Colonel Calvin Harris stepped onto the Bridge of the USS Dresden at a quarter past 1400, a cup of tea in one hand and a PaDD in the other. With Sol behind them on their final approach to Earth, the view through the ship’s viewscreen was breathtaking and as they entered the Approach Pattern for Starbase 1, Harris tapped his comm button on his chair with a smile. After the All Hands tone sounded throughout the ship, Harris began in his best “Airline Pilot” voice.

=A= All Hands, this is your Captain speaking. It is my pleasure to report… that we are now on the approved Approach Pattern for Starbase 1. As we make our final approach around Luna, from the Port side of the ship… you’ll be able to see both Lake Armstrong and Tycho City. The current time in San Fransisco is 8:22am and the weather forecast for today calls for a high of 19 degrees Celsius under mostly cloudy skies with a current temperature a brisk 13 C with light drizzle. Gate time at Starbase 1 is 14:30 GMT, docking arrival at Docking Station 27. I know you have options in interstellar travel, and we here with the Dresden are glad you chose us.=A= The crew would be able to hear the snicker escape the Marine with his last few words and after a pause, Harris then continued.

=A= Folks, it’s been one of the highlights of my career serving with you all over these past three years. I know that some of you will be moving on to new assignments in the coming weeks and I wish you all the very best in the paths you take. Finally, in the spirit of the Old Earth sea services, on behalf of myself and the Senior Staff, I wish you all fair winds and following seas. Harris out.=A=

Calvin glanced over to Amelia and smiled. “How was that, Exec?”

Harris, CO