Chapter Eleven
The sixth and final dawn appeared in the east over Old
Castle. Captain Picard was once again in the New Castle tower.
Picard was not up watching the sunrise when the bells of Saint
Paul's rang out, calling people to mourning Mass. His attention
was taken up by the five ships which sailed up the Blue. As the
bells tolled the five ships unloaded troops right above the
Romulan camp. Across the Green, canoes entered the water,
delivering a second force from across the water. A line of
soldiers formed between the rivers.
Meanwhile the ships had left the shore and were proceeding
downstream. As they passed the Romulan camp they took a couple
potshots at it. Before Riker could charge, several Romulans
approached the line under a flag of truce.
"Commander, we wish to surrender and ask for terms," The
Romulan asked.
"Commander out of curiosity why are you surrendering," Riker
asked.
"Suddenly it seemed to be useless to continue," the Romulan
Commander said, after amount. "A hopeless battle is bad enough,
but one for the amusement of a superbeing is just plain crazy."
"I've found that to be true as well," Commander Riker said.
"You will be interested to know that this time, Q, the local
superbeing, is doing this in order to prepare a term paper on
humanity and our Captain."
Q's voice rang out, "Get it right Commander, my book
Humanity, Captain Picard's Race, will be published by Nevolsia
Press next April."
"Romulus is going to enjoy this report," the Romulan
Commander said.
Later that day, Captain T'Gwen Washington rushed into the
map room of New Castle. Captain Picard and Commander Riker were
there spectuclating on how Marrissa was doing in command of the
Enterprise. "I think she is having a hard time," Commander Riker
said. "After all she has no experience at diplomatic
negotiation."
"I don't agree, Number One," Captain Picard said. "After
all she has a B+ in TACT 360 Diplomatic Negotiation."
"Captain Picard," Captain Washington interrupted, "I have
word from my intelligence agents. My fellow Vulcans report that
the Romulans are returning to attack us within the hour."
"I expected that," Captain Picard said. "Commander Riker
status of the walls?"
"All manned and ready, Captain," Riker replied.
"How did you know they would return?" T'Gwen asked.
"It was too easy," Picard replied. "Q usually provides more
of a challenge. So how do you think my daughter is doing in
command of the Enterprise's diplomatic mission?"
"Is this the same girl who destroyed the Romulan Warbird at
Neptune?" the half-Vulcan asked.
In the Battle field before South Gate the Romulans charged
with ladders and stockpiled weapons. Data's archers were ready.
A full fifth of the Romulans failed to reach the Wall. When they
got their they put their ladders up to the wall, ignoring the two
foot wide and widening stream that LaForge had dug next to the
Wall. Water flowed quickly from the Blue to a waterfall into the
Green. Placing their ladders so that the base was about 3 feet
away from the wall they began there assent. As the stream
widened the Romulans were knocked off their ladders into the
swift flowing stream down the waterfall into the Green.
Soon the Romulans retreated. The men of South Gate suffered
no casualties. The Romulans lost half.
Inside the Map room, LaForge was explain how his plan
worked. "The new stream was built in a rock bed extending from
the Blue to the Green. It improves the defenses of the south
wall," LaForge stated.
"What about the Gate?" Riker asked.
"A drawbridge should restore the gate," Laforge replied.
At that moment Q arrived in Starfleet dress uniform," It's
nice to see all of you made it," he stated dryly.
"I assume this means you are about to return us to the
Enterprise?" Captain Picard asked.
"Certainly Jean-Luc," Q replied. "You will be returned as
soon as I finish taking to you. Marrissa has requested that I
arrange your arrival in a certain manner. I have seen fit to
grant her request."
"So she impressed you," Commander Riker said.
"I said nothing of the sort," Q replied indignantly. "Now
on to those arrival arrangements. The crews from the Miranda
Class vessels will return to there ships as they left but a week
later. However the Enterprise is a different matter. The
Command Crew will appear in front of the main viewscreen. The
rest of the crew will appear in their quarters. Any Questions?"
"Any thing we should know about the situation on the
Enterprise," Captain Picard said.
"No, Marrissa will be briefing you when you arrive with
Admiral Okie via subspace," Q replied. "I wanted to bring him to
the Enterprise but he politely refused." He sighed. "Any thing
else?"
As the Enterprise crew had no more questions they
disappeared in a flash.
The sixth and final dawn appeared in the east over Old
Castle. Captain Picard was once again in the New Castle tower.
Picard was not up watching the sunrise when the bells of Saint
Paul's rang out, calling people to mourning Mass. His attention
was taken up by the five ships which sailed up the Blue. As the
bells tolled the five ships unloaded troops right above the
Romulan camp. Across the Green, canoes entered the water,
delivering a second force from across the water. A line of
soldiers formed between the rivers.
Meanwhile the ships had left the shore and were proceeding
downstream. As they passed the Romulan camp they took a couple
potshots at it. Before Riker could charge, several Romulans
approached the line under a flag of truce.
"Commander, we wish to surrender and ask for terms," The
Romulan asked.
"Commander out of curiosity why are you surrendering," Riker
asked.
"Suddenly it seemed to be useless to continue," the Romulan
Commander said, after amount. "A hopeless battle is bad enough,
but one for the amusement of a superbeing is just plain crazy."
"I've found that to be true as well," Commander Riker said.
"You will be interested to know that this time, Q, the local
superbeing, is doing this in order to prepare a term paper on
humanity and our Captain."
Q's voice rang out, "Get it right Commander, my book
Humanity, Captain Picard's Race, will be published by Nevolsia
Press next April."
"Romulus is going to enjoy this report," the Romulan
Commander said.
Later that day, Captain T'Gwen Washington rushed into the
map room of New Castle. Captain Picard and Commander Riker were
there spectuclating on how Marrissa was doing in command of the
Enterprise. "I think she is having a hard time," Commander Riker
said. "After all she has no experience at diplomatic
negotiation."
"I don't agree, Number One," Captain Picard said. "After
all she has a B+ in TACT 360 Diplomatic Negotiation."
"Captain Picard," Captain Washington interrupted, "I have
word from my intelligence agents. My fellow Vulcans report that
the Romulans are returning to attack us within the hour."
"I expected that," Captain Picard said. "Commander Riker
status of the walls?"
"All manned and ready, Captain," Riker replied.
"How did you know they would return?" T'Gwen asked.
"It was too easy," Picard replied. "Q usually provides more
of a challenge. So how do you think my daughter is doing in
command of the Enterprise's diplomatic mission?"
"Is this the same girl who destroyed the Romulan Warbird at
Neptune?" the half-Vulcan asked.
In the Battle field before South Gate the Romulans charged
with ladders and stockpiled weapons. Data's archers were ready.
A full fifth of the Romulans failed to reach the Wall. When they
got their they put their ladders up to the wall, ignoring the two
foot wide and widening stream that LaForge had dug next to the
Wall. Water flowed quickly from the Blue to a waterfall into the
Green. Placing their ladders so that the base was about 3 feet
away from the wall they began there assent. As the stream
widened the Romulans were knocked off their ladders into the
swift flowing stream down the waterfall into the Green.
Soon the Romulans retreated. The men of South Gate suffered
no casualties. The Romulans lost half.
Inside the Map room, LaForge was explain how his plan
worked. "The new stream was built in a rock bed extending from
the Blue to the Green. It improves the defenses of the south
wall," LaForge stated.
"What about the Gate?" Riker asked.
"A drawbridge should restore the gate," Laforge replied.
At that moment Q arrived in Starfleet dress uniform," It's
nice to see all of you made it," he stated dryly.
"I assume this means you are about to return us to the
Enterprise?" Captain Picard asked.
"Certainly Jean-Luc," Q replied. "You will be returned as
soon as I finish taking to you. Marrissa has requested that I
arrange your arrival in a certain manner. I have seen fit to
grant her request."
"So she impressed you," Commander Riker said.
"I said nothing of the sort," Q replied indignantly. "Now
on to those arrival arrangements. The crews from the Miranda
Class vessels will return to there ships as they left but a week
later. However the Enterprise is a different matter. The
Command Crew will appear in front of the main viewscreen. The
rest of the crew will appear in their quarters. Any Questions?"
"Any thing we should know about the situation on the
Enterprise," Captain Picard said.
"No, Marrissa will be briefing you when you arrive with
Admiral Okie via subspace," Q replied. "I wanted to bring him to
the Enterprise but he politely refused." He sighed. "Any thing
else?"
As the Enterprise crew had no more questions they
disappeared in a flash.
