#USS Dauntless

[thisshrimpisfryingrice]

Turn off the lights

[haaaaaaaaaaaave-you-met-ted]

Star Trek: Prodigy - USS Dauntless LCARs Concept Art by Wardenlight Studio

[usstrekart]

"Hope and Fear" (S04E26, Stardate 51978.2) brings back Janeway's treaty with the Borg but doesn't give the effects the weight they deserve. She gets some great moments as a Captain, but the writers short-change her in other areas. And Seven's development feels like it took a backseat for the sake of drama.

"Hope and Fear" gets a simple LCARS poster to close out season 4 featuring the Dauntless.

[divinemissem13]

Summer, 2384

Final chapter of “Nel mezzo del cammin”

AO3 link

There’s a baby playing under my oak tree. A toddler, actually, but I suspect she’ll always be a baby to me. My baby.

My little warrior princess has only recently mastered walking and already she is determined to run. So, yes, she’s definitely mine, even though she doesn’t look a thing like me. With her golden complexion, soft black curls, and dimples that threaten to make my heart explode, my sweet girl might as well be a clone of her father.

Lately, there are times when she looks so much like Chakotay that it hurts.

She manages to ‘run’ for two wobbly steps before she loses her balance and lands on her bottom. Her face twists for a second and I think she might cry but then something - or, more accurately, someone - distracts her over my shoulder. “Mia! Mia!” she shouts gleefully. Her little baby tongue still struggles with l’s and r’s, but even so, her version of “Miral” was one of her first words (after “Mama”, “Dada”, and “No”, of course). Sure enough, I look back toward the house to see 6 year old Miral Paris-Torres barreling full speed down the path. My goddaughter barely even acknowledges me as she zips past, but I don’t mind because it’s important to me that she wants to spend time with Maeve.

It reassures me that I’m making the right choice.

Tom and B’Elanna stand on either side of me now, watching our girls play. “Tell me I’m doing the right thing,” I plead with them quietly. “That I’m not crazy. That it has to be me.”

“It has to be you,” Tom replies firmly. It’s not surprising - he has always believed in me more than I believed in myself.

I look to B’Elanna because I can always count on her to be brutally honest with me. “Let’s go for a walk,” she suggests and starts off down the path without waiting for my answer.

Tom goes to the tree to keep an eye on the girls and I feel a pang of jealousy at the way that husband and wife communicate so effortlessly without speaking. I had that once, not so long ago, and I feel its absence now like a hole in my heart. I want to stay and watch Miral ‘teach’ my baby how to weave a crown of wild flowers but I follow B’Elanna instead.

“Does Maeve know what’s going on?” she asks when I catch up.

“I don’t think so. She asks for him - especially at bedtime - but for all she knows, he’s just on another mission and he’ll be back any day.”

“He will be. You’ll bring him back just like you always do,” she says confidently and I almost believe her.

“If I do, it will all be worth it,” I agree. “But I don’t want to leave her all alone… and what if I come back without him? What if I don’t come back at all?”

B’Elanna stops walking and grabs me by the shoulders. “You are Kathryn Janeway. You always come back. It’s kind of your thing,” she spares me a grin before turning serious again. “And you never leave a job half done. So you’ll find him and you’ll both come home to her, no matter how long it takes. And that’s why, yes, it has to be you.” B’Elanna begins to walk again and I sense she is done talking, but I’m not.

“I don’t know how to thank you for watching her. I just couldn’t leave her with Mom - she thinks I’m crazy and I need Maeve to be with people who will stay positive. Hopeful. Who will always make sure she knows that we are coming back to her…”

“We’ve got it covered,” she reassures me. “We’ll take excellent care of your baby, and you’ll take excellent care of mine,” she jokes, referring, of course, to the Dauntless and her new slipstream drive that B’Elanna has spent years perfecting.

We’ve almost completed the loop now and the oak tree is coming back into view. Miral is still weaving flowers but Maeve is on her feet again, working on that run. She squeals with glee when she sees me and there are those damn loveable dimples again as she actually manages to run several steps in my direction before I sweep her up in my arms and hold her tight. “Good job, baby! Mama is so proud of you!”

She giggles as I cover her with kisses and take a big inhale of that irresistible baby smell, as if I might be able to save it for later on, and then she’s squirming in my arms demanding “Down Mama.”

She never has been very good at staying still, just like me. I told Mom I wasn’t sure she would be able to keep up with the baby on her own, and that’s why I’m leaving Maeve with Tom and B’Elanna. It’s even partly true.

Miral has abandoned her flowers in favor of hide-and-seek around the vast trunk of the oak tree. Maeve squeals in delight every time Miral pops out and chases her. B’Elanna is sitting next to Tom in the grass, both laughing at the girls’ antics.

I fight back tears as my heart swells with love because this is my family. Most of it, anyway. Tomorrow morning, I will leave to track down the missing piece but until then, I am going to enjoy my time with the pieces I’ll have to leave behind.

I silently make a promise to myself and to my daughter: the next time we sit under this tree, our family will be whole.

[defconprime]

USS Dauntless

[isagrimorie]

It's not gonna happen, probably, but since USS Dauntless has it-- could it be possible Seven can requisition a Slipstream drive installed in her Enterprise?

It would make the areas covered by Enterprise-G a lot wider and beyond the Alpha Quadrant, as a Connie III, Enterprise is already lithe and extremely maneuverable. If they add in a Slipstream drive, it would be virtually uncatchable.

Seven with her own ship, I would believe would do this kind of tinkering and experimenting.

And, of course, Seven would badger B'Elanna into helping install the Slipstream drive into her ship since B'Elanna was project lead for the Janeway's USS Dauntless.

[theworldatwar]

A US Navy Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless of bombing squadron VB-8 on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) during the Battle of Midway in 1942 CREDIT : Royston Leonard

[thestonecuttersguild]

Finish Stuff Friday: Delayed Edition.

This is the 1/48 SBD from Academy that I started way back in February? Sometimes Academy kits can be very fiddly. I remember their TBM from when I was younger, I hated that thing. I hated this thing. The cockpit was just so fragile. I ended up snapping the rear gunners seat after the fuselage was together, and couldn't get it back in because it was bigger than the opening. So I sort of just shelved this thing for a while. I ended up working on an old vintage Monogram Texan that had a read gunner position that would work well enough. Not correct for the SBD, but good enough for my shelf.

Aside from that, I do believe I painted this 3 times before I was happy with the paintjob. Overall I'm happy enough with this, glad that it's over. This kit represents a Dauntless from the U.S.S. Enterprise CV6 during the Battle of Midway.

[usafphantom2]

Douglas SBD Dauntless USS Hornet 1942

@ron_eisele via X

[spockvarietyhour]

and Prodigy recreated these sets for the real Dauntless.

[captain-price-unofficially]

Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless of squadron VB-12. USS Saratoga (CV-3), October 1943

[dronescapesvideos]

Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless of squadron VB-12. USS Saratoga (CV-3), October 1943 ➤ THE PACIFIC WAR [DOC]: https://youtu.be/hdAz_qjBT78 ➤HD IMAGE: https://dronescapes.video/Dauntless

[defconprime]

Quantum Slipstream Drive

[alex99achapterthree]

Northrop BT-1 torpedo bombers on board USS ENTERPRISE (the other one) circa 1940.

54 BT-1s entered service with the Navy during 1938. It was deemed unsuitable for carrier use due to handling difficulties and withdrawn from front-line service in late 1940. Despite being retired from front-line units, BT-1s went on to serve in non-combat roles with the USMC and at various coastal Naval Air Bases through 1942 and were totally retired in 1943.

Northrop was a subsidiary of Douglas at the time, and the BT-1 would be the basis for the later Douglas SBD DAUNTLESS.

I loved the brilliant between-wars paint schemes.

[pinturas-sgm-aviacion]

1942 06 04 Midway - Dauntless Courage - David Gray

repost better quality and color

During the first attack by VS-6 Dauntless dive bombers on June 4, 1942 in the historic Battle of Midway, Lt (jg) "Dusty" Kleiss climbs away while inspecting the devastation inflicted by his bombs on the forward elevator of the Japanese aircraft carrier Kaga. His gunner, ARM3c John Snowden, skillfully manages to keep pursuing Zeros at bay. Only nine of the original 16 Scouting Squadron Six SBD's returned, and Kleiss landed on the USS Enterprise with only a few gallons of fuel remaining.

[alegendoftomorrow]

Letters to our Soldiers

Summary: Bradley finds himself making a Christmas wish on a letter from a stranger as he spends another Christmas alone ten thousand miles away from home.

Character: Bradley Bradshaw and F!reader (no use of Y/N)

Word Count: 1,208

Warnings: None

A/N: This is my third entry into @sailor-aviator winter challenger. My prompt was Merry Christmas, though I did also use this as a springboard for a possible series that I hope to start soon. Now, is this late... so very much so. Did life decide to send me into the new year with one finale kick…. Also yes. Is this also the first personal thing I’ve written for myself in a long time…also yes. But I had so much fun doing it and it feels good to get back to writing again. I hope you all have a phenomenal New Year and you find all the things you were looking for…. Enjoy some Christmas in February!

Bradley jumped off the ladder of his F-18 and shivered against the wind that blew across the deck. The sweat beading up along his brow and making his curls stick there was now making him feel even colder as he saluted the handful of privates who came to tighten his jet down to the deck and then lower it away so they could head back into port. Their practice drills finally done.

Rushing inside he tucked his helmet under his arm and headed right for the debriefing room. If he was lucky their CO would have nothing of note to say and send them all back to their bunks. Bradley wanted to change and get under his blankets. There was heat on the USS Dauntless but the steal walls and floors always seemed to hold onto the weather outside better then they did the temperature inside. Meaning right now it felt like walking through an ice box.

“Hey Bradshaw, you coming with us tonight or not?” That was Fitz���s voice echoing down the hall.

Bradley paused in the hall and pressed himself against the wall to let another officer pass by him as he waited for Fitz to catch up to him. “Na, I think I’m just going to stay in and try to catch up on some sleep.”

Fitz rolled his eyes and groaned as he walked in stride with Bradley to the briefing room. “Come on man it’s the first time we’ve seen land in weeks and you’re telling me you’d rather stay on this floating tin can then come and enjoy the night out with us?”

“That is exactly what I’m saying,” Bradley quipped back. “I intend to spend my leave sleeping and resting in my own bunk. Not eating bread and water in the brig.”

Fitz rolled his eyes and punched Bradley’s shoulder. Waving him off like he was a lost caused. “First of all, that happened one time and secondly you’re still boring.”

Bradley just shook his head and plopped down on one of the wooden seats. His excuse was the truth. Mostly. The other reason though was currently burning a hole in the pocket of his flight suit. A perfectly folded letter that still smelled faintly of warm vanilla. A letter from a stranger he’d never met. Natasha had signed him up for one of those letter writing programs for soldiers. He’d been annoyed at first, but now he looked forward to each and every one of them.

“We’ll be heading into port in a few hours and I expect all of you to act like the officers you are. Dismissed,” their CO finally called after the debrief had ended.

“Last chance Bradshaw,” Fitz said already halfway out of the door. “It’s Christmas Eve!”

“Leave the man alone Fitz. He’s got big and important plans for the night,” Omaha said with a laugh. Dragging Fitz out of the doorway as a chorus of other officers and enlisted men chattered loudly, interspersed with laughter and off key singing which Bradley just chuckled at.

After a quick shower he changed back into his dark t-shirt and pants laying back on his lower bunk and taking out the letter. The writing on the front was in pretty, dark cursive. Whoever this woman was she had the prettiest handwriting Bradley had ever seen. He pressed the letter to his nose and breathed in the warm scent of vanilla that still only faintly lingered there. It would be a hard day when the smell faded from this one too. Opening the letter, he tucked one of his hands back under his head and smiled softly.

Dear Soldier, 

            I don’t know what time zone you’re in, or even what country you’re stationed at, but where ever you are I hope you’re not spending Christmas Eve alone.

Bradley laughed. “Sorry to disappoint sweetheart,” he muttered. Though he did wonder if this technically counted as spending the day alone if he was reading her words…

             I for one will likely be spending it at the hospital. One of my co-workers, Mandy--she was the one involved in the blue cupcake fiasco a few months ago—anyways she has two adorable little boys and so I took her shifts so she could spend the holidays with them. I don’t mind though so don’t go feeling bad for me or anything. I like what I do and it’s nice to get to spend time with the patients over Christmas. Especially when some of them don’t have any family to come visit them. You should see the nurse’s station all decked out in different decorations for just about every different holiday celebrated among us.

Bradley’s smile grew wider as his heart swelled in his chest reading over the words. This woman was so kind and bright. He could so easily imagine her sitting at a nurse’s station and painstakingly writing to him everything that came to her mind as she looked over her floor. He imagined she had the most beautiful smile to match her pretty words. He found himself longing, as he often did, to ask her questions back. He wanted to know everything about her and he wanted to tell her everything about him. He wanted her to know that he reread the twelve other letters shed written him nearly every day. That he held them close to his chest when the nights got dark or the sea was rough. He wanted to tell her that he had them memorized. Every friend she mentioned and patient she cared for; he knew them all. He wanted to tell her that they had the same favorite color and favorite Girl Scout Cookie flavor. He wished her letters came with a return address.

            Alright well it’s getting late and I have to head out for another round but I want to make sure I get this in the mail to you so you get it in some kind of speedy order. I don’t really know how to say this without coming off like a stalker or some kind of wierdo, and I really hope you don’t thinks it’s weird but I included my address at the bottom of this page just in case you wanted to write back to me.

Bradley’s heart flpped and he sat up so quickly his head nearly hit the top bunk. Flicking his eyes to the bottom of the page he did indeed she her return address written there. His thumb brushed across her name and the letters and numbers beneath it.

I know the service is random and I’ve already written more letter than I was supposed to but, I don’t know, getting to write to you these past few months has felt nice. You really helped me, whoever you are out there, and I just want to keep writing to you if I can.

            I hope wherever you are you’re staying safe and that m letters have been a little piece of home you’ve been missing.

Merry Christmas Soldier.

“Merry Christmas sweetheart,” Bradley whispered. He looked down at the address one last time and then reached under his bunk into one of the drawers there. Pulling out a notebook and his pen he began his own letter.