Act One, Scene One

[a magical taco]

Captain Campbell's Log
En rout to rendezvous with USS Thunderchild
VIP Quarters, USS Intrepid
Stardate: 53829.04

"Captain's Personal Log Stardate 53829.04

This is Jackson Fionn Campbell, the new captain of the USS Thunderchild, at least I will be when I rendezvous with her at Starbase 74. I cannot wait to see her again, to walk her halls or to enter the bridge. To sit in the captain's chair? I still cant believe she is about to be mine. I can't think of a ship I would rather take command of than the Thunderchild. It is one thing being a Captain and adjutant to Admiral David Tate. But it is something completely different commanding a starship. I still remember when the command was given to me by Admiral Tate. The Thunderchild is to be Starfleet's very first carrier. This command will surely be one that will be written in to the history books. Not that the Thunderchild wasn't already in the history books. A fine ship with a heroic history.

The last time I saw her we had crawled back from the Cardassia space with our tail between our legs. Ambushed by a handful of Jem'Hadar attack ships, we never even saw coming. If I recall, I was in a scheduled meeting with Lieutenant Jenifer Luther, our ships chief engineer when the attack began. Tactical Officer Bonham took control of the bridge after the Captain and XO were killed. Even then he was a fine officer and he proved himself in an impossible situation that day, a situation I am not envious for missing. He lost both his best friends that day and the respect of much of the crew. They obviously do not know the cost of leadership or the toll it takes.

Fires had sprung up all over the ship, people were laying wounded or worse down every corridor. Power was failing everywhere as the ship took a heavy pounding that day. I knew my efforts would be better severed helping where I was rather than trying to return to the bridge to take command. Beside filling me in while in battle would not have been the best use of our time. I remember the end of the fight, most of its a blur but, toward the end I was trying to help a young ensign who had taken a piece of shrapnel to the chest. He was bleeding badly and there was no way to apply pressure without pushing the shard deeper into his body.

When that lad died, I sat back on my heels and looked out the window as one of out fighters was destroyed in a blast of light before the Jem'Hadar attack ship turned toward the Thunderchild. I could see more of our fighters out there but they could not stop the Jem'Hadar from firing in time. I shouted for everyone to brace for impact. The explosion had knocked me off my feet and into the adjacent wall knocking the air from my lungs. In that moment, I thought that this was going to be the end of us all. We would never escape this battle.

My head was swimming, outside I could still see our boys fighting. I remember thinking we needed to run, needed to get out of here. Our shields were dead and our haul wasn't going to last much longer. I cursed Bonham, 'get us out of here you fool', I think I even yelled it out loud. Another impact and another trip into a wall. I believe that's when I broke my nose, or at least when I noticed it was broken. A medical officer saw me then and tried to help but I brushed him off, telling him to help someone who was actually hurt. As he walked way I noticed he was bleeding himself and pretty badly. I stepped to help him when we went into warp. The acceleration with our ship degree of damage sent me off my feet.

That's the last thing I remember before waking two days later in a hospital bed in Deep Space Nine. A broken nose, three cracked ribs, a concussion, and a eight inch scar down my left shoulder blade. I was awake just in time to see her depart the space station. I remember watching her being tugged in to warp. Her haul was smashed and the scares of the battle were clearly visible. I actually thought that would be the last time I would see the Thunderchild. Surely they would take her to deep space and scuttle her. Fate played a hand in the Thunderchild's return to glory.

Later that day I was given my orders to report to Admiral Tate as soon as I was fit for duty. Admiral Tate had been a long time friend and hell taught me everything I know about leadership. It took almost a week before the doctors finally released me from their care though I bet they wanted to keep me longer. Being bed ridden was not going to be my fate. I started working for Tate the next day. We spent the next year helping the Cardassians rebuild their shattered Union. The Dominion had been beaten and driven from our space, but in their wake was left suffering and destruction that bordered unspeakable.

Now, I sit here looking out the window of this Intrepid Class ship eagerly waiting my new ship. The last time I was aboard, I was her Operation's Officer. I haven't named my XO yet, but after tomorrow my ship will have a Captain. Tomorrow I will be returning to the Thunderchild as her Commander.

end log"