The authors would like to thank the following people who contributed to making this story happen.

Dr. Robert J. Nemiroff, our Science Officer, for his outstanding “virtual trip” to a black hole (http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/rjn_bht.html), his patience in answering our questions, and the very cool spreadsheet on gravitational effects at distance.

Keith R.A. DeCandido for his support and tireless work. Marco Palmieri for the hand-off introduction to Keith and the Starfleet Corps of Engineers.

Our families who put up with all the science and technobabble. We just can’t help it.