After materialising on the transporter pad, Captain McCallister was surprised to see Commander Thaustin waiting for him.

“Thaustin, there’s no need for a welcoming committee. I’m not that type of formal captain,” He said with a warm smile. Upon his arrival, McCallister strode confidently off the platform and onto the Triton, his luggage hoisted over one shoulder. Though he had just returned from a refreshing vacation in Hawaii, he remained attired in casual civilian garb. His simple yet tasteful ensemble consisted of a plain short-sleeved shirt, three-quarter-length grey trousers, and comfortable black sandals.

Commander Thaustin looked imposing in his uniform as he stood tall. The Xindi man had a concerned expression etched across his face. “Sir, you have some visitors waiting for you in your quarters.”

Surprised to hear he had guests, Captain McCallister wondered who they were and why the commander appeared worried. He indicated for Thaustin to walk with him. “Why the look of concern?” He asked as they stepped out of the transporter room. “Who are they?”

Thaustin shrugged. “That’s the issue, sir; we were ordered by Starfleet Command to prepare for two visitors. They just beamed directly to your quarters, and we were told to deactivate the internal sensors. We have no idea who they are and what’s with all the secrecy. It’s all off the record too. Only I know they are here.”

Upon hearing that, McCallister knew where this was going and told his first officer not to worry and that he would catch up with him later. 

Eventually, McCallister strode into his quarters. No lights were on, so he dumped his gear by the door and walked over to the replicator when he entered. Knowing his visitors were waiting for him, he ordered for himself and them. “Raktajino, hot and two teas with milk, hot.” He turned around with the two teas in his hands. “Computer lights on, lock the doors, and activate a level ten force field around my quarters.”

The room became a lot brighter, the sound of the doors locking and a force field being erected was heard just before his two visitors were revealed. 

“Hello, Horatio,” spoke Commander Karyn Reyas. McCallister’s sister-in-law, who was meant to be dead or living in an alternative future, sat at the circular-shaped dining table with McCallister’s other guest. Karyn Reyas looked stunning (as she always did). She wore the Starfleet science field jacket indicating her rank of commander along the collar. The leathery jacket made her look edgy. Almost intimidating if you didn’t know her. Her lustrous, dark brown hair had been twisted and secured into a neat bun atop her head. The El-Aurian scientist gave him a warm smile as he put the raktajino down beside her. “Thank you.”

McCallister then gave the other tea to the man beside her. Wearing a black blazer with a rolled-up collar jumper of a similar colour, he was someone that McCallister had met only a few times and was the man who was responsible for his brother’s field promotion to captain. His piercing blue eyes were nothing short of captivating, even with the crow’s feet wrinkles beside them. This was complimented by the impeccably styled hair, which was kept neat and tidy. Though its once black colour was fading away and the grey and white highlights were appearing, the man exuded both dashing and elegant qualities. He was truly one of a kind. He was Fleet Admiral Luke Robert Duncan. The former Fourth Fleet Commanding Officer that had apparently died over two years.

“Thank you, Captain McCallister,” Duncan grunted as he took the tea. His thick British accent came through. “Please pass on our gratitude to your first officer for keeping our visit off the records.”

Sighing heavily, McCallister dropped into the spare chair. He knew this visit was done in secrecy for a reason. What that reason was, McCallister had no clue whatsoever. He looked at the admiral. “When we met before I headed to the Delta Quadrant, you told me you had discovered another displaced officer,” He pointed to his sister-in-law, “It took me some digging and speaking to one of my old colleagues to find out who it was.” McCallister looked at her. “It is good to see you, Karyn.”

Reyas smiled at him again before squeezing his hand. “Likewise, Horatio. How did you find out it was me?”

McCallister was about to answer in full but stopped himself. Instead, he answered it in much simpler terms. “Let’s just say I owe my contact several bottles of Aldebaran Whiskey. However, there were rumours you both were seen at Athan Prime and recently here at Earth in Hawaii.” He smiled at her. “James and the boys will be thrilled when they see you.”

“Not yet,” The admiral interjected quickly. “We still have too many unanswered questions about why we and others have been captured in the last couple of years and replaced.”

The young captain sighed. “So why are you both here?”

“We’re not any closer to finding out what’s going on besides knowing something may happen tomorrow during Frontier Day,” Duncan revealed. “We thought it was best you were brought into the know.”

“Well, that’s truly helpful. You’ve come to tell me nothing,” McCallister said sarcastically. He shook his head as he tried to come up with a solution to the mess he found himself now a part of. “Surely revealing yourselves to someone at Starfleet would be helpful if you don’t know what has happened or will happen?” 

“You’ve lost your edge, Captain,” Duncan countered. The experienced officer shook his head and leant forward slightly. “No, going to Starfleet Command won’t help us. We believe that Starfleet has been compromised, and there’s no knowing who we can trust.”

McCallister rolled his eyes and leaned back further in his chair, almost like a teenager close to throwing a tantrum. “And you say I’ve lost my edge.”

“Listen, Horatio; we’ve been following the breadcrumbs left by our imposters to see what they were trying to achieve,” Reyas said in a more open and sharing tone. “We’ve only got so far with our investigations, and the moment we think we’re getting somewhere, we find ourselves hitting numerous dead ends.”

“What do you mean?” McCallister asked. “Can you give examples?”

“First off, the imposter who was me faked my death. Where I was buried, there’s no body laying in my grave,” Duncan answered. “The only follow-up we have found is a clue linked to the Delta Exploration Initiative’s work in deploying long-range communication buoys.”

“Well, those aren’t no state secrets. The Bellerophon, Odyssey, Themis and Triton were all involved in that as it was shared on the Federation News Network,” McCallister said, dismissing that lead. He looked at Reyas. “And what about your imposter?”

“The only work we could find that they were interested in was to do with artificial wormhole creation and data related to the Paulson Century Storm,” Reyas explained. “Whoever was trying to be me, I think, was trying to use the storms to generate some sort of subspace corridor, perhaps a transwarp conduit, but got the science entirely wrong. Instead, they created the temporal anomalies that Odyssey encountered.”

“Are you referring to the chronokinetic surge that hit the Odyssey and splinted it into different timeframes?” McCallister asked before he realised they weren’t sure if he was meant to know about it. “Oh, don’t worry; I was sworn in under oath to know about it in case anything happened while we were in the Delta Quadrant that could bring back that alternative future in sync with our timeframe. Department of Temporal Investigations told me and Canção as they believed both Bexa and James would attempt to either deal with it or avoid it. Either way, they wanted one of us to stop them from interfering with the timeline if something did happen.”

“Well, yeah, I’ve still not quite understood the science behind it, but basically, they got it wrong, and their actions caused the surge and further temporal anomalies during that event,” Reyas stated. “We also think they may have been behind the recent Lost Fleet appearance, but we’ve not got enough evidence to prove that one due to the Starfleet cover-up.”

“Wow, and after all of this time, you both still have no idea who is behind this?” McCallister asked them.

Duncan winced at the lack of evidence from their work. “Unfortunately, Captain, they are too good at covering up their tracks and hiding in plain sight.” 

“Unlike you two,” McCallister countered back.

“What do you mean?” Duncan quizzed him, sounding a bit worried they were in trouble.

“Well, along with finding out what you’ve been up to recently, I also discovered who has been sending interference to the Odyssey and its squadron, along with other ships in the Fourth Fleet,” McCallister said before heading over to his belongings and pulling out a PADD. “I know you had a hand in the orders to remove all of the civilians and cadets off from the Odyssey and its squadron upon our return home from the Delta Quadrant.” He looked at Duncan. “How did you get that one past the top brass?”

“I was the top brass, remember,” Duncan said with a smirk. “Also, it turns out this imposter is still using a variance of my clearance codes. So I just piggy-backed onto them.”

“Ingenious,” McCallister said before returning to his seat. “So, I take it whoever that person is, didn’t like your orders, and that’s why the civilians and cadets are returning?”

Reyas sighed. “Yes, unfortunately. We were hoping to keep them out of harm’s way.”

“Then why not go to James with all of this?” McCallister asked his sister-in-law. 

“Because we think he may have been replaced, too,” Duncan answered for her.

McCallister snapped his head straight away at that news. “Seriously? What makes you think that?”

“We think several of the Odyssey’s senior staff have been replaced; James’ recent requests for promotions for a number of them have been approved. We think they may use that influence and level of access in some way.” Duncan replied. “We can’t take the risk of tipping their hand that we know.”

McCallister took a moment to finish his tea and then wiped his chin. “So what can be done? It just sounds like there are many ifs and possibilities – no certainties.”

“Unfortunately, Horatio, that is the case,” Reyas sighed.

“The only certainty is tomorrow, and something will happen during Frontier Day. We need to be prepared.” Duncan remarked. 

After a moment of silence, McCallister stood up. “You know what, this is exactly why I walked away from S.I. There were too many headaches when people were assuming too much.” He walked over to the other side of the room. Starring out of the window, he wished he could be on the Bellerophon and far away from all of this mess. Turning back to his two visitors, McCallister hated knowing what he now knew. “Alright, let me check in with my crew, and I’ll see if I can dig anything else about your suspicions about James and the Odyssey.”

“Horatio, if you can find a way to save the boys-” Reyas started but was stopped by him waving a hand at her.

“Yeah, I know the drill. You want me to get them out of harm’s way. I’ll do my best.” McCallister promised her. He turned to the admiral. “There is someone you’ve not mentioned about approaching from the Odyssey.”

“Who?” Duncan asked.

“Your son, Max,” McCallister challenged. “Or has he been replaced too?”

Fleet Admiral Duncan rested back in his chair, considering his response carefully. “I thought about it once, back when I heard he got married and now has kids, but I feel I’d been introducing a possible unstable element to a critical situation. How can I be certain he is who he says he is?.”

“I’m sorry, Admiral, but that’s ridiculous!” McCallister replied. “You sound more like Admiral Picard than Admiral Duncan.” 

“Talking of which, there are rumours that Picard has gone off the rails, and we think it’s to do with the same issues we’ve been trying to get our hands on,” Reyas remarked.

“Then let Picard deal with it,” McCallister urged them. “In the meantime, if you both wish to stay here, then do, but you both need better disguises than what you’re wearing. I get the whole hide in plain sight, but this is ridiculous!”