Two blows on the whistle, and that was it; the match had ended. Everyone on the pitch stopped playing, and the referee took the soccer ball away. Players on both teams went up to each other and shook hands or high-fived one another. On the sidelines, the watching crowd cheered and clapped for everyone that had played.

Stepping forward, still clapping, Captain McCallister approached his three sons and their other teammates. “That was a respectable game; well done to you all!”

“Dad, they thrashed us at our game that we taught them only six weeks ago!” Henri complained as he took a swipe out of a water bottle.

“Yeah, no offence, dad, but they thrashed us massively!” Theo added as he wiped his brow with the soccer jersey he had just pulled off. 

“Come on, guys, it wasn’t that bad!” McCallister said, trying to encourage them.

Raising her hands as she got her breath back, Beatrice Grant waved to her captain, “I’m sorry to disagree with a superior officer, sir, but your son is right. The Brenari knew our every move.”

“You’re not suggesting they read our minds? Are you Beatrice?” Alfie asked as he slumped his arm around Jordan, trying to catch his breath. 

Jordan chuckled, “Surely they wouldn’t?” He checked, sounding quite naive about the prospect of their so-called friends cheating. “How can we prove it?” He took the water bottle off Henri and drank from it too. 

“You can’t, Jord,” Alfie commented as he pulled the bottle out of Jordan’s hands and took a large gulp from it. “Or it may call a diplomatic incident for our dads.”

“So are we supposed to just give up then?” William, who was crouching on the floor nearby, asked. 

McCallister was about to say something when he was interrupted by the arrival of Chief Mayor Adale. “Captain, I just wanted to come and thank your youngsters for playing such a great game today.”

Turning to the Brenari leader, McCallister smirked at his team before turning back to Adale. “It was a good match. It’s great to see your youngsters pick up the rules of soccer so quickly and play such an intense game.”

Adale chuckled, “Between us, I’m sure some of them were cheating,” She whispered.

“I knew Beatrice was right!” Henri called out.

Reframing from responding, McCallister just shook his head and gestured to the arrival of his first officer and several other crew. He wanted them to take over what he had just started with their team while he continued chatting with Adale. “I think it was a great way to end our time here,” He remarked before leaning in. “Can we go somewhere private?” He asked in hushed tones.

She nodded and motioned for him to walk with her away from the large field they had converted into a soccer field and away from all of the commotion that it brought. Walking up a small hill under the beautiful sunshine, James followed Adale up before they got near a small boulder they both could sit on. Looking down, they could see the large crowds starting to dissipate from the field. 

“So I suppose this is it?” She asked him as she took his hand into hers. 

He nodded glumly, as they held hands. “These past few weeks have been-”

“Memorable?” She finished, turning to him.

“They certainly have,” James replied, smiling. “Are you sure I can’t change your mind?”

“As much as I would love to, James, I just can’t leave my people now,” Adale looked back down at the crowd. “You brought us a wonderful gift in saving many of our brothers and sisters, but their arrival also brings great peril for us. If we’re not careful, the Devore may come hunting for us. We’ve built so much here on New Brenarius that I can’t turn my back on it. If we survive the next six months, then maybe then, but there’s too much for me to risk.”

Sighing slightly, he understood her dilemma. Their short romance was just that. Short, sweet, and snappy. “I do understand.” He assured her.

“Then I suppose this is goodbye?” Adale looked at him.

Both their eyes met one another, and within a few seconds, they slowly leaned in and kissed each other goodbye. It was a long and gentle kiss. After a few moments, they said their final farewell and McCallister made his way down the hill towards where everyone else was.

Covered in mud and grass stains from head to toe, Alfie had pulled his shirt off, and like his brother, was using it to wipe his sweaty face and chest. Noticing his father coming down, he paced over to him and gave him a smirk. He knew what had just happened and he felt for his dad. For the first time since they had lost their mother, he had seen him happy and content to be with someone else. Though it was weird at first to see his father with another person, Alfie (just like Theo and Henri) had come to terms with it quickly. They liked Adale a lot. She was smart, clever, beautiful and classy. Just like their mother.  “You okay, dad?” Alfie asked quietly as he approached his father. 

James nodded in silence at first to his son; before placing his arm around him. “I will be, and thanks for asking, Alf,” 

Placing his arm around his dad, the teenager showed his dad that he was there for him. Returning to the group, everyone had collected their belongings and showed they were ready to move. 

“Ready to go, captain?” Commander Duncan asked his superior.

“Make it so, Number One,” McCallister replied before turning around and looking up at the hill where Adale sat.

She waved one more time to him before Duncan called the ship and everyone beamed away.

USS Odyssey NCC-80000, Gradin Belt, Delta Quadrant

Stardate: 77977.5

Warping along at a steady speed, the USS Odyssey was finally making its way out of the treacherous and hazardous region it had spent the last two months in. Between Chaotic Space and the Devore Imperium, the entire area was filled with subspace anomalies that made long-range scans almost impossible and caused interference with subspace communication. Several hours had passed since leaving the patch of space that the Brenari refugees had called the Gaharey Sanctum. No more false vacuum fluctuations, metaphasic radiation, or radiation from supernova remnants. Dense zones of subspace vacuoles or subspace tears were now behind them. More importantly, there was no sign of any Devore patrols or baby telepathic pitcher plants. The latter was the one thing that caused the most pain for the ship and its crew. 

Sitting quietly in his ready room, Captain McCallister was catching up on several department head reports while slowly sipping on a mug of tea. The lights were dimly lit, while in the background he had slow, soft jazz music over the ship’s speakers. Behind him, the effect of the ship’s warp field could be seen as the stars streaked past in a bright white and blue blur. 

With his left elbow leaning on his arm’s chair and his chin resting in the palm of his hand, McCallister held his mug in his right hand as he read from the holographic display. The door chime went off. He sighed. Somehow he knew that he would not get a quiet day just to remain in the confines of his ready room to get some work done. 

“Come,” He answered.

The door to the bridge opened, and Duncan walked in with a PADD in his hand. He wasn’t alone. Following in his shadow were his husband, Master Chief Court and Commander Banfield. Seeing Duncan arrive with his entourage out of the corner of his eyes, McCallister placed his PADD down and sat up straight.

“It doesn’t take three of you to deliver a PADD,” McCallister remarked to them before gesturing for them to take up seats in front of his desk.

Duncan agreed with his superior before handing the device over to him. “Normally, it would be me, but Starfleet has sent us a datastream instead of a regular call. A good number of the crew have received messages in them.”

“There’s one marked for your immediate attention, sir, I think you should see it.” Banfield insisted as she sat down.

“You all look as if you’ve just found out that someone has died,” McCallister stated as he took the PADD. 

“It’s not as bad as that,” Court said after sitting down in the chair beside Duncan. “Well, we’re assuming your message isn’t, but what others have received has caused some raised glances and whispers.”

Perplexed by that odd statement from his senior-most enlisted officer, McCallister tapped his access codes into the PADD and saw the message for him was marked as being from Vice Admiral Zack Marshall-Bennet, “hmm, looks like someone got a promotion,” He muttered before he downloaded the message and played it through the holographic display.

The holo-emitters came to life and created the form of the Director of Operations for the Fourth Fleet. “Greetings James,” Bennet said in his usual calm, cool and charming manner, “we received your update and for security purposes, we won’t say anymore besides well done on a difficult task. I hope everyone on the Odyssey is able to recover. We’re sending you and your crew your next assignment orders now.” He nodded to something off-screen, and beside him, a floating display appeared with text on it. Not focussing on it, McCallister concentrated on what the admiral had to share. “It’s with my greatest pleasure that I hereby grant you a promotion to Fleet Captain. Congratulations!” 

The other three all turned to McCallister with huge grins on their faces. 

The admiral continued. “Don’t worry, James, the extra silver bar under your pips does not mean we are moving you off the Odyssey. Instead, I am giving you command of a squadron of ships that will assist you with your new set of orders, and their captains are all people I believe you know very well.”

The admiral’s message continued for a bit longer before it ended with him wishing them all the best and “godspeed” in their new orders. Once it had finished, the holographic form of Vice Admiral Bennet disappeared, and McCallister turned to his first officer. “What?” He said deadpanned.

Concealing a slight chuckle with his hand, Duncan attempted to compose himself. “Let me be the first to say congratulations, sir, on your promotion.”

“Here, here,” Court added.

“Indeed,” Banfield said. “And the admiral’s message does clear up what others have received.”

Turning to her, McCallister still showed his lack of amusement over what they had just heard. “Do clarify, Corella.”

“The admiral mentioned that the U-S-S Themis will be joining us,” She started. “Well, I know who her captain is and why some of our crew have been contacted.” Leaning forward, the second officer passed another PADD, a smaller one, to her captain. “To quote the admiral, you know them very well.”

Peeking at the details on the PADD, McCallister sighed. “You’ve got to be kidding me?” He dropped the PADD on his desk. 

“The Themis needs to be crewed, and her new captain obviously wants the best,” Duncan remarked.

“She certainly does,” McCallister shook his head and turned his chair around to face the large window behind him. “This won’t help with crew morale.”

“It’s why the three of us came together,” Court stated. “You may be right, sir,”

“Or maybe wrong,” Duncan stated in a bold move. 

That comment caught McCallister’s attention; so much so that he spun his chair back around. “How comes?”

“Louwanna and I both agree that what happened with the incident with Princess and the Blood Diliithum has affected many. Our extra time helping the Brenari as a team, in my opinion, hasn’t done what we desired it to do,” Duncan answered. “We are a strong knit close community, sir, rarely do we have others transfer in as our crew turnover is almost at zero. I think we need to entertain the admiral’s idea and grant the captain of the Themis her request.”

Giving out another loud sigh, McCallister rubbed his temple. “Fine, but no one is to respond until I have spoken to her.”

The three officers nodded in agreement. 

“We might be able to set up a hyper-subspace channel for you to speak with her in about an hour, sir,” Banfield shared.

“Good, once the call has gone through, I’d like to have a chat with Captain Cambil and ask her why the hell she is trying to steal my crew!” McCallister insisted before picking up his mug of tea and gulping it down his throat. 

“And that’s it, folks,” McCallister concluded from his briefing with the senior staff as well as their senior assistant heads. It had been a long time since he had assembled so many of them around in the large conference room. “Any questions or thoughts?” 

“Seems quite exciting to be expanding our family,” Flemen noted. 

“But at the expense of us losing some of our crew,” Jen interjected.

McCallister couldn’t disagree with both statements. He shrugged his shoulders a bit, to show he wasn’t going to pass a remark back on either observation (deep down though he wanted to). “I know some of you already have some correspondents to get back to and I don’t want to hold anyone up, but I do want to say this,” He shared. “Please don’t feel you’ll be judged by myself or Commander Duncan if you choose to apply to one of the positions on the Themis. I am very proud of what we have built here on the Odyssey over the past fourteen years, but I also understand that if any of you want to progress any further in your careers then remaining on the same ship can hurt it. With these rare opportunities, we will still get to see one another and still get to work together.” The captain looked around the room and caught everyone’s attention. He wanted them to hear it from him first and wanted them to know he would be sincere about it.

“Umm, sir, I have a question.” Lieutenant Marova asked; after putting her hand up sheepishly. 

“Sure, Marova what is it?” McCallister said, still with a friendly smile. 

“If any department heads decide to apply and they’re successful, who will you replace them with?” The senior assistant chief flight control officer was asking about a valid point and it was one that the captain had discussed with the others. 

McCallister turned to Duncan and gave him the look to answer it. 

“The captain and I have already said we would be happy to consider their deputies for those department head roles in a full-time capacity based on performance reviews.” The first officer stated.

“And this time, I am assured that Starfleet won’t override my decisions on department heads,” McCallister said and gave Samris a look. The Romulan counsellor smiled and bowed his head slightly in appreciation for the captain’s remarks. 

Slyvexs then spoke up, “I have a question, sir.”

“Sure, fire away, doctor,” McCallister said. 

“When are we going to have a party to celebrate your promotion, Fleet Captain McCallister?” The Denobulan’s question came with a huge grin which caused a number around the table to chuckle.

Sniggering back, McCallister looked back at Duncan and this time at Court too. “I’ve been told it will be handled by my trusty Number One and Chief of the Boat.”

“As well as three very eager teenagers,” Court added.

More laughs went around the room. It was nice to hear that even though they had gone through another traumatic mission recently, they still could share special moments together.

“Okay everyone, if there’s nothing else to discuss, can I ask that we know the outcomes before we arrive at the Markonian Outpost,” Duncan said, attempting to bring some calmness to the room. 

The low-level chatting continued, so McCallister called the meeting to an end. “Thanks, everyone, dismissed.” He called out before pushing his chair at the head of the table back and starting to get up.

Horin, who was sitting close by reached forward towards her captain and spoke quietly. “Don’t worry, sir, Tremt and I won’t be going anywhere.”

Before McCallister could respond, he noticed Hunsen shooting a look at his Imzadi before quickly getting up and almost storming out of the room. Horin sighed and excused herself then rushed out of the room.

McCallister looked to Duncan for any clue, the first officer just shook his head. The two men left, leaving the rest of the group to carry on with their conversations. 

After seeing the others leave, Doctor Slyvexs turned to Forbes, who was sitting to her left. “Remi,” She called for his attention, which she got almost instantly. “Go for the job.” 

Forbes frowned a bit before leaning into his boss and mentor. “Ma’am?”

She repeated herself, “Go for the job on the Themis.”

“Don’t you want it?” Forbes whispered.

She shook her head. “I’m getting too old to bother about the excitement of a new ship, you deserve it, Remi. You’re ready to work without a net, go enjoy it!”

Forbes smiled. “I appreciate it, ma’am, I do.”

“Just remember, the one thing I’ve taught you as a Starfleet doctor,” Slyvexs reminded him.

Smirking now, he recalled her words of wisdom almost instantly. “The captain is the worst patient on any ship…after the chief medical officer!”

“Exactly,” Slyvexs said with a wink before standing up. “Now, go accept that job offer.”

“I will,” Forbes said with a smile of appreciation.

Stepping into his ready room and ordering two mugs of tea, McCallister looked over his shoulder as his order was processed. “That went as good as expected.”

“Indeed,” Duncan agreed as he walked over to where the captain had a small area where two long sofas were placed to sit down on one of them. “I can’t work out what the issue was with Tremt and Louwanna.”

Picking up the steaming mugs, McCallister turned around and handed one to his first officer. “My latnium is still on him still being hung up over the whole mutiny situation.” 

“Understandable,” Duncan commented as he sipped on his drink.

Sitting down on the sofa opposite Duncan, McCallister picked up a PADD. “One other factor, we need to consider, is this request by Starfleet to turn the Telemachus into a proper training ship for our cadets. Thoughts?”

Leaning back, Duncan answered. “It won’t require much work, but it does limit us on how portable we can be with undertaking a number of objectives within a mission.”

“If that ever becomes the case then either we’d move the cadets off or assign more experienced officers,” McCallister stated. “I think it would be a great idea and I’m sure Carter would be happy to have a bit of flexibility in giving them more experience out in the field.”

“With some protection from our new fighter squadron?” Duncan asked.

McCallister gave out a short low-level groan, “Yeah, I’m not sure how they’d work besides from being launched off the hanger floor of the Themis.”

Duncan was about to say something but was interrupted by the door chime going off. 

“Come in,” McCallister replied.

Both men turned their focus to the door that opened and was surprised to see Lieutenant Commander Lenjir entering. 

“Cline, everything okay?” McCallister asked as he stood up. 

Lenjir nodded and requested permission to speak freely which McCallister gave him. “I hate to do this, sir, and I’m probably the first, but I want to let you know I’m applying to join the Themis.”

“In what capacity?” Duncan asked as he stood up beside the captain.

“Same as I have here, but also the third officer” Lenjir replied. “I want you both to know that it has nothing to do with what had recently with the Devore, Blood Diliithum Crystals and Princess, but besides a few months on the Triton, all I’ve ever known is the Odyssey since I graduated from the academy.”

“It’s fine, Cline, you don’t need to explain,” McCallister said, trying to reassure the muscular Tiburonian. 

“I do,” Lenjir stated. “If I don’t, sir, then I’m not showing you both the respect you deserve.” He took a breath, before continuing. “I love my job on the Odyssey and I love being a member of this crew, but the opportunity to build my own department from the ground up and train an entirely new hazard team on the Themis…well it’s nothing I’ve had not been able to do here on the Odyssey. When I took over as security and tactical chief, everything was established. I’ve just maintained it.”

“You’ve kept us safe for over nine years, Cline, give yourself some credit,” Duncan told Lenjir.

Smiling at the kind words, Lenjir nodded. “I know, but I don’t feel there’s much more for me to do here.”

McCallister nodded. “I get it, Cline, I really do. I felt the same when I took command of the Trinity. She wasn’t quite mine and I only felt that when I took command of the Triton and then the Odyssey.” He extended his hand out, “We will miss you Cline, and we wish you all the best.”

“Thank you, sir,” Lenjir said shaking his superior officer’s hand. “It has been a privilege to serve under you for these past fourteen years.”

“The honour was mine, Mister Lenjir,” McCallister remarked, finishing their handshake before Lenjir shook Duncan’s hand. 

“One thing though,” Lenjir said, “Don’t hesitate with replacing me with Keli and having Jisaraa as her deputy, both of them are incredible and are ready to lead the security and tactical departments without any hesitation.”

“Only because you made them ready, Cline,” Duncan stated. 

“But you’re right, Keli will make an excellent successor to you, Cline. Are you sure you don’t want one of them joining you on the Themis?” McCallister checked.

Lenjir shook his head. “No, they deserve to remain here and start the next chapter for you.”

McCallister and Duncan agreed with Lenjir’s suggestion before he left them. 

“How many more do you think we will have?” McCallister asked once Lenjir had left his office.

“I hate to think,” Duncan answered honestly. “Back to the Telemachus?”

“Indeed,” McCallister sighed. 

“Imzadi you can’t make such unilateral decisions like that!” Hunsen shouted the moment they entered their shared quarters.

“By the four deities, what are you going on about?” Horin threw back as soon as the door closed behind her. “You’re not seriously thinking that us leaving the Odyssey is a good idea?”

Hunsen went silent for a moment as he kept his back to her and stared out of the window.

“Tremt, you’re kidding?” Horin checked as she walked up to stand behind him. “Right?”

He shrugged as he turned to face her. “Honestly, Louwanna, the moment I received the message from Bexa, it made me stop and think.”

“Tremt, you can’t be serious! We’re about to become parents. We’ve started a life here on the Odyssey, we’re building our family here. We agreed to this, ages ago.” Horin snapped as she walked away from him and went straight to the replicator and got herself a glass of water. “I cannot believe you just said that.”

“Listen, Louwanna, you need to understand that ever since what happened with the blood-” Hunsen started but instantly he was cut off by Horin.

“Enough, Tremt!” She said slamming the glass back down on the replicator and fortunately not breaking it. “We’ve been down this road a thousand times now, we’ve discussed it and you agreed that to move from all of that was to look forward to our future, together.”

Closing the gap between them, Hunsen moved across the room to take her free hand. “Who said our future can’t be on the Themis?”

She shook her head. “No, Tremt. I refuse to transfer.”

“Why?” Hunsen countered back. “What’s wrong with starting our next chapter in a new place?”

“Because we’ve started here already,” Horin stated as she motioned to their quarters around them. “This is our home and I want to raise our child here.”

“I can’t,” He begged her. “I can’t do it, Louwanna.”

“Yes, you can.” She insisted.

He shook his head as she let go of her hand and walked away. “I can’t,” He repeated, sounding upset and frustrated. “Every time I close my eyes all I see is me holding a weapon up against Theo or William’s heads, or kicking the crap out of the captain or hitting Craigen. The rage is unbearable,” Spinning on his heels he looked at her, “The moment I got that message today, it was like a weight being lifted from my shoulders. For the first time in ages, I had a sort of moment of clarity, this was the four deities telling me that was our direction out of this mess.”

“There is no mess here, Tremt.” Horin responded with a shake of her head. “This is you, trying to escape from what happened. I know it’s awful and it’s something you are struggling to live with, however, everyone has said it. No one blames you for what happened.”

“I do, Louwanna, I do,” He pleaded with her. Tears were forming under his eyes as his voice cracked under the stress. “I can’t do it anymore, Louwanna, I can’t.”

“Yes, you can.” She assured him as she took both of his hands into hers. “Together, here on the Odyssey, we will do it.”

He shook his head. “I can’t,” dropping her hands Hunsen stepped back. “I won’t.”

Shocked by what he had just said, Horin took one step forward. “What?”

“I won’t, I need this,” Hunsen said as he stepped over to the coffee table where a PADD sat. “Bexa wants me as her first officer.”

Smacking the PADD out of his hand, Horin didn’t watch it fly across the room. “Bullshit, this has nothing to do with your career and you know it.”

“You don’t know what it’s like, Louwanna,” He said as he raised his voice at her. “I’m the guy everyone hates, I’m the guy who pulled a phaser out on a bunch of kids, how the hell am I meant to raise a child in this setting when everyone knows what I did?”

“The Odyssey is family. If there’s anything I have learnt since I joined over eleven months ago. You need to give it time,” She assured him. “Running off won’t help the problem.”

He shook his head. “I’m going to the Themis, Louwanna.”

“Is that a threat?” Horin asked.

“A fact,” Hunsen whispered, looking down at the floor. “I already accepted Bexa’s offer.”

“You bastard,” Horin cried before slapping him across the face. “Get the hell out of here, now!” She angrily pointed towards the door, holding back the sobs.

Rubbing his face from where she had hit him, it was just as painful as the tears than ran down his face. “I’m sorry,” He pleaded.

“Too late,” Horin said as she turned her back to him. “Get the hell out, I don’t want to see you right now.”

He nodded and headed straight for the door.

The moment the door had closed, Horin broke down in an uncontrollable sob. She couldn’t believe what Tremt had done and what that meant for their unborn child.

Slowly setting up the table in their quarters, Carter Westerham adjusted the layout of one of the forks before picking up the lighter on the side and igniting the single white candle in the middle. In the background, the computer started to play one of his wife’s favourite songs, At Last by Etta James, just in time as the doors opened wide, allowing his other half to walk. 

“Well, this is certainly a welcome change,” Corella Banfield stated with much appreciation as she stepped over to her husband. “What’s the occasion?”

Turning around, Carter smiled at her and welcomed her home with a hug and a kiss. “Who said there has to be an occasion?”

“Oh, you’re good,” Corella replied as she returned the gesture and started to sway in time for the music. “Thank you, Carter,” She murmured into his shoulder as she remembered them dancing to this song at their wedding over fifteen years ago. It had been probably the only non-Klingon they did at their wedding. Though time had flown past; their marriage had been one she had loved, and spending time together like this was always special. Once the song had finished, a second one started (another one of her favourites). A Love That Will Last. Closing her eyes, she placed her forehead against her husband’s shoulder and found herself miming the lyrics. 

‘Cause I just want one love to be enough

And remain in my heart ’til I die

Her mother had commented that the lyrics alone made the song almost Klingon. 

“Is this better than staring at those readings in astrometrics any longer?” Carter asked as he kept his wife close in his arms. 

“Far better,” Corella agreed. The song came to an end, and she looked up at her husband. “So what’s for dinner?”

“Pan-fried duck breast with creamy white beans, with a cherry chocolate mousse for dessert,” Carter answered.  

“And where’s Logan tonight?” Corella asked about their youngest. 

“Upstairs in his room, his been fed and watered and is doing homework.” Carter dryly answered.

Chuckling at her husband’s wonderful sense of humour, she knew that Logan would have had dinner already and had agreed to give his parents a wide berth from seeing them engage in anything romantic. Too gross for his taking. Corella looked at the table and saw that Carter had gone all out with the detail. It included champagne in an ice bucket, and a single red rose lying across where she would be sitting in a moment. “So, I suppose we should chat about the news that’s racing around the ship.” She said as her husband pulled her chair out for her to sit down. Taking her seat, Corella pulled the serviette over her lap.

“Sure,” Carter replied as he went to the kitchen area and brought their meals out, “this new squadron idea sounds interesting.”

Corella nodded in agreement, “We’re going to lose a lot of good people in the transfers to the Themis,” She mentioned.

Placing her meal in front of her, Carter then put his down before beginning to open the bottle of champagne. “Do you want to transfer?”

Corella shook her head, “Absolutely not. We’ve just settled; I think Abbej will go instead.”

“That’s a shame to hear,” Carter said as he popped the cork and poured the drink into his wife’s flute. “I take it that she and Tierra are still set on divorcing?”

“They filed the paperwork this morning,” Corella shared and picked up her glass to see and listen to the faint fizziness of the drink. “It’s a shame what happened has brought their marriage to an end.”

“Indeed,” Carter agreed before taking his glass and sitting down. “I take it then you’ve heard about me then?”

“A full reinstatement into Starfleet and an offer to return to active duty leading our cadet squadron on the Telemachus,” Corella responded, “Yeah, I heard a few things!” She smirked at him. “Are you going to accept?”

“Would you be okay if I did?” He asked.

“Of course, Carter,” She answered. “Being a retired officer who was some cranky old professor never suited you!”

Carter chuckled at her loving insult, “Then I suppose we’ve got a lot to celebrate tonight.”

“Why, what else have you heard?” Corella wondered. 

“You’ve not heard?” Carter checked of which his wife shook her head. “I heard from the twins, they’re going to be joining us once the Themis arrives in the Delta Quadrant. Their entire squadron is being assigned to Odyssey’s cadet unit.”

Hearing that their eldest two would be with them soon was great news that Corella couldn’t have hoped for more. “By the hand of Kahless, that’s incredible!” She got up and quickly hugged her husband. “Does Logan know?” She asked after letting go of him. 

“He does,” Carter acknowledged. “It was Brook who had got in touch with him. I only received the confirmation after I saw the update to the unit’s roster this afternoon.”

“Amazing,” Corella said, happier than before. “You know what that mysterious interlink frequency I’ve been tracking for weeks is no longer as exciting as that news. Our family will finally be home.”

Carter laughed, “Well, that’s the other thing that both Brook and Athena wanted me to share with you.”

“What’s that?” Corella questioned, still giddy at the news of her children coming home.

“Now they’re fourth-year cadets and they want to be treated as such, so they won’t be staying here with us. They plan to stay with their fellow cadets in the dormitories we’ve set up on deck seventeen.” Carter explained carefully, fearing that his wife may erupt at hearing that news.

Considering that notion for a moment, Corrella got it and just nodded at first before responding. “That’s fine; they will be close by, and that’s all I care about.”

“You won’t be saying that when they want to be coming home for their parents to prepare them a decent home-cooked meal,” Carter said.

“It’s a small price to pay to have them back in our lives again, Carter,” Corella said with a smile. She picked up her champagne flute, “To family,”

Mirroring the same gesture, Carter raised his glass, “To family,” He agreed before they gently touched the side of their glasses against each other. They proceeded to enjoy a sip of the drink and started their meal.

“Oh wow, that’s amazing news, guys!” Flemen almost screamed before jumping into giving his friend a huge bear hug. “Samris, you’ve kept that one quiet for weeks!”

Samris chuckled as he returned the embrace from his friend, “Thanks, Craigen, we’re pretty excited ourselves!” 

“Indeed,” T’Rani said in a deadpanned and toneless expression.

Jen chuckled at his old academy classmate’s reaction after sharing the news with their little group of friends, but he knew how much this meant to her. He knew how long she had been trying to become a mother. She was finally having that opportunity and he couldn’t be any happier for her. “You must be pleased, T’Rani.”

“I am,” The pilot replied with a slight bow of her head. She looked up at Samris and then to the rest of the crowd that had assembled in The Auditorium for a late evening get-together. “That is not the only news we wish to share with you all.”

“Oh no, why do I feel like you’re about to burst my happy bubble?” Flemen asked, sounding deflated as he perched himself back down on the stool he had just got up from to hug Samris. 

Samris and T’Rani clasped their hands together, and he spoke for them. “We’ve agreed to join the Themis.”

“No!” Tomaz said, stretching out the last vowel sound in disappointment. 

Confirming with a nod, Samris explained their thoughts behind it. “T’Rani has been offered the chance to lead the training of the pilots assigned to the Themis, which as you know includes that brand new starfighter squadron. And to top it off, Captain Cambil wants her to be the second officer. Plus for me-”

“Say no more, my friend,” Tomaz interrupted, gently slapping his friend’s shoulder in a sign of support. “We get it; you finally get to be a chief counsellor.”

“Yeah,” Samris confirmed with a huge grin. “Also the Themis is just like a mini-Odyssey, so a great place to raise our new family.”

“Well let’s raise a toast to the newest addition to the squadron,” Jen insisted as he raised his glass to the group and they all joined in with a cheer before taking a sip from their drinks.

Flemen looked over to Jen, “So, Lukiz, we heard you got an offer to join the Themis as well. Are you taking it?”

Jen shook his head, “Not a chance, being on the Odyssey has been a blast and I’m not done with her yet. Plus Decter is eager to take the job, I can’t deny him that chance.”

“Wow, so I suppose that’s it,” Tomaz stated. “It will be the end of an era with so many people moving forward.”

“But it’s the start of something new and exciting,” Samris added. “And as the captain said, we’ll still be working together.”

“Ladies and Gents, to the new chapter!” Flemen said, raising his glass and them all copying again and repeating his cheer. 

Placing their drinks down on the bar, Samris and T’Rani said goodnight as they wanted to return back to their shared quarters and begin their packing. It left Flemen, Tomaz and Jen at the bar. A holographic waiter walked over to them and asked what they wanted.

Tomaz shared he didn’t have to get home to look after Tomaz as his babysitters were taking care of him so he was up for anything tonight. Jen reminded them that they all had the morning off tomorrow, which prompted Flemen to begin ordering a number of cocktails and other drinks for them to consume. 

“We may regret this,” Tomaz stated.

“Never say never,” Flemen told his friend just as the drinks arrived. “You only live once!”

“Gentlemen, to the next chapter for the Odyssey and her crew!” Jen said raising his drink. 

“To the next chapter!” Tomaz and Flemen said in unison as they knocked their drinks against Jen’s and quickly downed them.

A vessel has been detected. Aperture eight two three.

Unimatrix four two four grid one one six. 

Access transwarp corridor zero nine. 

Redirect vessels to intercept at subjunction.

Activate. 

Alter course to intercept.

Vessel identified. Federation Starfleet, Intrepid Class, one hundred forty-three lifeforms. 

Prepare for assimilation. 

Voyager has altered course. 

Current position spatial grid three six two. 

Trajectory one one two mark five.

Corridor…N-Nine…Voyager..USS-S…zero…zero nine…transwarp-transwarp…intercept…

The goliath grey Borg Cube was forced out of the transwarp conduit all of a sudden. Explosions erupted across its hull.

Unable to com-comply.

Re-establish connection. F-f-failure.

Trimetric fracture entered.

Sub-subspace flux detected.

Incoming graviton waves. 

Alert spatial sinkhole in unimatrix one seven sev-seven-t-t-two.

S-s-structural collapse im-imminent. 

Initiate…Voy…evacuation…alpha sequence…re-establ-establish.

A circular door broke open on the side of the Cube and immediately shot out a smaller Sphere, fleeing at high speeds away from its mothership as it succumbed to the damage sustained from its dropping out of warp. As the Sphere broke through it encountered several distortions, all of them holding their grip against the Borg Sphere. Like an anchor dropped to the bottom of the sea, the Sphere was not going anywhere. 

Alter deflect-deflector harmonics. 

Re-establish connection. F-f-failure. 

En-engage sub-sublight engines. Unable to com-com-com-comply. 

Warning. Overload.

Cease all power. 

Activate regeneration cycle. 

All of the drones on the Borg Sphere returned to their alcoves and the Sphere cut all of its power. 

To stop.

To wait. 

To postpone.

“So remind me again, Mister Third Officer, what are we meant to be doing?” Flemen asked as he and Tomaz walked into The Auditorium, shoulder to shoulder.

Sighing at hearing his friend call him that for the hundredth time that day, Tomaz shook his head before responding. “Being the chief diplomatic officer, I’d thought socialising with new people was like second nature to you?”

Flemen chuckled and looked up at the little guy sitting on his shoulders. “You hear that, S’Tem? Your dad isn’t keeping up with his new duties!” 

S’Tem giggled at his ‘ride’ and clapped Flemen’s shoulders. “Don’t be silly, Uncle Craigen! My daddy knows everything!”

“Being the ship’s new third officer and chief intelligence officer alongside your old role doesn’t mean he knows everything!” Flemen whispered. “Daddy only pretends to know everything!”

“That’s rich coming from our new staff judge-advocate,” Tomaz shot back as they passed through the back of the busy room and made their way towards the bar. “Remind me again, how did you pass your law degree?”

“A lot of hard work!” Flemen quickly retorted before looking up at S’Tem. “And remember that kiddo, you stay in school and work hard so you can be as handsome, amazing and clever as your favourite uncle and dad!”

S’Tem chuckled more, “But Uncle Samris has moved to the Themis. How will he inspire me now?!”

“Hey, I heard that!” Flemen said jokingly up at the young Romulan lad.

“That’s m’boy,” Tomaz said with a proud chuckle before pulling S’Tem down off Flemen’s shoulders, “Go on, S’Tem, go find a table for us to take!” 

S’Tem nodded before running off to one of the nearby tables and taking a seat swiftly. 

The pair of command officers looked around the room at the huge crowd that had assembled. 

“I know I keep winding you up, Tomaz, but well done for the promotion,” Flemen said as they leaned over the top of the bar while waiting to be served. 

“Thanks, Craigen,” Tomaz said with a smirk. “I wasn’t expecting it, but Commander “Duncan told me that neither Doctor Slyvexs nor Counsellor Horin was interested.”

“I’m surprised they didn’t offer it to Lukiz,” Flemen stated. “With him being the tenth host of a Trill symbiont, I’d thought he would be more than experienced for the role.”

“Yeah, I thought the same thing,” Tomaz replied. “It turns out that he hasn’t completed as much command-level training as I thought.”

Wincing at hearing that, Flemen finally caught the eye of one of the holographic stewards. He gestured for them to come over before speaking more to his friend.  “Lukiz once told me that he had to take a couple of years out from Starfleet after he was joined. Apparently, it took him almost another four or more years before he got a department head position.”

“Yeah, but he remained working on starbases and took the slow route into a senior position,” Tomaz remarked before they ordered themselves a drink and one for his son too. “Apart from his first job on the Triton.”

“Talking of which, do you think seeing the Triton maybe bring up some old memories for some of our comrades, especially the captain?” Flemen asked curiously. “I know when I see Captain Canção that I’d be reminded of the stern encouragement she gave me. She wanted me to stay behind at the academy to complete my studies in advanced starship operations.”

“Just how many people have been taught by Captain Canção?” Tomaz wondered as their drinks were brought over. “I had a semester of early Federation history with her while at Mellstoxx.”

“Canção a living legend; I hear that she and the captain go way back. Even introduced him to his wife,” Flemen said as they took their drinks to the table where S’Tem was sitting and waiting patiently for them. 

Before sitting down, Flemen looked at his friend. “So, seriously, aren’t we meant to mingle and meet the new faces of the squadron?”

“Food and drink first,” Tomaz insisted as they sat down. “And that’s a directive from the new third officer!”

“Aye, sir!” Flemen said before raising his glass to clink against Tomaz’s. 

Standing up on the upper section of The Auditorium, Counsellor Horin looked down at the large crowd. Holding on to a drink between her fingers, the pregnant Betazoid woman had been mentally closed down any stray thought or feeling she had picked up on. Tonight, she just wanted to do her duty and return to her quarters quickly. 

“Shall I call red alert now or give it an hour or so?” Doctor Slyvexs jested as she approached the counsellor from behind. After climbing up the large stairs to find somewhere quieter for her and her husband to enjoy the gathering, the Denobulan medical officer had quickly seen her colleague standing alone. 

Horin smiled. “Sorry, Slyvexs, I’m not much company tonight.”

“I understand that,” The Denobulan woman said. “Come join Mettex and me.”

Horin looked over her shoulder and saw that the couple had been able to grab one of the alcoves in a quiet corner under the enormous bay windows. “Thanks, that’d be great.”

As they walked over to where Mettex was, Slyvexs spoke. “I don’t think the captain requires us to mingle too much tonight. Just a brief hello with our counterparts.”

“I’ve met Counsellor Naef-Oron from the Triton, but I’ve yet to see the counsellor from the Bellerophon,” Horin mentioned.

“That huge, bulky Brikarian is their counsellor?” Slyvexs asked, sounding surprised. “I thought he was their chief science officer.”

Horin shook her head as they approached the booth where Mettex was sitting. “Hey Mettex,” She greeted him with a friendlier smile than she had given Slyvexs. 

“Good evening, counsellor,” Mettex said with a wider grin. “How goes first contact with your new comrades?”

“I’ve just got one more to meet,” Horin said as she shuffled herself behind the table and then rested. Her bump was truly showing. “But taking a moment to sit down and rest, is more of a priority right now.”

Mettex chuckled. “How is Baby H doing?”

“They’re doing well,” Horin answered. “I’m pleased to say they have inherited their Betazoid sweet tooth well, I’m constantly craving chocolate like there’s no tomorrow!”

“Just make sure you don’t break the replicators with your cravings,” Slyvexs advised as she sat down beside her husband.

“Have you met any of your counterparts?” Horin asked as she moved one of the pillows to sit it behind her lower back. She soon felt more comfortable.

“Doctor Uknare and I go back to my time on the Trinity, she spent a year as a medical officer under me before she was reassigned, we said we would get together a bit later. I’ve yet to meet Doctor Corben from the Bellerophon.” Slyvexs replied as she picked up her drink. Sipping at it, she placed her hand over her mouth before speaking some more. “She’s only been out of her training with Starfleet Medical for a few years now. I’m going to be the old, wise doctor that they’re going to want to ask for a second opinion from.”

Horin and Mettex laughed a bit at Slyvexs’ light-hearted complaint. 

“My dear, I’ve told you, experience and wisdom are attractive attributes in any woman,” Mettex told her before placing a kiss on her forehead. 

“So I am old?” Slyvexs responded back after her husband finished sharing his affection with her.

Mettex stumbled with his response and stuttered. “I-I-I-I didn’t say that, my dear.”

“Experience and wisdom,” Slyvexs quoted him. “In other words, old age.”

“Aging gracefully and remaining as beautiful as ever,” Mettex stated. 

Horin couldn’t help but laugh more. “Oh Mettex, please stop now before you cannot dig yourself out of that hole!”

Sharing in her colleague’s fun in winding up her husband, Slyvexs laughed too before kissing her husband on the lips briefly. “I love my wise and experienced husband too!”

“Thank you, dear,” Mettex said after a sigh of relief. “Louwanna, Slyvexs mentioned that you both turned down the promotion to the third officer. How comes?”

Horin nodded. “With Baby H on the way, there’s no point in me doing the role.” She looked at Slyvexs. “You never told me why you turned it down.”

“I didn’t,” Slyvexs replied. “I just reminded the captain that he and I had an agreement from many years ago. I agreed to be his chief medical officer and nothing more. That’s why I had no issue with him appointing Max above me and others. Plus, Tomaz is a young shooting star. He deserves the opportunity.” She picked up her drink and then looked back at Horin. “Have you seen him?”

“Tremt?”

Slyvexs nodded.

“No,” Horin answered with a sigh. “Thankfully.”

At that point, they were approached by Commanders Banfield and Westerham. 

“Do you mind if we join you?” Banfield asked casually.

“Be our guests,” Slyvexs gestured to the empty space around their booth. “We were just talking about meeting with our counterparts from the rest of the squadron. Gow goes your hunt, Corella?”

Corella sat down, holding a Klingon martini in her hand, and exhaled a small moan. “A child genius and a brash know-it-all. Thankfully I’ve got Abbej, who can assist me in keeping the peace when we start to disagree over exploration assignments.”

“I’m not sure Tierra would agree with you, Corella,” Horin remarked. 

“We can only hope our former colleagues that have joined Captain Cambil on the Themis, remember their Odyssey roots,” Slyvexs said confidently.

“I’m sure the likes of Samris and T’Rani will do us proud,” Horin said. “Others…well, let’s see what happens.”

Changing the subject quickly, Mettex spoke up. “Carter, I hear congratulations are in order. The captain has officially given you command of the Telemachus, and your children have joined us.”

Westerham smirked. “Yes, they have, and I only get the Telemachus for when I get to take those daring cadets out for a ride around the block to show them what their old man is made of.”

Banfield laughed at her husband’s wit. “They certainly are going to make you work for your money!” 

“Well, we will soon see how much the Delta Quadrant can throw at Starfleet’s youngest and brightest,” Westerham replied.

“And to its wiser and more experienced members!” Slyvexs said, raising her glass to the group before giving a wry smile at her husband for mocking his earlier comments. Horin joined in with a chuckle while Banfield and Westerham raised their glasses too.  

Standing by the bar with Jen and Keli, newly promoted Lieutenant Commander Tierra was eyeing the entire room with careful consideration. She was ignoring whoever Jen was talking to; instead, she was scanning The Auditorium to see if her ex-wife would turn up out of the blue. So far, she couldn’t see Abbej, 

“Tierra, would you stop looking around the room like that,” Keli quietly complained when she looked over to her friend. The Coridanite was holding her glass of Andorian ale close to her lips. She was hoping to avoid anyone from seeing what she was saying to her friend. “You look more like a Klingon hunting its prey; than the ship’s newest chief engineer.“

Sighing and letting her shoulders drop, Tierra turned back round to face the bar. “I’m sorry, Keli, you’re right. Since Abbej and I separated, I’ve been dreading the moments we may have to share professionally.”

“Then stay focussed on what we’re doing, rather than waiting for her to turn up,” Keli advised. “Jisaraa will be here soon, so she can help us finally wind up Lukiz in a moment.” She thumbed towards the direction their colleague was standing in before taking a sip. 

Tierra looked over to where Jen was and saw him finish talking to a young slim guy in a red uniform she had no idea who he was. He had curly golden hair and forehead ridges that made her think he was a Xindi-Primate. She hadn’t seen many of them in her career. “Who’s the lucky guy that Luke is chatting up?”

Remaining quiet, Keli answered. “Commander Thaustin, he’s the Triton’s first officer and what a hottie!”

“Definitely out of Lukiz’s league,” Tierra commented in a similar low volume. “Anyway, I thought he was flirting with that Vulcan lieutenant from the Bellerophon?”

“I think she’s a bit too logical for him,” Keli whispered back behind her glass. 

“I told you we should have set him up on that blind date with Lieutenant Artir from Cetacean Ops,” Tierra stated.

Keli shook her head. “No, though Lukiz loves to swim, I don’t think Artir is he’s kind of aquatic type of guy. That said, I noticed him having breakfast with Lieutenant Twnai the other day.”

Hearing that piece of gossip about the senior assistant chief strategic operations officer, Tierra raised her eyebrow. “Perhaps we should ask Tomaz to set him and Shaquia together?” 

Keli was about to say something in response before they both noticed Jen finishing his chat with the Xindi man. The Triton’s first officer bid his farewell before moving away from them. Both women looked at the joined Trill. 

“Oh god, I’m an old man,” Jen groaned as he picked up his drink and took a swig from it. “He is so young.”

“And so gorgeous,” Keli added. “What did he say?”

“Just remember you’re young like your host!” Tierra added.

Jen chuckled. “He said he would take me on a tour of the Triton for old time’s sake and then we could hang out afterwards.”

Both women almost squealed at hearing that news and as they did, Jisaraa arrived.

“What did I miss?” The Orion security officer asked as she put in an order.

“Lukiz has a date with the Triton’s damn fine first officer!” Keli announced.

“It’s not a date!” Jen said quickly.

“It’s a date, Lukiz!” Tierra corrected him.

“Oooo, Commander Thaustin?” Jisaraa questioned as she picked up her drink and turned to the ops manager. “Are you thirsty for Thaustin, Lukiz?”

Jen rolled his eyes. “I swear, I don’t know why I hang out with you lot.”

Keli instantly replied with a smirk. “As T’Rani and Cline left you for the Themis, those bastards!”

“Everyone who went to the Themis are bastards!” Tierra added.

“We’re not talking about your wife here, Tierra. Tone down the anger! This is about Lukiz’s love life, not yours!” Keli shot a cheeky look at her Deltan friend, who relented with a groan.

“Okay, chill out!” Jen suggested. “Anyway, the three of us have been stuck together since the academy; it’s good to get a fresh perspective.”

“Yes, our perspective and Thaustin is definitely a nice new distraction!” Jisaraa countered back before raising her glass to the group. “To the first Odyssey Squadron romance!”

The group all burst into more laughter, of which Jen just gave up and joined in. 

Standing around in the centre of The Auditorium, Fleet Captain McCallister surveyed the room and was pleased to see that his idea of getting everyone together from the new squadron seemed to be going well. He had played gracious host and had met all of the captains and their first officers when they had beamed over; in fact, he had them all meet in his private dining hall at first for a small get-together. Thankfully Max was there for his own backup. Not that he needed it, especially as each captain he knew well. After the pleasantries and introductions were made, they then entered The Auditorium where the rest of their senior staff and other crew were starting to get to know one another. McCallister had ordered his senior staff to ensure they met with their own counterparts from across each ship before the end of the evening. 

Making his way over to his father, Alfie approached him with a glass in his hand and passed it over. “Here you go, dad,” He offered.

“Thanks, Alf,” McCallister said to his son. “You know, you didn’t need to join me tonight? The cadet squad doesn’t need to be here.”

“Yeah, I know, but with Henri hanging out with Will at ours and Theo playing tonight, I thought you could do with some moral support. Now that you’ve got that line under your pips, you’re quite important!” Alfie replied. “It was good seeing Uncle Horatio.”

“Yeah, it was,” McCallister agreed with his son. Horatio was now on the other side of the room, chatting away to Cambil and a few of the former Odyssey crew that were now on the Themis. “It’s nice you guys are going to be able to spend some more time with him.”

“He did say he was going to introduce me to his new science officer,” Alfie responded. “Allegedly, he only graduated from the academy a few months ago and is already a department head. Some child genius.”

“Don’t be getting any ideas about me making you a department head on the Odyssey or anywhere else in the squadron!” McCallister pointed out to his son with a chuckle. 

Before Alfie could say anything, they were approached by Commander Duncan, Master Chief Court and their son Jordan. 

“How goes the mingling, Number One?” McCallister asked Duncan.

Duncan flinched a bit, “Okay, but I forgot that your brother’s first officer is fiercely protective of him.”

“Jaz and he go way back,” McCallister stated. “Plus she was my sister-in-law’s first officer before that.”

“So she’s practically family?” Court asked.

“Somewhat,” McCallister answered. “What about Rio’s Number One?”

“Thaustin?” Duncan checked.

McCallister nodded.

“I think you’ll find our operations manager is enjoying that recon,” Duncan said with a wink.

“Rio has always been good at picking out the right people for the right job and then building them up,” McCallister shared before looking at both Jordan and Alfie. “You two may want to consider asking her nicely shadowing her for a day or two.”

“We can do that?” Jordan checked.

“Sure, I’m the squadron commander. If I deem it necessary,” McCallister answered.   

“Didn’t she introduce you to mom, dad?” Alfie posed.

McCallister nodded with a smile. “She did, so I can only imagine who she may try and get together on this venture.”

“If we’re lucky, she may set Tomaz or Craigen up with the Borg Queen!” Court jokingly said.

“It wouldn’t surprise me!” McCallister said before he took a sip from his drink and went back to enjoying the party. 

“Fleet Captain’s log stardate seven-eight-zero-zero-one point zero three. The squadron has now moved on from the Markonian Outpost. Last night’s gathering went without a hitch, and I am planning more unit cohesion activities in the coming days. After spending some time within the Turei underspace, we will arrive at our first destination, an unchartered system where Voyager rescued one of their shuttles. Our primary aim will be for the squadron to chart the system together. It should be uneventful. Hopefully”

Lieutenant Commander Tierra walked around her engineering room and smiled at how well everything was ticking over today. The Deltan woman was still finding it weird not to see Commander Hunsen standing in one corner or around the pool table conducting a briefing or training session. Wrapped up in her own thoughts, the chief engineer took one more glance around the room and for the first time in days, she smiled. There was a nice buzz among her staff that she felt was reflecting back on herself. Maybe last night’s festivities and the incorporation of the new squadron had uplifted people’s spirits? Or the changes in crew rotations, the first major one to happen in years on the ship, and the infusion of new members may have helped. Or she had considered that it was a mixture of the two. Tierra was a cool and calm person, someone that others could depend on and someone who would go out of her way to help others. Nevertheless, now she was part of the senior staff, she knew that she had to maintain a strong aurora of leadership. Confidence but not arrogance, stable but not a pushover, and certainly there for her staff. She wasn’t someone who would shut someone down if they had an idea to contribute to a problem. Her ability to guide others to find a solution was something she had developed under Hunsen and would be one of the cornerstones of how she now led her staff.  

“Quiet morning in engineering?” A voice asked from across the room.

Noticing the approaching body, Tierra smiled at the Trill man wearing a gold operations uniform like her. “Not quite, commander. We’re just good at hiding all the hard work everyone is doing!” She replied. 

Lieutenant Commander Lukiz Jen smirked as he passed a PADD to her before sharing why he was visiting engineering. “The captain has asked we use our trip in Underspace to quietly map the corridors we are using. I’m about to increase power allocation to the lateral sensor array, but I don’t want to overextend the bandwidth. Could you check this over for me?”

Taking the PADD and reading the report that Jen had prepared, Tierra nodded to herself as she walked over to the pool table and checked the idea that Jen had against her own systems. “So, any news on your date with Commander Thaustin?” she whispered.

Blushing like a red giant, Jen wobbled his head. “Sort of,” He answered, in a low level as hers. “I got a message from him this morning.”

Surprised but excited to hear that, Tierra’s eyes popped wide open at the news. “Nice work, commander!” She winked at him before passing the PADD back. “Everything here looks in order, I don’t see the array being affected.” 

“Thanks,” Jen said as he took the device back. 

Crossing her arms and turning to lean against the edge of the table, she focussed on the joined Trill. “So, have you replied to him yet?”

“Not yet,” Jen answered. “I’m just not sure that he is my type.”

“And?” Tierra quickly countered. “Have a bit of fun!”

Jen laughed at Tierra’s excitement. “You’re as bad as Keli in wanting to set me up with someone.”

“Why not?” Tierra replied. “It’s not as if there’s anything else exciting going on around here.” The chief engineer gestured to the quiet room, and Jen just nodded with her assessment. 

Sighing loudly, while stretching and yawning, Lieutenant Commander Flemen was not being discreet with his show of boredom on the bridge. Sitting in the aft section among the mission ops consoles, he was trying to get ahead of his reading among those races they could possibly encounter on their latest trek across the Delta Quadrant. Waving his arms above him, the Lumerian finished his stretch and tapped his friend sitting beside him on the right. 

“Tomaz, are you done?” He asked faintly.

Still staring at the screen, the Barzan man took a deep breath from his breathing apparatus and exhaled slowly. “Almost,” He answered, not wanting to entertain Flemen’s almost childlike behaviour in needing attention. “Are you?”

“Not quite, but there’s not much to read,” Flemen said, pushing his chair around to swivel. As he did a perfect three-sixty spin, he carried on sharing what he knew as his chair came to a slow stop. “Most of this area we’re exploring doesn’t have many warp-capable species in it, mainly down to the fact the Borg either assimilated them or Voyager missed them due to them testing their quantum slipstream drive.”

“Then why don’t you read what you’ve got to read, so when the captain asks you for your expert opinion, you’ve got an idea of what you’re advising,” Tomaz suggested, still focusing on his reading. 

“Reading information about the Malon is boring, Tomaz,” Flemen remarked and looked at the screen that the chief strategic operations officer was studying. “Why are you reading about the Borg? Don’t you know everything about them?”

Sighing heavily, Tomaz looked at his friend. “Yes, I do, but I want to refresh everything we know and have about them. Just in case.”

“Are you seriously thinking we’ll engage them?” Flemen asked in a whisper, so no one else heard him. 

Tomaz shrugged. “We are close to their space, Craigen. If not now, then at some point. Plus, I’m focussing on reading the impact they have had on this region anyway. Countless civilisations were destroyed because of them. The rest of the Gradin Belt is fortunate to have so many subspace barriers that created an almost ring of protection from the Collective.” 

“Yeah, but the Collective were able to break past them on occasions with their transwarp capability,” Flemen stated.

“True, however, the fact they deemed so much of the Gradin Belt unworthy of assimilation while they were at their height of power; does make you rethink what their long-term strategy was for this area.” Tomaz pointed out. “Seeing what others considered about this area we’re moving into may help us, if and when, we engage an element of the Collective.”

“So you’re not of the opinion that Voyager wiped them out?” Flemen asked. 

Shaking his head, Tomaz was in disbelief at Flemen’s comment. “Don’t tell me you’re one of those conspiracy theorists that think the entire Borg Collective blew up the moment Admiral Janeway’s future self infected them with that virus?” 

Flemen now shrugged. “Why not?” 

“The Collective isn’t like a snake where if you chop off its head, the rest dies. It’s almost like-” Tomaz took a moment to consider his analogy.

“Hydra!” Commander Duncan stated as he stepped down into the mission ops pit. “It’s an old Greek legend from Earth. A beast with multiple heads that when you cut one off, two more grow in its place.”

Both Tomaz and Flemen turned themselves to face the first officer. 

“Thank you, sir,” Tomaz replied. “I couldn’t remember what one of my old instructors told me about the Borg.”

Duncan nodded in acknowledgement. “No worries, but let’s hope we don’t encounter the Collective just yet,” He turned to Flemen. “I’m assuming the reading isn’t as exciting as we originally considered?”

Flemen shook his head. “Sorry, sir, but my briefing isn’t going to be the most exciting one I can do. It’s only when we start to hit the edge of the Void that we may want to reconsider how much of it we traverse or return to the underspace to get us past the Swallow Nebula.”

“I’ll leave that down to Fleet Captain McCallister to decide,” Duncan remarked. “However, we’re not out here just to meet old acquaintances.”

“Or solely to retrace Voyager’s footsteps,” Tomaz noted. “That said, I still advise avoiding making our presence known by those we know to live around the border of the Void.”   

“Worried the squadron will be entering a firefight earlier than expected, commander?” Duncan questioned, crossing his arms against his chest.

Tomaz replied with a simple nod. “We know the Malon don’t trust us, especially as they believe we will ruin their export industry which would have a massive impact on their economy. Furthermore, we’re not one hundred per cent the Hirogen have not moved across to expand their hunting grounds. The squadron needs more time to get its toes wet in the Delta Quadrant.”

“Then let’s hope this plain, boring system we’re heading to helps towards that,” Duncan stated. He looked to Flemen, “Craigen, if the Malon Cooperative is going to be the big player we may encounter first, then I want you to list all possible diplomatic approaches we could use that would avoid having a detrimental impact on their economy.”

“And to put us in their good books?” Flemen added.

“Indeed,” Duncan agreed. 

“Consider it underway, sir,” Flemen answered.

“Great,” Duncan turned around and paused to look at the diplomatic officer, “And make sure that new law degree of yours is used too. I want whatever we can offer to be above board and legal.”

“Absolutely, sir,” Flemen said with a smirk and a nod. 

Once Duncan was out of earshot, Tomaz leaned over. “Still bored?”

“I will be in about two hours,” Flemen replied.

Gazing out of the long slanting windows of his ready room, Fleet Captain McCallister had his arms crossed against his chest with one hand gripping onto a mug of tea as he watched the underspace current fly past the ship. The odd debris from the Turei Alliance’s war with the Vaduwar bounced in their way. Thankfully the deflector dish was powerful enough to sweep them to one side. 

The door chime went off, and he told his visitor to come in.

“Ship status update, sir,” Duncan said as he entered the room and waved the PADD. 

Keeping his focus on the window, McCallister didn’t turn around. “Thank you, Number One,” He replied. “Anything of interest?”

“Nothing out of the ordinary,” Duncan replied as he placed the PADD on the desk before standing a meter away from it. “I’ve got Craigen and Tomaz reviewing our database to make sure we know enough for the area we’re about to enter on the civilisations we may meet.”

“I hear a but there, Max,” McCallister stated as he turned around and placed his mug down on the nearby low-level coffee table. 

“But, there’s not much for them to look into.” Duncan completed. “Mainly the Malon and a few others we’re aware of.”

“And once we enter the Void, there aren’t many others again that we are aware of,” McCallister said. He turned around and walked down to where Duncan was. Pulling his tabletop console around, he showed his first officer something that he had been reading before. “Once we’ve completed our exploration of the border region near the Void, Corella has posed an interesting theory I think is worth investigating.” He pointed to the display. “She and the others have speculated that the lack of life in this area may have something to do with the high amount of subspace distortions has prevented life-sustaining interstellar bodies to form.” 

“Oh?” Duncan said, intrigued. “How do we go about investigating that?”

“She believes that the first step is comparing and contrasting the star systems that are in this region to see if there are any similarities with their makeup,” McCallister answered.

Duncan nodded at that idea. “Sounds…” He paused for a second. “Fascinating?” He posed it as a question as he was getting the impression from McCallister that it may not be.

“Don’t worry, Max, I’m not expecting every one of our missions to include so much drama as we’ve encountered in the last year-”

“But,” Duncan interrupted instantly, knowing what his captain was probably thinking. “Scanning a bunch of lifeless planets isn’t the most thrilling use of our time.”

“Our cosmology department may disagree with that assessment,” McCallister said. “And don’t get me wrong, the more time we have to work with the others in the squadron will only help towards the cohesion we’ve started.”

“We may end up finding those lifeless planets are barren not because of the subspace distortions but purely down to the Borg or some other phenomena,” Duncan suggested. “A mystery is always a good stimulus.”

“Again, for the scientists of our crews,” McCallister sighed. “If nothing else piques our interest then we’ll proceed with this assignment for a week or two before we enter the Void. I don’t want the crews of four of Starfleet’s advanced deep space explorers getting restless.” 

“True, but Starfleet’s primary mission was to explore space, sir.” Duncan pointed out. 

Sighing again and rubbing his stubbly chin. “You’re right, Max. I just suppose with everything we’ve been through in the last couple of years, we’ve moved from one situation to the next.”

“With not much time in between to stop and breath,” Duncan offered.

“Exactly,” McCallister said as he headed back to where he was gazing before on his way back he picked up his mug and took a sip from it. Sitting down on the curved sofa under the bay windows, he looked up at his first officer. “I dunno, Max, maybe I’m not cut out to be the silent type anymore with missions.”

Duncan chuckled. “Far from it, sir.”

“I know,” McCallister smirked. “I was the one lobbying for Starfleet to get us out and on a deep space assignment and here we are, me finding myself restless already.” 

Duncan walked over and took a sit next to his superior. “Can I be honest, sir?”

McCallister nodded. “Always.”

“Since we arrived in the Delta Quadrant, none of us have actually stopped. It has been full on and now with the others joining us, I suppose it’s only natural to feel a sense of trepidation with what may come our way now. There are more of us. We’re a larger presence and we’re heading into a region that Starfleet hasn’t focussed much on since the Delta Exploration Initiative was created. That said, we can do it, James.” Duncan advised. 

“You’re probably right my friend and I suppose with the changes in the crew, I may be feeling a bit apprehensive about us going in without being tested,” McCallister admitted. “I suppose in the past the Odyssey was built upon so many tests that forged the crew together as a family.”

“The Romulan Supernova, the Archanis Campaign, the T’Kon Crisis, the Century Storm, the Blood Dilitihum Plight – and those are only just some of the big galaxy calamities we’ve had to deal with,” Duncan reminded him. “My advice, James, give the squadron the space and room to form itself. Plus, we’ve got four of Starfleet’s finest captains together.”

McCallister chuckled at that notion. “I suppose I should be grateful for that blessing, even having Horatio.”

“Absolutely, plus you’re speech last night went a long way in encouraging everyone to know this isn’t a competition among the ships. We’re to have each other’s backs and work together.” 

McCallister chuckled while nodding in agreement. “You’re right, Max. Thank you.” 

“I’ll head back out to see if Tomaz has killed Craigen yet from his moaning about being bored!” Duncan remarked as he stood up.

“Keep me posted!” McCallister chuckled as he watched his first officer leave his office. Turning around, McCallister turned back to looking out of the window, and for the first time, he was wondering if everything they were about to do was worth it. He just didn’t know the answer.

Yet. 

“Dropping out of warp, sir,” announced Lieutenant Marova from the helm. The Hekaran pilot had her fingers flying across the holographic helm controls as the ship approached its destination. “Engaging impulse engines, one quarter.”

Sitting up straight in his chair, Fleet Captain McCallister felt a sense of anxiety fill his gut for the first time in their trip. This was it. This was their first time operating as a squadron. “Lukiz, inform the others to remain together as we enter the system,” He ordered his ops manager before looking over at his second officer. “Corella, commence initial scans.”

The two officers acknowledged his orders as they began seeing what was awaiting them in the system. Looking down at his left-hand armchair console, McCallister noticed the others lining up alongside Odyssey. A simple group formation kept them close together to ensure the best defence posture while they conducted scans to ensure it was safe for them to break up. 

“Curious,” spoke Commander Banfield, “the planetoid from which Voyager had rescued their Delta Flyer isn’t quite all there.”

Intrigued by her comments, Commander Duncan spoke up from his chair to the captain’s right. “Elaborate, Corella.”

“I can do better,” the half-Klingon scientist responded and activated the holographic viewscreen from her console. 

Everyone turned their attention to the image before them, which was the remains of a planetoid. Smashed apart, the planet was not what they expected. A massive chunk had been broken off from the rest of it. Smaller debris and fragments remained nearby. Slowly they bobbed within the gravity well.  

“So much for a whole planet,” Counsellor Horin commented. “What happened?” 

Banfield’s hands were dancing across her console as she attempted to find answers. “I’m not sure yet.”

“Should we launch some probes to find out?” Lieutenant Keli suggested from the security and tactical station.

“Keli, that’s not a bad idea,” Banfield agreed with the new security and tactical chief. “From what I can tell, I think this happened just under twenty-five years ago.”

“So after Voyager left?” Duncan checked, “what could cause that much damage to a planet?”

“It could be a range of phenomena,” Lieutenant Commander Tierra replied from the engineering station. “Either natural or artificially created.”

Jen looked up from his console and asked the next question, “Could it be blood dilithium?”

“I’m not detecting any traces of dilithium. The planetoid is the same one. A class M with a bemonite mantle and several active volcanoes.” Banfield said, still concentrating on her scans. “I’m linking up with the other ships in the squadron to coordinate our efforts.”

“Interesting,” mumbled Marova.

“What is it, lieutenant?” McCallister asked his pilot.

Marova pushed her long black hair behind her ears before turning around to face her captain. “From the pattern of the debris, I would say something hit the planet at an incredible speed and exploded on impact.”

“Marova, maybe right,” Tierra stated, checking her sensors. “The blast radius, I would say is consistent with a warp core detonation.”

“Your assumptions are correct,” Banfield confirmed as she looked up and pushed up another set of scans onto the main screen. “I’m detecting trace amounts of subspace radiation and antimatter residual that would be consistent with a warp core breach. However, this core was extremely powerful.”

“It’s transwarp,” spoke Tomaz from behind them as he quickly entered the main section of the bridge after being tucked away in the aft compartment. He brought out a PADD and pushed out the information he had. “I’m detecting high amounts of residual tachyons and triquantum waves. That planetoid was hit by something at transwarp speeds, sir.” The Barzan chief strategic operations officer showed his concern at his captain who immediately responded.

“Red alert! All hands to battle stations!” McCallister ordered before tapping a button that instantly linked him up to the others in the fleet. “McCallister to the squadron, tactical alert! Take up defence posture, Kirk Epsilon and start scanning for Borg. McCallister out.”

“Corealla, any signs of any Borg?” Duncan asked immediately.

Banfield was showing her frustration. “The amount of debris is making it hard to determine. I need more time, but launching probes would help us.”

“Make it so,” McCallister commanded. “Lieutenant Keli, I want everyone armed and internal defence systems ready.”

“Aye, sir. I’m already on it,” The Coridanite woman responded as she started to issue orders to everyone in her departments. 

“Sir, incoming message from the Themis. Captain Cambil wants to know if you want her to launch their fighter wing?” Jen announced.

“Absolutely,” McCallister replied as he stood up from his chair and made his way over to where Banfield was. Tomaz had joined her, and the two officers were trying to find if it was the Borg (or someone else) who had smashed into this planet. Walking over, he was handed a handheld phaser that he strapped to his side. Security guards started to arrive on the bridge, taking up secure positions in the corners. All of them were armed with phaser rifles. “Anything?”

“I’ve sent out six class five probes,” Banfield stated. “If they can detect further transwarp signatures, then we’ll know soon enough.” 

There was a beep and then several more. “We’ve got something,” Tomaz announced.

“Let’s see it,” McCallister said, eager to know if they were about to engage the Federation’s cybernetic nemesis.

“It’s coming from the larger remains of the planet,” Tomaz shared as he brought up the readings from one of the probes. 

“I can see it too, I’m sending in another two probes to help,” Banfield stated as she manipulated the controls of the probes. “There,” She pointed to the holographic readings before looking over her shoulder at her captain. “Sir, unquestionably it’s Borg.”

The colour drained from McCallister at hearing that news prior he took in a deep breath and carried on assessing the situation they were now in. “Any signs of active vessels?”

“No,” Tomaz reported. “It looks like a settlement.”

“More like a settlement developed from a crash site,” Banfield corrected. “I’d say the remains of a Borg Cube.”

“I’m getting a visual reading,” Tomaz stated. 

“Let’s see it, Tomaz,” McCallister ordered.

Everyone turned to look at the main screen again as the image appeared. The remains of a cube smashed across a huge creator were evident. It didn’t appear to be active. 

“Tactical analysis, Keli!” Duncan commanded as he rose from his chair at the chilling image before them.

“I’m not detecting any active weapon signatures, but I’m definitely seeing a shield grid in place. It’s blocking our sensors, but it’s certainly keeping whoever is down there alive from the cold vacuum of space.” Keli reported after running a scan of her own. “I’d also say this cube was a tactical-orientated one. I’m detecting a huge amount of hull armour from the hull fragments, plus the shielding being used is multi-regenerative based.”  

“I’d need to spend a bit more time analysing these readings, but I would say that whatever happened to the Cube, somehow their transwarp drive was ejected at an impressive speed that hit the planet.” Banfield theorised. “The shockwave from it all would have caused the planet to rip itself apart, especially with a bemonite mantle.”

Crossing his arms for a moment, McCallister considered his options. 

The operations console then came to life with an alarm. 

“Sir, we’re being hailed,” Jen reported.

Walking back to the centre of the bridge, McCallister took a deep breath. “Open a channel, Lukiz.”

“We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile!”

Though the idea to order the squadron to open fire and wipe the Borg settlement off the planet ruins was tempting, McCallister didn’t consider that his first option. 

Maybe his second. 

When Jen had shared that the rest of the squadron were feeding in scans and ideas, McCallister had ordered Banfield to use them to build a better picture of understanding what they had just come across. After hearing the Borg’s opening hail, he hadn’t responded. The Borg were no threat to them, for now.

“Sir, security teams are deployed across the ship, and all crewmembers have been handed weapons,” Keli reported as she approached him and Duncan with a handheld weapon each. 

Taking the weapon, the captain attached it to his hip after activating it and putting the safety lock on. In the past, McCallister had seen Duncan hesitate in taking a weapon, but he now appeared more relaxed. 

Duncan turned to his superior. “What are you thinking, James?” He asked quietly.

“We need more information,” McCallister replied. “What on Earth are they, and what are their intentions.”

Hearing her captain’s remarks, Banfield called him and Duncan to join her with Tomaz at the science area. “Sirs, I think we have something.” She pointed to the scans from the probes they launched and everything else that the others in the squadron had shared. Like pieces of a puzzle being brought together, the two of them shared a clearer picture. “This Borg settlement is not part of the Collective, as we know it.”

“So, is it similar to The Artifact that the Romulan Free State salvaged?” Duncan inquired.

“Almost,” Tomaz replied. “Though they are disconnected from the main hive mind, they have their own low-level shared consciousness through a localised hive mind.”

“Talk about keeping control,” McCallister muttered. “Any theories on what caused their disruption to the Collective?”

“Nothing that our sensors can determine right now, sir,” Banfield answered. 

“However, we do know that when Voyager unleashed their neurolytic pathogen at the heart of the Borg Collective, it caused severe disruption across the hive mind,” Tomaz suggested. 

“So this Tactical Cube may have been at transwarp, lost control and crashed into this planet?” McCallister theorised based on what his officers had said. “And what, those that survived reinstated a mini-collective?”

“It’s a possibility,” Banfield remarked. She was about to say one thing when Jen spoke up.

“Sir, we’re receiving another transmission from the settlement,” The joined Trill operations officer shared. “It’s on a Starfleet frequency, that’s almost thirty years old.”

Intrigued to hear that, McCallister returned to the centre of the bridge with Duncan. “Open a channel and patch in the other captains privately and securely.”

The holographic viewscreen activated, and the sudden appearance of Borg drones caught almost everyone off guard. Standing side by side, the drones parted as another drone in the far distance walking down what appeared to be the central plexus of a Borg cube. Approaching the console on their side, the drone stopped and looked at them. He appeared human underneath all of the Borg gear. His ocular implant was glowing green, and his heading movement seemed more artificial than fluid and natural. “Starfleet,” He spoke in a monotone voice. 

“Yes,” McCallister replied. 

“State your designation.”

“You first,” The captain said crossing his arms and remaining confident.

“I am Three of Eleven, Primary Processor of Unimatrix Two. State your designation.”

Glancing at Duncan for a beat after hearing their response, McCallister wasn’t letting his guard down with the drone furthermore he wasn’t sure if engaging with them in dialogue was the right decision either.  “I’m Fleet Captain James Preston McCallister, commanding officer of the Federation starship U-S-S Odyssey.”

“Fleet Captain James Preston McCallister, we require your assistance.” Three of Eleven said as he cocked his head to the left. 

“Assistance?” McCallister echoed back. “What with?”

“Our survival.” 

“A moment ago you threatened to assimilate us,” McCallister responded. “Why would we assist?”

“This drone came from Species Five Six One Eight,” Three of Eleven explained. “We are…human.”

Glancing at the drone before him, McCallister kept his posture. “I did wonder that,” He replied. “However, just because we come from the same species, does not mean I automatically assist. How do I not know this is not a ruse for you to board my ship under a flag of distress and then attempt to assimilate my crew?” 

“We are unable to assimilate. We are not part of the Collective. We must survive.” 

Rubbing his chin for a few seconds, McCallister told the Borg drone to wait while he considers his options. Turning to the others, McCallister asked for opinions, including those of his counterparts on the other vessels.

“It’s unusual behaviour for the Borg,” Cambil said straight away. Her holographic representation appeared next to the pause screen with the Borg drone. She was grouped with the other two captains. 

“There’s still too many unanswered questions here,” Duncan advised. “We need to know more about what he means regarding their survival.”

“Max is right, JP,” Horatio said from his bridge on the Bellerophon. “Reaching out to you as a fellow human has got to be his way of attempting to make a link with you.”

“This ex-B is certainly the leader of this collective,” Canção stated. “They’ve established more than just a sub-Collective. They’ve got a leadership structure that is beyond the normal expected of the Borg. No queen.”

“Invite him over,” Flemen suggested as he approached from the far side of the aft section of the bridge.

“Is that really a good idea, Craigen?” Counsellor Horin asked the diplomatic officer. She had remained quiet for most of what was happening with the Borg until now. “That said, I’m not sensing any deception from him.”

“You never do,” Canção commented. “However, the commander’s idea isn’t a bad one.”

Surprised to hear his old friend say that, McCallister took it in and then looked to Duncan. “Number One?”

“It’s a risk,” Duncan replied sincerely. “It might be worth meeting with him on the Telemachus.”

“So if they attempt to assimilate us, we can easily eject the ship and destroy it?” Tomaz asked Duncan.

Duncan nodded. 

“We could use the holographic security teams to provide a majority of the security on the Telemachus,” Keli suggested. “Perhaps have Hazard Alpha Team there too, sir?”

“We know a lot more about Borg technology, sir,” Tierra shared from engineering. “If they’ve not made any advancement since their crash over twenty years ago, then we might be able to find a way to block them trying to take control.”

Agreeing to the suggestion, McCallister nodded and ordered everyone to prepare for their guest’s arrival before he turned back around to face the main screen. He nodded to Jen to re-open the channel. 

“Three of Eleven, before we take any other steps, if you are human as you claim to be, then you will not disagree with meeting with me to discuss your situation,” McCallister told the Borg drone.

After considering McCallister’s proposal for a moment, Three of Eleven answered him. “It is agreed.”

“Standby for us to transport you onboard one of our vessels. Odyssey out.” McCallister said before motioning for the channel to be closed. He turned to Duncan, “Number One, assume command of the Odyssey, have our cadet unit moved off the Telemachus. I want Hazard Team Alpha to meet myself, Doctor Slyvexs, Tomaz and Craigen on her within twenty minutes.”

“Me?” Flemen asked.

McCallister nodded. “It’s your idea to meet them, commander, plus with Tomaz and the good doctor with us, we can assess what is happening with these Borg.” 

“Very well, sir,” Flemen said in a deflated response. 

McCallister made a move for the turbolift before he turned to the image of Cambil. “And Bexa, have that fighter escort assume a position around the Telemachus once we launch her.”

“Don’t worry, James, they’ll have your back,” Cambil said with a smirk before closing the channel. 

As soon as Flemen and Tomaz had joined the captain in the turbolift, he ordered it to take them to the Telemachus at once.

“Computer, deactivate the holographic mirror.”

Responding promptly at the command, the computer did as it was told, and Fleet Captain McCallister’s reflection vanished. Grumbling under his breath, the Odyssey’s skipper did not like the request that his first officer and security chief had insisted on before meeting with the Borg leader. The bodysuit armour that he now wore under his uniform was unlikely to stop the drone from assimilating him. Still, it protected him somewhat if they got into a firefight. Moreover, getting dressed and sorted in his tiny cabin on the Telemachus had prevented any of his sons from confronting him over his decision to meet with a sworn Federation enemy. Recently they had taken on similar gestures and mannerisms that his late wife would say or do when he was putting himself in danger. Alfie was the worst. 

Picking up his handheld phaser, he checked to ensure the compression pistol was set to its mode to change its frequency with every shot randomly. It was a feature that Starfleet had developed to combat the Borg, though it was possible they would adapt after a dozen or more shots. He strapped it to his side and felt like he was joining the Hazard Team instead of going on a diplomatic mission.

The door chime went off, and he responded with a simple “enter”. Unlike the doors on the Odyssey, the smaller entrances to the Telemachus’ rooms were more like the ones seen on its distant cousin, the Defiant-class. Wide enough for one single humanoid to enter, which made who was waiting for him awkward to enter together. Visiting him were the three officers he had dragged with him on this crazy meeting. All three were dressed like him; however, Tomaz held a phaser rifle. Noticing that Flemen nor Slyvexs were bothered by the Barzan’s armaments, McCallister looked at them with a slight smirk. 

“Ready to negotiate with the Borg?” The captain asked ironically. 

“I am holding back the excitement, sir,” Flemen said. His sarcasm had no boundaries, which forced the captain to chuckle slightly. The Lumerian diplomatic officer wasn’t keen in the first place; however, it was his idea to meet with Three of Eleven.

“Cargo Bay One is ready for our guest,” Tomaz reported. “We’ve undocked from the Odyssey, and holographic security teams are active and stationed on every deck and by every access port.” 

“I thought Hazard Team Alpha was joining us?” Slyvexs asked, turning to the chief strategic operations officer.

“They are,” Tomaz confirmed to the doctor. “Lieutenant Jisaraa will be with us in the cargo bay while the rest of her team are dotted around the rest of the ship in critical locations.

“And Penny is in command?” McCallister checked as he stepped through the threshold and out into the corridor to join the group.

“She is,” Tomaz nodded before reaching into his pocket to pull out four small round devices. “Commander Duncan had Lieutenant Commander Tierra replicate us all one of these each.” 

Looking down at his palm, McCallister took one of the devices and stashed it away in his pocket. “Emergency transport unit, let me guess, it beams us back to the Odyssey?”

“Indeed, the rest of Alpha Team have one each too. He said it was our failsafe in case he has to destroy the Telemachus.” Tomaz remarked. 

“Do you honestly think Starfleet would be pleased we’ve lost another Aquarius-class support ship?” Slyvexs asked.

Flemen shook his head. “The captain does make it a habit of letting them ‘go’; we’ll be lucky to get a garbage scowl if we lose another one.”

“Hey, in my defence, I didn’t lose the last one.” McCallister pointed out as he gestured for them to walk towards the cargo bay.

Slyvexs laughed at that fact. Hearing the captain joke about it was good, considering his late wife lost the last one. “No, it’s drifting somewhere between a temporal anomaly or two.”

“Alternative future timeline,” McCallister corrected her. “Anything else I need to be aware of?”

Tomaz was behind him, Slyvexs was beside the captain, and Flemen was behind her. “Let’s just say Keli, and I have assessed the risks. Once Three of Eleven beams on board, forcefields will come online on every deck in every section. Doors will be sealed, and Penny will activate a fractal encryption lockout on the main computer processor. She will monitor the meeting from the bridge.”

“I take it we’ve increased the magnitude of the forcefields?” McCallister asked as they approached a set of stairs that took them down towards the deck where the cargo hold was. 

“We have, though we do know that Borg drones can adapt their systems to walk through forcefields,” Tomaz reminded the captain. “That said, if anything were to happen, Penny would open the cargo bay doors and flush our visitor out into the coldness of space.”

“Let’s just hope the ETUs activate in time before she blows us out into space,” Flemen said as he took the last step.

“And remind me again why we’re meeting with this drone?” Slyvexs asked as they carried on with their stretch of the walk.

“If Three of Eleven says who he is, if he is human, then I’d like to know why they need our help. That’s your job to assess, Slyvexs. I want you to scan him to determine if he says who he is,” McCallister stated. 

“You want me to run his DNA through the Federation database for a match?” She asked.

“It’d be worth it,” McCallister answered with a nod. “But I also want you to assess how this sub-collective frequency we’ve detected works.”

“While we distract him with all of our diplomatic might?” Flemen guessed.

“Something like that, Craigen,” McCallister agreed. “Meanwhile, Tomaz, you’re job is to assess the situation and see if he is trying to do something, then just meet with us.”

“Understood, sir.” Tomaz nodded.

The group eventually reached the cargo hold and was greeted by Lieutenant Jisaraa. The Orion woman followed them into the large room and approached the transporter station. “Looks like our guest is ready, sir.” She announced after tapping at the controls.

“Energise, lieutenant,” McCallister ordered.

Pushing the controls up, Jisaraa delicately activated the beam that brought Three of Eleven onto the Telemachus. Once he materialised correctly, she activated the transporter inhibitor network setup across the ship and a forcefield surrounding the platform. 

Taking two steps forward, McCallister welcomed the Borg drone. “My crew have taken the security precautions of preventing you from trying anything then speaking to us.”

Looking around slowly and carefully, Three of Eleven appeared to be scanning the room before returning his focus to the captain. “A wise precaution, captain.”

Studying Three of Eleven’s appearance further, McCallister was surprised to see scars across his face and the parts of his body not covered by Borg technology. Furthermore, the colour of his skin was not completely white. Compared to the images McCallister had seen as part of reports he had read a thousand times about the Borg, where they would ‘suck the life’ out of a drone during the assimilation processes. Could being disconnected from the main hive mind have done this to him? The other scars looked like a poor attempt at a possible medical treatment he had received. Knowing that Slyvexs would analyse him while they spoke, McCallister was content to begin this discussion. “So, you want our help? Clarify.”

“By now, your sensors would have detected a low-level subspace link between the remaining drones,” Three of Eleven stated. “This is sub-collective modulation we created to keep ourselves alive.”

“Interesting,” McCallister responded, crossing his arms. “I take it this sub-collective isn’t sustainable?”

“Correct,” Three of Eleven replied. “Our unit does not have the necessary resources to maintain itself.”

“In other words, you’re dying?” Flemen asked, stepping forward to join the captain by his side.

“A crude definition, but somewhat correct.” Three replied after looking at Flemen. Then, he snapped his attention back to McCallister. “We require your assistance with this matter.”

“You said you were human,” McCallister said. “I’m curious. What was your name before you were assimilated?”

“This body was assimilated thirty-nine years ago. It ceased to be human at that time.” Three replied. “Do not engage us in further irrelevant discourse.”

McCallister looked at Flemen, sharing an expression that he wouldn’t be agreeing with that request. “Tough, you want our help. You tell me who you were.” He told the drone. 

Three of Eleven appeared to pause at that point. “We suspected that a request to you would be impossible to engage with. You are curious to know who we are. There is no logic in that line of inquiry. You are erratic, conflicted, disorganised.”

“Really?” Flemen challenged. “You’re the sub-collective of Borg drones that cannot survive and need our help. It appears you’re more erratic, conflicted and disorganised than us.”

Three of Eleven turned back to Flemen. “Every decision is not debated within our Collective. It is analysed. Every action is not questioned. Every individual shares the same thought, the same direction as everyone else. Unlike you, we do not lack harmony or cohesion. That is your undoing.”

“I still haven’t heard why you need us,” McCallister stated. “You can stand here and insult our individuality, or you can share with us what you need. You said your sub-collective is not sustainable. Why not?”

“We lack the resources to maintain the technology required to regulate our systems.” Three of Eleven answered.

“In other words, you don’t have the energy to regenerate?” McCallister checked.

“Indeed.”

Pondering the dilemma, McCallister paced a few steps from the transporter platform and turned around to face the drone before them. “So let me guess, you want some power source?”

“That would be acceptable, however we do not have the time-”

“Commander Reuben Gray,” Slyvexs announced from the console she was at and looked up at the drone after interrupting him. “That’s your name. You were the chief engineer aboard the USS Tombaugh when it was assimilated in twenty-three-sixty-two.”

“We are Borg.”

“Were,” Slyvexs corrected the drone as she stepped forward with her tricorder. “Your human side is fighting against your Borg implants.”

Three of Eleven looked at her. “Clarify.” 

“Your physiology has been reasserting itself: your respiratory system, neurological functions and immune response,” Slyvexs said. “It’s not a new energy source you need. Your body is swarming with Borg implants that are no longer functioning.”

“A new source of power will ensure our regenerative abilities will reassert our implants,” Three of Eleven stated.

“I don’t think that’s what you want,” Flemen said. He looked carefully at the drone. “I’m Lumerian, and I can sense what you’re feeling. And I’m not talking about this sub-collective you have. I can feel Commander Reuben Grey and what he wants.”

“Listen to your human side,” McCallister said. “Or it will be your undoing.”

Three of Eleven stood up straight and turned to the captain. “I want-”

“Ah, so there is a sense of individuality in there,” Tomaz quickly stated.

“Undoubtedly,” McCalister smirked. Understanding why Three of Eleven didn’t look like most normal Borg drones now made sense since Slyvexs had exposed the truth. The captain paused as he noticed that perhaps Three of Eleven was becoming irritated with their barrage. He decided to change tact. “Listen to me. Tell me more about this sub-collective of yours.”

“It was developed after a group of us were freed from the Collective,” Three answered. 

“The neurolytic pathogen introduced to the hive mind by Voyager?” Tomaz checked.

“No,” Three replied. “Our cortical inhibitors were nullified from the nanovirus introduced into the Collective due to the Unimatrix Zero resistance.”

 “Another Voyager intervention against the Collective,” Tomaz shared with the group.

“Indeed,” McCallister said as he crossed his arms before he refocused on their cybernetic guest. “So you were part of the resistance.”

“Yes, however, to avoid detection, those freed created a sub-collective. As a result, we were able to process information more effectively, mask our activities, and begin to mount a strategy to liberate the entire vessel from the control of the collective,” Three shared. “The cube we were on had entered a transwarp aperture and had received orders to intercept Voyager when it began its assault on the transwarp hub network.”

“And let me guess, the moment the neurolytic pathogen was unleashed on the collective, it scattered your plans, created chaos with the other drones, and the moment the transwarp conduits collapsed, you were thrown out into space at incredible speeds?” McCallister summarised. 

“Correct.”

“And you crashed landed on this planet?” Flemen asked, knowing the answer. 

“Correct.”

Feeling like the puzzle pieces with what had happened were coming together, McCallister finished working out what had happened. “And with a Tactical Cube dropping out transwarp at those speeds, hitting a planet with a bemonite mantle would have caused massive irreparable damage to your vessel and the planet itself.”

“Correct.”

Rubbing his beard, McCallister took in a deep breath. He wasn’t prepared to help the start of a new Borg Collective, but on the other hand, he wasn’t prepared to ignore the call for help. “How many of you survived?”

“Ninety-three.” Three blinked once after answering. “Twenty-one of us were members of the Unimatrix Zero sub-collective. We assimilated the others into our collective; however, forty-seven were still neonatal drones. They could not remain in the maturation chambers.”

“Children?” Tomaz asked.

“They have…” Three paused as he considered his words for the first time. “Matured naturally since our arrival on the planet.”

“And their condition?” Slyvexs asked after lowering her tricorder.

“Operational.”

“Obviously,” Slyvexs said with a raised eyebrow expression. She turned to the captain. “Sir, if the others in his groups are in a similar condition, then it’s not a power source they need help with; they need medical treatment and their Borg implants removed.”

 McCallister turned to Three of Eleven. “You wanted our help, but I’m not prepared to offer you what you want. Though I am prepared to consider helping you in removing your implants.”

“We will adapt,” Three replied.

“Will you?” Flemen challenged. Doubt filled his voice. “You said it yourself. You were part of a sub-collective that opposed the hive mind. You purposely brought others into your line of thought. Unimatrix Zero was where you went to be individuals, not drones. That existence does not need to be your only option to survive. Decide to live. To be who you were in Unimatrix Zero. Let us help you.”

“Starfleet’s understanding of Borg technology has dramatically improved over the last two decades. As a result, we can help with the transitioning.” Slyvexs stated. 

Three of Eleven looked upon Fleet Captain McCallister. McCallister returned the glare. 

“Comply with our offer,” McCallister said. “As the Collective would say: Resistance is Futile.”

He was feeling relaxed: shoes off, undone shirt, and lying on the sofa. Reading his latest assignment, Alfie McCallister was in his own little world while listening to music from his earpods. Without a care in the world, the young cadet was mesmerised by the words before him. Learning about Starfleet history had become one area of his studies that he was enjoying the most. Commander Westerham had given the entire cadet unit a new assignment, and that was based around the Borg. It was relevant to what the squadron was currently involved with. Engrossed with his reading, Alfie hadn’t heard the doors open, allowing his father to enter.

“Hey, Alf!” 

The young cadet didn’t hear him.

Fleet Captain McCallister stopped in his tracks from heading towards the stairs and stopped to look at his son, all sprawled out on the sofa with his back to him. “ALFIE! He shouted. 

Alfie heard that. He jumped up and turned his head to see his dad. “Hi, dad!” He answered as he pulled his earpods out. “Sorry, I didn’t hear you come in.”

“I can see that,” McCallister said. “What are you listening to?”

Feeling a bit nervous to answer that, Alfie changed the subject. “How’s your day gone with the ex-Borg?” He asked as he waved the PADD in his hands, showing the subject of his reading. 

“It’s been busy, but okay,” McCallister replied, ignoring his son’s behaviour. “I’ve promised to meet with their leaders with some of the other senior staff for their first meal. Do you want to join?”

“Umm,” Alfie considered the idea for a moment. “Nah, if you don’t mind. Jordan was going to come over here, and we were going to burn the midnight oil with this assignment from Commander Westerham. Is it okay if Jordan crashes here tonight?”

“Yeah, that’s fine; just make sure you don’t make too much mess or annoy your brothers,” McCallister replied. “Talking of which, where are they?”

“Henri and William are at soccer practice tonight, and Theo is working with his bandmates on their music,” Alfie answered. “Are you sure it’s safe to meet with these ex-Borg, dad?”

Confused by the sudden change in Alfie’s subject again, McCallister paused. “Yes, it’s totally safe. They’ve had their Borg implants removed. So why do you keep changing the subject?”

“I don’t.” protested Alfie. 

“You do.”

“I don’t.”

“You do, and stop arguing with me. What’s going on, Alf?” McCallister questioned him as he stepped forward towards his son. “Is something going on that I need to know?”

Alfie paused before he handed his earpods over to his dad. “You need to listen to this.”

Taking the small devices, he put them in his ear, and McCallister waited for his son to activate them. They then played, and he immediately heard a song he knew instantly. It was one of Karyn’s favourites, and he recognised the singer’s voice within a few seconds. He pulled the earpods out. “That’s Theo!”

Alfie nodded. “His band have been recording the songs they perform in The Auditorium and are becoming quite popular among the cadets and other junior officers on the ship.”

Surprised to hear that, McCallister smiled with a sense of pride. “That’s amazing; why hasn’t he told me himself?”

“You’ve been busy, dad.” 

Hearing that was like a quantum torpedo hitting his heart at transwarp speeds. McCallister realised how right his son was. “I knew his music was going from strength to strength, especially with all of the events they have played at – I just didn’t know he was considering making a professional career from it.”

“They’re trying to put together a swing-bang vibe for their next set on Friday night,” Alfie shared.

“Then I’ll be there,” McCallister assured before he started to make his way back up towards the stairs. “In the meantime, don’t you have work to finish?”

 Alfie smirked before heading back to what he was doing before. 

“Now that’s a beautiful vision to come home to,” Commander Carter Westerham said as he entered the private confines of his bedroom. Before him was his wife sitting at her dressing table, putting an earring on. Then, looking up from her mirror, she could see his reflection behind her as she finished putting on the long piece of jewellery. 

Smirking at him, Commander Corella Banfield finished getting herself ready by placing the last earring on the opposite ear. “Hey, handsome! How’s your day been?”

“Pretty good, actually,” Westerham answered as he dumped himself onto the edge of their shared king-size bed. “Our cadets are really starting to respond well to the on-the-job training.”

“That’s good to hear,” Banfield said as she picked up a perfume bottle and sprayed herself with it. 

“So where are you off to for tonight all glammed up?” Westerham asked as he pulled his boots off. “I thought we were going to have a meal tonight with our son and daughter?”

Banfield chuckled. “They cancelled plans on us because, apparently, their unit leader set them a reading assignment.” 

Westerham paused as he realised that fact was true, and he had done it. “Damn, I forgot that.” He looked at his wife’s reflection as she finished touching up her hair. “So, have you got some date?”

“Something like that. Jealous?” She winked at him. “Don’t worry; the captain is hosting an informal but classy gathering of some of the senior staff with the ex-Borg we’ve saved. Mainly those who were in Starfleet before.”

“Any reason why?” Westerham checked.

“It was Craigen and Louwanna’s idea, honestly,” She replied. “They were hoping that an informal gathering with fewer security guards may help them transition easier and feel more comfortable around us.”

“That makes sense,” Westerham said. “So, I’m home alone for dinner tonight?”

“I’m afraid so,” Banfield stated as she stood up and did a small twirl for her husband. “Do I look okay?”

“You look stunning.”

Banfield was wearing a simple but elegant black shoulderless dress. She smirked at her husband and kissed him on the cheek before saying her goodbyes to make her way towards the dinner.

“Jisaraa, are you sure about this?” Tomaz called out from his room one more time. The Barzan officer was checking his appearance out in the holographic mirror.

The Orion security officer replied back from the living room. “Seriously, Tomaz, it’s fine.” 

Taking one more check, especially with his hair, Tomaz sighed with relief as he moved from his bedroom and down the stairs towards where Jisaraa was sitting with his son, S’Tefe. “I do appreciate this, I really do.” He said as he pulled on his cuffs to straighten his shirt out. “Normally, I’d ask Alfie and Jordan, but apparently, they have some reading assignment due tomorrow they have to cram for.”

“I really don’t mind,” Jisaraa replied. “And I like hanging out with S’Tefe.”

S’Tefe then looked up. “Wow, dad, you look handsome.”

“Thanks, little fella,” Tomaz replied. “Now you be good with Jisaraa, and when she says it’s time for bedtime, you do as you are told. Are we clear?”

The young Romulan boy rolled his eyes. “Yes.” He said, emphasising the end sound, showing his annoyance at his father telling him something he knew already. “But can we have ice cream?”

“Yeah, can we?” Jisaraa asked in a similar tone, and a huge grin appeared.

“As long as he is in bed before I get home and isn’t jumping off the bulkheads, then sure.” Tomaz agreed just as the door chime went off. 

S’Tefe celebrated by shouting out the word ‘yes’ and elongating it.

“Come in,” Tomaz said, shaking his head at his son’s excitement about eating ice cream. 

The doors opened to reveal Craigen Flemen, and he smiled immediately at S’Tefe.

“Uncle Craigey!” The boy said as he ran over and jumped into his arms.

“S’Tefe! How are you, bud?” He asked.

“All the better for seeing you!” S’Tefe replied before looking down at the Lumerian man. “You’ve got the same clothes on as daddy!”

Flemen checked what he was wearing and looked at Tomaz. “So we do.”

Both men we wearing a black shirt and navy blue trousers with black shoes. 

“You need to change, Tomaz. We can’t both go in wearing the same thing.” Flemen insisted.

Tomaz sighed when he noticed that they were matching, and it didn’t help with Jisaraa giggling behind them. “Craigen, we’re going to be late if I go change, and I’m not changing.”

“You know we will be mocked for this,” Flemen stated.

“Craigen, you both look handsome together. Go find yourselves some lovely romantic cybernetic interests together!” Jisaraa teased.

Flemen and Tomaz glared at her, which caused her to laugh more and S’Tefe. They both left grumbling.

“Are you sure this is okay?” Marova checked her outfit with Keli one more time as they entered The Lion Gate.

The Coridanite security and tactical chief just nodded at the pilot as they made their way in. “You look fine,” She added. 

Instantly they were welcomed by Tierra, the ship’s chief engineer. “Ladies, you look stunning, as always.” 

Keli gave Marova an ‘I told you so’ look before thanking the Deltan woman and complimenting her on what she was wearing too. “So, where’s the captain and our guests?” 

Tierra passed a couple of drinks to her colleagues as she replied. “He’s coming in with them with Commander Duncan and Chief Court.”

“And remind me again, what are we meant to be doing with them?” Marova asked before she took a sip from her drink.

“The idea is to mingle, lieutenant,” Counsellor Horin said as she approached the group. “I appreciate you all turning up.”

“It gets me out of a shift on the bridge, counsellor; I’m happy to be here,” Keli answered. 

“And it got me out of a warp core diagnostic,” Tierra added. “How are you and Baby H doing?”

Horin looked down at the sizable bump that was growing. “Well, thanks. Though I’m finding it harder to get from my quarters to my office or the bridge. Any chance you can install a personal site-to-site transporter for me, Tierra?”

Tierra chuckled. “I’ll see what I can get my engineers to do in the morning.”

“Thanks,” Horin answered just as the doors to the crew lounge opened, allowing for Lieutenant Commanders Tomaz and Flemen to arrive. Horin chuckled at seeing them both and what they were wearing. “Oh my goodness, you both look adorable and cute,” Horin stated. “Was this planned?” She asked, indicating the matching outfits.

Flemen snarled a bit as he looked at Tomaz. “No, counsellor, it wasn’t.” 

“You both look handsome,” Doctor Slyvexs said as she walked across the room with Commander Banfield beside her. “Let’s just hope our guests appreciate the effort.”

A few hours into the evening, the large group had finished their meal and were either sat or stood among the room’s various sofas, tables, and chairs. 

Three of Eleven, or Commander Reuben Gray, stood with the captain and doctor. He no longer showed any sign of being a Borg drone. His brown hair was combed backwards, and once he had an eyepiece, this was replaced with an ocular implant that appeared as natural as his other eye. Slyvexs had restored his appearance based on Starfleet records, where he had a short stubbly beard. Though he had a few scars on his face (as well as other parts of his body), he looked more human than Borg. 

“I cannot thank you and your doctor enough for helping us, captain,” Gray stated.

“You’re welcome,” McCallister said as he raised his glass of champagne. 

Slyvexs smiled at the nice comment directed at her and her team. “In a few days, your entire group will be restored to their former selves and those remaining scars,” She pointed to some on his face, “will be gone.”

“As I said, we appreciate it.” He looked around the room at the others from his group, all talking with the other members of McCallister’s senior staff. “It’s nice to be on a Federation ship again.”

“You are all welcome to remain with us. Though I understand that some of your group are from here in the Delta Quadrant,” McCallister said. “We will do all we can to help you adjust to your new lives.”

“I know you’ve separated us across your squadron to use all of your medical facilities, but when we can, I would like to speak to everyone together,” Gray said softly.

“Of course,” McCallister agreed. “And if you wish to return to Starfleet, any of you, then again, I’ll be happy to see what we can do.”

Gray sighed. “I’m not sure if Starfleet would want to have a former drone who is thirty years out of date come back into the fold.”

“You were the chief engineer and held the rank of commander; I’m confident they would let you return if you wanted to,” Slyvexs said positively.

Smiling and nodding at her, Gray remained calm. “I’m still impressed at how quickly you removed the Borg technology from us.”

“Starfleet has had much experience liberating drones in the past thirty years,” Slyvexs answered. 

Nodding, the former drone showed he was impressed by his expression. “It seems Starfleet has drastically changed in the last thirty years.”

McCallister winced at that comment. “Changed with the times, but the principles are still there at the core of it all. They’ve been battered and bruised by a few big issues, but hopefully, nothing that will make the Federation crumble anytime soon.”

“So, captain, what’s next for you and your ships?” Gray wondered.

“We’ll stay here for a little longer,” McCallister answered. “One of the ships in the squadron is investigating what looks like the crashed remains of a Borg escape vehicle.”

“The Queen’s Cell?” Gray asked.

Playing it cool, McCallister kept himself composed as he answered. “We don’t know yet.”

“If you plan on retrieving anything, let me know. I’m sure we can help.” Gray stated.

“Thank you,” McCallister said.

Gray excused himself as he went off to speak to one of the other former drones. The captain looked at his doctor.

“Don’t worry, captain, you don’t need to be a Betazoid to read your thoughts,” Slyvexs said quietly before taking a larger sip from her drink. “I have the same worry about them knowing about the Queen’s Cell.”

“Well, let’s see how they behave,” McCallister replied before his first officer joined them with his husband. “Gentlemen, everything okay?”

Duncan nodded. “Tonight seems to have gone well.”

“I do feel for them,” Court said. “Do you think Starfleet will let them back in?”

“Who knows,” McCallister remarked. “We’ll see how the next few days go.”

Duncan noticed that McCallister was preoccupied with something else. “Something wrong, James?” He asked quietly.

“I’m not sure, Number One, but when I mentioned Horatio’s discovery, our guest seemed more ‘off’,” McCallister answered.

“He was definitely affected by its revelation,” Slyvexs added.

“Then should we keep an eye on him and the others and proceed as planned?” Duncan guessed.

McCallister nodded as he watched their guests continue to talk to the others. He tapped his combadge. “McCallister to bridge.”

“Go ahead, captain,” answered Lieutenant Commander Jen.

“Lukiz, get me in touch with the other captains in the squadron on a secured channel and redirect it to the private office opposite the Lion Gate,” McCallister ordered. 

If something was going to happen, he needed eyes everywhere and a net wide enough to catch it.

After hearing that repair teams had beamed over to the Triton, McCallister felt a wave of relief. It wasn’t long until confirmation that his old ship was secure; however, the image of her on his viewscreen showing a damaged warp nacelle was no optimistic view. Instead, it had made him think back to when he commanded the Triton and the Breen had attacked them. But, at least this time, the warp core was still intact and not destroyed by a tricobalt device.

“Sir, the Themis’ fighters aren’t able to disable the shuttlecraft,” announced Duncan beside him. 

“Clarify, Number One,” McCallister said, confused that a wing of Valkyrie-class fighters were having trouble taking out a type-14 shuttle. 

Putting the image on the main screen of the battle, McCallister was impressed at how quickly the former Borg drone had flown the shuttle from the Triton and, in that time, had upgraded its shields to withstand the assault. The fighters were pounding it with their pulse phaser cannons and micro-torpedoes. Yet, each direct shot did nothing. 

“Lieutenant Marova, can we move to assist in time?” McCallister asked his helm officer.

The Hekaran woman shook her head, “It looks like the shuttle is heading down to the moon; we won’t get in range fast enough to do anything, sir.”

Not wanting to do anything, McCallister told her to move them anyway and full impulse. So the Odyssey glided away from the Triton to provide whatever support to the Themis and Bellerophon. 

“It looks like the Bellerophon has recovered their away teams off from the moon,” announced Lieutenant Keli. The chief security and tactical officer was monitoring what was happening with an intense focus on the holographic LCARS interface. “Um, sir, that shuttle is making an extremely reckless dive into the moon’s atmosphere. It looks like the Themis is moving to stop them.”

“Put it up, Keli,” McCallister ordered.

The view of the Ross-class firing a torpedo and then striking it with a bolt of phaser energy, thus creating a photonic shockwave, appeared across the wide viewscreen. However, when the shuttle survived and flew through the explosion, a sense of confusion filled many on the bridge, including its captain. “How the hell did it survive that?” He commented. 

“Sir, it looks like Captain Cambil is ordering Captain McCallister to destroy whatever they found on the moon,” Jen announced from ops. 

“The spatial trajector?” Duncan asked for verification. 

The Trill nodded. “My best guess is the drone is heading to the device to use it.”

“Damn,” McCallister cursed, knowing that it would cause them more issues if it could do that. “Marova, how long until we reach the moon.”

“Less than a minute, sir,” The helm officer said after taking a quick glance down at her readouts. 

“Sir, the Bellerophon has just launched a tricobalt device at the moon,” Banfield declared from the science station. “Its yield is twenty-thousand teracochranes; at that magnitude, it will vaporise everything, including the trajector and over a quarter of the moon. However, we will see a massive shockwave if that trajector is operational and is hit by a tricobalt device.”

 At that moment, James knew Horatio and Bexa had no choice. Would he have done the same? Probably. He stood as he watched the event unfold before him and far away that he could do nothing. As Banfield predicted, the tricobalt device hit the moon, and a massive explosion erupted. A part of the moon appeared to break away from itself, and rocks of all sizes blew away at high speeds in all directions. They were far enough not to receive heavy damage, but James felt his heart drop into his gut as he saw both the Bellerophon and Themis take the brunt of the blast. Both ships were pushed backwards and spun away from the moon. 

No longer was the Odyssey coming to support the retrieval of a Borg drone, but it was now coming to save its sister ships. It didn’t take long before everyone was responding to the emergency of now moving to rescue their comrades. Everything that happened came naturally to the Odyssey crew. First, tractor beams were activated to help catch both ships. Next, the powerful shields from the Odyssey were expanded to cover both vessels as they moved away from the danger zone. Then away teams were prepared to begin heading over to both ships. Bexa and Horatio already announced they had injured crewmembers and required immediate assistance. Max shared that Triton was coming up to render further assistance; even though they could not go to warp, they still had impulse ability.

The squadron rushed to the aid of those who needed it. 

This was their true test. How well would they react under the pressure of the chaos that now sat on their doorstep? 

McCallister was confident they would succeed, but at what price?

Stardate: 78005.4

Sat staring out of the broad windows out of his ready room, McCallister was waiting. Waiting for the arrival of three individuals. Stifling a yawn, the fleet captain was comfortable in his chair. He usually didn’t take time to just look out his window while working at his desk. Regardless, it was now late, and he was tired.

The door chime went off.

“Come,” he replied.

The doors parted as he turned his chair around and immediately smiled at all three of his guests. Horatio, Bexa and Rio. 

“I feel like we’re being called to the principal’s office, James.” His brother said. Horatio looked awful, the worst one out of the three of them. The Bellerophon had taken the worst damage, and many of Horatio’s crew were injured. Thankfully there were no fatalities. Seeing that his younger brother hadn’t lost his sense of humour, James knew Horatio’s natural defence was to lighten the mood when things seemed bleak. James recognised it as it was something he used to do. 

Offering them all a seat and a drink, they accepted as James went over to the replicator. 

“So come on, James, Horatio is right; I feel like we’re about to be told off,” Bexa remarked as the replicator created their order.

“Come on, Bexa, let’s not jump to conclusions,” Rio stated. 

Shaking his head as he started to pass their drinks over to them. “I’m not going to tell anyone off, Bexa.”

“Really? I feel like I should be for pulling such a stupid stunt, especially when my science officer warned me,” Horatio said as he took the drink from his brother and instantly recognised that James had made him a hot chocolate with whipped cream and chocolate flakes in it. It was the same drink James always made him when they went camping as kids. He smirked at it and thanked his brother.

“I did order you to do it,” Bexa added as she sipped her Deka tea. “I’m just to blame.”

“I disagree,” James repeated his attempt at telling them they weren’t in trouble through his words and tone. “It was certainly one of those situations that a snapped decision needed to be made.”

“Agreed,” Rio said supportively. “I would have done the same thing in the same situation. We couldn’t have allowed that drone to use the device to escape.”

“And now we have three ships heavily damaged and a moon blasted to bits,” Horatio said, disgruntled with the situation. “Not really a stellar performance for our first mission together as a squadron.”

“We’ll learn from it,” James said calmly after handing Rio her raktajino and sitting back in his chair. “And don’t worry about Command; I’ll clear everything up with them. We just need to know everything about what happened before that drone escaped.”

 “I’ve got my security chief and first officer running through everything now,” Rio reported. “Thankfully, my helmsmen recovered. Whatever shield upgrades the drone made to the shuttle meant that Ensign Andar survived the shockwave.”

“What about the other former drones?” Horatio asked. “What do we do with them now?”

Leaning back in his chair, James considered that point carefully. “I don’t want to alienate them further; I’ve got a team looking at what could have called that drone towards the device. However, Commander Banfield has theorised the Bellerophon’s away teams may have triggered a low-level homing signal that we were unaware of, and now that we’ve destroyed the Borg Queen’s Cell, the call from the collective, even a murmur, may no longer exist.”

“You can’t be certain of that, J-P,” Rio stated as she pushed a curl of her red-fiery hair behind her left ear. “The call of the Borg Collective is a powerful one.”

Understanding where his former mentor was coming from, James bobbed his head in agreement. “I’m sure it is, but I’m not prepared to throw the rest of them out to the wolves just because of one individual’s act. Also, we don’t know what caused this particular person to do what they did.”

The four captains went silent before Cambil spoke up. “Well, let’s hope that the last we hear from any Borg for the time being. Where are we head to out to next?”

“Once repairs are complete and we’re ready to get underway, we’ll proceed to the nearest underspace aperture, where a Turei escort will show us the underspace current to use to begin our expeditionary into the Swallow Nebula region,” James said with some enthusiasm. 

“Finally, a bit of good old fashion exploration,” Rio remarked.

“Indeed, there’s a trading colony I think we should begin at first and see if we can get any information about the local area first before we proceed any further.” James shared. 

“Get the lay of the land,” Horatio stated. “Seems wise.”

Raising her mug, Cambil put it in front of her fellow captains. “To the journey.”

They all joined in and repeated the same phrase, knowing that what lay ahead of them would certainly keep them on their toes.