[EPILOGUE] Lt. Cmdr Robin Hopper – Off The Clock
Robin Hopper
((Bridge - USS Independence-B, in orbit of Uwe IV))
While this mission hadn’t exactly gone according to plans (what mission really did?), all in all, Robin couldn’t help but feel satisfied with how things had resolved down on Uwe II… Initially an undercover recon mission to learn about the Uwezo warp program, it had quickly spiralled into an apparent terrorist plot and kidnapping, only to finally resolve as an underhanded attempt by a neighbouring alien to pull the ol’ capitalist rug out from under the people of Uwe.
An ecological catastrophe had been averted. The Prime Directive remained (mostly) intact. Norsel was sitting in a jail cell, waiting for the stun-gunning to wear off. Vaarig Greeta was about to launch the Uwezo’s first warp-capable ship… using only homegrown Uwe-style technology.
Perhaps best of all, even though she had generally enjoyed spending time on the planet, Robin was no longer in disguise. What a relief to have soft smooth skin again, rather than the barklike texture that crinkled and cracked every time she made an expression. As it turned out, the procedure to reverse the cosmetic effect was considerably simpler and faster than the procedure required to accurately apply it.
Sitting at the science officer’s station, Robin turned to smile at Wil as he emerged from the turbolift entrance and made a bee-line for the CO’s chair.
Ukinix: We’ve got a visual feed?
Hopper: We just received updated telemetry from forward sensors, Skipper. On screen.
The view shifted, revealing the distant, but magnified, Uwezo warp ship as it rocketed away from the planet and into the outer atmosphere. Once it had passed the point of no return, it began to shed its boosters, letting them drift off to the side, to burn up on re-entry. A single fusion-powered nacelle extended from the craft.
A bright orange flame burst from the bottom, accelerating the vessel away from the planet... before the single nacelle glowed blue.
Ukinix: Status?
Hopper: They seem to be having a little trouble keeping the fusion reaction stable… But they’re compensating. If they can maintain it a little longer, they should be able to sustain a short flight.
Ukinix: ::Under his breath:: C’mon, c’mon…
Robin’s eyes kept darting back and forth between the ship on screen and the numbers on her console until the viewscreen began displaying a synthesized display of the Uwezo ship’s warp bubble as it formed. Then her eyes glued to the image.
In a flash, it was gone.
Hopper: There she goes. ::Grinning:: They did it.
Ukinix: Warp one?
She looked down at her instruments.
Hopper: Warp 1.2, actually. She’s a speedy little thing.
After fifteen seconds, the ship came to a stop, returning to sunlight speeds. Thrusters fired, maneuvering it back into position to begin its (much slower) flight back towards their home planet… a journey that would take them several hours, most likely – and yet had just been completed in under twenty seconds with their first warp engine.
Ukinix: ::Clapping:: Yes!
Hopper: You don’t see that every day…
Robin sighed contentedly. It felt like a rare and special thing to partake in. The first time she had seen a species break the warp barrier. oO Wow! Oo
Ukinix: Ensign Tenille, let’s set a course for Hova III, pick up the others, then the FDC can come back to Uwe II and say hi. ::Turning to Hopper:: Well done, Robin.
Hopper: ::Nodding:: Back at you, Skipper. It was a team effort. Everyone really helped turn this mess into… Well, into that.
She gestured towards the little vessel that could as it slowly chugged across the viewscreen back towards its planet.
Ukinix: I think we’ve all earned a break after this. Maybe camping on a jungle planet could be fun?
Robin stood, allowing another Science Officer to take the seat, and marched towards the turbolift. Chuckling, she spun around to continue walking backwards.
Hopper: No way. I still remember how the last camping trip went. I’m off the clock now. There’s a bathtub and a bottle of wine in my quarters calling my name and I do not intend to let them go unanswered.
END
