Stardate:60531:2000
Title: Testing Times
Author: Executive Officer Abigail Winters
Time: After "Fresh Air"
Scene: Relentless/Orbital Drop


Abby had looked at the Captain several times during the exercises and wondered whether this gruelling regime they were going through was some indication of a deep rooted sadistic nature. At one point Alex had turned to his XO and given her his best boyish smile and at that point Abby knew exactly where she wanted to test one of the quantum torpedoes. However, as she made her way around the Relentless checking on the progress of the teams she felt a certain energy as she focused more on the actual running of the ship and crew and less on the treachery and politics that had so far shrouded this new ship.

The more procedures that they went through the more the crew seemed to loosen up trusting in their instincts and relying more on fellow crew mates who they had been suspicious of at first. It was as she passed through Maxine Jenna's science department that she realised the crew were actually joking with each other and that there was a sense of excitement as they started to discover the hidden power in the ship they were calling home.

McFrey had his team working damn hard making sure he didn't give the Captain any reason to talk down to him. His crew seemed to be responding well and Abby passed the new guy Laurence as he was running in the hall. She was impressed by him as he did something she had never been able to do - he smiled and ran at the same time!

At one point during the exercises whilst Abby was on the bridge Loula appeared. Before Abby could intercept her cat, the tabby made her way over to the Captain's chair where Alex was currently seated. Instead of showing surprise or annoyance by the felines' appearance Alex reached down and stroked her under the chin without breaking the rhythm of the orders he was giving. Loula didn't stay for long as something caught her attention.

When the Captain finally called the exercises to a halt there was a collective sigh. Abby decided it was the nicest sound she had heard in a while and as the Captain left the bridge she sat contemplating the man. He certainly was an enigma. Somehow he had skilfully kept a full out mutiny at bay by running the crew ragged and yet everyone seemed happy for it. When he came back to relieve her from duty an hour later she hadn't progressed her thoughts in trying to figure him out.

Taking the hour to freshen up Abby felt alert again for the meeting. She was pleased to see so many faces smiling at the idea of an orbital drop. Her team was slightly smaller than Alex's and as they stood in the airlock waiting for the all clear from the alpha team Abby rechecked her equipment.

As the airlock began to open the XO smiled at the group, she wasn't going to pressure them by telling them they had to get down quicker than the Captain's team. She just hoped they did.

As the air rushed in there were a few nervous laughs but as gravity took over and everyone relinquished control to the inevitable there were exhilarated screams. The stark white of the planet below was amazing but turning around to watch the Relentless majestically floating is a sea of stars was even more breath-taking and magical.

The XO guided the team towards their designated landing zone and as they dropped lower the parachutes started to open. Abby was still marvelling at the planets beauty when she noticed that one of her team was still falling whilst the rest gently floated down. Calling over the comm-link she heard the panicky voice of one of the new helms crew. Seconds passed as Abby reassured the crewmen and told him to pull his back up chute. He was however paralysed by fear and he could do nothing. The first chute luckily managed to un-tangle it's self and the parachute unfurled as it caught the up-currents. It was a sight that bought no end of relief to Abby and as she glided the last few feet to the surface she let out a breath she didn't even realise she had been holding.


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Lt. Commander Abigail Winters
Executive Officer
USS Relentless
NCC-11966
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