Finale

Earth – Earthdome - Joint Chief's Conference Room

-Six months later-
"Is this the final list of students?"

"Yes, Sir."

Fitzpatrick scrolled down the list of names and pictures of the Earthforce officers that had been selected to attend the new Starfleet Academy, which was scheduled to open in one week. "There are a few interesting names on this list. I'm sure there will be some that will charge us with favoritism, though we were quite transparent with our selection process. How do you propose we deal with these questions?"

"That's easy," Blachowicz answered. "We tell everyone the truth. We chose the best officers for the open slots. A few officers had an advantage, but that advantage was limited to their previous exposure to Starfleet operations and technology. We couldn't ignore that advantage, though the candidates were still qualified based on their merits. We didn't compromise our selection standards for any of the candidates. This selection process also wasn't a one-time event, hopefully. There will be new classes starting each year, assuming that nothing happens. There's a reason that we selected people who have impeccable integrity and are extremely unlikely to compromise Starfleet's security."

Fitzpatrick nodded in agreement. "Good point. Maxwell was quite clear in our last meeting. He'll close the academy immediately if anyone is caught engaging in espionage activities. No exceptions and no excuses. We cannot allow that to happen under any circumstances. If we even suspect that someone might be engaging in questionable activities, I want an immediate investigation launched on that individual. I won't allow a few selfish individuals to ruin this opportunity for the rest of us.

I will broadcast a fleet-wide announcement tomorrow with the official list since I want the selected officers to be here in time for the ceremony. With that settled, we need to select the Earthforce advisor to Starfleet Academy. We all know how critical this position will be to our future; therefore, I'm only willing to consider major generals and higher for the post. Any submittals must have an impeccable service record and must represent the highest standards of the Earth Alliance and Earthforce. This isn't a political position. I want fleet-minded, command officers only."

"I want to be considered for the position," Blachowicz said without hesitation.

"Are you sure, Sandy?" Fitzpatrick asked, surprise evident in his voice. "You'll have to resign your position on the Joint Chiefs. This role will be 100% dedicated to supporting Maxwell and his staff."

"No offense, Greg, but the joint chiefs are insignificant in comparison when we're talking about the future of Earthforce and even the Earth Alliance. This is our opportunity to work side by side with Maxwell and the others to convince them why they should join us. We agreed that we needed our best to represent us, someone capable of demonstrating the professionalism that Earthforce is known for while also proving to Starfleet that we are willing to learn. That person is me. I can do this for Earth and Earthforce. The experience I've gained during my entire career has prepared me for this assignment. I don't care if this costs me a potential shot at your job when you step down, nor do I care if I'm placed under the command of someone junior to me in rank. This is our opportunity, and I want to see this through. Assign me, please."

Fitzpatrick looked at Blachowicz, and he could see the conviction in her eyes. That look made his decision an easy one. "All right. I wouldn't try to talk you out of it even if I could come up with a compelling argument, which I can't. I'll inform Admiral Maxwell that you'll be our representative on his staff. Sue, you'll be pulling double duty until we can select a replacement. George, I'd like you to prepare a list of candidates for review by next Friday."

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

"Thank you. I understand that Admiral Picard will be arriving in two days. Is everything ready for his arrival?" Fitzpatrick asked his chief of staff.

"Yes, Sir. Earthdome wanted to take to the lead in planning the tours and related sessions. However, I reminded them that Admiral Picard is a military officer and that Earthforce would be planning the admiral's itinerary while here, with their support. They recognize the importance of this visit as much as we do, so they are allowing us to lead."

"As they should," Fitzpatrick said, annoyed. "It took a great deal of effort for me to convince the president that we could do this. It goes without saying that we had better not mess this up. If Picard leaves this visit with a lower impression of the Earth Alliance and Earthforce than when he arrived, I'll be expecting the resignation letters of those responsible to join mine on the president's desk. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Sir," everyone in the room said.

"Good. Now on to the rest of today's agenda."

Earth – ISN Studios

"Welcome to ISN Debates. I'm Jonathan Chen. On tonight's show, we'll be discussing the pending visit of Fleet Admiral Jean-Luc Picard from The United Federation of Planets. Since the arrival of the U.S.S. Phoenix signaled the fall of the Clark Administration, there have been loud opinions on how the Earth Alliance should interact with humans from another society outside of its control. Most recently, President Lucheko has been under extreme pressure to do more to obtain greater access to Starfleet technology.

Many view the pending arrival of Fleet Admiral Picard as the first step of the President's promise to integrate Starfleet into the Earth Alliance and Earthforce, while others see the visit as nothing more than what it appears; a visit by the head of an independent state.

In order to discuss this topic further, we have invited three guests to join our panel. First, we have Dr. Valeria Newsome from the Blaire Institute, a prominent government policy think tank. Also joining us is Dr. Deva Acharya from Oxford University Political Sciences department. Finally, we have Dr. Noya Sumiko, also from Oxford University, who heads Social Sciences Department. Joining me in the studio, as always, are ISN contributors former EarthGov economist Veronica Smith and retired Earthforce General Vlad Smirnoff.

Thank you, everyone, for joining me today. The first question I want to ask our panel is their opinions on Fleet Admiral Picard's visit and what it means to the Earth Alliance. General, why don't you start us off? You've been critical of Earthforce leadership for the past several months. What do you think?"

"I've been critical of them because they haven't done anything to leverage Starfleet's presence here. To date, they haven't had any joint exercises or meaningful deployment of technology. The Phoenix has been here for months, and yet Earthforce still hasn't deployed any new Starfleet warships. In my mind, that's a failure of leadership."

"That does lead to another criticism of the president. Specifically, there are only two Starfleet medical facilities on Earth, and they're restricted for use by only the most critical patients. Veronica, what are your thoughts?"

"I don't think the criticism is fair, to be honest. The president has been telling us for months that she's been in negotiations with Admiral Maxwell. I think there is a fact that many people are missing when they criticize the president regarding Starfleet. Has anyone considered the potential financial implications of adopting Starfleet technology? For example, I've been to the Starfleet medical clinic, and I can tell you that there isn't a single piece of equipment from Earth in the building. If we allow Starfleet to replace the medical equipment of every hospital with their equipment, several companies would go out of business, and many jobs would be lost."

"Are you saying that you would rather that people suffer than receive the best care?"

"Of course not, but I think we need to consider all of the implications of them joining us."

"That's an interesting point. Dr. Acharya, what does this visit mean politically, and why is EarthGov placing so much importance on meeting with the leader of such a small organization?"

"It's true that Starfleet is a relatively small organization, especially when compared to Earthforce or the Earth Alliance; however, their influence cannot be denied. One of their people is the Secretary of State of the Interstellar Alliance, while Admiral Picard leads the Alliance fleet and, by all accounts, is one of the most respected leaders in the galaxy. That type of influence is something that can be useful to the Earth Alliance. Of course, their reputation for advanced technology and military strength goes without saying. If I might be so bold, the Earth Alliance is the junior partner in this visit, not Starfleet. Anyone paying attention would realize that not once has Starfleet asked to join us. Instead, it's been EarthGov leadership trying to recruit them."

"That's a valid point, Doctor. However, who's to say that Picard isn't coming here to ask to join us?"

"Why would he? What does the Earth Alliance have to offer them?"

"We're the home of humanity, and, last I checked, they are human. That should be enough," Smirnoff added to the conversation.

"Not everyone wants to live on Earth, General," Sumiko said. "If that was true, so many wouldn't want to live in the colonies despite the challenges. I expect the president and her staff will to try to appeal to Picard's humanity, to convince him that this is where they belong and not on a distant colony. I do agree with Ms. Smith somewhat in that we need to be cognizant of the potential impacts of Starfleet's technology if they decide to join us. We don't yet know the full extent of their capabilities. My visit to their embassy leads me to believe that they have significantly more than just advanced medical and military technology."

"We have a chance, for the very first time, to be the undisputed leader in military strength and technology in the galaxy. The Earth-Minbari War was only 10 years ago. We lost that war and were almost wiped out. We have the opportunity right now to make sure that we're never in that position again. I don't care what the president has to do; Starfleet needs to join us," Smirnoff said.

"It was that kind of thinking that led to Clark's excesses, General. I thought we'd learned from that experience," Acharya said, clearly annoyed by Smirnoff's bravado.

"We'll continue with our debate right after these messages. Stay tuned to ISN for all of the latest news."

Earth – Earthdome

-Two days later-

There was a complete honor guard arranged along the entrance to Earthdome. Several prominent politicians, military officers, and business leaders were also in attendance as they awaited the arrival of Picard and his staff. Several presenters and guests on ISN had provided their analysis of what it meant to the Earth Alliance now that Picard had agreed to visit Earth. A few people didn't assign any weight to the visit, while most said that the visit represented the first step towards unification. They cited the presence of Starfleet medical clinics and the presence of the Phoenix as evidence of Starfleet's commitment to joining the Earth Alliance.

Moments later, Picard beamed down, along with Maxwell, Sisko, and security personnel.

"Admiral Picard. It is truly an honor to meet you. I'm Suzanna Luchenko, President of the Earth Alliance," Luchenko said as she extended her hand to Picard.

"Madam President, the honor is mine. It's unfortunate that it has taken so long for me to meet you in person."

"It's understandable. Admiral Maxwell has briefed me on the number of responsibilities you have. I don't feel slighted in the least that you haven't made it a priority to visit until now. Though I will tell you, your visit has been highly anticipated by everyone on Earth."

"Indeed? I'm afraid I'm not that interesting or important."

"Many of us hope your visit represents the first step towards unification. You're quite popular on ISN."

"Well, I'll try not to disappoint."

"Admiral, this is General Greg Fitzpatrick, Chairman of the Earthforce Joint Chiefs. He and his staff have volunteered to be your escorts while you're here on Earth."

"Admiral, I've been looking forward to meeting you for a long time. Your accomplishments since you've been here are truly remarkable, and your ability to command is among the best I've ever seen. It's an honor to finally meet you in person," Fitzpatrick said sincerely. Fitzpatrick reflected on his memory of Picard winning the Battle of Archer, and he had come to greatly admire Picard as a commander and a leader.

"Thank you, General. Admiral Maxwell has had nothing but positive things to say about you and your staff. I look forward to talking to you in more detail while I'm here."

"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to continue our conversation in the conference room. Admiral, would you and your party follow me this way? Admiral Maxwell already knows the way, of course."

"After you, Madam President."

-Presidential Conference Room-

"Thank you all for coming here today, especially our special guest, Fleet Admiral Picard, and his staff. On behalf of the entire Earth Alliance, I would like to extend our eternal gratitude to you and your people for your assistance in removing Clark from power and for your continued support of the people of Earth. The medical services you've provided have changed the lives of thousands and underscore what can be accomplished when humanity works together. I hope that we can continue to build on our relationship and, someday soon, unite both branches of humanity for the betterment of all."

"Thank you for the kind words, Madam President. I'm afraid I can't take all of the credit. It was Admiral Maxwell and then Captain Sheridan that suggested we intervene in the civil war, and Admiral Maxwell suggested opening the medical clinics. I simply gave the orders."

"Such modesty. Rest assured that we won't ever forget what you've done for Earth. General Fitzpatrick and his staff have developed a rather extensive itinerary that will help you and your staff get to know us better. Admiral Maxwell has had the benefit of working with us for many months. However, we've included access to more Earth Alliance and Earthforce institutions and leaders because we believe that you and your staff need to see firsthand the scope of the changes we've made since the fall of the Clark regime."

"I appreciate the effort you've gone through, though I can assure you it's unnecessary. I don't require any special accommodations or considerations."

"I disagree, Admiral. We've wanted to do this for a very long time, since the arrival of Starfleet here at Earth. Showing you who we are is important to us, and we don't consider it an imposition at all," Fitzpatrick said to Picard, with Luchenko nodding in agreement.

"Very well. I am at your disposal. Do you mind if I include my senior officers in whatever you have scheduled?"

"Not at all, Admiral. We'll welcome anyone you'd like to include," Fitzpatrick answered.

"Very well. We're ready to begin whenever you're ready."

"We're scheduled to present you to the full senate of the Earth Alliance at the top of the hour if that's OK with you."

"Very well. Lead the way."

E.A.S. Achilles – Earth Orbit

-Next day-

Each seat was occupied on the Earthforce shuttle as it left Earthdome. The Earthforce Joint Chiefs, along with Picard and his people, were on board as they traveled to an Omega class destroyer in Earth orbit. Fitzpatrick wanted Starfleet to see how an Earthforce ship operated and how the crew performed their duties. He wanted to impress upon Picard that even with inferior technology, Earthforce was still a capable military. If given access to Starfleet warships, Earthforce could become so much more.

"What do you think of the experience, Admiral? I don't believe I've ever seen your people use a shuttle," Fitzpatrick asked Picard.

Picard, for his part, didn't appear to be uncomfortable, though that's how he felt, and he wasn't the only Starfleet officer that felt that way. "We do use shuttles on occasion. I will say, though, that the experience is quite different from this. Our shuttles have artificial gravity and inertial stabilizers, which isolates us from the stresses of breaking planetary orbit. I never realized how stressful the experience was until today."

"You don't feel anything at all?" Fitzpatrick asked, yet again surprised by Starfleet technology.

"No. The experience is quite uneventful," Picard said as he began to experience the lack of gravity.

"I hope to experience that one day," Fitzpatrick said honestly, as he struggled to imagine a mundane shuttle trip.

"I'll have one of our runabouts bring you and your party to my ship for your next visit if you'd like, General," Maxwell offered to Fitzpatrick.

"That would be appreciated, though I wouldn't want you to go through too much trouble just to satisfy my curiosity."

"It's no trouble. My flight crews would appreciate having something to do."

"When we arrive on the Achilles, the shuttle bay will have gravity, as will the areas we're scheduled to visit. If you wish to visit other areas on the ship, I'm afraid gravity won't be available."

"I'll follow your lead, General. We're all wearing gravity boots and won't mind the lack of gravity."

"Very well. Captain Evanson runs a tight ship. This visit will give you a representative impression of Earthforce fleet operations."

"Understood."

-Two hours later-

-Briefing Room-

Picard and Maxwell had exchanged a few words during the tour. They both noted that the ship was well maintained, and the crew was very professional. The technology on the ship was very primitive by Starfleet standards. Picard was reminded of an old NX-class starship he'd visited as a youth.

Fitzpatrick and the Earthforce officers had a different perspective. Each had been on a Starfleet ship at least once and knew how outclassed the Achilles was when compared to the Phoenix or Enterprise. Fitzpatrick wanted to show Picard and the others the best Earthforce had to offer. Unfortunately, its best wasn't good enough, which is why he wanted Starfleet to join Earthforce.

Everyone walked into the briefing room and took their seats. Picard decided to open the meeting.

"You have a fine ship and crew, Captain," Picard said to Evanson.

"Thank you, Sir. The Achilles is the newest Omega class destroyer in the fleet, and I believe it best represents the current state of Earthforce."

"That's good to hear. Admiral Maxwell has told me on numerous occasions how impressed he's been with the professionalism of Earthforce officers, and it's obvious he didn't exaggerate."

"Thank you for the kind words, Admiral. However, I've been to the Phoenix and know that my ship doesn't have the same capabilities when compared to what you're accustomed to."

"Indeed. However, I recognized several design similarities between your ship and first-generation Starfleet ships. The bridge of your ship, in fact, shares the most similarities."

"Perhaps we're not so different after all," Evanson said, surprised by Picard's comments.

"A ship is only as good as its crew, and I would say that this ship is in good hands."

"Thank you, Sir."

"Thank you, Captain, for hosting the tour today," Fitzpatrick said.

"We were happy to help, General. It's not every day that my crew and I have the opportunity to interact with the Joint Chiefs and the Commander of Starfleet. This was a valuable experience for all of us, and we appreciate your decision to select my ship for this important occasion."

"I'm glad to hear it. Admiral, unless there is anything else you'd like to see, we can let Captain Evanson get back to running his ship."

"No, there's nothing else. Thank you again for the tour."

"Anytime, Admiral. You're always welcome."

Earth – Earthdome – President's Office

-Four days day-

Luchenko and Fitzpatrick were seated in the lounging area of her office. Luchenko wanted this to be an informal meeting to compare notes with Earthforce. She wanted to make any necessary changes if either felt that they weren't doing enough to impress Picard.

"General, how are the tours progressing with Admiral Picard?"

"Everything has gone according to plan, Madam President. We've shown him several major areas of Earthforce, including some of our most sensitive operations. I made the decision not to hold anything back to demonstrate to him our level of commitment to transparency and honesty to him and his people. I want them to trust us, and I felt that was the only way. We have additional tours scheduled for later today."

"That's great to hear, General. I've had a number of rather difficult and embarrassing conversations with Picard over the past few days. He knows who we are now, warts and all."

"Has he indicated a willingness to join us after your conversations with him?"

"He's been very guarded and non-committal on that topic. He wants to cover that in our meeting tomorrow. Is there anything you can think of that we may offer to help convince him?"

"From a military perspective? No, outside of offering him my position as the head of Earthforce. Anything else would be an insult."

"They are a few incentives I can offer. I've spoken with several local governments, and they have offered to set aside land that they would grant to the Federation to be used as their colony. I'm willing to grant them full autonomy from our laws and governance structure if that meant that they would settle here and allow us to take advantage of their technology and experience."

"Perhaps we could forge stronger military bonds as well. We are anxious to begin exploration missions and reforms that would bring Earthforce closer to Starfleet. My hope is that will smooth the integration of Picard and his people into Earthforce. If they agree to join us, I'll step aside and allow him to lead."

"That's good to hear, but I'm more focused on securing their cooperation in expanding their medical technology across the entire Earth Alliance. Most people aren't happy that they have to suffer from what is now known to be inferior medical treatment. I think they can help us in many other ways as well."

"None of us knows the full extent of their capabilities. I have a feeling that we've only seen a small part of their suite of technologies. Every time I'm on one of their ships, I learn something new. After speaking more with Picard and the others, I don't think they're purposely holding back in many areas. They are so accustomed to their technology that it doesn't even occur to them that their experiences aren't considered normal by most, if not all, of the races."

"I plan to ask Picard tomorrow for closer ties. If we can convince him to move here, that would be a significant win for us."

"I agree. Are you planning to attend the dinner party tonight? Admiral Picard has confirmed that he will be attending."

"Yes, I'll be there. Until then."

Earth – La Barre, France – Town Center

-Next day-

The Earth Alliance presidential shuttle landed in a clearing just outside of town, where it was met by the mayor and municipal council of La Barre. Luchenko wanted to save this visit until the end of Picard's stay on Earth, as she hoped that it would have a stronger emotional impact on him. Once she found out that Picard was born in La Barre, she contacted the mayor and began plans for this visit. The mayor assured her that he would do everything in his power to impress Picard.

As the motorcade entered the town, the mayor turned to Picard and asked, "What do you think, Admiral? Do you see anything familiar?"

"Surprisingly, I do," Picard answered. "I didn't expect the similarities to be so striking. Madam President, thank you for suggesting that we come here."

"Of course. I thought that it only made sense to visit the place of your birth."

Moments later, the motorcade stopped in the center of town. There was a stage set up in front of the town hall, with hundreds of people standing around conversing among themselves.

Picard, Luchenko, and the mayor exited the car and walked onto the stage. Picard was used to the special treatment he'd been given during the trip and expected a ceremony. This, however, was somewhat different.

The mayor stood up at the podium and began speaking. "I want to thank everyone for coming today. This is the first time in our known history we've had a head of state visit. Not only do we have the President of the Earth Alliance with us, but also another very important person. Today, I have the honor of introducing a person who was not only responsible for leading the fleet that saved the galaxy but was also responsible for providing the ships used to remove Clark from power. Words cannot describe how proud I was when I found out about the man to my left. It is my honor and privilege to introduce to you our very own native son, La Barre, born Fleet Admiral Jean-Luc Picard."

Picard looked at the smiling, clapping mayor. Then he looked out into the assembled crowd, many of whom had reacted enthusiastically to his introduction. Picard realized that they were proud of him. The mayor had introduced him as being from this La Barre, and, judging by the response of the crowd, they all felt the same way. This was one situation he hadn't prepared himself for. Recovering quickly, he stood up and approached the podium.

"Thank you for the warm welcome. This event was completely unexpected, and I'm afraid that I'm a bit unprepared. However, I will say a few words. I didn't know what to expect on my first visit to Earth, this Earth. I left La Barre 30 years ago to chase my dreams to see the stars. My family believed that I belonged in the vineyard, maintaining a family tradition that spanned generations. My decision left my relationship with my family distressed and caused me to stay away for a very long time. Although my family isn't here today, I can't think of a better return home than you've provided for me. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. Thank you." Before Picard could return to his seat, the mayor walked over to him and gave Picard a hug. Surprised, Picard returned the hug. However, the mayor wasn't finished and held Picard at the podium.

"I wish to correct one thing the admiral said. He said that his family wasn't able to be here with him today. That isn't true. We may not be Picards, but we are all your family, Admiral. You'll always be welcome here. You are the most accomplished person ever to come from our small town, and we're incredibly proud of you. Whenever you tire of chasing the stars, you're welcome to return home."

A now somewhat emotional Picard looked at the mayor, then out into the crowd. He considered his words carefully, then spoke into the microphone. "I would be honored. And, please, everyone, call me Jean-Luc. Thank you."

"Thank you, everyone, for coming out today. I'll be showing Jean-Luc around for the next several hours. I hope to see each of you later."

Earth – La Barre, France – Allard (Picard) Vinyard

"Welcome to our vineyard, Jean-Luc. Does anything look familiar?" Anne-Marie Allard, co-owner of the vineyard, asked Picard.

"The layout of the fields is the same, but the main house is different. When was it constructed?" Picard asked her.

"1882. Why do you ask?"

"In my history, this house burned down in 2265 and was rebuilt six months later."

Anne-Marie and her husband, Pierre, looked at each other, then Anne-Marie asked Picard. "What was the cause of the fire?"

"Electrical, if I remember correctly. I'm afraid I don't know the details."

"Pierre, we need to call the electrician immediately, "Anne-Marie told her husband.

"There's no guarantee that this house will suffer a similar fate because it happened in my universe."

"Aren't you from the future?" Pierre asked Picard.

"An alternate universe, though it was 2366 when we left."

"It sounds like you're from the future to me," Pierre said, and Anne-Marie nodded in agreement.

"Perhaps extra caution would be prudent. Certainly, an inspection could be useful," Picard said, as he realized that arguing was pointless.

"Thank you, Jean-Luc. You've saved our home. Come, allow us to give you a tour. I'm sure you already know your way around the vineyard," Anne-Marie said to Picard.

"Indeed. Please lead the way. I'll walk around the vineyard later if you don't mind."

"Of course. Let's go inside."

Earth – Earthdome – President's Office

-Next day-

Picard walked into the office, where he saw Luchenko and Fitzpatrick standing near her desk. Based on the empty glasses on the table, it appeared that they had already been engaged in discussions before his arrival. Picard surmised that they would present their final push to convince him that Starfleet should join the Earth Alliance and Earthforce.

"Good morning, Admiral. Thank you for joining us. I hope your visit home was a positive one."

Luchenko decided against inviting her entire cabinet to allow for a more intimate conversation with Picard. She and Fitzpatrick both thought that they had established a strong rapport with Picard, and each wanted to leverage that during this meeting.

"Good morning, Madam President, General. Indeed, it was. The entire experience was quite unexpected, as have many of my other visits while I've been here. My people and I have gained valuable insights on you and your people during the past week."

"We are the same people, Admiral. We're all human. However, we believe you needed as complete a picture as possible of who we are and what we stand for. I trust that we haven't overwhelmed you."

"Not at all. We had a number of questions answered during the tours and presentations. I would like to extend my gratitude and appreciation to you and your staff for going into so much trouble to prepare such a comprehensive program."

"Thank you, but we don't consider anything we've done as trouble. I realized that if we were going to ask you to join us, you needed to know us first. This was our first attempt to do just that."

"Indeed. I spent some time last evening with Ambassador Sheridan, and he explained the challenges faced by Mars before and after the actions of Clark. I want to offer Federation support to terraform Mars and any other colony you have that requires it. The people there shouldn't be subjected to living in domed habitats."

Luchenko and Fitzpatrick exchanged glances. Yet again, the Earth Alliance and Earthforce were surprised to learn that Starfleet had technology that Earth didn't. It was as Fitzpatrick said, what else did they have that Earth didn't know about? "I didn't know you had terraforming technology. What will that mean for Mars?"

"Within 35 standard years, Mars will have a standard Class M environment, similar to Earth. We can supplement the biosphere with weather control satellites," Picard answered.

"Thank you, Admiral, for such a generous offer. That will help tens of thousands across the entire Earth Alliance. What can I give you in return?" Luchenko asked, who hoped her reelection chances would significantly increase with this announcement.

"That's quite all right. I don't want anything in return other than experts in the field of earth sciences. In fact, you would be doing us a favor. I need to ensure that I have people who are qualified and experienced in our sciences, and this project would provide an effective career option for my crew. I don't have enough qualified people to perform such projects without assistance from other governments, and I would like to address that. Therefore, I offer your people the opportunity to learn new sciences while also supplementing my staff."

Luchenko had observed Picard closely during their La Barre visit. Though Picard had maintained a hard expression throughout his visit, she did witness him react during the presentation yesterday. She hoped to capitalize on that now. "Admiral, based on what you've learned about us this week, plus your generous terraforming offer, are you now open to the possibility of joining us?"

"Before I answer that question, let me provide you with a history lesson about my Earth and Federation society at large. Then, I will answer your question."

"Fair enough. Please proceed."

Earth – Starfleet Academy – Commandant's Office - San Francisco

-Next day-

"General Blachowicz, welcome aboard," Maxwell said as he stood up from his desk. He hadn't yet become comfortable with working from a planet-side office; however, he was quickly warming to the planet-side, living with his wife and child.

"Thank you, Admiral. By the way, it's Sandy."

"Ben. We're going to be working together, so I think we can dispense with the titles, at least behind closed doors."

"Thank you, Sir. I want you to know that I'm here to support you in any way I can. I have the full support of Earthforce behind me. If there is anything you need, just ask."

"I appreciate that. I would only ask that offer your opinions freely and never be afraid of asking questions. There are cultural differences between us, and I'm hoping that you can help me deal with that."

"That's one of the reasons I'm here. We want to learn more about you and from you. In turn, hopefully, you can learn more about us. Together, we can become better and stronger. That's what we want."

"That's good to hear. I'll be honest with you. There is a lack of senior officers within our fleet, made worse by the recent promotions of me and Captain Garrett. That means that I don't have a senior assistant on my staff. If you're interested, I'd like to consider making you assistant commandant of the academy. Though you lack the knowledge of Starfleet and our teaching methods, I'm expecting you to leverage your leadership skills to help inspire and lead our students. I will, of course, assign a Starfleet officer to assist you."

"That's more than I could've hoped for. You can count on me, Sir. However, with your permission, I would also like to attend classes. I promise not to let that impact my duties in any way."

"I appreciate your willingness to do that, but it's not required for the position."

"It may not be required, but I believe I need to educate myself. I need to set the example for our students."

"Very well. I'm looking forward to working with you."

"Same here."

Earth – Starfleet Academy – San Francisco

-One week later-

Picard stood on the stage and overlooked the 300 cadets that were seated in front of him. They were still wearing their Earthforce uniforms since they would remain members of Earforce and not his Starfleet despite their attendance at the academy. Picard was impressed by the amount of progress made to the Starfleet Academy campus in only six months. Maxwell provided regular updates on the construction once a site had been selected. The original site for the campus was The Presidio in northern San Fransisco, which was the location of Starfleet Academy in their former universe. However, that plan was quickly abandoned, given its historical significance and the disruption, it would cause to the residents and businesses. Instead, EarthGov purchased, then donated, the former Olympic Country Club to the Federation to be used for Starfleet Academy, Earth.

Picard had written a speech for the ceremony, given its significance not only to Earth but to the galaxy at large. The number of media members from across the Interstellar Alliance in the audience emphasized the point. He reviewed his PADD one last time, then began speaking.

"Good afternoon. I am Fleet Admiral Jean-Luc Picard, Commander of Starfleet for the Interstellar Alliance and The United Federation of Planets. I would like to thank everyone for coming today as we recognize another significant milestone on our journey to ensuring galactic peace. In our native universe, Starfleet was founded to seek out new life, foster new relationships, and defend The United Federation of Planets. We weren't founded as purely a military organization. We naively believed that we failed in our fundamental peace mission whenever our ships entered a combat situation. We had already paid a very high cost when we eventually realized that not everyone out there wants to be friends. Not everyone values peace. For those situations, we must be prepared.

When I accepted the position of Commander of Starfleet for the Interstellar Alliance, my goal was to create a new Starfleet in the image of the organization I've served in for 30 years. However, upon further reflection and consultation with my command staff, I realized that wasn't good enough. The Starfleet I knew had become complacent, where ideology often replaced sound strategic and tactical thinking. I refuse to follow that example but, instead, learn from it.

This Starfleet, our Starfleet, will always encourage and promote peace. Peaceful exploration represents one of the core tenets of our organization. However, we must ensure that we remain strong enough to defend ourselves if the need arises.

The cadets before me today will be transformed from soldiers dedicated only to the defense of the Earth Alliance to members of Starfleet dedicated to exploration, diplomacy, and protection of a multi-race alliance that has never existed in this galaxy. All of us are responsible for ensuring that it becomes and remains successful. We are stronger together than apart. A principle I've followed for my entire career simply states: Infinite ideas lead to infinite possibilities. I am convinced that as the Interstellar Alliance grows, the number of views and opportunities will grow right along with it.

The days, months, and years ahead of you will be challenging to the cadets before me. You will be exposed to sciences and technologies that may appear to be magical. I can assure you there is no magic involved. You will be at a disadvantage compared to a typical Starfleet cadet because of your relative lack of advanced mathematics and sciences knowledge. However, each of you is a veteran of a well-respected space force, and I expect you to represent yourself in the highest traditions of Earthforce.

Ladies and gentlemen, please help me welcome the first of many classes of Starfleet cadets."

Picard paused for a minute to allow the applause to die down. "Now, I would like to introduce the Starfleet Academy Commandant, Vice Admiral Ben Maxwell."

Maxwell looked out at the cadets in front of him, pleased to see a few familiar faces among them. "Cadets, each of you was selected for this opportunity based on your qualifications and dedication to the mission of Earthforce and now Starfleet. I won't ask you to abandon who you are, nor will I ever ask you to question your loyalties. However, you will be challenged, unlike you've ever been challenged before. Many of the skills you've developed over your career will no longer be helpful to you. I ask you not to be afraid to ask for help and to trust your shipmates to help you when needed. Remember, we're stronger together and apart.

Welcome to Starfleet Academy."

-Reception, Two Hours Later-

"I should have known that you two were going to apply to the academy, but why didn't you say anything?"

"And miss the look on your face when you saw us in attendance? Not a chance!" O'Dell said.

"That, and we both wanted to do this on our own. If we said something to you about it, even more people would think that we only got in because of you. Even now, more than a few already believe that" Martinez said.

"You're right, I would have wanted to help, but I wouldn't have if you asked me not to," Maxwell told the two men.

"I know, but this was cleaner."

"I had planned to tell you guys about this later when we became more established, but I guess I'll tell you now. As you know, we're in the process of building our colony on Betazed, which includes building Starfleet Academy. The difference between that academy and the one here is that academy is being built to train personnel on our current procedures, technologies, and systems. This means that once you graduate from that academy, you will be able to serve on one of our ships of the line, not just the obsolete Alliance Starfleet ships.

I wanted to ask you both if you'd be interested in joining us in Starfleet. We're concerned that we won't be able to maintain the fleet in a few years when people decide to move on, so we're going to need new people to join us. I hoped that both of you would join us."

"Does that mean that we would have to leave Earthforce? The Earth Alliance?"

"We haven't figured out the specifics, but, yeah, you would have to leave Earthforce. Starfleet regulations stipulate that a person must be a Federation citizen in order to permanently serve on a starship, but that doesn't mean that you have to give up your Earth Alliance citizenship. As I said, we still need to work out the details."

"I think that's something we can talk about. I would need to know what Federation citizenship means and what my future would look like."

"Same, though I'll admit, the prospect of joining your Starfleet is interesting. We should talk more about this soon. If we do this, it won't make sense for us to take spots here from other Earthforce officers."

"Don't worry about that. I'll allow an additional two slots to be filled for this class, regardless of your respective decisions. I doubt Earthforce would be upset with having additional slots in the academy."

"You're probably right. We should probably let you go, Ben. I've noticed others looking over here. I'm sure everybody wants to get time with the commandant."

"Yeah. I'll see you guys tonight."

"Sounds good."

Earth – Bronson Elementary School

-Next day-

Today's event was unlike anything that had ever happened at the school. Once it became known that Maxwell had accepted the invitation to do a more extensive presentation for the entire school, the school administration became overwhelmed with seating reservations from parents, related family members, and even the school board. Word of Maxwell's first presentation spread like wildfire among the students and faculty. The school had asked him several times if he would be willing to return for a presentation to the entire school. Now, with the opening of Starfleet Academy and his marriage behind him, Maxwell thought that now was the perfect time to return to the school.

Maxwell had been warned that there would be a large audience for his presentation. Therefore, he'd had engineering set up multiple holo emitters throughout the gymnasium that would be used while he gave his presentation. Maxwell and Jenny had practiced the presentation several times, both at home and in the holodeck, to ensure that she was comfortable speaking in front of a large audience.

Maxwell, Picard, and Jenny were seated on the stage behind the podium, where the principal stood. Other school administrators were roaming around as they attempted to impress themselves on the school board members and superintendent also in attendance.

Principal Simmy Li looked at the clock on the far wall. Although a few stragglers were still negotiating the room to find a seat, he decided to start the presentation at exactly 2:00 pm. "Welcome students, parents, faculty, and honored guests. Today, we're honored to welcome back to Bronson Elementary Vice Admiral Ben Maxwell, who was gracious enough to accept our invitation. He will be presenting to us today information about his Earth and personal stories about himself. Joining him today are our very own Jenny Davenport Maxwell, Admiral Maxwell's daughter, and a very special guest, Shadow War hero and Commander of Starfleet Fleet Admiral Jean-Luc Picard.

Without further ado, please welcome Admiral Maxwell."

Maxwell stood up and walked up to the podium, then began to speak. "Thank you, Principal Li, for the warm introduction and for the invitation to speak today. So much has changed since the last time I was here that it's hard to know where to begin. That seemed like a lifetime ago, and my life in the Federation even more so. The most important lesson I've learned since arriving in this universe is by remembering the past, I can better appreciate the present. To that end, I've decided to leverage both my past and present for today's presentation. Joining me to help tell my story is my remarkable daughter, Jenny. I've also asked Fleet Admiral Picard to say a few words after today's presentation.

This will be an immersive presentation, with Jenny providing the narration." Maxwell then turned to Jenny, who stood up and walked over to the podium. Maxwell pulled over a nearby stool for her to stand on while she was behind the podium.

Maxwell stood over and just behind Jenny as she began to speak. "Thanks, Dad. I want to say, in front of everyone, that my dad is my hero. He has shown me so much since the first day I met him. I've seen worlds that no one on Earth has ever seen and have met races that don't even exist in our universe. He is my inspiration, and I wouldn't be standing here today without him. I love you, Dad."

Maxwell walked over and hugged Jenny while the audience clapped in appreciation. After a few moments, Maxwell released Jenny, and she continued her speech.

"Lights, please."

The lights dimmed, then Maxwell activated the holo emitters. The response from the audience was immediate as they experienced a virtual reality that was orders of magnitude greater than any of them had ever experienced.

"We are traveling along the streets of a few cities from Federation Earth: Paris, New York, London, Beijing, Sidney, and many others." Jenny paused as each city was viewed from a distance, and then everyone traveled virtually to the significant landmarks of each city. The effect was amplified because people could also be seen walking along the sidewalks. "These cities are just like ours in so many ways but are different in a few crucial ways. There are no homeless people on the streets. No one is ever hungry. People are no longer driven by greed and a desire for power. Technology and maturity have made those pursuits obsolete. With hard work and determination, our Earth can achieve the same success as Federation Earth. Then, everyone will be happy and won't fight anymore.

It's your turn now, Dad."

Maxwell smiled at Jenny. He was so happy for her and proud that she could speak so well with such a large audience. She stepped down and moved the stool to make way for Maxwell, who told her, "Thank you, Jenny. I love you, too."

Maxwell looked out into the distance since he could no longer see the audience, then began his speech. "It's important to remember that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible and that your dreams can become a reality.

Unfortunately, there will be those who don't want to see you happy or for you to reach your true potential. Sometimes, it's harder to maintain your happiness than to achieve it in the first place. The Federation, our Federation, didn't realize this important fact until it was too late."

Suddenly, instead of various cityscapes, the view shifted to Mars. The audience now viewed the massive Utopia Planitia shipyards, complete with two dozen Starfleet warships patrolling the area. The audience was further impressed by seeing a terraformed Mars behind the shipyards.

"Fleet Admiral Picard and I won't let that happen in this universe if we can do anything about it. Starfleet was founded to promote and defend the ideas of the Federation. That is still our mission, and we will continue to promote the ideas that made the Federation great. We will also do whatever we can to ensure that the last war we fought was the last war this galaxy will ever see. I don't want any of you, or my daughter, to ever see the horrors of war.

Now I would now like to ask Fleet Admiral Picard to say a few words. Admiral?"

Maxwell turned off the holo emitters, and then the lights came on as Picard approached the podium.

Picard looked out into the audience and saw the children's faces, who were focused entirely on him. Despite his lack of experience with children, he knew of their incredibly short attention spans, which is why he prepared a concise speech. "Thank you, Admiral. As soon as I was of legal age, I left my hometown in France to join Starfleet over 30 years ago. I dreamed of flying amongst the stars, discovering and exploring the unknown. I had no interest in working on my family's vineyard because I considered such work too mundane. When Admiral Maxwell asked me to come to Earth, I didn't see the need because there was nothing here for me, or so I thought. However, when I visited my birth city here on this Earth, I was deeply touched, and feelings surfaced that I hadn't experienced in a very long time. Your Earth is an extraordinary place, just like mine was. I didn't appreciate my Earth when I was there, and I took many things for granted. Don't make the same mistake I did. I gave the order to free this world from a tyrant, and if it were to happen again, I would personally command the fleet to restore your freedom.

It was an honor to speak to you today. Thank you for having me."

There was a resounding round of applause from the audience. The principal waited until the applause subsided, then walked up to the podium, touched by the words shared by Maxwell and Picard. "I want to thank Admirals Maxwell and Picard for sharing such powerful and personal stories. I also want to apologize to them for the poor introduction I gave them both earlier. These two gentlemen are the heroes of Earth who freed us from the Clark regime. Everyone in this room, and the entire Earth Alliance, owe you both a debt of gratitude. Thank you for coming here today and for giving us our freedom back."

U.S.S. Enterprise – Ready Room

-Next Day-

Picard, Maxwell, and Sisko were seated in the ready room, having their last meeting before the Enterprise left for Betazed the next day. The three men were in good spirits, though Sisko was somewhat disappointed that he would have to leave the restaurant and his new family again. Maxwell was extremely curious to hear Picard's thoughts on his trip to Earth, especially given Picard's reluctance to come there in the first place.

The men engaged in light conversation before Maxwell decided to ask the only thought on his mind. "Admiral, what did you think of the Earthforce and EarthGov presentations?"

"They were surprisingly effective and well done. Everyone was very professional, and each presentation had substance. I recognize that they made every attempt to present themselves in the best possible light. However, not once did they refuse to answer my questions, nor did they give me a political answer to more difficult questions. That, more than anything else, impressed me the most," Picard answered.

"To be honest, they impressed me as well. Granted, I've worked with many of the people you met for months, so I'm well aware of how professional they are and their passion for Earth. However, in this case, they went above and beyond what even I anticipated. I knew that they would do everything they could to convince you that we should join the Earth Alliance and Earthforce. This was their latest and best attempt so far," Maxwell added to support Picard's observations.

"There was a distinct change in their approach since the last time I was here," Sisko said. "When I left, the joint chiefs had come to realize that we shouldn't join them, at least from a military perspective. However, their minds seemed to have changed."

"Of course, I don't have any previous experience with Earth leadership as both of you do; however, I do know this. Every presentation was measured and deliberate. There was no desperation or a high-pressure exercise designed to convince us to overlook their faults. Instead, the president tried to demonstrate to us that they have made significant progress since our first engagement, and now we should have confidence in them. It was much the same with Earthforce leadership. Every officer was very professional, and they appeared to be a well-run organization. It's difficult to comprehend this same organization participating in Clark's actions," Picard said, just before he stood to get another cup of Earl-Grey tea.

Maxwell nodded in agreement. "It looks like Clark wasn't the only one adversely affected by the Earth-Minbari War. Those scars run very deep, scars we all know all too well. All of the current and former leaders of Earthforce served in that war, and by all accounts, they lost virtually every battle. Even their victories weren't really victories, as we would define the term. General Fitzpatrick has instituted a fleet-wide psychological evaluation program to identify those most adversely affected by the war and who possess latent PTSD. Clark used those people and damaged them further. We've established a partnership with Earthforce to help them and for them to help us. We don't have enough counselors for our people, and they don't have the expertise to manage and cure acute PTSD. We've both benefitted from the program."

Picard returned from the replicator and sat down on the sofa. "Where does this leave us now, gentlemen? When I spoke with President Luchenko and General Fitzpatrick yesterday, they seemed sincere in their efforts to recruit us, as it were. However, I'm not sure how they felt when I explained the realities of living in a post-scarcity society. Our technology would break their current market-based economy and would, potentially, lead to significant societal changes."

"What was their response, Sir?" Maxwell asked, interested to hear the answer.

"Let's just say that once they understood the true magnitude of what they were asking of us, they requested that we continue with our deliberate and measured approach to integration. The Earth Alliance shouldn't be subjected to too much change too soon. Apparently, there are still lingering effects of Clark's policies that are still being resolved," Picard answered.

Maxwell reacted negatively to Picard's answer. "So they believe that everything we've done so far has been to support our eventual integration with the Earth Alliance? I can assure you, Admiral, that I've never made any such commitment."

"I'm well aware of that, Ben. People see what they want to see. We've each been victims of such thinking. What matters now is that they understand the risks of full integration of Federation technology into their society without a similar evolution in mindset. The status quo will not be sufficient," Picard said to Maxwell, who seemed to calm based on the explanation.

"That's good to hear. I hadn't considered explaining to them what true integration would look like, so thank you for doing that."

"It's part of the job, I'm afraid. On another note, I understand now why you were both so moved when you arrived here. Of course, my own experiences have been different but no less profound than those you've each experienced. I'm looking forward to spending more time here. I find it somewhat ironic. When we decided to remain here, I intended to shift our mission to focus on exploration. There's a literal new universe out there for us to discover and explore. That discovery of the unknown is the reason I joined Starfleet in the first place. Little did I realize that my desire for exploration would ultimately lead me here to Earth. This is a different Earth, and those differences are worthy of discovery and exploration."

"I agree, Admiral. That's the main reason I wasn't disappointed when you decided to assign Destiny to the deep space exploration mission. There's enough on this Earth for me to explore, at least for a while. In addition, I've already established a connection to this world, a connection I'm looking forward to building upon," Sisko told Picard.

"Thank you, gentlemen, for insisting that I come here. I will have one of our drydocks back at Betazed begin constructing transports to allow our people to travel here and other Alliance worlds more freely. They should have the flexibility to travel without the restrictions," Picard said as he reflected on his resistance to the idea previously.

"That would be great, Sir. I can't tell you how many of our crew will appreciate that. Ben, are we still on for Gumbo tonight?" Maxwell asked Sisko.

"Absolutely. I'll be in the kitchen to make sure that it has that special Sisko touch."

"Well, gentlemen, if you'd excuse me. I have another meeting in just over an hour. I'll see you both at the restaurant this evening," Picard told Maxwell and Sisko.

"Bridge to Admiral Picard."

"Picard here."

"Admiral, Admiral Riker on subspace for you, Sir."

"Put it through."

Picard walked over to the desk and turned on the monitor. "I'm sorry for the intrusion, Sir, but I have a report on the missions to Andor and Vulcan."

"No apology needed, Will. What did they find?"

"Both planets had been attacked, as expected, during the last Shadow War. Andor fared much better than Vulcan. Vulcan still exists, but that's about all. Life signs are inconclusive based on initial sensor readings. Once you return, I plan to dispatch Destiny for a more thorough survey. I want to cancel the planned mission, at least for the foreseeable future."

"Agreed. And Andor?"

"Andor has approximately seven million people living in several locations across the planet. They appear to be in the mid-industrial age based on pollution levels in the atmosphere. Again, we'd need to dispatch a ship with more powerful sensors to learn more."

"I strongly suspect Vulcan was more heavily targeted due to their telepathy," Sisko said while looking at Picard.

"I agree, Captain. Will, Phoenix, and Enterprise will be leaving tomorrow, and that will give us another ship to perform planetary surveys. However, it would appear that we need to prioritize the construction of science vessels. There are only so many sensor arrays that can be installed on a runabout that make it ill-suited for such missions."

"We're going to need more shipyards at Betazed. Our need for science ships, transports, and freighters is growing by the day, and we don't have the capacity right now to fulfill those needs."

"My thoughts exactly, Ben," Riker said. "I'd considered leveraging the added capacity you've created by refitting Earthforce shipyards. However, I quickly realized that would be a bad idea. If they realize that those shipyards were also capable of producing modern Starfleet ships, that could cause problems for us."

"Indeed. Let's proceed with the initial plan. I want to maintain maximum flexibility for our capital ships, especially given the dynamic political climate we're a part of," Picard said, agreeing with Riker.

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

"Well, gentlemen, it would appear we're going to have to make some tough decisions on what the Federation means in this universe and what the membership composition will be."

"To be honest, Admiral, I thought the Federation was but a memory, impossible to rebuild here, at least in the near term. Now, with the discovery of Andor, I'm not so sure. Hopefully, we're able to find our other member systems similarly populated. Yet again, we're in uncharted territory," Maxwell said.

"Like Earth," Sisko said, conflicted by the implications of rebuilding the Federation in this galaxy.

"We don't have to develop our strategy right now. Like you, I was hopeful, but not optimistic, that we would find other populated worlds. Now that we've found the third, we need to develop a strategy for moving forward. Earth isn't ready to become a Federation world, and neither is Andor. Betazed has become one by default due to extraordinary circumstances, but we need a plan for the others. We have to protect the other Federation worlds as we have Betazed," Picard said to the group.

"You're right, Sir. I never thought we'd be faced with such decisions when we went through that wormhole. Yet, here we are."

"Indeed, we are. Gentlemen, let's adjourn until dinner tonight."

"Yes, Sir. Until then."

Earth – Joint Chief's Conference Room

-Next day-

The generals were seated around the conference table for their regular daily briefing. They had a relatively full agenda, but the main topic of discussion quickly ventured in a different direction.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm disappointed to see the Phoenix leave," Fitzpatrick said as he watched the Phoenix and Enterprise leaving Earth's orbit on the monitor.

Andersson nodded in agreement. "You're right. I've gone from being afraid of what that ship could do to us to now feeling exposed with it now gone."

"Exposed? There's no threat of attack, plus we have over 150 ships on active patrol in the system," Dawodu said as he tried to understand the concerns of the others.

"There's always a threat of an attack, even if it's extremely remote. However, as long as that ship was here, no one would even think about attacking us. Those two ships are an undeniable demonstration of human strength, and I felt a certain level of pride whenever I saw them in orbit, even though they don't belong to Earthforce," Fitzpatrick said to Dawodu.

"I wish we had been able to convince Picard to join us. Everything seemed to go so well," Vu interjected.

"It did, but Picard's point was valid. It would be too much change too soon, and he has a responsibility to their non-human crew. Restricting integration to just Earthforce was a non-starter, unfortunately," Fitzpatrick said in a sullen voice.

"Maybe we can….What was that?" Dawodu attempted to say before he became distracted by the image on the monitor.

The monitor showed the Enterprise and Phoenix as they both went to warp and disappeared.

"The ships seemed to stretch and then disappeared. Were there any reports of this happening before?" Fitzpatrick asked newly promoted General Chen.

"Not to my knowledge. Maybe that's what happens before they cloak their ships. I mean, the ships did disappear."

"I'm not sure. Reports indicated that the ships would fade into existence when they became visible, just as we saw on the Enterprise. However, this was different. They stretched into a flash of light and then disappeared. I've never seen anything like that," Andersson said as she attempted to provide an explanation.

"This is yet another example of what I told the president. Every time I interact with them, I learn something new. What do the sensors say?" Fitzpatrick asked the Intelligence officer.

"Not much, Sir. The ships were there, and then they weren't. The energy readings increased just before they disappeared."

"I'll ask Sandy what she can find out. I also think that I'll have her brief us weekly on what new information she's learned," Fitzpatrick said as he made a note to himself.

"That's a great idea. It would be nice to not be so surprised whenever we work with Maxwell or his people," Johnson added.

"Agreed. All right, let's continue with the rest of today's agenda."

Betazed – New Paris

-Three weeks later-

It was late afternoon in New Paris. The temperature had begun to drop to signify the approaching fall season. The native Betazoids had never experienced the change of seasons. Some of them marveled at the changes to the foliage as the colors began to change, while others wondered if they should have kept the dome just a bit longer. Those opinions, however, were in the minority as many people had taken to exploring the planet since the dome had been removed.

Picard and Sheridan walked along the sparsely populated sidewalk, away from Federation Hall. Sheridan, and several of his cabinet members, had arrived to witness the dedication of the founding of the new Federation city. Sheridan was due to leave for Centauri Prime in the morning and wanted to spend time with his unofficial mentor.

"It looks like Rachel was right. You people really do know how to build a colony," Sheridan said as he looked around at the buildings along the street.

"Indeed. Commander Gam has done an outstanding job in leading the construction and administration of New Paris. He and his team are largely responsible for the design of the city, and the crews from our fleet have worked hard to realize that vision," Picard agreed; his muted response didn't reveal his genuine admiration for the accomplishment.

"I'm sorry that Rachel isn't here to see this. It's my fault that she wasn't able to attend today's dedication ceremony. The Brakiri and the Hurr are being 'difficult,' and neither of us thought that we could delay her arrival to resolve that situation," Sheridan apologized to Picard. Sheridan was genuinely sorry that he had, yet again, asked these people to sacrifice more than their fair share for the rest of them.

"I understand. We all have our responsibilities. I spoke with her yesterday. She's agreed to come as soon as that situation is resolved," Picard said.

"I hadn't realized how much I've become used to living on Minbar until I arrived here. The Minbari section is such a small part of the colony," Sheridan said; the Minbari section of town was just barely visible from the city center.

"Minbari architecture is very striking. I enjoy the uniqueness it brings to the city. The Earth Alliance colony ships will be here next week, and I'm curious to see what architectural direction they take.

My apologies, John, but I don't believe that I've formerly congratulated you on your official election as president. To be honest, I never considered you as the interim president. Therefore, I only regarded the election as a formality."

"Thank you, Admiral, but there's no need to apologize. Since I ran unopposed, the election was just a formality."

"Jean-Luc."

"Right, a force of habit. It's going to be hard calling you by your name. I may stick with admiral for a while longer. I can only handle so much change at once," Sheridan said as he smiled at Picard.

"I'm afraid that's a problem we all suffer from. It's unfortunate that our duties don't allow us to talk as we once did."

"You have no idea how much I miss your council. Your words still resonate with me, but I miss having you readily available for your input and thoughts."

"Thank you. Now that you've been in the role for a few months, do you have any regrets about accepting the post?" Picard asked Sheridan. He hoped that he hadn't misread Sheridan and pushed him into doing something he didn't want to do.

"No. None whatsoever. I knew that it was going to be a tough job, and it's been that and more. However, I wouldn't change a thing," Sheridan answered honestly.

"Good. I'm glad to hear that. I've come to realize that it does little good to regret decisions that you had no control over. The role of president was thrust upon you by me and others. You may have tried to resist it, but it ultimately would have been futile. It's similar to our arrival here. I had a choice to make, and I had the option to make a different choice. Standing here, in this colony, further confirms that I made the right choice."

"Destiny," Sheridan said.

"Destiny," Picard confirmed.

"Is there someplace to get a drink around here?"

"Of course. Guinan's place is only a couple of blocks away. Let's go.

-Author's notes-

This marks the end of this story. Certain plot threads were left deliberately unresolved to allow for a future sequel if ever written. I wanted to tell the complete character arcs of Picard, Maxwell, and Garrett, and I achieved that, plus arcs for characters that I hadn't initially planned to develop. I'm happy with how this story ended, though I will admit that the prose used could have been much better in the hands of a more talented writer. This is the story that I set out to write, with significant contributions from my friend and BETA Ross and story ideas from AlbertG. Without their input, this story would have been a lot less than it is. BIG, thanks, guys.

Until next time.

Darrell