LAST EDITED ON Jun-19-17 AT 04:01 PM (EDT)
 
(Challenger has performed well in the first day's somewhat-halfassed trial runs.)

	"A fine ship," was Lafiel's judgment as she locked down her
console after they'd returned to port, moored and shut down.
	"I hope so," said Gryphon.  Then he thumbed the intercom
all-call on his conn arm and announced, "OK, everybody, listen up.
Nice work today; Monday we get serious.  Take the weekend off, and I
want everybody back here at ten-hundred hours Monday morning, ready to
move into your quarters full-time and take her to work.  I want to see
if we can have her fully operational by a week from then, without
missing sleep.  Gryphon out."
	He switched the channel off, skritched the ship's beagle, and
said to his bridge crew, "Too optimistic?"
	"I don't think so," said Hanson Davion, patting his console.
"I think she's ready."
	"I share Dr. Davion's conviction," Klaang boomed, smiling
broadly.  "We shall carve a new legend across the stars!"
	"Right on, my Klingon brother!" Lore declared, high-fiving the
science officer.
	"And we'll take the Blue Riband away from the WDF for sure,"
added T'Vek with a wicked grin.
	"The sooner we get operational," said Hoshi, "the sooner poor
Krontep can take a day off."
	"Days off are for the weak," grumbled Klaang.
	"Remember that the next time your leave gets cancelled for an
alert," Ruri muttered.
	"Quarters!" Jinto Kirk exclaimed, slapping his forehead.
	"... Beg pardon, Jinto?" said Gryphon.
	"Uh, sorry, sir," said Kirk, his cheeks reddening.  "I just
realized that Commander Paryunu needs quarters."
	"Abriel," said Lafiel automatically.
	"Sorry?"
	Lafiel smiled and said, "If you -must- stand on ceremony and
use one of my non-given names in a form of address, you should use
Abriel," she explained.
	"Ah.  Sorry, thank you.  Commander Abriel needs quarters,
Captain."
	"Well, you're an enterprising young man, Mr. Kirk - see to it."
	Young Kirk gave the captain an odd look; Gryphon looked back
in puzzlement for a moment, then winced.
	"Would you believe," he said, "that wasn't deliberate?  Carry
on, Mr. Kirk."

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Mod
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
zgryphon at that email service Google has
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.