Author's Note: I'm experimenting with something new, writing from a different perspective. It's also going to be a bit more on the serious side. I don't want to say much else because I don't want to give away any plot points. Feedback is appreciated (as usual)!

Chapter 1

The Arrival

"You know what this means?"

I looked up from the screen I had been studying. "Sam?" Sam Trent was my Chief of Space Control. He held printouts in his hands, clenched tight into fists.

"You've seen these?"

I shook my head. I had no idea what he was going on about. "What are you talking about?"

He lost some of his bluster. He dropped the papers on my desk, "Look."

Suddenly I didn't want to know. I didn't want to look. I picked up the sheets and glanced over the information. I felt my insides freeze. "This can't be."

"I thought you knew."

I dragged my eyes away from the words dancing in my vision. Sam was watching me with...pity. No more than the pity I felt for him...for all our people.

"Have you shown these to anyone else?"

Sam shook his head...then paused, "I think Jak might have seen them. He was standing next to the printer when I came in."

"Get him in here now. We can't let word of this get out."

Sam gave a jerk of his head and left post haste. He knew what would happen if he didn't get to Jak soon enough. Disaster. And who could blame them? What would you do if you found out your world would cease to exist in less than a year?

I picked up a picture sitting on my desk. Mary...oh God Mary...what can I do? My friend, mate...our children. My heart ached as sure as if it were pierced by blade, to have this knowledge and be able to do nothing. I wished Sam had never found out. I wished he had been incompetent and the end had come upon us with no warning. Better that than living with this awful pain and trying to carry on like normal.

"President?"

I looked up to see Sara, my Personal Relations Officer standing at my door. What now?

I schooled my features into calmness, "What can I do for you?"

"Sir...I don't know how to say this but...well...there's a...spaceship...orbiting our planet!"
"You can imagine our surprise when you showed up!" I said, smiling at the crew from Enterprise.

We were walking from the space pad at Aegis One. After contacting the ship we had arranged for their arrival by shuttle. We often believed there was life 'out there', but we had only acquired space travel within our own system. We had recently begun testing a new engine from the space station orbiting Aegis, our planet, but it was still in the rudimentary stages.

The Captain, he had introduced himself as Jonathon Archer, smiled warmly back, "Our science officer picked up remnants of your warp trail. We are out here to find and meet new species...such as yourselves."

"I was wondering if I could take a look at that engine of yours?" It was Commander Tucker who spoke. Captain Archer had introduced him as their Chief Engineer.

"I'm sure that can be arranged Commander." I would speak to Sam. He could figure out the details.

"Captain Archer, would you be interested in joining us in a celebratory feast? It isn't every day our people meet spacemen such as yourself." I offered. I immediately wondered what I had said wrong. Archer had grown pale.

"It's all right if you are too busy...we understand Captain." I tried to cover my inadvertent mistake.

Archer recovered, "No...no. I'm sorry, it's just...we recently had an...unfortunate encounter with another species. I'm afraid the dinner didn't go so well there."

I nodded, understanding, but of course I didn't. I had no idea what he meant. "Will you all be able to attend?" I gestured to those with him.

He seemed to think for a moment, "Yes President Tam, I think that can be arranged. Will there be time for us to return to Enterprise?"

"If you wish, or you can see some of the city? It's quite beautiful. I know I'm rather biased, but our architects have created some truly spectacular works of art. The Fountain of Forever is stunning...but even more so after dark. You must see it." In a way I hoped that these strangers would leave our world and keep record. Knowing that soon we wouldn't exist.

"That would be...nice." He turned towards his people and they had a quick discussion about something, then he turned back to me. "Myself, Commander Tucker and Sub-Commander T'Pol will remain. Ensign Sato and Lieutenant Reed will return for the dinner. They have duties to see to on Enterprise."

I studied the one he had introduced as Sub-Commander T'Pol. She was different. She had a slightly olive color and elongated ears that came to a sharp point at the tips. Her eyebrows seemed...more military, more precise. She had walked beside her Captain, a silent sentinel. I wanted to ask why she was dissimilar but didn't want to be rude.

"I'm curious Captain, what brought your people out here...not here...but space?"

I must have touched another nerve because this time Commander Tucker cringed. I was beginning to think maybe I should call Sara to come and take over the escort.

"I'm sorry." I apologized.

"That is unnecessary President. It is widely believed that my people were responsible for...holding back...humans from gaining warp capabilities." T'Pol spoke, her voice soft measured tones.

"Probably wisely so, even with the extra years I find you can never be totally prepared for what's out here." Archer inserted fluidly.

"Your people? I've noticed...if you don't mind...that you are slightly different?"

"I am a Vulcan. My world is some distance away from the Captain's, and the majority of Enterprise's crew."

A Vulcan. I repeated it to myself. It sounded exotic, like a beautiful flower that only grows alone in a difficult garden.

"There's many more planets, aren't there?" I was getting an idea of the grand scope of space. One planet, two, three...there must be billions of other worlds out there. If this had happened even two or three years from now we may have established a colony elsewhere in our system. Not now. There wasn't time.

"Yes, a lifetime wouldn't be enough to find them all." Archer paused, "I couldn't help but notice that you seem preoccupied?" He seemed genuinely concerned.

I felt a momentary flame of hope flicker inside. I wonder...could they help? They had a ship that was bigger and better than anything we had. Maybe their technology was such that they could do something?

"I'm sorry. I found out some...rather...bad news earlier." I didn't elaborate. I didn't want to seem needy.

"Is there anything we can do?" Archer offered.

If he had handed me the stars I couldn't have been more excited. "Maybe. Would you come to my office? I can show you there."

He seemed wary but he agreed. I couldn't help but feel a small sliver of promise. I didn't know if they could stop our world from dying, but at the least maybe some of our people could get a ride on their ship. Maybe not everyone would need to die.