[ Vahr at the helm ]
Vahr turned back to the console after Captain Ross had given the order to dock. His hands moved quickly over the controls as he locked in the course and opened a line to the harbor master.
"Yard Command, this is the Starship Valkyrie. We are beginning our approach to space doors. ETA two minutes." Vahr said evenly as he focused the viewer on the space doors.
=/\= "Acknowledged Valkyrie. you are cleared for docking maneuvers. Set your course, and prepare to engage the autopilot sequence on my mark." =/\= Came the command from the harbor master.
Vahr, pitched the Valkyrie to starboard and increased thrusters. The view screen tilted slightly as the Valkyrie moved closer to the MLF. Vahr adjusted the viewer for the approach to the doors, keeping them fully in view as the Valkyrie approached. He could see the doors starting to open, and the large number 2 separate as the doors opened.
Vahr monitored the approach carefully to make sure he hit the marker for turning over control to the harbor master as he had indicated he would.
When the Valkyrie was within a thousand meters of the doors, a comm came through.
=/\= "Starship Valkyrie, this is DS-168 yard command. We are ready to take control." =/\= the Harbor Master said.
"Roger yard command, relinquishing control functions to DS-168." Vahr said with slight annoyance as he engaged the autopilot linked to DS-168.
=/\= "We have control Valkyrie. Sit back and enjoy the ride." =/\= The Harbor Master said.
Vahr leaned back in his chair and watched as the Valkyrie approached the opened space doors. He was annoyed with not piloting in, but understood the reasons for it. Although the Valkyrie wasn't a large Starship, her design made it a difficult docking assignment. Her width is what made docking difficult. The MLF's space doors were just a few meters wider in opening on all sides than the Valkyrie herself.
Vahr fixated on the console and watched as the Valkyrie's console accepted the orders from yard command and decelerated slightly as she approached the doors. As the Valkyrie closed in she began to adjust her pitch to where the port side of the Vessel was at a positive 20 degree pitch and the starboard was negative 20 degree pitch, making it easier to pilot her into the bay.
The Valkyrie passed into the space doors, and Vahr watches the console with a hawkish stare. He stood ready to disengage the autopilot in case of an incident.
Vahr began to relax as the secondary hull defector pod passed the bay doors. Then he watched as the pitch adjusted back to normal, and the Valkyrie maneuvered towards her destine location of docking port 9.
As the Valkyrie approached port 9, thrusters disengaged except for a few burst from the forward thrusters to slow her momentum.
=/\= "Yard Command to Starship Valkyrie, handing off control back to the Valkyrie. Stand by to dock and activate moorings and artificial gravitational support systems." =/\= The Harbor Master said.
"Acknowledged. Valkyrie has control." Vahr said as he brought the Valkyrie to a rest and activated the mooring systems to keep her in place.
Shortly afterwards the gangways moved towards the Valkyrie and attached at two of her port side docking ports. Once attached, Vahr switched the vessel to station power and shut down the thrusters.
He turned towards Captain Ross with a satisfied look. "Docking Complete Sir." Vahr said.
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DO Lieutenant T'Saylar
Valdivian Station / USS Trinity
Mike Schell
actd (at) mugatu (dot) com
