Captain Kheren & Commander Aron'Son & Ensign Nathan Cross
Edited on on 05/25/2017 @ 10:20pm
Mission:
When no One Has Gone Before
Location: Classified dockyards Byrma system
Timeline: 88973.5
Lucksly went through a triple check security procedure before he could activate the holoprojector above the circular table and schematics for the ship appeared above the table with scrolling data Dulmer sumrized. Even before the image appeared, a scanning beam flashed on everyone in the room in turn before the floating blue transluscent visual was allowed to be seen.
"Pursuant to Starfleet Exploration Directives 902.3 & 914.5, Starfleet Defense Directives 138.6, 141.1 & 154.7, Temporal Investigations and Federation Security Council General Policy,the following objectives have been established for a multi-mission mobile platform for a wide range of defensive, explorative, scientific and cultural research projects, especially accross alternate dimensions and through time."
He allowed a moment for everyone to understand the uniqueness of this concept before going into details.
"The Millennium class of transdimensional and temporal starships has been solely designed to provide autonomous capability for full execution of Federation policy options in outlying areas of alternate universes and timelines. It Incorporates revolutionary advancements in warp powerplant technology, stealth and improved science instrumentation. As a vessel, it provides for the first time the primary instrument of Federation transdimensional and temporal security and exploration and offer support roles to Odyssey, Lotus and other 25th century starships for exploration colonisation, relief and defense. Of course, il allows autonomous capability for full execution of Federation defensive, cultural, scientific, and explorative policy in deep space or border territory, but it is especially and uniquely design to do so accross different dimensions and time periods."
The very shape of the starship seen through the transparency already hinted at this; essentially classical in design yet with subtle alterations to which Dulmer gave meaning.
"The Millennium class' main mission parameter is to serve as a frontline capital class vehicle during times of war and emergencies accross time or against outer-reality incursions. Also, as with every new class of starships, it will provide a mobile platform for testing and implementation of mission-specific or new technology of any kind, but most specifically those involving transdimensional, quantum and temporal mechanics."
They still all had in memory the all too numerous temporal incidents and unexepectedly high occurences of incursions from other realms of existence to have any doubt now for the necessity of such a class of ships. And now, Lucksly took over in order to go quickly through the main specs as they scrolled over the table.
" Length three hundred meters, width one hundred and twenty meters, height sixty meters, eleven decks; it is classified as a frigate at three hundred thousand metric tons with a cargo capacity of fifteen thousand metric tons, of which four thousand tons are reserved for the consumption of the regenerative ablative armor stored in the lowest deck to also provide an emergency reentry shield as with the Lotus class. The hull is a standard double hull of tritanium heavy polycomposite with a high Level Structural Integrity Field and fifteen centimeters of microfiber reinforced ablative armour to which can be added five centimeters of regenerative ablative armor as tested on the USS Voyager. Personal inertial dampener (PID) are also available for every crewmember and integrated into every uniform and suit on board."
Dulmer pointed out a few other specs as they appeared on the specs listing.
"Normal Cruise Speed is warp 8, maximum Cruise Speed 9.6 like most current designs. Maximum Speed, estimated at Warp 9.9 for twelve hours, is somewhat short of what is available on the most recent classes but should serve well. There is the improved thrusters and new Sangliar Impulse Drive and the second generation Quantum Slipstream Drive of all the latest designs. but what makes this ship unique is it's power core; instead of the standard matter-antimatter plant, the Millenium class has a Romulan-inspired microsingularity drive."
He waited for that to sink in before continuing.
"This, gentlemen, is what allows time travel and transdimensional travel possible. Matter-antimatter reaction produces trillithium as a byproduct. A microsingulatity power source however, produces chronitons. By channelling those chronitons into a QSD, we can either match the quantum signature of another universe or an exact frequency of any timeframe. Forget rough and imprecise slingshot effects and risky cold start formulae; just like the Borg did during their attempt to disrupt first contact on Earth, we now can travel to a specific time down to the nanosecond."
Again, he paused to let them grasp the full significance of what he was saying. Then Lucklsy took over.
"And we can with the same revolutionnary technology safely cross the boundary between our universe and others without waiting for synchroneous ion storms or equally dangerous interphases. I<m sure you can understand as much as the delicacy of these possibilities the infinite opportunites for knowledge... and protection of our universe and it's timeline."
"With the right people involved," Dulmer said pointedly. Then he brought their attention to some specific data appearing through the holoprojection.
"This design has an evacuation capacity of fifteen hundred and a life support capability for nine thousand. It can fly through a star's corona thanks to the laforge program 1 of multiphasic shielding and execute atmospheric flights on thrusters with the armor intact but has no landing capability. As you look at the design, you can guess that it has no saucer separation capability but it can remove both nacelles in case of extreme emergency through explosive bolts at the base of each one and requires a starbase facility to be reattached. replaced by separating bridge module. But there is a limited multivector capability inspired from the Ambassador class; the bridge module can detach into a large independent escort type warp-capable vessel for special duties like diplomatic or covert action and offer tactical support as a tactical observer and command module."
"In this last regard," Lucksly then said, " this Millennium class has the latest in regenerative shielding and a unique array of tactical systems; twelve type XII modulating phasers allowing them to leave the signature of every known energy weapon, from antique laser to a Borg cutting beam; four Breen-style energy dissipator cannons to disable ships and cosmozoan life forms with equal efficiency; and four swivel burst 10 launchers a full spectrum of all types of projectiles, from ancient nuclear missiles to current advanced transphasic torpedoes, but most of all a unique type of chroniton torpedoes. These can freeze in time enemy ships and crews instead of destroying them. Adding to this a full holographic camouflage system and DYCEP plating, this class can fully engage threats with minimal risk of altering the timeline."
"The internal hologrid allowing full mobility for the Emergency Holographic Officers als provide the capability to alter the interior of the ship so that anyone coming aboard will not be exposed to the view of anachronistic technologies," added Dulmer. "Every aspect of this ship has been designed to minimized to the best of our capabilities the risk of temporal interference, including the crew. Although the ship can easily accomodate a crew of five hundred, only two hundred and forty will be allowed on this prototype; namely, the sixty officers and one-hundred and eighty crewmembers selected almost entirely from the crew of the lost USS Artemis."
Lucksly looked mostly at Kheren as he spoke next.
"You, captain, and those selected with you were transfered to the new ship from their current posting on the flagship USS Horizon NCC-102176 as you are all recognized as the most experienced crew in Starfleet regarding time travel and with impeccable record concerning the Temporal Prime Directive."
He then turned to Aron'Son.
"Commander, you do not have such qualifications. However, among all the security officers alive today accross the whole Federation, you have been identified as the most reliable one and among the very best ever. No one can conceivably ensure the safety of the timeline and of this ship and crew as you can. it is our hope that you accept this challenge, the greatest ever offered to a security officer in the history of Starfleet."
Next he looked at David Rogers.
"Commander Rogers; we are well aware of your record. Make no mistake that, if we could find a more... reliable chief engineer than you, you would not have been brought here... ever. However, no starship engineer is more experienced than you, especially in time travel, and in improvising novel ways to solve unexpected problems; which are bound to happen in such an assignment. Aside from your recent faux pas, your record has been up 'till then impeccable and remarkable. A thorough psychoprofile of you has checked you out for this duty; but Commander Aron'Son, as chief of security on the Millenium, will be given access to your full record so as to be able to make sure such... faux pas will never occur again while on this assignment. I hope I do make myself clear, Commander?"
He finally looked at Nathan Cross
"Due to the unique nature of this ship's mission profile, no civilians are allowed under any circumstance aboard this ship unless cleared out by Office of Temporal Investigations, Starfleet Intelligence, Starfleet Command and the Federation Science Council; as you have been. And even then. only for a specific need on a case by case basis; hence your Acting Ensign status so as to allow you bridge access as Mission Advisor. Officers and crew must be either without family ties unless all cleared for service aboard,like Captain Kheren's wives Tyvya and Lyrya, and under oath to never reveal anything about their assigned duties while serving on board this vessel."
"Failure to do so is ground for court martial and immediate expulsion from Starfleet with detention in a rehabilitation colony under the Articles of the Prime Directive." then stated Dulmer with a seriousness that left no doubt about it.
Rogers sat mutely as Lucksly spoke of his credentials; And his so-called 'faux-Pas'. As the TI agent finished with him David looked toward Commander Aron'Son and gave a slight shrug in his direction. He was sure that, once the security officer had read his file the Jem'Hadar woudl have some pertinent questions for him.
Looking back at the projection floating above the table David turned his attention back to the ship. He was already quite familiar with much of her systems as detailed by Lucksly and Dulmer had described. The regenerative armor, although never having been employed on a ship he had served on, was standard reading now for Lotus Fleet engineer's, as was the ablative armor, Sangliar drive and Quantum slipstream drive. But what had most stood out in this briefing, to his engineering mind, was the microsingularity drive.
The Romulan QSR was a technological wonder to the Federation when they first encountered a warbird using them. The D'Deredix ship used a miniature black hole, for lack of a better term at the time, to generate massive amounts of energy, and was contained within the drive by inertial dampener technology. The main problem with these drive's however, was that they could not be shut off except at a star base. There was no way to restart them in space. Although, David thought retrospectively, why would you want to shut them off anyway.
As to their by-product; Chronitons, Rogers assumed they were 'steered' through tractor beam and/or inertial dampener use to be used through the deflector after entering QSD, if he understood the briefing correctly. Only by first being in quantum slip would the chroniton drive make sense, as the quantum tunnel would first have to be engaged before time tunneling could occour. At least, that is what David thought right now.
As the briefing began to wind down, Rogers sat in furious contemplation on the QSD/chroniton/time tunnel manipulations, to the exclusion of the room around him.
Aron'Son sat silently while the briefing was conducted barley acknowledging the amount of praise directed his way. It was not something a Jem'Hadar was used to hearing let alone in such a quantity. Finally when there was a delay in the speaking Aron'Son posed his question.
"In the course of our duties, if we come across a situation where we must conduct ground operations, what measures are taken to ensure that we are able to do so? Most of the crew could fairly easily adapt to moving among Humans, Romulans, or Vulcans, but what about Klingons, or Cardassians, or some of the other unique species of the galaxy? Surgical modifications take time we may not have and for me they may not be possible."
"A most relevant question, Commander," Dulmer approved. "Indeed, this question has been at the forefront of our thoughts when considering this project, for both ship and crew. "
The display now listed the crew manifest, starting with Kheren then his senior officers including those present in the room and down to the rest of the crew. it became quickly apparent not only that almost all of them came from the late USS Artemis and had been decorated with the Temporal Ribbon of Excellence but also that they were as diverse as the Federation itself.
"The crew of the USS MIllenium will have representatives of just about every member species known throughout the Federation from the twenty-second through the twenty-fourth century; and a few more as well," he said, pointing at the manifest's obvious diversity. "Also, there are among them a sizeable number of Andorians; despite their most peculiar appearance, or possibly in fact because of it, Andorians became the Alpha Quadrant's masters of infiltration and covert operations centuries before Humans started spaceflight. Add to it that one of them, Doctor Darum Bains, is the most skilled and experienced plastic surgeon in Starfleet and that we have come up with these two special tools to further ensure minimizing risks of polluting the timeline or other dimensions."
Lucklsly showed them what appeared to be a very ordinary combadge and a hypospray full of some grey glittering liquid.
"Your combadges will have a very useful addition to them," Dulmer said as he pinned it on himself then pressed both sides simultaneously.
His entire appearance shifted instantly to that of Aron'Son himself. Even his voice was altered to mimick that of the security officer.
"Based on the US Voyager's EMH portable holoemitter, we have built this portable holoprojector. Of course we are no where near reproducing the capability of his twenty-ninth century storing capacity; but miniatiruzing the projector was much easier. This can record a display one holoprojection that can only be unmask by sophisticated systems like a transporter molecular scanner and resist up to fifty percent of the em spectrum band."
"And this can compensate in case the portable holoprojector is not enough," now revealed Luckcsly as he injected himself with the hypospray.
For a moment, his entire appearance became blurry and then he stood again before them, but this time his features, his voice, his body odor, his bioelectrical aura and even his clothing and tools became those of a Jem'Hadar. Even the keen senses of Aron'Son or the even sharper and wider-sensing antennae of Kheren were totally fooled.
"We have studied the Undine genetic serum and combined those findings with studies about Chameloid and Changeling physiology and both holographic and nano technology to conceive this injection. For up to twelve hours, the nanites injected in any type of bloodstream, even artificial in nature, will lock into one specific chosen form until the immune system, the digestive track and sweating glands will eliminate them. In the meantime, the subject injected will be for all intent and purpose transformed into a true specimen of any humanoid-shaped lifeform, including even multi-limbed ones like Undines, Edoans and Tholians... down to their genetic code. Unless someone has more advanced means and technologies than ours to detect the nanites themselves by expertedly examining a material element, like say a blood sample, the subject's true nature becomes undetectable, even through a subatomic scanner."
"Doctor Bains will have on board enough doses to inject the entire crew once." Dulmer added. "As you can guess, replicators are unable to make this highly complex substance, so you will have to keep it for very sensitive and difficult situations."
The smaller man deactivated his holoprojector and became himself again. But as he had explained, his taller colleague would remain a Jem'Hadar for the next twelve hours. With his perpetual dour countenance, he looked eerily real even beyond the near-perfect genetic deception.
Kheren was obviously not surprised at all. Aron'Son for one at least was well aware that this Undine-like serum had been recovered from his commanding officer's own bloodstream, when he had been for a time turned into an Undine by the original formula during their diplomatic mission in Fluidic Space. It also explained to him the completely stoic attitude of the Andorian since they had been so strangely assigned to this very peculiar duty in such unusual manner; he knew... he had already been here.
Something he confirmed with his very next words.
"One question, gentlemen; last time we attempted to launch the Millennium in order to prevent the Kelvin carastrophy, we failed because we lacked the necessary computing power to do so. has that problem been solved?"
Dulmer activated a comlink.
"Ensign, would you please join us."
One of the doors slid open and a young, middle-sized willowy woman in a Starfleet uniform with one pip entered to stand with the two temporal agents. She was a rather startling individual; her hair were as thick and as white as those of an Andorian but her eyes were golden and slitted like those of a Rhettian, her skin light-colored like that of a caucasian human female with her nose creased with Bajoran ridges. She smiled to them all but especially at Captain Kheren, a light of recognition in her strange eyes.
"Captain, gentlemen," said Dulmer, " may I present Ensign Thetis Alice Milena, yeoman of the US Millenium... and her main computer's mobile direct access interface."
"Thetis... the "Test Human-Emulating Technical Intelligence and Sentience" created by Doctor Victor Daystrom, explained the Jem'Hadar looking Lucksly, "combined with the Alice design, the "Artificial Life and Intelligence Computing Experiment" of Starfleet within a Soong-type android shell designated Mileena or "Mobile Interacting Life Emulating Nonsentient Android" by her designer, Commander Joey D. Sisko of Lotus Fleet. She is, gentlemen, along with the chronodrive itself, what makes time travel and dimension hopping possible for the USS Millennium."
"Captain Kheren, it is so agreable to see you again... and to have the chance to serve with you,'' the young woman said with a warm smile. "Please call me Tess.''
'' You... have changed,'' the Andorian stated looking her up and down with obvious curiosity. ''Last time I saw you, as a hologram from the computer core of the USS Nemesis, you were a petite blue-eyed and blonde human woman. But now, this android body looks like...''
'' A hommage to all the people that have given me this new life as an autonomous sentient being; my... fathers if you will,'' she completed for him as he fell silent. '' I still have the face that tells me being the daughter of Human Doctor Victor Daystrom who gave me birth... but now I have your Andorian Hair, the complexion of Commander Michael O'Connor and the eyes of CommanderN'Elighan Etarudbo, the three Starfleet officers who rescued me from limbo when the USS Nemesis lost itself into the Mutara nebula. And I also have the Bajoran ridges of Captain Oseno Jureth who freed me from that ship and of Commander Joey Daystrom Sisko who built me this android body.''
"I am honored,'' the Andorian said, bowing his head. ''But I thought the recreation of a Soong-type android was still beyond our current technology.''
''It still is,'' Dulmer answered. ''But our problem is with the humanoid cranium-sized positronic brain architecture, not the human-shaped motor casing. Inspired by the files of the V'Ger incident of the twenty-third century regarding the Illya probe, Commander Sisko even significantly improved current cybernetic science, actually creating for the first time true bionics; the faithful recreation of living tissues and organs with non-organic materials. If you would medically examine Ensign Milena, you would find exactly what you would expect from a living humanoid; skin, sweat, blood, heart, lungs, muscles, bones... You would only discover her artificial nature with a chemical analysis, identifying the metals and plastics making up her actual physical frame. She even eats and eliminate wastes like any organic lifeform to fuel herself as you do... although she can go far longer than any of you without sleep, food, water, air, pressure or temperature... and physically outperform even a Gorn in strength, a Vulcan in coordination, an Andorian in perception or a Jem,Hadar in resilience."
"Impressive,'' Kheren said with genuine awe. ''My antennae even perceive a bio-aura from her. Holograms and androids don't have one, obviously... but she does.''
"But all this is nothing compared to her brain,'' now Lucksly spoke with his Jem'Hadar face as dour as his natural one was. "Commander Sisko and Doctor Daystrom solved the positronic dilemma by making her body a simple remote interface with the actual computer core of the ship. Within planetary orbit distance, her body is connected ansd controled by the ship's computer, linked to it just like a combadge is. This allows her complete freedom of movement and instant access to all the ressources of the computer and the ship itelf.''
''And what happen if contact is severed?''
Tess smiled shyly at him.
''Then, Captain, my body becomes a simple automaton reduced to obeying direct verbal commands; a standard portable computer-controlled apparatus like a shuttlecraft, although still under the Asimovian laws of robotics. My actual consciousness can only be housed into a massive computer core like that of a starbase or a capital ship, and even then only in a dormant state, as you have done on the Horizon when you brought me back from the Nemesis. To have me active and conscious requires the gelpack positronic architecture of Doctor Daystrom's artifical brain computer core like the one that was found initially on that ship... and now on the Millennium.''
''And you will serve as my yeoman on this ship?''
''Aye, Sir. I will not only serve as any starship computer can, including historical comparative data and all the complex calculations for transdimensional or temporal displacement, but I will oversee all of your equally complex paperwork... and even bring you your special brew of Cardassian fish juice spiced with bacon at room temperature... shaken, not stirred.''
"You two seem to have quite a 'Bond' if I may say so." Cross said with a wiry smile.
"Yes, we have been through Hell and back together," the Andorian said with antennae curving inward in a smile.
For Cross this was a special moment, meeting Tess. It would be akin to the feeling one might get meeting a hero from ancient times, like Aristotle, or Homer. But very few in this room, or in the entire universe for that matter, could currently know.
"Very privileged to make your acquaintance, dear girl." he said with a smile and a respectful nod.
She blushed a bit in a very human fashion.
"I look forward serving with you, Mister Cross. As I understand, you are with me the most knowledgeable person on board regarding History and the protocols of time travel; hence your new commission as mission advisor."
"And the details being classified, as you will all understand why... nevermind if you don't," interjected Dulmer to end this particular conversation.
"Unless you have other questions, gentlemen, I beleive you should get aboard your ship and prepare her and yourself for trial runs," Lucksly proposed, his current jem'Hadar appearance making it somewhat harsher than intended.
"That is, if you accept this assignment," Dulmer said. "This is undoubtebly going to be the most difficult, challenging, risky and critical field of operations ever attempted since early space flight. That is why we have chosen you, among all the people we know of within and outside of Starfleet. You are the best ones to make this possible. But it is all up to you, each one of you."
Kheren looked at them with all four oculars straight forward.
"I will do all my best to confirm yours and Starfleet's confidence in me, gentlemen."
"We can ask and hope for nothing more, Captain," Dulmer answered.
"So am I," Tess said in turn. "And it is not because the Millennium is currently the only starship that can house my consciousness. It's been over thirty years now that I was created... born... and the first time I can truly choose freely to do what can benefit others as much as myself. The prospect of this mission is... fascinating and... thrilling."
"Thank you, Ensign," Lucksly now speaking. "You honor us all with your service."
The two Temporal Investigations Bureau agents now looked at Rogers, Aron'Son and Cross.
During the introduction and conversation with Ensign Milena David had listened with awed consternation. Awed, because this was, no she was, an unsurpassed engineering masterpiece. Consternation because Android's could be manipulated. However, as the story unfolded he came to realize that this Alice was not from through the looking-glass, but sentient, and wholly in control of the MILEENA housing. Having absorbed the specifics of her artificial actuality combined with sentience, David concluded that he was likely a couple decades behind Commander Sisko when it came to Soong type technology. He would have to work on that. Now, Lucksly and Dulmer were looking at him and David caught up with their question: '... if you accept this assignment'.
David rose from his chair and glanced briefly at Captain Kheren, recalling his earlier soto-voce comment about brain scrambling, then looked squarely back at the temporal egents as they awaited a confirmation. Without preamble, Rogers got down to, as the old earth addage went, brass tacks.
"I for one know the intricacies of temporal missions, and also do not condone its use. That being said however, I accept the assignment ... and not because of the threat you've promised should I not!"
The threat of having his mind wiped was unthinkable to him of course, but at this juncture, David was under influence of his engineering mindset. This ship ... her technological uniqueness ... compelled him to go. The added incentive of getting to know Tess and her capabilities was just icing on the cake, so to speak. Perhaps the TI agents surmised as much when his name came up regarding assigning him to the Millennium mission. They probably knew he would jump at the chance to see the ship in action. Regardless, David firmly committed himself. No other option seemed viable.
"Sirs, the Millennium has her chief engineer."
"Thank you, Commander Rogers. It would have been a shame to destroy a mind like yours."
Kheren's antennae shot up in obvious surprise. In all his dealings, now rather numerous, with agent Dulmer, he had never ever conceived the idea that he could make a joke. The man never even smiled. His dour face looked like it would crack and fall in pieces would he ever attempt to. If anything, that unexpected dry humor surely showed how excited he, and certainly his agency, were about the whole venture. They were now going beyond the final frontier.
At least Rogers, Tess and himself were.
"In case you are wondering, Captain, your entire selected crew has opted to enlist for this assignment, on the provision that you would lead them," Lucksly announced with his rough Jem'Hadar look-alike voice. "And more than a few in security are also requesting if Commander Aron'Son will join as well. Even seems that a few are also hoping that the Horizon's former bartender will be part of this odyssey; something about 'maintaining familiarity also during downtime' whatever that means."
And thus, they were still waiting on Aro'son and Cross to either commit themselves also... or pass over this unique opportunity to serve like no one has done before.
Cross sat there watching them with a slight smile on his face and suddenly seemed to realize they were looking at him.
"Oh, yes, I absolutely agree with your terms and accept this, not to be understated, awesome responsibility." He said no longer smiling.
Dulmer and Lucksly both simply node absently at the same time. The spontaneous, perfectly coordinated reaction did not escape Kheren's notice. It was like they knew beforehand Nathan Cross' response; not in the sense that they expected it, as it was for him, but that they actually knew it.
Well the man had been quite suddenly elevated from civilian bartender to Acting Ensign mission specialist on the most secret project ever attempted by Starfleet. There was obvioulsy more to Mister Cross than met the eye, no doubt about it. And that thought brought back to him an uglier one.
Section 31; the nefarious immoral shadowplaying organisation that had plagued the Federation for centuries under false pretense of protecting it by doing the self-declared necessary dirty work to preserve the facade of morality of the Federation. And that was the problem; by acknowledging such a shady group and it's despicable activities, it had made the Federation and it's laws and charter, as well as Starfleet and it's dedication to truth, life and peace a complete farce. Fortunately, the gung ho sacrifice of one Lotus Fleet officer, the Cardassian Sorripto, albeit blundering, had effectively brought down this cancer from within. Section 31 was no more.
Was it?
Looking at this subtle rapport between the temporal investigations agents and this former starship bartender, Kheren was now starting to wonder. And shudder.
He would have to talk to the man... soon.
Aron'Son also noted the oddity of the addition of Cross to the crew of this top secret ship. He had known something was not as it seemed with Nathan Cross during the briefing on Starbase Lotus. In fact he had even tried to dig into the man's history with Starfleet and his background looking for anything that would be out of the ordinary. He had found nothing in the records and that too was odd. There was not the slightest blemish, or civilian mistake. No run ins with security officers or civilian law enforcement, and that made Aron'Son more suspicious than he was to start with. Cross' record was too clean and to the Jem'Hadar is smacked of having been manufactured.
"I will accept your terms and this mission," Aron'Son finally said aloud. It was a simple statement, but behind was the unspoken reason that he would do so to keep an eye on Cross and to ensure nothing was done to compromise the Federation that had taken him in when no one else would.
"Thank you, Commander," Dulmer said. "Captain, Gentlebeings, your starship awaits. You may take her out at your earliest convenience for her first trial run. And to paraphrase a historical quote, this is going to be a giant step for you and a titanic one for us all. May the winds be at your back and a star always shining to steer by."
Kheren simply nodded and moved with Tess towards the door. He knew the way.
David stood and paused in the act of following captain Kheren and the android ... 'No, Tess!' David corrected himself. Addressing the two temporal agents again Rogers stated an obvious request.
"Sirs. I'll require the complete theoretical and testing histories of the Millenium project, including the microsingularity drive. And I do stress the word 'ALL', sirs. I'll not be taking my ship into harms way without knowing her weaknesses."
Without awaiting a response David turned away and exited in the wake of the Andorian, leaving the Jem'H'adar and ensign cross to follow as they would.
