Chapter Two
Many light years away, the starship Enterprise, NCC-1701 E, was in the middle of its shake-down cruise. Moving along at smooth-as-silk Full Impulse, only recently released from dry-dock after several months of repair and refit after the pounding that Shinzon had given it. All systems were responding well. Commander Laforge was sitting the mid-watch tonight so that he could oversee a detailed series of diagnostics and system simulations that were best run in the middle of ship's night so that there would be minimal crew disruptions.
The bridge was so quiet, the hum and buzz of panels, pads, and other systems so muted that the sound of an incoming priority communication rang out like an opera diva's final note. The El-aurian crewman, a young ensign on his first assignment out of Academy practically jumped a half-meter in the air at his station. Geordi stood up from the Captain's chair where he had been seated and looked at the startled junior officer. Quietly, to himself he mused, "Was I ever that young?" Out loud he said, "What do you have Ensign Ross?" Ensign Ross started to speak when his voice cracked unexpectedly. He cleared his throat and said, "Commander Laforge, I've just received a Captain's Channel Priority transmission, Captain Picard's Eyes Only. But for the address header, it's heavily encrypted. Any orders sir?"
Laforge sternly said, "What else Ensign? Call the Captain and inform him immediately." The ensign's face fell and he involuntarily squeaked, "Me?" Geordi looked squarely at the young ensign a moment longer and then chuckled loudly. "Sorry Ensign Ross, I couldn't resist the chance. I'll call the Captain but do keep in mind for your future reference; a ship's captain is on call 24/7, 365 days a year regardless of the time. If you want to sit center seat someday yourself, always remember that." The ensign regained his composure and said, "Thank you for the object lesson sir. I'll remember it." Geordi looked up at the audio pick-up and said, "Commander Laforge to Captain Picard . . ."
Jean-Luc Picard woke up instantly at the sound of the comm. and sat up in bed. Decades of command experience had taught him how to go from sound asleep to instant wakefulness. "Picard here, go ahead Commander." Laforge said, I'm sorry to disturb you sir, but you've just received a Captain's Channel Priority transmission. Your Eyes Only." Picard swung his feet to the floor and stood up. Grabbing a robe that Beverly had given him, he tied the sash around his waist and walked to his desk. "That's alright Geordi. Put it through down here please."
As Picard sat down at his desk, his terminal activated with a wave of his hand. The Federation of Planets Seal came onscreen. He said, "Computer, decrypt Captain's Priority Channel Transmission, clearance Picard ST321. Code Clearance Blue." The computer's feminine voice answered, "Decrypting, please stand-by." Moments later, Admiral Janeway came onscreen. She too appeared to have been awakened from a sound sleep. "Jean-Luc, sorry to get you out of bed at this ungodly time. About an hour ago, Starfleet Command received a priority signal from a deep space observation probe. Have a look at its last visual transmission before it self-destructed."
The screen changed over to a starfield with various readouts and data streaming along the bottom of the screen as an object came into the foreground and seemed to run forever as it widened into a triangular hull configuration that Picard would never forget, a shade of haze gray that elicited an involuntary shiver from him and finally ended with the nozzles of three large engine ports at full burn. The picture dissolved into static and Janeway's face came back onscreen. Before he was even aware of it he cursed in French, "Merde!" Janeway nodded in agreement. "My thoughts exactly Jean-Luc; as of now 0338 hours, the Enterprise will suspend its shakedown cruise and go to full-active duty. You will wait at your current location to be joined by Captain Riker-Troi and the Titan and myself on the Voyager. Together we'll form the lead element of a taskforce to determine what purpose the Ragnorak has in coming back through the rift that brought Jedi Rau to us originally. The Titan will be my next call and Voyager is currently at Vulcan but can pick me up on its way to meet up with you and Riker-Troi."
"Understood Admiral, but you do remember Mr. Worf's original tactical evaluation of the Ragnorak? That it would be Wolf 359 again if Warlord Regis decides to attack?" Janeway nodded, "I do indeed Jean-Luc. Starfleet is prepared to request assistance from the Romulans, courtesy of our new peace treaty and the Klingons as well. I've been told that Starfleet won't decide one way or the other until we can report back. I realize from Mr. Worf's evaluation that even the three of us together probably couldn't stop Regis so it will be imperative that one of us gets away to report, even if it means abandoning the other two. Hopefully though, that won't be the case."
Picard nodded his head in understanding. "In the words of our friend Armis Rau, if this is an attack, May the Force be with us all Admiral. We'll be waiting for you and Captain Riker-Troi." Janeway said, "If I understand the reference correctly, May the Force be with us indeed Captain Picard. Janeway out." The Federation Seal came onscreen again as Picard turned off the terminal and sent the command of All Stop to Geordi on the bridge. He sat back in his seat. Beverly was leaning against the frame of the doorway to their bedroom as her soft voice said, "Problems Jean-Luc?" Picard looked deeply into the eyes of his friend and lover, "I honestly don't know Beverly. Until Will Riker and Admiral Janeway get here, there's nothing to be done about it." He got up from his desk and said, "This may be our last chance to get any sleep for some time so I think we shouldn't waste it." The two kissed and returned to their bed.