STAR TREK MAXIMILLIAN

BEYOND THE FINAL FRONTIER

 

PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE

ONE MONTH LATER

 

FADM Robert S. Lyon looked out over the Promenade, his eyes firm, masking a tiredness and a certain sadness that this was no longer specifically his crew.  Indeed, the crew of the U.S.S. Maximillian was now three Captains removed from being under his command.  Instead, he now held his rank as one of the highest ranking Admirals in Starfleet.  He held this with modesty and a bit of humility, but few others had ever reached his rank, because few others had ever done the things that Lyon had done.

Right now he looked over the crew of the Maximillian, celebrating a mix between the final end to the long and costly Dominion war, and their own upcoming shore leave. The Maximillian in fact was to start heading to Earth, for years of time in the Menkare Expanse had taken their toll on the Sovereign Class Vessel, and she was to be returned to her former glory, as the most beautiful ship in Starfleet…at least according to those who saw her.

He knew these officers needed rest and shore leave, if only for a few weeks…but there was no time. The ship was needed. The strange object that had broken through Sunburst point had accelerated, and while before it would not have reached it's destination for decades, now it would get there in a matter of months. Before there was time for research and study, to best decide how to destroy it. But now there was no time, and it was up to this crew, and the crews of as many ships that he could call, to intercept and stop this…this destructive force.

It was no time for a new Captain to be put into power.

The newly installed Klingon Captain S'Quid Tai Septaric fell into Rob's gaze, and he narrowed his eyebrows. He felt at this time of crisis experience was needed, not an untested Captain and Command Staff. He looked up at the ceiling and sighed. Sometimes you had to work with what you had.

He moved his gaze over to Captain Howard's appointed first officer, Commander Kragnar. Though as untested as the Captain, Kragnar had worked with her on a vast majority of occasions, and even more suprising than that, they were brother and sister. While on Klingon ships it was not unusual to find a family group commanding a vessel, in Starfleet it was almost unheard of. And while it unnerved most Admirals to have such a powerful ship in the hands of two of the few Klingons in Starfleet, Lyon trusted them…He just wished it was under different circumstances that they had to take their first command.

Kragnar was talking to Kelvok, a rarity. An offshoot from both the Romulan and Vulcan races, he was something of a curiousity to all that encountered him, but as a member of the crew of the Maximillian, he had earned the trust of everyone, and thus had been chosen as second officer.

Then another officer caught his eye, and Lyon focused on his adjutant, Lieutenant Commander Critch Starblade.

No-one knew where the name came from, it was as strange as Starblade's looks. He was of a race unknown to the Federation, and he was one of the two mechanical beings in Starfleet…Starblade was an android.

The only other android in Starfleet, also a LCDR, and also Operations Chief, Data of the Starship Enterprise, although impressive in his own right, was simply outclassed by the specs of Starblade. Critch had working emotions from day one, whereas Data had to go to great lengths to acquire his, and where Data had some difficulty keeping his works under control, Starblade had not malfunctioned during his entire stay in the Federation. He had been found floating in space, quickly restored to life by the experts on board the science vessel Asimov, and although he couldn't remember where he was from, he knew the standard direction…somewhere beyond our galaxy, so it was a mystery how he had got to our place in the universe.

His greenish-gold skin shone in the light as he walked to the Maximillian's chief engineer (At the time of the original writing – Ed.) LT Erica Sherman, still a bit green from the academy, but she was a quick learner, though a bit shy, and it was through the urgings from several others that she had taken her post in Engineering.

Lyon's eyes hit on the rest of the leaders of his former ship. His medical chief, Dr. Alexander. His intelligence officer, Tamak, a former Captain himself. Many others, of which he could never forget their names. Kojak. John. Robin. Shaylen…Their names popped into his head as he looked them over.

Starfleet's finest. But would they be enough? He asked himself this question as he watched the rest of his admiralty board approach him. RADM Blobbin (Part of an even longer name, for his species of Errsedorians use their first name as their chosen name, the second is that of their parent, the third the grand-parent, and so on. His real name began with Equezumre Vevom Klaosdkif, and it goes on for over a hundred more. He is called Blobbin by his associates mainly due to his appearance, that of a silver blob of mercury and his ability to change form.) pudged towards Lyon, followed closely behind by RADM Turok T'Kill, a Romulan/Human hybrid, and a former Captain of the Maximillian himself. They approached him slowly, then stopped.

"You're sure this is the right thing to do, Rob."

"Yeah, we all like to watch a good explosion…but I would've thought the Max would be a little too new for you to go blowing it up again." Blobbin added.

Lyon sighed to himself, and shook his head. "We're out of options. I wish there was another way too, but this is what we have to work with." He started walking, and Blobbin and T'Kill quickly followed. "We're the closest ship to it, and we're running out of time as it is. I think we'll do all right. We aren't called the most advanced starship in the fleet for nothing."

"All the technology in the universe is no replacement for an experienced crew." T'Kill stated stiffly.

"I know…God how I know. That's why I will be accompanying the Maximillian on it's voyage."

T'Kill and Blobbin stopped, and Lyon continued, answering their questions and statements before they even started. "This is not a suicide mission, I am simply going on to make sure everything runs as smoothly as it can."

Turok shook his head. "But…But…There's no logic in this!"

"Careful Turok, your Vulcan is showing." Blobbin nudged T'Kill.

Flustered, Turok continued. "You will simply add your death to the rest of the ship! It's…an unnecessary sacrifice."

"Your opinion has been noted. Fortunately, you'll be there to prove me wrong."

"Wha…" T'Kill rubbed his forehead. "Oh no."

Lyon continued. "Because of the dire circumstances, the crew requires our support, and like it or not, she is still our ship. I'd get some rest if I were you." Lyon briskly continued to pace, leaving Blobbin and T'Kill behind.

Blobbin pudged towards T'Kill. "You know…this is all your fault."

"MY fault? Listen, you glob of putty…" The argument trailed off as they left Lyon's sight, leaving him to check his padd for the time, and then walk to the center balcony overlooking the Promenade, for it was almost time to deliver the sad news to the crew. That instead of shore leave beginning as scheduled, their lives would be placed in danger yet again.

He looked down upon the crowd as he stepped into the center, and cleared his throat. Instantly the crowd below him stopped their conversation, and looked up. The loud clattering had faded away, turning into a small muttering.

Lyon began to speak, his voice magnified. "I'm sorry to have to announce this now, in this way, but there is no other choice.

"I remind you that the following is classified…now then…Shore leave has been cancelled." He stopped to allow the crowd to murmur, avoiding talking over them, then he continued. "On Stardate 53000, an object from…unknown origins entered through what we believe to be a small, self made wormhole. The object then, without provocation or warning, destroyed the Archer Observatory with one strike. Since that time, the object has begun to accelerate on it's course…straight for the Sun of Sector 001.

"Over the course of the last month, we have researched the object, but have found no weaknesses…indeed, it is not responding to almost anything we attempt. And it has begun to move faster, and will reach Sector 001 in a few weeks.

"Therefore, it is imperative that a strike force be launched, to intercept and destroy the object. The Maximillian is the only ship in range at this point to meet up with the task force, which is gathering at the entrance to Sector 9654. Later more ships will assist if we require them, and we will attempt to uncover it's motives and reasons for destroying Archer Observatory and it's purpose in heading toward Earth Space.

"I am well aware of what this ship has been through, that it is overdue for a refit, that you all ready for shore leave…but there is no other way. The U.S.S. Maximillian must meet this challenge to the Federation, and I know in my heart that you will be ready to face whatever awaits us. I will be accompanying the task force, as well as Admirals Blobbin and T'Kill. Further details will be made available to you. Godspeed." Lyon stopped, took a breath, and walked away from the makeshift podium as the murmurs began again…and thought about everything…