A/N We're here! I'll save my comments until the end.

I do not own Star Trek Enterprise or any of the related characters. Star Trek Enterprise was created by Rick Berman and Brandon Braga and is owned by Paramount. All rights of Star Trek Enterprise belong to them. This story is a work of fanfiction and is meant for entertainment only. I am not making profit from this story.

The Department of Weather Control had managed to hold back a pending rainstorm to give time for the ceremony to complete. This day was not unlike that day 1000 years before when the Federation was founded.

The current President of the Federation Council, a Romulan, went forward to the dais, "Delegates and Honored Guests, I would now like to introduce our Keynote Speaker. This woman has not only distinguished herself with a long and illustrious career in Starfleet, but is also a direct descendent of the man who made the keynote address 1000 years ago, Jonathan Archer. It gives me great pride to introduce Admiral Melissa Sanders."

Melissa rose slowly from her seat. At 170 years of age, her golden hair is now thin and white. The years have caused her shoulders to slightly stoop but she still carried herself proudly. As she neared the stage, the President came over to her, extending his arm to escort her the last few steps. Nodding gratefully to him, she made her way to the lectern. As the President smiled and took his seat, she waited for the crowd to complete its standing ovation.

She looked into the audience and saw her husband Satar, her son Somar, his Andorian wife Tattan and her grandson Jonathan. She had been amazed when her son and daughter-in-law had named their son after her distinguished ancestor. As the crowd settled down, she felt the calm sent by her husband through their bond and allowed it to fill her and give her peace.

Looking out over the throng, she began, her strong voice incongruous with her withered frame.

Good morning. One thousand years ago, Admiral Jonathan Archer gave the keynote address at this very spot. In that speech, he talked of two journeys, the journey to that point and the journey they were about to embark upon. Now, a millennial later, we are still on that second journey. He talked about how it would not be an easy journey, but would encounter pitfalls and dangers, both from within and without.

That has certainly been true. But he also talked of how we must honor our principles as we moved forward. Today, one thousand years later, those principles do still guide our path.

I am sure those original pioneers would be amazed at the progress we have made, at what they started with four planets has become. How many species that were their enemies now are a part of the Federation they created. How hundreds of species unknown to them are also part of that Federation.

However, for us one thing has not changed; we must dedicate ourselves to enable the journey to continue, to carry on the tradition they started so long ago. Throughout its history, great men and women from many planets have been instrumental in doing so. Names like Archer, T'Pol, Kirk, Spock, Bortrand, Hersophene, and others too numerous to mention.

She paused, As Jonathan Archer said of himself that day so long ago, we must pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.

Thank you.

As the crowd again rose, she turned and with the help of the President, returned to her seat glad that it was over. As she sat there, half-listening as the ceremony moved forward, she remembered that day she sat in the quarters of Jonathan Archer, talking to him and his then to be wife T'Pol. She marveled how they and the others that had joined with them had managed to come together to form a lasting foundation for Galactic peace. Coming back to the present, she saw that the giant screens were showing the newest ships of the Fleet passing high above in review. She thought back again to the frail ships that those pioneers had utilized. The newest flagship of the Fleet, named Enterprise in honor of the anniversary, traveled at a speed equivalent to Warp 10 utilizing technology undreamed of by those pioneers or even those hundreds of years later. But she reflected that at the same time, that some things never change. The crews of the new ships carried the same pride, no more, no less, in their crafts as did those sailors of days gone by. They all shared a common heritage; a heritage of adventure, of courage, and a search for knowledge.

Now the ceremonies were ending. She rose with the crowd for the reading of the poem that had come to represent the Federation.

It was written hundreds of years after their initial voyages to honor that first Earth vessel of so long ago and its namesakes that followed. As the speaker's strong voice carried easily to the far reaches of the crowd, she mouthed the words with him. Although she had heard it so many times, it never failed to bring her a deep sense of pride.

Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise…

A/N It's done.

It has been quite an adventure. I am sorry it took so long but I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have enjoyed writing it. It has been a labor of love.

I have mentioned this before, but I came to fan fiction through the writings of Gammara. She was my inspiration and I would like to salute her one last time. (She is also a heck of a writer)

It is hard to believe it has been over 6 years since I started. I hope that the ending was not a disappointment.

From where I stand now, this will be my last Star Trek Enterprise story. This is the story I wanted to tell.

I want to especially thank all of you who took time to write reviews or will do so in the future. I will never be able to express how much I treasure them. I also want to thank those who favorited and/or followed by story.

And lastly, I want to thank all of you who have honored me by accompanying me on this journey. (you knew I was going to get that word in :)).