Commodore James Preston McCallister rubbed his eyes as he fought another yawn, the warm lighting of the conference room blurring slightly in his tired gaze. The endless stream of reports felt like it was melting into one monotonous scroll of text. He let out a yawn he failed to suppress, covering it half-heartedly with the back of his hand.

“Are we keeping you up, James?” Cambil teased across the conference table, her eyebrow raised in mock offence.

McCallister waved her off, blinking blearily. “Not at all. Just hitting the wall. I think a refill is in order.” He stood up slowly, joints popping loudly enough to be heard in the quiet room. “Tea, anyone?”

Duncan and Cambil shook their heads, Duncan offering a slight grin. “I’m still working through this one,” he said, lifting his barely touched cup.

The trio had been buried in tactical reports for hours, the glow of the PADDs casting a faint hue over their tired expressions. It was late, too late, but the business of the Delta Quadrant didn’t sleep. The conference room was dimly lit, the only real illumination coming from the soft glow of dozens of active PADDs strewn across the long table. The scent of replicated tea mingled faintly with the sterilised air, and the stars hung in still silence outside the viewports.

“When did Horatio say he and Mo’Lee were due to arrive with Corella?” Cambil asked, absently rotating her shoulders as she skimmed through another field report.

Duncan glanced at the chronometer. “Just under two hours.”

“I just hope by the Prophets’ wisdom, Corella has heard something back from Starfleet by the time they meet up,” Cambil remarked as she continued focusing on the PADD in her hands. It was the latest report from the Constitution. She gave out a slight chuckle. “James, only your brother would think bartering with space organ thieves is a reasonable day job. And somehow, he makes it work. Could he have found our next ally against the Vaaduwar?”

McCallister chuckled as he returned with a steaming mug of his usual blend. “At this rate, he will be nominated for the Sarak Medal. First Starfleet officer to trade with the Vidiians successfully and keep all his organs intact.”

Cambil laughed, a short, sharp burst. “I can already hear the speech. ‘I’d like to thank the Vidiian Honattas for not being on their shift that day.’”

All three broke into quiet laughter, the fatigue momentarily lifted by the absurdity of the moment.

Just then, the doors hissed open and two familiar faces stepped in: Captain Reyas and Commander Court.

“Ah, reinforcements have arrived,” Duncan quipped at the sight of his husband entering.

“This is a nice surprise,” McCallister added as Reyas crossed the room and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, followed by a brief, warm hug.

“The Bellerophon finished assisting at the Rinax orbital station,” Reyas said with a smirk. “And when I heard the three of you were having a party without me, I asked Tobias if I could transport over to surprise you.” Her eyes swept over the table cluttered with PADDs and data slates. “Though judging by the state of this table, I’m guessing it’s more spreadsheets than champagne?” What are you three doing anyway?”

“Just the usual,” McCallister replied dryly. “After-action reports, battle drill results, and the latest intelligence from our new allies on the Vaadwaur. It’s basically a mountain of paperwork disguised as tactical prep.” 

“Need an extra pair of hands?” Court offered as he slipped into the seat beside Duncan.

“Absolutely,” Duncan said with a grateful smile. “If you can sort the drill outcomes by efficiency rating, that’ll give the commodore something digestible to chew on next.”

“Consider it done,” Court replied, already sifting through the digital chaos with mock determination. “Where’s the fun without a bit of sorting algorithms?”

“Give me something to take a look at,” Reyas offered.

Cambil passed her a couple of PADDs. “These are the updated star charts from the Rakosans. I negotiated hard to get them, so I’d appreciate another set of eyes, especially yours.” She paused. “They need to be reviewed and authorised before we send them to the astrometrics departments on each ship. I’m hoping to run a comparative analysis with our sensor data to identify anything useful.”

“Sure,” Reyas said, settling into a chair as she took the PADDs. She began skimming the data, eyes narrowing in thought. “Let me guess. Are you hoping we can pinpoint where the other underspace apertures might be hiding?”

Cambil nodded as she took a sip from her mug of Bajoran deka tea. “Exactly. So far, we’ve only confirmed the one near Rinax and a small number of others. But if we can triangulate possible locations for others, or work out if there are any tell-tale signs when they are about to open, then we could establish an early warning net. It’s a long shot, but worth the effort.”

“Makes sense,” Reyas said as she started to collate the data. “The quicker we know about them appearing, the better.”

McCallister reclaimed his seat and picked up the next PADD. “Report from Captain Patterson, the Destiny’s minefield is fully deployed.”

“That’s something,” Duncan said with a nod. “Between that and the orbital platforms, the Talaxians finally have a line of defence they can count on.” He exhaled. “If only the Haakonians were half as willing to accept our help.”

“Don’t you and Craigen have a meeting with their leaders again tomorrow morning?” Court asked, his focus still on the information he was pulling together.

Duncan nodded. “We do, but I’m not sure what else to say with them at the moment. Their ego is a bit bruised at the moment, which is understandable based on their losses. They might not like hearing what we need to say.”

The comfortable rhythm of sorting and sipping was broken as Court frowned at his screen. “Speaking of uncomfortable truths…” He handed the PADD over to McCallister.

The commodore read the summary, his brows rising. “Wow. That’s not like Niro to say.”

Everyone paused. Cambil, ever the dutiful deputy, leaned in. “Admit what?”

McCallister passed her the PADD. “Latest training drill reports from the Astra. Niro says performance levels are well below expectations. He’s requesting assistance.”

Reyas raised an eyebrow. “They’re cadets. Isn’t that expected?”

“Maybe,” McCallister replied, “but it’s rare for Niro to make a formal request after a review. He usually takes the burden himself.”

Cambil handed the PADD back, expression tightening. “What do you think he’s really saying?”

“That he’s not confident taking the Astra into another engagement,” McCallister admitted. He looked at Cambil. “We need to speak with him, Bexa.”

She didn’t hesitate. “Now?”

“Now,” he confirmed.

About thirty minutes later, Niro materialised on the Odyssey and was greeted with warm smiles. As he joined the circle and took a seat beside McCallister, his eyes wandered to the cluttered table. “Should I be insulted I wasn’t invited to this late-night strategy session?”

McCallister smirked. “It’s nothing exciting, Niro, I promise.”

“Tobias and I came in earlier to rescue our spouses from paperwork purgatory,” Reyas added with a grin, as she stepped forward carrying a tray of steaming mugs, including Bajoran deka tea, raktajino, and a few replicated blends from home.

“Well, your rescue operation seems to be going well,” Niro quipped, accepting the mug with a nod of thanks. After a sip, his expression sobered. “I take it you’ve read my after-action report and the drill outcomes?”

McCallister picked up the PADD, his brow creasing. “Is it that bad, Niro?”

Niro sighed. “All of the cadets I have, they’re brilliant, every single one of them. But they look to me like I have all the answers.” He paused, fingers tightening around his mug. “And if I send them into a real fight unprepared, I don’t think I could live with that. I’m worried we are putting very young officers-in-training into a war situation without giving them the understanding and full support they need. Normally, on a training cruise, there would be more experienced officers to mentor, guide, and shadow them.” He shook his head. “Don’t get me wrong, the Astra’s holographic crew are amazing. Penelope is beyond this universe, but they don’t have the personal experience. They can’t replicate that.”

“He’s right,” Reyas said, nodding. “When the cadets were on the Odyssey, they had experienced officers all around them. People they trusted.”

“People who didn’t panic when the pressures hit,” Court added, his voice thoughtful.

“Exactly my point,” Niro said, spreading his hands. He turned back to McCallister. “James, I signed on for this knowing I had the squadron at my back. But what we’re walking into with the Vaadwaur. Well, it changes everything.”

McCallister leaned forward. “So what I’m hearing is you need more officers with you on the Astra, yeah?”

“Officers who can show the cadets to keep it together, but officers who are happy, who can deal with the stresses that come with going into battle,” Niro replied. “I’ve already had Commander Grey offer to join the Astra, with your permission, of course, to help adjust some of our systems with the new quantum slipstream drive. Though he is normally assigned to the Odyssey, he has said he can lead the corps of engineers from the Astra. I think Jaceon would appreciate his old mentor advising him and the others.”

McCallister nodded. “It makes sense for Reuben to be there during this crisis. The Astra has some of the most advanced tech in the squadron.” He looked at Duncan, pausing for a moment. “Max, do we have anyone else we can spare from the Odyssey for the Astra?”

Before Duncan could respond, Cambil raised a hand. “Sorry to interrupt, James, but I don’t think taking anyone from the Odyssey is a good idea.”

“Why not?” Duncan asked as he leaned slightly forward, confused by Cambil’s statement. The Odyssey had the largest crew, so it was logical to reassign from them first.

Cambil’s gaze shifted to Duncan, then back to Niro. “Niro’s working on building a culture of independence with these cadets. They don’t need to rely on officers they already know too well. As Karyn and Tobias pointed out, they’re familiar with the Odyssey crew, which could create a dependency.” She turned back to Niro. “How many more officers do you need?”

“If you can spare a solid pilot, a reliable security officer, a seasoned science officer, and a competent medic, that should be enough to round out the senior staff,” Niro replied. “They’ll act as instructors alongside me and Stephanie.” He paused. “The cadets need solid examples. People who can teach not just the theory, but the real grit of it.”

Cambil nodded decisively. “I’ve got four officers from the Themis in mind, and I’ll send you a security team. No more than five who will serve as extra support just in case.”

“You sure the Themis can spare them, Bexa?” Reyas asked, raising an eyebrow. “I could always send a few of mine, if needed.”

Cambil shook her head with a smile. “The Themis can handle it. The officers I have in mind are top-tier. They’ll jump at this opportunity.”

McCallister exchanged a look with Cambil, then turned to Niro. “I’m happy to authorise this, if you both are in agreement.”

“I’m on board,” Cambil said with a nod, her tone firm.

“This will be great. Thank you,” Niro said, his relief clear. “But there’s still one small matter I need to raise. And since we have all of you here…” He gestured to McCallister, Reyas, Duncan, and Court. “I think we need to have a discussion.”

“Let me guess, our sons’ secret romance?” Court asked aloud, raising an eyebrow and gesturing between himself, Duncan, and the others. His voice was casual, but his tone had a hint of amusement. It was no secret, besides their sons not admitting it to their parents. 

Niro nodded, his expression a little sheepish. “I wasn’t sure if you were aware…”

“Aware that the two of them are terrible at keeping secrets?” Reyas asked with a dry chuckle as she picked up her mug. “Oh, we’re totally aware. What have they done this time?”

“They haven’t done anything wrong or broken any regulations,” Niro explained quickly. “And they’re incredible cadets. They work hard, they’re driven, but sometimes their focus slips, especially with the pressure of their relationship weighing on them.”

McCallister and Duncan sighed in unison, their frustration palpable. They exchanged a glance, knowing this was a conversation they had to have, but not looking forward to it.

“Penelope and I have spoken to them about it,” Niro said, his expression softening. “But I remember when my parents sat me down and drilled into me the importance of focusing on studies first, especially over romantic distractions. Now, I know the irony coming from a Deltan, and I’m not saying they need to abstain, but maybe you, as their parents, need to have that conversation with them.”

McCallister nodded, his lips curling into a knowing smirk. He’d known Niro for years, and the diplomat in him was never more evident than now, trying to soften a potentially awkward subject without offending anyone. “Thanks, Niro,” McCallister said with a rueful chuckle. “We’ll talk to them.”

“Agreed,” Duncan said, his voice softer. “And we’re sorry you’ve had to handle this, Niro.”

Niro shook his head with a slight smile. “They’re a great couple, honestly. And they’re an even better team. I just want to see the best in them.” He stood, then turned to McCallister. “Unless there’s anything else you need from me, sir?”

McCallister shook his head, offering a small, appreciative smile. “No, thanks, Niro. You’ve done more than enough.”

Cambil stood up as well, a playful grin crossing her face. “Let me come with you, Niro. I can fill you in on the officers I’m considering for the transfer while we leave the ‘grown-ups’ to deal with their lovesick kids.”

After Cambil and Niro said their goodbyes, the McCallisters-Reyas and Duncan-Courts exchanged glances. The room fell into an awkward silence, broken only by the soft hum of the ship, as if even the Odyssey itself was holding its breath. Finally, Court couldn’t resist. He flashed a grin. “So, do we kill them together or separately?”

“Before we say anything,” Reyas spoke up gently, her voice laced with understanding, “let’s remember that for both of them, this is their first proper grown-up relationship. We’ve all been there at some point, making our own silly mistakes.”

“Karyn’s right,” Duncan agreed, nodding slowly. “And let’s face it, neither of them has been eager to tell us about it for a reason. They might be embarrassed by what we’d say, or they might be feeling worried they’ve let us down in some way, or even thinking that because their parents hold senior positions in the squadron, they have to behave a certain way. In any case, we need them to know that we know, and at this point, I think we all need to be on the same page.”

McCallister turned to Duncan, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern. “When did parenting become more difficult than commanding a starship?” He chuckled a bit more before speaking up again. “What exactly are you suggesting, Max?”

“If they want a mature relationship,” Duncan said, his tone firm, “then it’s time we have a mature conversation with them. We need to show them we support them, but also remind them of the responsibilities they’ve taken on as Starfleet officers.”

“Wait, before we go any further,” Court said, his voice a bit more serious now. “I know Alfie is my godson and Jordan is my son, and I love them and all, but we need to be clear. Are we really okay with them being together?”

Reyas chuckled, her tone light but genuine. “Absolutely and honestly, I’d much rather see Alfie with Jordan than with that Beatrice Grant.”

“Oh, I was so relieved when Jordan told us he broke up with her,” Duncan admitted, his voice tinged with relief. “That relationship was doomed from the start. It never had a chance.”

“I haven’t seen Alfie this happy in a long time,” McCallister shared, his tone softer. “And why would we want to split them up? Knowing them both, they would probably become stubborn if we told them to call it off and do it even more so behind our backs and make the situation worse. We’ll be back having the same conversation with them, or worse still, losing them both from our families. I say if Jordan’s the one who makes Alfie feel happy and safe, and they respect one another and understand their duties and responsibilities, then I’m all for it.”

“Me too,” Duncan said, a small smile tugging at his lips as he thought of his son’s happiness. “Any ideas on how we speak to them about it? They’re going to hate it as much as we are, and it will be an entire cringefest. ” It is likely that securing an alliance with the Vidiians will be easier for us than making this conversation go smoothly.” 

“How about tomorrow evening, you all beam onboard the Bellerophon and I’ll organise a meal for us to share with them?” Reyas offered, grinning playfully. “At least we will be in a less formal social situation. No uniforms, just a sit-down meal in an environment away from anything that is too formal for them and us.”

“Sounds like a solid plan to me,” Court agreed, his grin widening. “And if they deny they’re not together, we get to kill them afterwards, right?”

“Kill them? No,” McCallister replied, shaking his head, his mouth curling into a smirk. “We’ll assign them to waste extraction for a month instead.”

“Even better,” Court said, his grin widening. “So, does this mean we’re becoming in-laws?”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Reyas remarked, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “No engagement just yet.”

“Unfortunately for them,” Duncan reminded with a wry grin, “their role models all got married pretty quickly.”

“Then they have no hope,” McCallister said, his smirk deepening. “They’re doomed.”