Based on characters created for "The Princess Has Come Of Age"
"Commence mission log, ESV Prometheus, Captain Elizabeth Daniels commanding. Earthdate September 21
st
2271. Earth Command has instructed us to seek out habitable worlds in preparation for the colonization programme that it shortly intends to commence. After some weeks, long range sensors have picked up a small planet that may be suitable, and we are moving in to investigate."
The Earth Science Vessel Prometheus moved through space, approaching a small blue and green world in a small solar system of four planets. It looked like a miniature version of the Sol system, the first planet closest to the sun being a small, hot world of molten rock and toxic fumes. The second planet, much further out, was the one the Prometheus was most interested in, and it closely resembles Earth, despite the fact that there was little sign of intelligent life. Even further out was a large blue coloured gas world with two sets of rings, each on a different axis. The final planet, so far away from it's own sun that it was barely noticeable, was a tiny world of ice and rock. It was doubtful that anything could live there, though the ship was too far away for sensors to pick up any signs of life.
On board the ship, Undergraduate Officer Zoe Daniels walked the long corridors to the bridge, a data pad held under her arm. The pad contained the results of her analysis of a type four nebulae the ship had passed through a few days ago. Though the nebulae bore no significance to their primary mission, the ship also doubled as a science college, and Zoe was one of its senior students. EarthGov, Earth's international governing body, had decided that the best form of education for it's young people was field experience. For this reason, ships such as the Prometheus were crewed with a number of students as well as fully qualified officers. Their studies comprised of normal duties that were recorded and finally assessed on or near the student's 18
th
birthday. So far on her tour of duty as an Undergraduate Officer, Zoe had investigated various spatial anomalies and phenomena and had taken part in a number of planetary surveys. This report would be her last college assignment, but only as long as she got it in on time. It was her 18
th
birthday tomorrow, and the deadline for final submissions was 18:30. Half an hour from now. Hopefully her tutor, the ship's Chief Science Officer, would be at her post on the bridge. Otherwise Zoe didn't think she had any hope of getting the report in on time.
The bridge of the Prometheus was a hive of noise and activity. As well as the sound of the massive hyperdrive engine, which was a low background buzz throughout the ship, there were the beeps and buzzes of various computers and systems. Runners dashed around the large area, passing messages between departments and waiting for reports to be signed. The quietest part of the room was the forward command deck. This compact section was right at the front of the bridge, laid out in a circular pattern around a 3D holographic display screen. The command deck housed the terminals for navigation, operations, tactical and sensors. Navigation was the closest to the holoscreen, with the captain and first officer chair's positioned just behind. The remaining stations formed a curved line behind the captain's chair, and a low wall separated the area from the rest of the bridge.
The lift door onto the bridge opened and Zoe stepped out into a bustle of activity. Far in front of her, she could see the planet they were approaching in glorious three-dimensional detail on the viewer. Dodging the mass of staff in the busier section of the bridge, Zoe made her way towards the command deck, glancing around her as she went to make sure the science officer wasn't at one of the science stations back here. It turned out that the woman was at her other post, in the first officer's chair, right at the front of the bridge. Taking advantage of her relationship with the ship's captain, Zoe strode confidently down to the front of the command deck.
"Hi, mom. Hi, Commander." The 18-year-old moved across the deck to stand between the two senior officers as they sat in their seats.
"Hi, Zoe. What can we do for you?" Her mother asked, looking up at her daughter as she came into view.
"I've just finished my report on my analysis of the nebulae we passed through. I wanted to hand it in personally, before I ran out of time."
"Thank you, Zoe." Commander Deniston replied, as she took the data pad from the teenager. "I'm sure it will make an excellent addition to your portfolio." Zoe's mother immediately changed the subject.
"We've just been talking about you, actually," she said, with a glance at her first officer. "Your final assessment is tomorrow, and both Lauren and I thought it would be a good idea if you took command of the planetary survey mission. A kind of practical examination." Zoe looked shocked and surprised.
"But I thought only full officers could take commands. Surely I won't be eligible until after my moderation?"
"Being the Captain's daughter gives you more privileges than just free access to the bridge," Captain Daniels said with a smile. "So, what do you think?"
"I think it's excellent," Zoe answered, a wide grin on her face. "When do I start?"
"Well, I advise you wait until tomorrow before you take a trip down to the surface," her mother suggested. "But you may want to spend some time picking your team."
"Picking my team? Hasn't one already been assigned?"
"Not unless you've done it, already. You're the commanding officer. Choosing your staff is your job. A database of all crewmembers with the relevant skills has already been downloaded to your personal computer."
"Then, if you don't mind, I'd like to get started right away." The captain nodded, and Zoe turned and left the bridge.
"How do you think she'll do?" the captain asked her first officer and science chief.
"I think she'll be fantastic."
"Funny," the captain said with a smile. "I had the same idea."
Zoe pressed the palm sensor at the entrance to her quarters, and the door slid open. She stepped through, and the door closed again behind her. Her quarters were quite large, and consisted of three rooms. The doorway entered onto a fairly large living area, with large comfortable chairs under the window, and a glass dining table in the middle with four dining chairs positioned round it. There was a large plant in one corner of the room, and a holographic entertainment system in another.
"Computer," Zoe said, tugging at the fastening on the collar of her jumpsuit, and pulling away the front panel of the uniform. "How many crew records are in the database for the planetary survey mission?" The answer came back immediately, the computer speaking in the warm, youthful tones of man somewhere in his 20's or 30's.
"There are 3,340 records on file for crewmembers with the necessary skills for this mission." Zoe sighed, and pulled at the back of the jumpsuit. The whole upper portion of her Undergraduate officers uniform fell away, revealing a strong upper body that was well looked after. Her firm, medium sized breasts were encased in a white, frilly bra that covered the girl's entire globes. Kicking off her shoes, she stepped through into the bedroom, and pulled down the leggings of the all-in-one jumpsuit. They slid down her long, slim legs with ease, and then she slowly lifted one leg at a time to pull them off her feet.
Zoe's bedroom was about half the size of the living room, which still meant it was quite large. There was a large, soft bed against one wall of the room, and a washbasin on the other. Next to the door that connected the room to the living area, there was a long desk with a swivel chair and two computer terminals. One was built into the surface of the desk itself; the other was a laptop style machine. On the same wall as the washbasin, but a little further along, was a wardrobe and chest of drawers.
"What are the skills that have been selected as important for this mission?" Zoe asked the computer, tossing the uniform onto her bed.
"Atmospheric analysis, geology, biological studies, agriculture, molecular biology, biotechnology ..."
"Computer, stop!" Zoe almost yelled the command, collapsing onto the bed in her bra and knickers. She had an idea this was going to take longer than she'd thought. Rolling over onto her front, she propped her head up in her hands and spoke again. "Computer, how many people have all required skills for this mission?" The answer came back immediately.
"None." Not that she really expected otherwise, but it was worth eliminating the possibility.