Fly me to the moon......

Posted on Friday 29 July 2016 @ 19:34 by Captain Melody Jones

Mission: Old, New Ship
Location: Starfleet Academy
Timeline: 239008.1
833 words - 1.7 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

"Ok, Cadet Jones will be taking you on a brief aerial tour of San Francisco before proceeding up to Spacedock for your orientation. Please board the shuttle and take a seat."

The Academy Commandant indicated to the class 6 shuttle and half a dozen fresh faced new cadets boarded. Being in her second year and already having demonstrated a unique flying ability, Melody had been given the job of breaking in new cadets. The Commandant approached her "The usual Jones. Give them a taste of 'turbulence'. Frighten them a bit, but try not to break any bones this time" He added with a wink.

Melody smiled "Aye Sir" as she boarded the shuttle and sat in the pilots seat. She turned round and regarded their faces. There were 4 males and 2 females. Three of the males were human while the last was Bolian as for the two females, they were both human.

"Ok" Melody went on "We have Cadets Phillips, Wilson, Jackson, Kraf, Watkins and Ricky. I'm Cadet Jones but you can call me Melody. I hope you all had a light breakfast" she said with a grin, then rotated back toward the console "Ground control, this is shuttlecraft Earhart, request permission to Launch"

"Shuttlecraft Earhart request granted, that you again Jones?" The voice from ground control asked.

Melody replied "It is indeed."

The voice came back "Just great! Try and bring this one back in one piece eh? If you other Cadets can hear me, you will be remembered with honour" As the comm line went dead a few nervous glances were exchanged in the rear of the cabin.

Jackson leaned forward "One piece?" He asked, trying to keep his voice for cracking.

"It's a joke. Don't worry you're in good hands and besides I had nothing to do with that nacelle dropping off....... Probably. Besides, the docs here can reattach severed limbs, just keep hold of them"

Jackson laughed at first, but stopped when Melody's expression remained deadpan. He turned to the rest of the cadets "I can't tell if she is being serious or not" he said nervously

"Hear we go" Jones said with an evil looking grin as the shuttle rocketed into the sky "Make sure your seatbelts are fastened."

Cadet Watkins looked herself around then said "We don't have any seatbelts."

"Oh!" Melody thought for a minute "In that case....... Just try and go limp!"

The shuttle rocketed into the sky. Cadet Wilson who had been sat next to Melody had turned a bright shade of green as the San Francisco skyline flashed by.

The shuttle suddenly dropped and then corrected, the initial dampeners didn't fully compensate and they were all momentarily lifted out of their seats.

Melody cleared her throat "Sorry about that, slight interruption in the plasma flow, shouldn't happen again."

The shuttle now turned out over the bay "Now then" Melody continued "The Golden Gate Bridge, over or under?"

A resounding chorus of 'OVER!' came ringing out form the rear of the shuttle.

Melody sighed "Too late, under it is" and the shuttle made a dizzyingly rapid decent and swooped under the bridge just skimming the surface of the water.

"Will you all calm down, still in once piece" she said to the cadets whos pulses had all shot up in response to that last manoeuvre. Melody tried to take their minds of it "If anyone knows their history, can they tell me which famous Starfleet captain made an emergency landing here in a stolen Klingon ship?"

From near the back Cadet Watkins spoke up "That was Captain Kirk."

Melody smiled "Very good."

"And" Wakins continued "He brought 2 humpback whales from the twentieth century."

Cadet Wilson, who was sat next to her gave her a discreet elbow in the ribs "Now you're just showing off" he said under his breath.

Melody who was now taking the craft into the upper atmosphere smiled "I'm impressed Watkins, move to the head of the class."

"Thank you, and it's Lynda" Watkins added.

The shuttle comm system burst into life "Shuttle Earhart this is Spacedock control. We have you on sensors and you are clear for docking a bay 12 Acknowledge."

The shuttle approached the massive structure and all the cadets crowded forward to have a better look as Melody tapped the comm panel "This is Shuttle Earhart, understood. Approaching docking bay 12. You might want to sit back down for landing" she added.

Hearing this, the cadets quickly returned to their seats.

The shuttle headed into the massive landing bay. Melody worked the controls "Ok I'm putting her down on my mark 2.............1............." The shuttle came to a sudden stop and the cadets were jolted slightly. Melody tapped the final control "Mark."

All the cadets stood as the rear door opened, Watkins whispered in Melody ear before she disembarked

"You did that on purpose". Then added with a grin "Not bad. See you around" before heading off for orientation.

OFF:

Lieutenant Melody Jones
Chief flight control officer / Second officer
USS Merlin