<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=86668.msg3809277#msg3809277">Quote from: alxnjsh on 24-10-2010, 02:58:39</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Airik looked out at the crew and smiled. “To your stations, the McNair will disembark at 0930. Dismissed.” Airik set the PADD down on the podium and finally breathed. All the stuffy formality was unlike the Ba’ku. He would have rather had a casual brunch with the crew. Looking at the chronometer on the podium, it was only one hour to 0930. He looked back at Commander MacReady. "I guess this is it. No turning back." He smiled.<br/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Sam stood, listening to the speech given by Airik.  The<em>Challenger</em>explosion.  Humanity had come so far in the near-four centuries since that day.  Warp drive.  The Federation.  Klingons.  Romulans.  The Borg.  And it had withstood all those, with the help of the other humanoid races who had joined the Federation.  And while he considered himself a soldier, he knew well that science had perils of its own, and that sometimes it cost lives.<br/><br/>He waited as command authorization was transferred from Axon to Captain Mitchell, and smiled as the crew was dismissed.  It was Sam MacReady who heard the statement about not looking back...<br/><br/>...but it was Commander Samuel MacReady, Earthman, veteran of the Dominion War, and Executive Officer of the McNair who answered.<br/><br/>"Captain, you make it sound like we've got something to be afraid of."  Samuel lifted an eyebrow.  "Now, this may not be Picard and the Big Double E, or Janeway and the Voyager...but we've got one of the best crews I've ever seen put together.  And we've got a damn fine ship."  He smiled.<br/><br/>"And now, in the memory of one of the greatest officers in Starfleet, off we go.  'Second star to the right...and straight on 'till morning'."<br/><br/>(moving to bridge)