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After Dysnomia, it had to be us. We won that battle and are here to tell the tale. But this is not the end, this is only the beginning.
It's weird to see Polaris hovering in the atmosphere. She wasn't meant for such maneuvers, then again, I wanted to make a dramatic intro. Hence the shuttlepod ride that took us to the seat of the Federation President, here on old Terra Firma. The shuttle descends through fog and mist and lands with a small yank and we disembark. Katya first, then Clay, Alice, and finally me. The Captain is the last to leave the vessel, after all.
The presidental guards knew they were coming. Now, a small delegation escorts us to the President's office. Five of them, symbolicappy representing the Federation member worlds: an Earth Human, a Vulcan, an Andorian, a Tellarite, and a weird, lanky Alpha Centauri Human. We try our best to look... what's the good word for it? Dignified? Honored? No, that's definitely not the right word. After all, we weren't invited, we simply announced our arrival, love it or hate it. The word I'm looking for is, well, normal.
The beautiful, ornate oaken doors slide open and we step inside the very center of the Federation. Behind a centuries-old desk sits an Andorian woman. Can't tell which female gender she belongs to, I'm not too good at telling them apart. She looks at me, our eyes meet in mutual understanding.
"We need to talk", I say silently, yet firmly.
"I believe I do", she nods and stands up. I walk up to her.
"You can't keep up this game anymore", I say, "Dysnomia proved that. It's hang together or we'll hang separately."
"Your point, Captain?", the President says with a sly smile. For a moment, she looks just like a Vulcan, not telling you that she dislikes you, but emitting an aura of it.
"I know Earth is not your home, Ma'am, but it's still the center of the Federation. I don't like it and I don't think you like it either, but this is the world we're living in. The Kzinti might go after your people the next time. Or the others we've allied ourselves with. The First Fleet cannot defend Earth alone. Nor can your Home Guard defend Andoria."
"Captain, do you think the Federation is up to another war?"
"With all due respect, Madam President, the Federation has never waged a war. If you mean the Romulans, it was us. Humans. You might have helped us, but we flew the ships, we manned the guns. Yes, the Federation was born from the Romulan War, but we have a much more dangerous enemy to fight, here and now. The Kzinti don't just want to expand or loot our resources. They want to feast on our flesh and bones, literarily. I wish I could say we could defend Earth, but we cannot. We need Starfleet. The Federation Starfleet."
Before the guards can stop me, I step closer, pulling out the PADD I has tucked away in my Mao jacket uniform. I slam it down on the desk.
"Read it", I say, "This is my life's work. Something that will help the Fleets, united and independent, in the future."
"On Interstellar War", the President says, taking the PADD in her slim hands. She smiles, this time genuinely, "Based upon Clausewitz, I suppose."
"And Herman Kahn", I nod, surprised she knows about Human military strategy. I gulp hard as I say the words I never meant to said, "Consider this work as an apology for... for another one of mine."
"That other one is quite popular on the black market", the President says with a small laugh, "What's your term for it? Samizdat? I too have read it."
"No way!", I blurt out.
"Oh yes, Captain Randolph", she grins, "And I found it... interesting. A unique prespective. A bit too harsh, but enlightening nevertheless. I would never admit it officially, of course, so let's keep this between us, shall we?"
"Understood", I nod. Something far-reaching has started, I can feel it. The witch hunt against me is over. What comes next might be something even worse.
"Captain Randolph, you have my sincerest gratitude for saving the Sol system", the Preisdent says after a small pause, "I know that the Kzinti threat has reached a level that the Federation cannot ignore it anymore. Starfleet will be mobilized within a week. I'll make sure you and Captain Reed can discuss matters before deployment. I think he'll enjoy your newest work."
I nod silently. No words need to be spoken. The old scars have healed, the old war can become faded memory. It's the new war we mist deal with. I turn back to look at Alice. She smiles, and for the first time since the Romulans attacked us on the Burro all those years ago, I finally feel whole again.

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Description
After Dysnomia, it had to be us. We won that battle and are here to tell the tale. But this is not the end, this is only the beginning.
It's weird to see Polaris hovering in the atmosphere. She wasn't meant for such maneuvers, then again, I wanted to make a dramatic intro. Hence the shuttlepod ride that took us to the seat of the Federation President, here on old Terra Firma. The shuttle descends through fog and mist and lands with a small yank and we disembark. Katya first, then Clay, Alice, and finally me. The Captain is the last to leave the vessel, after all.
The presidental guards knew they were coming. Now, a small delegation escorts us to the President's office. Five of them, symbolicappy representing the Federation member worlds: an Earth Human, a Vulcan, an Andorian, a Tellarite, and a weird, lanky Alpha Centauri Human. We try our best to look... what's the good word for it? Dignified? Honored? No, that's definitely not the right word. After all, we weren't invited, we simply announced our arrival, love it or hate it. The word I'm looking for is, well, normal.
The beautiful, ornate oaken doors slide open and we step inside the very center of the Federation. Behind a centuries-old desk sits an Andorian woman. Can't tell which female gender she belongs to, I'm not too good at telling them apart. She looks at me, our eyes meet in mutual understanding.
"We need to talk", I say silently, yet firmly.
"I believe I do", she nods and stands up. I walk up to her.
"You can't keep up this game anymore", I say, "Dysnomia proved that. It's hang together or we'll hang separately."
"Your point, Captain?", the President says with a sly smile. For a moment, she looks just like a Vulcan, not telling you that she dislikes you, but emitting an aura of it.
"I know Earth is not your home, Ma'am, but it's still the center of the Federation. I don't like it and I don't think you like it either, but this is the world we're living in. The Kzinti might go after your people the next time. Or the others we've allied ourselves with. The First Fleet cannot defend Earth alone. Nor can your Home Guard defend Andoria."
"Captain, do you think the Federation is up to another war?"
"With all due respect, Madam President, the Federation has never waged a war. If you mean the Romulans, it was us. Humans. You might have helped us, but we flew the ships, we manned the guns. Yes, the Federation was born from the Romulan War, but we have a much more dangerous enemy to fight, here and now. The Kzinti don't just want to expand or loot our resources. They want to feast on our flesh and bones, literarily. I wish I could say we could defend Earth, but we cannot. We need Starfleet. The Federation Starfleet."
Before the guards can stop me, I step closer, pulling out the PADD I has tucked away in my Mao jacket uniform. I slam it down on the desk.
"Read it", I say, "This is my life's work. Something that will help the Fleets, united and independent, in the future."
"On Interstellar War", the President says, taking the PADD in her slim hands. She smiles, this time genuinely, "Based upon Clausewitz, I suppose."
"And Herman Kahn", I nod, surprised she knows about Human military strategy. I gulp hard as I say the words I never meant to said, "Consider this work as an apology for... for another one of mine."
"That other one is quite popular on the black market", the President says with a small laugh, "What's your term for it? Samizdat? I too have read it."
"No way!", I blurt out.
"Oh yes, Captain Randolph", she grins, "And I found it... interesting. A unique prespective. A bit too harsh, but enlightening nevertheless. I would never admit it officially, of course, so let's keep this between us, shall we?"
"Understood", I nod. Something far-reaching has started, I can feel it. The witch hunt against me is over. What comes next might be something even worse.
"Captain Randolph, you have my sincerest gratitude for saving the Sol system", the Preisdent says after a small pause, "I know that the Kzinti threat has reached a level that the Federation cannot ignore it anymore. Starfleet will be mobilized within a week. I'll make sure you and Captain Reed can discuss matters before deployment. I think he'll enjoy your newest work."
I nod silently. No words need to be spoken. The old scars have healed, the old war can become faded memory. It's the new war we mist deal with. I turn back to look at Alice. She smiles, and for the first time since the Romulans attacked us on the Burro all those years ago, I finally feel whole again.

All models by me