Deck 1, Ready Room

“You wanted to see me?” said Lori.

“Yes. Please sit. Do you want anything?” Kirby motioned to the replicator.

“No, I’m fine. Thanks.”

When the two were settled, Kirby sat without saying anything.

“Captain? Matt?”

Kirby sighed. “We’ve known each other six months. We were on a Raven together and now we’re on the Eagle. We don’t have a counselor, but I’ve always felt I could talk to you. You’re more than my CMO. I like to think of you as my friend.”

Lori smiled. “You’re my friend, too.”

A happy silence filled the room.

“So, I asked you here because I think I may have lost some friendships.”

“What happened?”

“Before we left, I was talking to some other captains. We were discussing the affects the blood dilithium has on telepaths. They’re all taking theirs to the Delta Quadrant, while ours stayed back home.”

“How did you lose friendships?” said Lori.

“I told them they were being irresponsible.”

“Ouch, ” said Lori.

“A captain is responsible to keep his crew safe. There’s still so much about the dilithium we don’t know. They’re not only putting their telepaths in danger, but the rest of their people. There’s also the Devore. It’s just one mission. The captains should have made the smart decision.”

Lori didn’t know what to say. Basically, Kirby was right, but if she was in that situation, she would have fought tooth and nail to not be left behind.

Deck 2, Mess Hall

“I can’t believe they did it to us again. A new quadrant to study and we’re back to making supply runs.” Haia angrily poked at her food.

“Wait a minute,” said Hok. “Are you telling me, with everything that was happening with the Romulan refugees and the peace talks, you weren’t in the middle of the action?”

“Nope,” said Nick. “We were a high-tech delivery service, though there was that one time we helped do repairs on a stranded freighter.”

“But we’re going to a scientific outpost. Maybe they’ll let you help,” said Hok.

Haia scowled. “These are civilian scientists looking to make names for themselves. They’re not going to share their discoveries with me. If they crack the blood dilithium mystery, they go down in the history books.”

“I understand,” said Hok, “but you never know. Maybe something will happen and you’ll be the one history remembers.”

Deck 1, Ready Room

“Matt, when it comes down to it, you’ve got to do what you think is right.”

“I shouldn’t have said anything. I’m still the Raven guy. In their minds, I haven’t proven myself yet.”

“Well in my mind, you have,” said Lori. “You made a command decision to keep your people safe, and that’s what matters most.” She paused. “There is one question I have.”

“Commander Allen,” said Kirby.

“Commander Allen,” said Lori.

“Let’s just say he made a convincing argument to come.” Kirby left it at that.

Lori didn’t press the issue. She trusted her captain and her friend.