Epilogue

There was not an empty seat in the Federation Assembly Hall. Diplomats, civilians, Starfleet officers, there was nobody that wanted to miss the most momentous event in the past century. Not since the Khitomer Accords had there been such a significant change in interstellar relations.

Captain Alec Wilson ran a hand through his grey tinged hair. He could not help but wonder what his life would have been like if he had not avoided a court martial fifteen years earlier. He counted himself lucky that he had been able to continue the promising career that so many of his fellow officers had envisioned for him.

Sitting by his side as she always had was his wife, who had only grown more beautiful with age. Their children sat alongside them in their freshman Starfleet cadet uniforms. With excellent marks thus far in the school year, the twins appeared set to have lengthy and prosperous careers of their own.

Alec laughed at the idea of having the two serving aboard his ship upon graduation. To once again see his children on a daily basis struck a chord within him. But he would not permit such an occurrence for he knew that an eventual disaster on board would force him to make a difficult command decision that he would never be able to make, let alone live with.

The past fifteen years bore many significant changes for Alec and his family. When James and Sonia reached schooling age, they themselves told their parents that they wanted to stay aboard the Enterprise. Based on the decision of their children, Alec and Rene opted for holographic schooling.

Five years after the Vesuvian incident, Captain Picard finally accepted the promotion to admiral that he had avoided for so many years. Command of the Enterprise was passed to Captain Riker with Commander Data as his first officer and Alec as second officer. He chose to retain the tactical position rather than take over the operations station.

After three years of exploring space under Riker's command, Alec felt it was time to move on. He accepted an offer from Captain Jack McCann of the U.S.S. Pandion to be his first officer.

Going aboard the Galaxy-Class ship not only allowed him to advance his career, but it allowed Sonia and James to receive better schooling than they otherwise would have on the Enterprise.

Seven years under McCann's command taught Alec many things about leadership. One such example was to expect the unexpected. Alec heeded the advice to the best of his ability, but he was not prepared for the day when McCann told Alec he was accepting a promotion to Admiral and that the Pandion was his if he wished. He accepted without hesitation. Every so often he found himself touching the fourth pip on his collar and not being able to believe it.

Alec watched as Federation President Sha'Gra received a great applause upon the completion of her speech. She had been in office three years and was currently the youngest president in Federation history.

"I'd now like to call up the man who is the reason we are here today." announced Sha'Gra to the audience of thousands. "It is because of his efforts that we are entering a new era of stability in the galaxy. Captain Alec Wilson, please step forward."

Alec squeezed his wife's hand and stood to the mighty applause of the crowd. He had been practising his signature for over a week in preparation of adding it to the peace treaty and alliance with the Romulan Empire.

He remembered the day one year prior that made it possible. While on patrol, his tactical officer picked up a distress call coming from Romulan space. A group of Tholian ships had attacked the Praetor's convoy and destroyed her Warbird escorts.

Alec knew that if the Tholians were successful in assassinating the Praetor it would only fuel the fury of the Romulan people. They would launch a counterattack on the Tholian Assembly with everything they had until nothing was left. And they wouldn't stop with the Tholians; the Romulans would turn their aggression to others such as the Federation and the Klingon Empire in an attempt to quench their taste for vengeance. The Alpha and Beta Quadrants would be driven into chaos.

He risked his command, his career, and his life by crossing the Neutral Zone into Romulan space to stop a galaxywide bloodbath.

The devastating images he saw still hung in his mind. Two Warbirds burned against the black of space and debris from a third lay strew about after it had been destroyed in a Tholian Web.

The arrival of the Pandion in the middle of the battle so surprised both Tholian and Romulan that the two forces ceased fire momentarily before continuing their assaults. After the Tholians ignored his hail to cease fire he stared into the eyes of the beast and brought the Pandion into the fray. He positioned the ship directly between the Tholian force and the Praetor's personal transport. They did not take a single shot.

Recognizing the threat of making enemies of the Romulan Empire and the Federation, the Tholians withdrew from the battle. They left behind three destroyed Warbids, six of their battle-ruined ships, and a very relieved Starfleet captain and Romulan Praetor.

By willingly violating the Prime Directive, Alec risked having the book thrown at him. But the wish of the Praetor to have him present at peace talks prevented his career from coming to an abrupt end.

Alec reached the stage. Standing beside Sha'Gra and the Romulan Praetor, he looked over at the V.I.P. seats nearby. Several of his good friends were seated there: Admiral Picard, Admiral Sisko, Admiral Janeway, Captain Riker, Captain Chakotay, and former President Ross. All were applauding him. He even saw the aged, craggy Vulcan face of Ambassador Spock, who was no doubt grateful for what he had accomplished. Such an alliance was a big step towards Unification of Vulcan and Romulus.

Sha'Gra hugged Alec and handed him a pen. He took a deep breath and leaned down to sign the treaty and experience the greatest moment of his career.

It was from there that we emerged, to see-once more-the stars.

The End