eddys: Photon torpedoes of the Movie Era were weaker than those in TNG. Witness the battles in Undiscovered Country and in Wrath of Khan. Even against unshielded ships, photon torpedoes of the time did not completely blow them out of space at one hit. ST ships generally did not have the very thick armor of B5 warships due to dependence on shields. It took multiple torpedo hits from both Enterprise and Excelsior to completely destroy General Chang's prototype ship at Khitomer. This reflects the evolution of weapons' strength in real life. The atomic bomb in 1945 was strong enough to flatten a city (Hiroshima and Nagasaki) and today, the strength of the atomic bomb has increased to being enough to burn an entire region. Plus, would Starfleet allow a civilian ship to have weapons as powerful as those on warships? By definition, such ships would potentially be pirate ships. The Hakudo Maru only had weapons (albeit weaker) because of the wealth and foresight of the merchant who bought the ship from the Vulcans.

This part of the story may seem really not part of the main story you've been reading so far. But it serves a purpose for my universes. Remember the Kam'Jahtae at the beginning of the story?

Flames are welcome!

Captain's Log, Stardate 8693.15. We are long overdue for shore leave at the end of the three years mission to explore the Beta Quadrant. Understandably, shore leave has been delayed by the events surrounding the Gorkon Initiative and Camp Khitomer. We have been ordered to Starbase 10 for a briefing, and diplomats at Camp Khitomer have taken the opportunity to use my ship as a taxi service. Once at the starbase, I will be glad to be rid of them, especially Ambassador Curzon Dax. If Trills are really as flamboyant and arrogant as the ambassador, I'll eat Klingon gagh. We will be picking up new crewmen at the starbase once the briefing is finished. While I do not know what the briefing will be about, I have my guesses.

I also have the sad duty to transport the body of Lieutenant Dmitri Valtane, who died in the failed attempt to enter Klingon space at the Azure Nebula. His body will be given to relatives coming to the starbase for him. Ensign Tuvok is affected by the death. I am confident that as a Vulcan, he will recover. Perhaps the Argelian suggestion of posting psychiatrists on starships has merit.

The huge Trojan-class starbase hung in the starry night of space. Out here on the frontier, the starbase would be dark if not for the bright dot of the star of Cheron two light-years away. Replacing the old asteroid starbase in 2285, it was the same as Earth SpaceDock, though slightly smaller. Several ships, both civilian and Starfleet, slowly approached and departed the starbase. Several of the civilian craft were docking at the Commercial Sector bulging at the middle of the starbase's stem. A Federation starship cruised into this neighborhood.

"Coming out of warp at the starbase, sir," called out Lieutenant Angelo Tiffe.

Captain Hikaru Sulu sipped at the cup of green tea. He would be glad to go on shore leave on a resort planet somewhere. "Thank you, Mr. Tiffe. Hail the dock master, Ms. Rand."

Lieutenant Commander Janice Rand adjusted frequencies and turned to Captain Sulu. "Control Tower reading, sir."

Sulu smiled. At last. He would be finally be rid of those spoiled diplomats with their ideas of their own importance. His crew would finally relax after three full years of duty. The short shore leave on Khitomer wasn't enough. "Control, this is the Excelsior requesting permission to dock."

"This is Control. Excelsior, you are granted to dock. 30 seconds for the port gates."

One of the massive bay doors on the mushroom-top-shaped drydock section of the starbase slowly slid open.

Lieutenant Commander Lojur called out, "Shutting down impulse engines. Switching to thrusters."

Sulu sat back comfortably in his command chair, warming his hands on the teacup, shutting out the noise of the crew maneuvering his starship into the starbase and enjoying the view.

The Excelsior slipped through the bay doors into the vast drydock hangar. Once the nacelles cleared the bay doors, the huge gates began to slowly slide shut. Several starships were already docked or waiting at the sidelines for their turns. Shuttles and maintenance pods flitted about the ships and between distant parts of the drydock. The guiding light beams stabbing through the diffuse blue-white glow of the airless atmosphere directed the starship to a particular berth at the massive column in the center of the cavernous drydock.

When the docking procedure was completed and the airlocks were extending themselves to the starship, Sulu stood up from his chair, muttering, "Time to face the music."

xxxxxxxxxx

Sulu felt as if he was in a school principal's office. He had just come through the double doors of this windowless chamber and was standing before a table full of admirals. Commodore Basil Quinteros of Starbase 10, Admiral Heihachiro Nogura of Starfleet Command, and an admiral that Captain Sulu was not familiar with. The unknown man had a rugged appearance and silvering hair. He looked as if he was used to being in complete command. Sulu wondered how the more seasoned admirals could get him to cooperate in Command meetings.

Commodore Quinteros spoke. "Captain Sulu, have a seat." He gestured at a chair equipped with a verifier pad. Sulu raised his eyebrows at the pad.

"Sirs? Is this a briefing or a board of inquiry?"

Admiral Nogura smiled sympathetically. "A briefing, of course. The verifier is only to lend weight to your words."

Sulu nodded skeptically and took his seat, laying a hand on the verifier pad. Nogura glanced at the unknown admiral. "I believe you have not met Admiral John Harriman."

Admiral Harriman! Better known as 'Blackjack' Harriman for his toughness and shrewdness in Starfleet. Sulu has not met him before, but he has heard of him even in the far outreaches of the Beta Quadrant. Last he heard, Blackjack Harriman was trying to maneuver Starfleet Command into assigning the captaincy of Enterprise-B currently under construction to his own son, Commander John Harriman Jr.

Sulu didn't like this. He found himself wishing to be on his starship far beyond Federation space, far away from Starfleet politics.

Commodore Quinteros leaned forward. "Captain Sulu, do you know where Captain Kirk is?"

Sulu replied, "Last I saw him was a month ago at Khitomer."

Blackjack Harriman nearly growled, "What he's asking, Captain, is where he is, not was."

Oh joy. This was more like an inquiry than a briefing. "I don't know."

"Computer, verify!" Harriman barked.

"Statement is verified," reported the computer.

Harriman narrowed his eyes, obviously not liking the verification. "You do not know. Not like you did not know about where the Enterprise was after Kirk's trial on Qo'noS?"

Sulu stared at Harriman coldly. Admiral Nogura coughed softly. "We understand your loyalty to Captain Kirk." Nogura gave Harriman a hard glance. "Which is why we have called you here."

Sulu was now puzzled. Has something happened to Kirk?

Blackjack Harriman stared daggers at Captain Sulu. "Do you know what he was planning to do after he left Khitomer?"

"I don't know, sir."

"Incorrect!" called the computer. Eyebrows went up at this. Harriman's eyes narrowed into slits. Sulu wanted to take his hand away from the verifier pad as if it was a hot plate.

"The computer seems to disagree. Care to elaborate?" Sulu could hear a thrill of triumph in Blackjack Harriman's voice.

Admiral Nogura sighed. "Perhaps the good captain has suspicions that cannot be substantiated."

Captain Sulu nodded. Admiral Nogura had been his sponsor for the captaincy of the Excelsior. He was glad to have an ally on this board. "In my experience, Captain Kirk tends to push the patience of Starfleet Command in non-essential situations. I know he would want one last flight in the Enterprise before returning to Earth." He frowned. "Has something happened?"

Harriman glowered. "You could say that."

Commodore Quinteros took a deep breath. "Well, the last report we had from Captain Kirk and his crew was that they were investigating a distress signal from a civilian research ship in the Titan System 63 light-years from here. The research ship was carrying important scientists from Mars and Betazed, including one noble woman. That was two weeks ago. Both the Enterprise and the civilian ship has disappeared."

Sulu winced. He had close friends on the Enterprise. Losing scientists and a noble lady from Betazed...that got to put a crimp in the negotiations for Betazed's membership within the Federation.

"Actually...," continued Quinteros, "the Enterprise, three hours after the report, vanished within sight of Starbase 10." He remembered the fantastic sight of a Constitution-class starship going at seemingly high warp speed backward and being swallowed into what had appeared to be a tear in the fabric of space. Investigations failed to find that tear.

Sulu's mouth fell open. Three hours from the Titan System to Starbase 10! Impossible! Titan was over 60 light-years from the starbase. It would take days or more to make the trip!

Commodore Quinteros added, "Starbase sensors sensed that the Enterprise was not using any of her engines. She wasn't at warp at all."

The world, or rather the starbase, seemed to spin a little too fast for Sulu. Alien technology? The interference of an advanced species like the Metrons? Natural phenomena?

Admiral Nogura was sympathetic. He could see how the news was affecting Sulu. "Obviously, something has happened at Titan V. Piracy and raids have since been reported in the vicinity of the Titan System. We do not know who the raiders could be." He glanced again at Harriman. 'Blackjack' had his own theories, but this was neither the place nor the time to voice them. "Outposts and colonies have sent out similar reports of alien ships appearing out of nowhere, attacking and disappearing, taking a few things with them, mainly museum pieces and objects in temples and churches. Already, the raiders have destroyed the starships Tannhauser and Wallenstein when they tried to defend the Amish colony on Gilead. This is serious. We have failed to uphold our agreement with the Amish."

"Agreement?" asked Sulu.

"Yes.... When Gilead was settled, the Federation Council granted the Amish complete independence and a Starfleet Prime Directive protectorate status." Nogura steepled his fingers as he looked at Sulu.

Admiral Harriman snorted, showing what he thought of that kind of agreement.

Captain Sulu had thought that peace would come once the Khitomer Accords were signed. Unfortunately, the universe had other ideas. "What do you want me to do?"

Blackjack Harriman took his turn to speak. "Investigate the raids. Starfleet analysts think that the bulk of the raids is moving toward this starbase, following the presumed path of the Enterprise. We have put all bases and worlds along the path on high alert. In the meantime, try to find some way to recover the Enterprise."

Was it Sulu's imagination that Admiral Harriman didn't seem too eager for Sulu to succeed nor for the return of the Enterprise? He can't possibly want his son to be captain of the next Enterprise that badly.

"And Captain...a Klingon ship will join you."

"Klingons?!" Sulu could not believe it. "This is Federation internal affairs, so why involve Klingons in this?"

Admiral Nogura said admonishingly, "We are at peace." Tense silence fell upon the chamber. Sulu deserved a full explanation. "Actually, it's an exchange of military help. An unknown alien force is attacking the other side of the Klingon Empire. At first, rumors pointed to the Romulans, and the Klingons are inclined to believe them. However, Starfleet Intelligence received reports that the Romulans have suffered similar attacks even if the attacks were much smaller. We are hoping for a much closer alliance with the Klingon Empire than stipulated in the Khitomer Accords. We are gathering a small fleet to send into Klingon space in return for their help in combating the raiders."

"And," added Harriman, "Chancellor Azetbur, in her gratitude, has loaned us one of her best ships, the IKS Ki'tang."

"May Fortune favor you," blessed Admiral Nogura, smiling.

All Sulu could do was accept silently.

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Walking with Commodore Quinteros, Sulu glanced at the long windows marching along one side of the hall. The windows afforded them a view of the cavernous drydock. He couldn't see the Excelsior from here. He knew that the crew would be disappointed at having serious shore leave be delayed once again.

"I can't say that I agree with this, Basil," said Sulu. The Greek man smiled tolerantly. He has gotten to know Captain Sulu during his assignment to the Beta Quadrant, relaying news of the Federation to the Excelsior.

"I know." Quinteros stopped walking and turned to Sulu, looking serious. "They didn't tell you everything. Hikaru, the Klingons suspected the Romulans for the attacks for a reason. Oh, they've hated each other ever since their short alliance fell through. Did you really think that Ambassador Nanclus was the only Romulan in the conspiracy?"

"Wasn't he?"

"Nanclus had allies in the Romulan Senate. They wanted to see the Klingons at war with us so that they could step in and pick up the pieces. The only reason the Imperial Senate agreed with the Khitomer Accords was the embarrassment of their chief ambassador being caught red-handed in public. And now, the Senate's jittery about our new alliance. It's not over, Sulu."

The Japanese-American starship captain barked a laugh. "It's never over, Commodore."

"It's a pity," agreed Commodore Quinteros as he gazed through the windows at the outer hull of the drydock. Beyond the hull in that general direction was the Romulan Neutral Zone. "There's a Romulan admiral—Aventeer Vokar—he's one of the most hawkish in the Romulan military. Nanclus was a friend of his, so Vokar has another reason to hate us."

"Another?" Sulu frowned. It is never a good idea to antagonize those who may be powerful within any institution.

"Maybe I shouldn't tell you...." Good humored mischief glittered in the starbase commander's eyes. He came close conspiratorially. "Keep in mind that what I'm about to tell you are only rumorsâ€." Sulu nodded before Quinteros continued. "Admiral Harriman's son, a lieutenant at the time, prevented Vokar from capturing his starship the Hunley. Instead, he captured Vokar and the entire Romulan crew, and destroyed his warship instead."

Sulu was impressed. Perhaps this John Harriman Jr. wasn't one of those spoiled sons of admirals. "If this Vokar was captured, how is it he's an admiral in the Romulan fleet?"

Basil Quinteros smiled mischievously. He loved to surprise friends. "Lieutenant Harriman returned Admiral Vokar to the Romulans in a cryopod. The Romulan Star Command obliged by demoting him to sub-lieutenant. Mind you, it's just a rumor."

Sulu whistled. This particular admiral's son may have the potential to be an Enterprise captain after all. Irrationally, he felt this concession to be a betrayal of his friends on the vanished starship.

Quinteros wasn't finished. "Vokar has regained the rank of admiral and has inherited Nanclus' allies in the Senate in addition to those in the military. For now, the Romulans cannot go to war with us. Perhaps not for years. Stillâ€these attacks by the raiders and the unknown alien force have me worried. I've sent my grandson, Orfil, back to my daughter on Toliman in Alpha Centauri. A starbase on the edge of the Romulan Neutral Zone is no place for a little boy."

Captain Sulu nodded. He might have done the same for his daughter, Demora, back on Earth in Starfleet Academy in her fifth year. He smiled. Except she wouldn't go quietly.

xxxxxxxxx

The artificial sun shone from the top of the vast dome in the Commercial Sector. Captain Sulu was sitting at a desk in the second floor of a pavilion set in a garden. He could see the garden out of the open screen doors, which was part of an exclusive restaurant in the starbase and was supposed to be an exact copy of the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto, Japan. It was good to have a starbase commander for a friend. He'd chosen this pleasant setting to interview the prospective crew members for his starship. An artificial breeze generated by the starbase kept him cool in the warmth of the false sun. Looking up over the small trees and plants growing around the tiny lake, he could see other buildings rising over the foliage. Over these buildings rose terraces supporting still more buildings and gardens, climbing up the side of the great dome. The dome contained almost as much space as the drydock far above in the mushroom top of Starbase 10. In an hour, it will be evening and the false sun would dim, turning into a false moon.

So far he had already interviewed 31 people, one of whom was a quirky Denobulan woman who wanted a post in Engineering. Sulu could hear the footsteps of a man coming up the stairs. The footsteps were those of a warrior, loud and firm, announcing his presence. Sulu could understand that. This one wasn't alone. He could also hear the soft pitter-patter of a woman's footsteps. They arrived at the stair landing and stepped around the painted folding screen hiding the stairs.

The warrior was an unusual looking human man, radiating great dignity. He was dressed in the uniform of a junior lieutenant, but he used a sash woven of a gold metallic fabric as a belt for his uniform instead of the standard black belt, tied on the right hip. A small stylized ceremonial dagger was thrust into the sash. Definitely not Starfleet regulations. He sported a long blond queue at the back of his head in addition to a trimmed beard that left the upper lip bare. He was chivalrously helping a small Persian-looking woman who was wearing a gown that flowed from her neck down to her feet, leaving her shoulders and arms bare, and left little to the imagination. Rubies nestled in her piled up black hair. Her eyes seemed to see far, yet taking in everything from near.

The captain looked back at the man. Something about him was familiar.

Sulu gestured to the single chair in front of the desk, indicating that the diminutive woman should sit. The man took a guard's stance behind and to the right of the woman. Her body guard? The woman, having sat, spoke.

"I am Rukaiya, a Seeress for the Prefect of Argelius II. I have been referred to Commodore Quinteros by my sister Miriya. The Commodore assigned me to your ship."

Sulu was puzzled. She wasn't on the list of those assigned to transfer to the Excelsior. The Argelian woman continued. "The Commodore and Starfleet Command are sorry that your crew cannot enjoy some shore leave, so they thought your ship would benefit from an experiment."

Sulu leaned forward, his curiosity spiking. "Experiment?"

"Yes, Captain. Perhaps you have heard of the suggestion put forward by my world�"

"Ah! Yes. The suggestion to put psychologists on starships. But that isn't for another decade." Not that Sulu's ungrateful, he wasn't sure about having a shrink digging into his crew's psyches, not to speak of his own.

Rukaiya bowed serenely, smiling softly. "I am to be your ship's counselor."

"You're a seeress, a medium...a...a civilian!" Sulu blurted.

Rukaiya smirked. "I am only to help you and your crew relax. I am skilled in listening, in massages, aromatherapy, meditation and other such gentle forms of counseling. The military tend to beâ€stiff, rigid. Surely your crew can benefit from occasional releases from such...regimes."

"Starfleet is not military—" Sulu started to say uncomfortably. Rukaiya interrupted.

"I know, Captain, I know. It's still as close to a military as the Federation has beside the few local alien worlds' auxiliary fleets. Look, I know it is said that Argelius II is so hedonistic that it makes Risa look like kindergarten. The...dryness—" Here her smirk widened mischievously. "—of your Starfleet would make my sessions a little lighter than Risa, but still relaxing."

Sulu sighed. "All right. You're hired." He really needed to have a talk with Basil Quinteros as soon as possible about this. Rukaiya stood up and bowed before going to the stairs. The man stayed.

Sulu peered up at the imposing man. He looked to be in his late twenties. "And who might you be?"

The penetrating warrior eyes glittered proudly although his lips were trying to tug into a smile. "Leonard James Akaar, Lieutenant Junior Grade, Starfleet, and High Teer of the Ten Tribes of Capella IV."

Hikaru Sulu gasped in delighted surprise. He got off his chair and went around the desk to grasp Akaar's shoulders. "My God, how long has it been since we helped your mother at Capella IV?"

The warrior's face finally softened. "26 years, sir."

Sulu could not believe it. 26 years.... He had never seen Leonard James Akaar as a baby, but he has seen pictures shown by Kirk and McCoy. "And already a junior lieutenant in Starfleet! How is your mother, Lieutenant?"

Akaar grinned. "She's still Regent of the Ten Tribes and still forbids anyone except me and her 'surrogate consort' Dr. McCoy to touch her. Thank goodness Federation medical technology doesn't absolutely require hand-on examinations and treatments."

Sulu laughed as Akaar continued grinning. A thought occurred to the starship captain, causing him to look at Akaar with concern. "Are the Ten Tribes...receptive to your service in Starfleet? A High Teer bound to obey lowly superior officers...it has to be difficult for them to accept."

Akaar's eyes glittered hard and proud. Sulu got the sense that he should be glad that Akaar was friendly with him. But then the High Teer laughed. "That doesn't matter. Regent Eleen is a hard woman. She has made it law that the firstborn of a High Teer should enter Starfleet Academy to learn points of command and planning in addition to Capellan government and ways of dancing with the spears. My baby son's already being reared for the Teership and for Starfleet." Akaar puffed his chest proudly. "She has inspired my people to begin construction of a huge monument in my honor already."

Sulu nodded. He'd heard of that monument. It was supposed to be a ziggurat, a step pyramid, bigger than any such structure on any world in the Federation, dwarfing even the Great Pyramid in Egypt on Earth. The feats of Akaar's father and future truly great High Teers of the Ten Tribes would be carved onto the surface and a small palace would sit atop the artificial mountain. When the Federation Council voiced its doubts, Regent Eleen came before them and conquered them with the force of her will. A hard woman, indeed. A few people were already comparing Eleen to the shrewd T'Pring or even the great T'Pau.

"Let me guess, Leonard. You want to be in security on my ship," Sulu said.

Akaar stood at attention seriously. "Sir, yes, sir!"

Sulu had to smile. "No need to do that on my ship as long as you do the job well enough. I don't have a chief of security. Do you want the job?"

Akaar grinned toothily once more.

Sulu was laughing. An Argelian Seeress for a counselor, a High Teer for Excelsior's chief of security. It was going to be a good mission after all.

xxxxxxxx

"Oh no," Hikaru Sulu muttered under his breath. He could see that damned ambassador, Curzon Dax walking towards him. His good mood quickly vanished while Sulu's impatience for the turbolift's arrival increased exponentially. Why hasn't Ambassador Dax already taken a ship to Trill? Doesn't the Trill homeworld have some emergency, like dealing with Cardassian raids or spies? Isn't he supposed to be monitoring the situation on Bajor? Anything to have Dax on the other side of the Federation.

"Ah! There you are, Captain Sulu! This starbase's really too big to look for one person." Dax laughed.

Sulu muttered through his diplomatic smile, "Pity I'm not too small." That brought an uproarious laughter from Curzon Dax. Once more, Sulu idly wondered where the spots marching down a Trill's temples and neck end up.

The turbolift finally arrived, opening doors to release people, both civilian and Starfleet. Sulu jumped into the turbolift, hoping that either the doors would close quickly or Dax won't get in with him.

Unfortunately, Dax went in.

"You don't really like me, do you?"

Surprised, Sulu looked at the Trill. "Umm, just on principles. I dislike ambassadors in general."

Dax made a sound like it was between a giggle and a laugh. "Oh ho, then you're not going to like this!"

Fear crept up Sulu. "You're coming with us, Ambassador?" A week with the flamboyant Trill man had the captain crawling up walls. Months with him would drive him into reviving the ancient Japanese ritual of seppuku, ritual suicide.

Curzon Dax grinned toothily, looking delighted. Oh no...he is coming with the captain. He really must have a talk with Commodore Quinteros and Admiral Nogura. "My dear Sulu, I'm flattered, really. It's not me." The turbolift arrived at a deck within the drydock sector. "Come with me, Captain." Dax curled a finger at Sulu, beckoning him to follow him.

Nervously, Sulu came to a lounge with Dax. Potted plants were everywhere, people chatted and drank, and a large window opened to the cavernous drydock. This time, Sulu could catch sight of the Excelsior. Dax led him over to a woman seated by herself in a corner, her face turned to the window. The dark-haired woman was wearing a dress that was a dark green that could be called black. Over the dress was an odd transparent over-gown with interlinking multi-colored jewels sewn in, flowing from her neck down to her feet. Where has he seen that over-gown before?

Ambassador Curzon Dax turned smilingly to Sulu. "Captain, may I introduce the lovely Ambassador Miranda Jones?" At that, the woman turned her face to Captain Sulu, her brilliant grey-hazel eyes locking onto him.

"Miranda Jones? Not the Dr. Jones who linked with the Medusan Ambassador Kollos?" Sulu stared. She hasn't aged much over the years!

Pain crossed Miranda's face. "Yes. I am she," she said stiffly, miffed at the reminder of Kollos.

Dax tsked at Sulu. "Manners, Captain, manners! Kollos died a few years ago. As a reward for her service and companionship, Kollos had the Medusans engineer a way to keep her looking young and beautiful. Amazing what kind of alien technologies the Federation keeps on missing. Pity. Ambassador Kollos was expecting a long life, but a mishap cut him down. Dr. Jones is now the lovely Ambassador Jones."

Miranda turned her piercing grey eyes to Dax. "I am duty bound to continue Kollos' work. He is me, I am him." It was disconcerting. Everyone Sulu knew had aged or grown. Miranda looked hardly days older than when he saw her last time on the old Enterprise. He glanced down at her jeweled net.

Miranda, as a powerful telepath, of course knew what he was thinking. "Yes, Captain. I am still blind. I still use this web sensor dress to guide me. Now, if you have gone past the trivialities, you should know that I am assigned to your starship."

Trivialities? She's still cold to men, then. Sulu stopped himself before he could stammer. Once settled, he said, "I don't understand why everyone seems to think my ship needs an ambassador. I have enough experience of ambassadors thanks to the past week's taxi service from Khitomer."

Miranda smirked. "Do you have a First-Contact specialist? I don't think so. My telepathy will help in establishing contact with the raiders who are troubling your Federation." She turned to Dax. It was disconcerting to see her looking without really looking. She certainly acted as if she wasn't blind. Perhaps there were some improvements to that sensor net gown. "Ambassador Dax, will there be anything else?" she asked primly.

Curzon Dax took her right hand, bowed and planted a light kiss on her knuckles. Miranda's lips twisted in distaste. "No, my dear fellow ambassador. We ambassadors must stick together at the hips, yes?" Miranda firmly, but politely, freed her hand and turned to Sulu, dismissing the Trill. Dax merely shrugged good-humoredly at Sulu and walked away, saying, "Enjoy your new mission! I do hope it's enlightening for us all!"

The captain of the Excelsior sighed. Joy. Another ambassador stuck on his ship.