It took almost two and half weeks for Gravel and Cara to make the trip from the Atlantis to their final destination.

Earth floated below Station One in all it’s blue and white majestic glory. Hundreds, if not thousands, of ships of all sizes and origins floated, moved, and jumped in and out of warp while the runabout they were on finished docking at the station. Gravel held out his hand to Cara as they walked through the hatch and stepped onto the deck. As they exited, a Blex female in Star Fleet uniform with Lieutenant pips walked up to them. “Lieutenant Commander Mardusk. Lieutenant O’Farrell. Admiral Mardusk is expecting you. Please follow me.” and she spun on her heel and began walking. Mardusk looked at Cara and said “Of course. Wouldn’t even let us get to our hotel.”

She led them to a single turbo lift and pressed the call button. “The Admiral is very excited to see you, Commander. She hasn’t stopped talking about it for several days.” Gravel smiled and said “Well, its better than the opposite I guess.”

The doors opened and they stepped inside. The Lieutenant pressed a deck and the lift began to move. Soon, it stopped and the doors opened. Two Fleet Security officers armed with rifles stood guard and the Lieutenant led them out and to a desk at the left end of the hallway they were in. A Master Chief Petty Officer looked up and said “Commander, welcome to Starbase One. Your mother is in her office.” and he gestured to the door behind him. Gravel looked at Cara and said “Ready?”

Mardusk