En Route to Challenger 09:50 SET 2164 For the first time, Captain Benton met with his crew on the shuttle that was to take them to the Challenger for the first time.  It wasn’t yet time for the shakedown cruise; this was more of a present from Admiral Mitchell, a free for all hands-on extravaganza.  The meeting was tense, as Benton predicted it would be. As the shuttle started up and headed off for the starship, it was deathly quiet, everyone keeping to themselves.  Even Captain Benton, the commander of these reserved people, didn’t know what to say. Only on sentence was uttered, and it was by the shuttle pilot, an Ensign: “Here we are.” Benson’s head came up from the spot on the shuttle’s floor he’d been staring at.  He rose in awe as he saw the exterior of the Challenger for the first time.  His staff did likewise. “My God,” breathed Benton.  It was much bigger than  he’d anticipated.  Most of the crew’s reactions were the same. The Constitution class starship was two hundred and eighty-eight meters long, one hundred twenty-two meters wide, and seventy-two meters high.  The top part of the ship was a rounded disk while the body was more oblong in shape.  A thin connector held the two in place.  On the outsides of the body were two long components for faster-than-light capability. A pylon was on each, connecting them to the body. “Well ladies and gentlemen,” said Captain Benton breaking the silence, “this is our new home.” “And a fine home it is, sir,” commented Lieutenant Don Lewis. USS Challenger 10:13 SET 2164 The giant wheel on the door to the bridge turned and Captain Benton and his senior staff stepped onto the bridge of the USS Challenger for the first time. They stood, awed.  Stealing a few seconds to take it all in, they slowly moved around the bridge of the brand new ship, not wanting to touch or disturb anything. “So this is it,” said Captain Benton to no one in particular.  “The base of operations..” That’s when he spotted the chair. A lone gray chair that sat directly in the middle of the bridge.  Not too far in front of it was the Navigationss and Gunnery board, one long console.  To his right was the Science console, and behind him was the Communications post. Captain Benton tested out the phone that was attached to the side of his command chair.  Quickly scanning the list, he found the four digit number for the Engineering section.  The phone rang a few times before Lieutenant Commander Niree Johnson, Chief Engineer, picked up. “Engineering.”  The Bronx accent was unmistakable.  “Commander,” said Capt. Benton.  “Does Engineering meet with your satisfaction?” “It does, sir.” “Good!  Have you checked out the engines yet?” “Both the sublight engines and faster-than-light engines check out normal, sir.” Benton glanced at each bridge member, watching them drool over their new components.  “Well, let’s say we take her out for a spin.” “Captain?” “Hypothetically speaking, Commander, could we take the Challenger out and around the stars a few times if we wanted to?” “Hypothetically speaking, yes sir.” “Very well.  Let’s put our theory to use.”  He paused, grinning broadly at the situation.  “Fire up the sublight engines and let’s see what she’s got.” “Yes sir.” Lieutenant Donald Lewis, the ship’s main Navigations officer approached Captain Benton.  “Are we about to get underway, sir?” Still standing next to his chair, Captain Benton beamed his broad smile down on Lieutenant Lewis.  “The word, Lieutenant, has been given.  Prepare to launch.” “Aye, Captain.”