The Path Forward

Babylon 5 – Sheridan's Quarters

-Next day-

Sheridan felt uncomfortable without his uniform. He felt something similar when he first donned the replacement Babylon 5 uniforms during the rebellion; however, this was different. Sheridan was still an Earthforce officer during the war, even if he was wearing a different uniform. Now, he was the interim president of the Interstellar Alliance. His uniforms, both sets, were now hanging in his closet. He couldn't yet bring himself to put them away. The door chime got Sheridan out of his thoughts; the next appointment would give him something else to focus on. He would need a new office since he was no longer commanding the station. Until it was ready, Sheridan continued using his quarters for smaller meetings and appointments.

"Hi, Rachel. Please have a seat. Were you able to speak to the admiral?" Sheridan asked as he tried to read Garrett. He was optimistic, but her body language didn't give him any clues.

"Yes, I did. It wasn't an easy discussion, and neither was the decision. This decision was among the most difficult I've ever had to make. We're all in agreement that I'm the most qualified for the position and that if we want the alliance to succeed, I must accept the job. I won't be resigning from Starfleet, but I have given up command of Destiny. If you can have quarters arranged for me, I will have my things transferred."

Sheridan didn't bother hiding his smile as the sense of relief swept over him. "Thank you, Rachel. I can't tell you how much this means to me. I can only imagine how hard it was to walk away from Destiny, knowing what you and your crew have gone through. Again, I wouldn't have asked if I didn't think you were essential to our success. I'll speak to Susan about arranging quarters. Welcome aboard.

I look forward to working closely with you, and I can certainly use your help."

"Thanks, John. I'm looking forward to it," Garrett said as she tried to return his smile. Sheridan noticed the smile looked a bit forced, but he completely understood. It was a decision that she wasn't entirely comfortable with.

"By the way, I've asked every alliance member if they would be willing to help you with your colony. This morning, I received confirmation from about a dozen governments that will prep colony ships to help you, with several others pending. You only have to let them know what you need and when and they'll do the rest."

"Thank you, John. I'll let the admiral know. You didn't have to do that as we're able to manage independently. Starfleet is well versed in colony creation techniques."

Sheridan's facial expression suddenly became very stern. "No, you're wrong, Rachel. I did have to do it, and the governments know how much they owe you. Without Starfleet's contributions during the war, we'd probably all be dead. None of us believes otherwise. Your contributions have been invaluable and continue to be so. Believe me; this is the least we can do. I only wish we could do more."

"We did discuss how the other governments could contribute to the colony. If everything goes according to plan, the colony will serve as a cultural hub and an example for multi-race collaboration. We've done it in our universe, but we'd like to bring this example to this universe."

"I think that's great, Rachel. This alliance is just the beginning, and the potential is limitless if your colony is successful."

"I agree with you. This is why we have to be successful. If you'd excuse me, I would like to continue reviewing my speech."

"Of course. We'll talk later after the meeting."

Babylon 5 – Green Zone

-Later, same day-

Rachel Garrett stood just behind Sheridan as he spoke to the assembled diplomats of the Interstellar Alliance. She didn't pay much attention to Sheridan's speech; instead, she reflected on how much her life had changed in only a few short months. Garrett stood before a room full of races she'd never heard of before the incident that brought them to this universe, and she felt at peace. The disappointment, resentment, and anger she'd felt in the past were now long gone, replaced by an excitement she hadn't felt since she joined Starfleet.

Garrett's life had changed in ways she would have never imagined, and as she waited her turn to speak, she realized that she wouldn't change a thing. Everyone had been right. They had a role to play in this universe, which no one else could have performed. Garrett would be at the forefront of working to establish something that had never been attempted here. She wondered if the founders of the Federation felt the same as she did as she stood at the first step towards greatness: to her destiny.

"I would like to welcome our new Secretary of State, Rachel Garrett."

Garrett exited her thoughts when Sheridan called her name. She wondered why she wasn't nervous, then realized that this was where Garrett wanted to be and felt she was home for the first time in a long time. "Thank you, Mr. President. First, I'd like to say that I am completely committed to the success of this alliance. As we begin a new era, I plan to build upon the relationships I've established with each of you. I've resigned from my command for everyone's information and will be completely dedicated to this post. There won't be any conflicts of interest or distractions from doing whatever needs to be done to ensure our collective success. I am excited to serve with each of you."

U.S.S. Enterprise – Ready Room

—-Next day—-

Picard and Gam now met twice a day as they worked together on establishing the colony. Picard was in charge of fleet assets, while Gam managed ground-based facilities. They were discussing the plans for the main square when they were interrupted.

"Bridge to Admiral Picard."

"Picard here."

"Admiral. Captain Garrett on subspace for you, Sir."

"Put it through."

"Hi, Admiral. I just met with President Sheridan, who informed me that he's received commitments from a dozen governments to help us build our colony."

Picard shared a stare with Gam, who looked surprised by the news. "I wasn't expecting such a large commitment so soon. This commitment further reinforces the concerns I voiced to you earlier, Commander. What are your thoughts?"

"I would like to welcome every government to assist us as I believe they could help us build the colony much faster. However, I will only permit one government on the planet at a time, allowing each one to be thoroughly vetted. That limit will also allow us to evaluate our security measures."

"A fine plan, Commander. Rachel, is the Minbari among the list of governments?"

"Yes, Sir, they were the first to volunteer."

"Then, they should be our first partner. They are the government I most trust, but we still need to be careful. We have strong partnerships established with many prominent people in their government that can be leveraged if problems arise.

Commander Gam, your job just became a little more complicated. Rachel, please forward the contacts to the Commander. Commander, I trust that you can lead the coordination activities with the participating governments."

"Yes, Sir. I'll take care of it."

"Is there anything else, Rachel?"

"Not at the moment. I'll keep you apprised as I get deeper into my new role."

"Of course. I look forward to hearing from you. Picard out."

U.S.S. Destiny – Science Lab

—-Three days later—-

Gam and a group of engineers stood in front of a bank of consoles. On the main display, the results from multiple scans were displayed. The lab was otherwise unoccupied, though the department head hoped that would change once they resumed survey missions. Picard walked into the lab and walked over and the small group.

"You wanted to see me, Commander?"

"Yes, Sir. We've completed our initial analysis of this dome sample, and it's unlike anything we've ever encountered. It shares similar traits to the armor of the White Star, but it's not the same. We've noted that the dome material shares similar healing capabilities also observed on the White Star."

"Does that mean we'll be unable to remove the dome?" Picard asked, concerned about the ramifications if it couldn't be removed.

"No, Sir. We believe that if we remove enough of the dome fast enough that we will exceed the ability of its self-healing abilities."

Picard walked over closer to the display to better look at the data. "Do we know what the dome is made of?"

"Not entirely. Whatever the components are, we've never encountered them in our universe."

"A survey mission into Vorlon space would seem prudent. I understand that none of the governments were ever allowed to visit, not even the Minbari. Who knows what we might find there?"

"Yes, Sir. That would also be my recommendation," Gam agreed.

"Is there anything else you can tell me about the dome materials? For example, how strong is it?"

"Very strong, Sir. It exceeds the strength of transparent aluminum by over 200%."

"Indeed? Is it possible to save the dome materials as it's dismantled? More importantly, does this material retain its strength upon removal?" Picard asked as he thought of the potential applications of such material.

"Yes, Sir, to both questions. Based on our tests, the material isn't damaged when removed. The areas damaged by the phaser cutter healed themselves within 90 minutes."

"Very well. I would like to retain as much of the dome as possible. I will assign Commander Laforge to investigate the possibility of refitting our ships with this material. The material may also be useful as we build new ships for our fleet. I don't intend to use it for ships we build for the Alliance fleet, at least not in the near term. Please proceed with the dome removal when ready. I would also like a report on how the dome material reacts to replication when the tests have been completed."

"Yes, Sir. I'll update you when I have additional information."

"Very well. I'll be in the Ready Room if you need me. Carry on."

Earth – Undisclosed Location

The 'group of concerned citizens,' as they called themselves, now conducted their meetings via Vid-com. Many members thought the risks were too significant to continue to meet in person, and their respective security people assured them that their conversations would be secure. Once the test calls were made and the security verified, the meeting began.

"I regret to inform everyone here that my agent was unsuccessful."

"How did this happen? You said that your plan was foolproof."

"It was, under normal circumstances. We were able to identify a candidate that could carry out my plan easily enough. As expected, the agent was able to pass through Earthforce Security screening. However, Starfleet caught him as soon as he arrived on their ship. It would appear that their security is more thorough than Earthforce."

"Damn! Damn…"

"What happens now? What are our options?"

"Our remaining options aren't good. Members of the legal team reported that they were separated from the prisoners by something called a forcefield. It's an energy barrier that's completely invisible until contact is made. Its presence makes physical contact impossible. My agent would have failed whether he was discovered or not. It also confirms the futility of making any further assassination attempts while the prisoners remain on that ship."

"What about you? Aren't you afraid that this will be traced back to you?"

"Hardly. You think I would be where I am today if I didn't know how to cover my tracks. This situation is the least of my concerns. What concerns me is what the people on that ship will say once they reach the courtroom."

"If we can't reach them there, we may be forced to take more drastic measures."

"I agree. Do we know where the trial will be conducted?"

"Not yet. Once my people find out, we can put our plans in motion. Unfortunately, we won't be able to resolve all of our problems at once."

"Fortunately, there are only two problems that need to be addressed. I believe that we can handle those."

"Security will be extremely tight at whatever courtroom is chosen for the trials. How will our people be able to get in to disrupt the proceedings?"

"I have my people working on possible solutions right now, and I suggest that everyone on this call do the same. We need as many options as possible to deal with this issue."

"Yes, we do. I expect you all to be on next week's call. I believe that we'll have a great deal to discuss."

U.S.S. Phoenix – Ready Room

-Two weeks later-

"Military log, Date September 21, 2261. Even after all these weeks, I'm still not used to saying that. Construction is underway for our embassy in Geneva, which was chosen to be close to the heart of the Earth Alliance government. EarthGov officials could find us a suitable location very quickly; however, as expected, it was littered with surveillance devices. Unfortunately, we were unable to determine conclusively who planted the devices. Security has recommended that we employ a dampening field at all times that will block all scanners and other non-subspace technologies. I agreed. We'll also install a subspace-dampening field to prepare for a future where other governments have access to subspace technology.

My medical staff has been given access to a hospital near Earthdome, where we have begun treating seriously ill Earth Alliance citizens. The response has been overwhelming. We didn't realize how far behind Earth's medical sciences were when compared to ours, which has caused me to rethink our approach to instructing local doctors in our medical sciences. Our Starfleet medical facility should be ready next week around the same time as our embassy. I hope that by opening these facilities, the fears about us will begin to subside.

End log."

U.S.S. Phoenix – Prisoner's Quarters

-Later same day-

Maxwell walked along with Deck 12, where the prisoners were held. He'd received another request from General Lefcourt for a short meeting, so he decided to walk down to speak with the former general. Maxwell arrived with two security officers, who walked into the quarters to ensure that Maxwell wasn't being placed in a dangerous situation. Once they were satisfied, they left, and Maxwell remained behind with Lefcourt.

"Captain Maxwell, thank you for agreeing to meet with me," Lefcourt walked over to Maxwell and extended his hand.

Maxwell shook Lefcourt's hand. "No problem, General. What can I do for you?"

Lefcourt motioned for both of them to sit at the nearby table. "Being confined to this incredible ship for the past few months has been a revelation. I've learned a lot about Clark, you, and myself. You know, my original assessment of you was correct. You and your people represent the future of Earthforce and even humanity. What I would have given to command a ship like this during the Earth-Minbari War."

Lefcourt stood up and paced, where he appeared to be deep in thought. After a few moments, he turned to face Maxwell. "I've had a lot of time to think and have often reflected on our initial conversation. I wanted to let you know that I've decided against fighting the charges against me. I will plead guilty to all charges. Clark was wrong, and he's even admitted it. I was more wrong because I followed him knowing that his orders were illegal regardless of his position, and I will live with that decision for the rest of my life."

"We all have difficult choices to make as commanders. Sometimes there are no good choices, just less bad ones. A good commander recognizes when they make mistakes and accepts responsibility for the outcome. I respect you for acknowledging your mistakes and for doing the right thing."

"Thank you, Captain. This brings me to another reason I wanted to meet with you. I have a special request if you will humor me for a moment," Lefcourt said as he sat down at the table.

"I won't make any promises, but I'll listen."

"I'm not under any illusions that I will ever be a free man again. Regardless of what happens, my career in Earthforce is over. It's not the way I planned to end my career, but I have no one but myself to blame. However, this isn't about me but all of humanity. I ask you to reconsider your position on joining Earthforce. As the Earth Alliance transitions beyond Clark, it's more important than ever that our best people come together to usher in the new era. You and your people can be a significant part of this effort. Everyone in the Earth Alliance will benefit from your technological capabilities, and Earthforce will be transformed into something else entirely. I've read everything available about the history of your Starfleet. Earthforce can become that with the right vision, support, guidance, and leadership. You and your people can provide that. I implore you to reconsider your position. That's all I ask."

"You're not wrong, General, and I greatly respect your passion for Earth, despite everything that's happened. The fact of the matter is there is a lot that we still don't know about you. We're both human, but that only gets us so far. Unfortunately, our first impressions of you weren't the best. The upcoming trials and reforms will be a great start, but it's only a start. The fact that you have an organization like Psi-Corps as part of your government is beyond problematic. We would never stand for the existence of such an organization in the Federation. If more organizations like Psi-Corps exist, our relations could become strained. It's also important to realize that integration isn't possible because we have crew members who aren't human, and Starfleet isn't a human organization."

"You should spend some time on Earth to get to know us better. I think that you'll learn that we're more alike than you might realize. Also, I can guarantee that the Earth Alliance wouldn't hesitate to welcome your non-human crew to Earth, and neither would Earthforce."

"Perhaps, but I still have strong reservations. Let's see what happens with the upcoming trials. Regardless, integration with Earthforce is unlikely."

"Just think about it. Thanks for your time, Captain, and I hope you take my words to heart."

"We'll see, General. We'll see."

Earth - Earthdome – Special Judicial Court

-Next day-

"This is Robin Curtis coming to you live from Earthdome. We'll hear from former President Clark for the first time since his arrest in just a few minutes. There are hundreds of protestors here just outside of our broadcast area, and several are holding signs of support while others are critical of the former president's arrest. We've known this trial would be emotional for many of us, and today's demonstrations prove that. ISN will be here for the entire trial, and we'll bring it to you live. Now, back to the studio."

The courtroom was just over half full. Attendance had been restricted to a limited number of carefully vetted government officials. Clark had his entire defense team present, though, given the size of his team, several members had to be seated in the gallery. EarthGov was concerned that their security measures would be insufficient, given the previous assassination attempt. Although Starfleet had instructed Earthforce on the steps they could take to detect similar toxins, Earthforce couldn't perform the tests in real time. Therefore, the court decided to use a modified courtroom arrangement used throughout history when the threat of assassination was present. The main difference for this trial would be using forcefields instead of traditional barriers.

"Defense councilor, would you like to call your first witness?"

"Thank you, Your Honor. I would like to call President Morgan Clark to the stand."

Clark walked over to the stand; his posture reflected the level of arrogance he felt. He wanted to let everyone know what he thought of this sham trial and that he wouldn't be intimidated.

"President Clark, in your own words, please tell the court why you believe you are not guilty of any crime."

"Since I was a little boy, I've always wanted to become the president of the Earth Alliance. That dream drove me to become the best in whatever endeavor I chose to pursue. I was always at the top of my class and never settled for being second best at anything. When I became a senator, I knew my time was near, I just needed a little more seasoning, and I needed to prove myself to the larger Alliance.

Then, the Earth-Minbari War happened. That war changed me. It also proved to me just how weak the Earth Alliance was. Our leadership had failed us, leading into the war and beyond. We were under the threat of extinction, and EarthGov and Earthforce were powerless to do anything to stop it. That war proved to me how much the Earth Alliance needed my leadership if humanity had any chance of survival. I promised myself that if we survived the war and the Earth Alliance still existed, I would do whatever it took to become president and give humanity the leadership it needed."

Clark's demeanor changed from arrogant to defiant before he continued his testimony.

"Under my leadership, the Earth Alliance became stronger than ever. No one dared to challenge us openly. If humanity had united under my leadership, we would have become the strongest race in the galaxy. The technology I've seen on the Phoenix confirms my vision and Humanity First policies. Human warships are the strongest in the galaxy with the most advanced technology! Think about that for a minute. No one disputes this fact, not even the Minbari! Every race in the galaxy now envies humanity! Picard, Maxwell, and the others should have joined us, and together we would have seen the Earth Alliance reach its full potential.

Some obviously disagreed with my methods; however, I don't have any regrets. I did what needed to be done. The Earth Alliance is strong now because of me! You may try to soil my good name, but this trial will show that I was right and didn't do anything illegal."

The defense lawyer looked at the prosecutor, then back to the judge and said, "no further questions, Your Honor."

"Ms. Lane, your witness," the judge told the lead prosecutor.

Lane stood up and walked over to the stand just in front of Clark. "Thank you, Your Honor. President Clark, I will ask you a few very basic questions that will only require yes or no answers.

My first question is, did you order the attack on civilians on Mars?"

Clark looked at her with pure rage in his eyes. In his mind, this whole trial was a sham. He'd been wrongly removed from power in a coup, and his allies had done nothing to help him regain his power.

"Not civilians, anarchists, as was my right as president of the Earth Alliance."

"Did you make any attempt to negotiate with the government of Mars or arrest anyone whom you considered an anarchist?"

"No. Why would I? I didn't tolerate anarchy any more then than I do now."

"Were you allied with the Shadows?"

"Objection. Irrelevant," Clark's lead defense attorney told the judge.

"It will become relevant in just a moment, Your Honor," the prosecutor said.

"Overruled. The defendant will answer the question."

"I don't remember," Clark said as he stared daggers into the prosecutor.

"Well, allow me to refresh your memory," the prosecutor said as she played the video captured from the Shadow home world.

'Hello, Mr. Vice President. I am Mr. Morden, representing a party interested in making you president of the Earth Alliance. In return, we may occasionally call on you for a favor.'

'How did you get my number?'

'We have our ways, Mr. Vice President. Are you interested in our proposal?'

'How do you plan to make me president? Are you planning to donate to my campaign?'

'Hardly. We plan to take a more direct approach. Rest assured, if you agree to our proposal, we will take immediate action and guarantee that you will be the president within the next two Earth months.'

'Will I be implicated in any way?'

'No. However, if you fail to return our favors when asked, you will find my associates quite unpleasant.'

'Ok. I agree. What do I have to do?'

'I would suggest you begin preparations to assume power. You will know when it's time to act.'

'Understood. How do I contact you?'

'You don't. I will contact you when it's appropriate.'

'Ok. I know what to do.'

'Good. I'll be in touch, Mr. President.'

The video stopped, and Lane turned to Clark. "Do you remember this conversation?" Lane asked Clark as she watched the look on Clark's face change.

Clark looked away from the monitor and noticed the shocked look on the faces of everyone in the courtroom. He then made eye contact with Lane and answered, "Yes." She had him, and there was nothing he could do or say to get out of this mess.

"Why didn't you bring Morden and the Shadows to justice? Why didn't you warn President Santiago?"

Clark was cornered, and he didn't have an answer. The only thing that came to mind was the truth, so he decided to say it.

"Morden contacted me months before Santiago was killed, promising to make me the president. I didn't know how he planned to do it, and I didn't ask. Once Santiago was killed, and I became the president, I had to do what they asked, or he would have framed me for Santiago's murder."

"So, you admit that President Santiago was murdered."

"Yes, but I didn't do it."

"Yet, you knew who did and when it would happen, and you did nothing to prevent it. Instead, you directly benefited from his death and let everyone believe it was an accident. Isn't that true?"

This time, Clark was defiant in his answer. "Yes, but Santiago was weak! As long as he was the president, the Earth Alliance would never become strong. The Minbari or even the Centauri could attack us at any time, and we would be involved in another war that we probably couldn't win. I could not and would not let that happen!" Clark shouted as he stood from his seat.

The whole courtroom looked at Clark, shocked by what they had heard. Clark had admitted his guilt to the worst crime he'd been charged with. The prosecutor had a slight smile on her lips. Lane had overcome her shock months ago when she'd first watched the video evidence. Now, she was satisfied that she had Clark's admission of guilt on the record. Clark was done and was never getting out of jail.

"No further questions, Your Honor."

U.S.S. Phoenix – Prisoner's Quarters

-Next day-

Clark spent several hours after the trial sitting in complete darkness. He was angry at his detractors, his supporters, and even himself. That damn prosecutor had used his arrogance against him! Clark was trapped for the first time in his life with no apparent options. His superior intellect wouldn't save him this time.

Once he'd calmed down, Clark reached out to his defense team and asked them for a meeting. Reluctantly, he realized that he needed help to figure out what his next move should be. Once the team arrived on the Phoenix, the team worked through the night to identify possible strategies to allow Clark to spend the least amount of time possible in prison. No one was under any illusion that Clark could escape doing significant time. His admissions on the stand couldn't be refuted, and they lacked any additional evidence to discredit what the prosecution had presented.

The defense had been given the entirety of the video evidence captured from the Shadow home world. It was damning and left no doubts regarding Clark's guilt. Clark eventually admitted as much once he stopped accusing his team of incompetence. With no good options available, a now humbled Clark gave his permission for his team to reach out to the EarthGov attorney general to discuss a deal.

-Next day-

Clark's defense team returned to Phoenix to document their final proposal before calling the Attorney General. Clark had been uncharacteristically calm with his team as they discussed their proposal. With everything settled, they made the call.

"I understand that you want to discuss the possibility of a plea deal. Is that true?" Attorney General Usman asked as he focused his attention on Clark.

"Yes, my client would like to discuss such a possibility, depending on what you're able to offer." Roku Suzuki, Clark's lead attorney, opened cautiously.

Usman had prepared himself for this possibility after yesterday's court session. He and his team had spent several hours discussing what valuable information Clark might have that they weren't already possessing. Once a list was developed, several potential deals were discussed. Ultimately, Usman felt that there was very little need to negotiate. He would offer Clark a single deal, take it or leave it. "On course. However, let me be frank, your client's position is desperate. Clark admitted to several crimes while on the stand yesterday. Conviction on one or more charges is almost a foregone conclusion. Therefore, what could you possibly have to offer, and what would you want in return?"

Suzuki turned to look at Clark. In the 20 years he'd known Clark, he'd never seen him look so small and defeated. Clark looked up from his notes and answered Usman. "I can give you the names of everyone aware of my plans and who actively contributed to their implementation. In exchange, I want the possibility of parole plus a guarantee of my safety while in prison. I also want to be housed in a white-collar facility to make my life as comfortable as possible. Finally, I want you to ask Starfleet to give me a replicator for use while I'm in prison. I have become very accustomed to the device while incarcerated here, and I believe it's more than fair that I should continue to have access to it even while I'm not on this ship."

Usman's face was unreadable as he considered Clark's proposal. "President Clark, I might be persuaded to offer you the possibility of parole if you can provide reliable information. Although you will have to plead guilty to murder, you didn't physically carry it out. Your request is unusual but isn't without precedent. As for the replicator, I don't even know what that is, and even if I did, we wouldn't ask Starfleet to give you one. That's a bit too much."

Clark sighed, "You can't fault a man for trying. I will give you the names if you accept my other terms. Do we have a deal?"

Usman was elated. They were going to avoid a lengthy trial while obtaining valuable information on Clark's enablers. It was a good day for the Earth Alliance. "I'll have to clear the confinement arrangements with the Department of Corrections. However, in principle, we have an agreement. I will provide confirmation, through your lawyer, within 24 hours."

"Good. That gives me time to write down everything," Clark said, strangely relieved that his fate had been virtually determined.

"I'll be in touch. Good day, gentlemen," Usman said, then his face was replaced by The United Federation of Planets logo on the monitor.

"Morgan, are you sure you want to do this? Anything can happen in prison, and I don't trust EarthGov to keep their promise," Suzuki asked his longtime friend, genuinely concerned for Clark's safety.

The look on Clark's face went from defeated to determined. Once he made a decision, he rarely second-guessed himself, and this was no exception. "If I have to go down, I'm taking the others with me. I'm not spending the rest of my life in prison if I can help it. Just be ready when the call comes in."

"Ok."

Earth - Undisclosed Location

The 'group of concerned citizens' opened their next meeting under a cloud of uncertainty and doubt. They had all watched the trial and, more importantly, heard the answers Clark gave to the prosecutors. Clark was finished; no one had any doubts about that. The question now at the top of everyone's mind was whether Clark would sell them out in an attempt to save himself.

"Ok, everyone. We all witnessed Clark's performance at the trial. Damning doesn't even come close to describing it. I want to know if there is anything we can do to contain this disaster."

"As expected, security was extremely tight at Earthdome. My remaining inside assets weren't even allowed into the courtroom. However, I confirmed that Starfleet installed a forcefield around Clark while he was in the courtroom. Not only that, he wasn't walked into the courtroom; he was teleported. Once the session was completed, he was teleported back to the ship. There's no way to intercept him or get to him outside of the courtroom. I can only assume that the same measures will be deployed for the others."

"Damn. This Starfleet ship is really starting to annoy me. What about explosives? Can we plant them under Earthdome?"

No one on the call even flinched at the suggestion of destroying the center of the Earth Alliance government. "Before Clark, absolutely. Now? Impossible. Clark's paranoia caused him to make Earthdome a fortress. He made sure that every potential vulnerability was addressed. Despite the change in government, most of Clark's security measures have been retained."

"Intimidation also won't work. The immediate families of the prisoners are being monitored. Any attempts at bribery would most likely be discovered, though it may be worth a shot."

"No. I think that we stand a better chance of trying to discredit the loudmouths and maybe even Clark. I believe that's our best chance for success."

"It's our best option. In my opinion, our only option outside of going to court."

"If any charges are filed against any of us, then we've already failed. No, we need to proceed with this plan. Agreed?"

"Agreed."

Betazed – Government Center

—-Two weeks later—-

Gam sat in the Betazed governor's office with the governor during their daily meeting. Gam was excited to share today's update as it represented a truly momentous occasion for them all.

"Governor, I'm happy to inform you that we have completely removed the dome. Our people are now free to explore the planet for the first time in ten generations."

The governor was brought to tears by the news. "Libbon, I can't tell you how excited we all are to hear this news. The anthropology department at the university has already formed a team to begin surveys and excavations of the ruins you've provided information about."

Gam became emotional as he watched the man across from him cry tears of joy. This was one of the happiest moments in his recent memory. "I'm glad to hear that. I would also like to send some of my people to assist. Our experience and technology should prove useful during the surveys."

The governor smiled. "I would like that. I planned to ask for your help when I met with you today. This expedition wouldn't be possible without you, and I believe that we should do this together."

Gam paused for a few moments, almost embarrassed by the admission he was about to make. "I'll admit that I do have a vested interest in helping. I want to see what happened to my town. Sensor scans can only tell you so much, and I want to see it for myself."

"Of course. When the team reaches the ruin, I'll be there with you. I want to be there for you as you've been here for us. This is our history and our home. Don't think otherwise."

"Thank you, Governor."

"Enken. Call me Enken."

"Will do, Enken."

Gam walked out of the governor's office, pleased by how well the meeting went. Before he reached the stairs, he was approached by someone he recognized.

"Libbon, may I have a word with you?"

"Dr. Choik, it's good to see you again. Of course. What can I do for you?"

Choik gave Gam a skeptical look. Choik had been frustrated by the fact that he'd been unable to find anything that would disprove the evidence provided by Gam and Starfleet. The story, in his opinion, was so fantastic that it couldn't possibly be true. This would be his last opportunity to disprove the evidence before Gam and the rest became integrated into Betazed society. "I hoped that I could spend some time with you, alone. I've reviewed all of the data you've given us, but I still have many questions. Everyone has already accepted your explanations, but I'm a scientist, and it's my job to be thorough."

"I understand, Doctor. I'm happy to answer your questions. Actually, I have a better idea. I can take you to my ship where I can answer your questions plus show you much more than I could provide on the PADD if you're interested."

Choik was hesitant, but he didn't have a choice if he wanted to know the truth. "Yes, I'd like that. Let me inform my assistant, and then I will accompany you to your ship."

"That's fine with me. After you."

Betazed – New Paris (Federation Colony)

—-One week later—-

Picard was transported into the newly constructed town square of New Paris. A few trees lined the square, transplanted from a nearby area. Seedlings had also been planted that had been donated by the people of Betazed. Picard left the courtyard and walked into Federation Hall, the seat of the colony. The building was currently three stories tall, though more could be added in the future with little difficulty. A facade had been installed onto the building that matched the current architecture found in the native Betazed city.

As Picard walked into the building, he noticed that it had been decorated to mirror Federation Headquarters from their Earth. He walked around the lobby and felt a strong sense of deja-vu. He then realized that he was most likely late for his meeting, so he walked briskly up the stairs and into the governor's office on the third floor.

"Well done, Commander, or should I say, Governor?" Picard said as he walked over to Gam, who was seated behind his desk.

"Commander will do, for now, Sir. There isn't much of a colony to govern at the moment, though this building does represent a significant first step."

"Indeed, it does. I've read your proposal to assist the Betazed government in excavating the ruins across the planet. I will approve any personnel requests you submit. I understand the sensitive nature of what this represents to you and the others. Know that I will be available to manage the colony temporarily while you are otherwise unavailable."

"Thank you, Sir. I don't plan to be away for long. We all have responsibilities, and I won't impose myself upon you."

"Commander, you must do what is in your best interest. Otherwise, you might live to regret it. Duty will be here when you return."

"I understand, Sir. I'll make the most of the opportunity. I only plan to be away for a day or two, and then I will return. If I need more time, then I will develop a complete transition plan. I'll leave in the morning."

"Very well. Until then, Commander."

Earth - The United Federation of Planets Embassy

The embassy had been open for just two days, but the number of visitors had greatly exceeded even the most optimistic estimates. The embassy wasn't fully completed, with only the museum fully operational, which included interactive learning modules about Federation and Starfleet history. Five holographic rooms were also operating, which simulated the environments of several Federation worlds. Two rooms simulated the bridges of notable Starfleet ships. Several Starfleet personnel were also present to answer questions and act as guides for several exhibits.

Maxwell had been in attendance both days, and he proved to be quite popular. Several people recognized him from ISN and wanted to talk to him about a range of topics. ISN had broadcasted a documentary of the Shadow War the previous week and several people, most notably Earthforce personnel, wanted to hear about his first-hand experience.

Just before closing on the second day, two females walked into the main hall. One appeared to be older than the other. Maxwell assumed that they were mother and daughter as they walked directly over him based on their resemblance.

The older woman, who appeared to be in her 30s, spoke to him. Maxwell noted how nervous she was, which caused him to become hyper-aware. Sensors had been installed to detect any weapon, but it wouldn't hurt to remain prepared for anything, Maxwell thought. "You're Captain Maxwell, right?"

"Yes, I am. What can I do for you?"

Now that they were closer, Maxwell guessed that the younger lady was a teenager, maybe 16. The similarity in their appearance confirmed to Maxwell that the ladies were undoubtedly related. He wondered if they were in some trouble or had been hired to cause it.

"I heard you talk about a planet called Betazed on ISN."

"Yes, that's where our new colony is. We share the planet with the Betazoids."

"And they're telepaths?"

"Yes, all Betazoids are telepathic." Maxwell now thought that these women might be with Psi-Corps.

The mother and daughter exchanged looks, then the daughter asked, "Do you have laws concerning telepaths?"

Maxwell was surprised by the questions but answered them. "No. Telepaths have full rights within our society and aren't restricted in any way, nor are they required to register with an organization like Psi-Corps."

Maxwell could see them both relax right away, though he still didn't know why. "Great. That's so great to hear. In that case, I want to ask for asylum from The United Federation of Planets for me and my daughter. We're telepaths that don't want to be under the control of Psi-Corps."

Maxwell had learned a lot about Psi-Corps since his initial interview on ISN. His past interactions with the organization had been cordial. However, their request for the location of Betazed did give him cause for concern, as did the general reputation of the organization. Maxwell hadn't anticipated that anyone would come here to request asylum, though maybe he should have; however, the decision was obvious.

"Ok. I'll grant you both asylum. You'll return with me to the Phoenix tonight, where you'll both be assigned quarters. Do you need to take care of anything before leaving?"

Both ladies embraced, and Maxwell could see smiles on both of their faces. The mother then turned to Maxwell and answered his question. "No. We can't leave. The Psi-cops might capture us, and we've already risked too much to come here."

Before Maxwell could ask a follow-up question, two men walked in dressed in all black and wearing gloves.

"There they are! Get them!"

Maxwell walked over and held up his hand. "Wait a minute. This embassy is Federation property. What are you doing here?"

"Those two are rogue telepaths wanted by Psi-Corps for re-education. Please stand aside while we apprehend the fugitives," the lead Psi-Cop said while pointing at the two females.

"No, you will do no such thing," Maxwell said, loud enough for the ladies to hear him. "These people have asked for asylum, and I have granted it. You will not touch them."

The senior Psi-Cop took a step closer to Maxwell in an attempt to intimidate him. It didn't work. "You are obviously unfamiliar with Earth Alliance laws. All telepaths are subject to Psi-Corps supervision. We have an obligation to protect the public from them and to protect them from themselves."

"I'm well aware," Maxwell corrected the Psi-Cop. "As I told you, I've granted them asylum, and they'll return with me to the Phoenix tonight. Our colony is on Betazed, the birthplace of telepathy in this galaxy, in case you didn't know. I don't think they'll require any protection from now on."

Maxwell took a step forward towards the Psi-Cop. The two men were quite close now, and the situation had caused both Psi-Cops to become somewhat disoriented. The room became hushed as everyone's attention turned to the confrontation between Maxwell and the Psi-Cops. No one ever challenged Psi-Cops in public until now. "Now, you have a choice to make. You may take a look at the exhibits, or you may leave. The choice is yours. Don't make me tell you again."

The Psi-Cops were well aware of Starfleet's reputation, and crossing Maxwell over two renegades wasn't worth it.

"We'll leave, Captain."

"Good."

One of the Psi-cops took a long look at the mother before turning to the other cop and leaving. Maxwell could see how afraid the ladies were when the Psi-Cops arrived and then relieved when Maxwell kicked them out. The mother walked over to Maxwell and hugged him, a sense of relief evident on her face. "Thank you! Thank you!" she said.

Maxwell returned her embrace. After a few moments, she released him and asked him another question. "May I use your Vid-com? I would like to contact the others."

"The others?" Maxwell asked, confused.

"The other telepaths who are running from Psi-Corps."

"How many are there?"

"I don't know for sure. I'm only aware of my small group. It's hard to avoid Psi-Cops. They catch everyone, eventually."

"Follow me. This way."

Earth – Psi-Corps Local Office

-30 minutes later-

The two Psi-Cops walked into the nondescript office just a few miles away from the Federation embassy. The short drive had done nothing to relieve the anger both men still felt from their experience with Maxwell. They both took pride in the fact that they had previously possessed perfect fugitive capture records until Maxwell interfered. This situation was unacceptable, and both men had confidence that Psi-Corps leadership would address the problem.

"They did what!" the Psi-Cop supervisor yelled when he'd been told what happened at the embassy.

"The fugitives asked for asylum, and Captain Maxwell granted it. I tried to reason with him, but he wouldn't listen. He didn't even respond to intimidation. We need to stop this before more blips hear about this," the lead Psi-Cop told the supervisor, and his partner nodded in agreement.

"I'll speak with Magnus. This is a serious breach of Earth Alliance security. Captain Maxwell doesn't know what he's doing," the supervisor assured the men; his anger level matched that of the two men that stood in front of his desk.

"He needs to fix this immediately! This is a threat to the Corps!" the lead cop said as he tried to contain his emotions.

"I know. I'm sure he'll take care of it. He always does."

The two men walked out of the office, still angry but confident that the supervisor would handle Maxwell. The lead cop looked forward to seeing Maxwell's face when he found out that interfering with the Psi-Corps business was to be avoided.

Betazed – Troi Manor

Both Deanna Trois sat in the older woman's study, where they enjoyed a beverage native to the younger Troi's Betazed. The younger Troi made it a point to share food and other items from her planet to show her new family how similar they were while exposing them to entirely new cuisine. Since moving into the manor, she'd become quite comfortable with her new family, the initial awkwardness now but a distant memory. She still missed the family that she'd left behind, even her mother, who could be overbearing even under the best of circumstances. The younger Troi had come to terms with that loss, helped tremendously by the opportunity to get to know and spend time with relatives that she had been too young to know when they died, or they had been already dead long before she was even born.

"Deanna, did you speak to that lovely young man I told you about?"

"No, Grand. Now really isn't a good time to begin a relationship with anyone. My attention is focused on building our colony, and I'm sure that I wouldn't be very good company."

"Nonsense! You're just making excuses. Tell me what this is really about."

"Ok. Do you know the real reason I joined Starfleet? I wanted to get away from the pressure and responsibility of being a Troi. There are so many expectations on how we speak and interact with others. Our every move is scrutinized. I wanted to be just like everyone else and control my destiny and not try to live up to anyone else's expectations."

"Oh, dear. I didn't know. I thought you wanted to be a part of this family, with all that it entails."

"There's an old saying from where I'm from. You don't miss what you have until it's gone. Once I arrived in this universe, I realized that my family was gone and that I would most likely never see them again. I felt selfish and ungrateful for everything I said and did when I ran off to join Starfleet. I could have, and should have, handled things much better. I don't regret joining Starfleet, but I very much regret leaving my family behind. You've welcomed me into the family when you didn't have to. I've come to realize, especially since being here with you, how important family is, and I shouldn't have taken it for granted."

"You'll always be a part of this family regardless of what choices you make," the elder Troi said as she held the younger woman's hand. "Never forget that."

"Thanks, Grand. It means so much to hear you say that. I want to be an active member of this family, taking part in as many formal duties as I'm allowed. I was forced to participate when I was younger, and it caused me to resent my position. I don't feel that way anymore. I want to be here, and I want to be involved."

"I'm happy to hear that, dear. I won't pressure you to find a companion, though I'm sure you realize that a single female Troi attracts a great deal of attention."

"I know. If you could tell anyone asking that I just need a little more time to adjust to life here, that would be very helpful. I'm just not ready."

"I understand. Have no fear; I'll take care of you. Come, let's see your Grand-Papa. He's upset that I'm monopolizing all of your time. His words, not mine."

Earth – Earthdome - Joint Chief's Office

-Next day-

"Would you look at that?"

On the video screen was a live feed of the Enterprise and Phoenix in orbit over Earth. The morning intelligence briefing was almost over when they received word that the Enterprise was approaching Earth. The briefing was wrapped very quickly, and then General Fitzpatrick instructed Earthforce surveillance satellites to follow the Enterprise as it approached Earth.

"Ladies and gentlemen, you are looking at the two most powerful warships in the galaxy. Those human warships are the envy of every known race but, sadly, aren't a part of Earthforce. I almost wish that someone was foolish enough to attack so I could see them in action," Fitzpatrick said to the group as he watched the monitor.

"It probably wouldn't be much of a battle. I assume that we can't scan the Enterprise either?" Blachowicz asked the intelligence officer.

"That's correct, Ma'am. The ship appeared just outside of Neptune, and only then did we know it was in the system. After that, it didn't bother using its invisibility device. Its sub-light speed was surprising. We've never seen anything move that fast in normal space."

"Is Admiral Picard commanding?" Fitzpatrick asked.

"No, Sir. A Captain Benjamin Sisko."

"I wish it was Picard. Maybe he'd be more receptive to us than Maxwell. You know, I'd almost come to accept the Phoenix being here, but now with the Enterprise here as well? Should we deploy more ships to protect Earth?" Dawodu asked seriously.

"That won't be necessary. I would rather not risk an incident. Besides, it's not as though we'd have much of a chance against them anyway; you've all seen the videos and heard Sheridan's report. The last thing we need is an ambitious captain starting something to make a name for themselves. No, what we are looking at is the future of Earthforce. When they become a part of our fleet, we'll be able to intimidate every other race as much as we're intimidated right now. Imagine Earthforce with a fleet of ships like those," Fitzpatrick said, who surprised himself with the public acknowledgment of Earthforce's inferiority against Starfleet.

"What about the ships being built for the alliance? The other races will be less impressed if they have their own Starfleet-built ships," General Franklin asked Fitzpatrick.

"You heard Maxwell. They're building first-generation Starfleet ships for that fleet. They're more powerful than any non-Starfleet ship but are several generations behind their mainline ships. The ships we're looking at will continue to be the premier warships in the galaxy for years, maybe even decades, to come. Picard plans to keep their best technologies for themselves and, hopefully, us."

"I see. Have you informed the president?"

"Yes. She knows."

Earth – Earthdome - President's Office

Luchenko hated to deal with Psi-Corps. Like many people on Earth, she didn't trust telepaths but dealt with Psi-Corps as part of her job, especially since she became president. Dalmarson had called her office a couple of minutes ago when he told Luchenko's assistant that he had to speak to the president right away as a matter of Earth Alliance security. Reluctantly, Luchenko complied with a decision that she had begun to regret.

"Madam President, this is a serious breach of security. We can't have blips escaping Psi-Corps supervision," Dalmarson said forcefully as he attempted to impress on the president the significance of the issue.

Luchenko sighed as a mild headache began to develop just behind her eyes. "I understand your position and would normally agree with you. However, in this case, there's nothing I can do. The embassy is Federation territory and is subject to their laws according to the treaty we signed. I'm not willing to ruin everything I'm working to build for a few rogue telepaths. We have too much to gain and far too much to lose if I make a big deal about this and they decide to leave. Or did you miss those two warships in orbit?"

Dalmarson leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. "They're just trying to intimidate us."

"Well, they've succeeded," Luchenko said a little louder than she intended. "We're lucky they're human. Otherwise, we might not be having this conversation. Earthforce said that each of those warships carries enough firepower to destroy this planet and a significant number of warships in our defensive fleet. Do you want to challenge them because I certainly don't?"

"What if more telepaths want to leave?" Dalmarson asked as he realized that the president was unlikely to help him.

"Is that really a problem? There would be fewer blips for you to monitor. I thought that you'd like that," Luchenko asked honestly.

"We're here to protect human telepaths from others, including themselves. We can't protect them if we can't reach them."

"Maybe you should ask Captain Maxwell for a Psi-Corps presence in their colony."

A thin smile appeared on Dalmarson's lips, then he said. "You know, that's a great idea. Thank you, Madam President. Good day."

U.S.S. Phoenix – Ready Room

Maxwell had welcomed the newly promoted Captain Sisko to meet on the Phoenix. With the arrival of the Enterprise, the Phoenix would now have to travel to Betazed. Maxwell didn't want to leave Earth, primarily because of Maria and Jenny. His crew also enjoyed a sense of normalcy for the first time in years, and he hated to take that from them. He hoped to convince the admiral that there were more important things than duty, especially now that the war, both wars, were now over.

"My crew will be back on the Phoenix within the next six hours. I've been told that the cleaning crew will need about eight hours to clean and prep everything before you can begin transferring your people down to the island," Maxwell told Sisko.

"Good. I have a lot of anxious people who want to get planetside. Betazed is nice, but establishing a new colony is hard work. Being here will give the crew a break and also address the homesickness that I know our younger crew members are experiencing," Sisko said to Maxwell. However, he could have included himself as one who also suffered from a bit of homesickness.

"You're right about that. Morale has improved dramatically since we've been here. You'll need to staff the embassy and the clinics while you're here, but I've found that the crew was more than happy to interact with the people of Earth. I can have Commander Riker provide you with the duty roster that we've been using. Feel free to make whatever changes you want."

"That's a great idea. I appreciate it."

"Captain, incoming message from the Earth Alliance," Maxwell heard over the intercom.

"Put it through."

"Good afternoon, Captain. I regret to inform you that you may have inadvertently offered assistance to two very dangerous people."

Maxwell looked over at Sisko, who sat up straighter when he heard the news, then he returned his attention to the monitor. "Thank you for contacting me, Mr. Dalmarson. If my ship and crew are at risk, I want to know about it."

"I thought so. Two females approached you yesterday at your embassy. Those two people were telepaths, very dangerous individuals. I don't know if you have any experience with human telepaths, but I can assure you that untrained telepaths are extremely dangerous to everyone they encounter."

Maxwell relaxed. This was a call he'd been warned about based on what the telepaths had told him. "Have they committed any crimes?"

"Yes. They have failed to register with Psi-Corps and are, therefore, in breach of Earth Alliance law."

"Well, Mr. Dalmarson, my former first officer is a telepath, and several Federation member races are telepathic. Telepaths are no more dangerous than anyone else. I've spoken with the two ladies at length, as has my security team, and I'm convinced that they pose no threat to anyone."

"I'm sorry you feel that way. The fact of the matter is those two broke Earth Alliance laws, and I'm asking you to honor our laws and return them to our custody in the spirit of diplomacy."

Maxwell's adopted a more aggressive demeanor with Dalmarson. "That's not going to happen. They didn't do anything wrong, and I won't return them to you. They're now on the Phoenix under the protection of The United Federation of Planets. I suggest that you forget about them and move on. They are our concern now, not yours."

Dalmarson refused to be intimidated by Maxwell. He continued to remain calm and work to salvage something from the conversation. "Captain, you are making a terrible mistake. Don't you respect the rule of law?"

"I certainly do. However, I'm well aware of your organization and what it stands for. It's inhumane how you treat those with telepathic abilities. Be advised that all Federation facilities on Earth are governed by Federation law, not the Earth Alliance. We will respect Earth Alliance laws that aren't in conflict with ours. Telepaths are free to enter any Federation facility and ask for asylum, and we will grant it. Psi-Cops are not welcome unless they are there to utilize the provided services. If they attempt to arrest anyone, they will be expelled immediately. Do I make myself clear?" Maxwell said in a tone that left no doubt that his position was non-negotiable.

"I see. Well, perhaps I can offer your colony the services of Psi-Corps to help you with your telepathic crew members. It must be difficult being so far from home. It would be unfortunate if accidents were to happen because they lost control of their telepathic talents."

"Thank you for the offer, but that won't be necessary. We can take care of our own."

"The offer stands, in case it becomes necessary in the future. Thank you for your time, Captain."

"Anytime. Maxwell out."

Maxwell turned to Sisko. "I need to brief you on an organization called Psi-Corps. The things I've been told will make your stomach turn."

"Please do. It looks like they could be trouble. I will also be spending time at the embassy since it looks like it's going to become popular with Earth telepaths."

"Count on it. The mother I rescued has been in touch with the surface. I can only assume that she has been contacting others."

"Is she aware that she is going to a new colony? Her way of life will be far different from that on Earth."

"She doesn't care. She wants freedom for herself and her daughter. Apparently, many, many others on Earth feel the same way. I don't fully understand it, but I know the look of terror, and they both had it. Intelligence interviewed them and collected some very troubling information about Psi-Corps. The two here aren't a security risk, but I believe anyone who comes to us must be vetted."

"Agreed. It's nothing I can't handle."

Earth – ISN Studios

"Breaking news. The trial for former President Clark has ended. Morgan Clark pled guilty to all charges in a plea deal with prosecutors. In exchange, he was given a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 30 years. This marks the end of a very dark period in the history of the Earth Alliance. As a reminder, the former members of Clark's cabinet, including the former leadership of Nightwatch, all accepted plea deals which carried sentences of 10-20 years. We are standing by, waiting for remarks from President Luchenko. Now, back to the studio."

"Thanks, Sergio. I've just been informed that the press conference is beginning. We're going there now."

"Good afternoon and evening to my fellow citizens of the Earth Alliance. Today's conviction represents the culmination of countless hours spent by members of law enforcement and the Department of Justice to bring this dark period to a close. This conviction is also a reminder that no one is above the law, and if you commit crimes as appalling as those of Morgan Clark, you will pay. Our senate has been very busy passing new laws to ensure that the abuses perpetrated by the Clark administration are never allowed to happen again.

Sadly, there are still many more reforms needed to safeguard the Alliance from would-be criminals. New laws to address the government's failings and the business sector will be passed soon, giving us all the confidence to know that our government is working to protect us and not abuse us.

I ask for your continued patience as we get our house in order while also preparing to join the larger galactic community. The opportunities for us are limitless. It will require the commitment of all of us to rebuild the trust we've lost. I ask you for your support as we continue this journey.

Thank you."

"Welcome back. In related news, EarthGov has announced new charges against several prominent Earth Alliance business leaders. The charges include conspiracy, sedition, bribery, and even attempted murder. ISN has tried to reach those charged for comment. Most declined to comment; however, Mr. Russell said that he planned to fight the charges vigorously.

Finally, moments ago, Earthforce announced that all eight former members of the Joint Chiefs pleaded guilty to all charges. All waved their rights to a trial and accepted sentences of 20 years to life for multiple violations of the unified code of military justice (UCMJ). All eight have been court marshaled and will be transferred to the military prison in Leavenworth, Kansas, to begin serving their sentences.

Stay tuned to ISN for the latest news and information."

Earth – San Antonio, Texas - O'Dell Home

-Two hours later-

"You know, it feels a little weird going home in a car."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. Our last visit couldn't have been more different. That transporter sure is convenient."

The two men rode in silence for the rest of the trip. O'Dell stared out the windows as the car rode through the streets of San Antonio. Martinez was anxious to see his wife again since his last visit had been far too short. As the car turned onto their street, Minutes later, the taxi pulled up in front of the O'Dell house. Both men smiled and felt a sense of relief. They were home and were going to be for a while.

"Welcome home, Alex and Julio," Rose said.

"It's good to be home, finally!" O'Dell said as he hugged his mother while Angela rushed Martinez.

"I'm sorry our entrance was so pedestrian this time, Jenny. I brought you a teddy bear instead."

"Thanks, Uncle Julio. I love it! I'll put it with my others."

"Let's go inside. Everyone is out back having a good time already," Rose said to the group.

-backyard-

Martinez and Angela were seated at one of the picnic tables, huddled closely together. The previous visit wasn't near long enough for either of them, and they were happy to spend a few moments together. O'Dell mingled with the rest of the partygoers, the crowd larger than it had been for the previous party. He was far more relaxed this time since he would be home on extended shore leave. The Pollux crew would be assigned temporary assignments while the ship was in drydock for repair and refit. O'Dell walked over to the cooler to grab another beer. As soon as he opened his beer, O'Dell saw a column of light appear in the middle of the yard, followed by the distinct sound of the transporter beam.

"Show off!" Martinez shouted at Maxwell as soon as the transporter beam faded.

"Y'all finally made it! I'm sorry I'm late. I had a meeting with Captain Sisko that ran a little long. I was starting to wonder if I was going to miss y'all." Maxwell told the pair as he walked over to shake their hands.

"Yeah. We planned to be here sooner, but Earthforce had other ideas. The debrief was brutal. I didn't think that it would ever end." Martinez said to the group of people that had formed around Maxwell.

"Same here. It was more like an interrogation than a debrief," O'Dell added.

"Why would they do that? Didn't Sheridan give them a full debrief when he was here? I even provided them with video from the Shadow War," Maxwell said to the two men, confused by the behavior of Earthforce.

"I'm sure he did, but it wasn't just that. They wanted to know everything that happened from the time we broke away at Proxima III. They, of course, asked a lot of questions about you and Starfleet. We watched the video of the battle against the Centauri so many times that I lost count," Martinez said as he massaged his temples.

"Not to mention the hours spent reviewing sensor logs. I needed this vacation after that experience," O'Dell said in support of Martinez.

"The Enterprise showing up didn't do us any favors either. It caused quite a commotion when it appeared. I thought they were going to keep us for another week after that."

"I told Earthforce when the ship was arriving. I don't understand why it was an issue," Maxwell said, confused by the commotion.

"Yes, you do," Martinez said to Maxwell.

Maxwell sighed. 'I should have known,' he thought. "Maybe. Anyway, let's grab some drinks and talk about anything else but work."

"Sounds good to me," O'Dell said as he turned to walk towards the kitchen.

-A few hours later-

The party had ended an hour ago, and all of the guests had left. The immediate family, plus Maxwell, was seated in the family room, talking and enjoying drinks.

Maxwell looked over at the clock on the wall and realized that he would need to leave soon, something he wasn't happy about. "I was looking forward to hanging out with you guys, but, unfortunately, I'm leaving tomorrow for Betazed. Alex, I'm hoping that you can keep my ladies entertained while I'm gone."

"Well, that depends. What do you do for fun?

"Sometimes Ben takes us to his ship, and we go to beaches on different planets on the holodeck. It's so cool!" Jenny told O'Dell. O'Dell gave Maxwell an intense look, and Maxwell grinned back at him.

O'Dell signed, "I'm sorry, Jenny. I want to be the cool uncle, but I can't compete with that. Maybe we can go to a nice beach in Florida."

"Can I have ice cream?"

"Yes, you can have ice cream."

"Cool!"

"It's a shame you're leaving so soon. We just got here," Martinez said, disappointed by the news.

"I know. I've been looking forward to checking out San Antonio with y'all. I have a lot of work to do with the admiral to get Starfleet off the ground, and I need to be there. Believe me when I tell you that I want to get back as soon as possible. I don't want to risk Maria finding someone else."

"That's NOT going to happen. You're stuck with us whether you like it or not. We'll hitch a ride on the Enterprise if we need to come to get you," Maria said as she kissed Maxwell on the cheek.

"OK. OK. I can take a hint," Maxwell said as he smiled at her and grabbed her hand.

"At least we'll have a reason for another party," O'Dell said, with a raised beer in his hand.

"I'll drink to that!" Martinez said, with a raised glass also in his hand.

"Me too!" Rose added as she walked into the room.

Earth – Psi-Corps Headquarters

—-Next day—-

Dalmarson called another meeting with his leadership team to discuss his conversation with Maxwell. He needed time to formulate a new strategy after the call. He'd been so mad that he needed time to let his anger pass before he met with his team. Dalmarson was now back to his usual, calm self, and he needed to be when he talked with his team.

"Based on my conversation with Captain Maxwell yesterday, we know that he is no friend of ours. We'll need to keep a close eye on him and the other Starfleet people going forward. They're going to be a problem for us," Dalmarson told his team.

"What of the president? Can she speak to Maxwell? Doesn't she understand the disruption Maxwell's actions will cause here in the Earth Alliance?"

"No. She's made it abundantly clear that she has no intention of acting on our behalf. She's afraid that they'll leave and take their technology with them if she pushes too hard. I'm forced to admit that she has a point. The Earth Alliance will be at a severe disadvantage if Starfleet decides to ally with someone else," Dalmarson answered.

"They already have. Plus, they've already established a colony apart from the Earth Alliance. What difference does it make?" the Psi-Cop department head asked.

"The president and the military believe that Starfleet will join the Earth Alliance eventually as long as we prove trustworthy. Based on my limited interactions with Maxwell, I don't believe that the Earth Alliance leadership can't publicly express their concerns, especially given the overwhelming support from the population. Early reports from the Starfleet clinics have caused more than a few people to ask why Earth doesn't have full access to the same medical services if ISN is to be believed. We are a low priority, and we'll be forced to fend for ourselves," Dalmarson remarked as he noted the looks of concern on the faces of his team.

"What else is new? We've always taken care of ourselves, and we will continue to do so," the head of Intelligence said proudly.

"You're right. We'll need to deploy more Psi-Cops to conduct surveillance of the Starfleet facilities. We need to prevent as many blips as possible from seeking asylum," the Psi-Cop added as he looked to Dalmarson for confirmation.

"We can't conduct mass arrests, and we don't know where the unregistered blips are hiding," the Re-education department head said reluctantly as she considered the impact on the corps.

"We'll have to do the best we can. We also need to consider that even registered telepaths might want to defect. Everyone in this room knows what that will mean for the Corps," Dalmarson said as a sense of despair threatened to take root in the room. He then continued. "We need to contain this problem before it gets out of hand while we also figure out how to gain access to Betazed. We are under threat like never before, and we need to do whatever it takes to survive.

Do we have any updates on the location of Betazed?"

"Nothing. Our sources on Babylon 5 haven't been able to learn anything. Apparently, Starfleet didn't even share the location with Sheridan. No one there knows any more than we do here."

"That's unfortunate. Keep trying. Maybe we'll get lucky. That is all, for now," Dalmarson said as he ended the meeting.

Earth – New Orleans – French Quarter

-Two Days Later-

Sisko hadn't been to Earth, his Earth, since he was posted to the Enterprise just over a year ago. He had been honest with Garrett; Sisko didn't know how he would feel visiting this Earth when he knew that his family wasn't here. Ultimately, his curiosity got the best of him, and Sisko decided to see if his father's restaurant existed on this Earth. Sisko didn't know what he was expecting to find or how he would react when he arrived.

"Excuse me, Sir. Can I help you?"

Ben Sisko stood on Decatur Street right in front of where his father's restaurant stood. Unbelievably, a restaurant also stood in the exact location. The building even looked the same, with minor differences. He studied the structure for a few minutes, undecided on whether he should walk in. He finally decided that since he was already here, he should go ahead. As soon as he crossed the threshold of the door, he froze; his body refused to move any further. Despite the different artwork on the walls, this was his father's place, where the younger Sisko had worked countless hours in the front and back of the house. He was overwhelmed by the experience. A minute later, an older woman walked over and spoke to him.

"Hi, young man, may I help you?" an older lady in her early 60s again asked Sisko.

Sisko became aware of his surroundings again when he heard her voice. "Um, ah yes, yes, ma'am, you can. I would like a table, please. I'm sorry for my behavior. This place brings back so many memories. I was simply overwhelmed."

"Young man, my husband and I have owned this place for 40 years, and I've never seen you here before. You must have come in on my off days. Follow me, please."

The place was almost exactly as Sisko remembered. His father's restaurant back on Earth, his Earth. There were minor differences in the wall and window treatments, but everything else was the same. As soon as he sat down, Sisko broke down, overwhelmed by being so close to home but so far away from everyone he loved. The woman felt sorry for the man. She initially decided to give him some privacy, but moments later, she pulled over a chair, sat next to Sisko, and held him. He let go of the months of pain while he held onto the woman.

After a few minutes, the woman spoke. "What's your name, young man?"

"Ben, Benjamin Sisko."

"It's nice to meet you, Ben. My name is Elizabeth, but my friends call me Liz. You can call me Liz."

"Thank you for your help. I don't know what to say. I'm not normally this emotional."

"That's quite all right. If you need a shoulder to cry on, just let me know. I'll be happy to help."

"Why would you do that? You don't even know me."

"Why does that matter? I saw someone in need and wanted to help. Is there something wrong with that?"

"No. No, there isn't."

"Are you hungry? I've been told that I make a great gumbo."

"Yes, ma'am. I would love that."

"No more of that ma'am stuff. I told you my friends call me Liz."

"Ok, Liz."

"I'll be right back."

—-30 minutes later—-

Sisko sat in silence while he ate the gumbo. It wasn't as good as his father's recipe, but he still liked it. A few moments later, Liz walked over and sat down in the chair next to him.

"How do you like it, Ben?"

"It's delicious, Liz. It's been a long time since I've had fresh gumbo. This reminds me of my father's recipe. It's not the same, but there are similarities."

"Well, I'm glad you like it. I can get you more if you'd like."

"Maybe just a little more. Maybe I could make some gumbo using my father's recipe and bring it to you. I think you might like it."

"Oh, I would like that. Are you a chef?"

"I was my father's sous chef for over ten years, so I know my way around a kitchen."

"Tell you what. Bring your gumbo here, and my husband and I will try it. If we like it, we'll put it on the menu."

"You'd do that?"

"We love a great gumbo, and we're hard to impress."

"Well then. Challenge accepted. I'll come back tomorrow."

"You do that. I'll bring that gumbo to you."

—-A few minutes later—-

Sisko walked out of the restaurant with conflicted emotions. He didn't know what to expect when he decided to see if his father's restaurant existed on this Earth. Sisko had never been as overcome by emotions as he had just a couple of hours ago. He felt fortunate that Liz had been there to help him when he needed someone, and the gumbo wasn't bad either. Sisko considered looking for his house but reconsidered. That could wait for another time; besides, he wanted to get started on the famous Sisko gumbo. He promised that he would return to the restaurant tomorrow, and he planned to keep his promise.

Earth – Daytona Beach, Florida

-Two weeks later-

"Thanks for bringing us here, Alex. It's nice to get mom out of San Antonio for a change," Maria said to O'Dell while they sat under two umbrellas along the edge of the beach. The beach was busy but not overly crowded. Rose stood in the water, just deep enough to cover her ankles. Jenny could be seen near the water as she built a sandcastle by herself. Rose kept a close eye on her granddaughter while she continued to enjoy the feel of the warm water around her ankles.

"I thought it was a good idea for all of us to get away and do something different. I must say, though, that you don't seem to be enjoying yourself. Jenny is putting on a good act too, but I can tell."

Maria looked down briefly, then resumed eye contact with O'Dell. "I'm sorry. I'm trying, but I really miss Ben, and so does Jenny. Besides, Florida is nice, but Risa is so much better."

"Risa? Oh, yeah, I bet. Maybe I'll ask Ben to show me when he returns. I've seen what that holodeck can do, as have the two of you, obviously. Impressive doesn't come close to describing it. Last night, Jenny asked me to tell her a bedtime story. Since she's gotten older, I tried to think of something really creative, but my stories no longer have the same impact. She ended up telling me one of Ben's stories about a planet he visited on his first mission in Starfleet. I did tell her about Babylon 5, though. That seemed to spark her curiosity, but she's far too young to go there right now," O'Dell said as he looked towards the water, where he saw that Jenny had joined Rose in the water.

"You should see her eyes whenever they finish talking. They're so alive, and she can't stop talking about when she can join Starfleet and become a captain just like him. I'm so proud of her. He's just what she needed. I miss him," Maria said as she blushed.

"It's only been a couple of weeks, sis."

"I know. I've thought about it a lot. I thought that maybe it was because he came along when we needed someone, but then I realized that wasn't it," Maria paused, then became very serious. "He's the best partner I've ever had. Jenny loves him. He's the father Jimmy never was or could ever be. I'm going to ask him to marry me."

"What? So soon?" O'Dell asked, surprised by his sister's proclamation. "What happened to waiting for a few years? I thought you said you wanted to avoid another disaster like your first marriage."

"Ben is nothing like Jimmy. I thought about waiting until my birthday in a couple of months, but I changed my mind. I'm not getting any younger, plus I would marry him just to see my little girl happy and excited. He's the one. I'm sure of it."

"When did 36 become getting older?"

"You know what I mean!" Maria said as she folded her arms.

"I'll take that as a thank you."

"Yes, you should. You looked out for Jenny and me, and I will never forget it."

"That's what big bros are for."

"Would you be willing to give me away?"

"You, bet."

Earth – New Orleans – French Quarter

-Three days later-

Sisko had become a regular fixture in the kitchen since that first evening. Once he told the owners his story, they welcomed him with open arms and allowed him to help in the kitchen. The opportunity allowed Sisko to rediscover his passion for cooking and rekindled his first dream: to take over his father's restaurant one day. Those dreams had long since faded because of the war. However, since his arrival on Earth, his passion for cooking resurfaced, and he enjoyed every minute of it.

"Ben, you look like you've done this before," Charlie always told Sisko whenever they would try a new recipe.

"I've spent countless hours in the kitchen. I may be a little rusty, but it's all coming back. Cooking has always been my passion; my first love."

Charlie and Liz had taken special care not to ask Sisko anything about his family. They wanted him to share in his own time when he was ready.

"What happened?"

"I was drafted."

"Right. The war. I'm sorry I asked."

"Don't worry about it. No harm done. That's in the past. Thank you for letting me help out."

"Son, you're doing me a favor. Young people don't want to work these days. Our children don't have any interest in running the restaurant. I'm sure you've noticed the misses, and I aren't exactly young anymore. We do this because we love cooking and serving our customers. But it's becoming too much for us to do every day. We're considering reducing our hours so that we can enjoy more time together."

Sisko didn't like what he heard. In the Federation, the early 60s was barely considered middle-aged and certainly nowhere near retirement age. Here, these people were talking about slowing down. He knew the state of Earth Alliance medical technology and thought that he might be able to help them.

"I want both of you to come to my ship tonight to be examined by my medical team. Our medical capabilities exceed the Earth Alliance's, and I want to make sure you're both as healthy as possible. It's the least that I can do for all that you've done for me."

"I thought the clinics were only for seriously ill people."

"I'm not talking about the clinics. I'm talking about my ship. I'll have my chief medical officer examine both of you."

"We feel fine. We don't want to bother you like that."

"It's no bother. I would consider it a personal favor if you allow me to take you for an examination."

"Ok, but not until after closing."

"Agreed."