"Oh. But you have space travel where you're from still?" Huh. McCoy thought about it for a minute and just couldn't conceive of a world with space travel but no Starfleet. It just wasn't possible. Starfleet had been around practically forever! Still, it wasn't like he minded talking about what he did.

"Starfleet is basically a peacekeeping and research force back home. My ship, in particular, we're explorers. Out on a five-year mission to see what's out there basically. Making diplomatic contact with unknown races. Helping cultures that happen to be in a spot of trouble. Stopping natural disasters that would wipe out whole civilizations without exposing ourselves . . ." He scowled at that memory. Damn fool captain stunning their god damned ride!

McCoy noticed the way the man rubbed his wrist, but he didn't comment on it. Yet, "Yeah. I certainly can't see why I'd be picked to go without against someone else. It's not due to talents or profession as far as I can tell, since they didn't seem to give a damn when I told 'em I was a doctor." Yelled it actually. Screamed it even. Didn't seem to do any good though, "So does everyone just fly around in space ships where you come from? Or is there some greater purpose?"