Fleet Captain Fontana stood in the office of the Vorethi Chief Premier, looking out from the balcony.  A month had passed since the events that had reshaped the sector and the Vorethi.  It had taken some time to track down the remaining elements of the Crimson Foundry.  They had either died in desperation or surrendered with phasers at their backs.  There was still work to be done.

The doors to the office swung open, and Chief Premier Gooren swept into the room with his retinue of officials, scribes, and liaisons.  “Fleet Captain.  It is agreeable to see you.”  Gooren put his team to work at their various stations and consoles, walking to join him moments later.  “I have my meeting with the Constructor later this afternoon.  Thank you for your team’s efforts.”

Fontana smiled in reply.  The efforts had been working with the mechanical artificial intelligence and the incredibly powerful weapons it had created and then used to defeat the Crimson Foundry soundly.  The initial discussions had been challenging, and it had taken time for the Constructor to understand the danger of the weapons they had created and what it would mean for the future of the Vorethi people.  “He’s agreed to place the schematics and the remaining weapons in a secured and encrypted reserve.  The weapons had been built and coded specifically for Vorethi shields and hulls, which was a relief for our tactical team.”

Gooren returned the smile.  “It has had a welcome benefit.  The Klingons and Romulans have stopped attempting to negotiate any kind of takeover bid of our people.  Interest in a renewed defensive weapons platform has grown.  We intend to study the system to create a stronger Vorethi defense.  With the Shroud down, it won’t just be the Klingons or Romulans coming to visit.  The Expanse is full of others looking to take advantage of others.  We do not wish to be so easily conquered in the future.  We will never be the same.”

Geronimo turned to the Chief Premier.  “Nor will we, Gooren.  The experience of working with you and the Vorethi has challenged us in our own thinking.”  He extended his hand. “I look forward to partnering with you in the future.”

Gooren returned the favor and shook his hand.  “I hope to see you and your people back again soon, Fontana.” 

Geronimo stood at attention.  “A good day’s work to you, Chief Premier Gooren.”

He replied, “And to you, Fleet Captain Fontana.”

“Who are you?”  Deputy Chief Medical Officer Ada Josephs sat at the bedside of the body of Baron Nine, watching the open eyes of the former Borg, and former everything else.  Her recovery was nearly complete, aside from the appointments at Montana Station when they returned.  Her current concern was the empty body that had once held her friend, Baron Nine.

The face of the unknown winced, as if searching for memories and finding nothing.  Another moment passed in which he blinked, searching the ceiling for answers.  After a long pause, he spoke.  “I am…Baron.  Just…Baron.”  His head turned to face Ada.  “You were a friend to me before.  I know your face.”  A small smile crossed his lips. “It is a friendly face.”

“I am glad to hear that, Baron.  How do you feel?”

Another long pause.  It looked as if it hurt to think; she thought.  “I feel…well.  It is hard to answer your questions.  I do not have memories to draw on, as Baron Nine did.  There is…nothing in the past for me.  Nothing to remember or imagine.  Just…silence.”  His eyes searched hers.  “Will you help me build them?  I have this feeling…this need to build something within myself.  It is like I need to fill a book with words and pictures.”

Ada smiled, appreciating the warmth it brought to her face and heart.  “I would love to do that, Baron.  Thank you for asking me.”

His eyes narrowed, then widened and then returned to their normal focus.  “Love.  That is a word I knew.  Did you love him?”

Ada chuckled nervously.  “That’s…an interesting observation, Baron.  I’ve been thinking about that this last month.  I think I did love him.  I just wasn’t sure how to describe it.

His eyes remained locked on hers, curiosity coloring his face.   “Will you love me too?  Eventually?”

“I hope so, Baron.  For now, let’s work on helping you figure out who Baron is.”

He replied, turning back to staring at the ceiling.  “I hope so too, Ada Josephs.”  He stared longer, his eyes blinking as he processed his feelings.  “Let us get to work, then.”

“Your orders, sir?”  Captain Samson Bradley stood in the center of the Zephyr’s bridge.  Fleet Captain Fontana had stepped onto the deck from the turbolift, and the senior staff had stood at attention.

Fontana replied, “As you were, all of you.”  He shifted his stance to a more relaxed posture.  “We’ve been ordered back to Montana Station at best possible speed.  We’re leaving a small team here to assist in the transition and operation of the reformed Vorethi government and guilds.  Chief Premier Gooren and the guildmasters have asked us to return occasionally, and I’ve assured them we’ll be back. Captain Bradley, the bridge is yours.”  He turned and departed the bridge of the squadron command center, farther down the corridor.

Samson moved to the center chair and sat down, feeling relief at a return to normalcy.  “Ensign Bertrand, signal all squadron ships of our departure orders and destination.”  He leaned forward.  “Helm, set a course for Montana Station, maximum warp.”  A pause as the bridge crew turned towards him.  The moment held as he contemplated what came next and what adventure awaited them.

“Course plotted, sir.”

He leaned forward.  “Take us home, ensign.”

The Zephyr moved slowly forward and then jumped to warp speed.  The rest of the squadron followed until no Starfleet ships remained.  

Vorethi space returned to its new normal and the unknown future that lay ahead.