FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Things start moving forward now, people. No action in this one, but in case someone doesn't remember from the first part of the story, the characters and technologies used in my story line here do come from other stories. If you have a problem with it, I'm not making money from it, so get over it. Also, if you're not a Star Trek fan, don't complain about it to me. Finally, in writing this chapter, I got a new idea in my head about what to do with the logo so painstakingly drawn up by Chaossun.

Now, without further delay, let's get this party started.

Children of Earth

The Beginning

"Space...the final frontier...These four words started off episodes of a popular science fiction franchise for nine years." Saphyra says, standing before a crowd of roughly twenty or thirty, but being watched by millions. "Today we begin the voyages of our fleet's ships. The ships may look the same, but only for some of those ships will their missions be the same." She smiles. "Today, the Department of Starfleet officially joins with the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps as an official part of the United States Military." She pauses as applause and cheers block out the possibility to even give more of her speech. Microphone or no, there would be no way to hear her talk until this dies down. Some of the humans have tears streaming from their eyes. She couldn't believe the amount of influence she still had. Tho she was no longer officially the leader of the executive branch, she was refered to as 'Queen Saphyra'. She was able to influence certain things. The Senate even passed a bill allowing for the Queen to occupy the position of President should most of the Executive Branch be killed or incapacitated. Her position in things was pretty much right after the Attorney General. Tho in practicality, it was up for debate if she couldn't be put in charge after the Secretary of State. Finally the crowd dies down and she speaks up again. "Starfleet's mission is twofold: The first, and most obvious, is to protect American citizens, American territory, and to bring the force of our military to bear on any enemy that comes to bear its fangs at us. The second is to..."

Davis grins, sitting with generals from the Army, Marines, and Air Force, and Admirals from the Navy and his own, newly formed, branch: Starfleet. He was the only non flag officer there. His rank had transfered, roughly, to Commodore, he has five pips on his collar. He had recommended the 'TNG' uniforms as their official uniforms. Saphyra had passed it along. Officers could choose between the 'series' or 'movie' uniforms for duty shifts onboard ships, but the white and gold uniform was the dress uniform, and all his medals seemed to stand out all the more brilliantly for it. Also, when he sits down, there's no shifting, just like with the other uniforms. He watches Saphyra as she makes her speech about the glorious future that awaits humans, dragons, and raptors in 'the final frontier'. She had gone over the second role of Starfleet, rapid transit of colonists and supplies to new colonies that would certainly be founded, and the support of our allies. Now she was going on about the scientific stuff. She was also playing heavily on the popularity of Star Trek. After all, taxes were increasing a little bit to fund this new branch of the Armed Forces.

After a few minutes, her speech comes to an end. Saphyra smiles and looks to the flag staffs nearby. There were five of them. Each one flew a flag for their branch of the military. One stood empty. Three men in starfleet uniforms stand at the base. One has a red uniform, another tan, another blue. They start putting up Starfleet's flag, and as they do, the nearby band starts up, with all pomp and fanfare, the new hymn for Starfleet. Several people cheer as, after the first few seconds, the band starts playing the theme used to come into the Star Trek movies, and the Next Generation series. Davis just grins at this and chuckles a little, tho he does feel goosebumps spring up as the fanfare ends and the theme begins...and the crowd starts cheering again. The flag goes up, full and proud, the normal starfleet insignia on it, wrapped up in a seal type circle, the words reading "Department of the Starfleet" across the top and "United States of America" on the bottom. The stars and stripes were waving proudly above all that. The armed forces had also recently gotten together to come up with a new joint logo to use for recruiting and commercials. They came up with a picture of the Earth with an eagle head superimposed over it, drawn in red and white, with five white stars for each nation-state in the greater whole of the United States. Now that was being turned over as the flag for the Earth as a whole, since Schanxi has it's own flag, five stars in a circle around a sword.

It takes a few more minutes before the crowd quiets down once again, then the reporters start asking questions. "I understand we already have a fleet comprised of eighteen combat vessels. Where are they now?" A raptor asks.

"Our first fleet is already on patrol in our space, the patrol will take it from Sol to Schanxi." She says, proudly. "Also, together with dragon and raptor liasons, several ships are setting out to explore this space we have inherited." Saphyra seems to not mind answering these questions. With the taxing how it is, vessels could be constantly built.

"Is it true you'll be going out on one of those exploration ships?" Another reporter, a human, asks.

"I will." She answers, honestly. "I will stay with my husband as he captains the USS Caroline." A few cameras shift over to take in Davis and the people sitting nearby him before going back to her. There were questions about putting a fighter squadron leader in command of one of these ships. However, the revelation that an Excelsior class carries two fighter squadrons, and that it's easier to teach a pilot to captain a ship than a navy captain, quelled those questions. Fifteen minutes after the first question began, Saphyra brings an end to it all and thanks everyone for coming. Davis leans back in his chair a bit and waits as the Starfleet admiral in attendance gets up to answer questions. He hates these things, but he has to be here.

As Saphyra leaves the podium to the applause of those in attendance, she sighs in relief. She doesn't like speeches terribly much but she's pulled this one off. As the Admiral starts going over the rolls of the ships in the fleet, as much as was allowed, she heads into the back room and gets a drink. Soon enough they would probably want to ask questions of her man. She takes out a small picture from her wallet, taken a few weeks ago. She, Davis, and their precious boy, James. She sits down and thinks about it all. It only took them two years to get the fleet into action. Two years of planning, of politics, and two years of joy as they found out that peace was something they could hold onto. Now they could defend themselves by themselves. It was time to spread out.

Two hours later the press conference was over. Davis and Saphyra get into their shuttle to head up to the Caroline. It would be departing immediately to become the first American military ship to travel to Theria. She had more political machinations to take care of there. Namely getting the Raptor, long considered to be the sister race of dragons, to join the USA. It shouldn't be too difficult. She knew the right strings to pull, something her father had taught her. Of course the news was all over this and rumors of why they were heading to Theria were already all over the planet, sparking discussions in households before the issues were even brought to bear. As they dock, the camera ships start going around the ship. Several dragons in their armor were perched on the ship, the guards in place accompanying the fighters doing their normal patrols. They look at the cameras curiously, one tilting it's head to the side as a camera ship stops right in front of him and takes a good still frame shot to be used later on. The dragon was sitting right next to the ship's name. USS Caroline, NCC 28310. The reporter was stating, aboard her ship, that the number was intentional, to match the zip code used for Fort Bragg, one of the largest military bases in North America.

Davis comes onto the bridge, the main view screen showing the view ahead of them, of the Earth rotating beneath them. Some side screens just off the main viewer show some of the news broadcasts. Fox News was covering their launch, having paid a hefty price to have it be an exclusive. MSNBC had paid three million to have exclusivity for the first fleet leaving port. The crew was all grins. Most of them had watched the interviews. Davis sits down in his chair and brings up a display showing ship status. "All hands, this is the Captain speaking. Stand by for launch from dock." He turns to his helm officer. "Helm, stand by manuevering thrusters." The officer nods. Saphyra stands to his left, there being no chair, and his first officer, a Captain in rank, sits down to his right. A minute or two later a little indicator light blinks on. "Helm, engage maneuvering thrusters and take us out."

The people planetside are eating this up. The dragons on the ship push off easily and form into formation to the left and right of the ship as it starts off, the two fighters doing standard patrol coming into formation as well in front and to the left and right of the ship. The camera view from outside shows a farther off view, the News ticker on the bottom showing "USS Caroline launching". Davis feels a bit of goosebumps forming and can't help having a grin form on his face. They were doing the flyby on the news that the ships in the series always did on the starting sequence. "Clear from spacedock sir." Helm reports to him. The ensign at the station next to the helm station speaks up. "Sir, USS Wright is coming into formation."

Red smiles. "On screen." The ensign there, the operations officer, types a few buttons and the viewscreen shows a Constitution class ship coming up to them and turning slightly to come into formation. "There's our escort." He says. Having such a high value person on board, such as the Queen, warranted an escort. "Very good." He taps his chair arm and brings up the display again. "Set course for Theria. Warp two. Communications, signal the Wright."

He gives the ensign a second to input the course at helm and to get the word out. The communications ensign turns partly to him and nods. "We have confirmation from Wright, sir."

"Engage." He restrains himself...with an effort...from doing the finger point. The news cameras focus in on the ship as the fighters and dragons break away, then with a blue flash from her nacelles, the Caroline jumps to warp, followed a half second later by Wright doing the same, a pair of flashes in the distance showing when they break the light barrier.

Davis actually sighs. "Well, I'm glad that's over." He says, looking at the viewscreen as it shows the effect of subspace. Their maximum warp was warp seven, but no sense pushing it to the maximum their second time out. He turns to Saphyra. "So, what's the plan?" He asks.

She grins. "I'll let you run your ship." SHe says, giving him an impish grin. "See you later." She says, gives him a kiss, then gets up and heads to the elevator in the corner. Davis watches her go for a second then turns back to looking at how things are going around the ship. He was a bit nervous. He went from commanding a squadron to commanding a starship, but they insisted on him having this position since he was a veteran of commanding squadrons in space, and since he's also one of the few surviving men from El Paso, where the end to the war was brought about. Seems that was enough experience to warrant allowing him to represent his race to others. A hero is a hero, he was told.

Davis gets up and straightens out his uniform. "Well, if there's anything that needs my attention, I'm in my ready room." he says, and heads over to the door. "Wedge, you have the bridge." He says. Wedge waves and Davis heads into his ready room, sitting down and bringing up information about the raptor up. He'd spend the next few hours reading about the race so he won't make a fool of himself when they arrive.

Three hours later he's back on the bridge as the enter the patrol range around Theria. "US vessel, identify yourself and your course." Comes the hail from the sentry craft. A cruiser and three frigates were at impulse parallel to their course.

Davis gives them his best smile. "We are the USS Caroline and USS Wright, escorting Queen Saphyra to her conference on Theria."

There's a slight pause. "Submit your passcode." Comes the reply. Davis nods to his operations officer. A few seconds later, the response is much more warm. "Codes confirmed. You're clear all the way to Theria. God bless and safe travel." The comm line closes.

"Well, now that that's handled, take us back to warp 2, ensign." Davis sits back down and this time he can't resist it, it happens automaticly. "Make it so." He says, doing the finger point, then dohing, facepalming a bit as Wedge grins at him. He breaks out his wallet and gives Wedge a twenty. Wedge, grinning wider now, pockets it, leaving half the crew grinning, the other half oblivious to the bet their Captain just lost.

Three hours later the two ships drop out of warp and enter into the Theria system, heading at impulse thru the three planet system, first passing by the two near Jupiter sized gas giants, then heading in farther to Theria. The planet was about the size of Venus, but it was denser, so gravity was near that of Earth. Several commercial ships pass by the two US ships, the crew looking at the ships in a bit of wonder, some calling them pretty, others calling them functional. The two starships enter orbit and soon after a shuttle launches with two fighters flying escort. This really catches some attention. Davis didn't know it, but the raptors LOVE how human fighters look. They are easily able to imagine an eagle when they look at the F22s. As the shuttle comes in for a landing, the two fighters circle for a few minutes before landing, drawing the attention of every news agency in the city. Some cameras are already circling around as Davis gets out with Saphyra. There are also two marines with them. While they aren't in full tactical gear, they do have sidearms and rifles. They are, quite obviously, guards.

As the four people walk to the entrance, the door opens, and a raptor in long robes steps out. "Welcome, Queen Saphyra and bonded, to Theria." The raptor says in a smooth voice. "The Council is eagerly awaiting you inside." She leads the way, the small group following along. The hallway is remarkably empty. No one is moving around, there are no cameras. They can hear their feet echoing on the ground. The robed raptor pushes the door open and walks them out into the middle of a room that looks remarkably like the room the Senate sits in when they do business on Earth, and it's just as crowded. Davis and the marines stay by the door while Saphyra walks forward. The head councilor, Davis doesn't know what they're called here, is at the podium. "Ah, here she is now. Queen Saphyra will now elaborate on the proposal sent to us by her government." He steps aside and bows to the Queen as she comes forward.

Saphyra nods to him. "Thank you. You all know why I'm here, and no doubt for the past few days you have been deliberating as to whether or not you will..." At this point Davis zones out. He's never really had a head for politics. The speech Saphyra weaves goes back to the time when dragons pulled raptors away from an Earth facing destruction. Then how the raptor had watched what happened on Earth, its history, and how they had become religious and told the dragons about the Almighty. She goes on about how the Raptor had always insisted they remain together, as one. That they were children of Earth. That now, they must unite together with the humans, remain united. He claps when she steps down from the podium. The head councilor announces that they will vote on this issue in two days, and that council was adjurned.

Meanwhile, lightyears away, another council was wrapping up its session. The Elves were now questioning the King's leadership ability, to have lost the war with the Americans, the Raptor, and the Dwarves was bad enough. Now they were losing trade to America and the Dwarves had completely closed their borders to all Elven ships. Rather than seeing this as a result of their war against the humans, they see it as a lack of strength in their king. So, as a result, the king is fuming. "Those round eared bastards." He says, pacing before the queen, who is also a bit shaken up.

"Dear, we must remain calm." She says. "Remember what you told me? We must bide our time and strike at the crucial moment." She says. "America has few allies. If we lay low and wait until it comes to the point that their allies won't help, we can retake our space, and reclaim our lost pride."

The king sighs. "We can, but we are losing face every day those...imposters remain on our planets." He flings himself down the hallway towards his rooms. "We must start to sabatoge their reputation and efforts with their neighbors." He says. "The raptor are already too closely tied to the dragons. They will follow the dragons into hell and back. But these other races that live nearby them. They have no close ties to the dragons or to the humans." He says. He perks up as an idea seems to strike him. "I've got it." He snaps his fingers and an elf steps forward. "Tell our agents on the worlds near America to start spreading anything around that would hurt America, or her ties to dragons or raptors." The elf bows and backs out back into the shadows.

He needn't have worried. Two days of ease later, Davis and Saphyra go back to hear the council's decision. Surprisingly, at least to Saphyra, the Raptor elect to remain autonomous, at least for now, and guide the two races spiritually from their current position. Saphyra nods and gives a thank you for the consideration, and on the way out, she sighs. "I had hoped they would have joined. Their economy would have really helped us. Oh well." She shrugs.

Davis rubs her shoulder. "Don't worry about it too much." He says. "But now that we're about to head out into space, a new security detail has arrived for you. They're Ghosts." He says, grinning. "One of them you might have heard of. Spent years fighting the elves who had his sister's egg in stasis?"

Saphyra nods. "Yeah, I've heard of him, glad we found her egg in that base on Schanxi." She says as they head to the shuttle, getting ready to depart already. "I take it her egg is on the ship?" She asks.

Davis shakes his head. 'Nope, but the girl herself is. It hatched soon after it got back to Draco." He says. "In keeping with his family, Draco named her Dracona Lee Rose. She's two years old now, like our son."