Magus gazed down at the visual display on his monitor. It displayed a map of the Alpha Quadrant, of all the known planets that were under the control of the United Federation of Planets. Several worlds were highlighted: Vulcan, Altor, Betazed, Trasphon, the Time of Legends, Minbar, and several others. For some reason, the Galactic Empire and their strange shadowy allies had not attacked these worlds, and rather than wait for the Imperials to attack, they broke away and joined the Free Federation. But what was different about these worlds, Magus wondered to himself. To the U.F.P., many of these worlds were of vital strategic importance. There was something about these planets, something special.
Magus' thoughts were distracted when his door buzzer sounded. A few seconds later, the door opened, and Captain Sinclair entered.
"You asked to see me, Doctor," Sinclair said.
"I did, my boy. Please, sit down."
Sinclair seated himself opposite Magus. For some reason, he seemed very uneasy.
"You're probably wondering why I asked you here," said Magus. "So I'll get straight to the point. I want you to give up command of the Lohengrin!"
Sinclair's jaw dropped.
"What?" he said. "You want me to give up my command? We need all the good officers we can get at the moment!"
"I know that more than anyone, Captain, but I ask you to do this for a very special reason."
"Which is?"
"I cannot tell you. All I can say is that you are destined for other things. In a few weeks' time, you will assume the role of Free Federation ambassador to Minbar."
"But I'm no ambassador! I'm a Starfleet Officer!"
"You carried out ambassadorial duties on Babylon 5. I believe you can do so on Minbar."
"But what about the war?"
"For the moment, the others can handle the war. You will have one final mission to carry out as commanding officer of the Lohengrin. Now leave me, I must contemplate my next move."
Sinclair bowed his head and left the room. Although he had no wish to leave the fight, just as it was beginning, he knew Magus was sending him to Minbar for a reason. What the reason was, he did not know, but he was sure he would soon find out.
Sheridan looked around himself as he took a tour of Babylon 5. Officially, he served the Galactic Empire, but wearing the uniform of Starfleet now made him sick to his stomach. It was as if everything he had ever believed in, everything he had ever worked for, had been thrown out of the window by a witch in the President's office.
But what choice did Sheridan now have? He couldn't just up and run off to the Time of Legends, as countless others had done recently. He had responsibilities to those on the station, and if he were to leave, Servalan would put another of her flunkies in his place, spelling the end of the station.
As Sheridan entered the Zokolo, he did not notice he was being watched from afar. Delenn had been quietly going about her business, but as soon as she saw Sheridan, she could tell something was wrong. It was as if the worries of everyone on the station were on his shoulders. Slowly, she approached him. He was deep in thought when she placed her hand on his shoulder.
"John, I think we should talk."
Hague had only been on the station a short amount of time, but he knew that when Magus summoned, he came. Hague soon entered the observation lounge on the Pegasus. When he arrived, he found that he was not alone. Sinclair was there, along with Captain Watt and Captain Pendragon. Both MacCleods were there also, as was Sherman Potter and Lethbridge-Stewart. Shortly after Hague arrived, Picard did, and he was shortly followed by Sisko.
"So where is he?" asked Hague.
"He should be here..." Watt started, until he saw Magus at the door. "Here he is."
Magus was followed into the room by Commodore Ross and Colonel McQueen.
"I see it's only a select few," said Potter. "Very well. Let's get this over with. I've got a baby to deliver in thirty minutes."
"I'm sure Doctor Pulaski can handle it, Sherman," said Magus. "Now, if you'll all be seated, I'll begin."
The officers seated themselves around the table.
"I just come from a meeting of the Council of the Time, and they are in agreement with me. We are a Federation in name only, and it's about time we changed that. To that end, I put forward the motion that we should adopt the constitution of the United Federation of Planets."
"You'll get no arguments from me," said Duncan. "Or from any of us, I think."
"To that end," Magus continued. "We should install a president."
"I'd vote for you," said Potter.
"That won't be possible, Sherman. For a while, this will be our last meeting. I'm going away on a mission."
"Mission?" said Watt. "What mission?"
"I cannot say at this time. All I can say is that Drathro will be coming with me, and I'll be taking the Lord of the Isles."
"That rust bucket!" said Potter. "Why not take the Scotsman?"
"Because as of this moment in time, I am turning command of the Scotsman over to Captain Pendragon. Also, I would like to ask you, Connor, to take command of the Lohengrin shortly."
"But the Lohengrin has a fine commander!"
"For one more mission, yes. I've recently been in contact with the Minbari Grey Council. They are one of the outside governments who choose to recognize us. Captain Sinclair will shortly become our ambassador to Minbar."
"No disrespect to you, Jeff, but are you sure that's wise?" asked Picard. "Why not send someone like Benjamin Adams, or Bilbo Baggins?"
"Captain Sinclair is the man for the job," said Magus. "Next, I am trying to organize a conference of possible allies, on Babylon 5."
"Babylon 5 isn't exactly the safest place for us at the moment," said Hague.
"Babylon 5 is in neutral space," said Magus. "We should be safe. Ambassador Delenn is making the preliminary arrangements soon. Delegates from Altor, Betazed, the League, and many others should attend."
"What about the Centauri?" asked Sisko.
"I'll deal with them later, Commander. I suggest that three ships from our side go: the Valkyrie, the Enterprise, and the Saratoga. That's why you are here, Commodore Ross."
"Is the 58th going as well?" asked McQueen. "We're down to our last five."
"Colonel Greenleaf is helping with that," said Pendragon. "Elf pilots should complement yours nicely, Colonel."
"You're skipping around the main subject, Phineas," said Potter. "You said you couldn't be president because you're going on a mission. Then if not you, who?"
"If we are to adopt the U.F.P. constitution, I suggest we adopt the legal U.F.P. president!"
"You mean Ambassador Spock?" asked Watt.
"Certainly," said Magus. "While the conference is being organized, I will accompany the Enterprise to Vulcan to see Spock."
"So what do we do?" asked Watt. "Go on ahead to Babylon 5?"
"No," said Magus. "I'd like the Valkyrie and the Saratoga to go to Traxxor. I've been trying to contact the Traxxon government for weeks now, but got no reply. Something's wrong there. Very wrong."
"And if we run into a Star Destroyer, then what?" asked McQueen.
"You run, boy. A Federation starship is no match for an Imperial Star Destroyer. We need to know if Traxxor is under Imperial control. Nothing has been mentioned about Traxxor on I.S.N., so we must assume that they are on our side."
Magus then got to his feet.
"Very well, gentlemen, begin your preparations."
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