Final Approach

Posted on Wed Oct 23rd, 2019 @ 3:15pm by Lieutenant JG Mattias Constantine
Edited on on Wed Oct 23rd, 2019 @ 6:41pm

Mission: Mission 1 - One Step forward
Location: San Francisco
Timeline: Three Days Prior to MD01
732 words - 1.5 OF Standard Post Measure

"Nat, will you sit down already? We're nearly there."

"Oh, look at the big, bad newly commissioned Starfleet officer trying to order his sister around. That's cute Matty, but don't go getting too big for your britches now, you hear me?"

"Britches? What year is it? The twentieth century deep south called, and they want their vernacular back."

"Yeah? Well the nineteenth century newspapers called, and they want their jokes back."

"You're such an ass Nat, you know I hate flying."

"Better get used to it, space cowboy."

The exchange between siblings continued as a shuttle began its initial descent on a transcontinental flight from New New York to San Francisco. Mattias Constantine sat in a window seat, peering through the gaps in the clouds, hoping to catch a glimpse of Horseshoe Bay and Starfleet Headquarters as they approached from the east. The shuttle pilot descended below the lowest of the cloud layers, giving them a view of the city below.

"Ooh look Matty!" his sister Natalie tugged on his jacket sleeve. "It's the Golden Gate Bridge! It's been years since I've been here. It looks so pretty out there today. Promise me that we're going to dinner somewhere nice by the water."

"Actually, I was thinking about maybe cooking at the townhouse we're staying at. Maybe I can finally make a better Bolognese sauce than you with some fresh ingredients, eh?"

"Mattias Declan, you do not want that ass-whuppin'."

"Eh, worth a shot," he grinned.

The remainder of the flight went smoothly, and together the Constantine siblings exited the shuttle and stepped out onto the tarmac at Starfleet HQ. It would be three days before the Atlantis was ready to depart for the Xindi homeworld, and the twins had decided to spend the last few days exploring the area around San Francisco. Mattias had been given his assignment, but the length of the mission was unknown.

The call from the Bureau of Personnel had come as a surprise to Constantines. The expectation among most of his fellow OCS graduates was that they would be given a training assignment on one of Starfleet's colonies or perhaps even assigned to Starfleet HQ itself. A select few, however, were assigned to the various NX starships. The potential given to the program by the refinements to the warp V engine simply boggled the mind.

"I still can't believe it. An NX-class starship is up there at the orbital drydock facility, and I'm going to be on it," Mattias shook his head. "Sis, what am I getting myself into?"

"It's going to be fine Matty. You're going to handle it like the pro that you are. Remember what Doctor Kuznetsov said after you graduated? You were destined to do big things, and coming from a Nobel laureate, I'd take that as high praise."

"Yeah, I suppose you're right. I'm just nervous is all. Well, maybe not nervous, just anxious," the duo continued to walk towards the ground transportation center. Mattias had grabbed both his and his sister's luggage and effortlessly thrown both duffels over his shoulder. "Hey, you know," the subject changed, "I'll miss you. I'll try and remember to write home when I can."

"Oh can it with the sappy crap, we both know you don't mean it," Natalie's words dripped with sarcasm. "But, yeah, I suppose I'll miss you too brother. I just wish..."

"Yeah, I know, me too."

"You know Elias would be proud of you. Mom and dad are proud of you. We're all proud of you."

Mattias stopped walking for a moment to collect himself. Seventeen months had passed since the Xindi probe killed his brother along with seven million others, but the pain of the loss was still fresh. Turning to his sister, he reached down and enveloped her in a hug.

"Thanks Nat, I love you," he took a deep breath before releasing her from the embrace. A bit of mischief started so spread across his features. "Now, in the words of the second best chef in the Constantine family, let's can the sappy crap and go find some fun. Ouch!" A quick punch landed on his arm.

"You couldn't cook your way out of a wet paper bag you ass," she laughed before running away from him towards the awaiting train to the city. "Now come on, we're wasting daylight!"

Introducing

Ensign Mattias Constantine
Communications Officer
NX Atlantis