New ship, new rank, new command, new grandchild. The Alliance is a fine ship, not as large as the Endeavour, but supposedly faster and more powerful. Better to face the Khynah with.

I have a new office and responsibilities which go along with my new rank of Commander. I feel better knowing that I have accomplished the highest rank I can achieve in Starfleet, what's next? Obviously I have the whole Science department to run now that Cam's duties will be on the Bridge. It won't be much different from what I have already been doing--heading the physical sciences department. More paper work obviously. No problem. But lately I have been thinking of quitting Starfleet and taking a commercial assignment. The commercial sector does have it's advantages. I could make a fine living there. I won't mention this to Mira yet. I'm sure she would never consider giving up Starfleet and I don't think I would care to leave without her. I could never stand the strain of seeing her ship go off into a dangerous mission--like this one--without me. So, for now I will remain quiet on that subject.

I am a grandfather. I still can't consider myself a grandfather yet. Why in the hell didn't Parker tell me of this sooner? He said it was because he wanted to tell me face to face. I can understand that I guess. Sara was born on December 3, just three days after Mira and I married. That was why he couldn't make it to our wedding. Wish he would have told me then. Sara looks so much like her name sake, her grandmother that it brings back memories of her. We had good times among the not so good ones. Her death still haunts me. If only I had been able to get her out of that mine! No point in thinking that over and over again. It's done. As for his wife, Anna-I am not sure how I feel about Parker marrying a woman old enough to be his mother. I will hold judgement as Mira suggests until I meet her.

Mira, bless her heart, sent me a dozen balloons for Valentine's Day. She sent them to the office which really pleased my new staff so much that after lunch break I returned to find my small office filled with balloons! It took 15 minutes to get those damn things out of there and they ended up floating all around the science department, bumping into everyone the rest of the day. My crew will pay dearly for that just as soon as I can decide on a suitable punishment. Not a bad day, though a long one.