The two ships are docked together once again, this time augmenting the salvage of the USS Cochrane onto both ships. With most of the senior officers off duty (except for both CMOs, who are still busy with the wounded), they enjoy an early breakfast in the Admonitor's mess hall. Both captains are able to have a personal, face-to-face discussion, which they haven't had in ages. Lianna Young congratulates Shield for his actions, and remarks that he should try to run for admiral if they ever beat Sanders. Shield says that he doesn't care for the admiralty, saying that he's always known that his life's goal lay elsewhere, beyond the mundane task of sitting behind a desk and running the Federation, though he says that he is unsure as to what exactly it is.