After speaking with his ‘wife’, Commander Carter Westerham stood up from the chair he had in his small quarters on board the Reliant-class starship, Guildford. Glad to have spoken with Corella Banfield on the Odyssey, Westerham walked over to his cupboard and opened the door. He was about to lean down and pick up the bucket that sat on the floor; however, he was disturbed by his door chime. Slightly frustrated to hear it go off, he changed his demeanour as he knew who it was.

“Enter!” He called.

Stepping in were the two cadets he had ordered to visit him. “Cadets McCallister and Duncan-Court, you arrived so promptly.”

Both young men stood to attention and replied sternly, “Yes, sir!”

“At ease,” Westerham said, trying to avoid showing off his annoyance for Starfleet formality. “I have some news for you both.”

Alfie and Jordan looked at one another; worry and caution filled them.

“Don’t be worried,” Westerham assured them. “It’s some excellent news.”

“Good news, sir?” Jordan asked.

“Have you spoken to the Odyssey?” Alfie questioned. After hearing through the Federation News Service about rumours of the Fourth Fleet heading to the Deneb Sector to deal with some border skirmish, he had been worried. Rumours were flying around that it was more than that. 

“Indeed I have, and it won’t be long until we grace our presence among her great corridors,” Westerham shared. “Starfleet has granted the return of our training unit to the Odyssey.”

“Are you serious, sir?” Alfie checked.

“Oh yes,” Westerham replied. “I’ve spoken to Commander Banfield already to share the ‘good’ news.”

The two cadets looked at each other with so much excitement. 

“That’s great news; thank you, sir,” Jordan said.

“It certainly is, and I am sure when we return, your presence will be felt by so many,” Westerham smirked. “Now dismiss so you can go and tell the others the good news.”

“Yes, sir, immediately, sir,” Alfie said, almost stumbling out the words as he and Jordan rushed out of his quarters. 

 Westerham dropped the smile once both boys had left his room. He ordered the computer to lock the doors before he pulled the bucket into his cupboard, and within seconds he reverted to his liquid state within it. 

He hated holding his solid form but knew that the plans he and his brethren had next for the Federation were worth the challenge of dealing with solid form and annoying teenage cadets.