Chapter Twenty-One
Jean-Luc woke up on the morning of the seventh day of the preparatory period. Beverly lay next to him still sound asleep. For a moment he was disorientated by the lack of the feel of the impulse drive around him but then he remembered he wasn't on the Enterprise any longer, but on Coruscant, the capital planet of the New Republic. Today was his official introduction to the Galactic Senate.
The final selection of his personal staff as the Ambassador at Large to the Federation had gone much smoother than he'd anticipated. His primary Aide was a Twi'lek male named Koni Komax whose talents in organizational logistics had moved him to the mid-level diplomatic pay-grades sooner than many of his contemporaries who had entered the Diplomatic Corps at the same time. His would be the unenviable task of social calendar scheduling and communications routing. As an Ambassador at Large, Jean-Luc also had a twelve person security detail, six for him and six for Beverly which ran the gambit of species from human to Zabrak, male and female both, since their respective duties would see them working apart more often as not. Neither Jean-Luc nor Beverly knew though that Leia had discreetly asked for and gotten one Noghri apiece to shadow them for the first six months of their tenure on Coruscant as an extra precaution.
Carefully getting out of bed so as not to disturb Beverly, Jean-Luc put a robe on, used the 'fresher and went into the kitchen to begin breakfast. It had been decided that their daily breakfast routine would continue regardless of the newer and more complex duties, and it had so far been a good decision. As Jean-Luc was just about to serve, Beverly entered the dining area to set the table. For the first two mornings after their arrival, Emerald had tried to be of service but only ended up getting in the way. Jean-Luc had decided that though it may have been commonplace in his and Beverly's new home for droids to do such things, he and his wife would continue just as they had for so many years aboard ship and set the table themselves and so, Emerald had been unofficially banished to his personal office next door to await his summons to begin her duties of the day whatever they may be.
"How do you feel Jean-Luc?" asked Beverly over breakfast a short time later. He took a breath, grinned humbly and said, "Like a Cadet about to graduate from Academy." Beverly laughed lightly. "Believe it or not Jean-Luc; I have trouble seeing you as a nervous cadet. There have been times when it seems as though you emerged from the Academy a full Captain." Jean-Luc laughed this time, "Believe it Beverly. I must have gotten such a case of nerves, I was sick two or three times before I even left my room that day; but when I received my Ensign pip and my Scroll of Commission, the nerves went away almost as fast as one of your hyposprays. Fortunately for me now, with the passing of time and the gaining of experience, I'm only nervous now, not sick. That being said, let's clean up the table and get ready, shall we?" Beverly stood up and said, "Surely."
Jean-Luc and Beverly, both in dress uniform entered the air-car docking bay with Emerald and Koni closely in tow and four of their Security detail escorting them, two in front, two in back. They could see Leia Organa-Solo waiting for them in her Jedi robes and lightsaber on her belt. Greeting them as they came to stand in front of her, she said, "Good morning Admiral, Doctor. I'm sorry I couldn't stop by like I said I would to see how you were settling in. I hope everything went well." Jean-Luc said, "Thank you for your concern Highness, but your apology, while appreciated, is unnecessary. The final selection of my staff went smoother than I thought. In fact, I'd like to introduce you to my Aide, Koni Komax. Koni, this is Jedi Leia Organa-Solo, the representative of the Jedi Order to the Senate" Koni bowed at the waist and said in slightly accented Basic, "Greetings your highness. It is a great honor to meet you in person at last." Leia returned the bow and said, "I've heard your name in the diplomatic circles, Koni, you come highly recommended and I'm sure you will do the Diplomatic Corps. proud with your service to Ambassador Picard and his wife Beverly."
Koni's naturally pale skin darkened a little at the praise as Leia turned back to face Jean-Luc and Beverly and said, "The air-car is ready and the Senate should be moving onto New Business just as we enter the platform. This was planned as such so don't be concerned that you've missed anything vital. Shall we go then?" When the two nodded yes, they preceded Leia onto the air car. Two of their Security entered last while the other two got into a pair of small speeders to take up escort duties, one in front and one behind. The trip to the Senate was a short one that went without incident. As the air-car landed, the Security got out first to sweep the area and take up flanking positions around the party. Picard didn't even notice the walk from the docking bay to the entrance of the platform that was assigned to Leia as the representative of the Jedi Order. Picard's Security detail spread into the corridor around the entrance portal while Picard took another breath and entered through the door just as a greatly amplified voice said, "The Galactic Senate will now hear all New Business at this time." Beverly firmly grasped Picard's hand as he swore involuntarily when he saw the assembled body of the Galactic Senate of the New Republic, "Mon dieu!"
As Jean-Luc and Beverly sat down, Leia approached the front of the platform, flipped a switch that signaled the desk of the Chief of State that she was requesting the floor. The Chief of Staff to the President of the Senate acknowledged the signal and said, "The honorable representative of the Jedi Order has the floor at this time." The platform smoothly rose on its repulsors and hovered into the center of the Senate bowl. Leia activated her own voice amplifier and said, "Mr. President, fellow representatives, I bring before this august body today, the Ambassador at Large from the United Federation of Planets, Admiral Jean-Luc Picard and his wife Beverly Crusher-Picard. Both have traveled far from their homeworld to be here today. I hope you will join me in welcoming them to our assembly today. Now, with your permission Mr. President, I would like to turn the floor over to Ambassador Picard."
When the President, a Rodian nodded his head, Picard could see the light reflecting in the multi-faceted eyes. When Picard stood up, he tugged at the hem of his uniform unconsciously, took Leia's place at the front of the platform, Emerald standing nearby to render any translations, and said, "It is an enormous honor to be here today to speak with you. I bring greetings from the United Federation of Planets to you Mr. President and to all the honorable representatives gathered here today. I hope with all my being, to help begin an era of peaceful expansion. I also hope to enter into scientific, economic, societal and diplomatic relations that will resonate down through the generations of both our societies. I represent a body of many worlds, languages and traditions. While the Federation is much smaller and younger than the New Republic, I believe we will be able to learn from each other and to peacefully coexist in ways as yet unfathomed and I eagerly look forward to meeting and speaking with any and all interested parties to begin negotiations of trade, science and education."
The President stood and spoke in his native tongue, which Emerald dutifully translated, "[In my capacity as President of the New Republic, I welcome you and your mate to the Galactic Senate, Admiral Picard. I too look forward to opening formal ties with the United Federation of Planets and I also am of the same frame of mind as you when I say that I agree with your hopeful words of peaceful coexistence and cooperative learning. Together, let us usher in an unprecedented era of prosperity for both our societies.]" When the President resumed his seat and Picard his, the collective body of the Senate erupted into thunderous applause. As the platform resumed its place on the tier, the sound rolled across his awareness and when Beverly took his hand in hers again, Jean-Luc Picard knew himself to be in the right place at the right time.
The End