| The Raven, a
Stellar class starship for the Rebel
Command, settled into its berth at Mars Settlement. It was yet another
successful mission completed and the fifth, for its crew since returning
to Earth two years ago. Captain Anik Hansen now longed for home having
only spent a brief time with her parents when they resettled on Earth
after the Rebel victory. Now, she and her crew were granted a month’s
shore leave. It was her intention to take full advantage of it. Who
knew when it would occur again?
As she prepared to leave her quarters, the
communications system signaled an incoming call. She sighed wondering
when it would all end. Dropping her duffle bag, Anik walked toward the
system. She pressed a button and the face of Admiral Sisko appeared.
“Admiral,” she greeted shortly. He stood between
her and a gin and tonic.
“Captain Hansen - another successful mission.
Congratulations.” He drawled the acknowledgment.
“Always a pleasure, Sir.”
“I have some news I require you to hear - in
person.”
“I’ll be there in 10 minutes. I was about to
disembark.”
“Make it 5.”
“It must be important,” she remarked. True to her
nature, her face gave no indication of caring one way or another. It
was a common expression that often gave people the idea she was aloof.
“Yes… yes it is…” He tossed the centuries-old
baseball he was playing with, up over his head then caught it. A smile,
almost devilish, played on his face. He took his eyes off the ball and
turned them directly on the captain. “Sisko out,” he finished.
Her view screen went blank, leaving Anik to stare
at it. She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “This better have
nothing… nothing to do with my shore leave!” she spoke out loud,
picking up the duffle bag in irritation. She left her quarters and The
Raven for what would be the last time.
“What took you so long?” Admiral Benjamin Sisko
asked as Captain Anik Hansen graced his doorway. His face showed no
humor, but his voice hinted of it.
“I made sure my ship was locked down and secure.
Protocol I am sure you understand - Admiral.”
“You’re lucky I’m a patient man.”
“I suppose this is true. But I believe I possess
the greater amount of patience at present.”
“Why is that?” he questioned leaning back in his
chair.
“I am officially on shore leave and somehow not on
my way to Earth.”
He rubbed his hands together then reached for his
baseball. “Captain Hansen, this will only take a moment of your
duly-noted precious time. I understand your hurry, but please… Have a
seat.”
“I would prefer to stand.”
“As you wish,” he said, raising his eyebrows and
nodding his head in agreement. “I have decided to give Commander Yar her
own ship.”
“I concur - she is quite capable of commanding her
own ship and crew.”
“She will be taking your place as the captain of
The Raven,” he spoke, watching the young captain for a reaction. It did
not come and for this he was grateful.
“You will take command of the new Emissary class
ship, The Brazen.”
“Yes, Sir,” she replied nodding, her eyebrow
quirked. Anik knew not to question her commanding officer’s reasons;
after all she served at the pleasure of Rebel Command.
“It is a much larger vessel than what you are used
to, along with a significantly larger crew complement. Can you handle
it?” he teased already knowing her capabilities provided for such.
“I will do what I have to do for the Rebel
forces,” she answered then asked unwaveringly. “Who will be my first
officer? I assume the choice has already been made for me.”
He smiled. The next information Sisko shared would
be the real test of her command. “Commander Janeway,” he replied.
“Senior or Junior?” she asked wondering why either
man would have requested military duty at this time in their lives.
Still playing, Sisko caught the ball in mid air.
His smile disappeared. “Neither, Captain Hansen. Your Number One will
be Commander Ka’lin Janeway.”
The previously staid look on her face faded to pure
astonishment. She never thought the Romulan hybrid would ask for a
place in Rebel Command. Never… in a thousand years. Let alone second
in command to her.
“I - I am surprised.” She stuttered. Admiral
Sisko watched the falter, but noted its brevity as the expression on the
captain’s face quickly masked over surprise.
“I thought you would be. But I believe it will be
a good fit. You will train her well to command her own vessel.”
“Perhaps she is already capable of handling her own
command?” Anik responded. In the back of her mind she wondered why if
command was willing to go this far then why not a step further. Surely
Janeway’s credentials as Commander of the Romulan fleet would support
it.
“Perhaps, but not until we’ve had a good look at
her first. There are those who fear this decision. There are those
among us who still have a great distrust of the Romulans who chose to
become a part of us, hybrid or other.”
“And you?” she questioned, wondering what his
position was.
“I believe she will serve you well.”
“I see,” she replied sighing.
“And you, Captain. How do you feel about it?”
“I am willing to trust Commander Janeway since
Command does.”
“Good. Doubts would not serve you well. Now -
what about your shore leave? Perhaps it’s time to get started.”
“Yes - yes I would agree. Admiral?” her request
was for dismissal.
Sisko sized her up. He knew these latest decisions
by Rebel Command would change her future, but exactly how was unknown.
He knew if anyone would grow from the experience and handle it well, it
would be Anik Hansen. It was for this very reason he liked this
particular young captain. “Well then - I will see you in a month. You
are dismissed, Captain.”
She came to attention and nodded acknowledgement of
his order. The next thing he saw was the door of his office shutting
behind her. Yes - this is why I like her, he thought to himself, she
takes orders well.
Ka’lin Janeway made a decision and moved on it. It
was a decision that would not be popular with either parent. She
preferred they both hear it from her instead of from someone else.
However, her father and grandfather were called away by Rebel Command
and would not be back before she was to start her new position. Ka’lin
walked into the kitchen of her parent’s home. She poured her self a cup
of coffee, and took a sip as she turned and looked at her mother sitting
at the kitchen table.
“Mother,” she spoke, taking the steps to join Gret
Janeway. The hesitancy in Ka’lin’s voice was obvious.
“What child? What troubles you?” Gret questioned
with a gentleness which could be felt.
Handle it straight forward, Ka’lin thought
then spoke, “Mother, I’ve decided to take a position with the Rebel
Command.”
Gret Janeway shifted in her chair. It was the only
outward display of a sigh. “I knew it was only a matter of time before
you would need to move on with your life. What is this position you
speak of?”
“At month’s end I will be the second in command of
the Rebel Command’s newest ship.”
“I would have preferred you remain grounded,” the
older woman replied. She had begun to think her worries were all in the
past, obviously today this was not so. “But only second in command?”
she added as an afterthought.
“I miss being out there,” Ka’lin replied looking
off in the distance. “I didn’t know I would so much.”
“Who will your commanding officer be?” Gret asked,
hearing that it wasn’t the command Ka’lin missed.
“I don’t know yet. Rebel Command said they would
notify me as soon as the new ship commander was informed.” Ka’lin stood
up and adjusted her tunic.
“There are those who will not trust you. What
then?” Gret inquired, looking up at her daughter concern written across
her brow.
“I will simply have to make them trust me.”
“Is that possible, daughter?”
“The only way of finding
the boundary of what is possible is to venture a little way past it into
the improbable,” Ka’lin reasoned, frustration edging her voice.
She had thought her mother would be easiest to deal with, but she was
mistaken. She placed her hands on her hips in a determined way. “I’m
saying I will work hard for it, Mother.”
“And what if it is not enough?” Gret asked, ignoring her daughter’s
display of authority. In her home she was still in command.
Ka’lin sighed knowing her mother was only looking
out for her. “Then I shall be most adamant.” She was standing
straight. It was a stance she had assumed many times aboard her warbird
as commander of the Romulan fleet. It was a position Gret Janeway knew
quite well.
“A desk position would have been simpler,” Gret
offered, knowing it would be doomed to deaf ears.
“I would lose myself in such a position.”
“Perhaps… perhaps not. Who’s to say?”
“Mother.” Ka’lin would entertain the conversation
no further. Sitting behind a desk shuffling paper from one side of it
to another when she could be out in space making a difference held no
weight. She had been given an opportunity to prove herself, to make a
place for herself and she would step up to it. Ka’lin considered the
only reason she told her parents was out of respect, nothing more -
after all it was her life.
“I cannot say I like your decision, my daughter,
but I will support your choice as best I can,” Gret finally accepted.
She knew her daughter had the strength and determination to do well.
“What then of your father?” she asked knowing that this conversation was
hardly more than practice for the next one Ka’lin would have.
Ka’lin looked at her mother forlornly. “Would
you?” She asked her mother knowing full well the reply.
“No. This must only come from you. However, as I
said, I will support your choice even to him.”
“I’ll be gone before he and grandfather arrive
back.”
“You work for Rebel Command now, dear. I’m sure
they can get in touch with your father.”
Ka’lin sighed. Telling her father would be
monumentally difficult. She had taken the position against his
expressed wishes. His idea of a job was tucked away safely on Earth and
as far away from space travel as possible… as far away from the Romulan
Empress as possible, though the latter was not a concern he had shared
with his daughter.
“It is a simple concession, my daughter. And it is
the first of many, I believe,” her mother informed, a smile playing at
the corners of her lips. “You will survive.”
Anik’s
skin had browned up in the two weeks she had spent on the beach. With
over eight months in space she had begun to look withered and extremely
pale. The warmth, bathing Anik brought a smile to her face; though she
loved lazing on the beach, sipping margaritas and relaxing, she loved
commanding her ship and being in space more.
“What’s on your mind?” Red painted nails raked softly down Anik’s naked
thigh as if asking a question of their own.
“Nothing.” Anik responded, turning her head toward the inquisitive
woman.
“Liar,” she chortled, knowing her lover better than that.
“Yar? Have I ever lied to you?” A pout formed on Anik’s face as she
looked over the rim of her sunglasses. Innocent blue eyes begged for
forgiveness she knew she would not receive.
“Many times, but I’m seldom in a position to question it,” Tasha Yar
replied shortly. She snapped her hand away. It was a topic they
visited many times before. She knew she was embarking upon a lose –
lose subject. As once second in command of The Raven it was something
she had grown use to.
“In a week you’ll assume a new position,” Anik quipped.
Yar sighed, shaking her head before replying. “You’re impossible. In a
week you’ll still be impossible and there will be light years between
us.”
Anik looked out over the ocean, the tide taking her reply away. The
distance it created did not go unnoticed as Yar stood up and shook the
white sand from her beach towel. “I’m going for a walk. Do you want to
come?” she inquired with a little more hope than she intended only to
end up sighing. “It’ll be a while before we have the chance to do this
again.”
Anik shaded her eyes, looking up at the woman standing over her. She
recognized a hint of sadness and it brought her to her feet. Anik cared
a lot for this woman and she knew after tomorrow they would board
different ships. Anik reached out, took Yar’s hand and gave it a
squeeze. “You are going to make a great captain, Captain Yar.” It was
all Anik could bring herself to say, already taking emotional steps away
from a relationship that once spanned both her work and private life.
Sensing the distance, Yar replied without opposition. “I learned from
the best.” They both smiled, knowing perhaps it was to be the last time
they would be headed in the same direction at the same time.
“How about dinner instead of a walk?” Anik asked feeling her stomach
growl.
“I’d have to shower first,” Yar replied rubbing her hand down her arm.
“I’m sandy.”
A
devilish grin played on Anik’s face. “Really?” she questioned playfully.
“A shower?” She stepped into Yar’s personal space, looked into her eyes
then kissed her. “Is this something you can manage alone?” Anik toyed.
The small moaned escaped Yar’s lips. She hated it when Anik teased, but
before she could reply Anik had grabbed up the towel she was laying on
and was now sprinting toward their condo.
Looking back over her shoulder, knowing it was a win – win situation
Anik yelled, “Come on Captain!! Your ship’s about to sail!”
to be continued ...
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