“First Officer’s personal log, stardate seven-eight-three-three-three point one-seven. The Constitution is now underway on its own exploring an area of the Kotaba Expanse where no one has gone before. I’ve been considering what Captain McCallister has shared with me recently, and I know I need to make repair a few broken bridges with some of the crew.”

Taking a deep breath in, Commander Thaustin stepped through the doorway of The Establishment and looked around. Straight away, the Xindi Primate saw that most of the lunchtime crowd had gone, and those left were finishing their meals while the holographic servers were tidying up. His eyes surveyed the room for the people he was looking for and fell upon them in one of the booths. Walking slowly and calmly, he made his way over.

“Lieutenants,” Thaustin said, grabbing the attention of Lonar and T’Penni.

The two women turned their attention upwards to their superior officer, and both attempted to stand up. Still, Thaustin waved them to stop and sit back down.

“Commander, can we help?” Lornar asked while holding onto her coffee mug.

He shook his head, and Thaustin asked if he could join them, which they accepted, and he noted the quick glance between the two officers. He took a breath in, his second one to calm himself, before speaking. “I owe you both a huge apology.”

“Proceed,” T’Penni said in her calm, Vulcan way.

“My behaviour in the recent senior staff dinner was unfair, and what I said and did was wrong of me.” He admitted.

Again, both women looked at each other, and Lonar replied first. “That’s appreciated, sir; we understand that Frontier Day left some deep, dark scars for many of us.”

“And it will most likely reverberate for some time,” T’Penni added.

“That doesn’t excuse my behaviour. I’m the first officer and should be setting an example, especially to others on the senior staff,” Thaustin shared. “I know I would have received an earful from Captain Canção about it.”

Agreeing with him on that, Lornar nodded. “As someone who saw the Borg devastate her people, she would have reminded us that such actions and attitudes are what the Collective wants us to do and to be fearful of.”

Thaustin agreed. “She was one hell of a mentor, and I suppose I had expected to serve under her for a bit longer.”

“Time is certainly the fire in which we burn,” Lonar said. “It can spoil what we hope for, what we dream for.”

Thaustin smirked at the young Cardassian woman. “That’s undoubtedly a Rio Canção quote there.”

Lonar nodded. “She once said it to me during an away mission in the Delta Quadrant.”

“Her extensive personal experience of the Borg certainly made her an expert on the subject of how they can have a negative impact on a person’s mental well-being,” T’Penni stated. “I once attended a seminar she was guest lecturing at about the Borg Collective at Avalon.”

“She knew her stuff,” Thaustin smirked.

“She did and shared much of her wisdom with you, sir,” Lonar added. “So thank you again for reaching out.”

T’Penni nodded in agreement. “Your apology is accepted.”

“I should have done better, and I will,” Thaustin promised. He looked at them both, “I should leave you and stop intruding on your meal.”

“We’re about done, sir. We were both about to head to the holodeck and have a game of velocity with Lieutenant Ethav.” Lonar stated.

“Please join us,” T’Penni invited him. “Commander Rubon was meant to join us, but he wanted to continue his work on making one of the Delta-class runabouts ‘cooler’.”

Grateful for the offer, Thaustin agreed to it. “I’d love to see how good you are at velocity.”

“Rumour has it that T’Penni was the reigning champion on the Bellerophon,” Lonar shared with a smirk.

“Then let’s see if we can defend the former Triton’s honour then, Lonar,” Thaustin replied with a similar grin.

“Agreed, sir.”

Pleased he had buried the hatchet with them, Thaustin knew he would have to let them win a few games to make them feel good. That said, he also knew that he would have to work harder to prove that his words over dinner were a mistake and that he didn’t blame them for the horrors he and others suffered while on the Triton. The commander shuddered inwards as a flashback came to his mind; he needed to suppress it.

Maybe a game of velocity would help.