28
Future's History
On Starbase 1, a bell chime interrupts Admiral Picard's gaze out through the hatch viewport of his ready room. He straightens out his uniform and faces the entrance.
"Come," announces Admiral Picard in vintage fashion.
Tuvok enters Admiral Picard's ready room and stands at attention. "Admiral."
Admiral Picard retrieves his PADD.
"I have reviewed the report on the Enterprise-A's encounter with the Breen battleship. It would seem the Enterprise-A is somewhat immune to the modified Breen weapon,"
"It would appear so, Admiral," replies Tuvok.
Admiral Picard smiles coyly.
"Then it would also seem history is about to repeat itself, commander,"
"I do not follow, Admiral,"
Admiral Picard nods in acknowledgement.
"Approximately four hundred years ago, before Earth was unified, humans fought their last major war. Historians refer to it as World War II. At the close of the war, America, a nation on Earth, was forced into conflict when another nation, Japan, orchestrated a surprise attack on an American naval base called Pearl Harbor. By all accounts the attack was a success and the Japanese inflicted tremendous damage to the naval fleet stationed at Pearl Harbor. The attack however failed to sink three ships; the Yorktown, the Dauntless and the Enterprise. These three ships would prove pivotal in turning the tide of war and changing the course of human history, forever."
Admiral Picard taps his PADD.
"Re-commission the Yorktown and the Dauntless and see to it that the exact modifications are made to them as to the Enterprise-A,"
"Yes sir,"
"Perhaps history will repeat itself once again,"
"Sir, I would be remiss in my duty not to remind you that the statistical odds of three aging ships winning the war against the Breen are zero,"
"I am well aware, commander. What I do believe, is that these three ships will boast the morale of our fleet. Perhaps, even give us the time we desperately need," says Admiral Picard. "Time to finish what we have started; time to turn the tide of war, to our favour."
Tuvok acknowledges with a subtle nod.
"Will that be all, Admiral?"
"Yes, Commander,"
Tuvok takes his leave.
Admiral Picard stands up and returns to the hatch window and peers out. Beyond the glass, thousands of engineers work furiously upon skeleton superstructure of the Enterprise-F.
THE END