Sitting quietly in the captain’s chair on the bridge, Commander Duncan was glaring at a fixed point on the floor between the raised middle pit of the bridge where the three command chairs were and where the ops and helm stations were. The only noise heard on the bridge was the odd tapping of those inputting something on their station. No-one knew what to say. Everyone was in shock at the news of the loss of Commander Reyas. 

Duncan had visited McCallister when he had been informed of the news and his superior had just asked him to assume command while he supported his sons. He hadn’t been able to completely convey his condolences with McCallister and his boys before the doors had abruptly closed on him. He had been left to pick up the pieces with everyone else and explain to them what had happened. Thankfully they had been able to save Lieutenants Tierra and Abbej in another escape pod that had somehow survived the trip through the rift the Telemachus had entered. Both women had reported that Reyas had tricked them into the escape pod after they had started to encounter temporal distortions. She closed the hatch on them and automatically pushed the ejected button without them being able to protest. Instead she had taken the ship and used it somehow to push them out of the rift. The whole situation was bizarre but after Jen had briefed everyone about what had happened, what he and the captain had encountered, the whole reset button from the paradox was making some sense. Though the two of them had returned to the time before the accident that had caused the ship to split into multiple time frames, to the rest of the galaxy the Odyssey had entered some sort of time dilation. This was what they had guessed was how the Telemachus had been able to enter the rift. Temporal mechanics was one class at the academy he had never attempted to do besides the basic requirements. On some level, Duncan knew he should have paid more attention, especially as when he was a child he had lived within a temporal anomaly for a brief stint with his adoptive parents. The anomaly had a temporal differential compared to normal space. He ended up losing seven years of his life because of it. That said he had never seen it as a bad thing, especially with where he now ended up, but now after what happened Duncan was cursing every temporal anomaly for eternity for taking one of their greatest assets away from them.  

And now the Odyssey was without a chief science officer, a second officer and Captain McCallister had lost his wife while his sons had lost their mother. Duncan had promised he would meet with everyone once they had more information and suggested they all meet later in The Lion Gate to raise a glass to their fallen comrade. 

T’Rani, who was sitting at the helm, turned her chair around after her console beeped. “Sir, I’m detecting a number of civilian freighters being escorted by eight Federation runabouts and eleven shuttles, heading in our direction.”

Duncan looked up at her. “Do they require our assistance?” He asked. 

“Scans show they have taken some damage but nothing significant.” T’Rani answered.

“Lukiz,” Duncan said in a low tone, “send a message to them stating we are happy to provide any help they may need but inform them we are unable to achieve warp at the moment while we finish off repairs to our main deflector.”

Jen just nodded as he got to work on contacting the convoy. A moment after he sent the message he got something back. “Sir, they appreciate our offer and ask if their smaller ships could dock with us and could they beam over any critically injured patients.”

“Sure, inform sickbay of incoming patients,” Duncan said, still in a calm tone, before turning back to look at his pilot. “T’Rani, have the shuttlebays open their doors for our friends out there to dock.”

Both officers acknowledged their orders and got to work straight away. The whole process took another half an hour for the shuttles and runabouts to dock with the mighty Odyssey. The rest of the freighters came in close and surrounded the ship as they finally reached the edge of the nebula. 

“We are out of the Paulson Nebula, sir.” T’Rani announced. “Commander Hunsen reports the deflector has been repaired enough for us to achieve warp six, safely.”

“Then lay in a course for Starbase Bravo and inform the other ships to remain with us.” Duncan ordered. “Once we’re good to go, then engage the warp drive.”

One of the aft turbolift doors opened, allowing Counsellor Horin to step off the cart and walk over to the seat beside Duncan. Giving him an assuring smile, she sat down elegantly and crossed her left leg over her right knee. “Doctor Slyvexs wanted me to let you know her new patients are stable and are being treated.”

“Thanks Louwanna.” Duncan replied back, still looking forward. Realising he was being absent-minded, he turned to her. “Did any of them need you or your staff’s help?”

   She shook her head. “No, we’ve got other pressing matters.” Horin answered honestly but in a low volume so no-one besides Duncan heard her. “Are you okay, Max?”

He shrugged his shoulders, as he didn’t know how to answer that. “I will be.” He whispered eventually. The Odyssey then jumped to warp which caused him to look at the huge wide viewscreen that showed the starfield now racing past them. Looking back at her, he smiled before he whispered again. “I am pleased you’re with us, Louwanna.”

She returned his smile with her own. “I’m here for you all.”

He nodded to show his appreciation. 

Horin opened her mouth to say something but was stopped when Jen spoke up. “Sir, we’ve got an incoming call from Starbase Bravo. It’s Admiral Bennet for you.”

“For me? Not for the captain?” Duncan checked.

Jen looked at his console and then back to his superior. “He is definitely calling for you.”

Nodding, he stood up and directed Jen to place the call into the ready room. “Commander Horin, the bridge is yours.”

Horin, surprised at that, opened her eyes a bit wider and then composed herself as she acknowledged the order as she stood up to take over from him. 

Mere seconds later and after a quick stroll across the bridge and into the private sanctity of the captain’s ready room, Duncan walked over to the desk and tapped the console to activate the holo-communication device in the room. Fizzling to life, Rear Admiral Zack Marshall-Bennet appeared with an almost blue/white haze around him. He looked as if he was standing in the centre of the ready room. Both hands clenched together in front. 

“It’s good to see you again, Commander Duncan.” Bennet said. “I’ve just finished reading Commander Jen’s report and yours, I wanted to check in with you to see how everything is.”

Appreciating the gesture from someone who was high up in the chain of command, Duncan answered. “The crew has received the news about Commander Reyas’ loss. Our counselling teams are already supporting those who need it. Captain McCallister has requested that I take temporary command while he grieves with his sons.”

“Temporal paradoxes aren’t easy things to understand, I appreciate that you of all people know what it’s like to go through one, but Commander Reyas’ death is a huge loss to Starfleet. She had a lot of potential to go further and I know the El-Aurian people will grieve her passing. ” Bennet said solemnly.  

Impressed that the admiral knew about his own encounter of dealing with a temporal difference paradox when he was a child as well as the sentiment about Reyas, Duncan thanked the admiral for his remarks. “I’m afraid sir, when we arrive at Starbase Bravo not only are we bringing back those who survived the loss of the Telemachus, including the scientists they saved but we’ve just came across a convoy of freighters departing the nebula. They were being escorted by runabouts and shuttles.”

“They may have been the convoy that had rescued refugees from the New Scarborough colony. We have set up a temporary settlement on one of the moons of Mellstoxx Three for them.” Bennet explained. “But don’t worry yourselves over that. Just get yourselves home and safe.”

“We will, admiral.” Duncan stated. “Is there anything else, sir?”

“There is.” Bennet said with a singular nod. “Two in fact. One, I wanted to let you know that I’ve spoken with the Federation Displacement Agency and your request for legal guardianship of both of those boys you rescued in the Delta Quadrant has been granted to you and Senior Chief Court.”

Duncan’s whole posture changed at that news, a smile crept on his face. “That’s great news sir, thank you so much for taking the time to find out for us and letting me know.”

“You’re welcome,” Bennet replied, “but it was Louwanna’s heavy suggestion that helped influence their decision. Her report on how it was important not to break the bond and attachment they had formed with you was what got it past the finish line.”

“I’d make sure to thank her.” Duncan said, feeling very happy and excited now that they had that news. “You said you had two things, sir?”

“Ah, yes. Well with what I’ve read about what’s transpired with the Odyssey, I’m afraid that the Department of Temporal Investigation had to be called. Please inform those of your crew who were involved to grant their agents full access and full cooperation as they conduct their investigation into the temporal paradox you were all a part of.”

Duncan sighed, he knew that wouldn’t help anyone right now and it would only add to further stress when it wasn’t needed. “Sir, can’t there be a delay with their investigation?” He pleaded. 

“I’m afraid the regulations are quite clear on this commander,” Bennet answered, “we cannot wait and the Odyssey is not the only ship to encounter a temporal paradox. Challenger, Endeavour and others in the fleet have come across something that has caused D-T-I to almost have an aneurysm at. I’m certain they won’t tell us anything specific but we must cooperate. Please ensure your crew are ready to be debriefed. We’ll keep a docking port clear for you. Safe travels. Bennet out.”

The admiral then deactivated his holographic representation and ended the call. Duncan sighed heavily as he leant against the back of one of the armchairs in the room. The appearance of D-T-I agents, he felt, would be the start of causing more problems for them. Taking in a huge breath, he then stood up and made his way back out onto the bridge to face the music. The only thing that made him happier was the news about Jorgeh and Wylem. 

At least something had gone right for them today, he thought.