"Admiral Lindrake Sir! Supply loading has almost been completed, and the last stragglers of the crew are boarding as we speak."
Reported the young second in command as Artemis stepped onto the command bridge.

"Very good, thank you Commander Bradich." He responded as they both saluted.
"Comms, patch me through to the rest of the ship." He ordered a young Lieutenant.

"Aye sir, patching you into the PA system now." He responded as he operated his console. Throughout the ship, a tone rang, gaining the crew's attention for the announcement.

"Attention all hands, this is Admiral Artemis Lindrake. As all of you know, this is to be the maiden tour of our fine vessel.

Some of the greatest minds in the entire Federation have worked on every single one of its components. I believe that you all understand what's at stake. This is the highest investment the Navy and the Federation council has made in its history.

As such, the eyes of the council, and all of the admiralty are upon us this day."

Artemis looked upon the face of every single person on his command bridge, before looking out the window into the depths of space and the view of the earth from the Lunar dry docks.

"Make every one of them as proud of you, as I know you shall make me, that is all."

"Name and rank please." Asked the hologram at the automated terminal in front of the pilot.

"Alzack Roberts, First Lieutenant, serial number: 2870BT735" He answered it as he set his bag on the floor next to himself.

"Recognized, Welcome Lieutenant Roberts, how may I assist you?" The program responded.

"Directions to my quarters from current location." Alzack clarified as he cracked his neck.

A map with a line in red from where the terminal was that lead in the right direction replaced the normal face hologram.

"Please take the hallway to your left for exactly one hundred and two meters, then make a right turn at hallway C85, assigned quarters is room 18 on the left side." It answered before the holographic face re-appeared.
"Do you require anything else?" The terminal asked.

"No, that will be all." Alzack answered as he picked his bag back up and began walking to his quarters just as announcement from the Admiral came over the ship's speakers.

Finally finding his way, he opened the door to the quarters he would be sharing with the three other members of his flight, just in time to see his number two pinning the second wing's leader on the ground, while the number four and newest of the flight watched from his bunk,thus ending what could have only been another one of their little sparring matches.

"Having some fun there Lynne?" Alzack asked with a smirk. "Maybe you'd like me and Nathan to give you and Daniel some alone time?"
He joked, causing Nathan to snicker as the other two scrambled to their feet and saluted their leader.

"Not at all sir! Just keeping my record going." Lynne responded with a prideful smile on her face.

Daniel on the other hand just chuckled with a small smirk on his face. "Almost had her that time sir." He told Zack.

"I'm sure you did Dan, but you guys better stop messing around, lift off is soon so get your gear stowed and secured before someone decides to have a pre-flight inspection." He told them all.

"Sir yes sir!" They responded in chorus as they all quickly unpacked their bags into their bunk storage.

"MARINES, ATEN-HUT!" Shouted the Gunnery Sargent as Marcus entered the last of the marine bunk rooms on his inspection route.
Every single man and woman in the room stood at rigid attention in front of their bunk, waiting on the Major's orders.

Slowly, the Major and his Gunnery Sargent walked along the rows, inspecting them and the soldiers standing before them,
and just like with every single room before, every last inch had been scrubbed clean and every bunk was made with the precision of a well oiled machine.

As the pair made their way back to the bunk room's entrance, both turned back to face the marines. "As you were." Marcus finally said as they both turned and left the room.

Commander Melissa approached the Admiral and quickly gave a sharp salute. "Sir! The last of the cargo has been secured and all personnel have been logged as aboard." She reported.

"Excellent, begin pre-launch checks." Artemis ordered as he signed the last of the documents on his personal tablet.

"Aye sir!" Melissa confirmed as she began issuing orders to the rest of the command staff, all of them working their terminals to complete them in timely order.

"Retract boarding ramps and seal all external airlocks"

"Ramps retracted and locked, airlocks sealed and pressurized" Responded an officer.

"Begin Tachyon drive core checks and power up main reactors for sub-light engines."

"All checks show green, reactor output at fifty percent." Replied one of the helmsmen.

"System checks on all missile launchers and point defense weapons."

"Offensive and defensive armaments showing green on all checks." Answered one of the weapons system operators.

"Check navigation and IFF systems."

"Navigation computer and IFF transponder systems show green." Responded the head navigator.

Commander Melissa made a quick turn back to the Admiral. "Checks complete, ready for launch sir." She reported.

"Very good, helmsmen, begin detachment procedure and take us out." Artemis ordered.

"Aye Admiral." Responded the lead helmsman.

"Lunar control, this is UCFS Flame of Hope, designation CVX-235, requesting launch permission, over." The helmsman spoke over the comms link.

"CVX-235, this is Lunar control, we hear you, stand by for docking grapple detachment, over." Responded the operator in the control tower.
"CVX-235, magnetic locks detached, launch window is 338 by 48, you are cleared, Lunar control out." Came the operator's call as the magnetic grapples detached from the hull of the Flame.

"Roger, 338 by 48, confirmed, CVX-235 out." The helmsman responded as the ship slowly began to pull out and lift away from the moon's surface. "Sir! We are away and clear."

"Good work, navigation, enter assigned co-ordinates and begin jump procedures." Artemis ordered as he stood up from his chair and approached the observation window at the front of the bridge.

"Aye sir, co-ordinates locked in to navigation computer, FTL drive is primed and ready." Responded Head Navigator Webley answered, as he entered the information into his terminal.

"Execute jump." The Admiral ordered.

"Aye sir, jumping." The navigator responded as the conformation was entered into the console and the ship disappeared in a flash of white light.

Author's Note

Chapter one is finished.
Next up, Chapter Two: First combat
Stay tuned for that!
And as always,
I'll see you among the stars!