Maiden Voyage for the Spirit of Freedom

|Lo-Cal: Sol System--> Martian Orbit| The USS Spirit of Freedom: June 11th, 2100|

It had been a grueling five years since Prescott and his team, "the Scotts", took command and control of the old battleship. While they had been ordered to "keep things light", they successfully helped keep several battles from breaking out. 

Now they were all receiving their last physical in the Sol system before their biggest challenge ahead of them. As the crew stepped forward, Doctors and Scientists examined each person carefully. 

"First up, Spirit of Freedom's Captain, Prescott J. Philip. All vitals are normal and blood work results register normal on the chart."

"Next!"

"We now have, First Officer of the Spirit of Freedom, Jesscott."

"Vitals are all normal, blood work and female required pregnancy test is negative times four."

"Excellent. NEXT!"

"Up next is Brescott, Lieutenant Commander and Head Engineer on the Spirit of Freedom."

"Blood work is normal, vitals are in the green."

"NEXT!"

The doctors and scientists moved through them quickly. Tessascott, Drescott, Cresscott, Wescott, Sighscott, Russcott, and then...

"Lastly, we have Arscott, Chief of Security and Second Officer of the Spirit of Freedom. Blood work is normal, vitals are within normal parameters, and the pregnancy test results are... dear god, seventeen negative fucking tests? Doctor, why seventeen?"

"Sir, she ordered me to be, "thorough". Then she wouldn't let me leave until the seventeenth test."

"Dear fuck, just send her on through. The rest of the small crew and colonists have already been checked. Admiral Hallstead, all have passed with flying colors. Mission crew is green-lit."

"Excellent, I'll contact Prescott now."

With a chirp of his communicator, Prescott connected with Admiral Hallstead. 

"Admiral Hallstead, sir. How may I be of service?"

"Get your asses on board and proceed to Terran Atmosphere. From there, engineering bots will run a last scan on the S.O.F. once you're there. Then, it's up to you to make history."

"Orders heard loud and clear, sir." Prescott double-timed his team on their ship and called down to engineering. 

"This is Captain Prescott, Engineering orders are to have the core primed and ready." He then went over the ship-wide intercom. "All hands, strap in, we're jumping to Terran Atmosphere for final checks."

As the Spirit of Freedom made its quick jump, the Terran homeworld was lit up with activity. Prescott activated his broadcasting system and connected to the Earth Network. 

"And we're now broadcasting live from Earth as this daring and young crew attempts to make history twice today. Captain Prescott J. Philip, can you hear us?"

"Loud and clear! Just who am I speaking with?"

"I'm Janet and my co-host is Bill of the Earth News Network. Tell us, any fears or worries about the first part of your journey?"

"Not at all. It was just a routine escort mission, Ma'am."

"What about the second part?"

"No, we've all actually been looking forward to this mission more than anything. Tonight we get to show the entire galaxy what we can do."

"All in great spirits as the engineering robots run a final scan on the oldest, now modified ship in the Earth Defense Fleet, the USS Spirit of Freedom.

As the robots run their final check, Admiral Hallstead gets an alert for one of the drones. "Sir, unusable material, "Cast Iron", found to be in use within the ship's inner hull support pillars."

"Override code: X-Y-E-Terra-One."

"Override accepted."

As the Spirit of Freedom engineers and crewmates got the last few things ready, the ENN had one last surprise for everyone. 

"Prescott, are you still connected?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"We have a special treat for you. Go on, say hello."

"Is this John Kennedy?" asked a familiar voice. 

"Grandpa Genesis?" Asked Jesscott. 

"Hehe! I'm tickled pink you ten! Remember what I told you five years ago! Go out there and show 'em humanity has more than what it takes!"

"Yes, and remember my young friends..."

"Admiral Hower?!" The Ten Scotts exclaimed in unison.

"Yes, with us in the studio is Captain Prescott J. Philip's grandfather, Genesis Philip, who raised Prescott after his parents were killed during the Terran-Tethalic Conflict. Additionally, we also have their former teacher and graduation speaker, former Admiral Kain Hower, retired. They came to wish their family and former students the best of luck."

As they chatted a moment, the green light was given for the ship to go. 

"I hate to cut this short, Grandpa, Admiral Hower, but we have people to prove wrong."

"Go get 'em, kid! Don't forget whatcha promised me."

 "I remember. If we find the Voyager II space probe, bring it with us."

"Atta boy! Now go!"

"ALL HANDS!" Called Prescott over the ship-wide intercom, "Let's make history."

The broadcast cuts to satellites and star charts of their course to the center of the Milky Way Galactic Cluster, even outlining an intercept course to grab Voyager II. 

"Give me control, Ensign."

"Flight controls are yours, Captain."

The repurposed battleship-class starship seals all of her ports and disconnects from the station as the media of Earth and people cheer them on. 

"Activating Double-Helix Drive-Core, and locking FTL Naces into propulsion position."

 "Captain, permission to play the song?" Asked Cresscott from the comms chair.

"Permission granted, Cresscott. Let's show the arrogant assholes Earth can and will be recognized properly."

As Cresscott presses play on the cassette player, ZZ Top's song, "I've Got the Six-(The '08 Remastered Version)" blared across the Earth News Network as the Spirit of Freedom turned the skies over Earth into a trail of glowing silver and crimson red light energy as they used Earth's Gravity to hyper accelerate their ship away from the Sol system. Prescott punched the Double-Helix Core into overdrive as they lit up the Galactic Council planetary radars like an old supercar would a police trap's radar guns. 

As they ripped across the Milky Way, sensor data and telemetry data were beamed back to Earth in record-setting time as the Spirit of Freedom broke the speed records held by several planetary species in the Milky Way. As they passed the halfway point, Prescott adjusted their heading to match their intercept course plans. 

As they speed to catch up to the old probe, Cresscott played, "Can't Stop Rockin" by ZZ Top, as the Spirit of Freedom ripped across space to catch up to the old probe. It had been sending NASA an extremely weak signal as it was almost out of fuel and power. 

"Alright Russcott, we get one shot at this. When I yell now, you reel the probe in."

"Aye, Sir."

As the Spirit of Freedom neared the Voyager II, Prescott slammed the Dynamic Lightshift Braking System into full stop position. 

"NOW!" Yelled Prescott, to which Russcott controlled drones that netted the old probe and pulled it inside. Gravity was disabled in the landing bay where Arscott and her team helped lower the probe down gently. Once the artificial gravity was on again, Prescott disengaged the brake and reengaged the Double-Helix at triple overclock.

However, they weren't alone...

"CAPTAIN! Tethalic Ships are closing our flight path!"

"Those assholes! ALL HANDS STRAP IN! COMMAND DECK, BATTLE STATIONS! We're not stopping yet!"