Ansolon Season 02 / Episode 11
by Alan Tripp

2412

U.S.S. Yakushima
“The Straits,” Malstrom Expanse

Capt. Maekaylan Adoy gripped the arm of the command chair.

When off the known ‘safe’ routes, turbulence (or worse) was the name of the game.

Name of the game for those out exploring the depths and byways of the Hell’s Gate region of the Malstrom Expanse at any rate.

But then the Yakushima was definitely off the beaten path as she flew through the currents of the Straits on one wild ride.

The shortcuts taken for them to get here had been nothing compared to this, however.

Maekaylan stabbed the channel open with his finger.

“Miles, what the hell have you gotten me into this time?”

When word reached Maekaylan that Capt. Shallana Ironwolf and her ship were missing and then word that they were believed to be missing within a cluster of black holes?

He made sure the Yakushima wasted no time in traversing the distance to lend a hand in the search and rescue efforts.

After all, Shallana had been more than his former commanding officer … one whom he’d served for years as her Number One. … She was closer than family.

It was she who’d been there for him when he’d gone through the metamorphosis that had been his very real evolution from “Adoy” to “Maekaylan.”

Shallana had taken the time to be there for him during the months spent in metamorphosis — is evolution from the first stage of life for a Molletaan to the second form … that which his people called a ‘Dragon Lord.’

And being real, not many survived the first stage metamorphosis and even fewer the trials just after.

Shallana had been there as his Kallaroqa through it all – first human ever permitted to do so.

That meant she shared many of the same dangers as he during those moments in his life.

When he finally left the billet of first officer, he did so only at her insistence that it was indeed time for him to … “spread his wings and fly.”

That led to his accepting a command position within the Khitomer Alliance as part of their officer exchange program whereby, he’d accepted the billet of commanding officer of a Romulan Republic warbird.

He’d remained in that position for a long while, assisting the Romulan people, before returning to service in Starfleet.

But as a result of that time, he holds join rank in both Starfleet and the Romulan Navy.

And now he commands a Talas-class light battlecruiser … one of the newest designs churned out by the Starfleet shipyards.

The thing about the Talas-class Light Battlecruisers is that they are heavily influenced by Andorian designs.

Which as he understood it was why the Yakushima was perfect for this particular action.

A voice crackled back to him from across the open channel.

[“Remember … You all volunteered for this, Captain.”]

Maekaylan knew it was a comment made in jest, but also knew there was something very, very off with Miles Llwellyn.

He’d known the officer for years as he had been the love of Shallana’s life, not to mention father of their daughter.

But then he’d disappeared having (as it turns out) transitioned to this universe before they did … after they did?

It was all rather complicated when one was dealing with matters of alternate realities and skipping from one to another through the flow of time no less.

But until this moment, it had been years since he’d last seen the human.

The Dragon Lord’s finger tapped the arm of his chair.

Something about racing along gravitational currents on a haphazard pre-programed course churned one’s memories, it seemed.
And although there was no doubt this was the same Miles Llewellyn as from their reality, there was definitely something … off … different … out of sync with the man.

Maybe that was why he’d chosen to stay away from Shallana and their child through the recent years?

The Dragon Lord seemed to brush the thought aside.

“It’s Shallana,” he said. “You aren’t the only one who’d move heaven and earth for that woman.”

He said back into the open channel — a channel that remained oddly quiet in the wake of the comment.

“Approaching the gravitational eddy, Captain.”

“Helm, turn us into the prescribed approach pattern and engage slingshot,” he ordered.

“Slingshot engaged.”

The view from the main viewer shifted and rotated as the Yakushima moved into the proper trajectory for the coming move.

Maekaylan imagined he could hear the groan of her engines as she fought the stresses of generated from the gravitational forces of the Straits.

He did NOT have to imagine the groans of the hull as even through a newish starship, they were asking a lot from her … AND from those aboard her.

There was a LOT of risk in what they were doing which is why it was a strictly voluntary mission.

After the plan had been explained to them, it had been decided to strip ship’s crew down to the barest of minimums to keep the risk to as few as possible.

Maekaylan was proud of his team as over 90% of his people stepped forward to volunteer.

But because of the risk, most were offloaded to other ships assisting in the effort.

And then there was the vibration that was now setting the Dragon Lord’s teeth on edge.

[“Fortitude to Yakushima … Maintain course and heading,”] Miles’ voice came across the bridge speakers.

[“You’re picking up speed,”] he continued.

[“Stardrifter … pickup what speed you can and make sure you are aligned into the proper position. We do NOT want to see you ripped apart by all this.”]

“We are definitely accelerating to expected speeds,” called Zavra G’zov from the helm.

Maekaylan considered the Andorian helmsman one of the best pilots in the fleet.

“Standing by with tractor beams,” chimed Nol’ina from tactical.

The Romulan looked over to engineering.

“Don’t worry, Subcommander. … The power will be there when you need it, Ayeilak assured her.

“At least I think it will,” he teased her.

“And strengthening structural integrity grid and key points surrounding those emitters,” the Romulan engineer added.

Although a primarily Starfleet ship, over one-third of its crew were officers and enlisted from the Romulan Republic Navy.

“Velicity achieved. … Stardrifter coming up fast,” Richard called from Science.

“Engaging tractors in five … four … three … two …one …,” Nol’iina called.

Suddenly, the view shifted again as the nose of the ship seemed to dip.

Velocity slowed with a jarring effect that sent a few of the crew flying as the force tossed them from their chairs.

A console blew aft of the bridge and sparks fell from overhead yet the view on the screen continued to move.

“MAINTAIN!!! … Hold her to course Just a few more seconds!”

And then they flew clear of the currents … just as the lights went out and all went dark.

Respectfully,

Capt. Maekaylan Adoy
CO, U.S.S. Yakushima

— OUT OF STORY—

Tag, Richard! … YOU’RE IT!