It Really is a New Universe

Babylon 5 – CIC

The scene in the CIC was best described as managed chaos. Another group of refugees had arrived a few minutes earlier, and Sheridan and his crew had a tough time keeping up with the ever-growing demands. The reports from each refugee were always the same. The Shadows had descended on their worlds and virtually destroyed them. It was only a matter of time before Babylon 5 was overwhelmed by refugees or attacked by the Shadows. Sheridan found neither possibility appealing.

By all accounts, Earth was now in a full-blown civil war. President Clark has instituted martial law across the entire Earth Alliance. Several protests had broken out initially, only to be quickly and brutally put down. All attempts at resistance had been met with overwhelming force, often followed by key organizer disappearances. Colonies had been attacked; Babylon 5 had been the only significant Earth settlement to maintain its independence.

Earthforce captains were rebelling, and they were going to the only place where they felt they had a chance: Babylon 5.

He had begun to review a rebel Earthforce ship's report when the Ops officer became quite anxious.

"Captain, four ships just appeared on sensors. No jump points were detected, and they didn't utilize the jump gate. One of them is White Star 1."

"Let's see it," ordered Sheridan.

The ships from the video Ivanova sent them were visible on the screen. Their sudden appearance caused a new flurry of communications activity, as several captains contacted the CIC for instructions.

"Comms, instruct all ships to maintain position. The new arrivals were expected," Sheridan ordered, then he turned to the Ops station. "Ops, what do scanners say about those ships?"

After quickly checking his readouts, the Lt. said, "Nothing, Captain. All scans are being blocked. We can only detect the general energy levels emanating from those ships."

"Captain," came the voice of the Comms officer, "we have an incoming communication from White Star 1."

"Put them on."

"Commander, it looks like you arrived in one piece. Your new friends have caused quite a stir."

Ivanova smiled at him. "Well, Sir, I do like to make an entrance. I already told them that they should get in touch with you. They're waiting for your signal right now. You'll want to talk to Captain Garrett on the U.S.S. Destiny."

Sheridan nodded, then moved on to more practical matters. "Are you able to dock?"

"Yes, Sir. We have maneuvering capabilities. I'll meet you in the conference room after we dock."

"Very well. See you in a few minutes. Sheridan out." He took a deep breath before giving his next order. "Comms, open a channel to the Destiny."

"Channel open, Sir."

"U.S.S. Destiny, this is Captain John Sheridan of Babylon 5. Please come in."

Everyone paused when they saw the video from Destiny. They saw a human woman standing on an unfamiliar bridge wearing a red uniform. There were several others, presumably humans, also on the bridge. "Hello, Captain. I am Captain Rachel Garrett of the U.S.S. Destiny, and we represent The United Federation of Planets. We are new to the neighborhood and would welcome the opportunity to meet with you in person. Based on what we've heard from Commander Ivanova, we believe there is much to discuss."

Sheridan could see why Ivanova thought this captain was human. She looked and sounded human and had a very human name. The fact that her ship was covered in English lettering only added to the mystery.

"I welcome your party to meet me and my command crew aboard Babylon 5. Your shuttle may dock in Docking Bay 2."

Garrett had to get used to the idea that these people didn't have transporters, she thought. "Captain, that won't be necessary. We have matter transport technology that allows us to travel without shuttles. If you could provide coordinates, we'll transport over to meet you and your crew."

Sheridan was interested in seeing this matter transport system in action. And it made him just that much more motivated to enlist their help in the fight against the Shadows: that and their ability to defeat Shadow vessels.

"Ops, transmit the coordinates for the conference room. Captain, we'll be ready to receive you and your party in 15 minutes."

"Acknowledged. We'll be there. Garrett out."

U.S.S. Enterprise

Picard leaned forward in his chair, intrigued by the space station on the viewscreen. "Mr. Data, analysis of the station and surrounding ships."

"The station utilizes an O'Neill-type design, with approximately 250,000 life signs aboard. At least half of those are human. The other species are unknown. The surrounding ships vary greatly in design, representing at least a dozen races. None of the ships have mixed crews. The station and most ships lack artificial gravity, and none have a warp drive. There are no active subspace fields present, Sir."

"That's an impressive-looking station. I've never seen anything like it. What's powering it, Data?" Riker asked from his position behind the tactical rail.

"Standard fusion reactors. All ships in range also utilize fusion reactors."

Picard nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Data. Tactical analysis, Mr. Avarak."

The Vulcan looked over his readouts. "Sir, neither the station nor any of the ships have shields. Their hulls consist of heavy armor made from various alloys. The exception is the suspected Minbari ships, which use an unknown type of crystal as armor. Their weapons are a mix of lasers, plasma guns, rail guns, and nuclear missiles. The ship that we rescued utilizes a type of bio-armor. Very advanced. It appears to be self-healing based on previously observed damage no longer detected."

Picard frowned. "Are any of these ships a threat to us?"

"Not with the numbers present in the system. However, with enough ships, they could potentially disable our shields. Our weapons are significantly more powerful, with a single photon torpedo capable of destroying any ship in range."

If anything, Picard's frown grew more severe. "How would these ships fare against a Shadow vessel?"

"Based on our analysis of the ship we faced, none of these ships would survive an encounter. White Star 1 survived because the Shadow vessel used a low-power setting on its weapons. They would need significant numerical superiority to successfully engage and defeat a Shadow vessel. It's unknown how these ships would fare against a dedicated Shadow fleet."

Picard processed the information carefully. These people were in trouble, and he wasn't sure they had realized that. Starfleet had no idea of the relative fleet strengths of either the allied fleet here or the Shadows. Picard wasn't even sure if the warships present were even part of a unified fleet. If so, maybe they were charged with the station's protection and the significant number of civilian ships in the system. If Commander Ivanova had transmitted battle footage to her captain, which Picard assumed she had, he would need to be ready if Captain Sheridan asked him for help fighting the Shadows.

Babylon 5 – Conference Room

Captain Sheridan had spent the last few minutes obtaining as much information as possible from Commander Ivanova regarding the new arrivals. He'd recently met several new races due to the Shadow attacks; however, this situation was different. Sheridan and his command crew were about to meet a previously unknown group of humans. That was Ivanova's opinion, and Sheridan was inclined to agree with her. He certainly had doubts, which made the upcoming meeting even more important.

"Susan, do you think that we can trust them?"

Ivanova was now in a clean uniform and felt much more comfortable back on the station. "Not completely, not yet. However, they could have left us to the Shadows, but they didn't. They could have attacked the station but haven't. You saw what their missiles can do."

"I know. That's what has me so concerned. Did Captain Garrett tell you the name of their colony? As soon as Earthdome hears about them, they'll want them to join the Earth Alliance. If that happens, even with Minbari support, we might not survive."

Ivanova sighed. "I know. Captain Garrett said it was a long story, so I didn't find out. All I can ask is for you to give them a chance. They seemed very interested in the Shadows. Maybe you can convince them to join our alliance."

Sheridan looked hopeful. "Do you think that's possible?"

Ivanova shrugged. "Honestly, I'm not sure. But we're hardly in a position to turn away help."

"Amen to that," Sheridan said.

Moments later, several columns of light formed in the room, accompanied by a humming sound. Everyone froze, unsure whether moving with the light show in front of them was safe. Six individuals in unusual uniforms stood where the columns of light had been moments before. To Sheridan's eye, they were all human. He was mostly correct; Lt. Commander Troi was not human, but that would be a story for another time.

Picard noted their responses to the transporter effect. Clearly, these people were unfamiliar with it, which he noted; another tool gave them an advantage over this universe's potential adversaries. The crew was all human, which confirmed his decision for the away team composition. He made an educated guess on who the captain was and decided to make his move. Picard and Garrett thought it would be best to have all humans (or very close) for the initial away team to reduce questions. They were focused on obtaining information, and he didn't want any unnecessary distractions. "Greetings. I am Rear Admiral Jean-Luc Picard of The United Federations of Planets. You have already met Captain Garrett of the U.S.S. Destiny. We also have Commander Crusher, the Chief Medical Officer of my flagship, the U.S.S. Enterprise, and Lt. Commander Troi, Chief Intelligence Officer, also from the Enterprise. Lt. Johnson and Chief Ayers are my escorts."

Sheridan nodded and offered his hand, which Picard shook. "It's good to meet you. I'm Captain John Sheridan, commander of Babylon 5. You already know my XO, Commander Ivanova. "

Ivanova nodded slightly to Picard and Garrett.

Sheridan continued. "If everyone could be seated, I'll continue with the introductions. Also, from my staff is my chief medical officer, Dr. Franklin, and my chief of security, Mr. Garibaldi." He paused. "First of all, I would like to extend my gratitude for the rescue of White Star 1 and her crew. I knew it would be a dangerous mission, but I had to be sure of the Shadow's presence."

Garrett nodded and said, "As I told the Commander, rendering assistance to those in need is in our charter. We could do nothing less. That said, your thanks is appreciated."

Sheridan then turned his focus to Picard. "Admiral, forgive me for being blunt, but we have never heard of The United Federation of Planets. What's the name of your colony, and where is it located? We've never heard of any Earth colonies that broke away from EarthGov to join other governments."

"This will take a bit to explain," replied Picard. He proceeded to tell Sheridan's crew the truth regarding their origins.

-Minutes Later-

Sheridan didn't quite know what to think. Time travel? Well, the Babylon 4 incident and Valen both proved that was possible. Alternate universes? That was straight out of science fiction. However, the evidence so far made their story somewhat plausible. They had demonstrated technology he had never seen and had crew members from species unknown to Earth and Minbar. Either they were from very far away, or Picard's story was true.

Sheridan tried to pry some more information out of him. "Admiral, where were you born?"

The corners of Picard's mouth lifted slightly. "In France. Earth. 2305"

Garibaldi shared a skeptical glance with the Babylon 5 staff and spoke up. "I hope you understand; we'd like to see proof of what you told us."

Picard nodded. "Certainly. That can be arranged."

"Admiral, when are your ships returning to your home universe?" Sheridan asked.

Garrett answered for Picard. "We can't return, at least not yet. The anomaly that brought us here has closed, and all attempts to recreate it have failed. Finding an exact match for our universe's quantum signature would be very difficult, even if we could recreate it. However, we are actively working to find a way home."

"Captain, what can you tell us about Earth?" Picard asked.

Sheridan proceeded to tell them everything. President Santiago's assassination, Clark's probable involvement; the martial law declaration; the bombing of civilians. Finally, he told them about his decision to declare Babylon 5's independence.

The looks on the faces of Picard and the others said everything. "Captain, how did everything go so wrong?" asked Picard.

"I don't have proof, but based on how quickly everything happened, I suspect that Clark had planned this for a long time and had his people in key areas of industry, military, and the press. His control became absolute almost overnight."

"As long as Clark and his regime are in power, we will not establish contact with Earth. I refuse to acknowledge the legitimacy of such a government," Picard said.

"I'm relieved to hear that, Admiral." Sheridan now had a choice to make: should he ask these people to join the war against the Shadows now, or should he wait until later? What would happen if they decided to move on, away from the danger? He had sent Ivanova out to collect evidence that he could show the other races that they stood a chance against the Shadows. That evidence was seated across the table from him, and he needed to act upon it.

"Admiral, Captain… I would like to meet later today to discuss the Shadows, especially since you have first-hand combat experience with them… and outside of the Vorlons, you're the only ones who've defeated a Shadow vessel. In the meantime, I would like to have Commander Ivanova give you a tour of the station if you'd like."

Picard looked at Troi when Sheridan mentioned the Vorlons. "Captain, you know about the Vorlons?" asked Troi.

"Yes, Commander. In fact, we have a Vorlon ambassador on the station. How do you know about them?"

"We encountered a Vorlon ship around the planet Betazed a few days ago. The ship's captain was very aggressive, so we decided to leave to avoid an incident," Picard answered. "In any event, we would certainly be interested in continuing the discussion on the Shadows and the Vorlons. I would also like to invite you to visit one of our ships. Captain Garrett is our Chief Diplomatic Officer, so she or someone on her staff will coordinate the tour."

"I've never heard of Betazed. Maybe we can discuss it with the ambassador. I'll schedule a meeting with him. In the meantime, Commander, if you could escort the admiral and his party on a tour of the station."

"Yes, Sir."

Everyone left the conference room except for Sheridan and Garibaldi. Garibaldi, a man who was skeptical of everything, voiced his thoughts to Sheridan. "Captain, do you believe any of that crap?"

Sheridan raised his eyebrows and sighed. "Honestly? I'm not sure what to believe. But there are some things that I know. They didn't have to rescue Ivanova and the others. Those warships took out a Shadow ship without taking a scratch. And, based on what I saw from Ivanova's video, those ships are powerful enough to destroy this station and most of the ships in the immediate area." Sheridan paused for a few moments, then continued. "What I'm saying is, they have no reason to lie to us because we're not a threat to them."

Garibaldi grimaced and leaned back in his chair. "I guess I see your point. I just don't like it. I still want to see their evidence before I decide to trust them."

"Agreed. But I think that we may have just found our best chance for victory against the Shadows."

Sheridan returned to his office to develop his "sales pitch" to convince Picard to enter the war against the Shadows.

U.S.S. Phoenix - Captain Maxwell's Ready Room

"Personal Log. Combat date… July 25, 2260. I'm still getting used to that. Picard, the Admiral, has put me into temporary command of the fleet while he visits with the 'natives.' This is my first real opportunity to work with him. I must admit that I thought his reputation must have been exaggerated before meeting the man. Having had the chance to work with him and observe his command style, I've been impressed. Based on what I've seen, he has earned my trust and loyalty.

I had to make a split-second decision to join him on this expedition, and, suffice it to say, things haven't turned out as planned. Instead of preventing a war with the Klingons, we may have just stepped into a new war against a dangerous enemy in an unknown universe where we're still trying to determine friend from foe.

While Picard is on the station, I have decided to collect detailed sensor readings on all the ships in the system. We need all the information we can get on the local powers and their technology, so now is the perfect time to collect it. In that vein, I have decided to become the de facto tactical officer for the fleet. Though our fleet is small, the admiral is rapidly gaining additional responsibilities that require his attention. Given our vulnerable position, we must always have someone focused on the tactical situation. I will, of course, defer to, and obey, the admiral. However, I believe that he will appreciate my efforts.

End log."

Captain Maxwell walked out of his ready room and took his seat on the bridge, picking up the PADD [RR3] left on the chair's arm. He took a few minutes to review the contents and paid particular attention to the sensor readings of the Minbari ships. He stood up and turned towards his tactical officer to get his analysis.

"Lt. Tiaod, based on what I'm reading here, the Minbari ships appear to be significantly more advanced than the others. Is this true?"

"Yes, Sir," came the reply from the lieutenant. "The ship we rescued seems to have some very advanced semi-organic armor. Other Minbari ships utilize crystalline-type armor instead. Its weaponry also appears to be more powerful than other ships of similar size. The large Minbari ships have missile or torpedo launchers, but the White Star doesn't. No shields were detected, though the ships may have unidentified defensive systems."

"Captain," came the voice from the Ops officer, "we are receiving a hail from one of the Earth ships."

Maxwell turned to look at the main viewer and paused for a moment to contemplate his next move.

E.A.S. Pollux

The past nine hours had been the most stressful of Captain Martinez's life. He had been forced to mutiny against his commanding officer. Then, his ship was attacked by other Earthforce ships! By far, the worst thing to happen was that his best friend and executive officer, Alex, had been seriously injured. He had just come out of surgery, but the doctors didn't know if he would survive. The medlab was standing room only, and Babylon 5 didn't have any available capacity to help them. He was happy that other Earthforce captains had offered assistance to treat some of his injured crew.

Repairs to the ship were still underway. All of the hull breaches had been sealed. However, there was still much work to do. Despite their current condition, they were still combat-ready, and Captain Sheridan had asked him to help provide security for the station.

Martinez was strapped into his command chair on the bridge. His ship had been stationed closer to the station due to his ship's condition. When the Starfleet ships arrived with White Star 1, he immediately increased the ship's alert level and contacted Babylon 5 for instructions.

"Comms, contact Babylon 5 to see if they know anything about these new ships," ordered Martinez.

"Yes, Sir. Stand by." A minute later, Lt. Simpson had an answer. "Sir, those ships were expected. They rescued White Star 1 from a Shadow attack."

"Very well. Reduce alert status."

He watched the new arrivals with intense curiosity. He was sure that the other ships were doing the same. Also, like everyone else, his sensor readings were blocked by the ECM and shields of the Starfleet vessels. However, his cameras were not affected and what he saw astonished him.

"Captain, are you seeing this? Look at the writing on those ships!" came the words from a suddenly very nervous Ops officer. "Are they Earthforce?"

Martinez had indeed seen the writing on the new ships. There were rumors of new, significantly more advanced Earthforce destroyers being deployed by Clark's regime. He wondered if these might be those ships. They certainly looked like nothing he had ever seen before. He assumed they wouldn't attack in Babylon 5 space, but nothing was sure now.

"I don't know, but I think a short conversation should help. Open a channel to those ships."

"Which one?" the Ops officer asked, a curious look on her face.

"All three. We'll see which one answers first."

Babylon 5 – Captain's Office

Delenn had just received word from one of the Minbari Alyts that three new ships, all bearing human writing on their hulls, had arrived at the station. The Minbari Alyts were nervous because they couldn't scan the vessels, thus failing to evaluate their potential threat. Delenn decided to defuse the situation and ask Sheridan what he knew about the new ships and whether he had obtained the proof he needed to help build a coalition against the Shadows.

John Sheridan was deep in thought when he heard the door chime a second time. "Come in."

"Hello, John," Delenn said, with a concerned look on her face. "How are you feeling?"

Sheridan sighed. "Honestly, I don't know. Susan and White Star 1 just got back, still alive but banged up. Fortunately, she got the evidence I wanted to prove that the Shadow threat was real. Here, take a look."

Sheridan began playing White Star 1's video of the Shadow battle. Delenn didn't say a word throughout the whole video. Once it finished, she asked Sheridan. "Those new ships out there are the same ones from the video. Who are they?"

It was more of a statement than a question, though Sheridan decided to answer anyway. "Yes, they're the ones who rescued White Star 1 from the Shadow ship. They said they are from The United Federation of Planets, from the future in an alternate universe." Delenn gave him a skeptical look before he continued. "They claim they came here through an anomaly and are stuck here with no way to return home. They're trapped here, for now, though they are still investigating a way to return home."

He continued after a brief pause. "However, based on their engagement, we now have evidence we don't need the First Ones to fight and destroy a Shadow vessel. I think we've got enough to build the alliance with this video, but it'll still be a hard sell."

Delenn leaned forward. "John, we need those ships on our side when we face the Shadows. If we can get them to join our cause, our chances for success will be much higher."

Sheridan nodded. "I agree. Plus, I believe that Admiral Picard is an experienced commander with significant combat experience. He most likely has the right kind of experience needed to defeat the Shadows and, hopefully, minimize our losses."

Delenn looked at Sheridan in confusion. "Picard? That sounds like a human name."

Sheridan shrugged his shoulders and replied simply. "It is. He and all of the staff I've met are human. I was hoping that'd be enough to get him to help us. We'll be meeting again later today."

Delenn took a couple of steps towards the door, then turned around and said, "I would like to be there as well."

Sheridan smiled. "Of course. I would like that."

As soon as Delenn left, Sheridan continued crafting his plan to get Admiral Picard to join the coming war against the Shadows.

U.S.S. Phoenix & E.A.S. Pollux

There had never been a discussion on what to do if a native ship attempted to contact the fleet. Benjamin Maxwell, a senior captain with 25 years of Starfleet service, felt more than capable of handling simple communications with one native ship. He would engage them in conversation, careful not to divulge sensitive information, nor would he agree to anything. To do anything else would undermine Picard's command.

Maxwell stood up from his chair and nodded to the lieutenant at Ops. "This is Captain Benjamin Maxwell of the U.S.S. Phoenix. Can we be of assistance?"

Deep inside the Omega class destroyer, Captain Martinez felt nervous like never before. With the civil war going on, no one was quite sure who was friend or foe. He hoped that his ship's proximity to Babylon 5 would discourage any potential attack.

His fears were raised further when he heard the distinct Texas accent of the man on the screen. At least he wasn't wearing an Earthforce uniform, he thought. "Hello, Captain Maxwell. I am Captain Julio Martinez, commanding the E.A.S. Pollux." He paused as he devised the best approach to ask his question. He was surprised to see that the captain of the unknown ship was standing. If this was an Earthforce ship, maybe the rest of the fleet could get artificial gravity, Martinez thought. "We noticed that your ship has English lettering on the hull. Are you a member of Earthforce?"

Aboard the Phoenix, Captain Maxwell and his crew knew about Earth in this universe due to the information received from Commander Ivanova. However, that didn't mean that this encounter didn't somewhat disorient him. He noticed that Captain Martinez had a distinct Texas accent, much like his own. It reminded him of better times and how much he had lost.

"No, Captain. We are not a part of Earthforce. We're from The United Federation of Planets, and I'm a member of Starfleet, our defense and exploration service. Commander Ivanova briefed us on Earthforce, and I can assure you that we are not affiliated with it or Earth in any way."

Martinez was surprised by Maxwell's answer. "Captain, I was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, and I recognize a Texas accent when I hear one. How are you not affiliated with Earth? Did your colony also break away from the Earth Alliance?

It was now Maxwell's turn to be surprised. "Did you say San Antonio? I was also born and raised there though I can't say I've been back for many years. No, we are not from a breakaway colony. Our origins are a bit more complicated."

Martinez understood the meaning of Maxwell's statement. "Well, I hope to hear more about your origins and to talk to a fellow Texan."

Maxwell nodded. "I would like that. It's been a long time since I've talked to someone from home. Once the admiral returns, I'll arrange a meeting aboard my ship."

"I look forward to it," replied Martinez. He paused for a few moments as he thought about the injured crew he had in his overflowing medlab, especially his best friend, Alex. Maybe these people could help him or relieve the pressure on his med lab. "Captain, I have a favor to ask. My ship was heavily damaged when I refused to follow orders to attack one of our unarmed colonies, and we suffered significant casualties, including my XO. Is there anything that you can do to help?"

Ivanova had briefed them on Earth's civil war. The Starfleet officers had been appalled by what they heard. They had agreed that they would make no attempts to contact Earth until the civil war was resolved. Maxwell could now see the implications of the civil war firsthand. The man in front of him had disobeyed orders despite the cost. He would've done the same thing based on his knowledge of the war. "I would be happy to help, Captain. Stand by." Maxwell opened a channel. "Maxwell to Sickbay. Medical emergency. Stand by to receive injured from an Earthforce ship."

Doctor Mathews responded. "Acknowledged, Captain. We're ready."

"Maxwell to Transporter Room 1. Medical emergency. Transport all injured life signs from the ship at these coordinates to our sick bay." Maxwell pointed to Ops to transmit the coordinates to the transporter room.

"Transport in progress, Captain," the transporter chief said.

Maxwell looked back up at the screen to continue his conversation with Martinez. "Captain, it's being taken care of."

"Thank you, Captain. We'll prepare our shuttle bay to receive your shuttles," Martinez replied.

Maxwell shook his head. "You misunderstand, Captain. We use matter transport technology for routine ship transportation tasks. Your people are being transferred to my ship as we speak."

Before Martinez could even ask a clarifying question, he heard Dr. Xu's excited voice over the speaker. "Bridge, this is Dr. Xu. Please come in!"

Martinez looked at Maxwell and asked him to stand by. He then pressed the button on his console to open the channel. "This is Captain Martinez, Doctor. What's the problem?"

"Captain! All of the patients are disappearing! There are beams of light everywhere, and everyone is just disappearing! Are we under attack?" Xu was almost frantic as she had never seen anything like this before.

Martinez looked back to Maxwell, and Maxwell answered before Martinez could ask his question. "She is describing a transporter beam. We're moving all of your injured to our sickbay for treatment. There's no need to worry. The use of transporters is routine for us."

Martinez simply said, "Ok." He paused for a brief moment, then continued. "Doctor, there's nothing to worry about, and we aren't being attacked. Our new friends have offered to provide medical assistance to our crew. Their mode of transportation is somewhat unorthodox."

Xu calmed a little upon hearing the captain's explanation. "Understood, Captain. However, I would appreciate a little warning first before being surprised like this again!"

"Noted for future reference. Martinez out."

Martinez had a slight smile on his face when he looked at Maxwell. "Well, Captain. I must congratulate you. I have never seen anything rattle our good doctor. She's always calm even under the most extreme circumstances."

Maxwell returned the smile. "I'm glad that I could be of service. Your people are in good hands here. My ship has among the best medical facilities in all of Starfleet. We'll do our best for your people. You can count on it."

"That's all I can ask. Thanks again for your assistance. I look forward to meeting you in person and visiting my crew," Martinez said.

"I'm looking forward to it. I'll contact you shortly. Maxwell out."

Babylon 5 – Zócalo

Picard and his crew enjoyed all of the sights and sounds of the station. The crews will enjoy coming here, he thought. Dozens of new races were here, each with their own stories, which evoked a renewed sense of exploration in the Klingon War veterans. Picard wondered where their homeworlds were and if he would have the opportunity to visit them one day. He felt almost like an ensign again, with so much yet to be discovered.

Troi enjoyed the experience. There were so many new and different minds that it felt good just to allow herself to relax and observe without judgment. During the tour, she also noticed several individuals with differing levels of telepathic abilities. She hadn't experienced such random telepathy before; in most instances, entire races were telepathic. Here, it was scattered throughout the population. Further investigation was needed, a point she would bring up with Picard later.

Picard decided to break the silence. "Commander, you have an extraordinary station here. There are so many races here that we've never met. I believe that I speak for all of us because we look forward to spending more time here. Though I will admit that I am having difficulty adjusting to gravity generated by centripetal force."

Ivanova glanced at Picard and nodded. "I agree. Whenever I spend extended time in zero-g, it takes me a while to adjust once I get back."

Picard smiled. He paused briefly, as he didn't want to offend her. "I'm sorry, Commander, you misunderstand. We've had artificial gravity for centuries. I have never experienced centripetal force artificial gravity before today. Where we're from, no one uses it."

Ivanova was quiet for a moment, then asked, "Your ships have artificial gravity? The entire ship? What about your shuttles? Only a few races here have artificial gravity and won't share the technology. When I saw Captain Garrett on the Destiny, I assumed that only the bridge had artificial gravity."

"Yes. All of our ships, regardless of size, have artificial gravity," Picard replied.

"Must be nice," Ivanova said plainly.

"I've never given it a second thought before coming here," Picard honestly answered. "I suppose it is."

A moment later, Ivanova's com-link chirped. "Ivanova here."

"Commander, Sheridan here. Have you completed your tour yet?"

Ivanova looked at Picard for confirmation. "Admiral, is there anything else you and your party would like to see?"

Picard thought for a second and looked at his team before he answered. "There will be time to experience more of the station later. We have more pressing matters to attend to right now."

Ivanova spoke into her com-link. "Sir, we have completed our tour."

"Good. Please return to the conference room as soon as you can. Sheridan out."

"Admiral, if you would follow me, please. Captain Sheridan would like to meet with you again."

Picard nodded. "Lead the way, Commander."

Babylon 5 – Conference Room

Sheridan anxiously awaited Ivanova's return with the admiral and his party. He hoped that he could be more convincing to Picard than he had been with the other races to join the alliance. If he could convince Picard, he was confident he could successfully convince the others, especially once everyone saw the combat footage. Delenn was now with him, as she requested. She was also here because he needed her physical and emotional support.

A few minutes later, Ivanova and the Starfleet officers walked in. Sheridan introduced Delenn to Picard and the others, who seemed entirely at ease meeting an alien that seemed so human. Everyone took their seats, and at that moment, Picard unexpectedly took charge of the meeting.

"Captain, I would like to thank you on behalf of my entire fleet for the warm welcome. We didn't know whether we would find anyone friendly in this universe, and your generosity has been greatly appreciated. However, we must discuss the issue of the Shadows. I would like to move this discussion to my ship to have my tactical officers participate. We would like to pool our resources to understand the Shadow threat better."

Sheridan could hardly contain his smile. Though Picard had not committed to anything, the fact they were willing to discuss the Shadows on his ship was a significant sign that he was potentially willing to help.

"Certainly, Admiral. Would you mind if Ambassador Delenn also accompanied us?" Sheridan asked.

"Of course, she can. Anyone who could contribute to the conversation is welcome," Picard graciously replied.

Picard stood up and tapped his comm badge. "Picard to Enterprise. Commander Riker, beam up everyone in this room and meet me in Transporter Room 1. We have non-Starfleet personnel joining us."

Riker responded immediately. "Aye, Sir. Energizing."

U.S.S. Enterprise

When they arrived in the transporter room, Sheridan, Ivanova, and Delenn didn't know what to think. It had been an eye-opening experience to see someone transport. However, being transported was another thing entirely. Sheridan looked around the room and found himself standing on a circular platform. He saw a human male in a glass booth, standing behind what he assumed was a control console of some kind. He then looked over at Delenn, who was also busy looking around the room. Collectively, they weren't quite sure what to think yet, but they were happy to have made the trip successfully.

Picard stepped off the transporter pad and turned around. "Welcome to the U.S.S. Enterprise."

Sheridan found his voice and asked the only thing on his mind. "Is this how you normally travel?"

Picard simply replied, "Yes, for short distances. We find it generally more convenient than using shuttlecraft for routine travel."

Sheridan looked around again and asked, "...and artificial gravity?"

Picard nodded. "We've had it for centuries. The artificial gravity on your station takes a bit to get used to."

A moment later, Riker walked into the transporter room and was formally introduced by Picard.

"Commander, would you escort our guests on a little tour of the ship? In the meantime, I'll have all the tactical officers join us in the conference room. I will contact you when I'm ready to proceed with the meeting."

Riker nodded, "Aye, Sir." He then turned to the others. "If you would follow me, please."

"I'll join you as well, Commander, in case anyone has questions during the tour," Garrett offered. It had been several years since she had seen a first-time transporter user, and she found it surprisingly funny.

"Of course, Ma'am. This way," Riker replied, who turned and walked through the door, with the others following close behind.

-45 Minutes Later-

John Sheridan had been blown away by what he'd seen during the tour of the Enterprise. Even though he now stood in a nondescript room called a holodeck, which had nothing but black walls with yellow grids, the last 45 minutes had been a revelation. On this ship, they had seen things they were just beginning on the station. The concept of mixed crews was just getting off the ground. Here, that appeared to be routine. The technology on this ship was literally from another world – or rather, another universe. He'd watched Delenn's reactions during the tour, and he could tell that she was just as impressed. He was still in awe of Stellar Cartography, and the possibilities humanity could explore with a ship like this. He was just about to ask Commander Riker why they were in this empty room when his jaw hit the floor….

"Computer," Riker ordered, "run program Starfleet Academy 1."

The room changed with the simple command, and everyone found themselves in the middle of Starfleet Academy, San Francisco, Earth. It was summer, the weather was perfect, and everyone's expressions, except Riker, were priceless.

Garrett had been told about the wonders of the holodeck but hadn't experienced it until today. She had to admit those people hadn't exaggerated – it was just as impressive as they said it was. Once things calmed down, Garrett was going to ask to have one installed on her ship. For now, she would be satisfied visiting the academy for the first time in 15 years.

Garrett was glad she had decided to join the tour since Riker appeared uncomfortable for the first few minutes. She suspected that diplomatic visits were something that he didn't do very often, strange considering that this was Starfleet's flagship. This tour had proven to her just how different her Starfleet was from theirs. However, they were now the same Starfleet, as indicated by the uniform that she was now wearing. Thankfully, she and Riker had developed a rapport within minutes that allowed them to answer all of the questions that Sheridan and his party posed. It was still difficult being around so many combat veterans. However, it made her appreciate her career even more, and she played a vital role in the fleet that she was uniquely qualified to perform.

Delenn was the first to recover from her shock. "Commander, did we transport to a planet?"

"No, Ambassador. We're still on the holodeck. What you are seeing is a holographic representation of Starfleet Academy, the primary training facility for Starfleet officers and crew," Riker said with a subtle smile.

Sheridan walked over to a nearby grassy area and pulled some grass, noticing how real it felt and smelled. He then walked over to a tree and rubbed his hand against the trunk. He had just turned his head to call Delenn over when he noticed the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance. That isn't possible, is it?

"Commander Riker, is this San Francisco? I spent a few days there before assuming command of Babylon 5, and this sure looks and feels like San Francisco," babbled a somewhat disoriented Sheridan.

"Yes, Sir. This is San Francisco," Riker replied.

"John, is this what Earth looks like?" asked a curious Delenn.

"Well, not the entire planet. But this city, this is what Earth looks like," Sheridan said, nodding at Delenn.

Ivanova was quiet, completely overwhelmed by the entire experience. A holographic person came over and said "hello," which caused her to recoil in fear. As soon as she settled down, she decided that if these people could recreate Earth, there was one place she wanted to see.

"Commander, can you show us Moscow?" asked Ivanova.

Riker nodded and gave the order. "Computer, show Red Square, Moscow, Earth, Summer."

The room changed again, and Ivanova involuntarily shed a tear when Moscow materialized around them. It had been so many years since she last visited the city. It had been far too many years.

Ivanova hadn't realized how much she'd missed home until she was here/there. She looked over to Sheridan, who returned her gaze and nodded. They desperately wanted to free Earth from Clark and his cronies. Unfortunately, that would have to wait as their immediate goal was the defeat of the Shadows. She was sure these people, who were obviously from Earth, would understand, perhaps even help. From the look on Sheridan's face, he was thinking the same thing.

Garrett walked over to where Riker was standing, next to a newsstand. "Commander, I wasn't entirely sure this was a good idea, but I was wrong. If nothing else, this will convince them that at least some of us are from Earth."

Riker agreed. "That was the idea. They were going to ask to see proof eventually, and I couldn't think of a better way to show it."

"Did the Ambassador class of your time have holodecks?" Garrett asked.

"The latest refit did include holodecks. They were mainly intended for training, but most ships have also implemented recreational use," Riker answered.

Before continuing their conversation, Riker heard his communicator beep, "Picard to Riker."

Riker moved a discreet distance away from the group. "Riker here, Sir."

"Please report to the conference room with your guests as soon as possible. I would like to proceed with the Shadow briefing," Picard ordered.

"Aye, Sir. We're on the way. Riker out."

Riker looked over at the others, who were busy walking through Moscow's recreation and absorbing the experience. He almost felt bad for ending the session, but duty called. "Computer, end program."

Moscow disappeared, and the bare room with its holo grid was back. All of his guests were taken off guard by the abrupt change.

Riker had a somber expression on his face when he rejoined them. "I'm sorry. Admiral Picard has requested our presence in the conference room."

Sheridan smiled at Riker. "It's all right, Commander. I speak for all of us in expressing our gratitude for this tour. We will never forget this experience." Delenn and Ivanova quickly nodded as well.

"It was my pleasure. If you would follow me this way, please." Riker said, motioning towards the holodeck door.

-Conference Room, Minutes Later-

The conference room was packed; each ship had sent its captain, first officer, and tactical officer to the meeting. Data and LaForge were also present to handle the science and engineering topics.

After the introductions were made, Delenn told them about the Shadow War 1,000 years ago. She and Sheridan had decided on full disclosure, including the complete details about what happened to Babylon 4. There was a small glimmer of hope that the Starfleet crews could use a similar method to return home, but they quickly realized that it only involved time travel within the same universe. After Delenn finished, Captain Maxwell shared the fleet's general capabilities, careful to avoid divulging their maximum capabilities.

"Captain Sheridan, we believe that we have developed an effective way to engage and destroy these Shadow vessels. However, we cannot track them when they phase out of normal space, which puts us at a disadvantage. Do you have any way to defeat this strategy?" Picard asked.

Delenn answered instead. "Admiral, our sensors can track ships in hyperspace. We would be happy to work with your people to see if you can adapt them for your use."

"Thank you, Ambassador. Commanders Data and LaForge will work with whomever you assign. We greatly appreciate your cooperation in this matter," Picard acknowledged.

Sheridan took a deep breath and decided to address the elephant in the room. "Admiral, we have reviewed footage from your battle with the Shadow vessel. We were impressed, to say the least. You said that you were at a disadvantage. That may be true; however, no ship belonging to any of the younger races would have survived that battle. White Star 1 was lucky; none of us believes otherwise. I'll be honest with you, Admiral. I've had a challenging time trying to build an alliance to fight the Shadows. We all know it's only a matter of time before they come for us here. We won't stand a chance if they come before we're ready. Right now, we don't stand a chance."

Sheridan paused for a few moments before he continued. "I would like to formally request your aid in the war against the Shadows. The strength of your weapons and your combat experience could make the difference between victory and defeat. Once the other races see the battle footage, I'll have no problems getting them to join the alliance. However, for that to happen, I need you."

The emotional plea made by Sheridan moved Picard. He knew it must have been difficult to ask someone he had just met to join an alliance to fight a deadly enemy. He respected that about Sheridan. "Captain, I realize the threat posed by these Shadows. Since our arrival, we have surveyed multiple planets, many of which show evidence of heavy orbital bombardment, most likely from these Shadows. Everyone in this room knows the danger these beings pose to this galaxy." Picard sighed before continuing. "My problem is that I only have three ships here, not a fleet, nor do I even have a dry dock. Risking my ships and crew in a war where we will most likely face overwhelming odds would be foolish. However, I won't discount your request out of hand. I'll discuss everything with my officers and inform you when I've made my decision."

"I understand, Admiral. That's all I can ask." Sheridan stood up and walked over to shake Picard's hand.

Picard stood up and shook Sheridan's hand. "Captain, we'll be in touch. In the meantime, I would appreciate it if you coordinate a meeting with the Vorlon ambassador. We would like to discuss the situation on Betazed."

"I would be happy to," Sheridan said.

"Thank you. I do have a final request. Would you permit my crews to visit your station? We haven't been able to find a suitable location to allow for crew recreation."

"Of course, your crews are always welcome. We use credits predominately for currency. You can exchange a valuable metal, such as platinum, for credits at one of the exchanges. I'll have Commander Ivanova work with your crews to make it easier."

"That will be appreciated. Commander Riker, coordinate with the Commander to ensure that our people have the appropriate currency."

"Aye, Sir."

"Ensign, please escort Captain Sheridan and his party to Transporter Room 1."

The security officer walked over and said, "This way, Sir."

Delenn walked over to Garrett and shook her hand. "Thank you, Captain, for a truly unforgettable day. I look forward to working closely with you in the future."

Garrett nodded and smiled. "My pleasure, Ambassador."

"Please, call me Delenn."

"Only if you call me Rachel."

"Very well, Rachel," Delenn smiled.

When the exchange was completed, Sheridan and his party left the conference room.

Picard then looked at everyone at the table and said, "Now that we know what we are likely facing, I want opinions on whether we should, or should not, join Sheridan's alliance against the Shadows."

Captain Garrett looked around at everyone in the room. Everyone besides her was a combat veteran, and she noticed the mood of the room change as soon as Sheridan and his people left. Garrett felt that it was her responsibility to remind everyone that they were Starfleet officers and representatives of The United Federation of Planets. She also wanted to ensure that the Prime Directive, a fundamental guideline that every Starfleet officer knew, was respected and followed. She had a feeling that this meeting might be difficult.

"Admiral, if I may," Garrett began.

"Of course, Captain. Proceed," Picard said.

"Admiral, you're right. We have two choices. The first would be to leave this area, find an unpopulated part of the galaxy to begin a new colony, and allow the races around here to continue developing without our interference. The second would be to help win the war by joining Captain Sheridan's alliance. We're not native to this universe and don't belong here. Our presence can potentially disrupt the natural development of the local races. Therefore, my recommendation is to leave and not join the war."

Captain Maxwell looked at her like she had lost her mind. "Captain, with all due respect, I completely disagree. We've all seen the destroyed planets across multiple star systems, most likely caused during the last Shadow War. If we don't join this war and the Shadows win, which is likely, we would also doom ourselves. How long would it be until the Shadows found and destroyed us? We would be unable to defend ourselves against them. I took my ship through that anomaly to save lives, not to throw them away. That's what we would do here if we chose to leave."

Picard had been carefully studying both captains as they gave their opinions. They both had very valid arguments. However, his decision had already been made. Now was the time to share why. "There is a larger context here that needs to be considered. Captain Sheridan is trying to build something that could expand much further than this war. Do you all remember how and why the Federation was founded in the first place?"

Picard paused for a moment and noted that several people were nodding before he continued. "I believe he's a man of honor who will risk everything for those he feels responsible for. The captain has already risked his career and his command by leaving Earthforce. I don't doubt that he would sacrifice himself in trying to defeat the Shadows. With the proper support, this man can accomplish great things. He has already gained the support of other Earthforce captains. But that's not enough." His stare drifted into the distance, and his expression became severe. He continued in a melancholy voice. "I am tired of seeing great people sacrifice their lives for lost causes. I will not stand by and watch it happen again. We will join Sheridan's alliance and help him defeat the Shadows."

Garrett looked at everyone in the room and was shocked by what she saw. There was overwhelming approval of Picard's decision from virtually everyone, with no sign of disagreement. She felt that she needed to press further.

"Admiral, what of the Prime Directive? Are we going to ignore one of our fundamental guiding principles?" asked Garrett with an almost shocked look on her face.

Picard looked at her. He understood what she was asking. But she had not lived their lives and had not experienced the horrors as they had. To him, this was an obvious decision. "Captain, your point is well taken, and I understand completely what the Prime Directive would have us do. However, we are no longer in our universe. Our crews have made countless sacrifices for the Federation and Starfleet. We have no future as long as the Shadows are a threat. I will not ask our crews to sacrifice their lives needlessly when we could have done something to make a difference."

Picard continued. "If anyone has further objections to my decision, please note them in your respective ship's log. Mr. LaForge, what is the status of the cloaking system?"

"We're almost ready. We can begin testing in two days. We'll be using a runabout for the tests. I recommend we conduct our tests away from populated systems and deploy our ships in a standard combat formation to understand the cloak's effectiveness better."

"Very well." Picard then looked over at Maxwell and asked, "Captain Maxwell, I believe that a torpedo-heavy attack strategy would work best against the Shadows. Would you agree?"

"Yes, Sir, I do," Maxwell answered. "Also, as much as it pains me to admit it, I believe we could adopt a few ideas from the Klingon attack book against the Shadows."

"Captain Maxwell and Commander Riker begin developing battle plans against the Shadows involving various enemy fleet sizes. Use the in-system ships as the basis for the allied fleet composition. Again, assume various fleet sizes."

"Yes, Sir. I will coordinate with tactical from all our ships," Maxwell replied.

"Mr. Data, you will coordinate with the Minbari to determine if their hyperspace sensors can be adapted for use on our ships. Inform me when you have an update."

"Aye, Sir," replied the android.

"If there is nothing else, dismissed," Picard said.

Maxwell walked over to Picard once everyone left the room. "Admiral, a word, please?'

"Of course, Ben. Go ahead."

"Earlier today, one of the Earthforce ships contacted us looking for information. Apparently, this ship and the other Earthforce ships in this system are part of the rebel fleet. The captain told me that his ship had suffered heavy casualties when he refused to fire on an unarmed Earth colony. He asked for my help, and I beamed over his survivors to my ship for treatment. I would like to invite him to Phoenix to visit his people and get more information about Earth and the civil war. It wouldn't hurt to get additional perspectives."

"Agreed. We can use all the friends and information we can get right now. Keep me apprised if you learn anything useful," Picard said.

"Yes, Sir."

"Dismissed."

U.S.S. Destiny – Captain's Ready Room

"Personal log. I'm not quite sure what the stardate is anymore. Of course, since this is a different universe, the stardate hardly seems to matter. I was quite disappointed in the outcome of today's meeting with the local races. No one ever said that being a Starfleet officer was easy, and command officers often make difficult decisions. But seeing Admiral Picard and the other officers completely disregard the Prime Directive and want to join this war was unbelievable. I'm not sure how we will continue to work as a fleet and consider ourselves Starfleet officers if we ignore the basic rules that help define us. End log."

Garrett had just completed her log entry when she heard the door buzzer. Looking up, she said, "Come in."

In walked the unmistakable Guinan. "Am I disturbing you, Captain?"

"Not at all. Your name is Guinan, correct?" Garrett asked, hoping she had the flamboyantly dressed lady's name correct.

"Yes, it is," Guinan said as she sat in the chair in front of the captain's desk.

Garrett was slightly amused at how Guinan simply walked in and took a seat. Curious, she asked, "So what can I do for you, Guinan?"

Guinan looked at Garrett and could tell that the woman was stressed. Picard's recommendation for her to come over and talk to Garrett was a good one. "I wanted to see how you were adjusting to the fleet. I know that Picard and the others are very different than what you're used to."

Garrett didn't know what to make of this woman but decided to talk to Guinan and see where the conversation would go. "To be honest, it has been a bit of a struggle. Sometimes, I barely recognize the others as Starfleet officers."

Guinan had wanted to speak with Garrett ever since they first encountered the ship from the past. She figured and now confirmed that the culture shock had been rather severe. Now seemed to be the perfect time to offer Garrett some 'perspective.'

"May I call you Rachel? I much prefer casual conversations, and I find that titles get in the way," Guinan asked.

"Of course. I prefer that as well," Garrett responded.

"Rachel, there's a reason that you don't recognize them as part of Starfleet. Picard and Maxwell haven't seen your Starfleet in over 20 years. Most of the others have never seen or experienced your Starfleet. To them, your Starfleet is completely unknown. It's not, nor has it ever been their reality." Guinan watched Garrett's face closely to see how she would respond. Seeing that she was getting through, she continued. "You must also understand that Picard has a larger objective in mind. He understands the risks involved in this war. How could he not? But Picard is looking at the big picture. Once this war is over, he wants to ensure that his people have a home to call their own. Everyone in this fleet has had to make sacrifices, some more than others. The common thread between us is that none of us has a home anymore. Admiral Picard feels it would be a mistake to ask everyone to isolate themselves from the other races in this galaxy after being asked to give up the only homes we have ever known."

Garrett looked at Guinan and knew what she was saying but felt it necessary to clarify her position. "I understand that, Guinan. But sometimes, you can do the right things for the wrong reasons. The admiral's objectives may harm the races here. That is why we have the Prime Directive in the first place."

"Rachel, no one understands that better than Jean-Luc Picard. But what you need to realize is that the past is the past. We were brought here for a reason. Everyone has a purpose in the universe; they simply need to find it. We all have to balance risk against reward carefully. Guiding principles are valuable, but they begin to lose value if they are not allowed to evolve. A static life is a life not worth living. That's called existing, and, to me, that's worse than death."

"So, what are you trying to tell me, Guinan?" Garrett asked, a confused look on her face.

Guinan smiled before she answered. "You have been given an opportunity that few others of your species have ever had: the chance to start again. The past is the past. There are events and people that you can influence. Think back to the founding of the Federation and compare that to what is happening here right now. What if you could share some of that history with the people here? Maybe they will be able to avoid some of those early mistakes. Maybe they will choose to make them on their own. The point is that they will be better educated about the possibilities ahead of them. That is your greatest asset, not only to the fleet but to the races here as well."

Guinan stood up and smiled at Garrett. "Don't worry, Rachel. Everything will work out in the end. Don't be afraid to make that leap of faith when the moment arrives."

Garrett stood up, too, and walked over to Guinan. "You have given me a lot to think about. Thank you."

"Anytime. If you would like to talk again in the future, my bar is always open," Guinan offered before she turned and walked out of the room.

Garrett reflected on Guinan's words for a few minutes before she heard a voice over the intercom. "Dr. Simpson to Captain Garrett."

"Garrett here, Doctor. What can I do for you?"

"Captain, could you come down to Sickbay, please? I have information that you may find interesting."

"Understood. I'm on my way."

U.S.S. Destiny – Sickbay

Rachel Garrett walked into Sickbay, where she saw several beds occupied by Minbari rescued from White Star 1. Dr. Simpson finished providing instructions to a nurse, then walked over to Garrett.

"Captain, thanks for coming down. Would you come to my office, please?"

The two walked into Simpson's office. Simpson sat down and activated the bio-monitor next to her desk. "This is a DNA scan from one of the Minbari. Considering I have never seen one before today, I wasn't specifically looking for anything. The data from the White Star didn't include any information on known illnesses or other medical information. However, I decided to look more closely." She paused while she pressed a couple of buttons on the console. "The highlighted areas show human DNA… and Betazoid."

"That might make sense given that there was a human commanding the White Star. However, the Betazoid DNA is fascinating. Why would the Vorlons allow the Minbari access to Betazed? They seemed against allowing any access to the planet."

"I don't know, Captain. It's only one DNA strain, but that strain is the one related to telepathy in Betazoids."

"Doctor, I don't know much about humanoid physiology, but that doesn't seem natural."

"That's because it isn't. A single DNA strain can't be introduced in such a manner. All of the Minbari DNA profiles match."

"Something is going on here. I'll inform the admiral. Thanks for bringing this to my attention, Doctor."

"Just doing my job, Captain. I'll inform you if I discover anything else."

"I would appreciate it. I'll be on the bridge."