Ethan’s quarters on the Zebulon Pike were no different from anyone else’s.  He had always made a thing about rank not being a part of his command.  It was probably why he wasn’t a first officer somewhere and how it was unlikely he would ever command a standard starship, and to to be honest that was exactly how he liked it.  He didn’t care for the chain of command,  and his evaluations had shown that.

He sat back in his chair and picked up a photograph of his wife,  Trinity. He traced her features with his index finger.   They were supposed to have a holo-call again tonight.  It seems like that was unlikely now.  With luck they would be back before he was really missed and she got to worrying.

“Damn it!” He growled  setting the photo frame face down. Looking at her had become unbearable with guilt and fear.  Shoving those unproductive emotions down deep he set up and turned on his computer terminal.

“Computer access bridge communications logs from time we were hailed by the Romulan ship.”

The computer obediently accessed the logs and Commodore Sukitha appeared on the screen.ll “Computer access Federation database and use facial recognition software on the individual on screen. “

“Working.  The individual in question has been identified as using the Romulan Empire database obtained in 2388 and current Starfleet database.

‘Bring up her biographical information on screen.” Ethan spent the next several minutes reading the dossier on Sukitha.  It seemed she was very well-known in his timeline,  and none of it matched up with the individual he’d spoken to. Except for that face. Even the subtle expressions matched.

This was all too frustrating. Every answer opened more questions.  As he was going back through the footage another Romulan caught his attention.   He isolated her and focused on the face.

“Computer identity the Romulan officer.”

“Working… Governor Tomarah t’Sei of Galundon’kor Resettlement Colony. Governor Tomarah is from a noble family,  and graduate of the Romulan Military Academy.  She served as a Warburg commander during the Dominion War. Tomarah ended her military career as an Admiral where she joined the senate serving on the Romulan War Council and Economic Development Committees.”

Ethan sighed and switched of his computer.  That wasn’t the life the Tomarah was leading on that other ship with her commander’s rank insignia.  “Ethan, we’re not in Kansas anymore,” he said to himself.