Cameron sighed. "He's just not ready, he's too young."

"As opposed to Kansas, who is so much older?" Carolyn tilted her head up to look at him. "If you don't let him come on this trip you will not only effectively alienate him from you, but it will also prove to him that you don't approve of him. That's all he wants, to know that you trust him."

"I do," Cameron caught his wife's doubtful eye. "Alright he can come."

Chapter One:

Lieutenant Mitchell stepped somewhat confidently into the ring transport at Helenus Command Center. He gulped in a deep breath of air as a flash of light transported him to the ship orbiting around earth. The Airmen around him barely gave him a second glance as he made his way to the new quarters he would be sharing. When he entered the room, he saluted the Major on the other side of the room. "First Lieutenant Mitchell, sir."

The man waved his hand down. "Come on Lieutenant, if we're going to be living in the same room for two months I can't have you snapping to attention every time I walk in." The man extended his hand. "Major Anthony Alexander. You got a first name, Lieutenant Mitchell?"

"My friends call me Mitch," Came the reply as they shook hands.

Alexander raised an eyebrow before turning back to his suitcase. "That bad huh?"

Mitch shrugged, throwing his bag onto his bunk. "I was named after my Grandfather, my mother started the whole Mitch thing."

He saw Alexander nodding out of the corner of his eye. "You related to the boss?"

Mitch cringed. "My dad."

"That's got to be interesting." The older man commented.

"How so?" Mitch asked, turning his head.

He shrugged. "Father, mother and Son, all on the same ship."

Kansas chose that moment to poke her head in. "Mitch, dad wants to see you as soon as your settled."

"Thanks, Kid."

Alexander did all he could to keep from laughing. "Sister too?"

Mitch sighed, "She's my mom's first assistant."

"Well just as long as the General isn't going to be making any biased calls." Alexander shrugged and let his sentence end there.



Mitch resisted the urge to add in "only biased against me," and decided it was a good time to check in with 'the boss.' He made his way to the bridge at a steady pace, stopping briefly to check on his mother. He paused to let an Airman pass before stepping into the almost empty room. General Mitchell stood facing the large window with his eyes fixed on Earth. Mitch came to stand beside him and let the comfortable silence continue until his father spoke.

"You can't stand here and not believe this is worth it." General Mitchell didn't so much as look at him.

"Sir?"

He smiled at his son. "Being away for so long like this, seeing the same people every day. Hearing the same people complain, or fall behind in drills. Eating less than appetizing rations for two months. But when you stand here looking at the reason this all is happening." He took a moment to nod towards Earth. "You know that those people make it worth it, even if they don't know it."

Mitch's reply was a quiet agreement. "Yes, sir."

The General turn and placed a hand on Mitch's shoulder. "I'm glad to have you here." Then he was gone.

Mitch stood there looking across Earth's horizon to the universe beyond. He thought of all the people he knew, and those he would get to know on the trip. He took a deep nostalgic breath through his nostrils, then let it our slowly. A lot could change in two months, he was counting on it, and dreading it. What if he didn't like who this trip would make him? Then again, the experience was sure to mold his character.

"Yeah it's worth it." He said before returning to his quarters.