Return to Space

Posted on Sun Aug 9th, 2026 @ 12:26am by Captain Perrine Clostermann & Anatoly Clostermann

864 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Back in the Saddle
Location: Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards

The Sovereign-type Captain's yacht smoothly glided amongst the various dry docks of Utopia Planitia shipyards. In each one filled, there seemed to be a flurry of activity. Starships being repaired or under construction. However, as the Captain's yacht flew in the exclusive company of Workbee maintenance and construction pods, the craft floated towards the section of the yard where Starships had been deemed to have outlived their usefulness and condemned to the cutter's torch.

Indeed, the Captain's yacht flying towards these doomed starships itself bore scarring from the vessel to which it had been attached, which lay in this section of yard. While most of the yacht's dorsal hull appeared pristine, its ventral side displayed carbon scoring from where it had sustained damage while docked to its Sovereign-class mothership. Word was that the damage had jammed the yacht in place, and it had taken great effort by yard staff to break it free again so that it may be used one final time.

Though her underbelly bore the scars of battle, the registry number of her mothership was still legible on her small nacelles: NCC-85103. This Captain's yacht, then, was the USS Alvin, returning to her mothership.

In the rear compartment, Captain Perrine Clostermann lay on the comfortable couch in the living area, letting the slow melody of a traditional French song wash over her:

Non, rien de rien
Non, je ne regrette rien
Ni le bien qu'on m'a fait
Ni le mal
Tout ça m'est bien égal

At this point, her musings were interrupted by the arrival of her husband, Anatoly.

"Flight deck says we should be approaching the Atlantis soon." He reported as Perrine sat up, allowing him to take a seat next to her. "Are you sure you're ready for this?"

"Honey, the kids are all grown up." Perrine responded. "Max was just accepted into the Academy, Martin's about to become a Junior Grade Cadet, We went over this: Me coming back to Starfleet now won't harm the kids' development, because they're pretty much developed already."

Anatoly chuckled.

"No, not that." He replied. "The pilot just says that she's not in the condition she was when you left her."

"Which is why saving her is so important." Perrine added. "Anatoly, how many of the Quadricentennial Sovereigns are left out there? Do you know?"

"To be honest, I haven't really been keeping track..." Anatoly admitted, rubbing the back of his head.

"Exactly." Perrine said. "Who knows where the Columbia, the Challenger, the Discovery, and the Endeavour are now? Actually, I'm fairly certain Endeavour is still flying, but that's beyond the point: To think that my ship, my dear USS Atlantis... Is in danger of being broken up? That makes my blood boil."

"Starships do have shelf lives, dear." Anatoly pointed out. "We should be prepared for the possibility that the Atlantis really is damaged beyond repair, and let history claim her."

Before Perrine could argue further, her combadge went off:

"Flight deck to Captain Clostermann: We're approaching the Atlantis, if you're ready to come up front."

"Copy that, flight deck: I'm on my way." Perrine tapped her combadge and stood up. "Perhaps you need to breathe Atlantis' recycled air again to remind you of all the good times we had."

Leaving her husband in the back, Perrine made her way forward to the Alvin's cockpit:

"What are we looking at, Chief?" Perrine asked.

"The Atlantis should be entering visual range now, Captain." The pilot responded. "Though we did warn you about the shape she's in..."

Perrine looked out the cockpit windows at the dry dock which they were now approaching: While the Sovereign class' profile was still recognizable, the hull was charred with heavy damage and carbon scoring, with several hull plates already cut away. Truth lay in all the warnings she had been given: When Perrine had left, the Atlantis was the gleaming jewel she had always been. But now, twenty-three years later, here she was: Reduced to the same "practical floating scrap heap" as the Ambassador class ship that had carried her name.

"What have they done to my ship?" Was all Perrine could ask.

"Alvin, Atlantis control: You are cleared to land in shuttlebay one."

"Roger, cleared to land, shuttlebay one. Alvin out."

"Shuttlebay?" Perrine asked. "Are we not docking the way she was designed?"

"Cap, docking in the usual recess is going to take a lot of time and effort: Plus, once she's back into shape, we need to conduct pressurization tests, make sure she seals with the-!"

"Alright, I get it." Perrine sighed. "You don't have to remind me of the 'cutting and banging' you had to do to break her free."

No further conversation was exchanged as the Alvin slid through the forcefield of the main shuttlebay, touching gracefully down onto the deck.

As the boarding ramp lowered, Perrine was first to step off, followed by Anatoly. She stopped on the ramp to allow the shuttlebay air to fill her lungs. Her first breath of Atlantis air in over twenty years.

"Maman's home." Perrine declared.

Posting by

Captain Perrine Clostermann
Commanding Officer
USS Atlantis

Anatoly Clostermann
Family Member
USS Atlantis

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