The tetryon generator hummed with newfound stability, casting a soft, icy-blue glow across the underground chamber. The modified deflector pulses from the Odyssey restored the generator, and it was now fully operational. The final stage of the plan was to use the generator to protect the Glaciarian people from being detected by others. 

Tomaz punched in the final sequence to activate the dampening field around the Glaciarian settlement, securing their cloaking from any prying sensors. 

“Okay, I think we’re ready to activate the field,” he told the Glaciarian engineers assisting him. Tomaz had requested that the Glaciarian leadership allow a team from the Corps of Engineers to beam down to help them, but their request was denied. They didn’t want more visitors and only trusted Tomaz and Flemen to do the work. Instead, Tomaz had been taking live advice from Gray as he fixed the generator.

 Exhaling in relief, Tomaz felt the weight of responsibility ease from his shoulders. He glanced at Flemen, who returned his look with a satisfied nod. They had done it and given the Glaciarians a chance to live on in peace.

As the final adjustments took hold, the hum shifted into a stable thrum, almost as if the generator was breathing easier. 

The Glaciarian leader approached them, his crystalline features catching the light in delicate icy blue and pale white hues. “You have fulfilled your promise,” the leader rumbled, his voice resonating like distant thunder echoing through a cave. “The anomalies are gone, and our people are safe once more.”

Tomaz gave a respectful bow of his head. “We’re honoured to have been able to help you and your people. Your heritage, your way of life, is worth preserving.”

Flemen stepped forward with a warm smile. “If there ever comes a time when you wish to reach out, know that the Federation will be here. Our mission is to respect and protect, even if that means leaving you in peace.”

The leader’s icy, impassive expression softened a small but significant gesture from a race unaccustomed to outside intervention. “Our ways differ from yours, but your assistance will not be forgotten.” He inclined his head, stepping back as a silent signal that they were free to depart.

“We appreciate that and wish you and your people all the best,” Flemen said, his tone trying to sound optimistic, but Tomaz knew his friend was gutted and that he couldn’t make any further inroads with them. They did all they could. 

With one last glance around the cavernous chamber and the towering figure of the Glaciarian leader, Tomaz tapped his communicator. “Tomaz to the Odyssey. We’re finished down here. Two to beam up.”

The familiar warmth of the transporter beam enveloped them, the biting cold of the Glaciarian world melting away.

USS Odyssey (NCC-80000)

Back on the Odyssey, Tomaz and Flemen barely had time to catch their breath before they were ushered into sickbay. Doctor Slyvexs was waiting for them, her brows knitted in focused relief. She wasted no time, grabbing her tricorder and beginning a thorough scan of them both. 

“You two don’t get to go anywhere until I confirm you’re in one piece,” she said briskly, though a hint of humour danced in her sharp gaze. “Next time, remember to bring something less primitive than a medkit with you.”

Tomaz raised an eyebrow, smirking. “We’ll make sure to pack an entire sickbay, Doctor.”

Flemen chuckled, rubbing his hands together. “I think she’s worried our frostbite might have spread to our brains.”

Slyvexs shook her head, muttering something under her breath as she continued her scans. “Well, aside from the cold and some bumps and bruises, you both look relatively intact.” She shot them a mock-stern look over her tricorder. “You didn’t leave any frozen body parts down there, did you?”

Tomaz raised his hands in mock surrender, laughing. “I think everything’s still where it should be, Doctor. Even my injuries from the crash, the Glacerian medical technology is impressive.”

Slyvexs nodded in agreement as she looked up from her scans. “Indeed, there’s nothing left to show you were injured. Whatever this cleansing of theirs was, it’s made you almost brand new, commander.”

“That’s good,” Tomaz said with a smirk. 

As Slyvexs finished her scans, the doors to sickbay whooshed open, and Captain Duncan entered with Commander Hunsen by his side. Duncan’s expression lit up as he approached, clapping Tomaz on the shoulder before turning to Flemen.

“Welcome back, gentlemen,” he greeted them warmly. “Doctor, I take it they’re both okay?”

Slyvexs nodded. “They are, but I’d like to have them off their feet over the next two days, just in case we’ve missed something.”

“Two days off sounds good to me,” Duncan agreed. He turned back to Tomaz and Flemen. “You both have done outstanding work with the Glacerians. Protecting a society while respecting their wish for autonomy can be tricky.”

Tomaz straightened, giving Duncan a respectful nod. “Thank you, Captain. It wasn’t easy, but they deserve to live in peace.”

Flemen, though visibly proud, wore a faint frown. “It’s frustrating, though. The Glaciarian culture is rich, and we’ll never truly know them. We could have spent a lot longer here getting to know them.”

Duncan regarded him thoughtfully. “Not every culture wants the kind of connections we offer, Craigen. Respecting that is as important as anything else we do.”

Hunsen folded his arms, looking concerned. “I’m more interested in this generator you encountered. A tetryon reactor powerful enough to distort subspace on a sector-wide level? That’s unsettling but also intriguing where it came from.”

Tomaz exchanged a look with Flemen, then explained, “The Glaciarians called it a gift from their ‘Providers,’ a group of beings that left the reactor generations ago. The Glaciarians themselves have no record of meeting these Providers. They only know that the device was meant to protect and support their world.”

Hunsen’s brows knit together as he considered the implications. “I find it hard to understand why anyone would leave such an advanced piece of technology behind and not leave any clues as to why or who they were. We don’t know who these Providers were, nor the extent of what their technology is capable of.” 

“The Glacerians weren’t sure of those answers, besides knowing that the reactor was critical to their civilisation surviving,” Flemen added.

Hunsen showed he understood what Flemen was telling them with a nod. “It sounds risky, especially something powerful enough to destabilise subspace.”

Slyvexs nodded, setting down her tricorder with a concerned look. “Anything capable of such widespread damage deserves careful consideration. I’d suggest we keep an eye out for signs of these Providers. They may have left other traces behind.”

Tomaz straightened, agreeing. “Absolutely. We could recalibrate the Odyssey’s sensors to detect the same tetryon energy signature. If the Providers left other artefacts or technology nearby, we’d want to be ready.”

Duncan nodded approvingly. “Good thinking. We’ll get the team to implement those adjustments, and I’ll brief Commodore McCallister and the other captains. We may have to be on the lookout for more of these artefacts.”

Just then, the sickbay doors opened again, and Cadets Jordan Duncan-Court and Alfie McCallister stepped inside, accompanied by a small, familiar figure. S’Tem’s face broke into a bright grin the moment he saw his father, and he wiggled out of Jordan’s hold, sprinting across the room.

“Dad!” S’Tem shouted as he threw himself into Tomaz’s arms, his hug so fierce that Tomaz felt the weight of his absence evaporate in a heartbeat.

Tomaz held his son close, smiling as he ruffled the young Romulan’s hair. “I missed you, S’Tem.”

Everyone watched with amused smiles. 

Tomaz glanced over at the cadets. “Thank you, both. I owe you extra holodeck time for this.”

After a few more moments, Tomaz took S’Tem’s hand and walked towards the doors. He gave Flemen a grateful look. “Craigen, let’s catch up for dinner later?”

Flemen’s grin was wide. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

That evening, Tomaz and Flemen shared a meal in Tomaz’s quarters. It was a hearty three-course feast Tomaz had replicated to celebrate their safe return, complete with all their favourite comfort foods from across the Federation. A spicy Andorian stew filled the room with rich, savoury smells, banishing the last chill of the Glaciarian world.

As they finished their meal, Tomaz reached into the replicator to produce two Ktarian beers, handing one to Flemen. He clinked his bottle against Flemen’s with a warm smile.

“To safe returns,” he toasted, his voice full of quiet gratitude.

“To safe returns,” Flemen echoed, tipping his bottle back for a long drink. They settled into the warm silence of friendship, their shared experience still fresh.

After a pause, Flemen shook his head, smiling. “You know, Tomaz, I couldn’t have asked for better company down there. You kept me sane in that frozen hellscape.”

Tomaz chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “Same goes for you, Craigen. Not everyone could handle a mission like that.”

Flemen gave him a mock-serious look. “Next time, though, I’m picking the mission. Preferably something tropical.”

Tomaz laughed, clinking his bottle against Flemen’s once more. “Here’s to the tropics. May our next adventure be warm and sandy.”