THE LOST YEARS

by Soledad

PRELUDE: CROSSROADS

Disclaimer: see Introduction.

Rating: 10 and above, for this chapter – just to be on the safe side.

Author's notes:

The names of the Federation ambassadors were taken from Shane Johnson's excellent book "The Worlds of the Federation". We know from "Star Trek – The Motion Picture" that Spock indeed returned to Vulcan for a while and began studying the discipline of the Kolinahr – until the telepathic message of V'Ger called him out of it.

CHAPTER 13: CONSEQUENCES

The laser turrets of the big basestars became silent. The ships that reminded of enormous, moving space stations, hung crippled in the blackness of space, among the unblinking stars. The selected colonial Vipers landed, one after another, and Apollo, Dietra, Jolly and the other pilots seized control over the Cylon ships. When the reports came in that the basestars indeed represented no threat any longer, Tigh shut off the resonance signal and switched to the shared frequency of the united Federation-Colonial fleet.

"To all ships: this is Colonel Tigh aboard the eight Cylon basestar, which I hereby declare property of the Libran survivors, together with the one neutralized by Captain Boomer. All Cylons aboard this ship are dead. Should any of the raiders have escaped, it's up to the Vipers to hunt down and destroy them. Not a single one must survive."

"No problem, Colonel," Captain Apollo replied from his own basestar. "Practically all raiders were in comm-contact with the one or other baseship. The rest of them is already history. I've secured basestar number one for Caprica."

"All right," Tyr said. "In that case, I'll give you Sire Solon, chief accuser of the colonies, on unicom. He has an offer for the Federation."

He made another switch, and on the screens of all fleet ships as well as on those of Federation monitoring stations that had been watching the events since the beginning of the battle, the dark, intelligent face of Sire Solon appeared.

"Honoured representatives of the United Federation of Planets," the chief accuser began in his deep, even voice, "I have been authorized by the Quorum of Twelve to present you the following offer. If you are willing to let us have an uninhibited solar system matching our needs within the borders of the Federation, without the obligation to join the Federation, we are willing to let the Federation have an intact basestar with all the Cylon technology and the knowledge stored in its databanses. Otherwise, we'll regretfully have to look for a new home somewhere else. We give you three of your standard days to consider our offer. Solon out."

Before the completely flabbergasted Kirk could have react to this… ultimatum, Uhura turned her seat to him.

"Colonel Tigh would like to speak you, Captain."

"Onscreen," Kirk ordered, obviously willing and ready to give his way too independent ally a piece of his mind. But Tigh left him no time to start his tirade.

"Captain Kirk, I've got a present for your exobiology lab. Could you beam it over directly?"

"A... present?" Kirk repeated in suspicion. "What sort of present?"

"A quite dead one," Tigh replied calmly. "The Imperious Leader of the Cylon Empire... or what's left of him, after all three of his brains got burned out. I thought, Dr. M'Benga would have his fun with such an extraordinary specimen."

"Oh, he would," McCoy agreed, grinning. "When he gets his hands on something like that, he'll behave like a human, not like a half-Vulcan, for at least ten minutes. But Colonel, wouldn't your physicians want to examine the body first?"

"The Galactica is not a science ship, doctor," Tyr answered, "nor are any of our other ships, save the Electra, but not even there do we have the necessary equipment for something like that. However, were you willing to allow Dr. Salik to participate…"

"Oh, sure, get him over here," McCoy rubbed his hands in glee. "Jim, can you imagine what a chance that would be? We could study a lifeform completely alien to us: a real symbiosis between organic life and highly developed technology!"

"Very well," Kirk gave in, albeit a little reluctantly. "Beam the deceased one directly into M'Benga's lab. And let Dr. Salik come over. I don't want people to say we'd treat our… present egoistically. Tell me, colonel…"

"Yes, Captain?"

"Has you virus contaminated the databases of the basestars as well?"

"It wasn't supposed to," Tigh replied, "nor has anything like that happened, so far. But if Uhura could spare a comm technician for us to help me to remove it from the system, I'd feel safer. It'd be an irreparable loss, should the data get contaminated."

Kirk turned to Uhura. "Whom would you recommend, Lieutenant?"

"Yeoman Barrows," the communications officer answered without hesitation. "She's the best. She can also download the data, when she's at it anyway. We'd save a lot of time that way."

The chance to get his hands on the Cylon databases before everyone else made Kirk somewhat lenient… at least temporarily. "All right. Send her over, then."

Tonia Barrows hailed from Cygnet XIV, the home of the Federation's best computer-technicians. Not even Vulcans could match their experts, whose technological knowledge was paired with unparalleled intuition. Barrows was glad to be freed from the moderately interesting assignment of being Kirk's personal secretary and finally be able to do some work for which her abilities more than qualified her.

Uhura would have preferred to beam over to the basestar personally (and in this wish the fact that Tigh was over there didn't even play a major role – she was very curious how the alien technology worked) but she knew that at the moment asking Kirk's permission would have been futile. It was Spock who accompanied Barrows in her stead, and two technicians from Mr. Scott's section, who had to check whether the basestar's board systems were damaged or not.

The ultimatum of the Quorum of Twelve dropped into the middle of Federation diplomats, who had gathered on Starbase 18 in the meantime, like a bomb.

"That was fast!" Tongo Sil, Catulla's ambassador, aside from being a diplomat also one of the best space researcher of his planet, remarked.

Iloran of Delta V shook his elegant, bald head. "I don't think so, honoured colleague. The way they turned the battle plan inside out in just the right moment speaks of careful preparation."

"You mean the colonial leaders risked a defeat, just to get their hands on something they would be able to bargain with?" Shrall K'Tik of Andor wiggled his antennae.

"That would be a risky yet very logical decision, do you not think?" Sarek intervened. "They did not want to depend on the mercy of the Federation, and they managed to find something of value for our scientists."

"Even if the price and the offer don't necessarily have the same value," added T'Sedd, the ambassador of Rigel V, whose elegant features and pointed ears could have belonged to a Vulcan – had she not that small, enigmatic smile in the corner of her mouth.

The small, slender, azure-skinned H'T'Jera, representing Deneb II, narrowed her long eyes.

"I wouldn't agree with that, Lady T'Shedd," she said. "Our victory against the Cylons doesn't necessarily meant that we won't have to face them again, somewhen in the future. And in such a case, the knowledge we can gain about them, could decide between life or death for us."

"Besides," Ambassador Cino Desdin, a technological genius, rubbed his big, lettuce-shaped ears, which was the surest sign of excitement by Tiburonians, "I'd give an annual salary for the chance to take one of those basestars apart and find out how they work. This is a technology completely alien to us; we could learn a great deal, and probably reach a breakthrough in cybernetics."

"You leave an important aspect out of consideration, valued colleagues," Zella Ra'ancine of Alpha Centauri VII said quietly. "The outer, mostly unexplored sectors of the Federation are more or less uninhibited and thus open to any attack. If we let the colonials have one of those sectors and manage to talk them into accepting at least allied status, that would mean that we have secured our backs through a civilization that is well-disposed towards us. I think that would be an advantage we must not lose."

"But these people won't be able to terraform the planets on their own," Gartiv, the Tellarite ambassador argued, lifting his short, snout-like nose as a sign of nervosity.

"They don't have to," Zella Ra'ancine answered. "I'll have to discuss the problem with my government in particular and with the ruling body of the Alpha Centauri Concordium in general, of course. But I'm quite certain that we'll be willing to offer humanitarian assistance."

"And so will the Mars Colonies," Keith Duryea added.

"And Earth doubtlessly, too," countered Benjamin Adams. "After all, these people are without question humans, regardless how long our ways might have parted."

"Ardana can afford to help them by the building of their new worlds," Ambassador Tresus shrugged, "without selling them our technology, which we certainly won't be willing to do. However, first we need to find the right place for them."

"According to my research, although the time I had to my disposal was unfortunately short, the colonies represent twelve relatively different cultures," Sarek said calmly. "Not to mention the Borellans who had joined them on their way. It is by no way certain, therefore, that they would all want to live on the same planet, or even in the same solar system."

"And you want to say… what exactly?" Benjamin Adams asked impatiently.

"That it would be possible for our worlds to negotiate individual treaties with the individual colonial peoples," Sarek pointed out. "Since the Federation Council is already informed, I suggest that we all contact our respective governments and pass on the colonial application. That way, each government can decide which one of the twelve… the thirteen groups they would like to offer help."

Benjamin Adams furrowed his brow in suspicion. "You as a member of the Federation Council already do have a suggestion for the global solution, don't you?"

"That is a logical assumption," Sarek replied with dignity. "Have you ever heard of Sector G-132?"

Colonel Tigh was spending his second week alone aboard the Cylon basestar. He had to remain there to secure the rights of his people, the Librans, as the traditional Right of Claiming, as old as the original colonies themselves, demanded. It wasn't a very pleasant assignment, accompanied by hundreds of dead Cylons, but Tigh had grown accustomed to such missions during the long, lonely patrols as a young pilot. Besides, some time to think over his life and make decisions for the future – now that he had the chance of having a future – wasn't that bad.

Of course, he'd have preferred to have Uhura with him. But they couldn't find any official reason to ask for her presence, and after having made his move behind Starfleet's back, he knew Captain Kirk wouldn't be in the mood to grant any favours.

The Enterprise technicians had spent a few days here, checked everything twice and thrice, and then – finding everything all right and in working order – returned to their ship. The merciful Chief Wong beamed over a bunk and a heap of dehydrated foot, so that Tigh didn't have to sleep on the metal floor and could at least eat something every day – the food rations came in self-heating packages. Tigh was especially thankful for the bunk. His back had suffered enough during this mission, and it'd take time until he could visit the Life Center aboard the Galactica.

Boomer secured the other Libran basestar, but he was luckier. Charlene Masters accompanied him, assigned there by Mr. Scott to make detailed notes for Starfleet's Engineering Division about the structure and the working of Cylon technology. During their latest contact, Boomer had told Tigh that – should it come to a break in the Quorum – he would sing up to Libra. Even though he planned to visit Mars Solis first, to marry Charlene according to local traditions.

The next hail came from Sire Togo, who lived aboard the biggest Libran ship, the Yahalon (which, compared to the other ships in the colonial fleet, was still nothing more than a flying rustbin). The old senator thanked Tigh in the name of all surviving Librans and officially announced his retreat.

"As you are doubtlessly aware of it by now, Colonel, I have selected you as my successor," the fragile old man said in the peculiar Libran dialect that practically nobody else but Librans understood. "Your position and your success mean a great deal for Libra… I mean for New-Libra. Sire Solon supports my choice."

"You honour me, Sire Togo," Tigh replied thoughtfully, "although I must admit, I've never considered a diplomatic career. It doesn't exactly match my interests… or my abilities. But I won't neglect my duty towards our people. In fact, I've already selected a member of my staff: Captain Boomer."

"I know," Togo nodded. "To tell the truth, I applied a little… pressure, so that Boomer would accept. By the way, I've heard that you have founded a new family, Colonel. I assume this is a fact that plays some role in your hesitation to accept your new assignment."

"To a certain extent, yes," Tigh admitted. "Although I must say, Siress Uhura proved very helpful. She has offered to use her influence to secure a safe area in East-Africa where our remaining people could live, should we not succeed in defending Libra's interest in the new colonies."

"This is not an issue," Togo told him. "The negotiations aren't public yet, but I think I can tell you about it – after all, you are supposed to take over for me. The Federation decided to let us have an entire outer sector, with four solar systems capable of supporting human life. Of course, on most planets terraforming has just begun, so for the first ten or fifteen yahrens it would be necessary to live in domed cities on them, but the problem of founding new colonies seems to be solved for us."

"I assume Libra was assigned one of those untamed planets," Tigh said bitterly. The old senator sighed in defeat.

"You know how these things work, Colonel. We got the corner nearest to inhibited Federation territory. The solar system only has two habitable planets – the Virgons got the other one. Gemini, Sagittaria and Aquarius will get the neighbouring system, Scorpia, Taura, Piscia and Cancera the third one, and the rest, including Caprica and Leo, the farthest one."

"They probably has the chance of extending their territory in their mind already," Tigh commented sarcastically. Sire Togo gave him a tired smile.

"No doubt about that, Colonel. But for us, that's not so bad. The Federation assured us that this sector doesn't border any know hostile interstellar power, but how much of their galaxy do they truly know? I don't mind having got the best-protected corner of the sector."

"Neither do I," Tigh agreed. "My main concern is how and when will we be able to actually populate our new home. Maybe we should accept Siress Uhura's order and settle at least the old people and the families with small children on Earth. Temporarily, of course, until we can make New-Libra at least partially habitable."

"That's an excellent suggestion, Colonel" the old senator nodded. "Please begin the negotiations in his case. In a short time, you'll have the official authorization anyway to make treaties in Libra's name. I'll consult the Elders and send technicians to our two basestars to place the necessary codes and make repairs."

"The Quorum accepted our claim for both basestars?" Tigh asked in surprise.

"They didn't have a chance to do otherwise," Togo replied, and for the first time, there was a mischievous gleam in his tired old eyes. "Sire Uri was quite upset, of course, when it turned out that Captain Boomer made his claim to Libra's advantage, and he protested loudly that this way Leo would have no basestar of its own, but there was nothing he could do against it. Tradition, Colonel. Isn't it a wonderful thing?"

"It certainly is," Tigh grinned. "What about the other basestars?"

"Caprica got two of them," Togo explained with a wry grin; "not really a surprise, is it? Gemini and Scorpia both got one, and the Nomes of Borallus got their hands on the last one. This way, there will be at least one space station in each system. I think it's a good thing. Our new worlds will need sufficient protection."

"The Nomes ended up in the same system with Caprica and Leo?" Tigh chucked. "That will be a problem I'm afraid."

Togo shook his head. "Fortunately, not in the same system. The sector has a fifth system with a red giant star as its primary and three very large planets with environments almost as horrible as it used to be on Borallus. The Nomes'code of honour demands that they take the planets that are their old home the most alike. I don't doubt that they will populate the entire system eventually, but since they live on fundamentally different worlds than we do, they won't be a threat for us. In fact, they could even provide an added layer of security. They are fierce warriors."

"I see," Tigh nodded. "Well, that's good news. What's the sector called where the Federation wants to settle us?"

"So far, it has no name, just a registration number. But the Federation Council decided to rename if Kobol-sector… in homage of our lost worlds and out of respect for the sacrifices of our people." Togo paused. "I assume you want to live on Earth for the time being, Colonel?"

"For a while, yes," Tigh replied. "At least until New-Libra becomes habitable. The terraforming technicians won't need my presence. And since the majority of our people will hopefully be living on Earth anyway, I'll be more needed there. Not to mention the personal aspects."

"I never intended to make a desk-riding diplomat out of you," Togo chuckled. "Have you considered joining the Federation space exploration program?"

"I've considered it, yes," Tigh admitted, "but apparently, I'll have other duties."

"Libra cannot afford a space exploration program yet," Togo agreed. "Not even all our worlds together could do that, to be honest. Still, I strongly believe that we cannot afford to give up representing our interests in the interstellar diplomacy and trade. Ambassador Sarek told me that we have those rights, as allied worlds."

"I can't quite follow you, Sire Togo."

"According to Ambassador Sarek, each allied world is entitled to delegate diplomatic observers to any of Starfleet's big ships of exploration. And since Siress Uhura is serving aboard such a ship, the choice would be obvious."

"But the Enterprise is going to drydock for refitting now, for a lengthy time, maybe for yahrens," Tigh reminded the old senator.

"I'm aware of that, Colonel. But you, too, will need that time to become familiar with Starfleet's technology and protocols. And not only you but also Captain Boomer, Corporal Rigel, Omega, and all the younger officers. If we want to catch up with the development here, our best people must learn… and learn a lot."

"Doubtlessly, Sire Togo. I take that my assignment to the Enterprise is a done thing already?"

"It is. You'd be of the most use there, for the next yahrens."

"I see. Has it been decided, too, whom to assign as my staff members?"

"The choice is more or less yours, Colonel. Only Gemini insisted that a socialator should be among them. They argue, and they're actually right, that no one else can handle alien civilizations quite as well as socialators do, based on their special training."

"In that case, I'll take Cassiopeia," Tigh shrugged. "At least I know her and can trust her. Besides, having someone with medical knowledge in my team could come handy."

"Very well, Colonel. We'll see that Cassiopeia participates a few courses designed for Federation diplomats. With an attaché like her on your side, you won't have to bother with questions of protocol. And Colonel…"

"Yes, Sire Togo?"

"Congratulations to both your new assignment and to your new family."

Commander Spock and his parents were sitting in the hydroponics gardens of Starbase 18. Amanda preferred the gardens to the impersonal guest quarters of the Starbase. For the two Vulcans, the place was irrelevant, of course.

"Are you really sure about your decision?" Amanda asked, surprised and maybe a little disappointed. "Starfleet was the way you have chosen for your life… and you were willing to pay any price for it…"

Spock nodded. He knew his mother was speaking about the long and bitter conflict between him and his father, caused by his career choice. A choice with the result that he and Sarek didn't speak to each other for eighteen years.

"That is correct, Mother. And I have gone this way as long as it seemed the right one for me. Maybe one day I shall return to this path. Right now, however, I find it more important to return to my roots… to my home."

"It's high time," his mother commented soberly. "More than four years have gone by since your last pon farr. You must seek out a new bonding partner… and soon."

Spock nodded again. His mother had directly addressed the sensitive topic no Vulcan mother would address publicly.

"I am well aware of the necessity, Mother. That is one of the reasons why I need to return to Vulcan."

"Have you informed Captain Kirk about your decision?" Sarek asked.

Spock shook his head. He knew, this step wouldn't be easy, for either of them. His commanding officer was also a friend – and he depended on Spock's reliable, logical knowledge. Still, there was no other way to go. Not for a while.

"I shall inform him later," he said. "Right now, we all are entitled to six standard months worth of home leave. I have enough time to consider everything carefully."

TBC