Thank you to everybody who read or reviewed the last set of messages. I really appreciate it.

Welcome to a new batch of chapters. I did the rough drafts of the next six chapters at the same time as the previous batch in April 2023. I didn't get back to them until August due to working on other stories and three weeks of vacation. I probably shouldn't have waited four months to do rewrites, but these things happen.

Day 375: The Starfleet rumor mill is undefeated.

From: MomOU
To: NyotaUM
Time arrived: 2/27/2261 00:00:01
Subject: I would love to do a call

I should not be surprised that you heard way too much about your father's wedding that didn't happen. The Starfleet rumor mill remains undefeated. For example, due to the rumor mill, I know that your ship's first officer actually discovered invisible rocks. Also, he was allegedly in sick bay for a week and may or may not have been in a coma. Maybe the rumor mill gets the details wrong half the time, but in general, the rumor mill knows most things.

The rumor mill knows way too much about my divorce. I've gotten so many condolence drinks from colleagues that it's ridiculous. I've also received several congratulatory drinks. At least I'm getting the good stuff.

I also got an excellent thank you letter from your almost stepmom. She appreciated the bottle of wine I sent her. She wants to get drinks and compare notes. I'm tempted to say yes.

Your father is trying to suck up to me. I don't even know why. I have no desire to talk to him again. But unfortunately, we're still both in Starfleet and serving in the same city for the moment. He keeps coming up with reasons to be at the Academy. I hope his next assignment takes him several lightyears away. I am completely over him.

I mentioned that to Adm. Chen when I had cocktails with her the other day. Not that I expect her to actually make it happen. She brought your gifts with her. Thank you for the Vulcan tea set. Also, thank you for the lemon bars. I had one after your father called me. I needed it.

I am looking forward to our call. You probably will get a work email later today regarding logistics. Do you want me to invite Josephine's aunt to join us? The Admiral says she is a lovely woman. Adm. Chen is trying to convince her to join Starfleet Legal. I heard she is taking the Vulcan Bar exam in the summer. She must be brilliant. That exam is notoriously difficult. No one non-Volcan passed the thing until after the cataclysm. Of course, after that happened, they had no choice but to bring outsiders in to rebuild.

I have no desire to pressure you into joining the command track. I understand finding your niche and wanting to stay there. I just mentioned that it might be easier if you had command as a second option. You may not be able to get a position on Leonard's ship as a chief communications officer, but you might be able to be there as a First Officer. It's something to consider.

Adm. Chen also mentioned that the Enterprise minors program is being reevaluated. She is concerned that it will get shut down because people are still mad at her for taking over for Marcus. Like it's her fault that her predecessor managed to get all of his competition murdered.

I would ask you if a decision has been made, but I'm sure I'll find out when we have our call. If the worst happens, know that Josephine can live with me. My days of ship living are long over, and I would be happy to have my granddaughter live with me.

There's a chance this letter might get to you after our video call. If so, I apologize. Anyway, I can't wait to hear from you.

Xxx

Excerpts from the diary of Peter Samuel Kirk-Grayson

February 27, 2261

Dear diary:

So today is the day we find out if the program stays and I don't have to lose all my friends again. I'm so nervous. I hate that one person can decide if I get to stay with my friends or not. I'm nervous. I actually threw up twice this morning. Uncle Spock wanted to call Dr. McCoy in, but Uncle Jim convinced him it was stress and I needed to relax. Like that's going to happen.

I will keep getting more nauseous until I find out what Commander Franco decided. The uncles are finding out now. I feel like I'm about to throw up again.

I really like how things are and don't want things to change. Oh well, we'll know in an hour. Wish me luck.

Xxx

Starfleet priority message for Admiral Oddoye from Lieutenant Commander Uhura

Hey, I'm sending this reply as a rapid message, so you'll get it before our call. Change of plans. We're doing the video call at 9 AM your time on March 1 now instead of tomorrow. That's six hours later here.

Sorry, the kids are going to an amusement park tomorrow, and I don't want to hold Josephine back to make the call. We could do it afterward, but there's a good chance the kids will pass out.

I'm sorry about this. When I scheduled the call, I thought the amusement park visit would be today. But we wanted to wait until after the final decision, for the program came down, before taking the kids there. Jim and Spock are literally in the meeting with Starfleet brass at the moment. It could go either way. The kids are all nervous wrecks right now. Peter threw up this morning, and Josephine doesn't want to eat anything.

Because Lena agreed to participate in the call, it is happening at her boss's house. I think there's some stuff that they want to go over with Leonard beforehand. I am sending you the GPS coordinates.

Thank you for offering to take care of Josephine for us. I really do appreciate the offer. Thankfully, we're not going to need it. Jim just texted me that the program is staying. He wants me to be there when we tell the kids. Also, I am supposed to bring cookies. I'm grabbing them out of the secret stash. Thank you for sending more cookies.

I'm supposed to tell you that he just broke his foot, but it's better now. Yes, the rumor mill is that stupid. Also, maybe they got some things from before mixed in. Jim has gone the entire first year of the mission without going into a coma, and we are proud.

To be continued…

Our Enterprise kids are getting to stay together. You may now start throwing confetti.