Ansolon Season 2 / Episode 02
Story by Alan Tripp

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A cloud of smoke hovered in the air in the heart of the Strategic Operations Center aboard the U.S.S. Arkenstone.

Specifically, it hovered over the head of one battle hardened Andorian.

“By Uzaveh, where in the Ahrasath is that damned ensign?” the blind Vice Admiral bellowed.

Uzaveh as in the Andorian deity “Uzaveh the Infinite” and their version of hell named “Ahrasath.”

He punctuated his last by disintegrating the stub of his cigar, but was powerless to generate another.

Pelyyr reattached the smoking device to his belt before turning back to his work.

The rotating holographic map reflected in the specialized graphics that corrected his vision.

During one of the first battles of the Iconian War, bridge explosions damaged his vision to the point of legal blindness.

Given the choice between new eyes or corrective lenses, he chose the latter.

Most chose the former, but so many years as an engineer had left Dynazar Thaleaz Pelyyr very comfortable with technology.

Having specialized glasses not only corrected vision, but gave a personal HUD display he could use whenever he wanted, to access the information he needed, etc.

In a since, the grizzly Andorian saw it as an upgrade.

That and he thought it made him look cool … Not that he’d ever worried about looks.

He’d also never say it, but it also allowed him to catch a few dreamtime moments when stuck listening to brass in meetings he felt completely unnecessary as who would know? … Unless he snored, that is.

Finally, the ensign came trotting through the door and down into the center’s command well.

“Here you go, Sir.”

“Thank you, but move faster next time,” Pelyyr returned, accepting the small, special-sized power pack. “Your Creator gave you those legs and youth for a reason.”

Reaching to his belt, he retrieved the device he’d held before, replaced the rechargeable powercell and flipped it back on.

Instantly, the holographic body of fresh cigar appeared around the device, which Pelyyr promptly lit, stuck in his mouth and resumed adding to the before mentioned cloud.

The device simulated smoking instruments such as the terran created cigar, even giving the person the sensations of an actual, but without the life harming effects of an actual.

As for the original organic ones, Pelyyr loved those intensely, but out of respect for those around him.

He saved those for ? special occasions.

“Ok, pull up the positions of all ships we have operating in this region as well as the proposed route to Starbase Ansolon,” he ordered.

“And tell Capt. Ironwolf on the Crazy Horse I expect her team to pick up the pace,” he continued.

“Tell her she can get back to exploring those new systems she discovered on her time, not mine.”

—OUT OF STORY—

This story introduces a side character I created years ago, but this time as a main character.

He should be an interesting character to weave stories around.

The post The Straits: “Where’s that Ensign?” appeared first on The Malstrom Expanse.