Matt Gurney is far too young to be writing this well; it makes me want to smack him. Of course, the fact that he's about six inches taller than I am and built like a small armored vehicle means I'd better settle for a hearty pat on the back, unless I want it to get ugly—for me.

Nice job, kid.

"Forced March"

By Matthew Gurney

(with Joseph Manno)

Tertius Galenius stepped into his quarters, back straight and shoulders squared. Once the doors shut, however, his posture sagged into exhaustion. It was all he could do to not simply drop his gladius onto the floor. Gathering his composure, the centurion removed the weapon and set it respectfully down on a table.

“By the gods,” he muttered, slumping into a chair. “Fighting Carthage would be easier than orbital surveying.”

"Astrometrics to Galenius… Centurion, could y–…?"

He groaned.

With newfound respect for the stamina of scientists, Tertius reflected that Starfleet might be a more formidable force than he’d once believed.