Prelude

Grant Harris was enjoying his supposed expulsion from Starfleet. It gave chime a chance to do some deep sea fishing - something he loved to do almost as much as fishing on old Lake Erie. But it was too cold for that, so he used his old row boat and rowed everyday six miles off the coast of San Francisco. Grant returned to his humble house overlooking the bay and Starfleet HQ. He sat in his chair and was thinking of his family and when the door chimed.

"Enter" Grant said.

The door slid open and there stood Admiral Ross. A man starting to show the stress of a tired man. Grant still thinking as an officer yelled, "Admiral on deck !" and stood up straight as a board.

The Admiral looked him over and told him to sit down. Grant did as he was told and was wondering why the same Admiral that sentenced him was here at his house. The Admiral wasted no time as he was a man that got down to business.

"Your sentence has been terminated effective now." You're being placed as Starfleet Intelligence onboard the USS Leviathan, a new experimental ship. You will leave in two days, the ship will leave spacedock in under four months." The Admiral explained.

Grant Harris was shocked an confused. He asked the Admiral "Why ?"

"You're an able officer." Admiral Ross continued. "You are an officer that cares about the well-being of his men. That is what is most admirable about you and we need an officer that has experience in both tactical and engineering like you." He then handed over a box that was made of velvet. Grant opened it and inside was one gold and one black pip.

"Sir, I won't let you down." Grant replied. He was overwhelmed with emotion and had to excuse himself.