Chapter XXIV
The Rio Grande finally arrived back at Vegryo base in the early evening. The graves of Data and La Forge had been left undisturbed, and Picard wanted it to be so.
Sisko and Picard stepped from the runabout right into the teeth of thunderous applause from the hundreds crowded into the large hangar area of the third base. Klingons shouted their salutes, Romulans and humans clapped loudly alongside Cardassian and Ferengi soldiers, shouting their appreciation for the two leaders.
The Rio Grande had not announced it's approach, but it had been spotted on sensors long before, and hundreds more people who could not squeeze into the hangar wished to shower their congratulations on their leaders.
Thames, Bashir and Kira were not among those squeezed out, though. Special space had been created for those three so that they could approach, as they did now, and escort the two through the throng.
Bashir shook Sisko's hand, glad to see that the Admiral's mood had lightened somewhat whilst he had been away. Kira gave Sisko and Picard embraces and Thames did likewise, although in Picard's case it was perceptibly longer. Picard felt almost embarrassed at the public show of affection, but already he realised that maybe the future would not be as bleak as he had thought.
Finally, the escort allowed them to navigate the throng of people, and eventually the crowd returned to it's individual celebrations – celebrations given extra meaning now that they knew that their leaders had survived everything the Aralla could throw at them.
Picard decided to retire to his quarters, but he made a detour along the way.
Lieutenant Truper tried to sit up as he saw Picard peering around the door frame into the sickbay. Hedly, who was sitting with the young man, managed to get him to sit back again, helped by Picard saying, 'At ease, Lieutenant.'
Truper nodded gratefully, and sank back, trying not to let the pain show. Picard stared at the young man for a moment, realising how little he really knew about his young crew that had succeeded his old senior staff. He also realised how much he had relied on their performance throughout the war. They had been the backbone of the Enterprise, and he knew that now. 'How are you, Lieutenant?'
'I'm okay, sir,' said Truper bravely. 'I think I'll be up and about in a few days.' As he said that, a trace of pain crossed his face, giving the lie to his brave performance.
Hedly gave him a look of pure disbelief and looked up at Picard. 'Sir, that is not true. He broke his left arm in two places, three ribs and fractured his pelvis. He's not going anywhere at all.' Picard could see the light of concern burning in her eyes, and realised something else. It was something that would have been shipboard gossip in less than a week after it started, once.
He exchanged a few words with the injured lieutenant, but realised that the younger man was very tired and he said his goodbyes, and made to leave.
Hedly came with him to the door, and Picard turned to her, a smile on his lips and in his eyes. 'You are very concerned for him, aren't you?'
Hedly nodded slightly, glancing abashed at the floor. 'How long?' asked Picard gently.
'A few weeks, sir,' admitted Hedly. 'I don't know why – it just happened.' A look of concern crossed her face. 'You won't tell anyone?'
For a moment, Picard had the privilege of seeing his calm, cool, collected security chief reduced to an anxious teenager. He smiled. 'No. I'm just surprised at myself for missing it for so long. Something like that would have been shipboard gossip almost before it started before the war.'
Hedly smiled slightly, relieved. 'Thank you, sir.'
Picard turned away to leave, and then something struck him and he faced Truper again. 'Lieutenant, I know this might be a strange question, but I never found out. What's your first name?'
Truper gave him a puzzled look, but answered, 'Christopher, sir. Christopher Truper.'
Picard stared at his helmsman. 'Well, I declare,' he said vaguely after a moment, and turned and left.
As the celebrations continued long into the night of Vegryo VII, Kira Nerys slipped away and stared out at the star-studded darkness of space, thinking her own private thoughts. A footfall cracked a twig behind her, and she turned to face Dr. Bashir. 'Julian,' she acknowledged.
'Nerys, I thought you should know; the survivors of the Vedek Council are meeting at the moment.'
'Yes?' she asked, puzzled.
'They are expected to choose you to be the next Kai.'
'What!?'
'I thought that was how you would react,' said Bashir uncomfortably.
'Why me?' Kira turned away from Bashir and stared out at the night again. 'I don't want to be Kai. It should go to someone else; someone more experienced!' She smiled ruefully. 'Maybe even someone more spiritual.'
'It was proposed by the Bajoran crew of the Defiant and those who were pulled off Bajor before the Aralla destroyed it. Like it or not, we're all celebrities now.' Bashir smiled disarmingly. 'I'm going to be the new Head of Starfleet Medical.'
Kira smiled. 'Congratulations.' Her voice became questioning again. 'Now what the hell did they choose me for?'
'Yevlin Meris, my intern, said that it was due to your exceptional courage and your religious faith. She said that you would be the best possible leader for the Bajorans in a time of rebuilding. Most of the Bajorans on the Defiant who met you agreed.'
'You're joking!' She whirled and advanced on Bashir, who retreated. 'This is a sick joke, isn't it, Julian?'
'My sense of humour isn't that strange, Major. I happen to think it's a very good idea.'
'Traitor.' The insult was warm, with a sense of resignation. 'I can't really say no, can I?'
'Not unless you wanted to abandon your people,' agreed Bashir. 'Just look on it as something to do with the rest of your life.'
Kira nodded, and her gaze turned to the low dome of the base. 'Does the Emissary know?'
Bashir shrugged. 'I don't know.' Kira nodded again, and walked past Bashir, who turned and looked after her, puzzled.
Seven of Nine stalked along the corridors, nodding her greeting to the occasional passing well-wisher, but her outward calm demeanour did not reflect the inner turmoil she felt. B'Elanna Torres' presence as the only other survivor from Voyager meant that they now had a bond – one which was unspoken, and, in Torres' case, unacknowledged. And Torres had felt good in her arms....
Seven put the thought from her mind, and continued down the corridor, not knowing where she headed – only knowing that she headed where fate led her.
Fate always had surprises in store. Torres appeared at the other end of the corridor. Seven stopped dead in shock.
For a long moment, the two women stared at each other. Then Torres stepped forward slightly. 'Seven, I'm sorry for what happened in the escape pod.'
'Why?' asked Seven.
Torres looked embarrassed. 'I thought that display of unwarranted emotion would be uncomfortable for you.'
Seven smiled slightly. Now that she had perfected the expression, the fleeting thought passed through Torres' mind, it complemented Seven's looks perfectly. 'I feel the same, B'Elanna. I know what you are going through, I believe.'
Torres stared at the ex-drone for a moment. 'I never considered that you would,' she breathed at last. 'I'm sorry.'
Seven shook her head. 'Don't be.'
The ice broken, the two drew slightly closer. And then, Torres' communicator bleeped, breaking the silence. She tapped it, her face flushed. 'Torres here.'
'Lieutenant,' said the voice of a young man, 'we've picked up another escape pod that was floating on the outskirts of the battlefield. I thought you might like to know it was from Voyager.'
Torres stared at Seven, who wore the same expression of shock. 'Where?'
'USS Nagasaki,' said the young man. 'We're in orbit now.'
'I'm on my way,' said Torres immediately 'Torres out.' She looked at Seven. 'Want to come?'
Seven smiled again. 'Thank you.'
Sisko was sat in his office on the surface when the knock came at the door.
A knock came on the door. 'Enter.' The door slid aside. Kira stood there. Sisko stood to a form of attention.
'Kai Nerys!' Kira shook her head.
'I'm just Major Kira at the moment. I know that being the only candidate for Kai, I'm going to win this election, but the votes are not counted until midnight. Anyway, who told you?'
'A little bird.' Sisko relaxed slightly. He studied her, and he was amazed by the transformation.
She looked distraught by the destruction visited upon her people during the war, knowing that she had to rebuild the Bajoran people, and guide them religiously. It was a good thing that she was such a religious Bajoran, and that she was so close to the Emissary.
She had dark areas below her eyes from sleeplessness, but what had hit her hardest was the death of Dax. Sisko shook his head slightly. 'What did you want to see me about?' Kira smiled wearily.
'I just wanted to see if you wanted any help with the....' She broke off and yawned, swaying slightly on her feet. 'I'm sorry. I'm just a little tired.'
Sisko frowned. 'On someone else, that might have worked. I know you too well. You're completely exhausted. Have you had any sleep recently?' Kira shook her head sleepily.
'No.' She fell forward. Sisko launched himself out his chair and caught her in time. She looked up at him. 'Thanks.' Sisko shook his head and smiled.
'Come on.' He led her over to the bed he kept in his quarters. 'Sleep here tonight. I won't need it.' Kira tried to struggle, but Sisko laid her down, and sat on the end of the bed.
'Where are you going to sleep?' Sisko shrugged.
'On the chair. I'm extremely busy at the moment.' Kira frowned and then smiled.
'Do you remember that time on the Defiant, when we chased that group of Jem'Hadar in that planet's atmosphere and we were seriously damaged?' Sisko smiled.
'Could I forget?' Kira laughed lightly.
'Remember, we were on the bridge, and I told you I had trouble making a non-business acquaintance with you?' Sisko smiled, until he saw the serious look on Kira's face. He got up.
'I'd better get back to work.' He turned away, but Kira's voice stopped him.
'Benjamin.' Sisko turned, to see Kira getting out of the bed. 'Dax is dead. Almost everybody we know is dead. Don't tell me that you haven't been hit badly by that.'
'Yes, but what's brought this on?'
Kira gave him a puzzled look, anger and sadness rising. 'We've just survived the bloodiest war to ever afflict the galaxy, and you ask what brought it on? I'll tell you – the death of almost everyone I cared for! Dax, Odo, Miles – even Quark! And I don't know about you, but I don't feel that this is a moment to celebrate!'
Sisko stared at her, and realised what he had been doing. He reached to her, but she turned away. 'I'm sorry,' he said at last, voice trembling. 'I've been putting my personal feelings above everyone else's. I've been wallowing in my own self-pity for so long that I don't even know how to express them anymore and the worst thing is, you were right....'
Sisko felt the emotion building up uncontrollably behind the words, felt the pressure of all the words left unsaid and feelings left unaired. He finally broke down, releasing the emotion he had kept held up until this point from the beginning of the war. Kira held him in her arms for a few minutes, allowing him to release the emotion that he had held in to her. She kissed the top of his head, rocking the admiral in her arms and making comforting sounds.
Then, he returned the kiss with interest.
Picard sat in his new quarters aboard the USS Sovereign, the new command ship of the Fleet, listening to the soft sounds of a Mozart piece, and drinking a cup of Earl Grey. A knock came on the door. 'Come in.'
Bashir walked through the door. 'Admiral,' greeted the new head of Starfleet Medical.
Picard smiled up at the young man. 'Dr. Bashir.' Bashir held out a padd, which Picard took. 'What's this?
'Chancellor Martok asked me to give you it,' said Bashir. 'He and the other Battlegroup leaders have drawn up their recommendations for the new Alliance hierarchy.'
Picard smiled slightly as though he knew something that Bashir did not. Glancing through the information contained within, he nodded, pleased. 'These are excellent choices.' Bashir smiled.
'I thought you'd like it.'
'However,' added Picard, 'it is not my decision.' He tossed the padd back to Bashir again.
'Sir?' Bashir frowned as he caught it. 'You are leader of the Alliance.'
'Wrong.' Picard smiled and remembered his conversation with Ben Sisko. 'I am simply the Grand Admiral of Starfleet. Ben Sisko is the leader of the Alliance. Give it to him.' The doctor nodded and left. Picard walked to the replicator and set his cup down on the grid.
He looked out at the stars outside his quarters, and said to himself with a grin, 'They never learn.'
He turned, picked up a padd that had a long and involving story on, and started to read.
Bashir wandered along the corridor towards Ben Sisko's quarters, listening to the sounds of celebration outside the building. As he approached the door to Sisko's quarters, he slowed and knocked on the door. There was no answer. Bashir tried again, for he knew that Sisko was working, instead of celebrating.
The door slid open, revealing Ben Sisko, dressed only in a dressing gown. 'What the hell do you want?'
Bashir recoiled from the shock of the shout, and meekly handed the padd to Sisko. 'Sorry, Admiral, I didn't realise that you were sleeping.'
'Who is it, Ben?' Kira's voice floated sleepily over Sisko's shoulder. Bashir's eyes widened in pure shock as he looked at his commanding officer.
'Major Kira!' Ben Sisko nodded ruefully, his expression softening.
'Don't ask. It's a long story. And I won't tell you later.' Kira's face appeared over Sisko's shoulder.
'Hello, Julian!' she said, an expression of delight on her face. 'Benjamin and I are celebrating. Go away and have a drink for us.'
'Aye, sir!' Bashir turned and stumbled away down the corridor.
He walked into the bar of the main base, which was full of celebrating people. He sat at the bar and the bartender came up to him. 'Can I get you a drink?' Bashir looked at him in stunned shock.
'A triple vodka, please. A real spirit, if you can.' His voice was a horrified whisper. A minute later, the drink arrived.
He picked it up, and lifted it. 'Here's to you, Admiral Sisko and Major Kira.' He downed it in one, to the amazement of the bartender. Turning, he set the glass on the bar.
'Another.'
About an hour later, the door buzzed. 'Come in,' said Picard distractedly.
'Admiral?'
Picard looked up in genuine surprise, and put the padd on the desk, reluctant to look at it now something worthier of his interest had entered the room. 'Lieutenant Commander Thames, what can I do for you?'
Thames handed him another padd. 'Sir, this is a petition by the former crew of the USS Enterprise to you. It concerns the return to Earth. The crew wish to have a monument erected beside the old statue of Zefram Cochrane, dedicated to the entire crew of the USS Enterprise.' Picard nodded.
'Speak to Admiral Sisko about it. It's his decision. Personally, I'm all for it. Was there anything else?' Thames shook her head
'No, sir. I'll go -' Picard seized the moment.
'Don't, Commander. I'd like to speak with you. Sit down, Commander.' Thames sat on a chair directly opposite Picard, slightly uncomfortable at the surroundings. 'Can I get you a drink?'
'Well, I don't know, Admiral...' she began.
'You're off duty, Commander. Enjoy yourself. Shall I make it an order?' His order was accompanied by a smile.
Thames smiled back, accepting the inevitable. I was right, thought Picard. She is incredibly attractive when she smiles. 'I assume you can do a liqueur coffee?' Picard nodded and headed for the replicator. He returned a moment later, carrying a perfectly made coffee in a glass and a brandy for himself.
Handing the coffee to Thames, he settled in his seat and watched her for a second. 'Tell me about yourself, Commander.' Thames nodded and Picard sighed at her fondness for formality.
'I come from London,' she began. 'I joined Starfleet in 2369 – I'd always wanted to – and I graduated in 2373, and was immediately assigned to the Enterprise. I think that I've always been lucky in that respect.'
'What do you mean?' Thames smiled, and sipped her coffee.
'Well, up until the war, everything in life had gone by fairly smoothly. I guess it just saved all of the bad luck up for now.'
Picard nodded and smiled, understanding the sentiments. 'Story of my life.'
Thames frowned. 'How do you mean, sir?'
'Okay, you asked for it!' Thames laughed.
'I'd be honoured if you would, sir,' she said earnestly, beginning to feel a little more comfortable. `I think you must have led one of the most interesting lives possible.'
'It's been… odd,' admitted Picard. `Can I call you by your first name?'
'Rosanna, sir.'
'Call me Jean-Luc.'
A pause.
'It's very cosy, here, don't you think?'
'Is it?'
'Can't say I mind.'
Bashir sat on the barstool next to General Martok. Both were completely drunk.
'An' then, we fight off these Arallash, and I find out that my commanding officer has started a relationship with M – Major Krira –' He concentrated. 'Kira.'
'Relax, doctor,' said Martok, who's command of galactic standard was far better than Bashir's when drunk. 'He's allowed to.' He belched loudly and slammed his tankard on the bar. 'More bloodwine!'
'I'm going back to my quarters, Gin – Gan – Martok. Want to come and have another drink?'
'Absolutely.'
Bashir finished the last of his drink, which was his fifteenth triple vodka. He then stood, tottered away from the stool, and crashed in a heap on the deck. Martok roared in laughter, and stood, in order to raise the doctor. He collapsed beside him.
Torres' face brightened as soon as the turbolift doors slid open and she could see the hangar deck of the Nagasaki. `Naomi!'
Naomi Wildman rushed forward, tears of relief streaking her cheeks as she saw Seven and Torres before her. `I'd thought you'd been killed!' she sobbed as she clung to Torres' uniform.
`We thought the same, Naomi,' said Seven, kneeling down to embrace the child. She leant back slightly after a moment to look into Naomi's eyes. `Where is your mother?'
`I don't know,' said Naomi, her voice still trembling. `She wouldn't let me be apart from her during the battle, so she put me onto an escape pod, and the last I saw of her was when she launched it. She looked upset. Then Voyager exploded –' She began crying again, and Seven hugged her tighter, letting the tears soak away.
She picked up Naomi, and smiled at the young lieutenant who had come with them. `Thank you for letting us know, Lieutenant,' she said.
`I thought that one of you was her mother,' said the young man. Torres threw a surprised glance at Seven but before she could speak, Seven interrupted.
`We'll leave that for the moment,' she said mysteriously. The young man shrugged as if it were no concern of his, and the two women turned and left.
Torres said little on the way back to the base until Seven of Nine had laid Naomi in her bed, allowing the young girl to get some sleep. She stared anxiously from the door for a moment, before Seven came out and closed the door gently behind her. Torres favoured her with a surprised look. `I'm surprised.'
`How so?'
`I didn't realise that you had the capacity for such gentleness,' said Torres honestly. `It appears I've misjudged you, Seven.'
Seven smiled slightly in the half-light. `Thank you, B'Elanna. I'm sorry for all of the bad-mouthing that's gone on between us since we met.' A quid pro quo, out in the open. Torres smiled as well.
`Who'd have thought the two of us would ever learn humility?' This evoked genuine laughter.
After a moment, Torres asked, seriously, `What was all that business about in the hangar bay?'
Seven sighed, and sat down, and Torres followed her example. `I just thought that we're the only two people in the world that she knows at the moment. Everyone else is dead. Everyone she's ever met is dead. She's even more alone than us, B'Elanna. That's wrong at her age.'
Torres stared at Seven, no longer surprised at what the other woman was saying, but surprised at herself not spotting the change in her. Seven of Nine had, at last, grown up. She was now an adult person. The icy coolness with which she had protected herself for so long was now gone, irrevocably lost, and was replaced with a serene calmness that hid a very emotional and caring person. And, for some reason, Torres felt herself drawn to this woman more than she had been drawn to almost anyone else in her life – perhaps even on a par with Tom. And that was an extremely unexpected feeling.
Seven glanced up at Torres. `What do you think?'
`We're all alone, Seven,' said Torres eventually. `You, me, Naomi. We've been alone for so long, and we never realised what it might be like to have to adjust to that. We're all we have, together.'
Seven frowned. `What are you saying?'
`I'm not sure,' whispered Torres, reaching out her hand to Seven. `But I'd like to find out.'
Seven paused, and then put her hand in Torres'. B'Elanna drew the ex-Borg closer to her, and then, gently, nervously, kissed her.
For Seven, that moment was the fulfilment of dreams long held. She wanted to press forward, but allowed Torres to take it at her own pace. Torres released Seven a moment later. `I've never kissed a woman before,' she said after a moment.
`Me neither,' replied Seven, smiling. `I liked it,' she added, easing Torres' fears that she might have pushed the line. Torres leaned forward again, but Seven stopped her gently. `Are you sure you want to do this thing?'
Torres nodded urgently, but Seven said, `What about Tom? Are you sure?'
`Tom told me to get on with my life,' said B'Elanna. `I realised when Voyager was destroyed that I spent far too long mourning him. I nearly wasted away doing that. Even Chakotay couldn't bring me round.' She leaned forward again, and said, `Don't stop it, Seven. Just let it happen. We'll find out if it was right in the morning.'
`What about Naomi?' asked Seven, leaning her head back and gasping as Torres kissed her neck.
`The rooms are soundproof.'
And then the conversation ended.
It was 0200 hours when the door slid aside. Thames stepped out and turned to Picard.
'Well thank you, Rosanna,' said Picard, not without a trace of regret. 'It's been nice talking to you.'
Thames nodded, her own face slightly disappointed, although she did her best to hide it. 'It's been good, Jean-Luc. Can we do this again sometime?'
Picard smiled. 'I don't see why not.' Thames nodded, and began to walk away. She hesitated, and then turned to face Picard. 'Jean-Luc, there's something else.'
'Oh yes?' Thames stepped close, and kissed Picard lightly on the lips. Picard smiled, and, encouraged, she kissed him deeply. They backed into the room again. The door slid shut.
Sisko was woken suddenly by the bleeper on his commbadge. Tapping it on his uniform on the chair beside him, he said, 'Sisko.'
'Admiral, do you know where Major Kira is? She's not answering her comm.' Sisko turned and looked at the sleeping Kira, who was nestled in the crook of his arm.
'I could find her easily enough. Why?' The voice came back and he recognised it as being Vedek Terat, the new Bajoran speaker for the Vedek Assembly.
'The votes are counted. She is the new Kai.'
Sisko smiled. 'I'll tell her. Thank you.' He turned back to Kira, and traced his finger along her back. She woke at this touch, and turned to him.
'What is it, Benjamin?' she asked sleepily.
'I have some good news. You're the new Kai of the Bajoran people, Nerys.' She smiled. She wrapped her arms around him, drawing him closer.
'I think that calls for a celebration, don't you?' she purred. Sisko didn't need much persuasion.
It was Sisko who gave the order, two days later. The Fleet had dismantled the base on Vegryo's surface, bidding a regretful farewell to the planet which had been the site of their first victory in the war.
Torres and Naomi Wildman stood at one of the windows on the Sovereign's observation deck, watching as the work bees, tugs and shuttles coming from the surface brought the materials back to the Fleet, in preparation for departure. Torres pointed out the occasional shuttle to Naomi, but rejoiced in the simple pleasure of standing and watching the beautiful blue-green orb below rotate under them.
The door hissed open, and Torres turned to see Seven step through. For the moment, they were keeping their relationship quiet, but it seemed, from the expression of pleasure on Seven's face, that it might not be that way any longer. She held up a padd, and said, simply, `Got it!'
Torres broke into a smile, and rushed forward to embrace Seven. Releasing her, she looked at the padd, her smile getting bigger.
Naomi turned, curious at the excitement. `What's the matter?'
Seven leaned closer. `Naomi, we'd like to ask you an important question. Take your time to think about the answer. If possible, would you like to live with us –' She indicated herself and Torres - `as a family? We'd be your mothers,' she added.
Naomi glanced from one to the other, and then, wreathed in excited smiles, said, `Could I?'
Torres said, `We've already asked the President himself for permission. He said, if you wanted, then we could look after you from now on.'
Naomi beamed happily. `Yes! Oh, yes please!'
Seven glanced at Torres, who also wore an excited smile, and then reached out and hugged Naomi. Alone no longer.
`Yes, I agree. It's still quicker than transwarp all the way,' said Picard. Sisko nodded and glanced at the others. As expected, Chancellor Martok and Daimon Kreal also agreed.
`Agreed then. We will head for the Gamma Quadrant, and come through the wormhole to Bajor,' said Sisko. He deactivated the map that was displayed on the screen and faced them again.
They were all in the briefing room of the Sovereign. This ship, home to Picard now, was not the flagship of the Fleet. That honour now belonged to the Defiant, but the Sovereign was the only other ship in the Fleet that had equalled the Enterprise as a centrepoint for the Fleet. It was also the handiest ship with a full briefing room. The Defiant, as a warship, had no such amenities.
`And now, the last matter,' said Sisko. `A replacement for Admiral Jaled and myself as leaders of Beta and Alpha respectively.' He glanced at Picard. `Admiral, as C-in-C of Starfleet and Praetor of the Star Empire, you have the honour of nominating for both.'
Picard nodded. `For Alpha, the choice is simple. Someone who led it during the battle, and is experienced at command, as well as being well-liked by those under their command. I nominate Kai Nerys.'
Sisko nodded, knowing that he had suggested it to Picard the day before. It was only fair. `And for Beta?'
`The Romulan Senate has recommended one person who they believe could do the job for them. Commander Serisa was first officer to Admiral Jaled before being transferred to her own command before the last battle. They believe that she would be capable of doing the job.'
Sisko nodded. `I will confer with the Senate,' he said. `And with Commander Serisa herself.'
Picard nodded. There was no need to discuss who should take command of Epsilon. Dukat had already nominated Picard before the battle, should he be killed. Sisko looked around the table. `Is there any other business?'
Picard sat up again, and said, `Yes. There is one other thing. I feel that I am unable to continue in my current role as Praetor of the Romulan Empire. I have conferred with the Senate on this matter, and they agree that it would be an error to allow me to continue as such now that the retreat is over. A Romulan, they and I believe, is needed to lead the Empire. Although they would discuss this matter with you, Mr President, I wish to formally announce my resignation as Praetor.'
Sisko nodded. `I expected it,' he said. `I accept, and will discuss the issue tomorrow with the Senate.' He looked at the others, and stood. They followed his lead. `Well, if that's everything, I believe that we had better get to our ships. We depart soon.'
The entire Fleet was once again assembled in position. Behind them, the wreckage of the Borg Empire and the Aralla invasion force rested in death together. Before them, open space and the unknown Aralla presence in the Alpha Quadrant. There would be more battles to fight along the way, but they would come through.
Picard stared around the bridge of the Sovereign. Hedly was at tactical, Thames at Ops, and Captain Gratenlok was sat at the first officer's position. Truper was not yet well enough to be at helm, so the helm officer of the Sovereign had control of the mighty ship. Seven of Nine had the counsellor's seat, while Torres was manning the aft engineering console. Picard knew that he had taken the best from each crew and moulded it into a new crew to rival that of the Enterprise.
Picard glanced at Gratenlok. `I hope you don't mind my crew displacing yours, Captain.'
Gratenlok, a Bolian, shook his head and smiled. `You're the Admiral, sir. And, as you yourself said, they're the best.'
Picard glanced at Thames, who did not react, but he looked up at Hedly, who had blushed slightly. He smiled. `Notify Admiral Sisko that we are ready for departure.'
`All Battlegroups report ready, Admiral,' said Kira at the helm of the Defiant. `We're ready to go.'
Sisko took a quick glance around the bridge. Only Kira survived from his original bridge crew, but he knew every young face that filled those slots. Bashir, on the Sovereign, sent his personal greetings to his old friends. Sisko, for the first time since the Aralla invaded, felt at peace with himself again.
He looked at Nerys. `Put me on Fleet-wide.' He stood up and glanced at Kira again, who nodded. He took a deep breath. `This is President Sisko to all ships. Engage warp engines. We're going home.'
The Fleet moved out of orbit, and, in a great flash of light, vanished into warp speed again. Within moments, they initiated their transwarp engines, and propelled themselves along at speeds unthought of at the beginning of the long war.
Nothing stirred any longer around Vegryo VII. Over the next few years, the debris of the final battle would scorch through the sky in a shooting star, but two extinct races were remembered in no other way, except in the death and debris left behind them.