Boconn 3 was a busy planetoid situated two light years from the Klingon-Romulan border. Slightly bigger than Earth's moon, it was almost completely covered by space docks and transit facilities. The whole planetary economy was geared to help travellers who were just passing through; an interplanetary waystation.

The public transit cruiser Wanderer, wasn't exactly slow, it had a maximum speed of warp 5, but to an ex Captain, Admiral, Ambassador, the journey from Earth was definitely a ponderous one.

As Wanderer reduced velocity to enter Boconn orbit, no one was more relieved than Picard. As he watched the busy planetoid grow in his cabin window, he thought about his impatient attitude.

"Old and crotchety," he mumbled. "I've finally turned into my grandfather."

In the thirty minutes it took Wanderer to establish orbit, Picard had packed up his belongings and was striding down the corridor that led to the transporter pads.

The Wanderer's Transporter Room was larger than a typical starship, the facility had the ability to transport twenty at a time. All luggage was transported on a different designated cargo pad.

The room was crowded and not well organised, which was something else that tested Picard's patience.

Several Bolians were making a fuss over where each of them should stand on the pads. From what Picard could discern, wherever they were going on Boconn, it was important in what order they materialised. After, what seemed like hours, they finally sorted themselves and were dematerialised.

As he stepped up onto the pad, he heard someone running along the corridor.

"Picard," whoever it was shouted. "Picard, please wait?"

He was standing on the pad and gestured for the Transporter Chief to hold. He turned to see who was so eager to speak to him. He found himself looking into the face of someone from race that he didn't recognise.

"Can I help you?"

"Picard, I'm gratified that I managed to catch you."

"Catch me?" Picard frowned. " Who are you?"

"My name is unimportant, you couldn't pronounce it anyway. I just came to give you this."

A small cylindrical rod was offered to Picard, which he took almost instinctively.

"What is this?" Picard looked up, but the stranger was gone. He got off the pad and pushed through the protesting alien crowd but there was no sign.

His attention returned to the thing in his hand. It felt warm in his hand and had an uneven carved surface. It was a dull grey but somehow seemed luminous, even in the low light of the Transporter room.The markings in its surface appeared to be language but not one that he knew.

"Admiral Picard," said the Transporter Chief. "Are you still wishing to be transported?"

Picard was jolted from his reverie and he walked back to the transporter pad.

"Energise."

Within the confines of the Transporter exclusion field, Picard watched the room disappear and then found himself standing in one of the many busy transit hubs on Boconn 3.

"Admiral Picard," said a voice right next to him. He turned to see a fresh faced, raven headed girl in her early twenties. It could only be one person.

"Molly O'Brien," he said, extending his hand. "Sorry, I mean Doctor O'Brien."

She laughed. "Please call me, Molly."

"Alright, if you call me Jean Luc."

She shook his hand warmly. "It's a deal."

"So, Molly, where are the others?"

"They're already onboard the ship," she said, brightly. "We're just waiting for you."

"Right, then you'd better lead the way."

Molly began walking briskly towards the launch bays. Picard picked up his bag and followed.

"You have to excuse my excitement , Jean Luc," said Molly, cheerily. "It's not every day that I get the chance to meet a bona-fide legend."

Picard felt a little embarrassed. "Well, I wouldn't believe everything you've heard about me. Many stories are hugely exaggerated."

Molly laughed. "Modest as well. It's good to meet you, Jean Luc Picard."

Moving into the dock area, they took a turbo lift up to the connecting tunnels. The turbo lift doors opened onto another busy level with huge windows that afforded a spectacular view of the ships currently docked. After a short walk, they arrived at Tunnel 614.

"Here we are," said Molly, and continued through the entrance. The tunnel was completely transparent and ahead, Picard saw the ship, for the first time. It was an Erin Class reconnaissance vessel, built by the Federation for the sole purpose of conducting detailed planetary surveys.

It was small, but Picard could tell that it contained substantial power. There were four warp nacelles arranged evenly around its dark grey fuselage, the whole ship was moored in place by six docking beams. Picard found himself getting excited at the prospect of travelling in it.

At the other end of the tunnel, a tall mottled skinned humanoid hurried to meet them. Picard recognised him immediately.

"Professor Glav," said Picard, extending his hand. The Castorian shook it warmly.

"Jean Luc, it is so good to see you."

Picard watched with a little amusement as Glav's facial ridges changed from yellow to deep blue which he knew was an outward sign of happiness.

"Molly tells me that you're waiting for me."

"My friend, it is not inconvenient to wait for you. I am so happy that you are able to come." He gestured for them to follow. "Shall we go?"

Picard and Molly followed Glav into the ship. A short corridor led to another turbo lift. They all stepped inside.

"Bridge," said Glav, turning to Picard. "Jean Luc, when did I last see you?"

Picard frowned. "It has to be five years ago, at the Aphos Conference on Zareban Nine."

They both laughed.

Molly smiled. "What happened on Zareban?"

This made Glav and Picard laugh harder.

Glav put a hand on her shoulder. "Molly," he said. "There are some stories that you really wouldn't want to know."

"Oh I see," said Molly, brightly. "Well, its true that I'm still quite ignorant in the ways of the universe and I wouldn't want to be corrupted, so thank you for protecting me."

She met their incredulous looks with a completely straight face, then they all burst into hysterics.

"Very good," said Picard.

The doors opened onto a bridge that was half the size of the old Enterprise. There was no command chair, just six work stations that all faced the viewscreen. Two others stood up as they entered. Picard recognised the white faced, three-eyed Devion instantly.

"Sebi Tar, it has been a long time," said Picard.

"Greetings Jean Luc," whispered Tar, bowing slightly. Picard reciprocated.

"Jean Luc Picard," said a calm female voice. "I am Lumi Dars and there is no need to feel awkward about holding us up. You may relax as none of us is offended."

"Lumi," scolded Molly. "You promised."

A dark haired, slightly built young woman walked over and took Picard's hand.

"It appears that I have over stepped," said Lumi. "Apologies, I meant no offence."

Picard smiled. "None taken."

"Then, let's get underway," said Glav.

"Yes, Professor," said Lumi, and turned back to Picard. "I'm also the driver. Once we're in flight, you must tell us about the object you were given."

"Lumi," said Molly, reprovingly.

"Sorry," said Lumi.

Glav gestured to a central work station.

"This is your chair, Jean Luc and would you do us the honour of getting us underway?"

Picard couldn't contain his enthusiasm. "Very well. Boconn Traffic Control, this is the-." He stopped. "What's this ship called Glav?"

Glav laughed. "Proxima."

" Traffic, this is civilian vessel, Proxima requesting clearance to exit."

"C.V. Proxima, you are cleared for departure."

"Lumi, clear all moorings then one quarter impulse and take us out."

"Moorings cleared, one quarter impulse." Through the viewscreen, industrial facades of the Boconn station, slid silently passed, eventually giving way to stars. "We have exited Boconn station," said Lumi. "Free to navigate."

"Lay in a course for Othallia, warp five."

"Course plotted and laid in."

Picard smiled at Glav, who nodded.

"Engage."

Through the viewscreen, the tiny crew watched Proxima's warp field form and then the image of Boconn recede into the distance.

"You enjoyed that," said Lumi.

Molly shot her another look but Picard simply smiled.

"You don't need to be telepathic to know that," he said. "How long till we reach the orbital habitat?"

"Thirty four hours," said Lumi. "Are you going to tell us about the artifact that you were handed back at the station?"

Glav cocked his head to one side. "Jean Luc, what is she talking about?"

Without comment, Picard reached into his pocket and pulled out the small cylinder.

"She's talking about this," he said. "As I was about to transport, someone from a race I didn't recognise handed this to me and ran away."

"Is it dangerous?" Sebi Tar had a habit of asking uncomfortable questions.

"I don't know for certain but I tend to think not," said Picard. "The strangest thing was that I felt compelled to take it from him, as if I was reclaiming a possession."

Glav held out his hand. "May I see, Jean Luc?"

Picard passed him the artifact. He watched the Castorian Professor meticulously examine the markings. It seemed as though he was mouthing words.

This wasn't lost on the others.

Molly came to stand next to Picard. "Is it a language, Professor?"

Glav looked up at them and smiled. "Yes and it's one that I am well acquainted with. It's root is a form of Triathian, possibly a national language or more likely a particular dialect."

Picard was suddenly excited again. "Can you translate it, Glav?"

"Yes," he said, distracted. "Let me have an hour and I should be able to tell you what it says."

Without waiting for a reply, Glav left the bridge. Picard stared at the turbo lift door for a moment then turned back to the others.

"Well, it appears that our adventure has already started, my friends. Is anyone hungry?"

Leaving the ship on computer control, they all left the bridge for the kitchen. At the stern of the ship was a modest reception area, where they all sat and ate a meal. The whole side wall was transparent from floor to ceiling, leaving the vastness of space to provide an awe inspiring backdrop.

Molly and Sebi sat across the table from Picard and Lumi. They all swapped stories and shared anecdotes consuming some pretty good replicator food and a few glasses of Romulan ale.

"So, Molly," said Picard. "How are your Mother and Father getting along?"

"Mum is now head botanist prepping an upcoming terraforming project near the Ceti Alpha system."

"Terraforming? That's a huge commitment," said Picard.

"She's not going with them," said Molly, giggling. "My dad would go crazy without her."

"So what is he doing? I understand that he finished teaching at Starfleet Academy."

"That's right, he's actually working on the terraforming machines that will be used on Ceti Alpha. They are working together."

Picard laughed, heartily. "Well, with the O'Brien's on the team, it's a project that has success written all over it."

"Oh by the way," said Molly, fishing something out of her pocket. "My dad wanted you to have this, he said he made it for you and that you would understand."

"I seem to be the recipient of many gifts today," said Picard.

Molly passed him something about the size of his fist crudely wrapped in brown paper. He ripped off the paper and there in his hand was a glass bottle and inside was an intricately detailed model of the Enterprise.

"Do you like it?"

"He loves it," said Lumi. "It reminds him of the time..."

"Lumi," said Molly. "You need to stop." She turned back to Picard. "Does it have significance?"

"Oh yes," said Picard. "When I commanded the Enterprise, we encountered a derelict Promellian battle cruiser and I likened its preserved state as being like a ship in a bottle. Your father was the only one who understood. I used to make models like this when I was a boy and your father admitted that he did as well. When we get back, you tell him that I understood his message. I'm hoping that what we find on Othallia may be so well preserved."

"You should tell him yourself," said Molly. "They would love to see you."

"And I them," said Picard. "You're absolutely right, I'll definitely go and see them."

Glav appeared, still holding the cylinder. He proffered it to Picard and sat at the end of the table. Picard looked at the tiny object and then met his friend's eye.

Lumi frowned "Something troubles you, Glav."

Picard frowned at his friend's apparent discomfort. "Do you know what it says?"

Glav looked serious. "Yes, I do and because of that, I'm confused. I was correct that it's Triathian, a very old variant that has only been found in very old writings that pre date the accepted technological expansion."

"There is something disturbing you," said Sebi. "Please elaborate?"

Glav called up a virtual padd and read the text that he had translated.

"In memoriam of crossing and the account of who dared to challenge the Separation. In balance there can be no further entrance. The wall is built outside of what can be seen. If fate sees undoing, there is no other end than destruction. No being, nor artificial nor vessel may pass, there is no other end than destruction."

"That's incredible," said Picard. "Written in some form ancient poetic verse."

Glav and Sebi laughed excitedly. Molly was beaming from ear to ear.

"A genuine message from the past," she said.

"Very uplifting," said Lumi. "I don't want to sound foolish but am I the only one who didn't understand a word of that."

The others laughed but she understood that it was not at her.

"Don't misunderstand excitement for knowledge," said Glav. "I have translated the text, I'm ninety percent accurate, some of the rarer verbs are unknown to me. Understanding what it says is another thing entirely."

"So you don't understand it?"

Glav shook his head. "Lumi this is a language that hasn't been spoken for six thousand years. All of my translations are based in part on conjecture. One of the things we are going to search for on Othallia is some form of linguistic key." He glanced at Molly and Picard. "The equivalent of the Rosetta stone, that helped humans translate their own ancient Egyptian language. There are many things about this ancient empire that we don't understand. For instance, we know that the race known as Triath was originally two completely different races from completely different worlds. Somehow, these two civilisations came together and not only became allies but joined together as one. We don't know how they did it."

"That's not that amazing," said Lumi. "The SeGan and the Yoif, met each other in open space and decided they liked each others planets, so they swapped. They are so integrated now that they are thought of as one race."

"Ah," said Picard. "But when the events took place with the Tirath, neither race had achieved warp capability."

"No capability?" Lumi looked astonished. "Then if there was no space travel, how did the two races meet?"

"It's the search for those answers that provokes ventures like ours," said Sebi.

Picard noticed that Molly had a question.

"What is it, Molly?"

"What is the Separation?"

Picard frowned. "You know, most people who hear a Triathian discourse usually ask about the verse structure or the underlying meaning. You are a lot like myself in this regard because the meaning of the Separation is the same thing that I asked when I first heard it mentioned. What little understanding we do have, suggests a barrier of some kind, maybe some form of segregation or class division in Triathian society. Whatever it turns out to be, it's clear from the writings already discovered that the Separation became the centre of their culture, almost like a religion. Its written in many places that anyone who crossed the Separation was instantly put to death. That's all we know, so far."

Molly nodded. "So the Separation could be anything. Interesting."