I don't own Star Trek The Next Generation.
Please let me know what you think; I've changed some details in this chapter, and it's going to happen in the next chapter that features both the Enterprise C and D; I'm going to be writing interludes about different battles and situations occurring in the Federation for the next couple of chapters. Oh, and there are nice little tidbits about how the war has an effect on morality here. See if you can spot it.
Yesterday's Enterprise.
The senior staff sat in Picard's Ready Room - usually, meetings of strategy took place in the Observation Lounge, but Picard had wanted to tell them of his final plans for the Enterprise C in a more personal setting, and to emphasise the importance and the gravity of the situation - listened as Picard outlined what he planned to do with the Enterprise C.
He told them of his meetings with Guinan, what she had implied about the timeline they were in, and what it should have been instead even if Guinan wasn't entirely clear on how the correct timeline should be, although he left out the philosophical leanings. Aside from Data, all of the senior staff were like him. They saw the world in black and white and grey practicality, not poetry.
He told them of how Guinan had told them the presence of the Enterprise C meant their role in the past twenty years before was more vital than they had expected, and as a result, the war was not meant to be happening.
Out of all of the senior staff, only Data seemed to be taking it all on board. But the others were reluctant and sceptical. Temporal mechanics was a required course at the Academy, especially since while the war was going on, they would be encountering strange phenomena and they had to be ready, but it had been stripped down over the years of fighting against the Klingon Empire.
"Captain, are you suggesting that we let them return and attempt to complete their mission?" Dr Crusher demanded in disbelief.
Picard held his own, this was not the time for some pointless debate, "I am, Doctor."
There was sheer disbelief in Crusher's voice - Picard honestly couldn't entirely say that he blamed her since he himself had felt the same way. "Based on Guinan's intuition?"
"It's more than that," Picard interrupted. "I'm also thinking of the bigger picture. If the Enterprise C goes back through the rift, they could prevent the Romulan attack."
Riker shook his head. "That won't accomplish anything, sir. There's no way they can save Narendra Three. We know enough about the assault to know if the Enterprise C does go back through the Time Rift, they will just be climbing into their coffins."
"Captain Garrett says there were four Romulan warbirds," Tasha noted seriously. "The Enterprise-C would be outmanned and outgunned, and they won't have the sensors we've developed for cloaking technology."
Ah, that was the crux of the problem. In the years since the war began, Starfleet and the Federation had been determined to maintain the Treaty of Algeron. Unfortunately, the Klingons' constant attacks where they snuck behind the lines, spied, destroyed or massacred colonies and ships meant there were many well-founded fears of the Federation being conquered by the Klingons.
The solution came when Captain Eric Pressman, Commander Riker's original commanding officer on the USS Pegasus, successfully tested a cloaking device in order to open up and take advantage of a line of defence that the Klingons and the Romulan took advantage of.
Pressman had become a lauded hero to the Federation, and thanks to his work many different forms of cloaks from inter phasic cloaking devices which allowed a cloaked ship to pass through solid matter, which had so many possibilities and advantages that the balance of power in the war had swung into the Federation's favour.
Thanks to the research, the Federation had discovered many other technologies where they could detect cloaking devices - a discovery the Klingons had been trying to rectify since, and since then the Empire had spent a lot of their resources researching and deploying many new better cloaks.
The time had given the Federation the time to rebuild and repair their losses, but many felt it was too little and too late.
"Unless we were to re-arm them with modern weapons and technology," La Forge said as he thought through the possibilities.
"I'm reluctant to offer that possibility; we don't know if the Enterprise C will be captured, and if that happens our technology will fall into Romulan hands. The last thing we want is for them to gain any kind of advantage, and change the past," Picard said.
"But that's what you're talking about anyway, isn't it? Altering the past," Riker pointed out.
"No. We're talking about restoring the past."
La Forge shook his head. "I still don't get this. How could Guinan know that history has been altered if she's been altered along with the rest of us?"
"Perhaps her species has a perception that goes beyond linear time," Data suggested.
Picard had spent a long time trying to understand Guinan's people, and he hadn't had much in the way of success. They were a highly secretive, highly whimsical but extremely wise race with a perception that was uncanny. "There are many things about her species we can't easily explained. Yet it is very possible she is correct. A ship from the past has travelled through time. How can we know what effect those events will have on the present? Indeed, we shall never know for certain, if Guinan is correct. But I have decided the consequences of that possibility are too grave to ignore."
"I agree with Geordi, sir," Tasha put in, "I think the Enterprise-C's weapons and shields should be modified and augmented. The work is already in place, we may as well keep at it. But if we are going to send them back, it would allow them to hold out longer."
Picard mulled it over in his mind for a moment before he nodded. "Very well. That's an important priority. I want that ship to be readied as soon as possible."
"Aye sir," Tasha replied.
"With all due respect, sir, you'd be asking one hundred and twenty-five people to die a meaningless death," Riker suddenly interrupted.
"Not necessarily meaningless, Commander," Data pointed out. "The Klingons regard honour above all else. If the crew of the Enterprise-C had died fighting for the survival of a Klingon outpost, it would be considered a meaningful act of honour by the Klingon Empire."
Only a few people in the Ready Room had bothered to read anything about Klingon culture and they knew what the android had said was true. Picard was one of them; he was of the school who took stock in the adage 'Know thy enemy' and he had used his own understanding of the Klingon mindset against them many times.
Ever since Guinan had told him about the Enterprise C, Picard had brushed up on the reports and myths about the attack carried out by the Romulans.
He knew the Klingons had attacked the Federation due to their rage, and the Romulans had fortified their Empire since their Praetor at the time was an insane madman. The Federation was seen as a perfect outlet for their anger, and tensions between the two powers had been high for a while anyway.
"Even their deaths might have prevented this war. If the Enterprise-C returns to the battle and its mission is a success, history will be irrevocably changed. This timeline will cease to exist and a new future will have been created. I've considered the alternatives. I'll go with Guinan's recommendation. Dismissed," Picard said with confident finality.
But as his senior staff left the Ready Room, Picard was left wondering if his plans would work out.
Meanwhile, on the Bridge, the senior staff were chatting amongst themselves as they went off to resume their duties. There was still much to do if they were going to send the Enterprise C back through the rift, and while they didn't like it, they were Starfleet professionals. And deep down, a part of them was curious to see if Picard and Guinan were right.
"If she's right, we may not even be in an alternate timeline," Crusher commented to La Forge. "Yeah, who knows if we're dead or alive," the chief engineer replied. Unnoticed by the two of them, Tasha had been following behind as she prepared herself for the task of preparing the Enterprise C for a battle with the Romulans in the past, and for some reason, she stopped and was chilled by the statement La Forge had uttered.
"Who knows if we're dead or alive…"
"Who knows if we're dead or alive…"
Like a zombie, Tasha absently followed Data into the turbolift. She didn't react when Data gave the computer the destination command.
"Engineering," Data said before he looked over at Tasha, and noted she had not moved or said a word since she stepped into the turbolift car. "Is Engineering your destination as well?" He inquired.
Tasha jumped. "What?" She smiled sheepishly although Data wouldn't have the emotional context to recognise the smile for what it was. "Oh, deck six. Sorry," she apologised.
"If I interpret your facial expressions correctly, you are preoccupied with something unpleasant," Data stated.
Tasha couldn't help but smile at her friend. Data was sometimes socially inept but that was mostly down to his creator not having the time to refine his programming, but it was nonetheless endearing of him to ask her what was wrong, even if he said it in a very mechanical way. "No, I was just thinking about a lot of things. I've been working with one of the officers on the Enterprise-C. He's nice. I like him. I'm worried about what's going to happen to him."
Data shook his head. "We may never know what happens," he stated. "If they succeed, we will not even realise that these events occurred."
Tasha didn't like the sound of that, but