24250814 - Arrival

Posted on Thu Aug 14th, 2025 @ 10:22am by Vice Admiral Suzanna Blokpoel

684 words; about a 3 minute read

=/\= USS Erasmus =/\=

From the outside, the Ambassador class ship looked like a relic from another time, and in many ways it was. It had had a 4th refit only 4 years ago, so the old looking hull, hid its modern systems underneath. The III had lasted a relatively long time, and for a change not been necessary due to battle damage.

After her time as Starfleet Commander and with her move to the Science division, Suzanna had negotiated to keep the Erasmus as a science ship. She had intended and had been a hands-on head of the Science division. Added that there had been various experimental propulsion systems added back in the day. And Starfleet did not want to have just anyone access to. It had both a transwarp drive as well as a slipstream drive.

But it had been time to get back to work. Suzanna had been on an ELOA, and home in home dimension for the last 6 months. A month ago, her father had passed away, and the half Vulcan had taken the time to spend what he had left alive with him. After his passing, she had stayed 4 more weeks to handle the estate and spend time with her mother. The latter though, had focused on her logic and emotional control to deal with her grief, and the sudden cut from the bond she’d had with Suzanna’s father for 65 years. During this time, the Erasmus had been on Spinward March charting mission, in the home dimension. Suzanna was fascinated with the similarities, but also differences between the two.

Her new assignment was Fleet Science Officer for Epsilon Fleet, and she actually looked forward to it. One of her early assignments at fleet level had been Epsilon Fleet Commander, but the Science part suited her much better nowadays, less politics and more discovery in that role. She had missed her own family while she had been away. Of course, her children and Roger had visited during the last week of her father’s life but returned shortly after the funeral. Actual visual communications with them were now possible again.

“Vinid Blokpoel. We are on final approach to Starbase 369, Admiral.”

The voice of Commander Sisem Vinid, her Trill XO, almost startled her. “Understood, Commander, Standard docking procedures. I’ll be right there.” Suzanna tapped to close the comm channel, this was to be her new home for the foreseeable future. The Erasmus would still be around, whenever she needed it, but it would not be waiting in space dock for her. Vinid would be charting in the Spinward March on this side of the wormhole to compare the data with that of her home dimension. The half Vulcan rose from the seat behind her desk and with a few steps she got to the door of her ready room, which swooshed open and without missing a step she entered the bridge. The viewscreen showed the large doors of space dock open as the Erasmus was guided inside. There was a hive of activity with small craft flying around, as well as the larger starships in their berths. The USS Arawyn at its most prominent, the Sovereign class was large, compared to the Erasmus. And new.

“Commander,” Suzanna said as she turned to the Trill, “Please complete docking procedures, and inform the crew of the 2 weeks docking time and shore leave rotations. I’ll be reporting for duty to Admiral MacLaren in the meantime.”

“Aye, Admiral.”

Suzanna walked to the turbo lift and headed to her quarters, she tapped her comm badge, “Ensign Nichols, please meet me in my quarters.” Her yeoman was relatively new to the job but seemed dedicated and a very fast learner.

=/\= Quarters =/\=

“Admiral,” her yeoman was already there, and packing crates with items, as she greeted Suzanna.

“Please coordinate with the Admiral’s office regarding office and quarter location, Ensign,” Suzanna, she knew she didn’t have to specify more than that. “We have arrived, let’s make the most of it.”

VAdm Suzanna Blokpoel
Fleet Science Officer
Epsilon Fleet
"Everything fits, otherwise we'll make it fit!"

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