Summary[]
A hundred and fifty years after the Dominion War, a now-retired Zak Kebron tells his son of an experience during the war, and teaches him and his teacher a valuable lesson about viewing conflict.
The Excalibur is MIA for 18 months after slingshotting forward in time (Double Time). When the crew realizes they have jumped forward a year and a half, they begin to alert Starfleet Command of the situation. The Cheyenne-class USS Corinth appears and begins battling a Romulan warbird and the Excalibur joins in the fight.
The warbird is quickly over-powered after which the Corinth begins firing on the Excalibur but flees when it realizes it is outgunned by Calhoun. The Romulans hail the Excalibur to tell them they are now allies in the war, and that the Corinth was stolen by Cardassians for study. The Excalibur then pursues the Corinth, which is boarded and retaken.
Zak Kebron tells this story to his son, Cal, for a school report, saying it was the only part the Excalibur had in the Dominion War. Cal's teacher confronts Kebron, saying the story is a complete lie. Kebron tells the teacher that his lessons about the glories of war are a lie, because there is no glory in war. Kebron says the only glory to be found in war is through individual accomplishment from individuals refusing to be defeated. Kebron then continues saying that many accepted war stories are fabrications and that no war truly ends. He tells of Sisko's lie about the Romulan senator whose death brought the Romulans into the conflict and that when the fabrication was discovered many years later it led to the Third Great Earth Romulan War.
References[]
Characters[]
- Burgoyne 172 • Mackenzie Calhoun • Cal Kebron • Zak Kebron • Kelner • Robin Lefler • Mark McHenry • Elizabeth Shelby • Soleta
- Referenced only
- Benjamin Sisko • Taggart
Starships and vehicles[]
Locations[]
Races and cultures[]
- Brikarian • Cardassian • Changeling • Hermat • Human • Vulcan • Xenexian
States and organizations[]
Other references[]
- cloaking device • Dominion War • Federation Medal of Valor • grappling gun • grappling hook • mentor • photon cannon • Third Great Earth-Romulan War • tractor beam
Appendices[]
Related stories[]
Timeline[]
| published order | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous story: A Song Well Sung |
Tales of the Dominion War
|
Next story: Requital |
| chronological order | ||
| Previous Adventure: 11:59 |
Memory Beta Chronology | Next Adventure: Tales of the Dominion War Requital |
| Previous Adventure: 11:59 |
Next Adventure: Tales of the Dominion War Requital | |
| The above chronology placements are based on the primary placement in 2375. The Pocket Books Timeline places events from this story in one other timeframe: | ||
| Previous Adventure: Strange New Worlds VI One Last Adventure Section 1 |
2525 Sections 1, 3 |
Next Adventure: Strange New Worlds 9 Gone Native |