SHAKEDOWN CRUISE

Posted on Mon Nov 16th, 2015 @ 12:19am by
Edited on on Mon Nov 16th, 2015 @ 5:31am

2,255 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 90 - The Great Relink
Location: Somewhere in Space

For years after the end of the Dominion War, there was talk of the Marines piloting their own Armored Marine Deployment Heavy Cruisers, ships to a conflict, and be able to conduct Ship to shore (planet) bombardment in support of the Marines inside the ship.

By 2390, the concept took fruition as the plans for 180 older Excelsior class ships, and other Starships that had outlived their usefulness would be sent to Starfleets Naval yard for their first major refit, and conversion to the new Armored Marine Deployment Class of Heavy Cruisers.

The list of 30 Excelsior, Ambassadors, and Galaxies had been contacted to the Antares Fleet yards at Antares IV, while the next 30 were sent to the San Francisco Fleet Naval Yards. The other yards also had contracts for 30 ships each, and as the last group of 10 ships slated for the Antares Yards were now being gutted down to their steel Duralium frames, and struts, the older USS Tirpitz was one of the ships beginning its 12-18 month modification and refit contract.

With the transfer of the USS Tirpitz old Commanding Officer Major Percival C. Morris as the 3rd MARDIVs new Commanding officer, the former Division Executive Officers ship; the USS Tirpitz had already been in the yards for the past 12-18 months, and was now about to leave the yards when Major Magbangan took over as her new commanding officer.

The USS Tirpitz as a Marine Deployment Heavy Cruiser was fast for its class. With newer engines, the ship could cruise at WF 7, attain maintain maximum speed of 9.7 and go to WF 9.8 in an emergenc fyor 12 hours, like Cruiser her sister ship the USS Saratoga another Marine Deployment Heavy.

The Tirpitz carried the usual number of Mark VIII Phaser for offensive and defensive operations, and torpedoes. However the launches had been upgraded to the newer turreted torpedo launches that could load up to four torpedoes, and fire all four or one at a time from one single launcher.

But the biggest change was in its mission and role as Starfleet Gunfire Support in the use of heavy phasers or disruptors to provide fire support for Marine amphibious (planetary) assault, and other troops operating within their range.

For ship to shore (Planetary) bombardment, the Tirpitz mounted three EmKRG guns in a bubble turret, that was mounted to the underbelly of the Tirpitz. The EmKRG was basically an advanced Electromagnetic Rail Gun designed to fire 2,900 lb shells that traveled through the atmosphere at over 95,000 MPH. Once fired from a height of over 40,000,000 km’s from space, the shell which was now traveling at almost WF1, developed a kinetic energy that was comparable to a photon torpedo.

The round also served another purpose, used as a line of sight weapon with input from scanners and targeting systems on the Tirpitz, it was good against well fortified positions, underground tunnels buried more than 5 miles deep, or against any type of energy shield, since the shields dissipated energy used against it; the shields were not designed to repel a sharp object traveling more than WF1.

The shell driving through the shield, with its stored kinetic energy vaporized anything in front of it. The resultant explosion was likened to a Photon Torpedo that cause a blast zone more than 80 km’s in diameter, a sonic and heat wave blast over 2600 degrees that spread out for more than 300 km’s from the point of impact.

Trying to shoot it down was next to impossible for the enemy since it had an Ablative-Armor 1 outer coating covering the heavy shell. The speed of the shell was likened to a solid object piercing 45 one inch steel plates of a Duranium/Tritanium composite placed back to back.

The EmKRG cannons were mounted on the under belly of the Tirpitz, and she carried 30,000 shells that did not need any type of fire protection, since these were all solid core projectiles. Each Cannons, had their own power cell that worked independently of the main power reactors.

Needing a small amount of power to recharge each guns power cell, the cannons could fire their rounds indefinitely, so long as there were shells for each gun. In its final plans, the Tirpirtz carried 60,000 rounds, which were stored in the underbelly of the Tirptiz.

The ship’s crew was also made up of a mix of Starfleet Officers, and enlisted who suddenly found themselves transferred to the Marine Corp. The rest of the crew were Marines who had graduated from Starfleets enlisted “A” school.

To keep everything simple, the Marines got rid of many Starfleet traditions. The first to go was the wearing of the colored division Dickeys, standard on all Starfleet Starships. The Marines authorized the wear of the standard BOS Light Green dickey. Also all Marines wore the standard Marine Corp ranks for enlisted and Officers.

On their BDU’s the only item worn was their “last name” name tape, the Marine Combadge, and the full color “Globe and Anchor”. All Marines bloused their boots, and wore the dark green beret, with the Marine Logo pinned to the beret.

For Hondo who was the Divisions Executive Officer, she found that she could easily take care of her Division duties, while aboard the Tirpitz, and vice versa. There were times when General Jackson had to leave, she would automatically take over command, letting General Jackson attend the many conferences, and commanders call required of him, as the Commanding Officer of the Division.

Winter dress was the MARPAT green color; worn from January to June, and the summer dress was the DESPAT worn from July to December. Metal rank was worn on the collar The uniforms were kept clean, with only a last name strip, their Marine Combadge, and a full color Glove and Anchor were the only items allowed on the BDU’s.

The only exemption to the policy that Hondo allowed was that the position of the Commander was still referred to as “Captain”, and the Executive officer would still continue to be known as the First Officer.

With the Tirpitz now out from the yards, and it was considered a new class ship; she would have to undergo two important tests, meant to measure a vessel’s performance and general space worthiness.

Testing of a vessel’s speed, maneuverability, equipment and safety features are usually conducted. Usually in attendance were the technical representatives from Starfleet Corp of Engineers, company representatives, certification officials from BuSHIPS, representatives from Starfleet, and representatives from FADM Bremers staff.

Successful sea trials subsequently lead to a vessel’s certification for commissioning and acceptance by SB400. On commissioned vessels, they are generally used to confirm the impact of any modifications.

With the Tirpitz now waiting at Pier 59B for the arrival of her new commander, and the start of the three week long Shakedown cruise and Sea Trials. Hondo, along with Major Lozandas, her Gorn First Officer, and the ships department heads along with the inspectors from the Bureau of Ships, and Certification had finished with the pre-Seatrial/Shakedown cruise briefing.

BRIDGE USS TIRPITZ
Looking at the Chronometer on her chair, Hondo began to go through her own checklists, and with a large PADD mounted to her command chair, she began to run over the many things a Captain needed to move the ship out of space dock. Looking at the time which was now 0545 hrs, Hondo said, Gentlemen I think its time to leave. With Major Lozandas her female Gorn first officer taking over the Operations Managers Station, she began to give out orders, and soon all of the hatches were now locked and sealed.

Sitting in her chair, Hondo depressed a key on her PADD which brought up a coffee menu, choosing a large Coffee Mocha, from the menu, a large cup of coffee popped up from a small cylindrical built into her chair. Taking the cup of coffee Hondo took a sip, placed it in a coffee cup holder on her chair; and saw the time was now 0600 hrs.

With engineering reporting that all engines were now at 100% capacity,

Hondo said “SB 400 Space Control”, this is the “USS Tirpitz requesting permission to leave berthing and proceed to launching dock”. Waiting for the answer, Hondo looked at her bridge crew as she took a drink of her now warm coffee cup. A few minutes later, a voice said “Space Control to USS Tirpitz, “you are now cleared to lave berthing and proceed to launching dock; have a good trip”. Buckling herself into her chair, Hondo said.

Mr. Nguyen (Con) drop magnetic lines 1, 3, and 5, apply 1/8 power to port thrusters. With the Tirpitz still connected to the pier, Hondo said drop magnetic lines 2,4, and 6, apply 1/8th power to starboard thrusters, and apply 1/8 power to stern thrusters. With the Tirpitz now floating free in Spacedock, Hondo said “Con” go to ½ rear thrusters, and proceed towards launching pad. Under the expert handling of Mr. Nguyen, the Tirpitz quickly moved between the many starships tied up in their berthing areas.

With the Tirpitz now at the landing pad, waiting to leave, a voice said USS Terpitz, “this is launch control you are now cleared to leave Space Dock”. Hondo said Mr. Nguyen go to ¼ impulse power, and steady as you go. Pushing the ships speed throttle ¼ up, the ship began to move a little faster, and watching the blinking launch lights on both sides Mr. Nguyen kept the Tirpitz above the double solid double yellow lines.

Soon the Tirpitz was now clearing the large space doors, and more than 1500 kms from the entrance to the space doors; Hondo said “Con” increase speed to full impulse power, and come to starboard; course 5256.78. In 15 seconds the ship was now over 95.5 million Km’s

Past the Warp warning Buoy, Hondo said Mr. Nguyen, let’s see what she can do, go to WF 1. Mr. Nguyen touched his board, and suddenly the ship literally exploded into warp drive in a flash of light. Now with the ship at WF 1, Hondo waited a few minutes to let the engines get used to going at Warp speed, after a few minutes Hondo said, Mr. Nguyen take her to WF 2, the WF3, SF4, and after two hours at WF5, Hondo said take her to cruising speed now at her cruising speed of WF7, traveling at WF7for a few minutes...

Suddenly in Engineering; there were was the sound of several loud booms, and everyone could hear what sounded like metal gears being grated together. Signaling full stop to survey the Damage, Mr. Burns and his team began to inspect the engines, and found the problem. Signaling that the problem was fixed; Mr. Nguyen went back to moving the Tirpitz up from sublight speed to Warp speed.

There were more and glitches, and if the Tirpitz had to return to Space dock via a starship tug, the seatrials would be held up, and cost her extra days in port as the problems were fixed. In what seemed like hours, Mr. Burns said, “Captain we fixed the problem, and you can now go to full warp drive”, replied Mr. Burns.

Finding that the glitch was a wonky Dilithium pump and Warp Speed indicator switch, it was easy for the engineering crew to keep the ship at WF 1, while they simply removed the faulty switch, with a new one, and with the Dilithium pump repaired, “Thank you Mr. Burns”, replied Hondo. With the good word, Hondo decided to be prudent, first staying on WF1 for an hour, she went through each speed every hour, and finally after the sixth hour, Hondo said; Mr. Nguyen, take her to WF7. Now with the ship at WF7, the speed held, and for the next 2 hours with minor course changes, the ship held at WF7 without any more problems.

Tirpitz went through its maneuvering paces as Hondo ordered every type of maneuver. For the next several days, every piece of equipment was check as Starfleets Corps of Engineers watch the crew go through their paces, handling every type of emergency, from General Quarters, to simulated enemy boardings, to a warp core explosion. Nothing was left to chance as the ship and the crew for the next three weeks; all worked a 10-12 hour work day.

As Hondo gained her skill as a captain, the rest of the crew began to work together, and soon as the last four days soon turned to one day before they arrived back at SB400, Hondo very well familiar with the workings of her ship, took control of the ship as it headed back to its berth at Pier 39B. Soon with the ship now tieing up, to its berth, Admiral Brownstone, and the inspectors along with Hondo, and Major Lozandas all sat in the officers mess in the Terpitz having coffee

After looking at all of the notes that were now perfectly transcribed on his PADD, Admiral Brownstone said, Major Magbangan “I’m happy to say that you and your ship passed its acceptance into the Marines,and now I have something for you…”Taking out a bronze plaque it was the ships official plaque, once Hondo received the plaque, she had Maintenance put up where ships plaques were hung. Standing back from the Plaque, there was her name, along with her Exeutive Officer, and a host of Starfleet Officres form different office.

Now she could relax, and deciding to sleep, she went to her quarters, took off her uniform, got back in bed, and went to sleep, clutching the small replica metal plaque in her hands.

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