"It would help if the zone could be explored", remarked captain Maguire.
"Yes it would give a clearer picture of what to expect. We would be able to mark entry points and understand the exit points they lead to", agreed captain Lucinda.
"Rather than going in like this, it's like shooting in the dark. This is even worse because we don't even have a designated target destination to arrive it", captain Maguire commented with a hint of sarcasm as the starship hurtled through the tightly packed silverish like particles of slithering nothingness as displayed on the starships's main big screen.
"We could do that but it would take all of Space command's starship fleet and even then, there would be no telling how long the exercise might take", conceded captain Lucinda.
"I don't think that's a practical given the threat of alien incursions, that would be suicide".
"I agree with you captain", conceded captain Lucinda. "Embarking on such an exercise would be the height of irresponsibility. Especially as it would take away precious resources in starships and man power from our deep space posts. Now you see our challenge captain?", she remarked.
"You are right", captain Maguire conceded. "What if there was another vessel passing through the Oblivion zone coming from the opposite direction. How practical would it be remain on course if it meant the two vessels would collide?"
"Honestly I don't know, my suggestion would be to take a calculated detour using th other vessel as a point of reference, then get back on course once the collision has been avoided", proposed captain Lucinda.
"That is assuming that the other vessel remains on course, that is to say it keeps moving in a straight line from the point it entered the Oblivion zone. It would mean the two vessels would need to communicate with each other", said captain Lucinda.
"That sounds like one too many maybes", remarked captain Maguire.
"Given that we don't know how many vessels pass through will be passing through the Oblivion zone, there's not much that can done. If the two vessels can not communicate they may both change course and become lost".
Star quest
"May be you have a suggestion as to how best to handle the zone in the absence of a star chart?", suggested captain Lucinda.
"Actually I do", replied captain Maguire. How about posting starships to control movement of traffic into and out of the zone?"
"Still it brings us right back to the issue of diverting resources from other designations to patrol the boundaries of the zone. To make matters it is as yet an unspecified area. What we do know is that it is massive. Meaning it will require an unestimatable amount of resources in terms of starships and manpower to say the least".
"The least like what else?", quired captain Maguire.
"It would mean stretching our resources and we don't know if that would be sustainable in the long run", replied captain Lucinda. "In a nutshell I 'm trying to say we don't need to open another front to on which to contest for domination of space with alien civilizations", declared captain Lucinda.
"Ok I get it, it's impossible to manage", conceded captain Maguire.
"Any other questions about the Oblivion zone?", asked captain Lucinda.
"Just one", said captain
"Captain we are emerging from the Oblivion zone", reported lieutenant Tashinga excitedly.
The starship emerged from the silvery slithering mass out into a void littered with brilliantly illuminated giant lantern like stars.
"Absolutely beautiful", remarked captain Lucinda with excitedly getting up from her chair and walking up to the big screen to take a closer look on the image displayed on it. "I have only seen images sent back by the Zwilink connector. I never realised it would be so much more beautiful in real life
"What do you call this region of space?", asked captain looking just as mesmerized by the image displayed on the starship's main screen.
"Captain!", unknown objects rapidly approaching from several different directions, lieutenant Tanaka suddenly called out drawing both captains attention away from the imagr on the big screen. There was an unmistakable sense of urgency in his tone. "They are heading on a on a direct collision course with the Sandawana".
"Why are they not yet visible on screen", captain Maguire asked lieutenant Tanaka at communications.
"They will shortly be within range", answered lieutenant Tanaka.
Captain Tanaka kepy his eyes glued on the Sandawana's main screen. Eventually he could make out what fast appeared to be dots that grew in size as they got closer until they were the size of mountains.
"Meteorites!", exclaimed captain Maguire and captain Lucinda at the same time. There were several of them moving and converging on the Sandawana from several different directions.The starship would be crushed between them.
T"What are you waiting for captain!", exclaimed captain Lucinda. Get us of here before we are smashed into pulp between those meteorites!"
"Engine room prepare to divert every bit of power that can be spared from life support and control functions to engines", ordered captain Maguire speaking urgently into his hand held communicator. "Let's see how fast this baby can really go without gaining infinite mass".
"Navigation, I trust you were paying attention and mapped the point at which we emerged out of the Oblivion zone?"
"Yes captain", replied lieutenant Anesu sitting at the navigation console.
"Good", he replied.i
"Pilot, at my command you will take us back in the zone using those same exact co-ordinates", captain Maguire instructed lieutenant Tashinga sitting at the flight control console.
"Captain!", called out, captain Lucinda anxiously as the bridge crew waited attentively for captain Maguire's command.
"Now!", shouted captain Maguire and the Sandawana shot forward in a blinding blur of light.
"Captain!", reported lieutenant Tanaka. "The astroids have changed course, they are right behind us and seem to be gaining".
"What!?", exclaimed captain Maguire in surprise.
"I suggest we return to the Oblivion zone immediately!", suggested lieutenant Tashinga at flight control".
"No!!", screamed captain Lucinda we must re-enter at exactly the same point from where we emerged. If we re-enter at any other we will never be able to return to our own galaxy!".