T'sdith turned to T'Saris, who was thrusting a shipping manifest in her hands. "I think if we buy another freighter, we could capture 63% of the Ulk'hajan shipping lanes." She reviewed the padd, looked back at T'Saris who explained further. "There are not enough freighters covering these lanes because navigation is so difficult. But Xifmer can identify better routes."

T'sdith considered. They had been very successful so far with their first freighter, which had grown to two, then three multigenerational ships. That they would be able to man another ship was not in question. The spacefaring clan's reputation had grown as they established new trading routes and acquired more freighters in the Tau Ceti V quadrant, and there were always new members looking to join them, seeking answers beyond those they could find on Vulcan. Almost all the clan members had been betrothed and as part of the negotiations their consorts had agreed to come and live on the ship with them. Within the next ten years, the first pon farrs would occur, and soon after the first births. In spite of the stipulation as part of their acceptance as a new clan that every offspring of a Clan member would have a right to choose whether to rejoin their forefathers' clans when they came of age, T'sdith was confident that the vast majority would choose to remain members of the Clan, with its emphasis on survival over tradition. The only one who had left ever was S'Odjak, the genius scientist, for there was really no other option for someone of his ilk. The Clan was small and didn't have much of a voice in internal Vulcan matters. Yet. But it had already more than doubled in size. It would keep growing until one day it was one of the more established Vulcan clans. Perhaps even in her lifetime.

She handed the padd back to T'Saris. "Proceed with sourcing another freighter." She would have to bring the matter to the Council for ratification.

She looked up at her bondmate as he entered the command room. She had never really expected she would end up being bonded to Sisig, but in the end it was the logical thing to do. They had fought together, prevailed together, he had been in on every plan she ever made for the Clan, he knew her better than anyone and she trusted him with her life. Axarev would also have been an appropriate bondmate, but he was more of a warrior and Sisig was more of a philosopher, and she needed a philosopher more than she needed a warrior. And Axarev was interested in exotic and different things. She expected that he would eventually take an alien as a bondmate before the Time came on him, possibly a human. He had been quite taken with that female on the Enterprise, Ma'kenzy was her name she believed.

Sisig approached the command chair. "The new recruits are coming on board, wife, I think it would be appropriate for you to welcome them."

"Is that an obligation? They will soon meet me as matriarch of the Clan."

"It may be part of the Captain's duties that are less palatable to you but it helps new crew members adapt to the command structure." Sisig was always so reasonable, and she cherished him for it.

"Agreed." She got up, smoothing out her tunic. "But no ceremonial robes." Sisig nodded, he knew her well. "Who do we have this time?"

"Actually, only one recruit. Young, but very established. He has an advanced degree in xeno-hydroponics, can grow all kinds of fruits and vegetables, even in the confined environment of a freighter." Sisig looked studiously at the ground "He says he's always felt a sense of kinship with you."

T'sdith nostrils flared in annoyance. Another young soul who had gotten snared by the imagined romance of deep space life. "We'll see how long he's with us," she said. "In any case, that is more helpful to us than another helmsman or another guard." Sisig winced slightly, remembering her displeasure at the latest batch of new crew members, who had quickly found themselves delegated to friendly freighters.

They came to the airlock, waited for the ground shuttle to dock and the seal to be securely fastened. Sisig took a step back from his bondmate. The door opened, and a tall, willowy male stepped in, followed by his travel trunk. He straightened up and looked at T'sdith, not saying a word. She was looking at him intently, drinking in his features. She looked over at Sisig incredulously, noting the smile in his eyes, then back at the man facing her, eyes wide with shock. She took a step towards him, reaching with her palms out "...Severn?"

He inclined his head down towards her, crossing his wrists in front of him, fingers facing out for the parental touch "Sister."

THE END

To my readers, thank you.