Refit and Rearm

[MikDaTv]

The Jor Halcyon exited hyperspace in the Ilum system. They'd plotted an easy course right for Asar and when the stars gravitational pull yanked them out of hyperspace. The ship banked around and headed for Ilum at it's cruising speed.

"Course is set Sir." The helmsman reported from his station.

Commander Peter was at the view port of the ship looking at the field of stars beyond it. He turned his head over to the helm and waved a signal to say he understood and turned back to the view port. He took a few more moments to himself before he turned around and walked away from the view port. "ChoPo, launch a CAP until we're well within Ilum space. Helm, modify our course. New destination is Murmansk Orbital Shipyards."

[MikDaTv]

"Liberty! Liberty! Liberty! Now Liberty is being granted to all off going duty sections to expire at 0730 tomorrow. Make sure to check out with your supervisor before going on Liberty. Now Liberty."

The announcement was a welcome sound to the crew. They had just docked with Murmansk orbital shipyards and the Captain decided that after the ordeal at M234-P the crew could use some off time. The duty section was more than capable of reloading the munitions they'd expended.

The crew aboard the ship began scurrying about, checking out with supervisors and grabbing some civilian clothes. The entertainment aboard the shipyards is limited but still better then what the ship itself could offer.

Captain Stowe was in his office. It was a small room with a desk and 3 guest chairs near the door. The main door to the office lead to the corridor right outside the bridge but the back door behind the captains desk actually lead into the bridge itself. It gave the captain quick access to the bridge should the ship need his attention.

There was a knock chime from the main entrance and the Captain unlocked the door from the controller on the edge of his desk. Commander Peter walked in and sat down in front of the captains desk. "Crew is filing out, they look tired but happy for the liberty. The Master Chief says he'll have us back to 100% loadout in 8 hours."

The Captain looked up from his datapad. "8 Hours? Thats quite the wait. Why so long?"

Simon shrugged. "With most of the crew having fun he's short handed. Apparently there's not enough junior enlisted to finish the job."

Graham sighed. "You go down there, and you tell him he's going to shave two hours off that estimate. There's more than enough crew on hand to reload a few missiles. Some chiefs will just have to get their hands dirty and do some work for a change." He said with a twinge of anger.

Simon smiled. "You want me to hand him a wrench and say get to work?" He laughed. "Ok skipper, i'll get them on schedule. Also, the mess cooks are requesting we stop by Starbase 001 on our way out to replenish our stores and Radar said he had some priority messages for you."

Graham stood up and stretched for a second. "Ok, i'll talk to them. You go see Stone and tell him to get the chiefs in gear. I don't want to hear any more of this junior enlisted bull."

Commander Peter nodded and got up himself. "Will do skipper."

With that, Graham left his office using the rear door to go directly into the bridge. "Radar!" He shouted. The nervous looking Chief Communications officer came over. "The XO said you had something for me?"

"ye...yes sir. I do. two messages came in while we were away." He said. He looked down at his datapad and fumbled with the device a little. "Uhh... Master Zordon has purchased another ship. It's in Mandalorian space currently. He'd like us to retrieve it as soon as possible. And um.... we've intercepted a message to the Federation. A mining ship in the Yavin system has reported seeing the Belshazzar."

"Really? Wasn't that the medical ship that went missing a few years go?" The captain asked.

Radar nodded. "Yes sir. I pulled up the information on it. It went missing in wild space 2 years ago. Last seen jumping to hyperspace headed towards the unknown regions. The mining vessel was scanning Yavin for possible gas harvesting when they spotted the ship. It's engines were cold and there were no signs of life. The reported it to the Federation but a Ranger patrol in the area intercepted the message and relayed it to us."

The captain nodded. "Ok, we'll look into it."

[MikDaTv]

(Jor Halcyon, Docked at Murmansk Orbital Shipyards, Ilum system, Ilum)

"We're all buttoned up and ready to go Captain." The XO said from the bridge's holotable.

Captain Stowe stood at the viewport looking out at Murmansk Orbital Shipyards where they were docked. "Good, prepare ship for departure."

The XO grabbed the intercom and keyed it for the whole ship. "Now for the information of all hands, the ship will be getting underway. Prepare ship for departure. Crews to your departure stations."

The XO hung up the intercom and pushed a few buttons on the holotable controls to zoom the image out to show the entire ship, highlighting the docking sections. "All external hatches are secured, docking stations report manned and ready. Murmansk ATC has cleared traffic for us."

The captain turned away from the viewport for a moment and faced the rest of the bridge. "Ok then. Lets get underway."

Simon nodded to the captain then turned his head over towards the helm. "Helm, standby on reverse thrusters."

"Stand by on reverse thrusters Aye!" Came the report from the helmsman.

Simon picked up the intercom again. "Now, release all moorings, release all moorings."

The red lights on the holographic representation of the ship began to turn green. Each green light signified a mooring station separating from the shipyards. When all the lights were green the XO hung up the intercom and turned back to the helm. "All back one fourth!"

"All back one fourth Aye!" The Helmsman answered before complying with the order. He eased the throttle control back to 1/4 reverse thruster speed and the ship began to move slowly. using only a fourth of the power in her maneuvering thrusters, the ship slid out of the shipyards docking port meter by meter. "Helm answers all back one fourth!"

"Steady on Helm." the XO said. He looked down at the holotable and adjusted the image to show the Halcyon as it left the station. When most of the ship had cleared the moorings he looked up again. "Left 45 Degrees."

"Left 45 degree rudder Aye!" Came the report before the crewman turned the dial on his control console. "The rudder is left 45 degrees."

The ship moved away from the station at an angle now. The ships ass end was turning back around towards the shipyards at the agonizingly slow pace. Once the bow was clear of the station the XO zoomed the image out to show the ship, the shipyards and the surrounding minefield. "Rudder Amidships! One half Forward thrusters."

The helmsman adjusted the dial again, halting their turn then pushed the throttle control forward to half thruster power. The ship reversed direction now moving forward, parallel to the shipyard station. "Rudder amidships! Forward thrusters at one half. Approaching mine field."

"Coms, send the signal." The XO shouted.

Radar stood at the com station and tapped the crewman on the shoulder. The crewman sent the "ready when you are" signal to the shipyards. It took a few moments but they got the return signal eventually. Radar turned around to addres the XO. "Murmansk reports minefield disabled."

"Engines, all ahead One third!" Simon ordered the helm.

The helmsman smiled and pushed his throttle up even more. No longer were they under the simple maneuvering thrusters power. Now the main engines were coming on line and pushing the ship forward. The ship sped up to a third of its maximum sublight acceleration. "Engines at one third, entering the minefield."

The Captain walked away from the viewport and began walking around the bridge. "Halm, make your way through the field, then set course for Starbase 001. We won't be docking but put us into a nice close orbit if you please."

The helmsman nodded. "Aye aye skipper."

The captain inspected all the work stations on his way from the front of the bridge to the rear near the XO. "That was pretty good Commander, you'll make a good captain yourself one day. Get me the CAG on the line."

The XO smiled and grabbed the intercom. "Now, CAG contact the bridge. CAG contact the bridge."

A few seconds later the intercom responded. "Bridge this is the CAG."

The captain grabbed the intercom away from the XO and keyed it. "Lieutenant Commander, have the Thundercats gear up. We're going to send them over to Starbase 001 for a supply run. I figure they can use all the flight time we can give them in their ships."

"Yes Sir, i'll have them ready and on the deck in 20 minutes." Guardian responded through the intercom speaker.

"No rush." The captain said. "Estimated time to Starbase 001 is about an hour."

"Understood, CAG Out."

Graham hung up the intercom and turned to his second in command. "I'll be in my office. Once the cooks are happy, have navigation plot us a course for Mandalore and assemble a temporary duty assignment to the new ship until we can bring it back here to get her a full crew."

Simon gave the captain a thumbs up and Graham walked off the bridge into his office.

[MikDaTv]

"Thundercat four is on the deck. All craft present and accounted for Skipper." The Air Boss said through the bridge intercom speaker.

Commander Peter was at the bridge holotable and grabbed the mic from the intercom station over his head. "Understood Boss Man, button us up we're about to head out."

"Will do sir. Hanger doors closing now. Boss Man out." Boss man replied.

"Sir, course plotted to Mandalore. Total of 8 stops along the way. ETA 4 days, 20 hours and 36 minutes." The navigator reported from his station. "We're just now clearing Ilums gravity well."

"Excellent. Helm, please make the jump. Navigation, try to shave off that time if possible." The XO ordered.

The Jor Halcyon made one final course correction before leaping forward at light speed, punching through to hyperspace.