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Shifting uncomfortably in his chair, Picard said, “I appreciate the chancellor’s confidence, but we’ve suffered considerable damage-and personnel losses. We-”

“I understand the difficulty, but any repairs will have to be made en route. Take whatever vessels are able to join you from Admiral Leyton’s fleet and rendezvous at Starbase 24, where you’ll get crew replacements and additional ships. Then set course for the Archanis system. General Martok’s fleet will meet you there.” The Grazerite leaned into the image and spoke even more softly. “I’m not happy about this either, Captain, especially after what just happened with the Borg. But the Klingon alliance has stood for eighty years, and I won’t be remembered as the president who sundered it.” Then he leaned back. “Good luck, Captain Picard.”

“Thank you, Mister President.” Picard did not say the words enthusiastically.

With a final nod, President Jaresh-Inyo’s face disappeared from the viewer.

To the relief conn officer who had replaced Hawk, Picard said, “Ensign, set a course for Starbase 24.”

“Aye, sir.”

“Mister Data, gather every piece of information Starfleet Command has regarding this conflict between the Klingons and Romulans, in particular any intelligence briefings that have been prepared since the start of the Borg attack, then send it to my ready room.” Looking behind him, Picard said, “Mister Worf, determine which ships are still battle-worthy and have them join us. Determine which ship of those is the slowest.” He got to his feet and looked at his first officer. “Number One, once the fleet is assembled, proceed to the starbase at the slowest ship’s maximum safe cruising speed. You have the bridge-I’ll be in my ready room.”

“Yes, sir.”

Picard went into his ready room and made a beeline for the replicator. “Tea, Earl Grey, hot.”

First the Borg, now a war with the Romulans. The first year of the Enterprise-E’s existence had been a relatively sedate one, marred only by a rather unfortunate incident involving a very pregnant Lwaxana Troi and her attempts to get out of her marriage to a Tavnian named Jeyel.

However, aside from the Cardassians’ surprise absorption of the Ferengi Alliance and the usual border squabbles between the Klingons and the Romulans, the Alpha Quadrant had been quiet of late. The former had Picard a little concerned, but the latter just seemed to be business as usual between two powers that seemed destined to always be at odds.

There was always the threat of the Borg returning, but that had at least been dealt with-for now. Prior to this recent conflict, the Enterprise had been able to spend most of the last year on its primary mission of exploration, mapping the T’Yira Cluster.

After the EnterpriseD’s destruction at Veridian III, Picard had been worried that he would not be able to retain his senior staff. But they all came back together when the Sovereign-class ship was launched-even Worf, whom Picard had to track down at a monastery on Boreth and talk out of resigning his commission.

The computer station on Picard’s desk beeped. Sitting down at his desk, he activated the station and saw that Data had gathered all the latest on the Klingon-Romulan conflict.

He read it over and realized that it wasn’t quite the usual. A Romulan ship had led a wholly unprovoked attack on a Klingon outpost. A Klingon fleet-led by a Captain Wogh, who claimed to be avenging the death of his son, the outpost commander-destroyed a Romulan installation. War was inevitable after that.

But why did the Romulans attack that Klingon outpost in the first place? The Romulan High Command insisted that it was the act of a renegade, but that explanation seemed too pat.

“Worf to Picard.”

Tapping his combadge, Picard said, “Go ahead, Commander.”

“Seven vessels are accompanying us to Starbase 24, Captain-and five more are meeting us at the starbase. We are proceeding at warp four.”

“Thank you, Mister Worf. Time to arrival at the starbase?”

“Three days at this speed. You are also receiving a personal communication from