The Way Home (Part 3)
Posted on Sun Mar 10th, 2019 @ 5:35am by Lieutenant Commander Amber Quinn & Lieutenant Xander Oroyo DSci & Captain Ka'Tock
1,211 words; about a 6 minute read
Mission:
Cloud Surfing
Location: Various
[CONTINUED]
[OLD]
"Wonderful! They are still alive! I knew it!" Ryan said after hearing the lieutenant's announcement.
"Have medical and a security team meet us in the shuttlebay" Akeno said as she led the way to the turbolift.
[NEW]
Ka'Tock deftly steadied the shuttle as it entered the Shuttle Bay; his hands dancing about the controls; automatics had brought him thus far but no Helmsman worth half a salt would allow a computer to land his vessel.
Her Space Frame was strained and had a slight groan as the Artificial Gravity took hold; the fluctuating systems from over loads during flight were minor at best. He gave a slight flare before he gently set the shuttle down as if it were on eggshells.
Shutting down the shuttle came from habit; his movements efficent and trained. Turning the seat; checking the compensating atmosphere, he waited a few seconds before he unbuckled the manual restraints, rubbing the forming bruises from the strain on the inertia dampeners and pull of his body as it was held in place.
The hatch was keyed to open when the Green signal lit up that full atmosphere is outside the shuttle. Unbuckling he stepped slowly out of the shuttle. Gravity on this ship seemed different from the Aurora. He did not stumble; no warrior would give that impression of course while he got his footing beside the shuttle.
[USS Aurora]
"It's through," Amber said, watching the scanner readout. "Any indication it made it in one piece?" she asked. "Open a comm channel."
"I'm picking up multiple signals," the communications officer said, "But there's too much static to tell if I'm getting something from the other side or if the shuttle's comms are just bouncing around."
"All right. Keep monitoring. Let me know if anything changes."
Amber turned to Xander. "What can you find?"
"Might I suggest sending a probe through the aperture to boost our comm range and accuracy, Comm...errr Captain and Ensign?" Oroyo offered. "With a probe in there boosting our comms and sensor range, we should be able to get some more answers. Wouldn't you agree?"
"An excellent idea," Amber said. "And I'm just a commander." That was added with a smile. The captain was still on board, but wasn't feeling well. "Let's get a probe launched and see if we can get a solid signal."
The comm officer nodded. "Right away, ma'am."
"Mr. Oroyo, continue scanning and report if there are any changes in the anomaly."
"There are no changes within the anomaly itself, Commander. And my apologies for my misstep. But I thought that anyone in command of a starship is referred to as 'captain'. But I am picking up something not sure what it is but it's definitely directed at us," Oroyo said.
"No worries, lieutenant. I'm not technically in command, even though the captain is ill."
Several minutes later, the probe was launched. "Getting a message, ma'am."
=^= Ka'Tock to Aurora.=^= Even with the boosted signal strength the transmission it took a couple of seconds to get the message through. =^= It is a clear flight through to Federation Space; several vessels waiting the Aurora to come through. Can you hear this signal? =^=
"This is the Aurora. We hear you. Glad you made it."
=^= Make sure the Inertia Dampeners are in place, exiting was a bit of a rough bit. =^= Ka'Tock reviewed. "Acceleration factors down the Anomaly will throw the ship out the end at a high speed. =^=
"What advice do you have for us?" Amber asked.
=^= The front SHielding will put a drain on your power system; the rear shielding can be sacrifice to compensate. Also with the added gravitaiona speeds keep the ship as close to center as possible ; the spin of the anomly tends to want to pull the ship a few degrees off course but is easy to remain with steady hand on the helm. =^= Ka'Tock suggested. "Inertia Dampeners will be highly recommended upon exiting, the gravitational changes will be uncomfortable if unprepared. =^= Ka'Tock ended.
"Thank you," Amber said. "We'll make some adjustments and follow you through. Good job. Quinn out."
She turned to the bridge crew. "You heard him. I want more power to the forward shields and the inertial dampeners. Put us on yellow alert and prepare to enter the anomaly."
She turned on the ship-wide communications. "This is Commander Quinn. The shuttle made it through the anomaly. Everyone prepare for a bumpy ride. If all goes as planned, we'll be back in the Alpha Quadrant shortly. Quinn out."
"Okay, everyone, let's go home."
The ship made the required adjustments as the power grid dispersed the settings throughout the ship while approaching the Anomaly.
The Gravitational center of the rotation near the Event Horizon began to pull on the Aurora even before entering. The Helm station could sense the subtle changes. Angling into the path brought the first shuttering of the decking; pulling on the Aurora dragging in into the Anomaly.
Once fully immersed into the pathway home; like riding the water going down a drain; keeping the ship upon the 'surface' of the gravitation wave pulling the ship ever forward was the trick. The main thrusters to compensate the path.
The trip became increasingly bumpy as they progressed a slightg shimmy to the space fram from the swirling forces pilling upon the hull. Keeping the ship angled to te center of the Gravity Wave the ship seemed to glide through the projected course with only the most minor of adjusting by Helm.
The one problem by Helm is controlling the acceloration; negitive thrust was required in larger bursts to keep her on an even keel and maintain the hull from strain. SLight echoes of creaking could be heard through the vesssel as she reached the half way point. The pressure upon the war strut roots climbed into the Yellow warning area by the Three quarter mark and speed became a factor as reverse thrust did not slow her as well.
The gripping of tables, chairs and railings to keep a comfortable balance seemed harder as the ship was at the ninety percentile of the journey. The systems were edging into the upper yellow stress levels, the alarms had not sounded yet when the Aroura was 'spit out' of the Anomaly...
The inertial dampeners were back into their full operational parameters with the less strain on the ship. Gravity had returned to normal with the exception of the ship slinging out past the flotilla of awaiting vessels. Just short of the Warp threshold in a controlled slow rotation on the center axis. Helm began to counter the rotation and slow the ship's speed in a sweeping arc of a turn back to the ships waiting.
Amber took a long moment to look around. "Everyone okay?" When she'd verified that they had, indeed, made it, she opened the ship-wide communications. "We've successfully returned to the Alpha Quadrant. Please stand down from yellow alert and prepare for guests. I'm sure they'll have a lot of questions. Well done, everyone. When we arrive at the nearest starbase, we'll begin shore leave rotations. Quinn out."
____
OFF
Captain Marcus Ryan
Starfleet Officer
Admiral Akeno
Starfleet
Lieutenant JG Ka'Tock
Chief Counselor
Lieutenant Xander Oroyo
Chief Science Officer
Lieutenant Commander Amber Quinn
Executive Officer
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