The trip back to the planet was a little shorter. Carter felt excited and apprehensive. Excited to be starting a new life on a new planet, to be literally building a new civilization, but apprehensive about the move and the change after so many years in their present situation. They had all become very comfortable in their surroundings.

Alan landed his Eagle smoothly and watched from his seat as the other eleven touched down in perfect wagon train formation. A large lake graced the valley that they landed in. Rolling hills and forests surrounded them as far as the eye could see. Across the lake, and quite a few miles beyond, a majestic mountain rose up to the clouds. Most could not believe their eyes. They had not set foot on real green grass since they had left Earth.

The Eagles were unloaded quickly and easily. A good sized base camp began to take shape as ten of the Eagles took off for Alpha. Two were left behind in case of any unforseen problems. As the hours passed, large domes littered the landscape in preparation for the next wave of "refugees."

John Koenig sat at his desk in Command Center watching the names roll past slowly on his monitor. This was the fifth list he had approved today. Sandra called to him and he stopped the scroll.

"Commander, the first wave has been deposited on the planet's surface and ten Eagles are now returning as ordered. Sandra reported.

"Thank you, Saun." Koenig rubbed his burning eyes. He had not slept since the night on the planet and it was taking a small toll. He called up the Eagle hanger and Samantha Carter's face appeared on his monitor. "Sam, how many more Eagles do you have ready?"

"Five are being loaded now, Commander." She checked her computer. "I also have three more that will be ready by morning."

"That'll do fine, Sam. We'll send them out in the morning. Also, have the night crew load the other ten as they return. Koenig out." He finished checking the list of names then announced to the personnel in the room. "All right everyone. Let's give it a rest for the night. We'll start back up in the morning. I want everyone to get a good nights sleep. We'll tackle this again tomorrow." John stood up then and walked out of the room. Instead of going to the lift, however he turned and walked toward Medical Center.

When he arrived, Koenig was happily surprised to find Catie was also there with her mother. He approached the two women with a broad smile. "My two favorite ladies!" John placed an arm around each of their shoulders and squeazed lovingly. "How about a bite to eat? I'm buying!"

Catie gave her father a hug, pulled away and walked toward the door. "I'd love to, but I can't. I promised that I'd be in the first round of a chess tournament that Linsey set up." Catie opened the door to the hall. "It was supposed to be started next week but with everything going on she thought the diversion would be nice. If all goes the way she plans, we'll have the final round on the planet." She giggled nervously and started to cross the threshold. "Of course knowing my luck, I'll be out tonight and just end up standing around watching. Well, see ya!" With that the door shut behind her and she was gone.

Koenig turned back to Helena. "And how about you m"lady? A little bread, a little cheese, a little wine? What do you say?"

Helena giggled quietly, the stress and long hours getting to her as well. "That sounds good if we can eat in our own room." She finished packing a container then went into her office. Koenig followed. "John, I know that this evacuation is good, and let's face it necessary, but I just want you to know that Bob Mathias and I have been talking." She paused for a moment. Koenig sat down in a nearby chair. "Go ahead."

Helena took a deep breath and continued. "We think it's important for you to understand that to most of the people on this base, this is a frightening experience. Already the older children are starting to voice concerns, fears." Helena moved to his side and knelt down. She placed her hands on his and looked into his eyes. "We just wanted you to be aware that for some the assimilation will not be easy."

Koenig smiled and kissed her, then standing pulled her to her feet. "Thank you, Doctor. It is dully noted and appreciated." He said affectionately putting his arm around her shoulders. "We'll all try and help each other make this an easy transition. Now let's go home, have something to eat, and get a good nights rest."

"As soon as Dr. Zelic comes on duty for the night." As if on cue Dr. Zelic walked into the Medical Center. "Commander; Doctor." He acted very professional as he set to work packing yet another container.

"There you go." Koenig whispered in his wife's ear. "The cavalry has arrived. Let's go!" He took her by the hand and led her out the door.

Contrary to what some might have believed, the rec"room was a flurry of activity. The large room was filled with Moonbase Alpha's younger generation. They played video games, sat lounging in chairs or on couches and the entire room was a buzz of voices.

All except one quiet corner. A group of people stood around two tables watching the first round of the LAST MOONBASE ALPHA CHESS TOURNAMENT. Sitting at the tables were Catie Koenig playing against Antonia Verdeschi and Linsey Mathias playing against Leo Vlascez, an Eagle technician.

Everyone in the room turned to stare at the chess corner as a woman's squeal was heard above the crowd. Catie stood and was hugging several people in the crowd. She repeated over and over, "I've won! I can't believe I won!" Amidst all of this Antonia studied the chess board, shaking her head occasionally.

Realizing that she had definitely been defeated, Antonia stood and gave Catie a hug, congratulating her. After that the small group huddled around the remaining table to see who would win the next game.

At O"seven hundred hours an announcement was sent to all day personnel for duty call. Tony Verdeschi groaned and rolled over to wrap Maya in his arms. When his hands found only sheets and pillows he was wide awake. He sat up, throwing back the covers. "Maya?" he called.

Maya popped her head in through the bedroom door. "Get up, Tony! Your flight leaves in two hours!"

Shaking his head to clear it of sleep, Tony yelled back to her. "What flight? I'm not going anywhere!" He sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed his face with his hands. Maya yelled back from the living room. "You're scheduled for the O"nine hundred flight! Didn't you read the roster?"

Tony was on his feet in a flash. Pulling on his robe, he almost ran straight into Maya as she was coming into the bedroom. He grabbed her shoulders to stop her from trying to pass. "What do you mean, my name's on the schedule?" He let her go, almost shoving her away.

Tony raced to the communications post and called the Commander. "John, how did my name get on the list to evacuate today?"

Koenig had only just climbed out of bed himself and was not in the mood to hear complaints first thing. "I want you to go down with the next wave and make sure that everything is going smoothly. You'll come back up at the end of the day to oversee the next days evac." Koenig rubbed his hands across his wooly face. "Let me shower and shave and I'll discuss it in detail when we go on shift." He turned off the monitor and headed for the bath.

Maya followed as Tony raced to the bathroom to shower. "Tony, I told the Commander to put your name on the roster."

"You did? Why?" Tony stopped and turned to face her.

Maya looked down at her hands as she spoke. "When I saw Antonia's name on the list I got worried and thought that you could go with her and make sure that she gets settled okay." She looked up at him. "I can't go, but two security can. I didn't think that you'd mind making sure that your daughter would be all right." She looked at him sheepishly.

He smiled and stepped forward and embraced her. "I never can resist those puppy eyes. I don't mind going down, but I'll be back before nightfall. Agreed?" Tony asked. Maya shook her head and left him to get ready.

Commander Koenig walked into Command Center still half asleep. He turned on the monitor and Alan Carter responded. "Alan what have you got ready for us this morning?" Koenig took a sip of coffee.

"It's a beautiful day on the planet, Commander. I just called down and they've been up for two hours. They're ready for the next batch." Carter's enthusiasm exuded from every pore. "As soon as you give the word I've got eighteen Eagles up and running!"

Koenig couldn't help but smile at Alan. "Okay, send half of them down in an hour and the other half two hours after." Alan agreed and Koenig turned off the monitor.

The first nine Eagles that had gone to the planet's surface were filled with teachers, security guards and almost the entire base medical staff. They only had two hours before the children were to arrive. They were shocked to see the small "city" of domes that would become home, school and office for awhile.

They were nearly ready when the other nine Eagles, full of anxious and excited children, touched down several feet away from the domes. As the doors of the Eagles opened they marveled at the beauty of things that they had only seen before in pictures.

Sonja made sure that she and her belongings had been placed on Paul's Eagle. Now as the doors opened she squeezed his hand and pumped it up and down in her enthusiasm. "Look Paul! Isn't it beautiful?! Have you ever seen anything like this outside of a book? It's so pretty! Don't you think it's pretty, Paul?!"

Paul tried to politely disengage himself as he answered. "Nope, I've never seen anything like it. I have to go help my father so..." Sonja walked down the steps with him, determined not to lose him. "Goody! I'll go with you!" Paul was about to despair of ever getting rid of the little girl when rescue came from an unlikely source.

Antonia didn't exactly care for Sonja, she thought the little girl talked way too much, but seeing Paul's predicament made her feel sorry for him. "Hey, Sonja!" She called from where she stood between the Eagles and the lake. "Come and see this! It's just like the pool on Alpha except you can't see the bottom!"

That was enough to interest little Sonja's mind. With a heartfelt apology, she ran for the lake, calling back over her shoulder. "See you later, Paul!"

"This is a lake." Sonja announced upon her arrival.

"I know." Antonia answered idly. She figured that Paul would owe her big for this.

"Doctor Linsey let me borrow a real paper book that her dad owned and it had all kinds of mountains and trees and lakes in it. Did you ever see that book?" Sonja stuck her hand in the water. "Oh! It's cold!"

"What did you expect?" Antonia laughed and walked a few feet away.

Sonja followed trying to walk and act like Antonia. "Oh, I knew it would be cold I...ah...didn't know it would be that cold."

Antonia shot her a look of announce and just kept walking slowly. They soon came to a large grove of bushes growing along side the lake. The young Psychon turned around to go back and collided with Sonja. "Sorry." The little girl muttered. "Just give a little distance, okay." Was all Antonia said.

After a few moments Sonja regained her courage. "Can you change into something?"

"Yes." Antonia answered.

"Can you change into...a kitten?" Sonja had wanted one ever since her mother had shown her a picture and told her about them.

"No." Antonia reply curtly.

"Why not?"

"Because I can't."

"Why not? Don't you want to?" Sonja whined.

"No."

"Awe, please Antonia." Sonja begged.

Antonia turned suddenly and bent down to face her. "No I can not turn into anything that isn't humanoid and, no I really don't want to anyway." Antonia stood and looked around. "Look, I'm going back to the Eagles. Why don't you stay here and memorize something." She began to walk toward the Eagles. "Oh! Don't go near the water without an adult."

"Okay Antonia." Disheartened, Sonja knew when she was being brushed off. She decided to do just what Antonia suggested. She walked toward the grove of bushes memorizing every detail of all she saw.

When she got to the edge of the bushes something moved inside them. She looked inside, startled. "Hello?" She said tentatively. The bushes moved again. Sonja looked round and wondered if she should go back to the Eagles but curiosity got the better of her. Cautiously she stepped closer, pressing her body against the branches.

Suddenly, nine of the Eagles took off with a thunderous roar. Sonja threw herself onto the ground holding her ears. When the noise died down she took her hands from her ears and opened her eyes. She was facing the bushes. Staring back at her were two brown eyes. The eyes moved back slowly and Sonja saw a nose and mouth. She moved forward slightly, nearly touching the base of a bush. "Hi." She said quietly. The eyes stopped. "My name is Sonja. What's yours?" She almost whispered. The eyes moved little closer. Words were spoken in a whisper that Sonja did not understand. Then she suddenly remembered a movie her mother had taken her to see in the theatre. Placing her hand on her chest she spoke slowly. "Sonja." Then she pointed to the pair of eyes. Nothing happened so the little girl tried again. This time the mouth opened and one word was spoken. "Noya."