After his physical evaluation, Ben headed for the Counsellor’s office for his boarding evaluation. Only then would he be in a position to take take over command from the Officer in Charge.

He expected that the Counsellor would have checked Ben’s Service Record and already be aware of the incident on the promenade that had led to his transfer away from the Outpost as an ensign. That said, the subject came up at each of his evaluations. It was still a topic that was uncomfortable for Ben to talk about. It was his past. Everyone was in agreement that he had done the right thing, but it is not what most would have done. If Ben had done what most would have, his life and career would have been so very different, maybe even better, but who knew?

‘I am not my father,’ Ben said to himself as he gathered his thoughts, focused on the moment and rang the chime…

-Ben