“Well, think about it, Pav. If you trace the Enterprise’s course back far enough, where will the trail eventually, inevitably, end up?”

Chekov’s eyes widened. “Earth.”

“Earth.”

“We need to get back there.”

Terrell tugged on the hem of his uniform jacket. “Reliant’s going to be under repairs here for some time. I need to stay with my ship, and to help with relief efforts. But this is your baby, Pavel. I’m willing to authorize your temporary transfer back to Starfleet Command on Earth, if that’s where you feel you need to be.”

Chekov smiled at him. “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”

The captain grimaced. “Don’t thank me. If there’s one thing we learned today, it’s what can happen when you deliberately head toward one of these things.”

Chapter Eight

U.S.S. Enterprise

“Captain on the bridge!”

As Spock stepped out of the turbolift alcove, he turned to Cadet Marar Ferat, who had announced him from the communications station. “At ease, Cadet. For future reference, that ritual is not required aboard the Enterprise. I am aware that some commanding officers prefer it, but I have always found it redundant. If bridge personnel are properly alert, they may discern for themselves whether or not I am present. And I expect all bridge personnel to comport themselves with equal professionalism in either circumstance.”

The curly-haired Cygnian flushed in abashment. “Aye, Captain Spock. Understood.”

Lieutenant Ledoux rose from the captain’s chair as Spock approached. “I relieve you, Lieutenant.”

The dark-complexioned woman, a veteran of the Enterprise crew from its second five-year tour, nodded. “I stand relieved.”

Spock took her report, then circled the outer deck of the bridge, checking the performance of the cadet crew one by one. Pryce-Jones at engineering, Suarez at tactical, and Nadel at sciences gave their reports crisply and efficiently, though they had little to report beyond the commonplace routine of a starship in the second day of a four-day journey.

When he reached the helm console, however, he frowned at the readouts and addressed Cadet T’Lara. “Warp velocity has diminished by zero point eight percent relative to power expenditure.”

The young Vulcan woman looked up at him calmly. “I am aware of the discrepancy, sir. Our course is transverse to a subspace gradient. Maintaining course against its pull requires diverting a portion of warp power.”

The problem was commonplace enough; a human would probably analogize it to crossing a river perpendicular to its current and being pushed downstream. But T’Lara’s response to the problem provoked a raised eyebrow. “I see. As I recall, you studied helm operations under Lieutenant Commander Grodnick. Correct?”

“Affirmative, sir.”