“You’re right.  I’m not going to believe it.” Captain Wren Walton sat at her ready room desk, the screen filled with the face of her Task Force Commanding Officer, Captain Geronimo Fontana.  He’s just informed her that Cardamon, the Voth advisor, had applied to Starfleet Academy.  She shook her head, “What are your thoughts?”

Fontana chuckled, “His test scores are average, but a surprising amount of critical thinking and comprehension is a common thread in his answers.  We also put him through several scenarios, both holographic and discussion-based.  He was able to adapt and work within each of them with success.  Given where we’re at in the school year, I’m inclined to have him placed on the Mackenzie at the rank of Cadet with an official start date at the Academy in August.  Natalie Harris is there and will be entering her Junior year.  Could be a good fit for him and her.”

Walton raised her eyebrows, “You’re not thinking of sending us back to the Delta Quadrant?”  The Mackenzie had been there once before, and the results had led to the death of her former captain, Ambrose Harris, at the hands of a Devore Imperium officer in the Alpha Quadrant.

He shook his head, “No.  You’ve got a few more days at Bravo to receive your upgrades and refits.  We’re considering a shakedown cruise with the pending new crew transfers.”

Wren scoffed, “I saw those.  You’re replacing some of our seasoned groups with just graduated cadets!”

Geronimo shrugged, “They’ve proven their worth – we’ve got the need for seasoned and veteran officers across the fleet.  Frontier Day was not kind.”

“I know who to blame for all of that.  And it’s not the Changelings or the Borg.”

Fontana folded his hands, “Captain, we’ve had this discussion.  I’m not willing to engage in it again.  Circling the drain is my least favorite activity.”

Walton held her tongue.  Starfleet Command had become complacent and indifferent.  It had allowed two of their most malicious enemies to get keys to the various houses and cause untold chaos and death before a miracle in the shape of the Enterprise D and her old crew saved the day.  “I stand by my opinion.”  She sighed, “Is there anything else, Captain Fontana?”

He frowned.  “No, not at this time.”  Fontana thought of asking further.  Would it be worth the time to talk her through her feelings on the matter?  He decided against it, “Good luck and fair winds, Captain Walton.”  The channel closed abruptly, and Walton scoffed.  There were days she disliked Fontana.

“I was a friend of Captain Harris.” Cardamon before Walton, his clawed hands nervously clasped.  Quartermaster Wyatt had worked to replicate a uniform that fit the Voth, and he had succeeded after nearly four hours of experimentation.  She had asked him about his history.  He continued, “I worked for his mother and sister at their business on Earth and learned many things there.”  He shifted nervously, “I decided it was time to return to the stars.  I wanted to give back to the Starfleet since they’ve given so much to me.”

Walton had read his file over three times and examined the logs and letters of recommendation that had been filed.  “Why the Mackenzie, Cadet Cardamon?”

The Voth frowned as best as he could, “Why not, Captain Walton?”  He thought momentarily before continuing, “It is the only place I’ve known as home since leaving the Delta Quadrant and the Markonian Outpost.  It is the one place where everyone accepted me at first glance…and wanted me to remain.  I am an oddity, at times, in the Alpha Quadrant.”

She wasn’t going to disagree with him.  Yet, she recognized the spirit of his thought process.  He would never return to the Voth who had hunted him down.  He didn’t have anything to return to on the outpost.  He had enjoyed his time at Harris Transport, but she felt that he had been missing something in his answers.

Walton pressed, “Why not Harris Transport?”

He shrugged, “It is not in space.”  He added with a smile that looked like a snarl to most, “I am a Voth who needs his freedom of the stars, Captain Walton.  I need to be able to feel it.  That…you humans call it a hum…beneath my feet.  The…rumble is the word…the rumble of the engines…the beeps and boops of the stations.  It is something I have discovered I cannot live without.”

She considered his words and the application that had been forwarded.  “You’ve read the duty responsibilities of the Yeoman?”  A vigorous nod.  “You accept you will be under my command and responsible for following my directives without question?”

At that last statement, he leaned forward, “I do not mean to contest your statement, Captain…but according to the documents you assigned me to read, I can question…or at least…as you humans say, ‘object’… strenuously if needed.”

Wren smiled quietly, “You did the reading.”  He gave her a look of shock, and she waved it off, “I had to ensure you were willing and able.  Captain Harris knew you well and worked with you.  I need to know you and what you can and will do for Starfleet, Cadet Cardamon.”  He gave a satisfied nod.  “Welcome aboard, Cadet.  Your old quarters will remain yours.  Report for duty tomorrow at 0600 hours, and we’ll get started.”

Cardamon shifted out of his chair and stood at attention, “Thank you, Captain Walton.”  He left as she dismissed him.  Wren sat back in her chair, wondering just what kind of officer Cardamon would be in the future.