Chapter Eleven
Captain Picard was in his ready room, going over a batch of reports and evaluations when his comm-panel indicated an incoming message from Voyager. Admiral Janeway's smiling face came onscreen and Picard said, "Pardon me for saying so Admiral, but you look like the proverbial cat that ate the canary. What can I do for you?" She said, "Actually Jean-Luc, it's me who is here to do something for you." Taking the questioning look on his face into account, she said, "I just wanted you to be the first to know." He said, "Know what Admiral?" She smiled again and said, "The Federation Council has overwhelmingly approved an Alliance with the New Republic and the Imperial Remnant; as well as confirmation of the first Ambassador at Large."
Picard smiled hugely and said, "That's fantastic news Admiral! Who will it be? James Kirk? Ambassador Spock, Reeva?" Janeway tried to suppress her smile but failed and said, "To answer your question best Captain Picard, maybe you could start by calling me Kathryn." Picard was silent as her comment sank in. His eyes widened as he said, "Me? I don't know quite what to say at the moment." She said, "It is your choice Jean-Luc, and I do hope you accept. It will mean promotion to the Admiralty and turning over command of the Enterprise to someone else, but you'll get to be the first member of the Federation to see an entirely new galaxy and meet its many people. Do you need some time to cogitate?"
Picard smiled and said, "I already have thought it over and spoken to those whose counsel I value. To answer your question Kathryn, I accept the position of Ambassador at Large for the United Federation of Planets."
For the second time in a standard week, Captain Picard put on his dress uniform. This time though, instead of a diplomatic affair, he was going to an affair of an entirely different magnitude. Beverley stood next to him in her own dress uniform as Picard unconsciously tugged on the hem of his uniform for the third time in five minutes and said, "Are you sure about this Beverly?" She turned to him and answered, "Just try and stop me Jean-Luc. My foolish pride almost drove you away once. I'm not changing my mind now, or ever. The question is more properly, are you sure?" In response, he held out his arm in courtly fashion which she took by running her arm through the crook of his elbow and walking into the Enterprise's chapel with him while Will Riker and Deanna Troi trailed behind a few steps.
The next morning, Admiral Picard stood in the main shuttle bay with the ship's senior staff assembled in flawless ranks in front of him and the rest of the Enterprise's crew watching by viewscreen all over the ship. He said, "Ship's company . . . ATTENTION TO ORDERS!" When the staff snapped to attention, Picard took a breath and said, "Let it be known to all presently assembled, and to those watching by viewscreen, on this stardate, I, Admiral Jean-Luc Picard do hereby officially turn command of the starship Enterprise, NCC 1701 E, over to Captain Geordi Laforge in accordance with space maritime and Starfleet law."
Geordi stepped up, Captain's pips on his collar shining in the overhead lighting of the shuttle bay, accepted the PADD with the official change of command orders from Picard and said, "I, Captain Geordi Laforge, to hereby officially accept command of the starship Enterprise, NCC 1701 E, from Admiral Jean-Luc Picard in accordance with space maritime and Starfleet law. I stand ready to relieve you Admiral Picard." Picard answered, "I stand relieved Captain Larforge."
The traditional change of command party was merged with the reception for the marriage of Jean-Luc Picard and Beverly Crusher and ran well into the early evening hours.