"It seems I was right about this.", she said. "Something is happening here!"
"But you were not on the invitation list!"
Delenn turned around to see Winthorn, phaser in hand, standing behind her.
"Still, I'm sure he would want you here. Please, sit down!"
Delenn took her place at the table. Seconds later Admiral Calevicchi arrived. He still was not happy, mainly at being escorted there by Sevrina Maris.
"Will someone tell me what is going on?", said Calevicchi.
"I can, but I won't!"
They all turned to see Captain Sinclair enter the room, dressed in the new uniform of the Free Federation.
"Captain!", said Delenn. "I had a feeling that you would be here!"
"And I you, Ambassador."
"What are we doing here, Jeff?", asked Picard. "Who called us?"
"I believe Ambassador Kosh knows.", Sinclair replied. "But if you want an answer, Jean-Luc, I'm afraid you'll have to wait."
And with that, Sinclair left them on their own.
After enjoying her evening meal, Servalan sat back and watched the nightly news broadcast. With her were Commander Sleer, Commodore Queeg and General Hague.
"And the latest opinion polls show that President Servalan now has a three point lead in the latest opinion polls. However, Ambassador Spock continues to make ground."
"See, I told you.", said Servalan. "Spock doesn't have a hope!"
"Opinion polls can be deceptive.", warned Hague. "During the last election Luis Santiago held a slight lead over James Watt for weeks!"
"But James Watt didn't have a dead man as his running mate!", Servalan replied. "No. I believe that I will soon be celebrating a victory!"
While Queeg proposed a toast to the next full-time Federation President, Hague remained skeptical.
In the cold night outside the bar, Sinclair activated his communicator.
"Sinclair to Magus. Everyone is here, save Sisko and Janeway, of course."
There was a pause of a few seconds before Magus replied.
"Very well. I will be there shortly. Magus out."
Sinclair went back inside. His new uniform wasn't as warm as the last one.
Far away, in the mountains behind Paradise City, atop the very highest peak, stood the lone figure of Doctor Phineas Magus. The wind blew hard, causing his cape to swirl around him. Magus paid it no heed, seeing not what was around him but rather what was happening many miles away. He stood, immortal, immovable, unemotional, watching over the stage upon which those he had helped form into the United Federation of Planets. He thought of, how, together with his fellow Istarian, Ringulrun, in his guise of Micah Brack, they had funded the warp drive experiments of Zefram Cochrane, how it had been he who defended Kirk after he had stolen and subsequently destroyed the first Enterprise, about all that had gone, and all that would pass. Now was a crucial time. The United Federation of Planets no longer espouses his original ideals. The Free Federation must, and it must have men and women of integrity. Earth was, for now, lost. But there were other worlds. In his time Magus had seen off the Nazis, Khan and his genetic supermen, the Optimum movement and the Judges. Now came one more struggle. In his mind's eye he could see the bar in Paradise City where twelve influential beings had gathered. It made him think of the time, many years before, when Gandalf, his oldest friend, had led nine walkers and helped bring about the defeat of the Darklord, Sauron. As he stood, flames began to lap around his feet. Soon the wizard was wreathed in them. Then, as a great, flaming ball he rocketed into the sky with incredible speed, heading towards Paradise City.
Startled by this approach, the delegates gathered outside the bar. Magus shot towards them, trailing orange flames. He stopped a scant ten feet from them, and became his human self.
"Good evening.", he said, lighting his pipe and leading the way into the bar.
Soon all were seated in the bar. Sherman Potter was, as ever, to the point.
"Now listen here, Phineas. I haven't traveled across the damn galaxy to watch you pretend to be a meteor! What is this all about?"
Magus smiled indulgently at his old friend.
"Calm down, Sherman. Captain Picard knows a little of what we are here to discuss, and I believe both McClouds have an inkling also. Let me elaborate."
Time seemed to stand still for the stunned delegates as Magus presented his evidence to them. He related the story of the latest Frankenstein creature, and told them of a series of 'disappearances' of people on Earth, and of his fears for the future of his Federation.
"I am older than all of you here. Only you, my dear Kosh, have any real idea of how old. I have nurtured the Federation as my own child. I will not see it destroyed in this manner!"
Delenn rose. "Doctor, I speak for Kosh and myself when I say that our governments will give you all the help we can. We cannot, however, openly declare our intentions."
"That is enough.", replied Magus. "I am hoping to obtain similar assurances from the Klingon, Cardassian and Romulan governments."
"I would have thought both the Romulans and Cardassians would welcome an end to the Federation.", snorted Lethbridge-Stewart.
"Not so.", replied the wizard. "We jointly face a double threat, from both the Borg and the Galactic Empire, even though both have been quiet recently. Our spies tell us that Servalan has also made overtures to the Sontarrans."
"Then we must act.", said Calevicchi.
"I agree.", added Picard. "It should now be clear to all of us here that we cannot return to the Federation as it stands. Our merely being here will be regarded as an act of treason. Tell me, Doctor, what do you propose?"
"Join me in the Free Federation. In time we will drive Servalan out and return the U.F.P. to the ideals we hold dear."
"Then I suggest we take the Enterprise and head for the Time.", said Picard.
"An excellent suggestion."
Magus momentarily touched his temple.
"Captain Picard, welcome to our fleet. The Enterprise will accompany the Liberator back to the Time."
The old wizard smiled.
"You all have more surprises to come."
"I will have to catch up to you.", said Calevicchi. "I have to get to the Kabreigny object!"
"How do we know you won't go straight to Servalan?", asked Koenig.
"I know he won't.", answered Magus. "Admiral, I wish you god speed!"
With Calevicchi's ship headed toward the Kabreigny Object, and all crews informed of Servalan's treachery, the Liberator, followed by the Enterprise and the Tempest, headed towards the Time of Legends. On the bridge of the Liberator, Professor Bergman joined his old friend Magus as they gazed out to the stars on the view-screen.
"You've selected some fine men and women here, Phineas.", said Bergman.
"It will be an honor to serve with them, and with you again. But tell me, what if Spock wins the election? All of this will be for nothing, and Servalan's supporters in the Senate will still want us prosecuted."
"Spock will not win.", Magus replied. "Don't ask me how I know, because I just do. We are facing an uphill struggle, old friend. We'll need all the help we can get, from men and women like yourself to whole governments across the entire galaxy! This thing isn't over, not by a long shot!"
And with that, Magus gazed out towards the stars, his mind on the struggle to come.
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