“She breathes again,” Captain Cora Lee offered as they stood together at the front of the Kennedy‘s bridge, looking at the planet below. The blight was in full remission, and the planet’s natural ecology was well on its way to recovery.

“And they live again too,” Captain Ria Alleyne added, her thoughts on the colonists below, the inoculant having freed them of the burden on their shoulders, a sense of hope restored.

“It’s all something to be quite proud of,” Ambassador Michael Drake agreed. “This place and what we did here, there’s no finer example of the value in our mission, and no better proof of why we do what we do.” From the brilliant minds within the Advanced Science, Technology and Research Activity to their mission of frontier diplomacy, they’d put it all together to see success for the people of Lepia IV.

Ever since the nightfall, Captain Lee had been seeking purpose once more, each step in the meantime little more than going through the motions. Here on Lepia IV, though, she’d remembered why it was that they did what they did, the space they could fill, and the impact they could make. She knew she’d never be able to roll back the clocks and fix all that was lost, but at least she was ready to walk again. “I ought to get back to my ship. The Polaris called earlier, and new frontiers await.”

Ambassador Drake reached out his hand, and she accepted it. “It’s been a pleasure, Cora,” he offered as their eyes met. “You were brilliant. All of you. Please convey my thanks to your crew and the ASTRA team. Because of what we did here, Lepia IV sees a new dawn today.”

“The same to you, sir,” Captain Lee replied.

“And when you get back to the squadron, please tell Allison that I say hello,” Ambassador Drake requested as she pulled away. “I hear a great adventure awaits you out in the expanse. Enjoy every moment of it.”

“I will,” Captain Lee nodded, and then she headed for the lift.

As Captain Lee departed, Captain Alleyne turned back to the viewscreen, her thoughts on the lessons learned from past failures. They would soon depart with the Kennedy, new planets to see on their tour of the sector, and she wondered what that would mean for all the progress they’d made here. “What, do you think, comes next for Lepia IV?”

“I have no intention of seeing our efforts go to waste. Earlier, I spoke with the Federation Office of Colonial Affairs. They agreed that once we depart, they will deploy a long-term mission here in collaboration with Starfleet Science and the Terraform Command,” he shared. “I’ve also asked Commodore Agarwal to deploy a small Corps here to continue the infrastructure revitalization.”

Captain Alleyne stood there, mouth ajar. It was far more than she’d expected.

“What? You thought we’d put all this effort in, only to repeat the failings of those who came before us?” Ambassador Drake smiled. “If Lepia IV or any of these colonies out here teach us anything, it is that consistency is key. Our support for these people – our people – must be structural and lasting.”

Captain Alleyne couldn’t disagree, and it warmed her heart to be along for the ride with someone that believed in their mission as much as she did. “Do you remember the question they asked us during our first trip to the surface?”

“Which one?” Ambassador Drake inquired.

“Where were you? That’s what they asked us in the beginning,” Captain Alleyne responded. “At the time, I had no answer, but if I was asked that same question today, after all that’s happened now, I’m proud to say I now have an answer.”

“And what is that?”

“We were here.”