Archangel
11 Jun 2020Korzhakov
I take my glasses off and set them on the conference table right next to my coffee cup. I look at my fiance Jean and we agree, were going with the Victory Class Fleet Carrier. Jim, the Brewer rep has showed us the differences in each of the classes, and we decide that for our plans, the Victory will work best. We start to hash out some of the larger details, such as services that we will offer, what the paint will be. I leave the more minor details to my Deck Officer Bailey Shelton. She is a capable commander with years of experience under her belt on capital ships. She is a former Federation deck officer who served on several Farragut Class ships. She is worth every credit that we are paying her.
Jean moves to the other end of the table with one of the design engineers as she starts the detail work of our private quarters on the ship. We get more space for ourselves than even our luxury apartment on Ray Gateway and there are lots of options. I will let her work those out while Bailey and I go over the common area options for the crew and passengers.
I plan on doing some long range exploring with the carrier so we outfit her to be as comfortable as possible for long voyages. She will have multiple dining options, recreation areas, service amenities and shops for the crew and passengers to utilize on long voyages. I want the morale of my crew to be the best it can, so we spared no expense on their comfort and well being.
The ship is in dry dock in Mitnahas, we are at the Brewer dock in Balante, as soon as we decided on the color the technicians were at work applying it, the customized interior options will not take them long and we expect to take delivery within a couple of days. I authorize the payment and for the first time in a year, I have less than a billion credits cash to my name, and it hits me pretty hard what we just did. I take my leave and let Bailey finish up with the details. I know she will choose wisely.
Jean and I make out way up to the hangar and board the Mamba "Warlock", once we are settled into the crew seats, and I start the pre flight checks we start to talk about what we just did. I don't think we fully grasp what has just taken place, despite it being our planned goal. She begins giving me the details of our private quarters and I can honestly say I don't remember what she was saying as my mind was swimming with the myriad of thoughts that came from making this purchase. We quickly make the single jump back home and arrive at Ray Gateway in short order. We grab our stuff and head home. We talk a little on the ride there but once we get to the apartment, we just stare at each other "we did it" Jean suddenly exclaims and launches herself into my arms. That hug made everything right again with the galaxy.
We celebrate with nachos and beer at our favorite pub and the conversation is much lighter but still focused on the carrier. She will contact Tess, our fleet manager and arrange the transfer of all but one the Federal Corvette. That is what we will make our entrance in, and Tess will be with us as we have hired her away from the starport services division and she has agreed to keep her role with us on the carrier.
The next morning, I load up the limpets on Apollo, my mining python and head out to recoup some lost credits. I spend hours and hours mining low temp diamonds, and then make the treacherous journey to market with them. I clear a smooth 290 million, I go back to Borann and settle in for the night, ready to do it again tomorrow.
The next day I get two runs to market. I have put a lot of credits back into the Bank of Zaonce account. I topped a billion again, which is pretty good after just spending over 6 billion to buy the carrier.
As I finish selling my cargo, I get a message from Jim that the ship is ready. I quickly make my way back home and meet Jean in the hangar where the Retribution, my corvette is parked. We board and make our way to the Mitnahas system. Once we jump in system, she appears on the contacts screen "Archangel (V90-Q0Q) and we lock in the destination.
After a very short ride, we drop out of super cruise and there she is, the design of the Victory class with it's hammerhead look is awe inspiring. I take a slow lap around her, the flight controller greets me and welcomes me to my new capital ship. The orange paint job looks even better than in the media materials and we gaze at her size and grandeur.
We make our way to our landing pad and then secure the ship into the hangar. As we depart the Retribution, Bailey has the command crew and all department heads and their reps in the hangar to greet us. It is done with a very Federation military feel to it which I can appreciate having gone that route myself. "Archangel Actual, Arriving!" pipes the quartermaster, and the crew comes to attention.
I tell them "at ease" and Bailey informs me that we are going to meet in the ships theater as it is the only place that can hold the entire crew at once. She adjourns them to the meeting and in waves we board the elevators towards the bow of the ship.
Once at the theater, I see the full size of the crew for the first time. We have just over 1000 persons signed up as crew. I make my way to the stage and the podium. I welcome the crew to the Archangel and thank them for signing with us. I thank Bailey, Chang, Journee, Curtis, Lonnie and Mac as the department heads and command crew. I give a little background on myself and my fiance, and then tell them the vision I have for the carrier. She is going to do many missions and may do several at a time on occasion.
I keep it short as there is work to do and I let the crew get back to it. Bailey then takes Jean and I and shows us to our quarters and when we walk in my jaw just hits the floor. I can't believe the size of our place, it's outfitted to a level that I didn't think possible on a space faring ship. I guess I should have paid better attention when Jean was describing her choices to me.
The quarters comprise a total of 8 rooms of varying sizes from private offices for both of us, to a conference room. A private kitchen and dining room and a living and entertainment room that's just off of our bedroom and bathroom. A guest suite, storage, and an armory for my personal weapons.
We head up to the bridge and I meet the rest of the deck crew on duty. We plot the ships first jump. She is going to Diaguandri so that we can transfer ships, personal items and start to take on cargo, additional fuel and make preparations for her first voyage.
As the capital class frame shift drive activates, I stare in awe at the lightning coming from the opening portal, and marvel at the professionalism of my crew.
Owning this ship is going to be the biggest challenge, and the most rewarding accomplishment of my life.