Chapter V
The Enterprise and the other ships hung over Qo'nos, waiting for the city destroyers.
Picard was in his ready room, viewing the records of the battle over Romulus, trying to glean some tactical advantage, when the red alert siren blared. Data's voice sounded calmly over the intercom. 'Red alert! All senior officers to the bridge. Red alert! This is not a drill!'
Picard strode through the ready room doors, and went straight to his command chair. 'Situation!' Data responded quickly.
'Our long-range sensors have picked up the mother ship heading in our direction.' Data swivelled around on his chair. 'Captain, it is travelling at warp five. Their ETA is in three minutes.'
Picard wasted no time wondering how the invaders had discovered warp speed. 'Are the Klingons aware of this?'
'Yes, sir,' said Data, turning back to face the screen. 'Chancellor Gowron is commanding the Klingon Fleet from the Negh'var.'
Picard frowned. 'Gowron? Where's General Martok?'
'He and his men are still posted at DS9, sir.'
Picard maintained his frown, perplexed. 'I would have thought that Gowron would have wanted an experienced general like Martok to be here.'
Riker and Troi emerged onto the bridge.
Picard glanced around the bridge quickly. All stations were manned and ready. 'Raise shields,' he ordered. 'Arm quantum torpedoes and ready phasers. Move us to attack position alpha. Instruct the Hood and Thunderchild to move to their positions.'
'Hood and Thunderchild acknowledge. Captain DeSoto wishes us luck, sir,' added Data. He glanced up. 'Sir, look at the Klingon formations!'
'What are they doing?' asked Riker in disbelief. Picard shook his head, aghast.
The Klingon vessels were advancing forward in a seemingly random pattern. 'That formation was formulated to attack an opponent who was weaker than yourself,' said Picard expertly, 'signifying that you have less honour in the victory than against a strong enemy. They're going to be slaughtered that way. Get me a channel to the Negh'var!'
'They're not responding, sir,' replied Hedly in a frustrated tone.
'Sir!' warned Truper, his voice shaking.
Picard watched as the mother ship came out of warp directly before the forward Klingon vessels. Looming above them like a monstrous cliff, Picard thought, even the Klingons must be feeling some trepidation.
It didn't show, however. Instantly, the Birds of Prey leading the fleet leapt forward to attack, raking the immense vessel with disruptor fire. As they broke off and wheeled around, the K't'inga-class battle cruisers opened fire with disruptors as well.
Again, the green weapons fire impacted the shields and failed to break through. As the Attack Cruisers fired, Data shook his head sadly. 'Sir, they believe that their disruptors will have better luck breaking through than their photon torpedoes. However, I fail to detect any power losses from the shields.'
Picard nodded, considering, but unwilling to attack unless he knew that he had a chance of causing any serious damage to the mother ship. Beside him, Troi asked, 'Why haven't they launched a retaliation against them?'
The moment the words left her mouth, Data said, 'Sir, I am detecting waves of attack fighters moving to intercept the Klingon fleet. Reading at least three hundred of them.'
'Waves or fighters?' asked Riker.
'Both, sir. Three hundred waves of three hundred fighters,' said Data.
'Sounds like overkill,' said Riker.
Green blasts of energy struck the attacking Klingon ships, who shrugged off the blasts easily, and returned fire. Disruptor blasts struck the attack fighters, destroying three in the first wave, whose fellows broke off and swarmed around the massive Klingon vessels, concentrating on the Attack Cruisers and K't'inga battle cruisers. The second wave assaulted the Birds of Prey, whilst the others moved into an intercept vector for the Negh'var and back-up starships, including the Starfleet taskforce.
'Ready quantum torpedoes, full spread and set for proximity detonation,' ordered Picard. 'Fire!'
For the first time against the invaders, the powerful projectiles known as quantum torpedoes flew for the attack fighters. Whilst most missed their fast-moving targets, they exploded in the midst of the formation, shattering the formation like a stone thrown through glass.
From the glowing cloud of debris that now surrounded their position, more fighters shot through the remains of their colleagues and opened fire.
Aboard the mother ship, the commander watched this new development with dispassionate curiosity. He once again sent commands to his subordinates. 'Analyse, adapt and terminate!'
Disruptor cannons, better at tracking small, fast-moving targets than the disruptor banks mounted on the heavier ships, fired, blasting the tiny fighters apart. But more of them poured through, firing indiscriminately. So far, none of the Klingon or Starfleet vessels had taken damage, but it was only a matter of time with the heavy pounding they were taking from the attack fighters.
The Enterprise's quantum torpedoes hit the shields of the huge mother ship, bringing the green shields into stark relief against the black backdrop of the hull.
Data swivelled, a puzzled look on his face. 'Sir, when we fired the quantum torpedoes, our sensors registered a minute drop in shield power from the mother ship.'
'How much?' asked Picard, sensing an opportunity.
'I may be able to equip a quantum torpedo capable of bringing the shields down with a single hit,' said Data, his mind working at overtime.
'Do it then!' ordered Picard. Data turned back to his console and began punching commands in. Then he hit his console in frustration.
'Damn!' He faced Picard. 'Sir, the power losses have stopped. Their shield is back to full strength! Any further hits will not have any effect.' His attention turned back to the console and his face displayed further dismay. 'Sir, the city destroyers are launching!'
Picard's face changed to a grim expression, although he had known this moment would come. He watched as the immense saucer shapes detached from the underside of the mother ship, and angled themselves for atmospheric insertion. 'Mr. Data, I need those shields to come down. Now!'
Data swivelled, an anguished expression on his face. 'I can't do anything, sir!'
The city destroyers slid into the atmosphere of Qo'nos, resisting the atmosphere as easily as they had resisted the disruptor fire.
On the planet, the same sight that greeted Romulus in the morning now greeted the Klingons. The massive black ships descended and positioned themselves over the cities. A huge ship, centred over the council chambers, covered the First City. The circle on the underside folded outwards, the point forced its way into the sky, and the green beam reached out to cover the council chambers.
Klingon warriors on the ground fired their disruptors in helpless rage at the black hull that blocked out the sky and turned day into night. Green blasts of energy struck the shields, not affecting the city destroyer in any way.
Picard watched the events above Qo'nos with a growing sense of despair. 'Fire all weapons, Mr. Hedly. Instruct the Hood and the Thunderchild to do so as well.'
'I have lost contact with the Hood, sir,' said Hedly as she complied. Picard and Riker looked at each other, dread covering their faces as they contemplated what might have happened.
Starfleet phaser beams now joined the hail of fire directed at the city destroyers and mother ship. The Enterprise and the other vessels cruised above Qo'nos, firing at the zones of darkness above the cities. Green shields repulsed the destructive energy with an ease that sickened Picard.
The green beam cut off abruptly; as did the Klingon disruptor fire, mainly from pure amazement. The city waited for a sign. For a long moment, nothing happened.
The destroyer fired. The white blast of energy struck the council chambers, blowing them apart from the inside. The wall of fire rolled outwards from the wreckage of the council chambers. The fire burnt through the city, destroying buildings, smashing roads, and killing thousands of people.
And, once again, the pattern was repeated across the planet.
From space, the Klingons and Starfleet forces watched helplessly as the planet was destroyed. Picard closed his eyes, to prevent them from tearing in helpless fury as he saw the homeworld of the Klingons wiped out.
All over the fleet, in every Klingon vessel, the normally exuberant warriors watched in pure silence and utter devastation as their planet was ruthlessly levelled.
As the fires burnt themselves out, Data spoke, his voice hushed. 'Out of a city-based population of three billion, there are four survivors, sir.'
Before them on the screen, the mother ship began advancing, showing off that maddening invulnerability. Explosions marked where unfortunate Klingon vessels had failed to evade the passage of the immense craft.
The Enterprise itself shook under a barrage from the ignored attack planes, whose sustained fire was now breaking through the shields of the defenders. A gout of flame erupted from the hull of the Negh'var, followed by the explosion of a Bird of Prey nearby. The Enterprise fired a long rippling phaser blast at the mother ship, only to see the shield deflect it.
'Signal the Negh'var. We might be able to stop this before the Klingons decide to commit suicide. We can't afford to lose their capabilities.' Picard sat down, his mind reeling with the shock of such significant losses.
A Klingon face appeared on the screen in response to the hail. It was General Kerla, Gowron's chief aide. Fire filled the background, and the old Klingon was badly wounded. His voice was ragged as he spoke, not allowing Picard to speak. 'The Negh'var is crippled, Captain, but our weapons function still. I entrust this fleet to you, Arbiter.'
'What about Gowron?' asked Riker, seeing his captain's unusual hesitation.
'Dead,' said Kerla bluntly. 'Flee, Enterprise. Leave us and find a way to destroy these fiends. Our warriors will obey your orders faithfully. Avenge us.' Kerla cut the link.
'Situation?' asked Picard. Data looked at his panel, and then pressed a few buttons. The screen flashed, and a view of the Hood appeared on the screen. It was engaged against fifty attack planes, with more swarming to the attack.
'The Hood is badly damaged, but repairable.' Data glanced at Riker and Picard before continuing. 'Sir, Captain DeSoto is dead.'
Riker bowed his head in pain at the loss of his old friend. Picard merely nodded sadly. There would be time to reflect on the death of his friend later. From the looks of things, he would not be the last to fall. 'We need a situation report, Mr. Data,' Picard reminded him.
'Yes, sir,' replied the android. 'It appears that we have not suffered heavy losses. Out of the starships that started the battle, we have only lost twelve, and five badly damaged, including the Negh'var. The Thunderchild is undamaged and is heading towards our position. The fleet requests orders.'
'Tell them to follow the Enterprise to Earth,' said Picard as he glanced at the approaching destroyers. Data nodded once and turned back to his console.
Qo'nos burned in space as the attack planes surrounded the crippled Negh'var. A last salvo of fire smashed into the attack cruiser, and it exploded.
As the Negh'var was sent to a fiery grave, the fleet regrouped, some ships trailing plasma from damaged engines, others covering the retreat with sporadic blasts of disruptor fire. As one, however, under Picard's command, the fleet jumped into warp, leaving Qo'nos as the second major casualty of this devastating war.
The mother ship hovered over the planet as the city destroyers rejoined them. After the lengthy task had been completed, the mother ship hung in space, seemingly contemplating their next move.
Abruptly, as the city destroyers completed their docking procedures, the hull of the enormous mother ship started to change. It rippled momentarily, spreading outwards from the top of the mother ship and moving down through the rest of the titan. It reached the city destroyers now attached to its enormous bulk slowly, but as it did so, their hulls also began to change. Protrusions of black metal grew up silently, slotting into position as though they had always been meant to be there. Internal power was diverted to these new creations and they glowed with suppressed power.
A moment later, a flash of warp speed signalled the arrival of new ships in the system, and another mother ship slid into orbit alongside the first. And, slowly, the change spread across the airless barrier of space and began again on the second.
The Enterprise, followed by the dispirited Klingon defenders, slid into orbit of Earth, into view of the assembled ships already waiting there; the Romulan Warbirds who already knew what it was like to lose your home planet. The Klingons took up position in orbit a comfortable distance away from the Romulan ships.
Picard received a transmission from Starfleet Command in his ready room. Admiral Ross smiled as he saw Picard's face, but it abruptly faded as he realised that the look on Picard's was one of haggard dread and foreboding, not of familiarity. 'Captain,' he greeted cautiously.
'I sincerely hope, Admiral, that you are not calling me to give me another assignment to resist these invaders.'
Ross shook his head. 'No, Jean-Luc. The survivors of the rest of the taskforce in Klingon space got back shortly before you did. Klingon space is being controlled by these invaders now, as is all of Romulan space. We evacuated as many civilians as we could, but I'm afraid that a great number of the survivors are the warriors that fought at Qo'nos.'
'Have the invaders stated any demands?'
'None whatsoever. They just appear and attack the planet.'
Picard sighed. If there had been any communication, the battles that were inevitable could have been averted, or at least postponed. 'What can I do, Admiral?'
'Come to the Council Chambers at 1900 hours. The President is making an announcement, and he wants you and your senior staff to be there.'
Picard frowned, leaning closer to the viewer. 'That's very specific.'
'That's what he asked for,' replied Ross steadily.
Picard paused a moment and then nodded. 'We'll be there.'
The Federation Council Chambers in San Francisco were fairly new buildings, redesigned by Andorian architects three years before. Lofty towers mixed with shorter but still graceful buildings housing the bureaucracy that kept the Federation running. All of the buildings avoided any traces of dumpiness or even the impression of being anything other than lissom and supple.
Picard and his summoned crewmembers, all in their dress uniforms, entered by the tall doors at the far end of the main Council chamber, where the elected representatives of each planet in the Federation sat in state. They marched towards the podium at the far end of the chamber, past all of the staring dignitaries, and lined up before the podium, standing to attention. A moment later, the President entered the chamber. The Enterprise crew saluted smartly as the council members stood. Picard used this moment to analyse the President.
His face was haggard and drawn, and shadows from sleepless nights had grown under his eyes. Picard realised that this was the face he himself had been looking at for the past few days.
Somehow, the President mustered a smile and gestured for the council to sit and the Starfleet officers before him to stand at ease. 'Captain Picard,' he said, turning his attention to Picard personally, ' your distinguished record with this crew proceeds before you in all corners of the galaxy. Under your command, the USS Enterprise has single-handedly repulsed two Borg attacks, and has saved the Federation on numerous occasions. Besides this, you and your crew have the most experience in battle against these alien invaders, and you yourself have proven to be an able battle commander.' Picard tensed, waiting for the bad part.
The President motioned to an aide, who passed him a padd. 'In the light of the recent events I have decided to take immediate action.' He glanced at Data. 'Lieutenant-Commander Data, you are hereby promoted to Captain for an exemplary record in Starfleet and service above and beyond the call of duty on many occasions. You shall take your place in command of the USS Hood, NCC 42296, effective immediately.' Picard glanced along the line at Data, noting that Troi, Riker and the others had done the same, Riker to shake his hand and Troi to kiss him on the cheek, having been the closest to the android. Picard nodded once to his former second officer, but immediately turned to face the President, suspecting his intent.
'Lieutenant-Commander Geordi La Forge, you are hereby promoted to Commander for your long and exemplary service aboard the USS Enterprise.' Geordi smiled for a moment, and then his face fell. 'You are also reassigned to USS Hood.' Picard's suspicions immediately flared into full realisation.
'Commander William T. Riker, you are hereby promoted to Captain for an outstanding record of service in Starfleet, not just with the Enterprise crew, but with all of your assignments. You will take command of USS Enterprise, NCC 1701-E, effective immediately.' Riker smiled briefly at getting his first command, acknowledging the applause that roared around the chambers, but his pleasure was tempered by the awareness that he was obviously replacing Picard in command.
Riker and the crew all looked towards their captain, whose face was pale. The President looked at him silently for a moment as did the entire chamber, which seemed to hold it's collective breath.
Finally something gave. 'Captain Jean-Luc Picard, you have served the Federation faithfully and successfully for your entire career. Thus, I have personally created a new position, which will last for the duration of your lifetime, but will not be passed on after your death, be it before the successful conclusion of this war, or before.
'Jean-Luc Picard, you are now the Grand Admiral of the Federation Starfleet. Your responsibilities are to the UFP alone. You will have complete authority within the bounds of Starfleet, and outside those boundaries, any decisions you make can only be overridden by Presidential authority.'
There was complete and utter silence in the hall for a moment. The Starfleet Admirals, all of whom had outranked Picard less than a minute ago stared, aghast, at the newly minted Grand Admiral. The Enterprise crew all stared at Picard, realising that their time together was over. The council members waited a long moment, and then broke into thunderous applause.
And, with the applause washing over him, Jean-Luc Picard looked as though he were about to faint.
After several long minutes, during which the stunned Starfleet Admiralty and officers of the USS Enterprise had joined the applause, the President turned to look along the hall. 'Other reassignment orders and promotions will come via the normal routes for all of you stood before me today. I congratulate all of you who are promoted. We need your expertise all over the Fleet, not just keeping our eggs in one basket.'
The President turned as one of his aides caught his attention. The council members strained to catch a whisper of what was being said, as they saw the President's face suddenly turn pale. A moment later, he turned back to face them, but took a moment to steady his voice before speaking. He failed.
'I have just been given disturbing information. The invaders have attacked and devastated large swathes of the Ferengi Alliance and Cardassian Union. A fleet of Ferengi and Cardassian civilians is headed for Earth while their warfleets attempt to cover their retreat. It is estimated that the invaders will be ready for an assault on Earth and the Federation in approximately twelve standard days.'
The council chamber slid into stunned silence. The President seemed to stare into space for a moment, before rousing himself. 'By order of the President as of stardate 50912.4,' he managed to say, 'a full evacuation of all civilians from Earth will begin.'
Immediately after the President had left the chambers, and the assorted dignitaries had left, Picard walked through the lofty halls to the President's private chambers. Activating the knocker, he waited until he heard the words, "Come in," and he stepped through the door.
The President stood before him, in the act of removing his ceremonial robes. 'Jean-Luc,' he said, as though he had known Picard all of his life, instead of only meeting him twice. 'What can I do for you?'
'Permission to speak freely?' asked Picard, his tone that of a raw Starfleet cadet presented with his first inspection.
The President nodded, looking puzzled. 'In your position, we speak as equals.'
Picard nodded thoughtfully. 'Mr. President, what the hell were you thinking of?'
The President lips quirked in an involuntary smile. 'I assume you mean your promotion.'
'My promotion,' replied Picard, tone still neutral, 'Commander Riker's; everyone's. Why break up the most experienced senior staff in Starfleet on the eve of a major war?'
'We have already passed the eve,' chided the President, removing a bracelet from his arm. 'As to your promotions, as I said, we need to avoid keeping our eggs in one basket. One lucky hit to the Enterprise, and all of our experienced combat veterans against the invaders have vanished.'
'We're prepared to take that chance,' protested Picard.
The President turned, and dropped the bracelet on a dressing table. He faced Picard. 'Has it ever occurred to you, Captain,' he said mildly, 'that the people of the Federation may not be?'
'Not really, no,' admitted Picard freely.
'You have sworn an oath to protect the Federation and its citizens from attack, correct?' Picard nodded. 'That oath requires to give your lives freely in their defence?'
Picard once again nodded. The President removed his cloak of office. 'Maybe, if you look at the oath in a certain way, it also requires that you keep your lives for the people of the Federation.'
Picard opened his mouth to deliver the automatic protest, and then shut it again, the President's point hitting home. 'I see what you mean.' He glanced up at the President, who was watching him expectantly. 'But this idea of a Grand Admiral...?'
'The Grand Admiral "thing" is solely my idea. I am not sure that Starfleet Command has fully appreciated the danger we face. That's why I didn't promote someone direct from the Admiralty, but rather someone who knows exactly what we face. You are the most experienced starship captain in Starfleet. You and the two Enterprises that you have commanded are the most famous vessels in history since James Kirk's own Enterprise. I know that you have the experience against dangerous foes from your logs and also from your face.' The President pointed silently to the marks under his own eyes, and Picard understood. His respect for the man grew another notch.
'We need someone strong to lead us. Someone who can communicate, not only with our foes, but also with the factions within the defence fleet. Your name is held in high regard by the Romulans; you are the official leader of the Klingon fleet; the Ferengi respect you; the Cardassians fear you for your mental strength and Starfleet itself will follow its duly appointed leader. The Admiralty will just have to get used to it,' the President concluded matter-of-factly.
The Grand Admiral nodded, smiling. 'I appreciate your honesty, Mr. President.' Inside, he was confused, to say the least. He had not known that he was so highly regarded in any of the various members of the fleet, except, perhaps, by the Klingons. 'I will do my best. If you will excuse me, I will begin the evacuation of the civilian population.'
The President lowered his voice conspiratorially. 'I'm not sure about Starfleet, Jean-Luc. Someone, or something seems to be slowing all of the moves we've made towards full mobilisation.'
Picard frowned. 'Who?' he asked, his voice matching the tone of the President's.
'I don't know yet. That's one of the reasons I promoted you. You haven't been touched by whatever's wrong with the Admiralty yet. I need you to find out what's going on.'
Picard nodded. 'Understood.' He turned and left, a worried expression creeping over his face.
An hour later, Picard was setting up his things in his new office in Headquarters in San Francisco. Through the windows was a beautiful view of the Bay, and of Golden Gate Bridge. The sun was shining brightly in the sky, and for a moment, Picard nearly forgot the danger he and his people were in. Abruptly, the door knocker sounded, breaking him from his reverie.
'Come in.' said Picard. Data entered the room, a smile on his face. Picard looked up with a smile of pleasure on his features too.
'Hello, Data.' The old friends shook hands. 'It's good to see you. When does the Hood leave for Starbase Four?'
Data replied, 'Two days, Admiral. Counsellor Troi has just left for the Azetbur, which has gone to rendezvous with the Cardassian fleet. The Enterprise is leaving today, at 1800 hours, to rendezvous with the Ferengi fleet. It will return in a day or so, and I thought you might like to see your old ship leave.' Picard sighed, and sat down heavily. Despite the President's arguments, he still felt melancholy at the memory of his old ship, now commanded by Will Riker.
'Well, they've broken us up, after nine years together, the most experienced single unit in the Fleet.' Picard rested his elbows on the desk before him glumly.
Data nodded and sat down, facing Picard, a look of understanding on his face. 'Maybe, sir, it is time for the name of Enterprise to be carried on by Captain Riker. Maybe it is your turn to hand down the reins, as Captain April, Captain Pike, Captain Kirk, Captain Harriman, and Captain Garrett did before you. I feel, though, that the Enterprise and the Fleet will not function as well without you on the bridge of the Enterprise; not that I am placing any doubt about Captain Riker's command skills.' Data had to stop. He had nearly said Commander Riker twice. However, his calm words had reached Picard, who had to admit to himself that he was honoured to take on a role such as he had been given.
He shook himself out of his unhappiness. 'Perhaps you're right, Data. I hope you're happy on the Hood.' Picard smiled at the android. 'You'll never know how much I'm going to miss your advice, Data.' Suddenly, he glanced around the room, finally looking back at Data. 'What time is it?'
'It is 1738 hours, Cap - I mean Admiral.' Picard gave him a strange look.
'I think I prefer Captain.'
As Data turned and left, the comm bleeped. 'Picard here,' said the Admiral, pressing the receive button.
'Admiral, we've got the secure channel to Deep Space Nine that you requested.'
'Put it through.' The screen displayed the Starfleet chevron for a moment, and then Captain Benjamin Sisko's face appeared on screen. 'Captain Sisko,' greeted Picard cautiously.
'Admiral Picard,' replied Sisko perfunctorily. The pair had still not resolved their differences, despite Sisko's acceptance of Picard's sorrow for Jennifer Sisko's death at Wolf 359.
'I called you because I wish to inform you of the reason that the Defiant has not been summoned to Earth to join the fleet.'
'I was wondering that myself, Admiral,' replied Sisko. 'Is it a lack of faith in my crew?'
'Not at all, Captain,' denied Picard. 'I have decided to use DS9 as the fallback point for the fleet if we can't hold the invaders here. I need the Defiant and her crew in a position in which they can cover our retreat. She's the most powerful and manoeuvrable battleship in the fleet, and I intend for her to enter battle eventually. However, I believe that now is not the time.'
Sisko nodded. 'Why DS9 as the fallback rendezvous?'
Picard laughed. 'The most heavily armed and fortified starbase in the quadrant, next to the best escape route we've got, and you ask why?'
Sisko nodded, a smile brushing his face. 'Understood, Admiral. DS9 out.'
Jean-Luc Picard sat alone in his office, two nights later. The Enterprise was expected back tomorrow, and the Hood had just departed, taking Data and Geordi with it. He could visualise in his mind the powerful fleet assembled above Earth. The Romulans, the Klingons, the Federation fleet taking shape, the Cardassians arriving in a day, the Ferengi arriving soon after.
His thoughts spun out of control. He had at last been given a position in the Admiralty where he felt he could do some good; and it was just typical of the universe to give him the job just as the entire universe was shot to hell.
'By the Q Continuum, you're maudlin, Jean-Luc.' said a very sarcastic, familiar and unexpected voice from the corner of the room. Picard sat up suddenly, surprised by the voice's sentiments.
'Q! Come out where I can see you.' The lean figure of Q detached itself from the corner and strode forward. He was still wearing the old uniform, with cranberry inset and black shoulders. The only difference was that he now had given himself a promotion to match Picard; once again, as with everything to do with the Q, it was undeserved.
'I didn't like the new uniform, so I'm still keeping this one,' Q said, explaining away Picard's first thoughts. 'I wasn't reading your thoughts either, Jean-Luc. You were speaking out loud.'
Picard glared at Q, accusingly. 'Why are you here? Are you here to annoy me one last time, as I'm now desk-bound, and waiting for these aliens to pounce on us? Is that it?' Q looked appalled.
'No, not this time, Jean-Luc. This time, I'm here to give you some help.' Q wandered around the room. 'I have to say - this office is not as nice as our ready room was.'
Picard nearly reacted to the "our", but restrained himself. 'Get on with it, Q. I've got a lot of work to do.'
Q smiled once, briefly. 'As you know, the Q Continuum is omnipotent, and our gaze stretches across the universe, but not into other universes. That's all fine and dandy normally, but we have a small problem this time with that. These invaders are from another, parallel, universe.' Picard looked surprised, but he had somehow known this ever since the dimensional rift had been encountered.
Q continued. 'These beings were sent here by an alternate Q Continuum in this other universe. We are trying to close off the dimensional rift, and get rid of this threat once and for all, but I, and the Continuum, need your help.' Picard almost started to laugh at this plea, from a god-like being, but Q's sincere look silenced him.
'If we leave this rift open, then this alien race will destroy your entire galaxy. Normally, the Q would not be bothered, but our counterparts actually created the problem in another universe, and if there's one thing the Q can't stand, it's foisting their problems onto others. Shall I show you the problem?' Picard nodded., still surprised at Q's unexpected co-operation. A double flash of light carried them away.
Picard found himself travelling through the galaxy, past destroyed planets in the former Romulan Empire, and was carried to the planet where it had all started. He appeared on the planet in a flash of light.
Q stood beside him. 'This planet is the centre of the problem. There is a large dimensional rift inside this planet, and it is a portal, put there by the Q in that universe. The Q Continuum in the alternate universe has foreseen the destruction that will arise from the aliens and so they created the rift to move them to another universe from their own, in order to protect their own. Now, I have persuaded the Q in our universe to not follow their lead. We have decided to close the rift, and allow you to destroy the aliens that are already here. To do this, however, we need to create a large energy burst in the rift, in order to aid our energy requirements to defeat this rival Q Continuum. This will close the rift, and stop the reinforcements. Fortunately for you, they need a massive planetary base to even begin work on their ships.'
'So what's the problem?' asked Picard, pleased at seeing Q genuinely annoyed for once.
'We can't get to the rift. It's been very skilfully located in an area of space which we can't get to unless the planet is moved.'
'I can see where this is going,' said Picard. 'You want me to help you uncover this rift, somehow.'
Q nodded. 'It would be the end of your problems. The Continuum in this or other universes do not have the power to reopen it. The invaders will not be able to come through to reinforce their advance party. It benefits us all. Once you do our request, I will never bother you again. The Q will keep themselves out of the affairs of the smaller races. Believe me, you won't be doing with our interference after this.' He could see that the Admiral was wavering. 'Let me show you exactly what you're up against.'
Picard nodded. The flash of light took them away again.
They materialised on the exact same surface of the planet again. However, it was night now, and countless stars hung in the sky. A cold breeze blew across Picard's face. The two men looked up. Q pointed. A massive black circle cast a huge pall above them.
'That is one of the mother ships preparing to cross the dimensional barrier. This is another dimension, and they use this gateway to cross between universes to reach your galaxy.' Q sighed, and looked up. Picard followed his lead.
He gasped. The titanic black ships loomed in the night sky, filling it all around. Thousands of city destroyers followed them. Around them buzzed millions of attack planes. 'If this attack force gets through,' said Picard wonderingly, 'we're dead.'
'Are you convinced?' asked Q.
Picard turned to him and nodded affirmatively. 'Tell me what you need me to do.'
'Easy. Destroy the planet.'
Picard looked at him in surprise. 'I don't have the firepower to do that.'
Q returned the surprised look. 'Of course you do, Jean-Luc. Don't you remember the old type-forty planet-wrecker missiles?'
Somehow, Picard managed to look horrified at the suggestion. Q looked at him unsympathetically.
'Jean-Luc,' he reminded him quietly, 'You've seen what you're up against. You don't have the luxury for attacks of conscience anymore. The missiles must be used to destroy this planet. Billions of trillions of quadrillions will die if you don't do this one simple thing.'
Picard paused for a moment, but he knew that there was no real decision to make.
'Very well, Q. When do you want us to begin?' Q vanished in a blaze of light, leaving only his voice hanging in the air, like the Cheshire cat.
'No time like the present, Jean-Luc,' replied his disembodied voice. 'Once you get to the planet, I will see you again.' A blaze of light deposited Picard gently in his chair. He had much to think about.