Chapter Four

Jedi Master Armis Rau emerged from the turbolift onto the command deck of the Star Destroyer Redemption a full second before the alarm klaxons roared their warning tones. He had foreseen this exact moment only the day before. Commander Mythril stood his place between the two crewpits, a few paces from the transparisteel viewports; a solid breakwater of stone in a sea of storm-like activity.

As Armis walked up to him, Mythril spared him a glance and said, "Master Rau, we have three unidentified contacts bearing down on us from .35 relative and forming into a battle formation of some kind. Our scans show their shields are up and weapons charged. All three contacts have a hull configuration similar to the Enterprise D, but only one of them bears the name, but with an 'E'. The other two hull configurations have the names Voyager and Titan respectively. What are your orders at this time?" Armis looked out the windows and saw three small dots speeding in towards the ship at what could only be attack speed. "Keep our shields down and hail them immediately. If they fire on us before communication can be established, you are to use ion cannons only. We have come in peace though they clearly don't know it yet. We will not start a war due to itchy trigger manipulators."

Mythril said, "I understand the orders Master Rau but they have clearly come expecting a fight. Shouldn't we be prepared to match firepower with firepower though?" Armis' eyes stayed on the three shapes that were coming closer by the second. "Mr. Mythril, I truly do appreciate your concern; and while it would be valid in almost any other situation, it is not the appropriate action in this one. You have your orders." Mythril nodded his raven haired head once, "Aye-aye sir."

Aboard the Enterprise, the crewman at Tactical stated, "Captain Picard, we're receiving a hailing signal and sensors show that the shields are still down and only the ion cannons are charged at this time. As a matter of fact sir, the hail is requesting visual holographic communications." Picard performed a quick double check of the readings from the Tactical station on the miniature display at his seat. "Hail Admiral Janeway at once!" he said. Moments later, the Admiral's face was onscreen. Picard said, "Admiral, we've just received a hail from the Star Destroyer and our sensors show that only their ion cannons are charged at this time."

Janeway said, "We have the same readings over here except for the hailing signal. Strikeforce, all-stop!" Within moments the three starships sat motionless in the void halfway into their attack pattern. After receiving confirmation of her order, she said, "Do you think this could be a trap Captain Picard?" Picard shook his head, "To be honest Admiral, I don't know what to think at this exact moment. In our first encounter, Regis wasn't exactly cordial." At that moment, Deanna came onscreen from the Titan, "Admiral, Captain, I'm sorry to interrupt but I'm not sensing any hostility at all. I can just barely sense the crew aboard that ship and a very familiar blank spot in the center of it all. I don't think this situation is what it appears to be at all."

Janeway listened and said, "Thank you Counselor. Captain Picard, since the hail is to your ship directly; I'll defer to your prior experience in this matter. But I would appreciate being given a holo-feed from your communications so I can observe." Picard turned to Worf, "Make it so Number One." In mere moments, Worf had the relay set up and turned to Picard, "Ready sir." Picard stood up from his seat, stepped into the holo-emitter field and said, "Open hailing frequencies."

There was a flicker of static as a lone figure appeared. Instead of the military uniform he was expecting, Picard saw a lone figure in some kind of robes, his hands clearly clasped behind his back. The face came into focus and though a little older than the first time he met him, Picard would have recognized the red hair and steel gray eyes even before the pair of lightsabers on his belt. "Jedi Rau! This is a truly unexpected pleasure! How wonderful to see you again!"

The smile on Armis's face was genuine as he said, "Captain Picard! I was hoping we would speak again before too much time had passed. I confess some surprise at the show of force though. While I have foreseen this day, I didn't expect it to be in the form of you in command of a battle group. Speaking of which, shouldn't you be an Admiral by now? I don't imagine that a Captain, even one as well traveled as you would rate a three element attack force."

Picard smiled again, "Actually Armis, I'm just part of the group. I've turned down more offers of joining the Admiralty than I can count on both hands. As to the show of force, when our probe sent back images of your vessel, it was assumed that Warlord Regis had returned for some reason or other. We had come to dissuade him of any plans of conquest. I'm glad that it is not the case here. Let me open up this channel so you can meet the actual commanding officer of our group. Please standby."

Before Picard could issue the order, Worf said, "Already opening the channel now sir." Picard stepped out of the holo-emitter field and resumed his seat as Admiral Janeway's holo-image appeared. "Greetings Jedi Rau; I am Admiral Janeway. On behalf of Starfleet Command and the United Federation of Planets, I bid you welcome back to our galaxy. I apologize for the misunderstanding that brought us here ready to destroy your ship." Armis nodded, "It's a pleasure to meet you Admiral Janeway. I am Armis Rau, Jedi Master; I'm on a diplomatic mission to negotiate an alliance between the New Republic, the Imperial Remnant and the United Federation of Planets and I can understand your show of force perfectly Admiral. What's important though is that no shots were exchanged between us. With that in mind, I'd like to invite you, Captain Picard, the captain of the Titan and your executive staffs to dinner aboard my vessel, the Redemption, tonight, if it's convenient."

Janeway said, "Tonight would be more than convenient Master Rau. When should we beam over?" Armis pursed his lips before speaking. "If it's not a breech of any protocols Admiral, those I am helping to represent in this matter, are for now, uncomfortable with your matter-energy transport system. They would appreciate if you would come aboard in shuttlecraft. Our V.I.P. landing bay, the smaller of the two aboard the Redemption, is more than adequate to receive you. We'll provide an honor guard of escort fighters. Is that acceptable?" Janeway said, "More than acceptable Master Rau. We measure our day in increments of 24 hours. Would an arrival of 1900 hours local space-time be appropriate?" Armis said, "We already have something in common Admiral. We too measure our days in increments of 24 hours. 1900 local will be perfect. Your honor guard will be in orbit of the Enterprise by 1830 local. I look forward to seeing you all then. Star Destroyer Redemption, out."

As Armis's image disappeared, so too did Janeway's only to reappear on the viewscreen. "Strikeforce, stand down all offensive systems at this time. All ships will close in to 5000 kilometers off the Redemption's bow. Captain Picard, Captain Riker, it looks like we'll get to dust off our Diplomatic Dress uniforms tonight. Please bring Mr. Worf with you Captain Picard. Counselor Troi, I think it best if you accompany your husband in place of his First Officer. Captain Chakotay and I, Captain Riker and Counselor Troi will beam over to the Enterprise no later than 1830 to shuttle over to the Redemption. Until then gentlemen; Janeway out." As the main viewscreen returned to the starfield ahead, Picard gave the order for full impulse and saw the Redemption already begin to grow larger on the screen. Picard stood and said, "Commander Laforge to the Bridge." Turning to Worf he said, "As soon as Geordi gets here Worf, you're relieved. You and I need to prepare for our dinner engagement." Worf said, "Aye-aye Captain."

As the Starfleet vessels took up station-keeping 5000 kilometers off the Redemption's bow, a crewperson aboard the Titan shivered. For a moment, Chief Michelle Karú thought she heard someone whispering to her. Looking around and seeing nobody else in the corridor, she dismissed it as nerves and the dissipating adrenaline rush of averted battle. She usually worked on the night shift but due to the anticipated combat, all shifts had been active. Now, with combat systems being returned to normal, all shifts would resume normal operations. She had just enough time to return to her quarters and take a nap before her regular shift would start. As she got back to her room and prepared to lie down, she wondered if the dream would come again. In it, she was awakened by her door chime. Getting up to answer, the door opened and she saw the silhouette of a man holding an exquisitely carved box out to her and saying, "This is for you Cousin." The dream was always the same. The man was always a silhouette and she couldn't see his face. She knew that she was in no danger from him though. Something about him spoke to her deep down in her mind. The strangest part was that of the few members of her family who had joined Starfleet, they were far, far away. She had a cousin on Deep Space Nine, another working directly at Starfleet Command in San Francisco and a sibling teaching at the Academy.

Before lying down, Michelle viewed the Message one last time. The Message had been passed down in her family for generations; mother to daughter, father to son. Generation by generation the capsule had been passed down. Its power cell had been recharged and replaced beyond count. The outer casing was carbon scored and slightly pitted in places. She had been told as her mother before her and her mother's mother before that, that when the day came, the Message would finally make sense. She opened an access panel and entered the proper sequence. A holo-image of a wedding appeared first. After the ceremony concluded, a man perhaps 1.8 meters tall, roughly 5'10" in the old measurement appeared. He had military short, brown hair and a dark brown goatee on his chin. Wearing a suit of black in a strange cut and some kind of cylinder resting on his left hip; he had eyes of hazel and was handsome in a quiet, unassuming way. She had been told he was an uncle of hers, several generations removed. Three hundred years, give or take a decade; or so she had been told. The Message started, "Dear Sister, allow me to introduce you to my wife Gabrielle . . ."