A New Beginning

Babylon 5 – Sheridan's Office

Sheridan returned to his office, still emotionally charged from the alliance vote. Not only had the vote exceeded his wildest expectations, but he had also been elected as the interim president. For as long as he could remember, he felt he had to work extra hard to step outside his father's shadow. Although he was only the interim president of the Interstellar Alliance, he achieved the position based on his own merits, without any assistance or influence from his father. That realization resulted in a large smile forming on his face. 'Finally,' Sheridan silently said to himself. 'Finally.'

As soon as he walked over to sit on the sofa in his now-former office, the door chime rang. Sheridan had assumed that as soon as the session was over, several well-wishers would want to congratulate him. Sheridan had already resigned himself to dealing with the increased attention. In hindsight, commanding Babylon 5 provided the perfect training ground for him as he entered a new career. Sheridan still considered himself a political novice and relied heavily on Delenn and even Garrett to handle many delicate negotiations. Now, he was going to have to get his hands dirty.

"Congratulations, John! I can't think of anyone more deserving," Ivanova said, clearly happy for Sheridan.

"Thanks, Susan. I don't know what I've gotten myself into, but we'll see. Care to take a seat?"

They walked over and sat in the lounge area of his office. He wanted this conversation to be a little less formal, and the more intimate seating would better facilitate the discussion.

"I wanted you to be the first to know that I'm going to resign my commission in Earthforce to run for the president of the Interstellar Alliance. I'll be letting the Joint Chiefs know after this meeting, and I'll be recommending you for command of the station if that's what you want," Sheridan told Ivanova.

"Wow!" Ivanova said, surprised by Sheridan's announcement. "I guess I should have seen this coming. It would be a bit much to run the alliance and Babylon 5 at the same time. Do I want to command Babylon 5?" Ivanova asked herself aloud. Her expression changed as she contemplated the question. "I don't know, to be honest. So much has happened here in the past three, almost four years. Things are going to be different from now on, for sure."

She paused for a moment to collect her thoughts, then continued. "If I'm being honest with myself, I want to command my own ship. That's my true passion. My experience here has prepared me, and I believe I'm ready for my command."

Sheridan smiled because he remembered when he thought that was his passion too. The last several weeks had given him a chance to reflect on his life and the choices he'd made. Sheridan had come to realize that his determination to command a destroyer was driven more to prove himself to his father than to himself. He also thought that he could silence his critics by earning a command on his own. He now knew better. "It's important to be honest with yourself. But you may want to consider this. Command of the station, at least for the next year, could help your career tremendously. It will continue to be a high-profile position, especially with Earthforce undergoing a transition. Everyone will want to command one of the new Starfleet-built ships when they become available. If you aren't careful, you might get lost in the shuffle despite what you've accomplished here. If you remain here during this transition and do well, you'll be able to name your command."

Ivanova thought about Sheridan's words for a few moments, then shared her thoughts. "That makes sense. It's not as though I don't like it here; I just don't want to wind up in a dead-end job. With everything that's happened here, I'm not sure I'm ready to go back to routine."

"I don't think you have to worry about that, at least for the next year or so. Just think about it," Sheridan told her.

Ivanova looked down at her hand as if she were expecting them to give her an answer. She quickly considered her options. Sheridan's analysis and advice were correct and when she considered her alternatives, remaining on Babylon 5 was the best option. "Ok. You've convinced me. If offered, I'll accept command of the station."

"Good. I'll contact them now. Let's meet later to discuss the transition."

"Yes, Sir."

-Later, Same Day-

"Hi, Rachel. It looks like we did it, thanks to no small effort on your part."

Garrett had joined Sheridan in his office after waiting until the initial wave of well-wishers had come and gone. She also wanted to wait to minimize interruptions if her conversation with Sheridan ventured into more complex topics.

"It was a team effort. We all contributed, and Delenn was especially helpful in navigating the local political scene. I would have been lost without her," Garrett said honestly.

"Yeah, she has been a tremendous help from the moment I stepped foot on this station. I don't know where I would be right now without her. That brings me to something I wanted to talk to you about. I've already spoken to Delenn, and I'm sure you already know she'll be leaving soon to return to Minbar. She has this crazy idea that the time is right for the Minbari Federation to evolve. She's even confirmed the support of several members of the Grey Council, including the Warrior Caste! She thinks they can model their federation into something similar to yours. Any ideas of where she would have gotten such a crazy idea?" Sheridan asked Garrett, and then a subtle smile appeared on his face.

Garrett smiled back at him. "I might have had a small hand in that. I will say, though, that is one of the few ideas that all three castes support. Delenn said that seldom happens."

"That's true, from what I've seen. Her departure does leave me in a tight spot, though. I will need help in my new position, which I'm sure goes without saying. Assuming that I win the upcoming election, I'll need someone I can count on who is well respected and has high integrity. Not only that, I need someone who is also well versed in the art of diplomacy. I'll cut through the chase, I'm going to need you, and I would like to offer you the position of Secretary of State. I recognize the challenges of managing so many governments' various, often conflicting, interests, so I do not doubt that this will be a full-time job, especially in the early going. I need someone to manage that, and that person is you."

Garrett didn't hesitate to offer her answer. "John, first of all, thank you for the kind words. As I've said before, I was only doing the job I was trained to do. My fellow Starfleet officers are far better at combat than I am, so I dedicated myself to handle the job that best matched my qualifications. As for the position, I'm afraid I will have to respectfully decline. We've just established our new colony on Betazed, and I will need to shift my focus to best representing the interests of my people, plus assisting with the construction efforts. There are others here on Babylon 5 that you could consider, such as G'kar."

"I'll be honest, I understand, on an intellectual level, what you and your people must be going through, but I can never truly appreciate how isolated it must feel to be cut off from everything and everyone you knew. It was difficult to break away from EarthGov during the civil war, but Earth was still there. Unfortunately, I believe that without you or Delenn, the alliance may fail even before it's had a chance to succeed. G'kar is a gifted diplomat, but he doesn't carry the level of authority that you or Delenn carry. Let's be honest; you and Delenn have achieved at least some of your success because you can speak softly and carry a very big stick. No one would dare speak out against the Minbari or Starfleet openly. G'kar could never hope to match that, despite his many gifts. No, it has to be you. I can speak to the admiral on your behalf if you'd like. I understand the loyalty to your crew and the uniform. I faced that decision when I accepted the command of Babylon 5 and resigned my commission earlier today. Both represented two of the most difficult decisions of my life. But you and Picard were right; I needed to do this. I'm asking you to join me because I believe you need to do this too."

"I can't disagree with any of your points, but I can't give you an answer right now. I'll need time to think about this and speak to the admiral. I will give you my answer within the next two days."

Sheridan was a little disappointed, but he didn't show it. "That's more than fair. Thank you for everything. I want you to know that I wouldn't have asked if I had any other options. You and your people have contributed far more than your fair share since you arrived here. You don't owe me or anyone else anything. I'm asking you as a favor because I truly believe this is where you belong. Many people can command a warship, but only one person can do this job, and that person is you."

"Thanks again, John, for the kind words and the vote of confidence. Garrett then stood up and faced Sheridan. "I'll be in touch," she said as she turned and walked out of the office.

Sheridan sat in his chair in silence. There was so much to be done, but he felt that unless Garrett accepted his offer, then it wouldn't matter anyway. Sheridan believed that without Garrett, the alliance would fail before it even began. He then realized that he needed to make another call, and he expected the conversation to go just as well as his discussion with Garret had gone.

-A few minutes later-

"Admiral Picard, I wanted to let you know that I've been elected as the interim president of the Interstellar Alliance."

"Congratulations, John, or should I say, Mr. President?" Picard asked, as stoic as usual.

"No, John is just fine. Besides, it's only temporary until the official election is held."

"The election is only a formality, and you know it. This appointment allows you to ease into the role, as it were."

"You're probably right. It will be a big job, but I'm looking forward to it. You were also right about something else. Earthforce had become too small for me. I needed a new challenge where I could make a real difference, and this is the perfect opportunity for that."

"I concur. Anything else would have been a waste of your abilities."

"Thanks. I also wanted to thank you for your counsel and mentorship over the past few months. Having your experience to lean on during the war and beyond has been invaluable."

"You're welcome. I was glad to help. I saw your potential, and I didn't want to see it wasted or worse. We're all the better for it."

Sheridan was nervous. He respected Picard and saw him as a mentor; the last thing he wanted to do was damage their relationship. Sheridan had previously succeeded in taking a more measured approach to convincing Picard to join them. Now, he was afraid there wasn't enough time to allow that strategy to work, so he would have to be more direct. "There's another reason I wanted to talk to you. I plan to create a dedicated defense force for the Alliance, assuming I'm elected president, similar to your Starfleet. I will need someone very experienced to establish and lead this force. I'm going to need you."

Picard nodded. He already knew that the Interstellar Alliance would need to build upon the military alliance formed during the war. He was pleased that Sheridan had thought ahead and had given this topic the attention it deserved. "I agree that the alliance needs to have a dedicated defense force; however, I don't believe I'm the person for the role, especially now. During the war, Neroon acquitted himself quite well, and I would support him in leading the fleet in my absence. The establishment of our colony here on Betazed takes precedence."

Unlike his conversation with Garrett, Sheridan had already assumed that Picard would decline his request. Therefore, he forged ahead with his argument. "Admiral, I can only imagine the challenges of establishing a new colony, especially given your unique circumstances. However, the Earth Alliance, and many other governments, have extensive experience building colonies, and they would be more than willing to assist you and your people. Now that I'm thinking of it, I will contact each of them personally to request on your behalf. What isn't readily available is someone with your level of experience, respect, and leadership ability. You're right; Neroon is well respected and demonstrated strong leadership during the war. However, you also know that Neroon places the needs of Minbar above everything and everyone. In my opinion, that disqualifies him for the position. You've already agreed to build ships for the alliance; however, you know as well as I do that's not enough.

Admiral, allow me to be blunt. This is larger than a single colony. We're talking about the safety and security of billions across dozens of planets. You pushed me to pursue the presidency because you said I was the best qualified. Well, I'm making that same argument to you. You are the most qualified person in the galaxy to create and lead the new Alliance fleet, period. Every race will listen to you, even the Minbari. No one else commands as much respect, and your ability to lead is second to none, and that includes me. I expect an answer tomorrow."

Picard was impressed by Sheridan's argument and his passion for presenting it. "It would appear you've been listening to my advice a little too closely. I'll have to be more careful in the future. Very well, you'll have my answer tomorrow."

"I've got to run, Admiral. I look forward to working together going forward."

"Likewise, Mr. President. Picard, out."

U.S.S. Enterprise – Ready Room

-An hour later-

Picard sat behind the desk of his ready room and reflected on everything that had happened. Decisions had been made far more quickly than he had anticipated, with more pending. He had hoped to focus on his people once the war ended as they began a new life. Unfortunately, that goal seemed increasingly out of reach. He then called a meeting with his captains to start planning their critical next steps.

"Captains, we have essential business to discuss. First of all, Ben, you are probably unaware that the Interstellar Alliance was approved on Babylon 5 earlier today and that Captain Sheridan was elected as the interim president. During my conversation with him earlier, he asked me to create and lead the alliance defense force. Of course, I respectfully declined the offer. I told him with the pending establishment of our colony that my priorities here took precedence. He, however, wouldn't take no for an answer, even resorting to using my own words against me."

When she heard Picard's report, Garrett didn't know whether to laugh or sigh. "That doesn't surprise me. He did the same thing to me. He offered me the Secretary of State position, saying that the next few months would be critical to ensuring that the alliance has the best chance for success. I agreed with him, and he said that I was the best person for the job, especially now that Delenn is involved with reforming the Minbari Federation."

Picard sighed when he realized what Sheridan had tried to do. "Sheridan made me a similar argument. He said I alone possessed the ability and respect among the races, making it impossible for anyone else to lead the fleet and build the unified defensive organization for the alliance. Rachel, did you give him an answer?"

"No, Sir. I told him I needed to consider it and consult with you."

"What will it mean for us, Admiral?" Maxwell asked while he processed what was being discussed.

"We will proceed with the creation of our colony here on Betazed. The Betazed government was very persistent and countered every argument I presented. They feared we'd leave them unprotected if we didn't establish our colony here. I gave the governor and his council my word that we'd continue to protect them, but they remained unconvinced.

Since we're committed to staying here, in this universe, and because Sheridan is right, I will accept the position. I intend to model the new alliance defense fleet after Starfleet, with significant changes. Now that I've thought more about it, the prospect excites me. Ben and I both know about the mistakes Starfleet made during the early days of the Klingon War, mistakes that I believe ultimately led to our inevitable defeat. I won't make those same mistakes here.

Given the lack of experienced Starfleet senior leadership, I intended to promote both of you and place you in senior roles in the new Starfleet, but that doesn't seem possible now. I'm inclined to agree with Sheridan. The alliance must survive, and you, Rachel, are the best person for the job. Gam, Troi, and the others have established themselves with Betazed leadership and are fully capable of leading the colony. Regardless, I'd intended to promote Commander Sisko to Captain and give him command of the Destiny. Would that be your recommendation, Rachel?"

"Yes, Sir. He's ready. I'm sure of it. Let me speak to him first before you make your final decision."

"Very well. Ben, I would like to promote you, Admiral, and appoint you as Chief of Starfleet Operations. I'll need an experienced hand as my number two, and I can't think of anyone more qualified or deserving."

Maxwell didn't know what to think or feel. CSO of a new Starfleet! The idea had been so ridiculous to him that he never even dreamed of the possibility that he would hold such a position. However, Maxwell knew his priorities and didn't hesitate to answer. "Admiral, this is the opportunity of a lifetime. I never imagined ever rising to the rank of Admiral and becoming CSO, especially after receiving our final orders. The thing is, I've met someone since I've been here on Earth. For years, I've regretted prioritizing my career over my family, especially after I lost them. The pain has been, at times, debilitating, and I can't risk going through that again. Trust me; I wouldn't survive the experience. Since we arrived here, I've been given a second chance, and I intend to make the most of it. Maria and Jenny mean everything to me, and I don't want to think about how I would react if I lost them. We've all been given a second chance by being here, and I believe that we need to maximize the opportunity."

"What are you telling me, Captain?"

"I can't be CSO because accepting the position will take me away from my family. You and I have both been fighting for a very long time. Our war is over, and I want to enjoy my life."

"Do you want to retire from Starfleet, Captain?" Picard asked Maxwell.

"No, Sir. I believe that I can still be valuable. I can work to create and oversee Starfleet Academy. I assume that we'll need to establish one. How will the locals learn anything about our sciences and ship operations if we don't have the facilities for teaching them?" Maxwell asked.

Picard tried to hold his emotions in check with limited success. This meeting hadn't gone according to plan at all. "That's a valid point. I can't say that I'm pleased, but I'm learning to be more understanding. Guinan is fond of saying that the old ways are old, and it's time to create new ones. None of us anticipated being here and being placed in these positions. In all probability, we would all be dead by now if we weren't here." Garrett and Maxwell both nodded in agreement. "The path forward is going to be challenging for us all, but I have complete confidence that each of you has the best interests of us all in mind.

Unless you have any objections, Ben, I would like you to remain in command of the Phoenix for now until we finalize the plans for the academy. I will promote Commander Riker to CSO and give Data the Enterprise."

"Yes, Sir. I will make myself available to provide any assistance you need. You can count on me, Sir."

"Thank you, Ben. I will do my best to respect your new life situation. Are there any updates on how long you will need to remain in orbit? I would like you to bring Commander Riker and your non-essential crew members to Betazed as soon as possible."

"I was told that the trial for Clark will begin in two or three weeks. The president wants Clark convicted before trying the others."

"That's a sound approach. Very well, I will give them another month. Then, I'll need you to come to Betazed. You'll be free to return to Earth once everyone has left the ship."

"Understood, Sir. I will inform the president."

"Admiral, we could send Destiny to relieve Phoenix while they travel to Betazed temporarily," Garrett offered to the group.

"Ben?"

"I'm fine with that, Sir."

"Very well. I'll leave it up to you to coordinate the logistics. I will expect Phoenix to be here in two weeks."

"Yes, Sir."

"Is there anything else?"

"Yes, Sir. This isn't a problem that needs to be solved immediately; however, several of my people have become used to living on Earth. It's not the same Earth, but it's close enough. Many will not want to live in a remote colony, regardless of how nice it is. We're all members of Starfleet and will perform our duties; however, we can't ask everyone to remain in Starfleet forever. They deserve the opportunity to make their own choices regarding their futures," Maxwell told Picard.

"I'll admit that I hadn't considered that. I simply assumed that everyone would want to live in the same colony as we worked to build our lives. We're outsiders regardless of what planet we visit. I'd envisioned that this colony would be as close to a Federation world as possible, and that would help our people better adapt to this new reality."

"I agree with Ben, Sir. Several of my crew expressed disappointment that they were unable to visit Earth during our mission. I intended to remedy that when we returned, but Ben's point remains. We can't force people to live on Betazed forever, nor can we force them to remain in Starfleet," Garrett said in agreement with Maxwell.

"I see. Maybe we can ask everyone to remain in Starfleet for an additional four years. That will give us at least enough time to establish the colony and the new Starfleet. After that, we allow those who wish to leave to do so. I'm sure virtually every government will want any of our people to join them just based on their knowledge of our technologies."

"I agree, Sir. It's not an ideal situation, but it's the fairest. There may be others who wish to join us on Betazed. We don't have to actively recruit, but we shouldn't discount the opportunity to grow our numbers by allowing the native races to join us," Maxwell said as he thought of Martinez and O'Dell, who he knew would jump at the chance to serve on a Starfleet ship.

"John offered to speak to the other governments to help us with our colony construction. I think we could potentially leverage their help to construct something more than a standard Federation colony," Picard said.

"I agree, Sir. Perhaps if we allowed each government to construct a section of our colony by using their standard methods and architecture standards, our colony could become something of a cultural hub for the entire galaxy. We could ask the governments if they'd like to allow settlers to remain after construction to help populate the colony. If we're successful, we can show the galaxy that multiple races can share a single colony," Garrett said, excited by the possibilities.

"That's certainly an opportunity worth considering. I'll discuss this with the Betazed government as I'm concerned about the potential impact on the native Betazoids. I want to be completely transparent with them before we formalize the colony's establishment, and I want to ensure that we have the appropriate safeguards in place before we allow any of the other governments access to the planet."

"Psi-Corps has expressed a strong interest in coming to Betazed. Based on what I know of the organization, I imagine they have goals other than diplomacy," Maxwell said.

"That's what concerns me. We must develop a robust plan and implement a resilient security infrastructure before allowing anyone access to this system. I'll inform you both when the plans have been solidified.

Contact me if anything occurs that requires my attention. Picard, out."

U.S.S. Destiny – Ready Room

Garrett walked into the Ready Room and sat down behind the desk. As soon as she returned from Babylon 5, she took a long walk around the ship, taking the time to speak with several crew members. She made sure to visit each department, which surprised several of the crew. Garrett often walked around the ship when her schedule allowed, which had become problematic as the alliance vote approached. After everything they had been through, she felt she was abandoning her crew. There was no question that Garrett would miss them, even the newer members that had been transferred from the other ships. They had become a family, and she hoped they could remain close even after she left the ship.

Garrett sat in the ready room, alone, with the lights dim, as she processed her emotions. She wasn't sure if she could ever forgive herself for leaving. Garrett equated her leaving to a parent abandoning her child. A realization dawned on her as she continued to reflect on that analogy. There comes a time when a parent must let go and allow their child to live their own lives. Each person must be allowed to chart their destiny. She would leave Destiny in Sisko's very capable hands, which meant there was no reason to feel any guilt. Garrett needed to move on to realize her destiny and that of the entire galaxy. She had been honest with Sheridan; the role of Secretary of State was a much better fit for her than that of a starship captain. Garrett would follow her destiny, regardless of how much anguish she currently felt.

A few minutes later, Garrett welcomed Sisko into the ready room. This meeting would be their last with her in command. "Good morning, Ben. Please have a seat." Sisko walked in and sat down in the chair facing the desk. Unlike many of their meetings, this was much more formal, and they both noticed the tension in the room.

"I wanted to let you know that I will be immediately stepping down as captain of the Destiny. President Sheridan has asked me to serve as his Secretary of State. After speaking with Admiral Picard, we agree that having me in that role is critical to the alliance's chances for success. That means you will be promoted to captain and command of the Destiny. Are you OK with that?" Garrett asked Sisko.

Sisko was visibly surprised by Garrett's announcement. "Captain, I'm not sure what to say. Destiny is your ship, and it's difficult to imagine you not being here. Are you sure that's what you want?"

"Honestly, I feel terrible. I feel like I'm abandoning you and the crew. On the other hand, I know it's for the best. The alliance has to succeed, and I'm the best available person for the job. Besides, you're ready for command. It does make me feel better that I'm leaving Destiny in your hands," Garrett answered Sisko, sadness evident on her face.

"Ever since I was drafted into Starfleet, I've wanted to command a starship, though I didn't believe it would ever happen. The time feels right for me to assume command. I've worked hard to prepare myself, especially since we've been here. I'll miss working with you. You've helped me more than you can imagine, and I will never forget it. Thank you," Sisko said, himself sad as the reality of the situation finally hit him.

"Likewise. We both needed to grow, even if we didn't realize it at the time. We've both benefited from our working relationship and our friendship. I hope we can continue building upon the relationship we've already established. There is so much more to learn here, and I feel that we've just scratched the surface. I value your opinions and insights, and you're not afraid to point out my weaknesses. I don't want to lose that."

"Same here. There's no need to change anything. Maybe our morning coffees need to be adjusted, but that's all."

Garrett sat up straighter in her seat. She felt better now that she had spoken with Sisko. Yet another thing that she was going to miss. "Agreed, and thank you. I'll inform the admiral of your decision. In the meantime, I am transferring the command of Destiny to you. After this meeting, we can perform the change of command and inform the crew. Your first mission will be to relieve Phoenix while they transfer their crew to Betazed. Admiral Picard will be rebuilding Starfleet here at President Sheridan's request, and he's promoting Riker to be CSO."

"I would have thought that Captain Maxwell would be the obvious choice for CSO," Sisko said, surprised.

"He was. However, he turned it down as he has different priorities he's pursuing. He'll remain in command of Phoenix for now. Data is being promoted to captain of the Enterprise." Garrett paused for a moment as a new thought came to her. "Would you rather be considered for that post instead? Command of a Galaxy-class battleship would be quite an achievement."

"That would be a dream come true, to be honest. That would leave Destiny very thin for senior leadership, though, and I would miss the crew. The loss of both of us will impact the crew's morale."

"You're right, though we have Lt. Commander Muhammed commanding the marines. He can be promoted to first officer and Lt. Yar to Lt. Commander and second officer. That will give us some continuity. I assume the admiral will give Commander Data the Destiny if you're assigned to the Enterprise. It's not ideal, but it will work if they are given the proper support. I also completely understand about the crew. We've been through life-death-life together. That's not something that I will ever forget. We all have much larger roles to play now."

"I agree. Please tell the admiral that I would like to be considered for command of the Enterprise."

"Will do. I'll contact him now."

"I'll be on the bridge if you need me."

Earth - Earthdome – President's Office

Three cameras were set around Luchenko's desk as she prepared to speak to the entire Earth Alliance. She'd decided against a news conference because she wanted her message to stand alone and avoid any potential confusion that an ill-advised question could cause.

Luchenko sat behind her desk and reviewed her notes, though she was confident she wouldn't forget anything. There was also a teleprompter next to the cameras in case she needed any reminders. Luchenko and her advisors felt that she needed to make this speech quickly to control the narrative about why she'd made her decision. The last thing she needed was any loss of confidence in her still-young administration.

"Good evening. I want to thank every Earth Alliance citizen for your patience and continued to support as my administration works tirelessly to restore the confidence in Earth Alliance institutions and rebuild everything lost during the Clark administration.

I'm sure many of you have heard the news of the new Interstellar Alliance, a first-of-its-kind alliance of more than two dozen races from around the galaxy. After careful deliberation and consultation with my cabinet, I've decided that the Earth Alliance will also join the alliance. I understand that many of you supported the former administration's Humanity First platform. Unfortunately, many of their policies were immoral, irresponsible, and illegal. My administration will continue to work to put the needs of the Earth Alliance first as we continue to move beyond one of the darkest periods in our history.

The reason for joining the alliance was simple. We are stronger together than we are as individuals. The Interstellar Alliance has over two dozen founding members, and if we hadn't joined, the Earth Alliance would have been quickly eclipsed by the combined resources of such an organization. Moreover, given the number of wars and other armed conflicts that have ravaged the galaxy during the past year alone, I feel that we must do everything in our power to encourage the peaceful growth of our galaxy.

The Earth Alliance will continue to be a leading galactic power. Once we're united with our people from The United Federation of Planets, we will be THE supreme galactic power both technologically and militarily. There is still much to do, but we've taken the first step to rejoining the galactic community.

Thank you, and good evening."

U.S.S. Phoenix – Ready Room

—-Next day—-

"Captain's log, supplemental. The Earth Alliance government has finally completed the vetting process for the legal teams representing Clark and the rest of his people. The government has worked in a very gray area by using court-vetted and appointed defense attorneys to work directly with the prisoners. Those attorneys then worked with the personal defense teams of each prisoner. It's been a complicated arrangement that has satisfied no one.

The first personal defense team will be arriving within the next few minutes. I've instructed Security to escort the defense teams to the brig, where the defense teams and the prisoners will be allowed to interact using our standard interview rooms. Security recommended that we maintain a force field between the prisoners and the lawyers because they were unsure of the level of diligence exercised by EarthGov. I agreed. Based on what I've been told, several very nervous people on Earth now would prefer that Clark and his people would go away without a trial. The desire to continue as if nothing ever happened is strong, but that's not going to happen, from what I've been told.

I hope that this process goes smoothly. The sooner Clark and his people are convicted, the better.

End Log."

-A few minutes later-

Maxwell watched President Luchenko's news briefing from the prior evening. He realized he needed to pay more attention to Earth Alliance broadcasts to prepare himself for meetings with EarthGov and Earthforce. Unfortunately, he'd missed this broadcast due to another obligation, so he'd instructed Intel to monitor all Earth broadcasts.

'They still believe we're going to integrate with EarthGov and Earthforce,' Maxwell said as he shook his head.

"Transporter Room 1 to Captain Maxwell."

"Maxwell here. Go ahead."

"Captain, please come to the transporter room. We have a situation that needs your attention."

"I'm on my way. Maxwell, out."

U.S.S. Phoenix – Transporter Room 1

Maxwell walked into the transporter room a few minutes later and saw two marines and security officers standing near the transporter pad. The security officers and the marines were conversing when Maxwell walked over to them. Once the officers saw Maxwell, they paused their discussion. Maxwell acknowledged them and then walked over to the transporter chief.

"What's the situation, Chief?" Maxwell asked.

"Sir, the transporter has detected that one of the lawyers has a powerful nerve agent. The exact type is unknown but similar to other known, highly toxic nerve agents. I've held everyone in the buffer until you arrived."

"Thanks, Chief. Complete transport for the others. We'll handle the potential murderer separately. Also, get someone from Sickbay here to examine the person once we complete their transport."

"Yes, Sir. Energizing."

Four people materialized on the transporter pad: three women and one man. Maxwell walked over to the transporter pad a few seconds later.

"Welcome to the U.S.S. Phoenix. I'm Captain Ben Maxwell, commanding officer."

Nancy Jones, the lead attorney, looked around the strange room. She felt slightly unsettled until she recognized Maxwell standing about eight feet from the transporter pad. She'd been to Mars on several occasions, but this was the first time she'd been on a ship with artificial gravity. To her knowledge, none of her team had ever left Earth until today. Jones wondered if Captain Maxwell would be willing to give her and her group a tour of the ship once they finished with their client. She stepped down from the transporter pad and extended her hand to Maxwell. "Hi, Captain. My name is Nancy James, and this is my team. Wait!" James said when she looked around and noticed that her paralegal was missing. "Where's Jason? He was with us when we were transported."

"He'll be transported separately. During transport, we detected that he had a powerful nerve agent. Weapons aren't allowed on this ship, which I made quite clear to Earthforce Security. He'll be detained once we complete his transport," Maxwell told James.

"That's impossible, "James said as she shook her head. "I've known Jason for over five years, and he would never do anything like this. Besides, Earthforce Security examined us before they cleared us to come here. You must have made a mistake," Jones said earnestly, which convinced Maxwell that she didn't know Jason's intentions.

"I'm sure they did. However, our methods are more thorough. Someone from Sickbay will be here any moment to examine him to determine exactly where the toxin is being concealed."

"I can assure you, Captain, that none of us were aware of any plans to bring a weapon aboard this ship. We're only here to meet with our client. You have my word."

"Yes, I'll let the president make the call on what happens next. For now, I will allow you to meet with your client. Jason will be detained until I speak with the president. She'll decide on what to do with him."

"I understand. Thank you for believing me and for allowing us to meet with our client," James said to Maxwell, and she extended her hand to Maxwell.

Maxwell shook her hand and then turned to the security officer standing near the door. "Ensign, please escort Ms. James and her party to the interview room."

"Aye, Sir. Follow me, please."

-A few minutes later-

As soon as Jason materialized on the transporter pad, a security officer stunned him with a phaser. Jason was promptly restrained, and his hands were placed in gloves while they waited for the doctor to arrive. A couple of minutes later, Dr. Patel came and began her examination.

"I've found it, Captain. The neurotoxin is embedded or infused into the prosthetic fingernails. Given the levels I've detected, simply breaking the skin would be enough to induce cardiac arrest in the target. I will need to run a few tests to confirm the exact level of lethality. Still, based on these initial readings, this neurotoxin would metabolize so quickly that it would be almost undetectable within five minutes of it being administered," Dr. Patel informed Maxwell.

"Is there any chance this neurotoxin is somehow naturally occurring?" Maxwell asked.

"No, Sir. This neurotoxin was engineered in a laboratory. It's very sophisticated for Earth's current technology levels. I'd be astonished if there were a large number of labs capable of engineering a neurotoxin like this."

"Thanks, Doctor. That's what I needed to know. Keep the gloves on his hands and take him to the brig. Keep him sedated until further notice."

"Aye, Sir."

"It looks like I have a call to make. Thank you, everyone," Maxwell said as he turned and walked out of the transporter room.

U.S.S. Enterprise – Ready Room

"Commander, I understand that you're interested in commanding the Enterprise," Picard said to Sisko.

"Yes, Sir. I told Captain Garrett that I would miss Destiny and the crew. I've built many relationships here, and I've grown significantly as a leader, an officer, and a person. However, the opportunity to command the flagship of our fleet is too great to ignore. Moreover, I am the best-qualified candidate of the remaining available command level officers."

"I agree with you, Commander. Captain Garrett made a similar point. I would prefer to have a seasoned officer in command of the Enterprise, and that describes you. Are you ready to accept the promotion?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Very well. In light of your promotion, I'm ordering you to bring Destiny here, where you will remain for a few days to help construct housing on the surface for our crews. Once sufficient housing has been created, you will then take Enterprise to Earth to relieve Phoenix. Are there any questions?"

"No, Sir."

"Good. I'll see you in a few hours. Picard out."

U.S.S. Destiny – Bridge

Garrett and Sisko walked out onto the bridge from the Ready Room. Garrett paused briefly to take a long look around the bridge. The realization that she was about to transition command over to Sisko hit her like a ton of bricks. Garrett was afraid that she might become overwhelmed by the emotions she felt as reality set in. She took a couple of deep breaths to calm herself, walked over to the command chair one final time, and pressed the button to open ship-wide communications.

"May I have your attention, please? This is the captain speaking, and I have a very important announcement. As you are all well aware, we have witnessed several very significant events in this universe since our arrival here, many of which we had direct involvement in. The victory over the Shadows, the liberation of Earth, and the Interstellar Alliance's creation are all monumental accomplishments that will shape this entire galaxy for generations to come.

When we first arrived here, one of the first decisions I made was to change the name of this ship to Destiny. At the time, it seemed appropriate, considering we had seemingly cheated certain death to live another day. Little did I realize how symbolic that name would become. I wanted to avoid direct involvement in the affairs of the governments here to allow them to develop without our influence. The universe had other ideas and the results speak for themselves.

I stand before you today because I believe we must embrace our destinies with our entire being. We can't run, and we can't hide, despite how much we may want to. I've had help from several people who were instrumental in helping me see the truth and to accept my destiny.

Effectively immediately, I will be stepping down as captain of the Destiny. Commander Sisko will be assuming command, at least temporarily. I've been offered the position of Secretary of State for the Interstellar Alliance, a job I initially declined. However, upon discussions with Admiral Picard and others, I reconsidered and accepted the offer. We all understand the importance of this alliance, and we must do whatever it takes to see it succeed. I am the best-qualified person available for the position, and with President Sheridan's leadership, I do not doubt that we will succeed.

This universe is our home now. We have a newly established colony on Betazed where construction of our new homes is scheduled to begin immediately. I don't know what the future holds for us, but I do know that I look forward to seeing it. We have lived and died together. Now, we get to live anew. I ask each one of you to embrace your destiny. We're all here to support each other regardless of your decisions. Important decisions are rarely easy to make, so I ask you to take your time and consider all possibilities before making a final decision because that decision might impact the entire galaxy. Remember to solicit and take advantage of input from others, whether they be trusted advisers or friends. It helps to hear the voices of others when you tire of hearing your own. Trust me on that.

I will always consider you my family and always be available if you need anything. I'm here to support you, whether I'm the captain of this ship or not.

It's been an honor serving with you. Garrett out."

U.S.S. Phoenix – Ready Room

Maxwell sat at his desk and continued his research into Psi-Corps. Based on his previous interactions with Dalmarson, Maxwell wanted to be prepared if the organization wanted to adopt a more aggressive stance towards him or Starfleet. He still had much more research to complete; however, based on what he had already read, there was more than enough reason to be guarded towards Psi-Corps.

Maxwell was then interrupted by a call from the bridge, which didn't bother him as this call had been expected.

"Madam President, thanks for getting back to me. Earlier today, we transported the first legal team on board, and we discovered one of the paralegals had prosthetic fingernails infused with a highly potent nerve agent, capable of causing cardiac arrest within a few minutes."

"Oh, my!" Luchenko said, visibly disturbed by the news. "Was anyone hurt?"

"No. The transporter detected the neurotoxin, and we were able to restrain the person before they could execute their plan."

"Wait? This person was able to get through Earthforce Security undetected?"

"It would appear so. I haven't contacted them as I thought you might want to handle this incident discretely."

"Yes, of course. Clearly, our screening procedures need to be enhanced. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I will speak to my people right away. Will you be able to detain the prisoner until I contact you later?"

"Yes. He's currently being kept under sedation in the brig. We haven't removed the fingernails, but his hands have been placed in gloves to prevent him from injuring my crew or himself."

"Thanks again, Captain. I'll be in touch soon."

U.S.S. Enterprise – Ready Room

Picard stared at the reports on his desk in front of him. He'd attempted to read them multiple times during the past hour without success. Picard reflected on everything that had happened during the past few days as he tried to apply Guinan's advice to be more flexible and willing to accept other viewpoints. Unfortunately, that behavior was still foreign to him, and he needed more time to adapt to that way of thinking, time that seemed to be in short supply.

Picard then heard the door chime, and in walked Gam.

"Commander, please have a seat."

"Thank you, Sir."

"I wanted to tell you how impressed I've been with how you've led our engagements with the Betazed government. You've exercised sound judgment, and your First Contact plan exhibited strong attention to detail contributed to the mission's success."

Gam maintained his composure, but he was very pleased with receiving such praise from Picard, a man who was notoriously difficult to impress. "Thank you, Sir. I may have led the planning, but I had significant contributions from the team to make the plan as detailed as it was. It was ultimately left to me and Commander Troi to execute it, which I feel was successful."

"Indeed, it was, which is why I wanted to meet with you today. I've been asked to create and lead an organization similar to our Starfleet for the Interstellar Alliance. I planned to focus my attention here as we worked to establish our colony. However, as President Sheridan so forcefully told me, I'm the best person for the job, and I don't have to tell you how important it is for this alliance to be successful.

I plan to retain command of our fleet and the alliance fleet, leaving me with little time to contribute significantly to the colony. I want to appoint you as Governor of our settlement, with the primary responsibility of overseeing the construction of the colony from the ground up. President Sheridan has offered to work with other governments to assist us. Regardless of the level of help, it will be a significant responsibility. Are you interested in the position?"

"Yes, Sir," Gam answered without hesitation.

Gam's response caught Picard slightly off guard. "You don't want time to consider the offer?"

Gam shook his head and answered. "No, Sir. I'm home. All of us feel the same way. We're all committed to making Betazed the best that it can be. There is nothing else I'd rather do or anyplace else I'd rather be. The potential for this colony is limitless, and I would be honored to lead it."

Picard hadn't known anything about Gam before they arrived in this universe. Since their arrival, most of his interactions with him had been brief, nothing that Picard could base any opinion on. Given what Gam had accomplished so far on Betazed, Picard was again thankful that Maxwell joined him on their mission through the rift. "Very well. I will leave it up to you to select your staff. I want to establish ground-based industrial replicators to free up our ships as soon as possible. We will need to press all of our space assets into service very soon to meet our obligations and those of the alliance."

"Understood. Thank you for the opportunity, Sir. You won't regret it."

"I'm sure. You have earned my complete confidence, Commander. Dismissed."

Earth – San Antonio – Casa Rio

-Late evening-

Maxwell and Maria spent a quiet afternoon walking along the San Antonio waterfront. Jenny stayed home with Rose, much to her disappointment. Rose had to explain to Jenny that sometimes her mother and Ben needed to spend time without her. Jenny didn't think that was fair since Ben was her friend too.

As the sunset, Maxwell and Maria arrived at the restaurant and were quickly seated. The colorful lighting of the restaurant added to the pleasant atmosphere. Luckily, they had come early, so the number of customers was small, meaning they could have a nice conversation without yelling at each other.

"I spoke with the admiral this morning, and he's been asked by President Sheridan to recreate Starfleet for the new alliance," Ben told Maria.

"That's great, right?" Maria asked, not sure this would impact Maxwell and his ability to remain on Earth.

"Yeah, but that's not all. He offered to promote me to admiral and make me Chief of Starfleet Operations."

"I don't know what that is, but I know that being promoted to admiral is a really big deal."

"It is. It's the number two position in all of Starfleet. I turned it down."

Maria had a surprised look on her face. "Why would you do that? This sounds like a tremendous opportunity."

"It is. Don't get me wrong, despite the challenges, I've enjoyed my time in Starfleet. Commanding a starship is extremely challenging but also rewarding beyond description. CSO would be even more so. But that's not what is important now. I wasn't there for my last family when they needed me most, and I have no intention of doing that again. You and Jenny are special to me, and I want nothing more than to spend as much time as possible with the both of you. You and Jenny have become my priority now."

Maria didn't know what to think or how to feel. Ben had sacrificed a significant promotion for her and Jenny. No one other than her mother had ever sacrificed so much for her. Maria considered telling Maxwell to accept the promotion because he might regret the decision later. However, when she looked into his eyes, those thoughts faded. "Thank you, Ben. We feel the same way," Maria said before she leaned over and kissed him. "We're always going to be here for you no matter what. What happens now?"

"Starfleet is going to establish a major presence on the home world of every alliance member. I intend to help establish a major Starfleet presence here. I've asked to lead the creation of Starfleet Academy, which will train new crews on Starfleet technology and operations. If I can do that, I'll establish a campus on Earth that I'll oversee. I will do the same thing for the other major alliance members. I'll have to travel sometimes, but it won't be often and not for very long. That's only if you're OK with that."

Maria smiled and nodded her head. "Yes, I'm OK with that. We can share you a little bit."

Maxwell returned her smile, then picked up her hand and kissed it. "I'm glad. Would you like to go for a little walk after dinner?"

"Yeah, I would love that."