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Star Trek Adventurer	By : Tcr Category: +S through Z > Star Trek: Online Views: 2690 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: Star Trek is owned and copyrighted by Paramount Pictures and CBS. For full disclaimer, see Chapter 1.

Chapter List
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Chapter 15: Demons of Air and Darkness
Only seconds passed.
Or so the chronometers on the Bridge said.
To Takala Karizesma zh’An, it felt a lot longer from the initial contact and being enveloped to being spit out into a distant quadrant, tens of thousands of light years away from the Federation. She felt like she’d been aged years rather than mere seconds. She turned to face Captain Korolevna, who nodded as though she knew what Taka was thinking, before returning her glance back to Straala.
The screen displayed a vast, Earth-like scene, bluish areas looking as though lakes, rivers, and even oceans. Continents of green, brown, and some yellowish desert like areas scattered throughout the area, covering the entirety of the sphere’s insides. Spires dotted the surface and Taka’s mind wandered, wondering what they were for; it was pointless speculation, she knew, their purpose and reason long since passed.
“Has the entirety of the Adventurer traversed the gateway?” Taka asked, stepping up to the Helm in front of the viewscreen. The men at both Operations and Engineering were shaking their heads, clearing them from the experience, as she walked by and she smirked slightly. At least I’m not the only one weirded out by the experience.
“Yes, ma’am,” Straala replied. She glanced at Taka as the Andorian placed her hand on the Helmswoman’s chair. “No damage.”
“We’ve arrived, Captain,” Taka relayed, turning back to Korolevna. She made her way back to her chair and slid into it, pulling the console around in front of her. There was a strange smile on Ariatha’s face - as though she had some pride for the Andorian just for giving the order to jump that far, but Taka didn’t understand it.
“Position, Ensign Straala?” Korolevna asked.
It took several seconds, which was strange for the Vulcan Helmswoman, but Taka admitted it was likely the computer that took that long. They would have been tens of thousands of light years from Federation space, almost in the middle of Voyager’s original trip home. The computer would have needed that extra time to locate any Federation buoys, not to mention that it may have been slowed by the passage through the gateway.
“The Jenolan sphere, ma’am,” Straala replied. “Computer’s are still attempting to locate the nearest Starfleet buoy. However, if it hasn’t moved again, approximately forty thousand light years from our last report position. We are currently fifteen thousand kilometers from the Aeneid, twenty-nine thousand kilometers from Delta Command.”
“Let’s put a little more distance between us and the Aeneid, Ensign,” Korolevna ordered. Straala nodded. The Captain turned to face Tactical. “Comms, Ensign Netu?”
“Both the Epimetheus and Delta Commander, Captain,” Erra announced. She turned to face her commanding officer.
“Put the Admiral on screen,” Korolevna nodded.
The viewscreen changed to an image of Admiral Banacek. “Terry, I’m glad to see you made it through the gateway in one piece. I wasn’t sure that science ship of yours could do the trick.”
Korolevna chuckled at the obvious joke between them. “You know as well as I do, Paul, the new ships are geared for combat first, science second. Even the Intrepid-class.” She shook her head. “Besides, not all of us feel the need to be guarded by three parts of a single ship.” She offered a wink.
“What can I say, I like the benefit of a three against one when I’ve got the three,” Banacek chuckled. “Your orders, Captain, are to maintain distance on the Aeneid and follow us through the opening as soon as we’re given clearance. From there, we’ll depart to the co-ordinates I’m sending your Helm officer now. We’ll speak again once we’re there.” The Admiral paused. “And, Terry, first one to make contact with a new species buys the synthale.”
“You’re on, Paul,” Tereza Korolevna nodded. She slashed her finger across her throat for the Bajoran Tactical Officer to cut the communications. The viewscreen returned to the stern of the Aeneid, her impulse engines blazing red against the background.
Taka looked up from her console. “Buys the synthale?”
“Old Earth statement,” Korolevna explained. “It’s a colloquialism that’s ultimately changed meanings through the centuries and survived.” She turned to face Erra again. “Put Delta Command through.”
“Congratulations on your first crossing, Adventurer. I’m your Romulan liaison, Admiral Retgar Remora,” a gray haired, balding Romulan stated with a smile. He saw Ariatha standing off to the side of Taka and his smile soured into a frown. “I trust it wasn’t too eventful for your crew, Captain.”
Taka’s eyes widened. Remora? Like Ariatha? It was a strange coincidence if ever there had been one. Yet, the senior Remora obviously had no love for Ariatha, if what Taka had seen was any evidence and that surprise was written on her face as well. Korolevna caught Taka’s surprise, her hand cutting off anything Taka might have been thinking of saying.
Taka stayed silent, but glanced up at Ariatha. The Romulan observer’s features didn’t betray her feelings, remaining stoic to the point that Taka could imagine Straala being jealous of the impassive nature. Ariatha merely folded her hands behind her back.
Korolevna shook her head in answer to Admiral Remora’s comments. “Not in the least, Admiral.” She smiled back at him diplomatically. “I’m assuming you’re not our Delta liaison, sir?”
“That would be Admiral Tuvok aboard Voyager when you’re out there,” Admiral Remora said, “but here, that would be Commander Burgess or Lieutenant Commander VanZyl.” The Romulan turned to look at a computer panel off to his side. “Admiral Banacek is requesting your fleet’s departure from Jenolan. Good luck out there, it’s a brave new frontier.”
“Understood, Admiral,” Korolevna smiled. She sat back in her chair. “Adventurer out.” The viewscreen showed the Aeneid slowly pulling away from them. “Ensign Straala, maintain distance from the Aeneid and follow her out.” She opened the intercom. “Now hear this: We’ve traversed tens of thousands of light years in mere minutes. Congratulations, my brave crew, we’re in a strange new world, now.” She paused, looking around the Bridge. “In a few minutes, we’ll active our slipstream drive and set course for further reaches than any crew in Starfleet history to make contact with races never encountered before and re-establish our friendship with those Voyager encountered along the way. Be proud of yourselves, but, above all, remember your duties and uphold the values of Starfleet. You are going to be the only people races will encounter from the Alpha and Beta Quadrants.” She stopped. “I have the utmost faith in you.” She closed the channel.
“Interesting speech, Captain Korolevna,” Remora stated from beside Taka. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say it was almost Romulan.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment, Commander,” Korolevna nodded with a smirk. “Both to myself and to my Russian ancestry.” She wasn’t sure how the Romulan was going to take that statement. Most people didn’t take kindly to being compared to Romulans - unsurprisingly, most people would have wanted to punch Remora in the face for something like that.
“It was entirely intended as one, Captain,” Remora nodded.
“Captain, we have entered open space,” Straala announced. “The fleet has formed up on the Epimetheus.”
“Admiral Banacek has given authorization for slipstream use, sir,” Commander Watson stated from where he was leaning over Netu.
Taka glanced over at Tactical, seeing Erra glare at him before returning to her console. Taka knew the Bajoran’s irritation was rising, not that Taka couldn’t understand that. Watson was supposed to be there as an oversight in the event that Erra made a mistake, to judge her performance, not to involve himself in her duties.
“Understood, Commander. Ensign Straala, activate slipstream drive and engage in formation,” Korolevna ordered. “All hands, prepare for quantum slipstream.”
Taka gave her an inquisitive look, but said nothing. She was sure it was mainly because the crew of the Adventurer were mostly fresh from the Academy and, therefore, not used to slipstream drive itself. Her curiosity disappeared as she realized, too, that there may not have been many officers throughout Starfleet who had experienced the slipstream drive; it was a still a relatively new technology, so it was understandable.
One the screen, the ships in front of the Adventurer disappeared in a burst of light as they activated their slipstreams. The Aeneid flashed forward, then disappeared into a flash before the Adventurer accelerated into the bright white light. A bluish tunnel enveloped the sleek Vesta-class starship.
Doesn’t look much different than regular warp drive, Taka thought to herself.
“We’ve entered slipstream and are on course for our destination, Captain,” Straala reported. “ETA, six hours, thirteen minutes, twenty-nine seconds.”
“Good, I’ll be in my Ready Room,” Korolevna stated, rising from her command chair. “Ensigns, you are dismissed.”
“Captain?” Taka asked.
“I believe it would be prudent for your young minds to be refreshed, now would it not?” Korolevna asked in reply. “Besides, in six hours, you’re all going to be busier than you thought possible, so I’d take this the calm before the storm.” She glanced at the two Diplomatic Corps women on the Bridge, “Ambassador T’Rela, Attache sh’Alala, please, there is much to discuss.”
Erra, Straala, and Hiland rose from their chairs as their replacements took over. Straala looked over inquisitively at Taka, who remained in her seat, staring at the display as reports ran across it, relaying everything the executive officer would’ve needed to know. It was unimportant at the moment, since they were in slipstream, but she didn’t care. It was still taking getting used to that she was the Acting Executive Officer aboard the Adventurer and she wanted to stay there as much as she possibly could.
Finally, she relented and rose from the chair, stepping across the banister, and onto the upper level. She followed Commander Remora into the turbolift and watched the doors close in front of her, sealing off the Bridge.
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Star Trek Adventurer