The Reunion

[Robert Merlow]

Merlow's Ready Room, Tuatha de Dannan
Silverton Asteroid Field
Colorado System / Liberty Space

Merlow sat in his chair, looking over a few datapads. The reports from all over his Migrant Fleet were positive, the casualties low from the trip in void space. The end result was satisfying, but he was distracted. He was pulling three ships out of the Migrant Fleet, his fleet. Drawing out vital members of the leadership wasn't be the best thing he could do for the Fleet, but he had a feeling that space had something in store for them. He looked outside his window, a large plasma field that kept the vacuum of space out. He looked upon the shimmering of of the stars, seeing through the invisible hulls of the Yukon and the Data Entity.

I'm taking out the three ships that lead this Fleet. I hope it's not a mistake

There was a ring at the door. The figures of Captain Tokhia Mai and Rear Admirals Nagato and Testarossa walked into his ready room standing before his desk. Merlow motioned them to sit down.

"I take it you're all briefed in what exactly is going on right now?" Merlow asked.
"Yes Sir," replied Captain Tokhia Mai, Commanding Officer of the Yukon, "We're ready to roll out as soon as you are."
"Admiral Nagato?"
"Ready." RADM Nagato, CO of the Data Entity replied quietly, almost inaudible.
"...Right. Tessa, how are the systems on all three ships?"
"Running cool and quiet, Sir. We're ready."
"Give the order. I want all ships moving now."
"Yes Sir!" The three of them saluted. Nagato and Mai flickered out, their holograms disappearing from his room. Tessa approached Merlow cautiously.

"...Sir? Can I ask you something?" Tessa asked, her voice a little uneasy.
"Shoot, Tessa."
"I'm just a little uneasy about this mission. I don't know what it is, but it's nagging at me that we're going to run into something out there."
"Tessa," Merlow replied, grasping her lightly by the shoulders, "Don't worry about it. We're going to be fine."
"Alright Sir, if you say so. I'll get this ship moving." Tessa smiled and saluted, turning about and walking out of Merlow's Ready Room, leaving him alone once again. He turned around to watch as the Danaan engaged it's FTL Warp Drives.

I know what you're talking about, Tessa. There is something out there, something that just doesn't feel right, but we have to meet the Avalanche and I have to come back, we all do. We have to...

He stood there watching time and space rush by his window, watching the Universe flash before his eyes.

---

Commander in Chief of the Migrant Fleet / Former Fleet Admiral of the Liberty First Fleet
Second Survivor of the Mentat Program.
We must give and take with good measure. Give too much, we become complacent. Take too much, we incur the wrath of our own. Tread Lightly.
--Supreme Bashar Robert Merlow--