Starting with Lyra

Cohen strode forward.

Lyra's eyes, as always, held a distant indifference, forcing Cohen's almost outstretched hands to clench tightly in restraint.

'How have you been all these years? Were you hurt? How did you come back?'—A thousand questions swirled in his mind, but in the end, he only saluted and said, "Rear Admiral Shedd, welcome back."

Lyra showed no sign of emotion as she returned the salute. "It's good to see you again, Vice Admiral Whyte."

In the brief silence that followed, the three years of separation created a chasm of unfamiliarity between them.

"How did you end up in the Empire?" Cohen asked.

Lyra replied calmly, "We drifted through space for three years. Not long ago, we finally found a human settlement and happened to encounter Lieutenant Scarvici."

Cohen glanced at Scarvici, who nodded hurriedly, confirming Lyra's words.