ORIGINS: USS Hood September 2009

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Unofficial Tour

by Andy Catterick

Jack walked the corridor a happy man. He had spent the previous evening and part of the morning contacting the families of the crewmembers who had given their lives to repel the Klingon boarders. It was the hardest thing he had ever had to do and what made it even worse was he knew that one day he would have to do it again. Once he had completed that duty and finding he couldn’t just sit in his cabin he had begun an unofficial tour of the ship. It hadn’t been anything more then an opportunity to stretch his legs while he pretending to review departmental readiness.

As the captain that had dragged his people into a nasty fight that had left their feollow crewman dead had expected a cold reception. One which he fully deserved. But instead he saw a growing sense of team and pride in themselves and the ship and most surprisingly, their captain. Yes, they had been successful against the Klingons but if he had been better at his job they wouldn’t be missing 13 people. But the crew just didn’t seem to see it that way. It had culminated when he found his way into one of the lower deck Messes just as breakfast was concluding. Their had been a pause as the crewman and NCOs wondering why an officer and the captain himself had invaded their refuge. But it had been a brief one and then someone shoved a cup of coffee into his hand and someone else invited him to join his table.

He had spent hours there chatting with the rotating crewman about the ship and their jobs but mostly about life. Why they had joined Starfleet was a popular topic as well as mutual acquaintances. Jack had met a number of crewman who had crossed paths with on previous commands. IF there was a way to reenergize himself this was certainly it and he vowed on the spot that he would not be one of those commanding officers who felt there had to be a ‘professional distance’ between captain and crew.

So now as HOOD sailed out towards the frontier ready to explore the unknown she was a happy ship. The crew was meshing together, they had faced a test and over come it and the confidence they had in themselves, the ship and even their captain was growing. With no crisis ahead, at least none specific, he cold enjoy his new command for the first time.

Pausing at the junction he decided to head for the Officer’s Mess to see who was about.

<<<NRPG>>> Just some minor CD.

Respectfully,

Andy

CAPT Jack Steele

CO, USS HOOD NCC 1703

ASR ORIGINS