Ansolon Season 2 / Episode 03
By Alan Tripp
2412
“Investigation complete,” Blackthorne said, dropping the data padd on the Admiral’s desk in his office aboard Starbase Ansolon.
Ka’nej Hauk picked up the padd.
But instead of flipping it on, the fleet admiral leaned back in chair and eyed the intelligence agent before him.
“And?” he asked.
“She’s clean,” the operative informed.
“Her father was definitely Tal Shiar and his mother complacent in the father’s activities, but the son had no idea of what either were or were up to,” he continued.
The Klingon grunted, unsurprised by the findings. But it paid to be sure.
“What do you think of the officer herself?” he asked.
Blackthorne wasn’t one to stand on formalities, especially in his line of work.
So, he dropped into the chair across from the Admiral without waiting for an invitation to do so.
“Arthyrra D’mari Zulysar? … Interesting individual,” he began in answer.
“The captain who once loved her parents unconditionally now hates both with a passion. … Not easy for someone of Vulcan blood, although the Romulan in his genetic mix likely makes up for that.”
“I’ll be honest, however, I’m not sure if it’s more because of what they did or the fact that they are no longer around to explain why they did it,” Blackthorne added. “All this didn’t make the fact they died decades ago … a timeframe that for her was mere months ago … didn’t make any of it any easier.”
“Want my opinion?” the operative asked.
Hauk waved a hand for him to continue.
“She’s a damned war hero,” Blacktorne stated. “And she was willing to sacrifice everything in the line of duty.”
He looked the Klingon straight in the eye for the next bit.
“So, I say put all this to bed, let the captain explore her Romulan … and family … heritage without all the questions and just give her the damned ship,” he continued.
“Arthyrra deserves our thanks and the center chair of that starship she’s been tinkering on over in the shipyards.”
Hauk scratched his chin.
“There will always be questions,” he said finally.
“About her, not the ship,” he added with a smile.
“And to be honest, I thought from the moment we all arrived here that they should never have let her walk away,” he continued.
Arthyrra had been one of the 27th Expeditionary … aka. ‘The Lost Fleet.’
One moment Arthyrra and the Excelsior-class U.S.S. Fenrir had been part of a Starfleet fleet dispatched to preemptively strike a Romulan fleet that was for one purpose … invasion of and domination of the Federation back in 2294.
And the next they were flung through a collapsing Borg conduit (one that apparently didn’t react well to an experimental Romulan weapon exploding on top of it) that sucked them and others out of time and space, flinging them nacelles first into 2408.
Borg had been brought forward in time with them with some of the Borg escaping while others attempted to assimilate what they could of the Federation, Romulan, Klingon ships deposited in 2408.
When all was said and done, officials at Starfleet Command were startled to discover Arthyrra and her command among the ships there as before the loss of “the lost fleet” had been swept under the rug …
… They’d pinned the fleet’s disappearance on the shoulders of the missing captain.
It had been assumed that since his father had been Tal Shiar and mother complicit, that the son likely had also been involved with the Romulan Empire.
It was their belief Arthyrra had likely given up details of Starfleet’s planned operation and ‘sold them out.’
Then it had all been quietly swept under the rug with the fleet was officially listed as missing.
But the sudden appearance of the Lost Fleet dragged all back out into the light.
Including the allegations against Arthyrra.
As for Arthyrra, she claimed no knowledge of his father’s true identity nor his parent’s deeds.
The officer went into a tailspin apparently as in one swift motion, he’d been cast across time like dice on a game board, found out his parents and family gone, same parents spies / traitors, and that he’d been blamed for the disappearance of his command and their fleet.
Even as an investigation was launched, Arthyrra had tossed her delta badge onto the table in front of the admiralty who sat the board of inquiry and resigned her commission.
All while protesting her innocence. … Her faith in Starfleet, family … everything had been lost.
Over the next few years, the former captain drifted from one place to another, trying to find herself.
Even exploring her Romulan heritage via the Romulan Republic for a time.
And during the Iconian War, served by helping refugees find escape to safe havens … safe from the horrors of the wars brought about by the Iconian War and the conflicts before and after it.
She’d fought hard to defend them, protect them … see them fed and clothed.
Helped them to survive.
In the end, Arthyrra had learned one thing. … In her heart, she was and would forever be a Starfleet officer who held firm to her beliefs.
No matter uniform or not, she was Starfleet.
So, she’d sucked up her pride and looked for an Admiral willing to support his request to have both name cleared once and for all … and his commission reinstated.
Ka’nej Hauk (another who knew what it was to be flung through time and space) was the fleet admiral willing to give Arthyrra a fair shake and if indeed warranted … a second chance.
In the meantime, the Romulan / Vulcan had spent the last year working as a design engineer / “ship’s master” with Daystrom Spaceframe Industries.
She’d been assigned to the shipyards closest to Starbase Ansolon where he’d buried himself into the work to re-populate the ships of Starfleet through the reclamation project originally began after the Borg attack on Earth in 2401.
Project had been so successful, it had continued and even expanded in the days following the string of conflicts and wars … especially the Iconian War.
In his heart, the Klingon had known the Vulcan / Romulan innocent, but it still needed proving beyond a shadow of a doubt, ending all doubts once and for all.
Well, ending doubts as far as Starfleet was concerned.
The investigation had taken slightly longer than expected …. just over a year actually, but it had to be expanded.
Blackthorne had just provided him just that.
“As I said, give the woman her uniform and pips back,” Blackthorne reiterated. “And find her a ship.”
“She’s been through enough and Starfleet needs qualified captains now more than ever,” he added.
“That they do,” Hauk returned, setting the padd to one side.
“Which is why I have a proposition for you.”
One of Blackthorne’s eyebrows rose an inch.
“And pray tell what is that?”
Hauk pulled out another padd and slid it across the desk.
“Time you gave up the solo life and commanded a ship and crew of your own,” he explained.
“You’d still work undercover intelligence, but at least you wouldn’t have to hitch a ride.”
Blackthorne picked up the padd and gave it a read.
Ship was a modified raider named the Temptress … loaded down with cannons, cloak and engines good enough to outmaneuver or escape much of what might be tossed at them.
But it had been a while since Blackthorne had worked with others.
After several minutes reading and considering, tapping the desk the whole time … He decided.
“One condition … I pick the crew.”
Respectfully,
FAdm. Ka’nej Hauk
CINC, Ansolon Command
And
“Blackthorne”
CO, A.K.S. Temptress
— OUT OF STORY —
This introduces one new character while setting up for a second one who will become
a mainstay in my STO gaming.