Chapter 1

Captain's Log—Stardate 43796.2

After our unusual encounter with the "Tin Man" we have finished receiving maintenance at Starbase 152 and are returning to the Hayashi System to complete the exospheric charts of the planets in the system. We hope that our charts will be helpful in future planet colonization.

But, before we reach the Hayashi System, we have been instructed to deliver medical supplies to a colony of Tehrazions, a species of humanoids who have recently settled on a planet currently known as AlphaX0643-E in a system near the Hayashi system. These people have only just joined the Federation, and the protection the Federation offers them has inspired the Tehrazions to colonize outside of their home world.

As instructed, since the Hayashi System is so near to the Romulan-Federation border, we have stayed away from any temptations to explore any closer to the Neutral Zone, for fear of instigating an unmitigated response from the Romulans.

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With a swoosh, the doors to Wesley Crusher's quarters slid open and he entered, heading for his desk. He had just been released for the day from his duties as an Acting Ensign—even through all this time the thought still gave him a thrill—and he had decided that the first thing he was going to do was study before he would find some dinner. Since the continuation of their mission was so close to the Romulan Neutral Zone, one of the researchers aboard the Enterprise had seen fit to introduce a new course on the Romulans for the students aboard. Today had been the first day of the course—Introduction to Romulan Culture and Ethics —and, despite the undoubtedly uncomfortable immersion in understanding a culture so corrupt, Wesley was one of the first to sign up. After all, his future could someday depend on the knowledge learned in that class. Even though the amount of material was sparse, one never knew what information could come in handy with all the mysterious action going on behind the curtain of the Neutral Zone.

Wesley sat at his desk and turned the computer screen toward him.

"Computer, activate data from 'Romulan Military Ethics and Outcomes' on drive A7-849."

The computer whirred for just a moment, and then, after a welcoming beep, blue sentences started to appear across the black screen along with diagrams and charts. While the usual teenage boy would at least have winced at the amount of reading emerging on the screen, a small smile tugged at the corners of Wesley's mouth as he realized that this class was going to give him the knowledge he craved.

Though, he had to admit, some classes were too tedious for smiling.

Fifteen minutes into the reading, Wesley's smooth brow started to furrow. He noticed that the reading was starting to stir emotions in him—emotions that he didn't usually have when studying. The injustice of such a system…he didn't understand why any military structure would be set up so that in order to gain some power one would have to wait for his or her superiors to die, or just kill them—and, according to these records, many had done so just to be one rung higher on the ladder of command. It seemed their culture was strongly influenced by loyalty to the Praetor and honor—honor that sometimes demanded pushing people off the rungs to success. Wesley Crusher did not agree with this way of living.

Wesley was so immersed in his reading that he almost didn't hear the door chime. He mumbled a "come in" and his mother, Dr. Beverly Crusher, entered his quarters.

"Hello, Wesley," she said to her son, whom she saw at his usual spot.

Wes looked over and smiled at his mother. "Hi, Mom." Even though Wesley was just fine with living on his own, he enjoyed the fact that his mom had come back to the ship from running Starfleet Medical for a year. He didn't like to admit it, but—while he hadn't minded Dr. Pulaski taking over as Chief Medical Officer aboard the Enterprise last year—Wesley had missed his mom. He was glad she was back.

"Have you eaten yet?" Beverly decided to give the implied invitation a try, even though she knew that her teenage son would rather do anything than eat with his mom at Ten-Forward. Beverly knew that her son either felt too busy to eat (which she never approved of) or he ate with his friends. She was hoping that today he would set some time aside to catch up and spend some time with her.

Wesley turned to look at his mother. "I've got some studying to do, so I was planning on eating in about a half hour, but go ahead without me." He then turned back to looking at his computer screen.

"Okay," Beverly said, a bit disappointed, and started to turn away.

"But, Mom—" Wesley said before she could leave. "How about breakfast tomorrow, at 0700?"

Beverly beamed at the thought. "I'll mark my calendar!" Wesley smiled in return and looked back at his screen. Beverly Crusher noticed the telltale fascination on her son's face. Curiosity taking over her steps, she walked over to the desk and peered at what Wes was reading.

"Romulans?" she asked. "What's this for?"

"I have to study for the new class on Romulan culture and ethics," Wesley said, without looking up from the screen. "It's amazing what these people would do to get some recognition, Mom." Beverly noticed Wesley give a little shudder before he looked up at her with widened brown eyes. "They would do virtually anything to get some credit from the Praetor—that's their government head—and that includes killing or dishonoring their comrades and higher-ranking officials. No wonder they seem so ruthless all the time, Mom, they're trying to keep their lives!"

"Just be grateful the Enterprise isn't like that," Beverly said, putting a hand on her son's shoulder before walking back toward the door.

"Yeah. But I don't understand how an entire culture that spans planets could get anywhere with a system like that. I couldn't imagine going to work on the bridge everyday worrying if Data was going to attack Commander Riker just to be called Number One."

Beverly smiled at the thought. "Well, I don't think we need to worry about that anytime soon."

Wesley smiled, too. "Enjoy your dinner."

"I will," Beverly said before heading out into the corridor. But, before she left, she thought she'd give her intelligent son a little bit of parenting. "And don't get too engrossed in your studying to the point that you forget to eat. I don't want to see my son in sickbay anytime soon with an overworked immune system because he won't give it the nutrition it needs." She knew only too well about Wes's enthusiasm to learn new things.

"I know, Mom," Wesley said at the sight of her retreating form. When the doors slid shut he turned back to the computer screen and to his education of a culture's logic he couldn't even begin to comprehend.