I was in my ready room looking over reports when Amanda rang my bell. "Come." "Captain; may I speak with you?" "Sure Amanda. Take a seat. Would you like something to drink?" "I would. Raktajino is fine." I smiled. "I was going to suggest that." I replicated them and gave her one. "What's on your mind?" "Starfleet still doesn't like the fact we won't bring Voyager home; especially now." "Yes; but I'm sure you saw the same outcome as I did." She nodded. "Voyager will cripple the Borg hub there in a few years. This will buy the fed many years of relief." "Precisely. Did they order you to bring them home?" "No; but they wanted to." I shrugged. "I won't bring them home; orders or not." She nodded. "I agree with your wisdom captain." "How is the crew doing?" "Morale is good overall. They're a little scared; but it's understandable; but they also know what we can do. That helps a lot."

I stood and walked over to the small window with my coffee in my hands. "I want to use our power for exploration and seeking knowledge; not for hurting others." "Agreed captain; that is my hope too. The continuum ordered me to liaise between our two worlds; just as you do for Olympus." "Will the relevant Q be meddling in our affairs?" "No. You're more powerful than he is. He knows this and won't push it." "Good. I want him out of federation affairs in general." She nodded. "I told the continuum this in advance. They...will try to keep him muzzled." We shared a small smile. That should be enough.

"I saw our future agenda," she said. "It will be full of exploration at some point. We will help map the galaxy's remainder; we will go to other galaxies and maybe beyond that. The Excelsior will help things occur more readily/faster than they would otherwise." "Mm. Not that I'm in any hurry to map out everything." "No sir. That takes away the mystery." I retook my seat. "The fed needs us more than ever; or more than it would ever care to admit." She nodded. "The war took much - life property - hope and idealism." "Yes; we need to restore that anew. Starfleet already has great leaders that are doing that; but we have the proven foresight they don't. We should be the mentors that trickster Q can never be."

Amanda sighed. "Q was a difficult mentor; but most often are. He did bring out the best in me. It's always tough love with him." "He's not my brother but his methods will not be compatible with this ship; my ship." I didn't want to sound like a possessive lunatic by saying that but a captain had to run his ship the way he needed to. And having gods meddle in that would not do. "I totally understand sir; and I will do everything in my power to make certain that is the case." "I know Amanda; I don't blame you for this."

"Donatra to captain." "Go ahead number one." "Sir, the Enterprise is closing in." We shared a look. "On our way." We recycled our beverages and swiftly rejoined the bridge crew. Amanda said, "They've had a big mission change. It has to do with the Romulans. We'll be working together." I nodded. She took her station while I stood between ops and conn. "Hail them."

"Captain Prince; congratulations are in order." "Thank you Captain Picard; as always I wish the circumstances were better." "As do I captain; but we are creatures of duty; solemn duty." "Yes. All too true. What can Excelsior do for Enterprise?" "I'd prefer to wait until we arrive; prying ears and all of that." I motioned toward Amanda. "I believe you remember Mister Rogers." "Oh yes indeed. And in Starfleet too now. Welcome back." "Thank you sir. Mister Crusher is chief engineer now." "Wonderful. You have some very fine men and women serving with you captain." "I do indeed captain. In any event, Mister Rogers still has her Q powers. She can secure our transmission." I could see Picard's normal discomfort there. Whenever captains had captained gods in the past it hadn't worked out well; Gary Mitchell, Q Riker and so on. Amanda had left the Enterprise for similar reasons. This was the first time in Starfleet history that a god was a captain. If anyone could captain fellow gods it was me (I'd led the JLA/Avengers too after all). If I could resist my brother's constant temptations to join him in darkness could I not captain godly others without succumbing to similar darkness...?

"If you don't mind captain, I'd prefer to wait until we meet in person." "Of course. See you soon then. Prince out."

XXX

Enterprise arrived within the hour and Picard joined me in my ready room. He entered and shook my hand. "Welcome aboard captain." "Jean Luc will be fine now captain." "Diana then. Earl grey?" "Please." I got that for him and raktajino for myself. "So what can I do for my fellow captain?" "Starfleet wants us to team up to deal with this Romulan situation." I nodded. "Makes sense. You have the experience with them and we have the power." "That's right. As for chain..." "Enterprise is fed flagship." "Yes. Now, I don't mean this to step on your toes..." "Hardly Jean Luc. I'm a team player." "Yes. How has the addition of Mister Donatra been for the crew?" "Beneficial for me; in time the same for everyone else. She's already given much; and my lasso established her trustworthiness early on. She'll make a fine number one." "You call yours that too?" "Yeah. I'm a sucker for tradition." "Indeed; and this is hardly the first time our ships' namesakes have worked together; and well I might add." "Yes; hopefully the same will prove true here." "Somehow I don't doubt it."

"What are my orders?" "Starfleet wants us to play something of celestial referee with this civil war. With Mister Rogers aboard with her powers that will make it even more possible. They want us to hit/run vital targets; such as WMDs and what not; thalaron being top among them." I nodded. "Surgical strikes to keep things conventional between them." "Precisely. Starfleet believes if it stays conventional it might cause both parties to stop fighting and work something out." I sighed in thought at that. "You're skeptical?" I shrugged. "Aren't you?" He nodded. "Yes. Dealing with the Romulans is very different than dealing with the Klingons. Klingon matters, albeit complex, are typically less enigmatic than Romulan ones. And that is just with the Romulans. Add the Remans and it becomes totally different."

"Diana; you may have the hardest job of all." "Because I have a Q aboard." "Yes; and of the knowledge that Mister Crusher possesses from journeying with the traveler. Such power could change everything; for better or worse." "Understood. In some ways I may be the only captain who can juggle it all. I do it as wonder woman all the time." "That's true. Anyway, I'm here for you if you need it." We stood and shook hands. "Thanks Jean Luc; I appreciate that." "Congrats again on everything." "Now, as Kirk once said, let's make a difference." "I couldn't have said it better captain."