The Mighty MO is back!

Posted on Wed Feb 8th, 2023 @ 5:52am by Commander Patricia Cooke

762 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Auld Lang Syne
Location: Starfleet lodging facility, in orbit of Khitomer
Timeline: December 31, 2399

Patricia paced about her temporary quarters at an equally temporary Starfleet installation in orbit of Camp Khitomer. Every couple minutes, she glanced to the viewscreen, which was tuned to a live feed of the dry dock at Manhattan Fleet Yards, where her new command sat in waiting. Patricia had had the viewscreen playing the live feed since she had been dropped off a couple days prior. Though it had been a couple of weeks since she had accepted it, Patricia still had trouble wrapping her head around the fact that the Bellerophon class starship being displayed on the viewscreen was in fact hers, and that it bore a name that meant a lot to her.

"You may not be named New York, but you're certainly the apple of my eye, beautiful." Patricia said. "The galaxy will be in for a shock with the tricks you've got up your sleeve."

Smiling, Patricia sat down at the desk, swiveling the chair to face the viewscreen.

"Computer, begin log." She said. The computer beeping in acknowledgement.

"Captain's log, Stardate 47634.44:" Patricia began. "With hours left to go of the 24th Century, I sit here in my temporary quarters, gazing at my new command on a viewscreen. Even more than two weeks after Captain Carson of the Sandusky presented me with Starfleet's offer, I still have trouble wrapping my head around the fact that the brand new Bellerophon class starship displayed to me on the viewscreen is in fact mine. While I'm sure I'd be like this no matter what the name of the ship, I can't help but feel particularly overwhelmed in knowing that the ship bears the name of the ship my grandmother served aboard during the Dominion War, and the ship my ancestor served aboard in World War II. I wonder what Harry would think if he knew that over 4 and a half centuries after his service, a Cooke would be in command of a Missouri."

Patricia sighed.

"I just wish Grandma was here to share in my excitement. It's been over 7 years since she passed. I know she must be smiling down at me with what I've managed to accomplish." Patricia picked up her half-drank ice tea sitting on the desk and raised it skyward. "Here's to you, Grandma." She said, somberly taking a sip.

"I've seen the patch design for my Missouri, and the motto is the same as Harry's Missouri: Vis Ad Libertatem, which means Strength for Freedom, and I think it's a fitting tribute to the name's heritage. Speaking of Missouri heritage, I hear that Rear Admiral Izumi will be at the New Year's party and will be giving a speech. Word is that Kagami is the sponsor of my Missouri, and she will be the one to christen her in the coming week, and my inner fangirl thinks that would be 18 different kinds of cool. Though as much as I'd love to geek out in front of Kagami, I have to remember that she's a rear admiral, and that it might not be appropriate to do so. That being said, I've yet to meet a single officer of my crew, or member of my senior staff. I hope that's why I'm here at Camp Khitomer, and I'll hopefully be bumping into some Missouri folks at the party tonight. But, that kind of logic is reserved for Vulcans. Anyhow, on a final note, I just wanted to say that no matter how nervous I appear to be, I'm deeply honored to be selected as the commanding officer of the USS Missouri, and I look forward to what lies in store for the next Mighty MO and her crew."

Patricia waited for a moment so the instruction to end the recording wouldn't appear in the recording itself.

"Computer, end recording." She instructed.

The computer beeped in acknowledgement as Patricia finished her tea. She set her empty glass in the replicator to be recycled before she began getting ready for bed. Though it was only 6:00 in the evening, she wanted to get some sleep before the party began.

"Computer, set an alarm for 9:30 PM." Patricia instructed, figuring that would give her plenty of time to get ready before the party kicked off at 10.

The computer beeped in acknowledgement before saying. "Alarm set for 9:30 PM. Sweet dreams, commander."

As Patricia pulled back the covers to climb into bed, she turned back to look at the viewscreen one final time. The computer was right; she certainly would be having sweet dreams about that magnificent Bellerophon.

Posting by

Commander Patricia Cooke
Commanding Officer

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