It had been four months since Enterprise had left Earth. All the new engineers were adjusting and doing pretty well. Jorna was doing best because she had seen everything before.

Trip was in his quarters and Jorna was walking back to hers when they all heard. Earth had been hit by an alien attack. Enterprise was returning to Earth.

The captain called both Trip and Jorna into his ready room. When they arrived, he had a grim look on his face. "I would like the two of you to look at this list of names of those who were killed." He handed them a pad.

Trip scanned it and saw the name Elizabeth Tucker. "Dear God. Not Elizabeth."

Jorna was having much the same reaction to another name. Margaret Terse. It was her friend from the Academy, the first person to talk to her. She had gone to visit her family while she waited for assignment. Yes, there was the rest of her family.

"Who did this?" Jorna asked Archer.

"That's what we're finding out. Trip, I am so sorry your sister was killed. And Jorna, your friend. Again I'm sorry."

"How do you know Margaret was my friend?"

"Trip told me about the two of you. Just what you told him in your letters. If you two would like to be off duty for a while, I understand."

"Thanks, Captain," Trip said. They both left together.

"Trip, if I don't come in for a while..." Jorna started.

"I understand. If I weren't chief engineer, I would take a few days off. I'll see you around, Ensign Jorna."

"Bye Commander Tucker." Jorna went into her quarters, leaving Trip to walk back to his deep in thought.