Averrek's shuttlebay was the largest open space in the ship, even when filled with its usual complement of shuttles and runabouts. Averrek's new crew members formed up ranks in a square in the middle of the landing zone in a colorful block of blue and gold and red uniforms. Individually they were amazingly varied, with Vulcans who could almost pass for Romulan standing next to blue-skinned Andorians or squat, bearded Tellarites, a very tall Rigelian in a red uniform, a lone Klingon towering above a gold-uniformed Ferengi, a dark-eyed Betazoid and a couple of Trills with their distinctive spots, and lots and lots of humans. The Federation in microcosm, Zhem mused.

"Commander on deck!" Arex called out, and a tall, slender dark-skinned human woman dressed in red and black called out "Ten-hut!" The Starfleet personnel snapped to attention in commendable fashion.

"Lieutenant Shonna Amass reporting for duty, Commander," the woman said, raising her hand to her forehead in a Starfleet-style salute. "All personnel are aboard and ready for duty."

"Very good, Lieutenant," Zhem said. Lieutenant Shonna - no, Lieutenant Amass, Zhem corrected, reminding himself that humans used their family names rather than personal names in formal situations - eyed him with a cool detachment that didn't entirely hide her nervousness. "At ease," Zhem called out, and the assembled Federation personnel shifted to a more relaxed posture. "And welcome aboard the Averrek."

Zhem began slowly walking past the front rank of the crew, trying to match faces he had only seen in crew dossiers with names. "If I had the time," he said, "I'd give you a long speech about how your service aboard this ship represents a new beginning for both the Romulans and the Federation. But given that we're warping out in a few minutes, I'll be brief. You're here because we need your help. That's not an easy thing for a Romulan to admit. But we lost our worlds because our government not only failed to ask for help, but rejected help when it was offered. We will not make that mistake twice. When we were most in need, the Federation reached out to us and offered us aid. Because of that, we have a chance to rebuild - to make a new Romulus, a better Romulus, from the ashes of the old. That, in brief, is why you are here. Together, we can build a new future for our peoples and this quadrant.

"That is all," Zhem announced. "Find your quarters and report to your department heads for your duty assignments. Dismissed. Lieutenant Amass, you're with me."

"I'll see that your gear gets to your quarters, Lieutenant," Arek said.

"Thanks, Lieutenant," Amass answered, handing him a Starfleet-blue duffel. "Ready when you are, Commander."

"Follow me," he said. He activated the communicator on his wrist and said, "Subcommander Khoal, report to the Commander's ready room."

The turbolift let them out onto Averrek's bridge, where N'alae sat in the command chair. "Commander on the bridge!" she announced, snapping to attention.

"As you were," Zhem said. "Centurion, you still have the bridge."

"All stations report ready for warp," N'alae informed him. "Docking bridge is retracted and airlock is secure. Station traffic control has given us clearance for departure. Subcommander Khoal is waiting for you in your ready room. We are at condition amber throughout the ship."

"Very good," Zhem said. "Navigation, lay in a course for the L-52327 system."

"Course for, um, L-52327 system," the sublieutenant at the helm station said nervously, "laying in."

"It's in the Xarantine sector, Sublieutenant Tanan, on the Klingon border," Zhem added helpfully.

"Yes, thank you, Commander," Tanan answered with a note of relief in his voice. "Course laid in."

Zhem grinned. He liked the young man, but Tanan was new to the ship and was still unsure of himself. "Centurion N'alae, take us out," he commanded.

"Impulse engines, ahead full," N'alae ordered. "Stand by for warp."

"Impulse engines ahead full," Tanan confirmed. "Standing by for warp. Clear of the station in five seconds."

"Very good," N'alae said. "Warp eight on my mark. Ready..." She eyed the indicator on her monitor panel that signaled that they were far enough from the station to safely engage the warp engines. As soon as it turned amber, she announced, "Now."

The ship filled with a barely-audible rumble as the warp engines powered up, and Zhem felt a familiar but nearly-indescribable sensation of space twisting around him as the singularity core activated and sent them hurtling beyond the speed of light.

"Warp eight," Talan announced. "On course for L-52327. Warp field stable. All systems read amber."

"Excellent," Zhem said, allowing a smile to creep across his face. It had been routine, but executed with a level of professionalism that made him proud - and incidentally impressed his new security chief. "Set condition green throughout the ship. I'll be in my ready room. Lieutenant Amass, with me, please."

Khoal came to attention as Zhem entered the ready room; Zhem gestured for him and Amass to take a seat. He noted Khoal and Amass eyeing each other warily. "Subcommander Khoal Valdran, meet Lieutenant Shonna Amass of Starfleet, our new chief of security."

"Subcommander," the human woman said with a curt nod. "A pleasure."

"Likewise," Khoal answered, in a tone that implied that it was anything but. he human, for her part, seemed unfazed by Khoal's unwelcoming tone. Zhem watched her eyes take in the room - the plants, the painting of mol'Rihan hanging on the wall, and lastly the holographic model on Zhem's desk.

Zhem smiled. "I see you've noticed my old ship," he said, taking a seat behind the desk.

Amass snapped back to attention for a moment, then relaxed when she saw Zhem's expression. "Yes, Commander," she said. "T'liss class, isn't it?"

Zhem nodded. "The Mhorazh. My first command." He chuckled. "Obsolete a century before I was born, but in those days we had to take what we could get. We held her together with jury-rigs and scavenged components and more aluminum tape than I care to admit."

"You sound like you miss it."

Even Khoal smiled at the memory. "A good ship. My grandfather commanded it, once."

"And this ship saved our lives," Zhem added. "Mhorazh was able to get over two hundred people off of Romulus, half of them just children. We got out just before the subspace shock hit the planet."

"A bad day," Khoal said softly.

"I'm sorry," Amass said. Khoal's expression turned angry, but Zhem held up a hand before he could speak.

"It's what made us who we are today," Zhem explained. "There's not a Romulan or Reman on this ship who hasn't lost a home - some of us more than once."

Amass nodded silently, so Zhem continued. "And that, in a roundabout way, is what I wanted to talk to you about. I suppose you must be wondering why I chose you to head security on this ship."

"I did find it a bit curious that you requested a Starfleet security officer," Amass admitted.

"Tal Shiar," Khoal said flatly. "They're everywhere. Constantly trying to undermine everything we're building. They want to bring us - the Republic - down. Take our home from us, again."

Amass nodded in understanding. "And you think you have Tal Shiar infiltrators aboard."

Zhem laughed. "Lieutenant, I know I have Tal Shiar assets on board. I just don't know who they are. I have a pretty good idea who they're not," he said, nodded in Khoal's direction. "My senior officers have my absolute trust - I've known them for years. But the rest of the crew? Everyone has their price, Shonna, and the Tal Shiar are experts at finding that price. Who of us doesn't have a missing relative or two who just might be languishing in a Tal Shiar prison camp somewhere? But you, on the other hand..."

The human woman's expression became thoughtful. "I'm clearly not Tal Shiar. So as an outsider, I can be trusted."

Zhem nodded. "Put simply, yes. In addition to maintaining shipboard security, I'll need you to be on the lookout for any evidence of Tal Shiar infiltration."

"Anything you find - anything, no matter how small - you should report to me and the Commander immediately," Khoal said. "Don't let it go for lack of proof."

"Understood," Amass said. "But I'm... concerned, Commander. This is how witch hunts get started."

"Witch hunts..." Zhem turned over the unfamiliar phrase in his mind a couple of times before the meaning became clear. "Ah, you mean a Shindari inquisition. That's our term for an unwarranted and excessively zealous investigation. Yes, I understand your concern, Lieutenant. But trust me to make the call as to who gets investigated and who doesn't."

"Understood, Commander."

Zhem smiled. "Then I'll leave you to get settled in and meet your security staff," he said. "You'll join us for dinner in the forward mess this evening, I trust?"

"Delighted," Amass answered.

"Very good. I'll see you at 17.0 hours. Oh, and I'll need an intelligence report on the L-52327 system at tomorrow morning's staff briefing."

Shonna was somewhat proud of having only had to ask for help once in finding the forward mess - a helpful ensign (sublieutenant, she corrected) pointed her in the right direction. She was early, but nonetheless found several of Averrek's senior officers were already there. N'alae t'Khnialmnae, the science officer, she recognized from the bridge, a slim, serene Romulan woman who had, for some reason, adopted a hairstyle that was popular among Vulcans. And Arex Terrh'vnau, the young, good-looking operations officer, she had met in the shuttlebay. They nodded as she entered the mess. The remaining officer was a petite, bald-headed Reman woman; Shonna assumed she was Eviess Xereth, the ship's chief engineer.

"Welcome, Lieutenant," Arex said. "We're a bit early, so we'll wait for the others before we start."

"That's fine," Shonna said. "I just didn't want to be late."

Eviess grinned impishly at her. "Good for you. If there's one thing my father taught me, it's never be late for dinner. And since he's watching over me, I'd best listen." She nodded in the direction of a portrait hanging on the end wall of the room, an oil portrait that heroically depicted, somewhat incongruously for a Romulan vessel, a middle-aged Reman man in engineering technician's coveralls.

"Your - father?" Shonna asked, confused.

Eviess nodded, and Arex explained, "Averrek Xereth, the ship's name-patron. A hero of the Fall - he sacrificed himself to save everyone on the Mhorazh. His spirit, we believe, watches over us."

"Oh," Shonna said, suddenly coming to attention. She faced the portrait and saluted, holding it for several seconds. "I'm sorry, I didn't know. I tried looking up the ship's name, but all I could find out was that it bore a Reman personal name."

"No offense taken," Eviess said. "It was a long time ago. And it's kind of comforting, even if we're all very logical now and don't really believe in spirits any more." She shot N'alae a mock-serious glare.

N'alae raised an eyebrow, Vulcan-fashion. "There is no evidence..."

"We know, N'alae, I was teasing," Eviess said. "N'alae's a Unificationist, in case that's not obvious, and is highly rational. Now, let's all sit down and find out about our new shipmate. Shonna? Am I saying that right?"

Shonna nodded, and said, "Thanks. I expect I'll butcher a few names before I learn them all. I just hope the translator fixes them for me."

"The translator has a weird sense of humor sometimes," Eviess said. "For example, for some reason it's translating you with a Reman accent."

"Really?" Shonna laughed. "I was wondering - it's making you sound like you're from Georgia. That's in North America on Earth - it's where I'm from."

"Well, hello then, Shonna from Georgia. I'm Eviess, and I'm that rarest of birds, a Reman who was born on old Romulus. My father served under Subcommander Khoal's father, and then became a mechanic on their family estate after he retired."

"Khoal? He's from a noble family?" Shonna shook her head. "It seems the briefing report Starfleet prepared for me on all of you left out a few details."

"Khoal tr'Valdran," N'alae said. "Though he dropped the noble honorific twenty years ago."

"I didn't see much point in it any more," Khoal announced, entering the mess room with Ejiul Dar, the ship's chief medical officer, behind him. "The family estate is dust and rubble now." They both took seats at the table.

"Besides, noble honorifics do not exactly align with a democratic republican ideology," the doctor commented.

"Precisely," Khoal agreed. "No more nobility, no more peasantry, certainly no more oppressed castes," he said, nodding in the direction of Eviess. "We're all equals before the law now. One New Romulus, united, equal, and free."

"In theory, anyway," Eviess added. "In practice? Well, it's better than it used to be."

Shonna nodded in understanding. "It's a process. On Earth it took centuries of struggle."

"So you aren't going to criticize us for not always living up to our ideals, then?" Khoal said, a challenging gleam in his eye.

"Look, Subcommander, if I criticized you for that, first of all I'd be a blazing hypocrite. Humans don't have the best track record on that score, even now. And besides, if you always live up to your ideals, you've probably set the bar too low."

Khoal opened his mouth to reply, but then shut it again, and looked thoughtful.

"Well, anyone who can leave Khoal speechless is clearly a gifted debater," Commander Zhem said from the doorway, smiling broadly. "Well done, Shonna."

"Thank you, Commander," Shonna said.

"Won't happen again," Khoal muttered under his breath.

"I apologize for being tardy," Zhem continued. He had gotten rid of the dress uniform he'd been wearing earlier, and was now wearing a brown duty uniform jacket like the rest of his officers. "I was speaking with the Praetor, and one does not simply cut him off in mid-sentence. Or mid-paragraph, even. Arex, could you fetch the ale? We also have tranya, for those who choose not to indulge in alcohol."

Arex pulled two bottles from the sideboard, one containing a clear and slightly fluorescent blue liquid, the other containing a cloudy orange concoction. Shonna opted for the tranya, as did Khoal, but the rest filled their glasses with the blue ale.

"Shall we drink to successful cooperation between the Republic and the Federation?" Zhem proposed. All of them raised their glasses in a Romulan-style toast before taking a drink.

"And now to dinner," Zhem continued. "We have a variety of traditional Romulan and Reman dishes - all replicated, alas, but the replicators on this ship are quite good."

"Replicator coils haven't had time to undergo quantum degradation yet," Eviess said. "Give them a year, then see if you still like the food."

"I particularly recommend the vlihau," Arex told Shonna. "It's a type of waterfowl from old Romulus. It's extinct now - the replicator pattern is from before the Fall. Part of my personal collection."

"Arex is quite the gourmet," N'alae said, helping herself to a plate of what looked like asparagus, but was pink in color. "He has a large collection of replicator patterns, from all over the quadrant."

"My selection of Earth dishes is sadly incomplete, though," Arex said.

"I have a few pizza recipes I could share with you," Shonna offered, taking a slice of the vlihau and a spoonful of what could have passed for mashed potatoes.

Arex's eyes lit up. "New York or Sicily?"

"Both," Shonna said. "Also Chicago, Cleveland, and New Haven, Connecticut."

"And it just so happens that our brand-new replicators on our shiny new ship are able to read Federation replicator patterns," Eviess added. "So it might actually come out tasting like the real thing."

As they settled down to eat, Zhem asked, "So, Shonna, how did your first meeting with your new staff go?"

"Well enough," she said. "Sublieutenants Vettra and Arrhae are eager, if inexperienced. The same could be said for Ensign Markhon. And Chief - excuse me, Daise Lo'nek clearly knows his job very well."

"He ought to be," Khoal said. "He's the most senior of all the enlisted personnel on board."

"And how are the Starfleet personnel integrating with the Romulans?" Zhem prompted.

"Well, when I left to come here, Markhon and Lo'nek were in a staring match."

"A bottle of ale on Lo'nek." Eviess' eyes shone with amusement.

"I'm not sure that's a good bet," Shonna warned her. "You ever tried to stare down a Klingon?"

"I have faith in uncle Lo'nek," Eviess countered. "Not really my uncle, by the way - but he's looked out for me ever since my father died, so I count him as family."

"How did a Markhon come to be serving in Starfleet anyway?" Ejiul asked. "I know he's not the first Klingon in Starfleet, but what path led him here?"

"Oh, it's simple enough. He's a Federation citizen. He was born on Deep Space Nine - there's a small Klingon immigrant community there. Technically that makes him a Bajoran national."

Khoal looked confused. "Are you claiming he is Bajoran and not Klingon?"

"Not at all," Shonna said. "Bajoran national, Klingon species. And Federation citizen."

Khoal looked dubious. "How does he manage to handle so many conflicting loyalties?"

"There's no conflict," Shonna insisted. "Besides, he took an oath to serve in Starfleet, which trumps all else. He serves the Federation."

"Except now he is serving here," Khoal pointed out.

"Which isn't a conflict. We're allies."

"And if it becomes a conflict?"

Shonna sighed. "Surely you know the answer to that, Subcommander. We will all attempt to find ways to navigate around or through any conflicts that may arise between our oaths to Starfleet and our service aboard this ship. But in the end, our oaths will always come first."

Khoal looked oddly pleased by that. "So you admit that we can't trust you."

Shonna bridled. "Yes, you can, Subcommander. You can trust us to fulfill our oaths to Starfleet. And Starfleet has assigned us to serve on this ship, as your allies. So we will serve to the best of our abilities and as far as our oaths allow. Clear?"

Zhem held up a hand to halt the argument. "I think that's enough on this topic for tonight. Lieutenant, I must apologize. We fully understand your position, and we welcome you aboard. I am afraid it may take some time to build trust, but I fully expect everyone present to get there eventually."

Khoal sighed. "Lieutenant, I must also apologize; I am afraid my temper got the best of me. Please don't take this personally, but yes, your presence here is a sore spot for me. My fondest wish is that New Romulus was strong enough to stand on its own, as an equal with the other powers of this quadrant. But - we aren't. Not yet. And needing Starfleet officers to serve aboard this ship merely underlines that. I didn't mean to insult you."

"Subcommander," Shonna answered, "it is official Starfleet policy that an independent and self-sufficient Romulan Republic is in the best interests of the Federation. We're here to help you get there. To be blunt, we need allies. We're giving you a hand now because we fully expect to need the Republic to stand with us in the future. Strengthening you strengthens us."

"And that," N'alae interjected, "is logic that makes perfect sense to a Romulan. Isn't that so, Subcommander?"

"I suppose it does," Khoal said softly. "Commander, if I may be excused? I am due to stand watch on the bridge in a few minutes."

Zhem nodded, and Khoal stood up, nodded to the rest of the officers, and exited the mess.

"Well," Zhem said sadly, "it seems we all have a long way to go."

Zhem managed to make it back to his ready room before his temper boiled over. "What in the Elements' name was Khoal thinking?" he shouted, pacing back and forth across the room. "If he's trying to wreck any chance we have of working with these people, he's off to a fine start."

"Khoal's weaknesses as an officer are a known quantity," N'alae said, sitting on the sofa and watching Zhem with concern. "He has always had a volatile personality. Did you expect him to change?"

"I don't know," Zhem admitted. "It's just that, for thirty years, he's followed me everywhere I've led him. Why can't he follow me now?"

"Khoal has never allowed himself to properly deal with the trauma of the Fall of Romulus. Nor has he ever accepted the presumed death of his mother." N'alae raised an eyebrow. "Have you never ordered him into counseling?"

"Plenty of times," Zhem said. "It's never done any good. Apparently he's a lousy patient."

"He needs to learn how to properly control his anger if he is ever to advance his career," N'alae pointed out. "And I do not believe you are doing him any favors by protecting him from the consequences of his actions."

Zhem stopped pacing and stared at N'alae for a long moment, pondering her words. "He's my friend," he admitted. "I've always looked out for him."

"And that is appropriate, to a point, But the time must come when you allow him to stand, or fall, on his own. Or he will always remain in your shadow."

Zhem sighed, and settled down on the sofa next to N'alae. "Is that how you see it? He's in my shadow? Are all of you just in my shadow?"

"I did not mean it that way," N'alae said. "Zhem, you were forced by circumstances into command at a very young age. You happen to have a natural gift for it. Many, many people owe you their lives. It generates intense loyalty in the people who serve under you. And none more so than Khoal. You are the one stable constant in his life, the one person who has never let him down. But left to his own devices, he will never grow into the man he could be. He needs a push. And it is your responsibility to give it to him."

"I suppose you're right," Zhem said. "Thank you, N'alae. You always help me clarify things."

"Of course, Zhem. I am here for you." She looked into his eyes, and her expression softened. "For anything. You know that."

"N'alae, you know that we can't..."

"I know, Zhem," she said. "Even if regulations did not forbid it, I know you do not share my feelings. I know where your heart lies." She looked wistful. "Rhani is a lucky woman. I just wish that she appreciated that fact."

"I'm sorry, N'alae."

"Don't be," she answered. "Matters of the heart are... complex, and not reducible to mere logic. I have accepted that you will never feel for me as I feel for you. I have made peace with it. And if all I can have is your friendship, then I will value that friendship for what it is." She raised a finger and said, "And that is the kind of emotional control that Khoal needs to learn."

Zhem threw up his hands in mock-surrender. "All right, all right, point taken." He smiled and said, "Thank you, N'alae. For everything."

N'alae smiled back at him. And then, impulsively, she leaned up and kissed him on the forehead.

Before Zhem could react, she rose and headed for the door. "Good night, Commander," she said as she left.

Zhem settled back on his sofa and wondered exactly how his life had turned into such an emotional minefield.