2019.03.06 - Cutscene: Captain's log, stardate 254310.29
Captain's log, stardate 254310.29.
As requested by the fleet advisory council, I have assumed command of the GSS Escapade, the Explorer-class flagship of the Galactic Explorers Alliance Starfleet. She's a new ship, and she only recently completed her shakedown cruise, a tour of major colonies in central GEAS space, under the command of Admiral Noyce. I was only brought on after the fact, my GEAS commission specifically reactivated for the sake of the Escapade's new mission.
Some years ago, while I was serving as captain of the GSS Starlighter, I was aboard a shuttle that was pulled into a spatial anomaly. I found myself in unfamiliar space--what proved to be another galaxy, which GEAS has since labeled Galaxy 1138--and while most of my encounter there is probably classified, my reports are on record. To summarize, we learned of a vast array of civilizations in that galaxy, ostensibly ruled over by an entity known as the Galactic Empire--an interesting reversal of the name "Empire Galactic," one of our own corporations back home. One of those funny coincidences, I guess. Well, suffice to say, I was able to return home, and some years later... which is quite another story... I retired from the fleet and went out on my own. That was years ago.
Recent intelligence indicates renewed activity from the anomaly that brought me to Galaxy 1138, and science vessels sent to investigate have confirmed an active, stable wormhole connecting our two galaxies. In light of this, I've been brought back onto active duty to command the mission to establish first contact and pursue formal relations with this Empire. GEAS, dedicated to peace and exploration, is nonetheless prepared to defend our space and the colonies in it if we must, but they didn't want to send in someone with a military mindset, and if I may editorialize briefly--which, of course, I can, as it's the captain's prerogative--we still get too many of those in the fleet for my taste. So, they went with me, someone who has past experience with both Galaxy 1138 and first contact situations and, I'll note, a decidedly un-military style of thinking.
We launched today, and they were kind enough to send over a bottle of champagne--pretty authentic stuff from Chateau Piccadilly or something on Nouvignon Colony, I'll have to check--which I plan to pour at the senior officer's dinner tonight. Otherwise, so far it's been a nice, smooth voyage. I'm scheduled to meet with the ship's morale officer, Lt. Cmdr. Rixx, soon, and from what I've read in his file, that should be... interesting. Morale officers certainly have come a long way from when I was a Space Academy cadet, I'll say that!
We'll arrive at the wormhole in a few hours, at which point we'll make our crossing and establish a communications station on the far side. There's talk of bringing in some kind of starbase to act as a neutral territory on the far side--I suppose we'll see how that goes.
For now, I've got plenty of paperwork to do. Funny how we still call it that. I'm fairly sure it's been centuries since we actually used paper! And, for the psych folks reading this back home, yes: I am an avowed fan of bad jokes, in the right context. I'm sure that's in my profile already.
Errant, out.