((Deck 7))

The layout of the April’s turbolifts, and the ship itself were a prime example of quantity creating quality. Over centuries of building starships, in large well regulated shipyards, following centralized blueprints, with an eye for adaptability, Starfleet had ‘gotten gud’ at making starships.

The Shran class escorts, were a synthesis of many hard learned lessons from the past half century. First fielded in 2400, with an initial order of 12 ships that was doubled the following year before finding a home on the appropriations bill for Starfleet by 2402. They were arguably the design that gave the best bang for the Federation’s buck. It gave a small crew a platform on which they could produce an outsized impact, whilst also being easy to maintain and quick to produce.

The April herself was the 4th ship of the class to be laid down, but due to several design modifications after the launch of the Shran and Kirk and delays caused by the Borg and Vaadwaur incident of 2401 and 2402, she was the 9th ship of the class to be launched. On June 18th 2402, she was commissioned and embarked on her shakedown cruise from her homeport, and construction site at Starbase Bravo. Unlike most of her sister ships the April had armor installed over her crystal power routing chambers dorsal side, and had slightly enlarged rear mission bays that were designed to accommodate a workbee each aswell as a variety of buoys and probes.

Deck 7 consisted of a crossed shaped hallway that led to a circular outer corridor, with turbolifts starboard and port sides. The deck itself housed access to the Captains yacht(a small affair akin to an inverted type 12 shuttle with retractable nacelles).  It also housed 4 sets of individual quarters, auxiliary computer access, 1 of the general science labs, and a small forward observation lounge.

“She’s quaint, that’s for sure.” Wong said as he made it across to other side of the cross.

“She’s at her widest on deck 5, a double cross with a roughly circular outer corridor, about a quarter of the crew and main engineering are on that deck. Deck 4 is actually segmented into three separate sections that don’t connect through corridors or Jefferies because the nacelle assembly run right through it. Deck 3 has a single cross corridor forward, again because of the nacelles.” Field’s replied.

“If stuck on deck 4, gotta go up or down before we got to middle, check.” Mee IH noted and he hovered along next to Ingram and behind Wong and Fields.

“Uh, hehehe. Well said Commander, decks 2 and 5 are the busiest in terms of corridors and doorways, she ain’t big though, yall’ll get a feel for her quick.” Fields chuckled. He wasn’t on familiar terms with any cetacean officers through he had tossed down a few less then legal beverages in bars and lounges with several aquatic officers. He had even borrowed the pool of a few cetacean ops departments throughout his career, mostly as ‘date night’ ideas or on a dare.

“Let’s mosey on up to deck 6 if you like sir.” Field said as he stopped and motioned towards the starboard turbolift doorway, the group having walked a semi circle since arriving. It was also the first time Fields, the intel and warfighter guru of nearly 50 years of age had showed deference to the obviously younger CO, Wong. A factor Damny quietly noted to himself.

“Copy.” Wong nodded.

“Yuh a fighter jock by chance?” Field caught the lingo immediately, the only branch of the service where ‘copy’ was a common or acceptable reply to a question of the sort he had asked was the Aerospace Arm(Fighters Corps, Starfighter Group, Space Arm).

“You caught me commander. Up until about 6 months ago I was Squadron Commander. Got some emergency orders to report to the Blythe as her XO, and here we are.” Wong and the rest entered the turbolift as it arrived.

“Deck 6…No offense, but you seem young for a CO.” Fields said as the door closed behind them.

“Just turned 32, Tryla Scott and Kirk’s records aren’t in any danger from me.” The CO smirked, referring to how both Tryla Scott and Kirk had made Captain before the age of 31.

“What about you…Fields? You’re an intelligence guy by trade I’d guess?” Wong hesitated for a second as he remembered man’s name.

“Call me Jake if you want, but uh, no not originally actually, graduated from the Academy in ’72, made Chief Tactical Officer on the Honshu by the end of the war, and then got into Strategic Operations for about a decade, then I jumped into Intel, been doing odd jobs for them ever since.” Fields said, being modest, the odd jobs for the past 9 years had seen him assigned the Asst. Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence at Starfleet HQ, and as the Senior Intelligence Officer for the 2nd Fleet.

As they arrived on deck 6 and started walking clockwise around the perimeter. Deck 6 had the same crossed perimeter corridor layout as deck 7, though with a noticeably larger cross. Deck 6 had another 8 individual quarters, access to the main computer, holosuite 3 and 4 and cargo bay 3, the home of the IET.

“This is our place here, if you’d like to inspect it sir.” Fields motioned to the door as they approached it.

“I doubt the berthing of a unit run by a man of your experience needs an inspection Commander, but sure let’s see what you’ve done with the place.” Wong replied, acknowledging the 3 decade plus career of Fields.

As they walked into the cargo bay it was apparent that the In Extremis Team had made themselves at home and were prepared for a long term assignment. The bay was partitioned with 5 eight foot tall walls that separated it into 4 corner sections and a communal middle section, with a short hallway leading to the middle section. In that middle sat a circular desk with four seats and consoles all facing a pop’up holographic central display.

“Nice setup you got…2 of you in each quad I presume?” Mee IH asked from the rear as the four wandered into what would soon become known as IET Bay.

“Yeah. Grosh and Talbot opted for bunk beds while the rest of us outed for standard singles. Skop has a nice little meditation corner corner setup in there.” Fields motioned over his shoulders this a thumb.

“Now forgive me for being a simple operations officer and former fighter jock like the Cap here, but what is your team all about again? I heard you in intel gathering and hostage rescue, but I haven’t heard of a team like yours being permanently deployed on a vessel like this during my time in the service.” Ingram said as he peered around, noting the bay didn’t have any interior doors, Fields and his team had arranged the walls to have all the corner rooms middle facing opening be doorless.

“It’s a pilot project actually just stood up the first teams this months, 3 teams on smaller ships like ours, and 3 other teams on larger explorer and cruisers, strategic positioned around the perimeter of the Federation, in a vague sense, we’re pre-positioned, forward deployed crisis intervention force and force multiplier. This ships mission assignment got it picked for my team to tag along with.” He noticed that the 3 senior staff members were all staring at him, as if they were waiting for a shoe to drop.

“That’s actually a pretty good idea…we’re a fast ship that will be operating near the borders and in support of diplomatic and peacekeeping missions, our orders are sending us to the edge of the Delta Quadrant, I’m sure you and you’re team will be fine additions to the crew.

“Attachments actually, we’re attached to the April, but we’re actually considered a Task Force level asset. Minor distinction.” Field said as a matter of factly.

“Ah fuck, here we go, this is when he tells us he’s got secrets order saying he can commandeer our fucking ship whenever theirs ‘a crisis’ or some shit.” Mee IH squeeked.

“Settle down Number One.” Wong chuckled seeing Mee IHs outburst coming a mile away. As a Squadron Leader and squadron XO he had seen plenty of picking order establishment routines play out.

“Nothing so duplicitous Commander, basically, as attachments, we’re yours to use as you please from day to day and such. We CAN receive orders from the Task Force CO, and the speed and capabilities uh the April here makes her a perfect pony to give us a lift to whenever we might be needed is all. But even then this’ll always be your ship sir.” Fields said glancing first to Mee IH and then back to Wong with a nod.

“So, in translation, whenever things go sidewase and we’re nearby, Starfleet’ll send us.” Ingram snickered as turned and gave a playful elbows to Mee IH.

“Oh yeah, that’s way better, totally, for sure, great news…we’re Starfleets firefighters, but the fires are actually just any bad shit happening anywhere. Phhhhheewf.” Mee IH also recalled that he had qualified for a full pension more than 9 years ago.

“I was thinking Starfleet was hoping to set us up for success by placing on a new ship with a fine crew that includes the longest serving working with the longest serving cetacean officer in the service.” Fields offered an olive branch.”

Mee IH, who actually spun on his repulsors and began moving back towards the cargo bays main doors, stopped and whirled back around to face Fields and Wong, “Oh, so you’re looking me up too huh? You better play it straight with us Intel guy, I’ll be watching you and your team.”

“Hey, Mee IH, stop right there a second, what’s up? You’re acting extra ornery right now. We’ll be working with Commander here for the next few years. This is no way to start a command relationship.” Wong said as stood next to Fields. This was a little much, even for Mee IH.

Mee IH sighed, “You’re right sir, and I’m sorry sir” the Belugas flippers sank to his side and head lowered.

“It’s all this fucking fresh air and repulsor zooming…my haunches are killed me and I’m getting itchy because, though my species can survive for up to 8 hours out of the water, we’re not meant to be unsubmerged for larhe parts of each day for days on end…” the Beluga made a gurgling sound, which actually the equivalent of his species getting choked up and on the verge of tears.

“Oh dude, I thought you’d been running yourself ragged for the past few weeks dude, and that was before I knew youre drying out and and getting flipper fatigue” Ingram said to the XO as he placed a hand on the cetaceans back just above his dorsal fin.

“I’m just ensemble, but that’s no excuse, I got some beef with Starfleet Intel going back a few decades, and it shouldn’t be letting that affected my ability to work with you sir.” Mee IH spoke directly to Fields.

“Hey don’t worry about it. I did read up on you, and the rest of the new crew, and Captain Tyler’s logs from the Blythe too. Yall been through some ship this year, we’re square commander.

“Mee IH, get yourself to cetacean ops and get your ass in a pool. Call in from there for the staff meeting at 1200h, I want to meet with you, the Doc, and Tesa about those repulsors before you start doing full 8 hour shifts on em alright.” Wong said firmly but fairly.

“Ugh, yes sir. It was nice meeting you Commander.” Mee said before turning and heading towards the bay doors again.

“I’ll uh go he…” Ingram started to stay and stopped as Wong nodded in approval.

“Pfft. Sorry about that, he’s not usually quite that…” Wong said. The large horizontal double bay doors shut behind Ingram and the XO

“Manic depressive?” Fields offered.

“Yeah, well, he is always a bit on the manic side, truth be told. But he’s literally a wiz at almost everything though, and he don’t take shit from no one…go for a swim with him, you guys will get along great.”

“A swim? With the Beluga XO?” Fields asked as if pondering how that would actually go down.

“Yep, its tough to explain, but they(cetaceans) change after you go for a swim, or maybe it’s you that changes, I dunno how it happens but its just…different with them afterwards.” Wong said.

“Hmmm, I’ll make a point of it sir…should we carry on with the tour? Deck 5 has the Shuttlebay, impulse control, the rear mission bays and a bunch more quarters.”

“Lead on good sir” Wong said performatively and motioned with his hand.