Chapter 1

Presidents Personal Log: Star Date: 6.202

"The year has dragged on and on. Fleet intelligence has uncovered five new Gray worlds that we had no knowledge of before. They also strongly hint that there may be twice that number that haven't been located.

"Construction of the first Heavy Carrier is nearing completion. The ship will be officially named and dedicated in seven days. I am sure that Sue is going to be delighted with her new ship. Well, when we tell her that it's 'her' ship, that is. I somehow can't imagine her not figuring it out, as it passes by in review. Both Paul and Carl have been so tight lipped about it, that Sue calls me at least once a day to complain about their 'male chauvinism'. We really plan on getting her, but good.

"Construction of a space navy has been our highest priority. However, since our mine-laying vessels have basically shut down the hyperspace capabilities of the Gray's, with the self replicating mines; their entire race has been reduced to sub-lightspeed travel, on and around their home planet of Joboake. Hopefully we can expand that, and further reduce their ability by mining the other five planets we now know of.

"April, Terry and Lowsay have been hard at work developing 'first contact doctrine', as well as rules for Federation Member Worlds; the latter being far more simple than the former. An offshoot of this, had been a ground swell of people that want to invoke a 'Prime Directive'. I am not opposed to that, however I am doing my best to delay it until after the war with the Grays is over. Somehow, I don't think I want people dying, just to live up to a standard that should not apply to the Grays, anyway. And the Centauri would faithfully follow such a high standard, right through the gates of hell itself."

Prime: Federation House.

Jim was standing on the balcony watching the sunrise. He had come to enjoy the sight of Secondus, at dawn. It was too bad its visibility at this time of day varied so much. Only one out of every twenty days, on average, offered him a decent view of the blue-green planet. He stared in simple awe at the wonder of it. The clouds swirled around the planet like puffs of cotton drifting on the seas below. There were no storms to wonder at, however. Weather control had been perfected thousands of years ago. Violent storms were no longer allowed to form.

Jim was alone when a person shimmered into existence a few feet from him. He had always known this moment would come. Despite the white robe, with the long hood covering the man's face, he could feel that it was himself.

Time Guardian Jim said, "So. The end is about to begin."

President Jim said, "Yes, unless you have something to add that I am not yet aware of?"

Time Guardian Jim replied, "No. All is as it should be, save the first contact with the Blues?"

"Blues?"

"Yes. Humanoids with blue skin. We like to call them the Blues."

"I see. Then again, I can't be sure what I see, at times."

"A few years will pass before you will go back and do what need to be done."

"And you will resume your place when I leave?"

"It is as it should be, and will be again."

Jim asked, "Does that mean we are stuck in some kind of 'time paradox'?"

"Hardly. It's just that our dance looks like it repeats itself, even if it doesn't."

"Ok. So what brings me, er... you... here, today?"

"I needed to nudge you into contacting the Blues, before your battle with the Grays."

"Why?"

"I am afraid as much as I would like to tell you the answer. I didn't tell you, before."

Jim asked, "Are you trying to give me a headache."

"No, but you are about to get one."

"Why?"

"Because I just initiated the nano-bots in your system to increases the size of two organs in your brain."

Jim was apprehensive.

"Don't worry, I would not harm myself."

Jim relaxed at the inevitable logic of that statement.

"What organs?'

"They are called your Keb and your Cab," Time Guardian Jim said.

"And what are they for?"

"They will enable you to... Well, let's just say you will communicate better with your sixth wife, and with others."

"No chance of finding out who that is?"

Time Guardian Jim shook his head side to side, negatively, then shimmered and was gone.

Jim thought to himself, 'Why did I do that to myself?'

The headache started. It could have been worse. The nana-menu displayed an estimated completion time for the process of one hundred days. The message also said that the headache would end in a few hour's time.

Jim briefly wondered if he wanted to take an aspirin. Then realized that if he requested one from the replicator, Doctor McCoy would be running tests on him far longer than the headache would last. He decided he didn't need that kind of 'headache'. Then he mentally smiled at his play on words.

The family was gathered in the observation level of the space dock. It was something to which they were all becoming accustomed, though the young children like little Frankie were excited to see the new carrier.

The chairman of the ceremony began his boring speech. This time, though, he did not name the ship.

Sue said to Paul in a whisper, "Why are they still being so secretive of the name. Are they trying to surprise Jim again, or something like that?"

Paul whispered back, "Yes. Admirals Carl and Rainer themselves, are at the ship's controls."

Jim smiled as he realized he could hear Sue's thoughts of the new ship. This Keb and Cab stuff was starting to get really interesting.

It was a full-blown parade of ships. First, one hundred twenty two-man fighters came into view, flying in a rigid and tight formation. Then came a few support craft of varying types, sizes and purposes. They were followed by sixty Defiant class fighters. Finally, the ship itself came into view. The carrier was huge. Much bigger than what she herself had argued in favor of, almost two years ago. Its silver and gold metallic hull glistened in the light from the yellow sun. At well over three miles in length, the ship was a giant. The 'whiskers' (small robotic drones) encircled the ship, moving around it constantly. The carrier approached the reviewing deck of the 'Flowsman', finally orienting itself to reveal its name.

Sue was looking hard to focus on the name. She was able to read it, but couldn't make herself believe she could be seeing it correctly.

"The UFP C001 Sue Lin" said the Master of Ceremonies. "Now all that is left, is for the Admiral to take her name's sake on the shake down cruise."

Sue was overcome. The name was almost too much in itself. But the fact that she realized she was being given command of the ship, was everything she'd wanted, but never believed she would achieve.

Jim decided to try the newly enlarged organ in his mind.

"Go to your ship, Admiral," he thought into Sue's mind.

She couldn't tell how, but somehow she knew Jim was telling her to go to her ship. She was so emotional, that she didn't even realize that he had not actually spoken to her.

Sue beamed on board the 'Lin', to find two admirals waiting with big smiles. They performed a short ceremony that transferred the command to Sue. She finally had her own command. She only had to come... what, five light years to get it? When Carl and Rainer had transported off the ship, Sue gave her first command.

"All craft, full honors on my mark. 3, 2, 1, Mark."

With that, every ship under her command perform the honor roll. It was a complete 360 degree roll performed in space, to show respect for the others being honored. Then Sue ordered "fighter recovery under fire" conditions. With that every fighter and support craft perform a high speed docking one right after another. Finally, the order she had been waiting to give.

"Set course for Earth. Maximum warp."

The young female ensign setting at the helm replied, "Course laid in, Ma'am."

Sue said, "Engage!"

The Carrier UFP Lin set a new record speed, for warp drive. It took almost a cycle before she ordered all stop. They had overshot the Earth by 20 light-years. The calculations came back from the ship's AI: Warp Factor 32.4!

Lin reported in that her ship was going to do a little exploring, and would be back in two days.

Jim was on board the UFP James O'Neal. He watched as they approached the planetary system before him. April was settled next to him on the command couch.

She smiled at him thinking, 'It is time to do this.'

Jim had not advertised his growing abilities. He now could easily read the thoughts of others. It was difficult for him not to respond to the random thought that were not spoken. But he managed, somehow. He also refrained from thinking his own thoughts into the minds of others. He knew he could do so. But the few attempts he had tried, had resulted in questions he was unprepared to answer.

Jim was learning.

Jim started to speak.

"Computer. Captains Log: Star date 6.251

"We are approaching the home world of the Blues. We have not, as yet, made any contact. We expect that we will, shortly. Sensors are showing multiple launches of spacecraft using anti-gravity drive systems. Although not as well developed as ours, they seem to be capable of 1⁄4 impulse power and speed. I say impulse, because although not fast, they are using a pulse-based antigravity system."

The James O'Neal dropped out of warp, one light year from their home planet. According to Ambassador Lowsay, the people were quite advanced in their technology, but had not ventured out of their own system.

Annette was manning the com console.

She announced, "We are receiving a hail on their sunlight's resonant frequency."

The Ships AI system translated it quickly, due to the data provided by the Gardorians.

"Unknown vessel, please identify yourself, and your intentions," came a voice that sounded like a song.

It was whimsically intoxicating, even before the translation.

"Open the channel."

Jim grimaced at what he was about to say. Then decided he would get it over and done.

"Greetings," he began. "I am Jim Flowsman, President of the Federation of Planets. I am aboard the starship 'James O'Neal'. Our intentions are: 'first contact'"

There was a long pause.

"Please verify that you have no hostile intent towards us."

Jim smiled as he remembered the last time he did something similar to this. The Centauries had surrendered to him.

"Our intent is 'first contact'. We are not hostile."

There was another pause. A different, and very feminine voice came out of the speaker.

"Mr. President, are you the one foretold by the Guardians?"

Jim said, "If you speak of the Time Guardians, then I would not be surprised if that is the case."

The pause was short this time.

"How can we be sure you are as you say you are?"

Jim had a sudden thought flash though his mind.

Then he thought hard of broadcasting to the voice, "I am the one that is yet to come. Yet I am here in the now."

Jim wasn't sure if it worked until Jennifer said, "How long have you been able to do that?"

Jim answered, "First time. I hope it worked."

"Mr. President, I am called Gloria. I am the matriarchal head of the people of Luciana. I formally surrender the planet to you."

Ever member of Jim's family looked at him in stunned silence. Jim could feel the single thought on all their minds: 'Déjà vu'!

Strangely, despite the circumstances and situation they were in, he thought of a "gentleman's club" back on Earth, by that same name: Déjà Vu.

He briefly wondered why they would surrender. Then he thought it, 'Why?'

The voice came back over the speaker, "I do hope we got that part correct, that is supposed to be the response in the ancient legends of our planet."

"Do you understand the meaning of surrender?"

Gloria voice took on a whimsical tone again, "That is the response the ancient writings predicated. We recognize you as our new leader. Welcome to Luciana, Mr. President."

"Woe?"

"It wasn't me, honest!"

"We will see about that," Jim said. "We will see."

Annette said, "Orbital coordinates being received now. They're in Federation standard format."

"No doubt the Time Guardian's doing," Jim said.

"I swear, it has to be the work of some other Time Guardian."

Jim was looking at Woe's thoughts, and the one thing he was sure of, was that she was telling the truth.

'At least, the truth she knows it, and as of this date, ' he thought.

Jim briefly worried about his developing mental ability. He was starting to feel like Mr. Spock's 'mind meld', only he didn't have to touch people to do it. Then as if in response to his question his mind answered.