"We are all strangers in a strange land, longing for home, but not quite knowing what or where home is. We glimpse it sometimes in our dreams, or as we turn a corner, and suddenly there is a strange, sweet familiarity that vanishes almost as soon as it comes…" Madeleine L'Engle

One

Captain's Log – Personal

Today marks the one-year anniversary of the destruction of Vulcan. The Enterprise is currently three months from Earth on an exploration and mapping expedition. We started the day with a small service in remembrance of all those who lost their lives on that day, both on the planet itself and in the rescue ships destroyed by the Romulan Nero.

The Vulcan colony has been established with typical Vulcan efficiency on a planet just as high in gravity and heat and low on oxygen and emotion as their former planet. We are…

"Bridge to Keptin Kirk."

"Kirk here."

"Sair, our long-range sensors have picked up a sheep traveling at Warp Four."

Kirk paused, considered mentioning the possible effects of vacuum on wool and decided to forego the fun in honor of the somber mood of the day, "Any ID, Ensign?"

"Still too far away to determine that, sair, but Mr. Spock adwises that the ship will be close enough for a better scan and possible identification in six minutes."

"On my way."

Kirk grabbed his uniform shirt and tugged it on as he ran for the 'lift. Three months of peaceful mapping and exploration had driven him a little stir crazy. He would never wish for another Nero to come along, of course, but something other than one uninhabited planet after another would be nice. Wherever this ship came from, it was bound to be from somewhere new and, hopefully, exciting.

The doors to the Bridge opened as he was adding a '…but peaceful' to his last thought. "Status, Mr. Spock."

"The ship will be close enough to complete a more thorough scan in two point three minutes, Captain."

Kirk sat in his command chair and waited as patiently as he was able. Which, if he was honest with himself, wasn't very patiently at all.

"Captain, the ship is now within range. The computer is working on identification now." A moment later, Spock drew in a short, sharp breath and quirked an eyebrow at his terminal. He ran his fingers over various dials and screens and his eyebrow remained raised.

"Spock?"

"A moment, Captain. The computer is providing some anomalous information and I am attempting to determine where the error has occurred."

"Anomalous how, Spock?"

"The computer has identified the approaching vessel as one of Vulcan origin."

"Well, that's not so anomalous. Vulcan ships do occasionally go out and explore the universe…"

"The computer has identified this particular ship as one that disappeared six hundred years ago, Captain."

"Oh, well… that is a little… anomalous."

"Indeed. Vulcan ships at that time were incapable of operating at Warp Four. Even if the ship had somehow survived all these centuries, it would not be capable of traveling that fast." Spock continued to work at his terminal, apparently unsuccessful at getting any other response. Kirk turned to Uhura, "Any signals coming from the ship, Lieutenant?"

"No sir, I've been scanning on all frequencies with no response. We'll be within communications range in another minute, shall I hail them?"

"Spock? It would be nice to have a little more to go on when we hail them."

"Onscreen now, Captain."

Everyone on the Bridge turned to the screen as the distant blip resolved into a ship. Details began to resolve themselves as the two ships traveled closer to each other. Spock turned to his terminal one more time. "Captain, that ship is, indeed, the ShanaiKahr. I am unable to provide any theories on how it has come to be in this region of space so long after it was declared lost, but there is no doubt on the identification. It is heavily shielded and I am only detecting one life sign."

"But…?"

"The shielding is heavy enough that there could be many more life signs than we could detect."

"Open hailing frequencies, Uhura. Patch me through the translator."

"Aye, Captain."

"This is Captain James T. Kirk of the Federation starship Enterprise calling the Vulcan ship ShanaiKahr."

There was silence for a moment and then a cool, dry, feminine voice answered, "This is the Vulcan space vessel ShanaiKahr. I am unfamiliar with your Federation, Captain. May I enquire how you have become familiar with my ship?"

"Vulcan is one of the members of the Federation, ma'am. My First Officer was born there. Your ship was in our database, although I will admit to being more than a little curious how it came to be here…" Kirk let his sentence trail off, not sure how to ask about the 600 years the ship had been missing. Vulcans lived longer than humans, it was true, but the woman's voice sounded young, much too young to have lived even half that time, even if it hadn't been impossible for one of them to live that long.

"We have had a most eventful time of it since we left Vulcan, Captain."

"Not to be rude, ma'am, but when you say 'we' do you mean your ancestors or…"

"'We' as in myself and my crew. I am Commander T'an, your records should show me as the captain of record for this vessel."

Kirk looked at Spock, who nodded in confirmation before turning back to his station.