The captains train of thought was cut short as a shrill bleep signalled an incoming communication which Commander Hoshi Sato promptly opened to the main screen. Commodore Maxwell Forrest's image filled the screen.
"I hope you're not intending on scampering off directly to Luyten without so much as a farewell, Captain".
Archer turned to face the supreme commander of starfleet "My crew are eager to get underway as our orders are written, but if you have a better idea I'm all ears, perhaps Soval would like to detain us for a few more hours as he explains once more the nuances of first contact protocol?"
The ambassador from Vulcan was standing directly behind the commodore, but no emotion registered on his face.
"No, captain, your first officer is amply capable of holding your leash in that regard"
Both starfleet officers smirked at that, each had privately joked about Vulcan finally letting Earth some freedom as if it were a misbehaved puppy. T'Pol raised an eyebrow apon hearing the metaphore.
"I'm sure you intend on following your entire mission brief Captain, including the flyby of Mars and docking with the CSS Aquarius? "
"I wouldn't rob President Dupris of the Photo op, he needs to remind the public who's company built those ships, how else would he get re elected?"
"Cynical as always captain, but you know politics are important when you're a product of a navy which takes so much public resources we as we do." "I have additional orders, which you're not going to like, but trust me this isn't just about getting Dupris more votes"
"Go on commodore"
"As you're aware captain the enterprise is equipped with gravametric impulse drives, for the life of me I don't understand how they work, but I sure as hell know how important they are". "These drives allow your ship to travel at an astounding speed, a hundred times what was possible a generation ago when we used chemical rockets burning hydrogen"
"I'm well aware of this" Archer replied dryly.
"Well I'm sure you know what's in your fuel tank". "The Sorium within powers your impulse reactor, but it's also responsible for those martian cargo ships being able to make the journey within a month, even using old fashioned chemical rockets". "The Zephir is supposed to be modified to search the gas giants for sorium deposits, but it's looking like that could take 6 months or more, it seems like a shame to wait that long when the Enterprise has the same sensors, and can reach Saturn in 18 days".
Archer frowned "It's a little bit out of our way"
"Relatively speaking it's out of everybody elses way but yours Captain, the thing is the civilian sector is on the cusp of a major fleet expansion, everyone wants to get involved in the jump to the outer system, but until a sizable reserve of sorium is discovered they're just sitting on their asses."
"That's not exactly starfleets problem though is it Commadore?"
"You're right, but we're planning on major fleet expansion too, the powers that be have decided to halt production of the Challenger until more sorium is found, while the Columbia will finish as planned in Feburary 2052, elsewise the yard will sit motionless until somebody can guarantee long term fuel security."
"That's crazy, Challenger is paid for and theres more than enough fuel for 3 starships"
The bridge remained silent for a moment as the 2 Starfleet officers considered the ineptitude of bureaucrats.
At this point Sub-Commander T Pol interjected.
"Captain the Dupris shipping company plan on making 12 ships for the martian colony"
The Vulcan science officer brought up the ships schematic to each crew member stations personal display.
Constellation class Colony Ship 32,000 tons 468 Crew 933 BP TCS 640 TH 62 EM 0
96 km/s Armour 1-89 Shields 0-0 Sensors 5/5/0/0 Damage Control Rating 16 PPV 6
Maint Life 9.39 Years MSP 1292 AFR 512% IFR 7.1% 1YR 26 5YR 397 Max Repair 10 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Flight Crew Berths 1
Hangar Deck Capacity 250 tons Cargo 10000 Cryogenic Berths 20000 Cargo Handling Multiplier 5
6.25 EP Chemical Rocket Engine (10) Power 6.25 Fuel Use 131.02% Signature 6.25 Exp 12%
Fuel Capacity 400,000 Litres Range 1.7 billion km (205 days at full power)
27 Ghz Comms Array (2) Range 15,000km TS: 1250 km/s Power 3-1 RM 1.5 ROF 15 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Comms Targeting Array 15-1250 (1) Max Range: 30,000 km TS: 1250 km/s 67 33 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
PWR A-2 Main Engine Core (1) Total Power Output 2 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Gravimetric Hazard Avoidance Sensor MR0-R1 (1) GPS 10 Range 500k km MCR 55k km Resolution 1
Gravimetric Shipping Sensor MR5-R100 (1) GPS 1000 Range 5.0m km Resolution 100
Thermionic Sensor TH1-5 (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 5m km
Gravametric Sensor EM1-5 (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 5m km
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
"While individually burning less fuel than a Discovery class vessel, the number of vessels they plan on producing will quickly outstrip global sorium fuel production even before the second ship of the discovery class is completed" "I know that fuel production is being increased to cope with this, but global sorium reserves will certainly drop down to 10 years at the most by the time fuel supply is sufficient for the combined fleet of both Commercial and Starfleet operated vessels." "Furthermore when we consider the possibility of additional civilian shipping companies getting involved...."
Archer thankfully cut the Loquacious Vulcan's lecture short.
"That's sufficient information Sub-Commander"
"Yes Captain" T Pol raised an eyebrow and glanced towards Ambassadore Sovals image on the viewscreen, he alone recognised the un-intended insult the interruption could have been interpreted as, but both Vulcans were used to working with humans and were unfazed.
Soval stepped forwards to stand equally as close as Forrest
"Commodore the wastefulness of your species never ceases to amaze me, no less than 5 years after being shown how to access sorium and you've already managed to deplete it."
"We're not out of fuel yet Ambassador"
"Semantics Commodore, at current growth in production and consumption you will run out in a very short time". "While I reluctantly supported the Discovery program, I was adamantly against the Commercial application of the technology". "Theres insufficient oversight, control and regulation, space travel should not be managed by people willing to compromise on logic in order to make a profit."
The commodore took command of the situation once more.
"Thank you all for pointing out the severe Sorium shortage which until 5 minutes ago was considered a matter of high security, I'm sure I can trust your bridge crew captain, but this should not leave this room, am I clear?"
The crew responded to the affirmative.
"Anyway captain, Starfleet and President Dupris have been assured by our Vulcan friends that Sorium does exist in our system in great quantities, they just asked us to find it ourself, so theres no real need for concern, is there ambassador?"
The Vulcans reply was indignant.
"Maybe not, but you shouldn't be investing so heavily in such inefficient ships."
"So captain" The Commodore continued
"Your order is to flyby the Aquarius enroute to mars to perform the Enterprise's first docking, fly to mars enroute to Jupiter, check for sorium then head directly to Saturn to confirm the presence of sorium, before heading back down towards the asteroid belt to meet the Luyten 726-8 jump point".
The Commodore pressed a button on his desk and the orders were sent aboard.
Captain Archer sat down and browsed them on his command chair's console.
"Well at least we'll set a few speed records on the way"
"That's the spirit, Forrest out"
The main viewscreen blinked back to the serene starscape ahead of the vessel.
Archer glanced towards the helm officer.
"Your thoughts Travis?"
Commander Mayweather analysed the new orders.
"63 days until we reach Luyten 726-8, not counting time spent docked, in orbit or surveying, in fact I have no idea how long a survey may take,"
T Pol interjected
"For gas giants that size the scans should take several weeks captain."
The bridge groaned.
"Need I remind everyone that this
is a science vessel, this is what we're here for". "Fuel consumption Travis?"
"3 billion kilometres, about 10%".
"I would call that a sufficient shakedown cruise, I'm sure we're get all the bugs worked out before we make the jump, Travis set a course for the CSS Aries, Hoshi notify the captain of our time of arrival and that he's invited to join us at my table. T' Pol? See if you can find a way of speeding up our geologic sensors."
The respective crew responded.
"Right away", " Aye aye, " I'll see what I can do Captain"
"If anyone needs me I'll be in engineering".
Archer left the bridge.