Giving the Tour [for losthunter]

[boldygoing]

It has been a week or two since the Enterprise was in any kind of condition to entertain visitors. A supply run here, a survey mission there, nothing close to casual enough for Captain Kirk to justify setting aside a little time to have a guest aboard, his days taken up by the duties of command. And certainly not out in the middle of deep space, where an unexpected visitor would be more likely to be seen as a stowaway or intruder, no matter if the captain vouched for them or not.

But it has been six months since the crew's last chance for shore leave, so after the debriefings are complete, Starfleet Command gives the slightly weary crew a brief three days off while the ship's systems are inspected and recalibrated. And it's a perfect opportunity to make good on his offer from a while ago.

Jim sits at a shuttle terminal in downtown San Francisco, a gold-shirt in a small sea of red and blue, all Starfleet personnel waiting to be taken up to various starships in orbit or in Spacedock. He knows it might be a few minutes before Hunter arrives, and keeps himself busy reviewing reports on a padd, keeping an eye out for the distinctive tattoos of his invited guest.


[OOC: Image links to replace invalid links below:
Spacedock
USS Enterprise
Warp core
Officer's lounge]

Comments

worked fine. <3

[losthunter]

"Mmmmm something to fantasize about. You. A dress uniform. And your sexy Captain's voice."

Hunter tilts his head, then nods slightly. "I guess I didn't think about the military about being an employee. But they do provide a career for hundreds of people."

He looks around Main Engineering, and has to stop at the large coolant tanks that tower over him. And then, the upside-down dome. He sort of tilts his head, as if trying to figure out what it is. He can feel is thrumming underneath him.

"Is that the ship's engine?"

[boldygoing]

Jim also nods. "Starfleet's more like the merchant marines than a military navy, but a lot of the structure's similar."

And of course he has to point out minor features here and there, but Hunter's question draws attention to the most prominent part of Main Engineering, the whole reason for the party in the first place. "Not the engine itself, but the power source," he says, nodding towards the structure. "That's the Enterprise's warp core. Without that, we go pretty much nowhere."

[losthunter]

"A warp core." Hunter repeats. By the confusion in his voice, it might be evident that this is something else that he has never heard about.

[boldygoing]

"Matter-antimatter reactor," Jim explains further, and as they circle around the massive structure, Hunter might catch sight of a transparent door leading inside the warp core, the familiar symbol for radiation etched into the surface. "It's a lot more powerful than the nuclear reactors of the twenty-first century, but also safer," he adds, hopefully forestalling any fearful reaction to that news.

"It's the primary power generator for the whole ship, but more importantly, it's what makes faster-than-light travel possible."

[losthunter]

"Wow..." Hunter keeps his eyes on the warp core as they circle around the massive structure. And he is glad to hear that it is safe to be so close to it, even with the radiation symbol etches into the surface of the transparent door.

"And that is how you travel to other planets quickly?"

[boldygoing]

Jim nods, and begins to lead Hunter towards what looks something like a futuristic elevator, and the door slide open at their approach automatically. "The warp core powers the nacelles, those twin structures you saw on the back of the ship. They generate a subspace bubble that distorts the fabric of space, and that bubble basically gets flung through space with us along for the ride."

When the lift door slides closed, Jim says, "Deck Nine." There's no physical sensation of motion, but lights speed past the transparent parts of the lift, and when the doors open, they're greeted by a white circular corridor that curves away to both sides.

[losthunter]

Hunter follows Jim into the futuristic elevator. He doesn't see any buttons to press, and was beginning to wonder how they move, when Jim speaks and suddenly the lights speed past the transparent parts of the lifts.

"Is there any sensation of that distortion of space?"

[boldygoing]

"Besides the engine vibrations, no, not unless something's broken. The physics are kinda complicated."

The corridor seems to loop around in one massive circle, with straight corridors cutting through like spokes on a wheel, leading further inward or outward. "I figure we'll skip the more boring parts of the ship," Jim says with a grin. "Unless you really wanna see storage and laundry."

[losthunter]

"While I am sure I could find ways to make those 'boring' parts of the ship less boring... I would really like to see as much as possible today." Hunter chuckles.

[boldygoing]

Jim has to agree. He doesn't skimp on the bits of the ship that they do tour, however.

One thing that seems consistent in this part of the Enterprise is the shining white and silver interior, more modern and futuristic than the somewhat submarine-like aesthetic of Main Engineering. The brig takes it to an extreme, a large circular room with recessed cells built into the walls, blocked from access by a clear, seemingly-solid wall. It's empty at the moment, thank goodness, and the desk at the center of the room is crewed by a single red-shirted crewman, who nods politely to the captain and his visitor as they pass through.

After the brig, Jim takes Hunter around to the science labs, where any personnel present seem to be clad in blue, and there are multiple experiments in progress. "Don't ask me specifics on what they're doing," Jim says with a chuckle. "Every science department on the ship has access to the labs, and we've usually got anything from xenochemistry to theoretical physics being tested down here."

[losthunter]

Hunter was a little curious about the brig. In a way, it made a little sense to him why a ship like the Enterprise would need one. And he had wondered about the invisible wall that blocked access to those who need to be placed here.

And then at the science lab, he pauses a little longer. He watches as the scientists work on their experiments.

"Sounds like a lot of work."

[boldygoing]

"It is," Jim agrees. "At its core, Starfleet's mission is exploration and the search for knowledge, and that never stops, not even when we're in port."

[losthunter]

"And I feel a little overwhelmed. My thoughts right now are focused around exploring a certain Captain." Hunter whispers lowly in Jim's ear.

[boldygoing]

And there's still so much of the ship to see. But Jim understands. Enterprise is huge, and Hunter probably has never seen anything like her. "We could hit up the officer's lounge next, if you want. Should be empty."

[losthunter]

"That would be great."

"I am enjoying everything that I am seeing." He clarifies softly. Not wanting Jim to think his girl is not being appreciated. She is.

"I just have never seen anything like this before. Any of it."

"I truly feel like the Country Mouse right now. A little lost in the big city."

Sorry for all the edits, my link failed twice! Should work now.

[boldygoing]

Jim laughs a little, though he's not laughing at Hunter. "Which one of us grew up on a farm, again?" he asks rhetorically, but puts a hand casually around Hunter's waist. "Don't worry about it. Officer's lounge is up another deck."

The lounge is relatively small, but still comfortably spacious. The lights are dim at first, the room darkened so as to not waste power when no one is there, but they slowly brighten in response to the presence of people in the room. There are some comfortable-looking couches, and a full bar with actual bar stools bolted to the floor. One wall is transparent in part, providing a spectacular view of space, and a small slice of Earth as the Enterprise and Spacedock slowly rotate together, the moon visible in the far distance on the horizon.

silly links

[losthunter]

Hunter leans into the touch, sliding his hand around Jim's waist. A little glad that little personal displays of affection are not going to be considered inappropriate right now.

Hunter has to smile when he sees the full bar, and the couches. But of course, it is the transparent wall that attracts him the most. And he heads in that direction, to look down at the Earth, the Spacedock and the moon all at once.

"I have never seen anything so incredible."

[boldygoing]

Jim comes to stand next to him, also admiring the view. He's seen it before, of course, but it's still just as beautiful. "This is one of my favorite places on the ship, besides the observation deck."

[losthunter]

Hunter places his arm around Jim's waist again, once the Captain is standing next to him. And he leans his head onto Jim's shoulder.

"Observation deck? Where you just sit and observe?"

[boldygoing]

Jim puts his arm around Hunter, too. "Yeah. It's a bit more popular though, so it's usually not as private unless it's the middle of the night."

[losthunter]

"Sort of the make-out point of the ship?" He grins.

[boldygoing]

Jim grins a little. "Among other things, yeah. It's part of the rec facilities, and if there's one thing every starship needs, it's a way for crew to let off steam when they're not on duty."

[losthunter]

"I imagine it is important to have rec facilities on a ship like this one. Especially if people have been assigned to a longer mission, where they just feel a little caged."

"Do you find ways to let off steam?" Hunter whispers in his ear. His fingers trail lightly against his hip bone. It is sort of nice to just be content with the small gestures and flirting. And even if they are disturbed by a crew member, Hunter doesn't think he would let go of Jim too quickly right now.

[boldygoing]

Jim makes a pleased sound in his throat, shifting his own hand a little lower on Hunter's lower back. "Not that kind, not with my crew anyway. Spock and I play chess every week, and I spar with Sulu every now and then. And you already know about the books."

[losthunter]

"Well, you have me in your life now for that kind of distraction." Hunter nuzzles his neck.

"I am glad to hear that the game of chess is still something of interest."