Disclaimer:
Star Trek, Star Trek: TOS, Star Trek: TMP, Star Trek: WOK, Star Trek: TNG, the U.S.S. Enterprise, all canon events and characters are the copyright and property of CBS/Paramount. All original characters and story elements belong to me.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
A/N: 07-2020 – I have re-written Chapter 1 to tie together the Voyager, Next Generation and Picard franchises into a beautiful micro story that sets the stage for Legacy.
A/N: 07-2021 – I have edited the story for minor mistakes and to emphasis the inner conflict Picard faced.
STAR TREK
LEGACY
EPISODE I: TRIAL BY FIRE
1
Legends
Stardate 5880.0607 (June 7th, 2387 AD).
Accented by fluorescent whites and blues, Starbase 10 glows brilliantly against the backdrop of starry space. It floats blissful in orbit around the fifth planet of the Deneva star system at the edge of the Beta Quadrant. In terms of a rather famous omnipotent being, Starbase 10 'is not even a stone's throw away' from the heart of the Romulan Star Empire, Romulus.
On the command deck of Starbase 10, Commander Tuvok enters his office with a greater speed than his usual poised pace and activates his desk console. Starfleet Command's emblem flashes while making the critical subspace connection and a moment later Admiral Janeway emerges on the screen of his console.
"Commander Tuvok," she regards. "Old friend, how are you?"
"Admiral, my apologizes, but I must dispense with the pleasantries at this time."
Janeway's expression hardens. "Go on."
"The Hobus star has exploded."
Janeway almost falls out of her chair. "When did this happen?"
"Our scans indicate the explosion occurred only thirty minutes ago, Admiral."
She stiffens up in disbelief. "Was there any sign the Hobus star was about to nova?"
"No Admiral," replies Tuvok.
"What about Ambassador Spock's mission?"
"From preliminary reports, Ambassador Spock was unable to inhibit the blast wave of the Hobus supernova with red matter."
"Damn," mutters Janeway while turning away from the viewscreen for a moment then returning her attention back. "Do you believe there was an outside force that induced its destruction?"
"At this time, Admiral there is no evidence to support that hypothesis. However, according to Ambassador Spock's analysis, the Hobus star was many months away from a supernova."
"The rescue fleet?"
"As we speak, the rescue fleet is in orbit around Romulus and Admiral Picard is on the surface of Romulus coordinating the evacuation effort," replies Commander Tuvok. "Admiral, Ambassador Spock report predicts that the supernova will propagate through subspace at multi-warp velocity."
"Commander, remind me – how many Romulans are still left on the surface of Romulus?"
"At last count, 18,356,140,571, Admiral."
Janeway's eyes float down for a moment and then return to the viewer.
"How long will the blast wave take to reach Romulus?"
"According to the last telemetry reading of the wave's velocity, it will hit Romulus in less than three earth hours."
"I will need to contact Admiral Picard at once!" exclaims Janeway. "Commander, return to Starbase 1 immediately. Janeway out."
=/\=
Admiral Picard squints as he brings a hand to his head to shield his eyes from the rays of Rhea, the homestar of the planet of Romulus. He stands at the base of lush trees that line a body of water. Beyond the water rises the city of Rimilius, it sprawls with immense beauty as it attempts to touch the Romulan sky above. At opposite angles to the Rhea, shine two moons. Pirek and Elveng gleam with white curves as they hover above the Re'chara mountain range. For a moment Picard reflects on what he sees, in all my travels, this place is the one of the most wonderous I have ever seen.
"Admiral!" calls out a young female officer. "Admiral!"
"Sir, we are receiving a coded subspace transmission from Starfleet command," she reports.
Picard acknowledges the message with a visible nod and makes his way towards a modular encampment. He enters the largest of the Starfleet issue grey metallic modules designated with Starfleet emblems as the forward operating command post. Inside, the cool interior provides relief to Picard's lungs from the harsh humid air of Romulus. Picard arrives at his office and swivels the console screen into view.
"Priority one transmission," intones the LCARS console.
"Computer – Recognize – Picard, Jean Luc. Authorization Charlie-One-Bravo, Sigma-Pie-Zeta-Mandelbrot-Four."
"Identity confirmed," replies the LCARS interface.
Starfleet's emblem disappears and replaced by the image of Admiral Janeway at her desk.
"Admiral Picard!" exclaims Janeway in a desperate voice.
"Picard here, go ahead."
"Jean-Luc," replies Janeway with relief; short lived though, as her tone turns stark. "The Hobus star has exploded."
Her words catch Picard completely of guard and his eyes momentarily rise above the screen in disbelief.
"Ambassador Spock was unable to prevent the blast wave." she continues in an urgent
tone. "You need to get your people out of there."
Hope drains quickly out of Picard's body, forcing him to take a chair and sink into it slowly.
"Jean-Luc," Janeway stresses her voice to regain the Admiral's attention. "The wave will hit Romulas in less than 3 hours, perhaps even sooner," says Janeway, then momentarily looks away from the screenview as to ward back the pain of the message she carries within her before returning her gaze. "You don't have enough time to evacuate the entire planet."
"Kathryn –," exclaims Picard with calm conviction. "I will not leave these people here to die. The Federation has made it clear that the plight of the Romulan people is not a politically convenient issue."
"This isn't about politics, Jean-Luc," rebuts Janeway.
"Isn't it?" questions Picard. "In my experience Admiral, Starfleet has always had an issue with the truth. Be it personal truth, or political truth, or self-evident truth. No man of good conscience can turn away from what is happening here. We are abandoning these people."
Janeway pauses for a moment and then straightens her back and raises her head with authority.
"I can't order you to leave, but I will order the fleet to do so," Eying her counterpart square through the viewscreen. "I would, rather not, Admiral."
"Then don't," snaps Picard.
Janeway turns away from the screen for a moment to let out a sigh. "I know this is hard to hear Jean-Luc," in a conciliatory voice, which then hardens. "But you have a duty to do so."
"My first duty is upholding the principles of the Federation," rebuts Picard with conviction.
"No Admiral," rebuts Janeway. "Your first duty is and always will be to Starfleet, and your first responsibility is to the people under you command. I see no other alternative, stay if you wish, but the fleet leaves."
"Give me two hours, Admiral," pleads Picard.
"The risk is too great," Janeway purses her lips while nodding her head. "You have one hour, Admiral."
Picard's gaze falls, "Understood."
"Janeway out."
Picard watches as the vivid colors of the Starfleet emblem dims to nothingness. Processing his situation Picard comes to one conclusion, Janeway is right. Regardless of how Starfleet felt about rescuing Romulans, his first responsibility is to those he commands. In the past, when his heart and mind were diametrical opposed, Picard always followed his gut. Right now, it was telling him, screaming at him, it is time to leave.
Picard's face begins to redden in rage; for today, the stars are not with him. Valuable time had been lost in the political struggle to assemble the fleet. Leaving now would mean abandoning billions of Romulans to certain death. In a burst of anger, Picard pushes the viewscreen clear of his desk. He does so with such force that for a moment it sails across the room, almost levitating above the ground, before striking the ground. It crashes, exploding into a million pieces.
Admiral Picard returns outside, back under the rays of Rhea. This time he stares out beyond the horizon and watches the thousands of Romulan civilians' stream towards transporter pads and shuttle pads waiting to escape, all while thinking to himself, at what moment does he order the fleet to abandon them.
=/\=
"Admiral on the bridge," calls out an officer.
Admiral Picard disembarks Turbo Lift 1 and steps on to the bridge of the Enterprise-E. Captain Hypatia rises from the captain's chair to greet him.
"Admiral," she regards.
"Captain," returning a stoic regard.
Science officer Drak turns from his station. "Captain, sensors are detecting an unusually energy wave," reports tactical officer. "It seems…"
"It is approaching at multi-warp velocity," finishes Admiral Picard.
"Yes, yes – sir," agrees the science officer with surprise. "Sir, how did you…"
Admiral Picard raises his hand to interrupt the science officer's ramblings.
"Operations, open a channel to all Starfleet personnel on the planet's surface."
"Aye, sir," replies the lieutenant at operations control.
Picard laces his arms and raises his head. "Attention: All Starfleet personnel on the surface of Romulus, this is Admiral Picard," he announces. "Cease all operations and return immediately to your assigned starship. I repeat, cease all evacuation efforts and return to your assigned starship, now. Picard out."
His words are shocking to all on the bridge, most of all Captain Hypatia. Only a few days ago, he reminisced in the ready room how he had begged the Federation counsel to intervene. Now, he is asking the fleet to leave at the pinnacle of the rescue effort. Captain Hypatia comes to Picard's side to clarify his orders.
"Sir…," almost stuttering her words as confusion races through her mind. "…we've haven't finished evacuating the civilians."
Picard ignores her reservations and continues giving out orders, "Once all personnel have returned and are accounted for, prepare the fleet to break orbit."
"Admiral!" with sharp firmness.
"That is an order, Captain!" barks back Picard.
Officers on the bridge freeze at their stations and stop in their tracks. Picard notices the crew's reaction as an awkward silence falls over the bridge.
"Sara," he sighs and follows with a soft smile, then turns to the crew.
"To the crew of the Enterprise, know that you have all upheld the fundamental principles that form the very foundation of the Federation. Your actions today, have affirmed, without doubt, that there is courage in humility, bravery in conviction, and strength in compassion. That in times of uncertainty, the dignity and respect of those in despair are upheld, that our principals never waiver, and that humanity that forms our very core – remains intact.
"However, regardless of our progress, all personnel are to return to their respective starships immediately. The fleet is to break orbit of Romulus within one hour of this time mark, is that understood."
"Aye, sir," replies Captain Sara Hypatia.
=/\=
On the outskirts of Rimilius, the largest city on Romulus, thousands of civilians wait to be rescued. Several dozen temporary transporter pads beam off civilians while others line up to board transport shuttles to ferry them off the planet. Cadet Chloe Onsetter helps several Romulans board a transport shuttle.
"That's it," calling off some Romulan civilians trying to board.
Confusion falls over the young junior cadet. "Huh?"
Pilot Aadesh Kirakat hops out of his seat. "We've received orders to regroup with the fleet."
"What? Why?"
"I don't know and it doesn't matter," Kirakat retorts and tilts his head to the passengers. "Get them settled in. We are leaving, now."
Chloe notices, two young girls, sisters, standing, waiting at the foot of the shuttle transport. In a moment of defiance, she grabs the two girls and scoops them up into her arms. Instinctively, the parents confront her for the out of character act.
"What are you doing?" asks the father.
"We have to leave, now."
The mother of the two sisters tries to take the girls back from the overzealous cadet but the father catches his wife's arm and holds it back before she can reach the cadet. She swings her head back at her husband while giving him a look of scorn. However, the father never takes his eyes of his pink skinned rescuer.
"Let's go!" screams out Kirakat from behind.
"Will you return?" he asks with a very faint voice as not to alert the others in line.
Chloe returns no answer, but upon scanning the young woman's face, the expression on it speaks volumes.
"Go," with a sharp, curt tone. "Now."
She gives a subtle nod and whisks away the two girls into the transport.
"What are doing?" yells the pilot.
"Just go!" she yells back.
Aadesh powers up the shuttle and looks over his shoulder to see Chloe settling the two small Romulan girls on top of her lap. She squeezes the girls close to her body giving them both the comfort of her warmth.
"It's their luck day," he remarks. "I have feeling we aren't coming back."
=/\=
Minutes later, a signal arrives on the console of the operations officer. "Captain, all Starfleet personnel have reported in," announces the operations officer. "All Starfleet personnel are accounted for and are aboard their designated starships."
Picard turns to Hypatia.
"Captain, takes us home."
"Aye, sir," she replies with a solemn tone.
Captain Hypatia turns her attention to the main view. "Operations, hail the fleet."
"Aye Captain, hailing the fleet," replies the Operations officer, "Hailing the fleet."
Chime of a melodic sound echoes throughout the bridge. "Fleet wide hail, open."
"Attention: rescue fleet, standby to break orbit and return to designated rendezvous point. Enterprise will take the lead position."
Captain Hypanthia steps forward. "Operations," with tepid conviction.
"Initiate fleetwide link, synchronize navigational systems, prepare to for multi-ship warp jump."
"Aye, captain," tapping his console. "Initiating fleetwide link, synchronizing navigation systems, standing by for multi-ship jump to warp speed."
"Helm – break orbit," she orders.
Flight control officer Littleton responds. "Aye, captain." gesturing with his hands to control the helm. "Helm answering – breaking orbit."
Outside, the Enterprise moves away from the Romulan home world and takes the lead position as the rest of the fleet musters behind her.
"Ma'am, Enterprise has broken orbit and is now .5 AU (Astronomical units), on centre (distance between centres of objects) away from Romulus, standing by," reports Littleton.
"Admiral?"
Picard stares into the open space ahead of him.
"Sir," she prompts.
Picard refocuses his eyes back to the confines of the bridge and simply nods his head.
"Helmsman," she calls out, yet keeping her eyes fixed on the admiral in the hopes that there is a last-minute change of heart. When he declares none, she gives the order: "Engage."
Hundreds of ships stretch into the infinity of space and vanish into the starry abyss.
=/\=
As the Enterprise hurtle away from Romulus a sinking feeling overcomes Picard while comfortably seated on the bridge. Picard leans heavily on his clenched fist. "Captain, bring up a view of the Romulan star system."
"Yes, Admiral," she concurs.
"Operations, visual of Romulan star system on main viewer."
"Aye captain."
"Reduce timelapse to 1/1 millionth of a second," adds Picard.
"Yes Admiral."
An image, approximately covering 2/3 of the main view screen, of the Romulan star system overlays the main viewer screen. At first blush, the image of the Romulan system is uneventful. Suddenly a wave of massive proportions appears at the periphery. Amorphs and seemingly harmless at first within seconds it completely blocks out the starry space behind the star system. As it hurtles towards the Romulus, its dimensions become more apparent. It is massive, hundreds of lights-years in width. It approaches incredible velocity and within a blink of an eyes passes over the system like a great mist. When the wave front passes over, Romulus, Remus and their sun Rhea vanish, as if, they were never there. Upon seeing the event, Picard eyes drop to the ground.
"Captain," reports Science Officer Drak. "Sensors confirm that the Romulan star system has been totally destroyed."
Picard's eyes return to the main viewer. "We abandoned almost nine billion people," remarks Picard with deep remorse.
"Admiral," put in Captain Hypatia puts. "We saved over nine billion."
"Is that what history will remember, a triumph?" Picard knotting his eyebrows. "Or will they remember this day to be a tragedy."
Picard comes to his feet; it is apparent, the events of the day have broken him.
"Captain, I will be in my quarters," he informs her.
Captain Hypatia replies with a quiet voice. "Aye, sir."
Admiral Picard takes his leave of the bridge and disappears into inners of the turbolift.
A huge Thank-Q to my favourite ff writer iShipStarShip for all your positive comments and reviews. Your inspiration and damned near perfect writing skills have forced to me to try harder, write better, and re-write at least a dozen times just to keep up, lolz. Check out iShipStarShip fanfiction Young Warriors, A Day at the Races, and of course, Thank-Q.