Testing the Engines

Posted on Wed Oct 1st, 2025 @ 4:21am by Commander Kara Sorenson
Edited on on Wed Oct 1st, 2025 @ 4:22am

1,017 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 1: Shadows of Diplomacy
Location: Various
Timeline: 09/29/2404 @ 1900 hrs

Location: Cockpit of Valkyrie’s Federation Fighter

“This is Valkyrie, say again Command?” Kara said, as she started her flight path around Mars. She went into a high orbit, she was going to perform an atmospheric skip off the atmosphere. Kara was eager to attempt this maneuver, it would bring her close to the surface of Mars. Thinking of the surface, reminded her there was still fires burning today on the surface of Mars, well according to the Federation News Network. She was going to see for herself, and also in the process be able to perform a cool maneuver, with a very slight risk of danger.

As the fighter approached the surface, Kara’s proximity alarms started to go off. The planet’s atmosphere was still on fire. It was the main reason she could only do a high orbit skip. They needed to test the new engines on the Edison Class Fighters. The design was not knew, but the refit on the fighter was. Starfleet learned from the late Captain Liam Shaw, that opening the nacelles in a charged nebula could recharge the fighters faster than any crew. This gave a rare opportunity for the fighter to redeployed in long range missions. The fighter had a small living quarters, a singular bed, a head with vibe shower combo and a replicator. It was very cramped.

The ship could be operated around the clock, and with one officer on duty in a 12 hour shift rotation. Today though, this was a test run and Kara would be back before, she reached the 12 hour mark. She started to observe her controls, and she had an engineer assisting her back on Earth Space Dock. She was feeding that engineer real time telemetry.

“Your flight is approved, you may commence when ready.” The Engineer back on Earth Space Dock advised her. He watched from his display monitor as she lined up for her approach to the planet’s atmosphere.

“Understood Command, Valkyrie begins test flight now.” Kara called out, as she altered her course on the pre-approved flight path, and began her descent down to Mars upper atmosphere. All systems were in the green, her readouts started to detect gravimetric stress on the hull, but they were well within tolerance levels. She continued her descent.

“Ease up on your angle, Valkyrie.” The engineer called out, with a tone of concern in his voice.

“Relax, I got this, I am still within tolerance perimeters.” Kara suggested, thinking to herself that the Engineer was being a mother hen, and worrying over nothing. Engineers had a way of doing that.

Target goal reached, beginning to pull up and tracking my escape vector, Command.” Kara said, as she altered her course smoothly, and the fighter started to skim the planet. The tolerance levels of the hull were not being stressed and increased temperatures on the hull started to rise.

Even though the temperatures were rising, they were starting their ascent away from the planet, so in a few moments, those levels would go back down.

A few moments later, Kara had completed the maneuver successfully. “Nicely done, Valkyrie. Return to base, and let’s debrief.” The Engineer called out with a big warm smile on his face.

“Understood command, setting course back to Base. Valkyrie out.” Kara said, as she changed course for Earth Space Dock. As the course was plotted, she started to relax a little bit. But still kept a vigil eye on her controls. She knew better than to become too confident. Danger can strike in a fighter when you least expect it, to happen.

Location: Earth Space Dock, Kara’s Quarters

3 hours later…

Kara was now in her quarters, waiting for the arrival of Colton Rogers, her boyfriend. Over the past year the two of them had become very close. They were talking about moving in together. But that was temporarily placed on hold. She knew that Colton received orders for his next assignment. The USS Scharnhorst. All Kara knew about the ship was, it was an inquiry class refit vessel. It was refitted from a battle cruiser to a heavy cruiser.

A few seconds later the monitor at her desk was buzzing. Then a voice called out over the intercom. “Lieutenant Sorenson, you have an incoming call.” Called out a communication officer on Earth Space Dock.

“Route it to my room, I’ll take it here.” Kara said, assuming it was her boyfriend looking to talk with her. No doubt saying his meeting was running a little late, and he would be there as soon as he could.

Ariel Sorenson appeared on her monitor. “Sis, this is a surprise.” Kara said with a warm smile. She was not expecting to talk to her baby sister.

“I wanted to talk to you, but not over subspace. I wanted to talk to you about my future.” Ariel suggested to her sister.

“Shouldn’t you talk to Mom and Dad?” Kara said, thinking they would be more inclined to address any concerns that Ariel had.

“I need to talk to you.” Ariel suggested, without offering any reason why she needed to talk to her. This was not like Ariel, to be cryptic with her responses.

“Okay, I have time tomorrow, if you want to stop by ESD or I can come home if you want me too?” Kara suggested to Ariel.

“I’ll come to you, how does 1800 hours sound, maybe we can have dinner together.” Ariel suggested as she waited for Kara to respond. Ariel had big favor to ask, and she hoped that dinner would help set the mood.

“1800 hours it is, meet me at my quarters. We will walk down together to get dinner.” Kara said, wondering what Ariel wanted to talk about. She hoped her baby sister was not pregnant. The scene starts to fade away.

"I really appreciate this, say sorry to Colton for me if I ruined any date night tomorrow." Ariel said, as smiled nervously at her sister, and allowed the screen to close out. She hoped that Kara would help her tomorrow.

The End

 

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