FINAL DAWN

This is my first story and I hope you enjoy it. Please read & review as I enjoy CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. This work is set approximately 5 years after Nemesis. I hope to update one to two chapters a week. All characters except ones I will specifically mention as well as the Star Trek name and theme are owned by Paramount. And remember this is science FICTION.

Assumptions: USS Titan is a Sovereign class vessel. That Data was resurrected by wiping out Lore's complete memory and using him and B4's downloaded memory ingrams to create a clone. The Romulans have just signed a non-aggression/peace treaty with the Federation.

Chapter 1

Captain's Ready Room USS Titan

"Captain Riker we have a incoming message from Starfleet" the communicator beeped. "Send it through." Riker replied.

"Admiral Nitosh how good to see you"

"Good to see you Riker. Its good to see you back from the Romulus."

"Yes its always good to have friends as you push deeper into space."

Admiral Nitosh suddenly got very serious. "Riker I called to order you to rendevous with the Enterprise at these coordinates. There you are to wait for Code 9Z9."

Riker suddenly got serious too. "Yes sir. Is there anything else?"

"No, but good luck."

"Thank You. Riker out."

Riker leaned back in his seat. A Code 9Z9 was something that Riker never heard of until he became the captain of the Titan. It meant that information was so sensitive that even highly coded subspace channels could not be used, so a ship actually brought the information to the captain. If Riker's hunch was correct this was going to be an extremely dangerous mission if two ships were being called. Also why the Enterprise. Captain Picard was due to retire in three months and take over as the head of Starfleet Academy.

Now even more worried he expected Deanna to be coming in here in a matter of seconds. As if on cue she entered his ready room and even without her telepathy could see something was wrong by the look on his face.

"What's wrong?"

"I can't tell you right now, but we have to get going."

"Where?" Deanna asked, realizing it was classified information that had worried her husband.

"To rendevous with the Enterprise."

Riker got up, took his wives hand and went onto the bridge.

"Lieutenant Shar, ship announcement. "To all crew and families of the Titan we have been given new orders. I cannot say where we are going right now but I know I can count on your proffesionalism. Also there will be no more outside communication either outgoing in incoming until further notice. Thank You for your continued service. Red Alert! Ensiegn Rosk make course to rendevous with the Enterprise at 160 Mk 2."

"Course laid in sir."

"Warp 9, engage."

Observation Lounge, USS Enterprise

Captain Picard had the same reaction as his former first officer. This isn't any regular mission he thought, and now he had just informed his senior staff about something he did not even know about.

"That's all." Geordi asked.

"Yes, but I want every singe one of you to start working to make sure every area of the ship is in perfect working order. I don't know what we will be doing, but there should be no surprises from this ships systems failing."

"The Titan should be here in two hours and 47 minutes" Data said.

"Any word on how long we will be waiting for this message?" Worf asked.

"No, but I would think it won't be long. So, if that is all dismissed."

Picard knew that the code went far deeper than just information control. The code 9Z9 was also a prelude to being ordered to the nearest starbase and offloading all non-essential personnel and taking on supplies for an extended mission. In other words it was a possible suicide mission.

Bridge USS Enterprise

Data was carrying out his duties getting the ship ready for an extended mission. As first officer it was his job to make sure the ship was in excellent shape.

Although Data had been back for over a year now he still wondered why he was here. Three years ago a group of cyberneticists including Dr. T'Oral, Data's sponsor since he was recovered by Starfleet, had used the memory ingrams Data had downloaded into B4 to reconstruct Data from his evil brother Lore. As it turned out after the Borg incident with Lore, when Lore was shot he activated a program that completely erased his personality. In other words he committed suicide. It took a little over a year for Data to ever wake up and another six months for him to recover and relearn what had been damaged. And although Data was grateful to be alive he still questioned his ability to function at the expense of his now non-existent brother. Geordi would say that Data is now more reserved and quiet, prefering to spend his free time alone. What was also hard for Data was that he had no recolection of the Shinzon incident. Dr. T'Oral had thought that the overlapping pathways in B4's memory would be to confusing for Data to be downloaded.

"Captain Titan is 15 minutes out." Data radioed to Picard.

"10-4 I'll be there in a minute."

"Prepare for transporter crossover" Data ordered. Since both ships shields were up they would have to link their transporters so they could beam each other over.

15 minutes later the Titan came cruising in.

"Good to see you Will." Picard remarked to his old friend

"Nice to see you too Captain."

"Beam over Will they are coming here."

"Understood. Riker out."

State Room USS Enterprise

10 minutes later Picard and Riker were sitting in the most secure room on board. Every ship had a small room dedicated for secure conversations that were to be monitored by no one. Entry requires a full biometric scan, and there were no computers allowed in the room. Even the personal communicators worn by everyone had to be left outside. The room was nothing more than a metal box near the warp core.

"Any idea what this is about Captain" Riker asked. Although Picard had told Riker numerous times to call him Jean-Luc he still wouldn't.

"No but if I am right we will know soon enough."

"I just hope it doesn't have to do with the rumors of the sectarian violence in the Gamma Quadrant."

The doorway opened, and Admiral Janeway walked in the room.

"Good Afternoon Captains"

"Hello Admiral" Riker and Picard replied in unison.

"I have brought our orders."

Both Picard and Riker produced their Captain's key to unlock the case that held the orders.

Admiral Janeway gave each Captain a folder with the mission information.

Admiral Janeway began speaking "First, I am taking operation command of this mission and will have my staff and quarters here on the Enterprise. Second, we were chosen for this mission because my expertise in the region of space we might be going through and also your close bond makes you perfect to work together on this mission, as well as your superior service records."

"In 2215 a Vulcan emmissary gave the newly formed Federation a specialized one of a kind crystal that was capable of producing enough power for the entire planet. The Vulcan's had been using such a crystal for years but had decided to bestow it upon the Federation as a gesture of good will. A young lieutenant studied the properties of the crystal and learned that it could very easily be turned into a powerful weapon. He decided the technology was to dangerous to leave in the hands of any race. He stole the crystal and disappeared."

"Two weeks ago there was an partial subspace message received by Starbase 563. They calculated the origin to be the far side of the Delta Quadrant. The message was as follows "United Federation of Planets, static, Lieutenant Cyprus reports that Tulrelian Crystal, static, output still 100, static, end message" Our mission is go and retrieve the crystal possible and return it to Vulcan. We are also authorized to destroy it if nessecary."

"How are we supposed to get to the far side of the Delta Quadrant?" Riker asked. Picard gave a cautious smile to that always liking Will's direct approach.

"I have brought new equipment with me that will allow us to use the Borg's transwarp conduits to propell us that far."

"Admiral why all the secrecy, what haven't you told us?" Picard repplied.

"Captains, the crystal supplies the Vulcan planets core with the natural energy to keep the planet spinning. For the last 180 years they have been able to use synthetic energy to compensate, but now the minor imperfections with the synthetic energy are causing sever shear stress to the planets core. Unless we return the crystal to Vulcan the planet will explode in a approximatley two years."

Now the captains understood the extreem secrecy of the mission. And the Federation was correct, if Vulcan is in danger than it is worth major sacrifice to save it. Even if it meant confrontation with the deadly Borg.

"Gentleman we are to proceed to DS9 and disembark all nonessential personell. Crew with families may put in for a transfer and they will be replaced. After our supplies and new equipment is installed we will disembark and lock down all communications. Then you may inform your staff and crew as you see fit."

"What other equipment is going to be installed besides the new transwarp system." Riker asked.

"Something from your past Captain the Pegasus cloaking device. It has been worked on and perfected by our engineers in the event we would ever need it, and before you ask both the Klingon High Council and the Romulan praetor have approved its usage for this mission only."

Nethier Riker nor Picard were pleased with this information. The Federation had agreed not to pursue cloaking technology, and furthermore the cloaking device was extreemly powerful having the ability to allow a ship to pass though ordinary matter.

"If that is all we should get underway."

"Yes mam." both Captains replied in unison.