ASC Galaxy Shuttle Bay
February 1, 2506
1630 Hours GST-Z
Harrigan waited for the green light showing the shuttle bay was pressurized. The signal chimed, followed by the deep metallic groan of the blast doors locking. He strode across the cavernous deck toward the Io shuttle. The air smelled faintly of coolant, hydraulic oil, and ozone, that sharp scent of machinery that clung to every launch bay in the Corps. The muffled whir of maintenance drones and the rhythmic clatter of crew boots on the deck plates echoed through the bay. His senior staff were finally arriving.
With the Alpha shift complete, they could officially take command of *Galaxy *from the shake-down crew. He had reviewed their files and seen enough pictures to recognize them in person. The first man off the shuttle he knew immediately. Commander Oliver "Tommy" Thomas, former engineer's mate of the Chesapeake. Tommy looked bleary-eyed and smelled faintly of ale. Harrigan remembered it had been Zeke's last night aboard, and knowing him, he probably partied until dawn.
"Tommy, welcome aboard. Zeke and you tied a few on last night, huh?" Harrigan shook hands with his new engineer.
"One? Try a dozen or more. How that old Texan can drink us all under the table at his age amazes me."
"Fifty-two is not that old, but yes, Zeke knows how to party. Check in with Doctor Lasiter in the infirmary. She can get you some dry-up pills, then head to your quarters and clean up. Take an hour's nap if you need it. I don't need you in engineering right away."
"Thank you, sir, and I'm sorry. I told Zeke I was boarding the Galaxy today. He just laughed and said, 'Drink another, old boy.' What could I do, sir?"
"No explanations needed, Commander. We'll operate a bit differently here with libations. By the book." Harrigan smiled.
"Bless you, sir, bless you."
Harrigan laughed, and Tommy made an exaggerated show of kneeling before him. He had always liked Thomas and had long believed he would make a fine engineer. Now he would find out.
"Do you need me to point you to the infirmary?"
"Captain, please. I'm an engineer. I know these ships intimately."
"Very good, Tommy. Tell Doctor Lasiter I sent you, and this is triage courtesy of Captain, I mean, Commodore Braggart."
"Aye, sir." Tommy gave a mock salute and wandered off toward the corridor, boots echoing as he went.
Harrigan turned back as more officers disembarked. The next two were his operations officer, Second Lieutenant Irena Bartok operations officer, and his XO, Commander Bryan McKenzie. They were locked in a debate, Bartok championing the Valoris Spiders basketball team while McKenzie argued for the Proxima Three Pirates.
"Well, it's good to see my officers off to a strong start," Harrigan said, extending his hand to McKenzie first, then to Bartok. Astro Corps tradition dictated that he acknowledge the higher-ranked officer first.
"Captain," they both replied in unison, shaking his hand.
"Welcome aboard. If you don't mind, I'd like you both to report to the CC. Commander Maddox wants to transition off before 1800. Alpha shift can stand the watch until the bulk of the crew arrives at 1800. Gamma shift comes on at 1900. That gives us all an hour to clean up before dinner in the captain's mess at 2000. Sound good to you?"
"Yes, sir. Shall I take the conn?" McKenzie asked, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Yes, Commander, until I can join you on the CC."
"Sir, Regulation 6A, paragraph eighteen, specifies that a transfer of command is necessary before Commander McKenzie can take the conn," Bartok said crisply.
"They told me you were sharp and by the book," Harrigan replied with a grin. "Well, hell, I'll go up with you, and we'll transfer command properly. It won't hurt to let the officers report to me on the CC as per tradition."
"Very good, sir," McKenzie said with a nod.
"Shall we then?" Harrigan motioned toward the corridor, and the trio crossed the bay toward the lift. The hum of the ship's systems filled the silence, a soft undertone that spoke of life awakening within her hull. They rode up in silence, each lost in thought. Harrigan slipped the datapad that held his orders from Astro Corps HQ from his pocket.
When they reached the CC, the faint vibration of the ship's core drive was more noticeable. It was a steady thrumming beneath the deck plates. Consoles glowed softly in the dim lighting. Crew murmured in low tones, performing checks, the occasional chirp of a console punctuating the quiet.
Harrigan took the left stairs, McKenzie the right, both stepping toward the command platform where Commander Maddox stood waiting. Maddox rose from the command chair and saluted. Harrigan returned it smartly.
"Commander Maddox, here are my transfer orders from Astro Corps HQ."
"Very good, sir." Maddox examined the pad, then carried it to the operations station. "Lieutenant Bartok, please log this into the ship's official record."
"Aye, sir."
"You are relieved, Commander," Harrigan said.
"I stand relieved, sir."
"Command transfer from Commander Sean Maddox to Captain John Harrigan at 1648 Hours GST-Z," the ship's AI announced over the intercom.
Every person aboard knew, in that instant,* Galaxy* had her captain.
Commander Maddox extended his hand. Harrigan shook it firmly. Maddox glanced around the command center, his home for the past five months, and exhaled slowly.
"She's a fine ship, sir. These birds are amazing."
"Thank you, Commander. Your crew did fine work. I assume someone will be up to etch the commemoration plaque for your shakedown command?"
"Yes, sir. I'll have the rest of my people off your ship by 1800."
"Good. Where are you headed next?"
"We're assigned to the new Heritage variants. The Concord, sir. She'll be a fine ship."
"Indeed. Every ship has something special about her. I just finished my tour on Chesapeake."
"Yes, I hear Commodore Braggart brought the house down last night."
"Apparently so. Godspeed, Commander."
"Godspeed to you and your crew, sir. Permission to depart Galaxy, sir." Maddox saluted.
"Granted," Harrigan returned the salute.
Maddox departed. Harrigan turned and lowered himself into the command chair for the first time. The leather creaked softly under his weight. The hum of the ship filled his ears: the faint vibration of the engines, the quiet murmur of voices, and the steady rhythm of beeping consoles.
He had waited years for this chair.
It really is mine. Finally mine.
His smile widened. He swung the monitor on the chair's armature into view and logged in. Data filled the screen: readiness reports, inventory checks, and systems updates. He leaned back, feeling the pulse of Galaxy through the deck and the chair beneath him.
Oh yes, he thought. This is my spot. I love it here.
And so began his first watch aboard Galaxy.