Welcome to the Journal of Now and Forever. This Journal is a collection of my Star Control and Star Control 2 fiction. Note: Some of this material is, by necessity, extrapolation from the slim information provided by canon sources.

New fiction is posted first at My Livejournal before it appears here. This story is in response to 15 Minute Ficlets' Challenge #27.

"...So you see, the daf-2 segment is part of – not entirely – what enables us to live longer. If our research is correct based on the lab animals we brought with us, we should be able to make the daf-2 'on-off' regulation inheritable, so future generations of Androsynth are equally long-lived as ourselves."

"That's amazing, Dina," Jack said, leaning back against the starbase hull. He removed his glasses and chewed on the end of an earpiece.

"But," Ruth countered, "long life without aging – that's what we want. Have you made any progress on that?"

Dina shook her head. "Not yet. The daf-2 genetic research was partly done before we left Earth. Even now, we'll be sort of experimenting on ourselves, because the lab animals aren't, of course, human, and we don't know how well it will pass down to future generations. But you can see by the data I've shared out that it certainly looks promising."

Dina felt quite pleased with herself and her team. Even to the Androsynth, Earth's former 'brain slaves,' much of what made them Androsynth instead of Earthling was a mystery. Hsien Ho and his own team of researchers had made tremendous gains in science, but failed to share them out with the world. Who knows whether it would have been wiser to make it all public? Dina mused.

"It sounds like everything's going well, then," Tomo said. "Dina, you've proven that we were right to keep your group intact. If you need anyone or anything else, let us know. You've made great progress."

Dina bowed her head slightly in acknowledgement. Once she'd learned of the labor management issues, one of her driving goals became to keep her team together. Even if they were stymied directly in the reproductive arena, at least they could continue their work – the daf-2 genetic suppression, for example.

Gary looked at his watch. "The launch is about to take place."

Gary had wanted the Committee to watch the launch of the six-ship fighter wing, the group leaving for Earth. So everyone was now gathered aboard the starbase, officially as Gary's guests.

The event both thrilled and frightened Dina. There were too many good reasons to send Androsynth to see what the Earthlings were up to, and to grab one (or, preferably, more) to bring back. But there was the risk that few, or none, would come back. Or that Earthlings would come back instead.

"I wish I were going," Gary said, with a wistful tone. "But my ostensible superior chose others. Perhaps next time." Gary, like the others on the Committee, was one of the semi-secret leaders of the Androsynth, and Dina now understood the sometimes elaborate charades carried out to keep the secret.

"Which ships are going?" Kurt asked, as they looked out the giant polarized glass at the main docking arm. "And who is in charge?"

"Perro Pequeño, Montana Sky, Bratislava, Skyblazer, Micromanager, and Corinthian. The overall mission leader's name is Finn; he's capable, the best of the lot, I think. I had a hand in his selection." Gary paused as six ships disengaged from the docking arm. "All of the crews are good, well-chosen; they're all experienced spacers. The biggest worry is the gunners; they haven't had live opponents to practice on, only sims and targets. We're hoping we don't meet anyone at all, of course, but if we do, we're relying on the gunners and pilots the most."

Twenty crew per ship, Dina knew; one hundred twenty Androsynth total. Not all would go to Earth. Some would split off to explore other, nearby stars, investigate any planets. But at least three would go on to Sol, or as close as they could.

She felt a sudden, strange pang in her heart; the thought of seeing Earth again. She hadn't given it much thought these past years, but now the sudden longing overwhelmed her. She didn't even know why. It wasn't as though she had had a home there, or relatives, or friends among the Earthlings; her friends were here and now, on this starbase about her new home, and she was in charge of creating relatives. But to see the blue Earth veiled in white – she wanted to see that, very much.

Instead she pressed her hand against the glass and watched the ships of the fighter wing gather, array themselves, then pick up speed as they moved away from the starbase and Eta Vulpeculae 2.

"You can't use hyperspace in-system," Gary was saying. "Since gravity wells pull ships out of hyperspace, you have to reach the edge of the star's gravity well – the edge of the system – before the drive will work. Otherwise you've just wasted fuel, since the drive can't fight the sun's pull."

The six ships banked together, acting as one, black silhouettes against the yellow-green northern continent far below them. They looked so small, suddenly, against the enormity of the planet. Then the wing swept onward, heading into space, without fanfare.

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