Chapter 3: Starship Lexington

The Eastern Seaboard of North America – Stardate: 57079.23

The hours with his family passed all too quickly. Even still it was good to spend even a little time at home. Before reporting back to Starfleet HQ he decided to stop at his favorite café for a last cup of real coffee before having to once again endure how many months, or perhaps years, worth of replicated sludge. A smile crept onto his face as he reminded himself that might not be entirely true. He sat outside the coffee shop at a comfortable bistro-style table and savored the hot, rich, slightly bitter liquid. This was his favorite café. It was a casual and friendly environment where you could just sit and relax. He used to while away hours outside this store in years past. Either just sitting watching the world go by or losing himself completely in the pages of good old fashion book. When he meant a book that is exactly what he meant. The Personal Access Display Devices, or PADDs, were fine for many things, even running a starship. However, when it came to books there was no substitute for the real thing.

He sat, eyes closed, and enjoyed the warmth of the sun on his face. He breathed deep the fresh, clean unrecycled air of home. It was another perfect day, as were almost all days. Since First Contact with the Vulcans earth had become a paradise of sorts. It was a founding member and one of the crown jewels of the United Federation of Planets. Still perfection had its drawback too. He often wondered what it might been like to live in a time before First Contact. Maybe life was more interesting back then, he often thought. Then again the old days had their problems; war, famine, disease. So what if things were all too predictable. It was a small price to pay. Enough day dreaming! He had caught his mind wandering on more than a few occasions over the past couple of days since returning to earth. It was a dangerous habit for a Starfleet Captain. Time to get back to work. He needed to check in with Admiral Jackson one more time then report to the Lexington.

He reluctantly left the coffee house and walked to the nearest public transporter. He stepped on the transporter pad and instructed the operator "Starfleet HQ in San Francisco, please".