“I do not expect they will return to the Bunden System.” Captain Tobias Engstrom stood in Fleet Captain Geronimo Fontana’s office on Montana Station. Engstrom was the Director of Colonial Operations. Unhappily.

Fontana could still see it in his eyes and his tone. They had pulled the man out of retirement and drafted him back into business on the station. Geronimo had openly admitted it was an act of desperation and offered no apologies. With nearly a month in the position, Tobias had, under protest, molded the colonial operations department slowly but surely. To hear him tell it, it was an effort of ‘Herculean strength’. Fontana answered, “I don’t know if I would want to live that close to a place where entire generations and families had been erased from history.” He had read the report. The counseling department had been working hand in hand with Engstrom and his team. It was going to take time for recovery.

Engstrom added, “We’re dispatching teams to the colonies to gather updates and determine engineering needs. There has been a rise in requests to settle in on Rital III.” Tobias glanced over his glasses at Fontana, “We’re talking over a thousand at last count.”

Fontana chuckled, “I’m guessing this will come with a request for more engineering work to expand the planet’s housing and associated needs.” A nod was his answer. “Everyone feels a lot safer with a Canopus-class station overhead…I can’t say I blame them.” He sat back in his chair, “Tobias, what if I could make you a deal that would see you free within the next year…March of 2403.”

He scoffed, “I’d have a hard time believing you, Fleet Captain Fontana. A helluva hard time.” Geronimo watched him chew on the thought for a few minutes. “It is appealing. I do not like it out here. I was happy where I was, close to the center of the Federation with access to everything I needed.” Another long pause as he entertained the offer. “What would it entail?”

“I have a few options for you to train – colonial operations seem to be getting attention back home. You would train them for the entire year in every facet of what you do, how you do it, why you do it…and why it’s always so damn good.” Engstrom’s eyebrows lifted at the compliment. “When the training is complete and you personally certify this person ready to take over without question or qualm…I will reactivate your retirement.”

Tobias chewed on his lips. He asked, hesitantly, “How do I know you’re not lying…or putting some kind of small print in this deal to keep me here?”

Fontana leaned forward, “Captain Engstrom – I am a lot of things. But I don’t lie. Ask around if you need to…if I agree to a year, it’ll be a year.”

Tobias eyed him for a moment longer. “Very well. We are agreed. I will draft the agreement and send it for your review.” He stood at attention and headed for the door, stopping as it opened to release him. He turned back toward his CO. “Thank you, Fontana.” Then he was gone, down the hallway.

Before the doors had a chance to close, his Yeoman, Ensign Deborah Porter. He asked, “Tell me you have good news.”

She shrugged, “Depends on your definition of good. Since the rimward interference has come to an end, we’ve managed to reconnect with just about everyone. Captain Ki hasn’t been able to locate Tougun or any trace of his organization. Plenty of our transport and mercenary friends have run across debris fields and wreckage around his alleged operational area, but nothing concrete. Science and Tactical have come up short as well.”

“Hasara?” The crafty Cardassian had unofficially integrated with their Intel and Security operations.

Porter shook her head, “Nothing from them either. Tougun’s dead or the Vaadwaur have him…or he’s holed up somewhere.” She tapped at her PADD, “There is something. We had a message from the Ferengi Guild a few hours ago. They’ve named a new intermediary to the Tholians.”

Geronimo’s eyes went wide. “What happened to the old one?”

“He disappeared on a return trip a week ago. He missed his rendezvous and hasn’t reported in. There is no activity on his accounts. It’s odd, but they couldn’t let the job stay vacant. They’ve named Draxa to the position – he had been studying as a deputy for a while.”

Fontana narrowed his eyes, “Start a profile on Draxa. Put him on Captain Ki’s radar…and see if Hasara has any background.”

The yeoman cocked her head to the side, “You’re suspicious, Captain.”

“Understudy suddenly ascends to the main player role? A near-perfect crime? Question everything, Ensign Porter. Until we get satisfactory answers, we dig.”  He explained, “We’ve not paid enough attention in the past.  I’m not letting down our guard again.”

She stood at attention and departed. Fontana turned to stare out into the openness of space just outside his office.