Star Trek: Voyager Homecoming (A Voyager Fanfic)

[Captain Michael Pike]

Star Trek: Voyager
Homecoming
Written by Matthew Walker


Chapter One


"Set a course,for home," Kathryn stood before the viewscreen, before her crew, and before Starfleet, with tears welling up in her eyes. The events of the past few days were indescribable, Admiral Janeway returning from the future in an effort to rescue her ship and crew from a fate that was unacceptable for her to live with. The realization that she had succeeded was slowly sinking in, though Earth filled the viewscreen it was still difficult to believe that after seven years and seventy thousand light-years, Voyager was back in the Sol system. Kathryn wiped absentmindedly at the tears that streamed down her face.

Voyager, for the most part, was better now than when she had started out. Transphasic torpedoes, ablative armor generators, multi-spatial probes, the Delta Flyer. Kathryn had been in secret contact with Starfleet's top brass since Reginald Barclay had established communications with Voyager. She had been feeding them the specifications for many of their adaptations the crew had made to the ship, now she expected no less than a few hundred meetings with Admirals, Vice Admirals and God-knew-who-else. That did nothing to overshadow her triumph, her return, and her homecoming. She laughed inwardly, in high school she secretly wished she would be picked as her school's homecoming queen, now she was the planet's homecoming queen.

"I'll be in my readyroom, no doubt I'll be the talk of the town for the next several days," Kate said as she ran her fingers through her hair, "Try and be kind, Commander, if they ask anything personal."

"I'll do what I can," Chakotay said, his quiet strength ebbing from him as he tried to suppress his excitement and trepidation. He clearly feared Starfleet's ruling on his activities during the years he was operating in the Maquis, but he had faith in Janeway's ability to help him and his former crew who were now their crew. He gave her his patented wry smile; which she returned in kind.

"If Starfleet calls, you know where I'll be," Kate said as the thought "IF?" ran through her mind.

Voyager continued on her journey escorted by every ship in the sector, continued towards her goal, Earth...Home... Kate stared out the windows she had so often sat before. The ones the she had twice before seen Earth through, once a trick of Q another a trick of time. Thoughts ran unbidden through her head, grim and terrible thoughts of anger, retribution, the destruction of several lives. Lives she had spent the last seven years molding, shaping, and caring for. Her first thoughts went to Chakotay and the rest of the Maquis crew. Kate decided that if they were to be punished for their crimes, she would use her very last ounce of strength to see that their sentences were abolished. They had been no less a part of her crew than Harry Kim or Tuvok. Thoughts flashed again to Seven, "What would become of the former Borg drone?" she asked herself. Few in the Federation had any sympathy for Borg, even former Borg. Again, the thoughts changed to the crew of the Equinox...undoubtedly there would be a hearing for their actions against both Voyager and the alien species they were murdering. "One thing at a time," she thought calming herself.

The desktop computer beeped with an incoming message from Starfleet Command. "Surprise, surprise?" she thought sourly. Her triumph was quickly becoming her nightmare; at least out there SHE controlled what happened here, to these people, to these lives. Out there she was THE CAPTAIN, here she was just a captain, one of many. She sat in her chair, for the first time on years it seemed uncomfortable, or maybe it was she who was uncomfortable. The face of Admiral William Ross filled the tiny viewer.

"Admiral?" Janeway asked questioningly. She had little knowledge of the Dominion War and less of Ross' involvement. He smiled knowing exactly that.

"Ross, William Ross. I am Fleet Admiral for the Sol sector, at least for now," he chuckled slightly. Apparently it was an inside joke she just didn't get.

"Good to meet you Admiral, what is it I can do for you?" She said suspiciously.

"Perhaps it is more of a question of what I can do for you Captain. You see I have dealt with the Federation Council, the President, Starfleet Command and the Klingon High Chancellor very closely for the last few years. I have some pull. I've been reading the reports of Voyager's troubles since we first realized you were still out there. I guess you could call me a "Voyager"," Ross swept his hand encompassing the readyroom behind her. "I just love that ship and her crew. I stand ready to support you and your crew should any 'legal' troubles arise."

"I see," Janeway said, her voice softening and her smile reappearing. "Thank you Admiral, I'm sure we'll know soon what is to become of us...all of us."

[Lindley]

Very good so far. Careful with the title, though---some might get confused with the upcoming book by CG named the same thing.

[Captain Michael Pike]

OK here's the disclaimer. This IS not the Voyager book! All rights and characters related to Star Trek are reserved by Paramount. The truth is...I couldn't think of a better name. LOL!

[Captain Michael Pike]

Chapter Two


Seven punched up a live picture of Earth. Inside she was shaking with fear. Some had already extended warm thoughts toward her, her Aunt for one. Those were invitations to Annika Hansen though, not Seven of Nine Tertiary Adjunct to Unimatrix Zero One. She was still not comfortable with the name...Annika still didn't sound right. She began to wonder what would become of her, would she need to move to some unknown city far from the prying eyes of, well...anyone? Would she find acceptance among Earthlings, Klingons, Romulans, and Vulcans? Well at the very least she was assured she could find acceptance on Vulcan, they weren't entranced by past actions that one had no control over and they weren't encumbered by the prejudices of emotion. She nearly jumped from her skin when the pneumatic doors swished with the sound of someone entering the astrometrics lab. She whirled around to see Chakotay enter. Her worries were forgotten for a moment as she looked into his knowing eyes.

"Brooding?" He asked, as if he didn't know what she was doing. "It's not healthy Seven."

"The Doctor can be the judge of my health," she said in a playful tone. Her playfulness was slowly but surely returning and her comfort with the unknown future grew with each moment she was in his presence. She was no longer doomed to a premature death in the Delta Quadrant. Things were status quo again.

"Well, since you're obviously healthy," Chakotay eyed her, "I suggest dinner. I know this great little place in New Orleans...at least I used to. It's called Sisko's."

"Indeed? I have yet to try Cajun style food. It could be....interesting," she sauntered over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He leaned in and kissed her, happily for the first time in days.

"We arrive in orbit of Earth within a few hours, be prepared to enjoy a wonderful dinner...after our debriefing of course," Chakotay added.

"Of course, though I thought our date would be sometime this week..." she said matter-of-factly.

"Touch�!" he said as he left the lab. He had places to go and people to see. When he entered the sickbay, B'Elanna was holding the tiny Miral. She was a beautiful baby and the proud father Tom stood protectively over them.

"Hello, mommy and daddy," He mused, chuckling.

"Daddy? That's weird," Tom said.

"You have about a year to get used to it, Tom. She won't be speaking by tomorrow," B'Elanna murmured.

Harry and Kathryn walked into the sickbay. "Who's running the ship?" Janeway asked amused, she threw her hands up, "We get home and suddenly the crew is ready to abandon ship."

"Hardly, Tuvok actually sent us down here!" Harry said incredulously.

"We must be rubbing off on him," Chakotay added.

"I find that hard to believe, it's more likely your fidgeting annoyed him. He was only doing himself a favor by getting rid of you," Tom answered.

"Well in either case, visiting hours are over. You have seen Miral, now I suggest you leave sickbay. Mother and child need their rest. Shoo! Shoo!" the Doctor said making a big show of waving his hands and shooing them off.

"Alright, alright...we get the message Doc," Harry muttered.


Naomi Wildman ran furiously through her quarters. They had finally reached Earth. Mom was happy, she was happy...heck the whole ship was happy. Well, almost the whole ship. There were a few crewmen she had passed who seemed less than excited to be back in the Alpha Quadrant.

"Naomi, what did I tell you?" Samantha Wildman asked the rambunctious child.

"I know I know, we won't be leaving Voyager for days. We won't see Dad for maybe longer," Naomi bubbled even through that slight disappointment. Her father was on K'taria, his homeworld. He hadn't been expecting Voyager's return...no one had. He had, however, caught the first transport back to Earth.

"You know, I have heard rumors of a parade. A lot of people are going to want to see the first child born on Voyager. What do you think of that?" Samantha asked worriedly.

"No big deal. We've fought the Kazon, the Borg, the Hirogen...what's the big deal about talking to a few humans?" Naomi wondered aloud, "Mom, what's going to happen to Neelix?"

Samantha Wildman was taken aback; she knew the question was coming. "Well, Neelix will continue to be the Federation Ambassador to the Delta Quadrant."

"I know, but can we still see him? Can I still talk to him?" Naomi wondered.

"To be honest, I don't know. Starfleet used a lot of power to contact Voyager because a lot of people wanted them to...needed them to. Now, I'm not so sure they will continue to do so," Samantha told her honestly.

Tom Paris returned to his quarters for the first time in almost two days. He was exhausted and he was lonely. "These quarters never seemed so empty before" Tom thought aloud. He sat on the couch and turned on the television Belanna had built for him. It wasn't long before he was asleep.

Hours later, the door chimed...and chimed...and chimed. He slept through it for nearly tem minutes before his father, Admiral Owen Paris, tapped his comm badge and shouted, "Thomas Eugene Paris stand at attention!" Tom snapped awake and straight up into an old style military salute. When he realized it had come over the comm, and the door chimed again he granted entrance. Owen Paris looked at his son, an awkward silence overwhelming thee two of them.

"Well, you haven't lost it, sir," Tom said mildly angry and mildly amused at the same time.

"Obviously...I...I don't know where to begin except that I'm proud. So very proud of you and your family?" Owen said the last two words dubiously.

Tom shuffled awkwardly before his father, "Have you met them yet, Dad?" Tom added emphasis on his last word.

"I was waiting for you, son!" Owen added the same emphasis on his last word.

"Then I think it's time you met them," Tom said throwing his arm over his father's shoulder and escorting him to sickbay.

Tuvok sat quietly in the center chair, commanding Voyager home. Now that she was in orbit it hardly seemed necessary. A message had been waiting for him and it was undoubtedly from his wife, T'Pel. Though it was illogical to anticipate reading it, he knew that his anticipation grew with each moment. It was, he assured himself, due to the disease which was eating away at his logic. He shifted in the seat.

"We're being hailed," the ensign at tactical told him.

"Put them through Mr. Tyree," Tuvok said his attention returned to the tasks at hand.

"Earth station McKinley to Starship Voyager, you are cleared for docking. Please turn control over to automated systems," the woman's crisp voice stated.

"Acknowledged," Tuvok said. Now he could turn his attention to the message that was waiting.

[ivylgtiger]

Very good start!

I must say I am alittle more than startled as to how
so many of us seem to be writing along the same lines.
In the novel I am working on, I have a character called
Morgan Tyrie.....perhaps it is the collective unconscious
at work as Jung would say.

[Captain Michael Pike]

Chapter Three

Tuvok returned to his quarters, he had decided to meditate in an effort to calm his emotional disarray. He sat before he glass table and lit the Vulcan meditation flame. His concentration focused on the flame and his thoughts returned to their logic. When the meditation was broken, Tuvok checked the chronometer. Typically, it took mere moments for Tuvok to attain a return to logic, this time it had taken nearly two hours. He walked to the viewscreen on the wall and tapped in some commands.

"Tuvok, It is my understanding that all is not well with you," T'Pel began; her total logic was complete and unswerving. "I have missed you, husband and have decided to return to Earth to assist you with you debilitation. I will arrive within hours, husband. Peace and long life," T'Pel gave the Vulcan salutation and signed off.

"T'Pel is coming here?" Tuvok wondered aloud before realizing he had done it. "Perhaps it is for the best considering my situation" Tuvok thought to himself.

Harry Kim likewise returned to his quarters where a message waited for him, undoubtedly from his mother and father. He smiled as he picked up the clarinet he had spent the last several years practicing. It had cost him several replicator rations, but it had also made him feel instantly closer to his parents. Now, he was here...home...and his parents were merely waiting for him to walk through the front doors of their South Carolina home.

When he opened the message he was shocked to find it had come, not from his parents but his fianc�, Libby. She appeared upset as if she was about to break some bad news. "Harry, I don't know what to say, except welcome home. I need to introduce you to someone," She said and another familiar face filled the screen.

"Lasca?" Harry wondered aloud. He had met the lieutenant during the time he had been caught in the space-time stream and returned to Earth. He had been Harry's partner in developing the Yellowstone proto-type runabout. Lasca held a baby and Harry's heart fell as he could tell what the rest of the message would say.

He listened numbly as Libby continued talking in the recorded message, "Harry, This is my husband, Robert Lasca and my son, Harry. We named him after you Harry." Tear streamed down her face.

"Harry," Robert took control, "We'd like to invite you to dinner and to meet your namesake. We would be honored if you would accept."

Harry wanted to rip the console from the wall. "Dinner? With my namesake? And a homewrecker?" His mind screamed. He had spent the last seven years trying to return to his life at home and with Libby and now that was not a possibility. He had to talk to Tom.

"Computer, location of Tom Paris?"

"Tom Paris is in sickbay," the crisp computer voice informed him. Well he knew where he was going now.

Harry burst into sickbay only to encounter an exhausted looking Tuvok being treated for the chemical imbalance in his mind. The man who had taught him Kaltoh was deteriorating more quickly now that they had returned home, but that was soon to change as his wife, T'Pel was cleared to dock with Voyager within the hour. Harry looked around and spotted them. Tom, B'Elanna, Miral and Owen Paris were all crowded into a corner of the sickbay.

"Uncle Harry!" Tom called as he waved his hands for Harry to join them. Harry smiled to himself suddenly realizing how much their lives had changed since seven years ago. His life wasn't on Earth with Libby anymore; it was here with his friends and his family.

"Who would've thought seven years ago that this was how things would turn out?" Harry said as he was approaching the group.

"Not me!" B'Elanna said.

"Me neither," Owen Paris added. He turned to the baby and continued making googly faces at her. She had already captured his heart and she seemed to have fixed the entire family. "Of course after al the hubbub you will be joining me and Tom's mother at our home in San Francisco?" Owen said hopefully. B'Elanna exchanged knowing looks with Tom, not a word was said but the meaning was clear.

"We'd be happy to!" B'Elanna said mustering as much cheer as she could. Harry just smiled. Tom was finally making peace with his father, maybe because he was now a father and understood some of what his father had felt.

Kathryn Janeway entered the sickbay. She was wearing a new issue Starfleet uniform; the grey shoulders and red tunic seemed odd somehow. Now that they were using Station McKinley's power she could indulge herself. She glanced around the room and spotted Admiral Paris. Nervously she straightened and tugged at her uniform to ensure she was shipshape before she approached him.

"Admiral, I had no idea you were here. If you had informed me we could have offered you a tour of the ship," Kate shifted uncomfortably before him. The man had always made her nervous and eager to please him.

"Easy Kathryn, this isn't official Starfleet business, it's a family matter," he said slinging his arm over Tom's shoulder and holding Miral's tiny finger in his hand. Miral gurgled happily. Janeway smiled at the happy family finally reunited.

"Does anyone still work here?" She said looking at Tuvok and Harry.

"Only captains and holograms," the Doctor muttered. "Haven't you heard we're home?" The Doctor seemed less than pleased at the prospect.

"Something wrong Doctor?" Janeway asked.

"Nothing the EMH Mark Ten can't handle, I'm sure," the Doctor foresaw a future where his program had grown obsolete all in the few hours it had taken to get to Earth orbit.

"We're not replacing you Doctor, how could we?" Janeway softened. The EMH relaxed slightly.


"Captain, several Starfleet Admirals have been authorized to beam aboard. I guess it has to do with a few meetings you've scheduled?" Chakotay's voice reminded her over the comm.

"I'm on my way to Transporter Room One now, please meet me there, Commander," Janeway replied. Maybe now she could get some answers to her many unanswered questions.

"Meet you there," Chakotay answered.

As she exited the sickbay, Admiral Paris caught up behind her. She looked at him. "THIS is official business, Kathryn," he smiled and winked. Apparently he knew some things she didn't.

[Captain Michael Pike]

Chapter Four


Kathryn entered the transporter room and looked over Chakotay. He too was wearing the new issue uniform; there was no need to be stingy with the replicators anymore. Owen Paris entered just behind her and nodded at the Commander. Janeway said to Ensign Alaya, "Energize."

The transporter pad filled with a half-dozen admirals, their aides and one other surprise, Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Janeway wondered what he was doing on Voyager. Surely, he could simply have sent his congratulations via subspace. For so many years he had been the shining star in Starfleet, maybe he was just here to check out his new competition. She smiled inwardly; maybe she really was the talk of the town.

"Captain, Commander, I am Admiral Alynna Necheyev. We have much to discuss before anything leaks out," Necheyev was all business and Janeway nodded her understanding. Many of the newest alterations were undoubtedly to remain classified.

"I've already spoken to the crew, Admiral. I assure you that anything...unusual on Voyager is classified. They won't speak to anyone about the modifications," Janeway assured her. She knew the extremely delicate nature of the modifications.

Necheyev visibly softened, "Very good, Captain. I was told you are a smart woman and an excellent captain, you have just proved both of those comments."

"Thank you, now if you'll follow the Commander, we can get this meeting underway in the observation lounge," Janeway swept her hands to the doors and the group fell in line behind Chakotay. Janeway waited greeting each admiral and aide, but waited specifically for one in particular.

"Captain Janeway, very well done,?"Picard stopped before her.

"Thank you, Captain Picard, but I can't help wonder why you're here?" she held back nothing.

"Indeed, it is more of a personal matter. I was told you've interacted with the Borg and their Queen; I wanted to be assured they were destroyed. I thought once before that she had died," Picard finished.

"I'm sure we'll have time to discuss that later, Captain," Janeway said as Picard followed behind the rest. Still Janeway waited as William Ross approached her.


"Captain, things are not so bad as you probably think they are. Relax all is well," Ross whispered his secret. Janeway visibly relaxed with his assurances.

The Starfleet delegate entered the lounge and began to take the available seats. Necheyev sat to the immediate right of Captain Janeway who took her place at the head of the table. Chakotay took the left seat across from Necheyev.

"Well shall we get started?" Janeway asked.

"Very well Captain," Admiral Necheyev said folding her hands in front of her, "We are here to clear up a few loose ends. Namely, transphasic torpedoes...ablative armor generators...where did these things come from?"

"Simply put...the future. If you want the longer version that could take some time," Janeway smiled. She had no intention of lying. She had no reason to.

"Well, I think the longer version is definitely in order captain," Necheyev said obviously displeased by the short version.

"I'm sure that can be arranged, Admiral. First, I want some assurances and some questions answered," Janeway folded her arms, showing Necheyev she wasn't saying a word until her questions were answered.

"Alright, Captain it's the least we can do to accommodate you," Necheyev seemed resolute in getting her answers. "Let's start with Voyager herself, she has been reassigned to the Starfleet Bureau of Intelligence. I'm sure we can all agree on the need for secrecy when discussing her ...modifications?" Necheyev watched as nods of agreement were issued throughout the room. "When and if Voyager is deemed declassified, she will be refit and upgraded, but she will not be under your direct command, Captain Janeway."

"Excuse me?" Janeway protested. "I've been with this ship since before her launch from Utopia Planitia, I don't intend to turn her over to just anyone."

"She will not be turned over to just anyone," Necheyev looked at Chakotay as she pulled out of her bag a black velvet case, "She will be turned over to the command of Captain Chakotay."

Chakotay took the black case and opened it, inside were four golden pips signifying his promotion. He beamed with excitement realizing he was not going to prison, "Thank you, I don't know what to say."

"Thank you is sufficient, Captain. Congratulations," Necheyev smiled at him. "As for you Captain, you will be in command of Starfleet's Bureau of Defense. You and Seven of Nine have been reassigned. You know more about these advances, the Borg, and other possible threat forces from the Delta Quadrant. It will be your job to coordinate the dissemination of information about these species and their capabilities."

"That is a job better suited to an Admiral. I'm a Captain," Janeway said feeling her grip on the captain's chair slipping. Necheyev, for her part, seemed pleased to hand Janeway a box of her own with a new set of Admiral's pips in it.

"So it is," Necheyev soothed her harsh voice. "Congratulations to you also, Admiral. As for the rest of the Maquis, all charges of criminal activities have been dropped. We learned a lot of things during the Dominion War, one was know your enemies and you are no longer our enemies. We have extended invitations to the rest of your crew, Captain, to make their ranks and positions official. We have also included the dismissal of charges."

Necheyev paused; she looked around at the rest of the admirals before starting again, "As for the Equinox crew...there will be a court-marshal hearing to determine the amount of culpability in their cases. What they did, under the auspices of returning home, is inexcusable I cannot make any promises, Admiral, but in all likelihood they will be cashiered from Starfleet. At most, they will spend some time in the New Zealand penal colony."

Janeway nodded. So far everyone had gotten off fairly easy. "Your ship and its crew are heroes to the Federation, Starfleet, and the entire quadrant. Sacrificing yourselves on several occasions, ensuring the welfare of other species, fighting your way back from a no-win situation, you embody all the principals that we, the Federation, stand for. For that, you will forever be remembered in the annals of history. Now, shall we get down to business?" Necheyev looked to Janeway for her own answers.

"Well it all started a few days ago, when we decided to study a nebula," Janeway began to recount the story of how they had come home and who had helped them get there.

Tuvok stood before an airlock. A shuttle pod had just docked; it carried the one he had waited for. For months now, Tuvok had fought the effects of an increasing Ponn Far instability. Tom Paris had created a holographic representation of T'Pel with whom Tuvok had engaged in the ritual, but the holographic representation could not fulfill his primal urges. His blood fire was sated, but the chemical imbalance it created caused a bigger problem. Now, that was all about to change. He was about to be reunited with his mate, his wife.

T'Pel emerged from the air lock and Tuvok breathed deeply of her scent. "Greetings husband," T'Pel saluted.

"Greetings wife. The time of Ponn Far is upon us. Let us not waste anymore time," Tuvok was barely able to control his urge to grab her, hold her, taste her. His desire was palpable and her scent grew stronger.

"That would be illogical and inadvisable," T'Pel stated calmly.

Tuvok took his wife's hand gently; it took considerable effort to control even that, and led her to his quarters. The time of Ponn Far was upon them both.

Tom and B'Elanna passed the two in the hall. Tom smiled and nodded but it was obvious that Tuvok had other things to consider. He looked at B'Elanna and laughed out loud, "Who would've thought Tuvok was such a hornball?"

"Tom!" B'Elanna slapped him on the arm with her free hand. "You know what happens to Vulcans every seven years."

"That happened months ago," Tom said as he realized he let the cat out of the bag.

"What?" B'Elanna said incredulously, "And you didn't tell me? You know how Vulcans get?" B'Elanna said remembering her own experience with Vorik several year back. "That's the cause of his illness isn't it?"

Tom shrugged he hadn't really thought about it. They continued back to their quarters. They had a lot of planning to do if they were going to spend time with the Parises.

Icheb looked out the windows in the mess hall. He had been planning on taking his academy courses aboard Voyager, now it seemed he would actually have to enroll in Starfleet Academy and that thought alone scared him more than the Borg. He was so wrapped up in his thoughts; he never heard Seven approach him.

"Icheb, are you alright?" Seven asked concerned about his feelings. She could sense his fears as much as she could sense her own.

"I am worried that I will not be...accepted," Icheb voiced his fears.

"At the academy? That is absurd. You are..."

"Not at the academy," Icheb cut her off mid-sentence. He looked into her eyes seeing Seven's own fears of prejudice.

"I understand," was all Seven could say to reassure him. Somehow, it was enough. Together they stared at the swirling clouds on the great blue ocean.

[ivylgtiger]

Great new chapters!

[Captain Michael Pike]

Chapter Five


Cheers and tickertape rained down on the crew of Voyager as they traversed the streets of Paris, the capitol city of the United Federation of Planets. Overhead, fireworks flared to life and died out in the night sky. Millions of people who were lucky enough to be early had gotten great streetside seats so that they could see the crew. Janeway wore her new admiral's uniform, Chakotay had his captain's pips on, Harry sported his Lieutenant Commander pips, Tom and B'Elanna had both resiged their commissions and decided to settle on Earth to raise their daughter Miral but even they still wore their uniforms. Naomi stood in the back of the hovercar she was riding in, waving at the spectators, of all of them; she was enjoying her newfound fame the most. The Doctor's mobile emitter glinted in the spotlights that shone down from overhead as he, Seven, Tuvok and T'Pel rode together in their own car.

'Overhead' Janeway thought as she pictured the hundreds of Starfleet vessels in the orbit not to mention the ones in the sector. She looked to the sky but could see no signs of those vessels moving through the sky. Those were the captains and the vessels she now had a bit of command over, it was overwhelming. A Federation press vehicle hovered several meters above them transmitting the proceedings to thousands of ships and hundreds of worlds.

"Voyager returns triumphantly from the Delta Quadrant after seven years of struggle and turmoil. In the wake of these fantastic events, Kathryn Janeway and crew are dubbed heroes and are enjoying their celebrations. The question on everyone's mind is what do you do now, Captain Janeway?" a reporter rammed his microphone into Janeway's face.

"Well you'll notice, it's Admiral Janeway now. I've been promoted to head of Starfleet Defense. It will be my job the begin readying the fleet for any number of species invasions from the Delta Quadrant. Threat forces and assessments will be compiled for command and relayed to all ships throughout the Federation. For the next week, though, I'm going home. My mother and sister have extended invitations to join them and I don't want to let them down."

"And what of the Maquis crewmembers? What will happen to them?" He persisted.

"Well you'll notice that Commander Chakotay is Captain now. He will command Voyager after her refit, until then he will assume temporary command of another vessel," Janeway motioned to the now Captain Chakotay. The reporter couldn't wait to get over and ask a few questions. Janeway was relieved when he asked Chakotay, "And what of Voyager? Why haven't we seen the ship since her return? Where is she and when will we be able to catch a glimpse of the miracle ship?"

Chakotay sighed and rolled his eyes slightly, "Well the truth is that Voyager is currently undergoing study. Starfleet Command wants to know about her current status and whether she is actually fit for duty. Until such time as we deem her so, Voyager will remain out of the public view." Chakotay had dodged that bullet rather well. "In the meantime, I'll be spending some time off-duty before assuming temporary command of the USS Charleston, a Saber class ship, which is in its final construction phase. If Voyager is deemed unfit I will permanently be assigned there."

"How do you think your crew will feel about serving under a former member of the Maquis?" as the reporter probed he began to grate on Chakotay's nerves.

This time Harry answered, "Speaking as his First Officer, I can assure you that I will expect no less than the crew's absolute and unswerving loyalty. Many of the crew will be former members of our crew on Voyager and those who aren't will respect the captain. He has helped Voyager return to the Alpha Quadrant and deserves no less respect than any of the rest of Voyager's crew."

"First Officer? Isn't that quite a jump in rank, from Ensign to Lieutenant Commander?" the reporter asked dubiously.

Harry shrugged it off, "I wouldn't hold that rank and position if Starfleet didn't feel I deserved it. I...We have all been through a lot in the last seven years. We've seen more than most Starfleet officers see their whole lives. You learn to grow up really quickly."

Kate laid her hand on his shoulder and smiled warmly. If anyone deserved a promotion it was Harry Kim. He had the most potential in the remaining crew.

Naomi Wildman defiantly placed her hands on her hips and yelled to the reporter, "What about me? I was the first child born on Voyager and I was the Captain's Assistant." Soon the reporter turned his attention to the young girl and the heroes let out a sigh of relief. Out of the limelight, at least for a few minutes. Kate looked at her crew, her family and realized this would probably be one of the last times they would all be together.

Elsewhere on the planet, the crew of the Equinox stood before a number of Judges trying to explain what had gone wrong. What had happened to make them turn to murdering aliens. One crew returned heroes and another returned criminals; still many of them would trade three years in the New Zealand Penal Colony for sixteen more years of hardship in the Delta Quadrant.

Marla Gilmore gulped nervously, she had hoped Captain Chakotay or even Admiral Janeway might come to lend moral support, but as she glanced around she couldn't see anyone else from Voyager. Noah smiled weakly, he was nervously fidgeting in his seat. He too looked around expectantly for someone else from Voyager, but they had been the misfits, the outcasts since their first day. Now they truly understood how outcast they were as they looked from face to face, judge to judge and no one from Voyager was there to offer support.

"What were your thoughts about Captain Ransom's orders to alter the warp drive, knowing you would be killing innocent aliens just to return to the Alpha Quadrant?" the stern judge loomed over them from his seat.

"Well we knew it was wrong," Marla began seeing the Judge's eyes narrowing, "but we were starving, the ship was falling apart and we couldn't survive another week much less another month. When we were eating, when we were surviving, we didn't think of the lives we destroyed only our instinct to survive ruled our conscious thought."

"And when you encountered Voyager and were safe within their walls, what possessed you to steal their technology. You had food, you had rest and you had your first hope for a normal life. Yet you chose to sabotage the ship, sacrifice her crew and resume your murderous journey home. Why?"

"We have no excuse. Captain Ransom played to our vulnerability, our desire to return home, our primal urge to return to family and friends who had long since assumed we were dead," Noah Lessing stepped in.

"To return as heroes?" the judge asked.

"Yes, he even played to our vanity," Marla explained.

"We will call recess. We have not yet finished this discussion, but we are quickly coming to a decision," the judge looked around at the bobbing head of his contemporaries. Marla gulped noisily again, whatever they decided wasn't good and she just knew it.

[Captain Michael Pike]

Thanks to those who have complimented my story...I'm kinda making it up as I go along. Also, this is my take on what happens (or should happen) to the crew of Voyager and I'm trying to be as true as possible to the characters. Please let me know if it is worthwhile? I don't want to be wasting my time.

Matt

[Seven of Nine]

Hey! Great story! I don't think Gene Roddenbury could've done better!

[Captain Michael Pike]

Chapter Six


"Admiral Kathryn Janeway?" Kate's mother said as the door to the house opened admitting Kate into the foyer. The house smelled exactly the same as she remembered it; bacon sizzled on the griddle next to some flapjacks that burned as Kate?s mother held her, tears streaming down her face.

"Mom, the pancakes are burning," Kate said through her own tears.

"To hell with them! I thought I'd lost you forever...I'm never letting you go again," Gretchen Janeway pulled her closer.

"You're going to have to sooner or later mom because I want my turn," Phoebe, Kate's sister, claimed next hug. Gretchen just pulled her into the embrace too and the three of them stood hugging in the foyer of the house as the smell of burning pancakes and bacon filled the house.

Suddenly the door chimed behind them and they turned around to see the tall, bald man standing in the open doorway. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything?" Jean-Luc Picard asked. He was out of uniform and carrying a bottle of wine with a bow wrapped around the top.

"Not at all, Captain. Please come in," Kate said as he handed her the meager gift of his family label wine and stepped into the small house. Phoebe and Gretchen made themselves scarce after years of meetings between Admiral Andrew Janeway and Starfleet Captains; they knew when business was about to be discussed. Kate motioned to the living room where Picard sat comfortably on the armchair and Kate sat opposite him on the couch. He looked as comfortable in that oversized chair as he would in his command chair and that fact alone irked Janeway.

"Admiral, I was wondering if we could continue our conversation regarding the Borg and their Queen?" Picard began.

"Alright Captain, except that I'm off duty, please call me Katherine," she asked, trying to sound as comfortable as he looked.

"Only, if you'll call me Jean-Luc," he smiled. 'Checkmate' Kate thought sourly. "I understand that you and your crew encountered the Borg several times in the recent past?" Janeway nodded. "I had thought that we had killed the Queen a short time ago," Picard's eyes grew distant as his thoughts returned to the Borg mangled Enterprise, Lily Sloane and Zephram Cochrane.

"During First Contact?" Janeway asked quietly.

"How did you know about that? That mission and its outcome were classified," Picard snapped back to reality.

"A little Borg told me," Janeway laughed recalling the time Seven had told her about the incident.

"But you encountered the Queen after that?" Picard asked more severely than he felt. At one point he had been the authority on the Borg, now it seemed he had some competition. "Do you think you've destroyed the Borg Queen, permanently?"

Janeway sat forward, leaning her elbows on her knees, "In truth Jean-Luc, during our last meeting and just before our arrival here, a neuralytic pathogen was released directly into the Queen herself. We felt that that alone should have destroyed the Queen and disrupted her hold enough that each ship's vinculum would be thrown into such chaos that the ship would self-destruct. Do I think we've destroyed the Borg? No...not completely, but we've effectively disabled them so that they will not be an issue for decades, perhaps centuries."

Picard nodded his understanding, "Thank you, Kathryn, that is what I wanted to know." Gretchen scooted out from the kitchen with a mug of fresh ground coffee and handed it to Kate who took it happily, no one made coffee like Gretchen Janeway.

"Would you like something?" she asked Picard.

"Please, some Earl Grey tea would be excellent," he no sooner finished than Gretchen scooted back off to the kitchen and emerged a few minutes later with another cup. There they sat for hours discussing the Borg, the Hirogen and any other number of species Voyager encountered.

Chakotay and Seven entered the bustling restaurant. Sisko's though large, was always packed wall to wall. Joseph Sisko approached them smiling his winningest smile, "Well, well who would'a thought Voyager's heroes would be visitin' my restaurant?" The old man bubbled with pride and heads turned to see who had entered. One man nearly fell out of his seat trying to catch just a slight glimpse of the two as they hurriedly made their way to a relatively quiet corner of the room.

"Ya know what? Anything you want to order is on the house. How can I charge you for my food after all you've been through? From what I've heard your Neelix could use a cookin' lesson or two," Joseph leaned in conspiratorially to share that bit with them.

Chakotay just shared a quiet smile with Seven, they both knew that a bowl of leola root stew would have made Joseph Sisko fall over from shock. "Chock full of nutrients, Commander" ran through Chakotay's mind, it was what Neelix always told him when he turned his nose up at the putrid stew.

"I recommend the shrimp gumbo, and when I recommend somethin' you know its damn good!" Joseph made the announcement to the whole restaurant. "Tony, get over here and take these good people's order!" Joseph shouted at the help.



Harry walked through the doors and said the words he had wanted to say for seven years, "I'm home!"

Harry's parents came running from whatever it was they were doing. He had been sure to tell them he was coming home the next day, so that he could surprise them. Both his father and mother entered the room and showered him with kisses, hugs and tears. He returned their affections. Soon the house would be bustling with the sounds of family, extended family, cousins, aunts, uncles and people he was sure he wouldn't even know, but for now they were happy just to stand in a circle looking at each other and hugging.



B'Elanna plopped on the couch, she was exhausted having been up with the ever cranky Miral. She was feeling more than a little overwhelmed by the baby, motherhood was especially hard for her. Her Klingon blood made her more temperamental than she wanted to admit and the lack of sleep wasn't helping any.

Tom carried bag after bag into his parent's home as Owen Paris cradled the sleeping baby. "Finally, someone else is doing the work" B'Elanna thought satisfied as she fell asleep. Owen stood glancing from sleeping mother to exhausted father (and son) and thought they might all be in for more than they bargained for.

The Doctor walked into the living room of Lewis Zimmerman, for now his only family. Lewis emerged from his holo-lab and threw his arms around the Doctor. His health had returned and his cellular decay had not only stopped but had actually reverted. The nano-therapy the Doctor had invented had worked better than they could ever have imagined. "Good to have you home!" Lewis bellowed.

"Home...home..." the holographic iguana reiterated.

The Doctor shifted uncomfortably, this definitely wasn't home. He couldn't wait to get back to Voyager the ship he had been trying to escape for seven years.

"Now, let's get a look at that mobile emitter," Lewis said prodding the device.


Tuvok and T'Pel returned to their temporary quarters at Starfleet Command, Ponn Far had been known to last for days...

Naomi shifted and ruffled her dress, she waited impatiently at the landing pad as the K'tarian freighter slowly descended from space. Samantha Wildman held her back, laying her hands on Naomi's shoulders gently. She knew that once her husband stepped off the ship, once he saw her and Naomi, that all self control would be lost and she would fling herself into his arms.

Icheb sat alone in his room at Starfleet Command. He rifled through some pads trying to take up some of his extra time. He no longer had anything to do, and Earth was as alien to him as he was to it. He waited for someone to talk to.

Everything was going exactly the way they had thought it would...or was it?

[Seven of Nine]

Coolistico!

[Captain Michael Pike]

Chapter Seven



Gretchen made her way down the stairs, a bundle of towels in hand and entered the living room, "Would you like to stay for dinner, Captain Picard?" Gretchen asked politely.

Picard looked up dumbfounded and realizing the time was later than he had thought quickly made his apologies and said his goodbyes. "I really must be going, the Enterprise is off to the Romulan border to host a diplomatic function." Kate smiled...she till had trouble believing the Federation was allied with the Romulans.

"Please feel free to stop in anytime, Captain," Gretchen invited as she resumed her walk to the kitchen.

Kate got up and began to walk her guest to the door. "It's true, you know, you're welcome anytime."

Picard nodded, "Thank you, but you know the life of a starship captain. I rarely get back to Earth."

Kate just nodded, "Well then, good luck with the Romulans." Kate added as she opened the door...on the other side was the one person she had wanted to avoid and he was just about to ring the doorbell.

"Mark!?" Janeway said more surprised than she wanted to admit. Jean-Luc left the humble house, passing by Mark on the way out and nodding.

"Was that Captain Picard?" Mark asked. Kate just nodded, unable to speak, "Incredible!" Mark said still standing on the doorstep. "Aren't you going to invite me in?"

Kate suddenly remembered he was still outside and motioned for him to enter. She had read his last letter; which detailed his wedding plans with a woman named Alyssa. It left her heartbroken for days...and now here he was without her, alone on her doorstep. A surge of hope ran through her. "Where's Alyssa?" she asked as they entered the living room.

"It didn't work out with Alyssa. I wrote that note to you assuming that we would still get married, but when I found out you were still alive and trying to get home to us...maybe even to me...well let's just say Alyssa couldn't live with me while I was still in love with you."

"I don't believe you Mark Johnson!" Kate said angrily.

"She left me Kathryn. She said she couldn't live with me...wouldn't live with me while I was still waiting for you to come home. She was afraid that if you ever got home I would leave her for you."

"So why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you send me another letter?" Kate said looming over him with her hands on her hips.

"She just left last week," Mark tried to explain, "just after the monthly mail had been sent."

Placated, Kate sat on the couch again. "So where do we stand?"

"I still love you and I still want to marry you, Kathryn Janeway," Mark moved over and sat beside her. He removed a box from his jacket pocket. It held the second engagement ring Mark had ever presented to her.

"Mark, I still love you too," Kate said.

"Why do I get the feeling there is a but coming?" Mark asked.

Then the other shoe dropped, Kate began, "But, things are still too hectic. I still don't have my orders...my crew is scattered and things just aren't the same...I"m not the same, Mark. Maybe in time..."

"Maybe," Mark echoed.

Chakotay ordered the shrimp gumbo and Seven ordered catfish Cajun-style. They were just about to begin eating when a roll flew across the restaurant.

"Get out, Borg!" a fanatic man shouted. "Get out Maquis!" he said as he tossed another volley of food. "You should both be in prison for your crimes!"

Joseph Sisko emerged from the kitchen, wisk in hand, ready to defend his newest customers. "What's all this about?" he demanded shaking the wisk at the disgruntled man.

"They don't belong here! They should get out...Go back to the Delta Quadrant, Borg! Traitor!"

"My food is for eatin' not throwin'! Now I suggest you just sit down and eat before I have you removed," Sisko pushed the man back to his seat.

"I can't eat here with Borg murderers and Starfleet traitors!" the man protested.

"Good, then you should get out," the man stared at Joseph Sisko as if he had three heads.

"What?!" he cried out.

"Get out and don't ever come back. Your type isn't welcome here!" Sisko said as his waiters came to help escort the excited man. Once he was out Joseph made his way back to the two, "Sorry, we get all kinds here lately. You know, just last year my son was attacked out back by a Bajoran fanatic. Kinda makes you wonder where the hell this planet's goin'," Sisko wandered back to the kitchen.

Chakotay and Seven exchanged puzzled looks, "What the hell just happened?" Chakotay mumbled.

"I wish I knew," Seven countered.

B'Elanna woke after four hours of sleep, it was the most she had gotten since Miral was born. Tom had also crashed on the sofa and was snoring rather loudly. B'Elanna smiled as she threw a blanket over him. She wandered into the kitchen where Tom's mother stood working over a stove.

"Good evening," B'Elanna said.

"Sleep well?" Evelyn Paris asked.

"Better than I have in days, I hope Miral hasn't been too much of a pest?" B'Elanna wondered.

"Not at all, she's been asleep in her bassinette for the last hour. Before that, Owen kept her entertained. He always had a way with babies," Evelyn admitted.

"I should check on her," B'Elanna said exiting the kitchen and walking up the creaky old stairs. When she entered the room, everything looked normal, but when she bent over the bassinette she realized it was empty. Miral was gone and no one knew to where.

Harry sat blissfully playing his clarinet for his mother and father and about a thousand other people who he was related to in some fashion. Even Libby and Robert were gathered in the house with their very cute son, Harry. Try as he could, Harry soon found himself enchanted by the baby and every minute he wasn't entertaining, he could be found holding the baby.

Irene Kim approached him, "Harry, your friend Tom is on the comm. He looks worried...very worried."

Harry entered his parents bedroom, the only quiet place he could find to talk to Tom. When he sat down he noticed his mother was right, Tom was worried, "What is it Tom?"

Tom said the words Harry had never thought to hear, "It's Miral...she's been abducted..."

[Lindley]

Nice ominous ending, there.

The only issue I have with the story is, I thought Tuvok's problem was something completely different than Pon Farr. I could be wrong, but I don't think that's what his problem was in Endgame.

[Captain Michael Pike]

I just watched Endgame again yesterday...they never specified what Tuvok's problem was other than lower-than-normal neural transmitter levels. I just put the concepts of a delayed Ponn Far and that disease together. In endgame they said that only his family could help him...

[Lindley]

Just so you don't get the wrong impression, I do like the rest of your story a lot.

Again, its your story, of course. I just thought unresolved Pon Farr caused death, not insanity.....but its possible he had a strange version.

[Seven of Nine]

Maybe it was because he managed to half treat his ponn far that it was causing insanity, rather than death... otherwise all the vulcans on Voyager would've died!

[ivylgtiger]

True....the problem was similar to Sarek's of cellular
decay within the nervous system.

Also, there is no way that Janeway would accept a
proposal of marriage in such an off-handed way.
She would definitely expect Mark to prove himself
if she would even consider it at all.

The story is good, but it feels like you are
pushing to settle everything quickly. Have fun with
the pace!

[Lindley]

One last point---I could be wrong, but didn't Harry switch to Saxaphone? I seem to remember hearing that somewhere. Not that he couldn't still play Clarinet too, of course.

[Captain Michael Pike]

It's been a while since I added to this story...to be honest, I had a bit of writer's block. I decided to put it away for a while, then forgot about it. I'll be adding some new chapters soon (if anyone is interested).

Matt

[Captain Michael Pike]

Chapter Eight


Commander K�ovath stood over the screaming infant, he hated abducting the child. It was cowardly and not the way of the warrior. �Shut it up before I do,� K�ovath bellowed at his woman G�errun.

�She is hungry, my Lord,� G�errun informed the clueless captain.

Staring at her ample chest, K�ovath grunted, �Then feed her.� The implication was apparent.

�Breastfeeding is not an option, my Lord,� G�errun scowled.

�It is hard to believe that such a small thing could pose such a great threat to our house,� K�ovath growled. �I can not kill it, but I can not tolerate it either.�

�We need the child alive, my Lord. We must present her to the High Council and make het a member of House K'ovath thereby securing her house which was awarded to us after we proved the death of her grandmother, Miral,� G�errun explained for the hundredth time.

�You need not remind me again,� K�ovath seethed with anger, toward the baby or his woman he couldn�t tell.

K�ovath punched the locking mechanism on the door and stormed out of the room when the door slid aside.

Janeway couldn�t believe her eyes when she entered the Paris residence. The place was a shambles, furniture which had carefully been arranged was strewn about, personal items ransacked and the Parises themselves looked shell shocked. �Anything?� Janeway asked as she approached the distracted family.

�Nothing yet, Admiral.� Someone on the security team answered. Janeway nodded and moved to sit down with Tom and B�elanna.

�We have something,� came an excited voice from the stairwell. �It�s a hair�.a Klingon hair.�

�Klingons?� nearly everyone in the room wondered aloud. �What could they want with Miral?� Janeway asked, but it was obvious that no one in the room could answer that question. Not yet at least.


One hour later, Admiral Janeway was in the meeting she had arranged just minutes before. Captain Chakotay sat across the desk from her a grim look on his face. �Captain, we�re here to discuss your first official Starfleet assignment. One of our family, a Federation citizen has been abducted by Klingons. You will take the Charleston and begin an investigation. My advice would be to start with impulse trails any that can not be identified as registered ships should be tracked to their source. To that end I�m also assigning the Avenger and the Tolstoy to aid you in your investigation. What�s more I�ve noted a few vacancies in Department Head positions aboard your ship, I intend to fill those vacancies before you leave.�

�You mean that I can�t choose my own crew, Admiral?� Chakotay asked quietly.

�In this case, no, you can�t though I�m sure you�ll be satisfied with the crewmen I�ve assigned. I believe you know your chief conn, Lieutenant Tom Paris?� Janeway asked as a smile spread across her face, �and there�s your chief engineer, Lieutenant Paris?� the smile broadened.

�Good choices, but I thought they had decided to resign their commissions?� Chakotay asked.

�Apparently, they changed their minds and had some connections among the admiralty. I want you to begin immediately, Captain. Speed is of the essence if we want to find and rescue Miral.�

�I�m on it Admiral,� Chakotay stood and left Janeway�s office. He had a ship to command and a family member to find.

Marla Gilmore looked nervous, so far no one from Voyager had made a case for the Equinox crew.

The judge stearnly loomed over the remaining five members of the doomed ship. "This hearing was called to judge your culpability in the case of genocide committed aboard the Starship Equinox. It is our decision that you all participated in the murder of alien beings to foster your own goals. This is not something the Federation takes lightly, however, your subsequent actions in the return of Voyager, your performance evaluations, and kind words from Admiral Janeway, Captain Chakotay and numerous others aboard Voyager have added another element to this case."

Marla began to see a light at the end of the dark tunnel. The judge continued, "These are things we did not, could not ignore. If you had been in Federation space and committed these crimes, you would be mining dilitium on a penal asteroid for the remainder of your lives. Needless to say, you weren't, however, and your luck prevailed when Admiral Janeway decided to make you a part of her crew. You have shown remorse and some form of penance but we can not in good conscience allow you to go scot free. As such, it is our decision that you be remanded to the penal colony of New Zealand for a term of no more than ten years no less than three."

The other shoe dropped, finally Marla Gilmore knew her sentence. She couldn't help but be relieved. And though no one could personally show at the trial, Marla was grateful for Admiral Janeway and Captain Chakotay's help.

[Captain Michael Pike]

Chapter Nine


�Would you like a second helping Annika?� Gwendolyn Hansen asked. Seven still couldn�t get used to the name, Annika, it reminded her of times past and not all good times.

�No, thank you Aunt Gwen,� Seven declined more of the sweet strawberry shortcake that Gwen had baked for her.

Gwen was trying to appeal to Annika, but she wasn�t really relating to Seven of Nine. Before the silence could become anymore strained, the communications panel chimed. Gwen answered and found that Seven had a message. �It�s for you, Annika,� Gwen�s voice sounded melodic in the expansive room, �It�s from Starfleet.�

Seven quickly made her way to the panel. The Starfleet logo blazed on the screen with a subtext which classified the message as high priority. Seven opened the message using her new command codes and noted the tension in Katherine Janeway�s face. She began, �Seven, we have a problem��

After a few short minutes, the entire situation was explained and Seven knew she had work to do. Seven of Nine would have information for Chakotay on the destinations for half the ships which had departed earth orbit within the last week. If anything else, Seven of Nine was still efficient.


Icheb sat in class at Starfleet Academy. Particle physics was nothing if not dull when you knew as much if not more than the teacher. It was what they called a required class at the Academy and Icheb had no choice but to sit through the tedium. After what seemed like an endless lecture on quarks, class finally let out and Icheb had some time off before his next class.

As usual, Icheb made his ways down the halls of the Academy, alone. So far he hadn�t made any friends here and it was becoming lonely. Just as he rounded the next corner, he heard a voice from behind, �Hey�hey you, wait!� Ignoring the voice, Icheb continued. No one had shown any interest in speaking to him for the last three weeks. Why should that change now?

It wasn�t until he felt the hand on his shoulder and turned toward the voice that he realized it was him to whom the voice had called. Icheb�s eyes followed the hand on his shoulder to the owner, an average human teenager with sandy blond hair and intense blue eyes. �Icheb, isn�t it?� the boy asked.

�It is,� came the matter-of-fact response.

�Listen, I need some help in particle physics. Professor James told me to ask you if you would tutor me in your spare time,� the boy asked.

�Of course, I am free now if you would like to begin,� Icheb told him.

�Unfortunately, I�m not. I have track practice then warp theory�hey are you any good at warp theory, because I have to admit I could use some help there too.�

�When would be a good time?� Icheb inquired.

�I�m not sure just yet. I�ll have to check my schedule. Call me tonight around nine,� the boy asked as he ran off down the hall.

�I don�t know your name,� Icheb called to him.

�Riley Estes�but everyone calls me Rabbit.� Estes called back, obviously on his way somewhere important.

Commander K�ovath re-read the last paragraph of Klingon law. It was clear that the House Toral belonged to the youngest daughter of the Toral as stipulated by Toral himself upon his death. Toral had never had a male heir, but several generations of females had followed. First Miral, daughter of Toral, and then B�elanna daughter of Miral, and now Miral, daughter of B�elanna. Right now the youngest daughter of Toral was the screaming infant he had left in the care of G�errun. Miral Paris, heir to the House Toral, and bringer of poverty and dishonor to the House K�ovath.

�It is not fair,� K�ovath grumbled to no one, �It was I who engineered the fall of Miral, daughter of Toral, and the House Toral became mine after her death and disgrace. Now I must take Miral, daughter of B�elanna into the House K�ovath or lose everything in the eyes of the High Council.�

As the Klingon K�tinga class Bird of Prey screamed through Federation space on its way to Qonos and destiny, G�errun sat with the child cradled in her arms. �So much trouble for one so young,� G�errun cooed at the baby. Though she wouldn�t admit it to anyone else, she wanted this child as her own as a daughter of the House K�ovath. She sang a Klingon lullaby to Miral as she fed the baby milk from the replicator.

�Clear all moorings,� Chakotay ordered.

�All moorings cleared,� came the shaky response from Ensign Donovan Colt.

Chakotay turned to eye the young officer at tactical, obviously fresh from the Academy and asked him, �First time ensign?�

�Aye sir,� came the strained response.

�Relax, we�re not going to war�yet,� Chakotay smiled and the ensign seemed to relax a little, but it was enough. �Besides, we don�t want you blowing up space dock.�

�Ahead one quarter impulse, take us out of spacedock,� came Harry Kim�s first order as XO. He was smiling from ear to ear. He was happy to be home, but he was also happy to be back in space. Chakotay couldn�t decided which was stranger, Harry�s smile or his red uniform. Tom worked his console expertly.

�Clear from spacedock Captain,� came a steadier report from Ensign Colt. �Sir, there is an incoming message for you. It�s from Starfleet.�

�Put it through,� Chakotay ordered. He knew who was on the other side of that transmission.

�Captain,� Janeway smiled tiredly and Seven hovered over her shoulder, �First I want to wish you good luck. Bring back our baby, Captain. Second, I�m forwarding a report from Seven which details the travels of nearly half the ships which left orbit within the last week. I�m sure this will cut some time off your investigation.�

�No doubt, our thanks to Seven.�

Always the professional, Seven merely said, �You are welcome.� The message ended then.

�Tom, set heading 020 mark 369 and engage at maximum warp our first quarry is the Lexicon. It�s a small private freighter,� Chakotay ordered.


Tuvok sat on a sisal mat in the Desert of Relyth. His traditional family home was exactly the way he left it seven years ago, it was both comforting and disturbing. That was why he had traveled into the surrounding desert to meditate, to regroup. Since the conclusion of Ponn Far and the curing of his mental instability, Tuvok had resigned his commission in Starfleet and returned home to Vulcan.

He had thought, at the time, that he had made the right choice. Returning to Vulcan to be with his family had greatly appealed to him then. So why was he now questioning his decision?

As if in response to his inner question, the communicator he had brought with him beeped. �Tuvok here.�

�Husband, there is a message here from Katherine Janeway. She says it is urgent,� T�Pel explained reasonably.

�I am on my way,� Tuvok assured her.

[Captain Michael Pike]

Just introduced some new characters that will become a bigger part of this and my next Voyager Fanfic. Also changed an earlier part that some had decided didn't really fit (the part with Janeway and Mark). After I reread it, I realized it didn't really make sense (you were right!).

[Captain Michael Pike]

Chapter Ten


Icheb opened the comm channel and sent the request for communications through to Riley Estes. According to the chronometer, it was nine exactly. It took a few moments before Riley responded.

On the other end of communications, Riley was running a towel over his wet hair. �Just got out of the shower,� he explained. �When I said nine�I didn�t mean exactly.�

�I am sorry Cadet Estes,� Icheb apologized, �I can call back in a few minutes.�

�It�s really not a problem, and you can call me rabbit,� Riley responded.

�Rabbit?�

�Yeah, it�s a nickname I picked up on the track team at my old high school. I�m small and fast and somehow someone thought rabbit�it just stuck. Haven�t you ever had a nickname?� Riley asked innocently.

Icheb thought for a moment. �Once.�

�Well what was it?�

Hesitantly, Icheb answered, �Itchy. My friend Q called me that when he was on Voyager a year ago.�

�Q�like as in omnipotent being Q, Captain Picard�s Q?� Riley seemed excited by the idea.

�Actually, It was Q�s son. We can talk about it later though,� Icheb said, �Now we need to discuss your tutoring schedule.�

�Right, back to business. I�m only free Monday through Thursday from 5 until 8 pm and Sunday is wide open. Friday nights are swim meets and Saturdays are track meets.�

�It would be better if we could meet after class, to study the material covered in class,� Icheb reasonably explained.

�It would be, but I have track practice, then piano lessons, then I have swim practice at eight-thirty so I�ve really given all the time I have between 5 and 8.�

�Alright Cade�rabbit. I will see you here tomorrow at 5.�

�Agreed.�

�I�ve got it!� came a triumphant call from the engineering station on the USS Charleston. The bridge crew turned in surprise to see B�elanna Paris with a mixture of relief and determination and sadness on her face.

�What B�elanna?� Chakotay asked from his command chair.

�The ship that abducted Miral is called the Chal D�aq�the cunning warrior. It�s a K�tinga class Bird of Prey and it�s making a beeline for Klingon space,� B�elanna�s excitement was causing a tremor in her voice.

�How do you know it�s them,� Harry asked from the Ops station where he was conversing with the new chief Ops, Xanthere, a soft-spoken Andorian woman.

�I just know it,� B�elanna said as if she were daring anyone to question her.

�You heard her Tom, lay in a course for that ship and engage and maximum warp,� Harry ordered.

The Saber class vessel Charleston tore across subspace. No one was certain, except B�elanna, that this was where Miral was. But they had to check every ship and this one sure was suspicious enough. No one could know that this was definitely their quarry and she wasn�t going down without a fight.

Tuvok sat before the obsidian colored screen, the Starfleet emblem still emblazoned across its face, and pondered the news he had just heard. Though he was intrigued by the events surrounding Miral Paris� disappearance, he was not sure what he could do to help. Already several starships were tracking the movements of all traffic to and from earth in the past week. Starfleet Security had issued advisories to look out for the missing child and the Federation was put on alert. What contribution could he make?

Then it occurred to him. Reopening the comm. channel, Tuvok waited to explain his thoughts to Admiral Janeway.

Seven sat among a group of Starfleet admirals and captains, a daunting experience for most but she was Seven of Nine and she would not allow nervousness to get the better of her. �The Hirogen,� She began, �are a species of hunters.�

�Hunters?� Admiral Ross asked, �Why is that important? How are they a threat?�

�The Hirogen are hunters to exclusion of all else. To them, the hunt is the only thing that is important. Trophies are a status symbol among their people and they have yet to acquire a human trophy.�

A quiet pall exuded the room as the implication set in. �So it is your opinion that these Hirogen would attack Starfleet just to obtain these trophies?� Admiral Edward Jellico asked.

�Not Starfleet as a whole, but ships at the outer edges of Federation space and nearest to the Delta Quadrant and even in the Gamma Quadrant should be put on high alert and all data on the Hirogen should immediately be dispatched to them,� Seven put the matter into perspective.

�Let�s discuss the Cooperative,� Alynna Necheyev suggested.

�As you wish Admiral,� Seven was quickly becoming annoyed by the non-stop questions presented by Necheyev since her only concern seemed to be the Borg. The Delta Quadrant had several other species just as dangerous, but, to utilize a human idiom, Necheyev couldn�t see past the end of her nose.

�Admiral Janeway, there is a Cadet Rev here to see you,� the ceiling mounted comm speakers issued forth Kate�s secretary�s voice.

�Send her in, Susan,� Kate sighed. She had been waiting for the cadet to arrive. In fact, she had already seen several cadets this week. Interviewing for interns was nothing if not tedious. If only she could hear some news from Chakotay.