Star Trek Voyager: Birthrights

[Captain Michael Pike]

Star Trek: Voyager
Birthrights
Written by Matthew Walker


Prologue




"Very well, the House Toral becomes the House Paris and the House K'ovath becomes the House G'errun. You know," Martok looked to B'elanna and Tom, "since Miral is an infant she will need someone to look after her interests. I name you B'elanna Paris regent of the House Paris. You shall take possession of Miral's assets until such time as she is capable of assuming the responsibility herself."

"That means we'd have to stay here on Qonos?" Tom asked cautiously.

"Yes," B'elanna answered.

"Well, it's bound to be interesting," he said and looked at B'elanna knowingly. "Isn't it?"

"Life on Qonos is never dull," B'elanna told him, "but then we tried life on earth and look where we wound up."

Tom and B'elanna laughed, the decision had been made to stay on Qonos. Tom held B'elanna close and the three Parises hugged on the floor of the Great Hall.

Harry wandered the scarred halls of the Charleston on his way back to the bridge. The ship had seen better days and she was just out of spacedock, so that wasn't saying much. Fortunately, they had patched up the hull in the last few days and the engines were back online. Charleston was ready to go home, but there were a few more things they had yet to do.

As he entered the turbolift, Harry heard someone call, "Hold the lift." He was pleased when Ensign Donovan Colt entered. He still looked a little worse for wear but the green ensign had already been in his first space battle and he had come out of it a little better than he had gone in. The last few days had healed the bruises, but the look of confidence hadn't faded as easily.

"Commander Kim, I wanted to thank you."

"For what?" Harry asked.

"The other day in Ten Forward…our conversation helped me realize that I wasn't the only one who had experienced feelings of anxiety, fear and regret on the bridge, that I wasn't alone in feeling different from everyone else. It really helped me a lot."

Harry smiled. "Don't mention it."

The turbolift stopped at the bridge and the new friends emerged. Harry joined the small group gathered below while Colt took his position at tactical. "Wondered when you'd get here?" Tom made a show of asking.

"Just like you to be late Harry," B'elanna scolded. Chakotay smiled at the gibes.

"Some of us are still in the fleet and still have work to do," Harry responded and glanced over at Ensign Colt. The group of friends shared moment of silence. "You sure about this? I mean it is Qonos, the Klingon homeworld."

"Maybe security will be better here," Tom quipped.

"We're sure, Harry, and you have an open invitation to drop in any time," B'elanna added.

"I'm gonna miss you guys."

"We're going to miss you," the Doctor amended as he stepped out of the turbolift.

"Well, it's time to go," Tom said, trying to sound cheerful and optimistic.

Try as he might, Harry couldn't detect a single bit of sarcasm from Tom, and for the first time he realized that maybe this was the right thing for their family. "Good luck…to all of you."

"Captain, message for you from Starfleet Command. Captains eyes only," Colt relayed the new information that had just flashed across his board.

"I'll take it in my ready room. Harry, escort our guests to the transporter room."

Chakotay stepped from the bustle of the battle-damaged bridge and into the shambles of his broken ready room. Fortunately, he thought, he hadn't had time to bring any personal items to decorate it. Surely they would have been destroyed. Chakotay moved to his desk and activated the comm system on his personal computer. Admiral Janeway appeared and rather than the relief he expected to see on her face, she was the model of tension. "We have a problem, Captain."

"Another one?" Chakotay wondered aloud.

"Long range sensors have detected transwarp signatures and they're on a direct course for earth," Janeway explained. She watched as his face fell with the implications.

"Transwarp?" he reiterated before saying the two words she had been thinking. "The Borg."

[Captain Michael Pike]

For those who haven't read Star Trek: Voyager Homecoming, I've posted this prologue so that you understand just how the story begins. It would probably help if you read Homecoming first, but anyway here's the prologue in case you don't.

[Captain Michael Pike]

Chapter One


Icheb had spent nearly every second of the last week �hanging out� with Riley �Rabbit� Estes. It wasn�t that his studies were suffering; in fact Icheb suspected he knew more about certain subjects here at Starfleet Academy than most of the teaching staff, instead it was more that socializing made him uncomfortable. Then again, Icheb had been doing Rabbit a favor by tutoring him in several subjects and Rabbit had insisted on making Icheb popular among his peers. Socializing seemed to come so easily to his new friend, but Icheb had yet to have a completely successful conversation this week.

�Hey Icheb,� Rabbit shouted across the quad. Icheb winced; surely an instructor had noticed the infraction. Most cadets were drilling on the quad and talking was strictly prohibited. Icheb waved, a meager response at most. �I�ve got some friends I want you to meet.�

�Alright, just not here on the quad,� Icheb suggested.

Rabbit slapped his forehead as if he had forgotten the rule. �Right.�

Icheb knew Rabbit hadn�t forgotten, Rabbit had this theory that women liked guys who got into trouble occasionally. This had been his attempt to get himself and Icheb into such trouble.

As if in response to his thoughts, an instructor walked over to them. �I�d like an explanation for your rude behavior on the quad.� The culprits shared looks before Rabbit shrugged his shoulders. �Rest assured your sponsors will hear of this incident, cadets?� the instructoc clearly wanted their names.

�Robinson, Tony Robinson and Vrax,� Rabbit said. Icheb winced again. Those weren�t their names. He was about to correct Rabbit when he caught a glare from his friend.

When the instructor had finished scolding them, the pair moved off to the gardens where they could talk freely. �Why did you tell him our names were Robinson and Vrax?� Icheb questioned.

�Because they really ticked me off this week and they deserve some trouble for it.� Rabbit leaned against a large oak.

�But they are going to find out we are not them.�

Unperturbed, Rabbit simply said, �Yeah and by the time they do, the instructor will have forgotten our faces and will be unable to punish us. Besides did you see all the cadets watching us? My �Badboy� theory is true and our badboy quotient is rising.�

�But we didn�t get into trouble, Robinson and Vrax will.�

�It doesn�t matter if we really got into trouble so long as they think we did,� Rabbit smiled. Icheb wasn�t sure if it was the look on Rabbit�s face or the way the tree shadows fell ominously across it, but something made him look just a little more mischievous than usual. �Oh yeah, do you swim?�

�I can.� Icheb wondered what this new vein of thought had to do with anything.

�Good because I�ve signed you up for swim team try-outs Friday.� It definitely wasn�t the shadow cast by the tree. Rabbit was especially mischievous today.

Chakotay felt as though he hadn�t left the edge of his seat in over a week. After tracking down Miral Paris� abductors and stopping some unusual Klingon politics, the USS Charleston was tearing up subspace again. They were on a direct course for earth and a possible Borg invasion. Chakotay began to wonder if they would ever get away from the Borg.

�I wonder if we�ll ever get rid of the Borg,� Harry wondered aloud. Chakotay looked amusedly at his first officer. �What?�

�I was just thinking that myself.� Chakotay turned to read the latest reports from Command. He was waiting for them to confirm the transwarp signatures they had detected as Borg, but so far the long range scans came up inconclusive. Chakotay sat back in his seat and scratched his chin.

�What is it?� Harry asked after noticing Chakotay�s behavior.

After pausing a moment Chakotay turned to Harry, �What if it�s not the Borg? Think about it. The last time Starfleet encountered the Borg, they knew hours before they arrived, maybe even days, that it was definitely the Borg. So why now can�t we pin these transwarp signatures to them?�

�If not the Borg then who?�

�That is the question, isn�t it?� Chakotay answered.

Admiral Janeway emerged from the turbolift onto the bridge she hadn�t thought she would see again. Voyager had been in spacedock for a week undergoing intense study by the Intelligence Bureau, the Temporal Investigations Department, and Starfleet R&D. There had been no doubt that Voyager would return to service, it just hadn�t been expected that it would be this quickly.

Kathryn meandered about the bridge. Bridge stations were in various stages of upgrade or study and consoles lay strewn about the deck. Kathryn wandered over to a pair of legs sticking out from under a console. �Care to get my ship back together before the Borg get here?�

A stout man emerged from under the console. He was out of uniform, his jacket strewn about the console he had been buried in, but the yellow of his tunic, his rank of captain, and his obvious engineering abilities told Kathryn all she needed to know. This was the man in charge of the refit. �Your ship lassie?� he asked with a thick Scottish accent.

�That�s right�and you have it a shambles.� Kathryn couldn�t help but feel she knew this man, or should know him.

�Aye,� the Scotsman agreed. �You know, they used to call me the miracle worker back in the day, but even a miracle worker can�t get this ship working by the deadline.�

�I don�t want excuses,� Janeway defiantly ordered. �Captain?� she asked, still not having a proper introduction.

�Montgomery Scott at your service.�

It was then that Janeway not only realized to whom she was talking, but was overwhelmed by the fact that she was talking to a man that was probably over two hundred years old and a Starfleet icon. �I assume my ready room is still in one piece?� Kathryn asked, feeling her face flush with embarrassment.

�That it is lass.�

�Very good, do your best Captain Scott. She has to be ready for battle.�

�Thy will be done Admiral,� Scott sighed. No matter what century he ended up in starship commanders were all the same. Mumbling something about another famous captain who always wanted more, Montgomery Scott turned his attention back to getting Voyager operational in time to repel a Borg invasion.

[Voy_Girl]

cool... good story!

[AJaneway]

Great story
cant wait till next chapter

[Captain Michael Pike]

Chapter Two


Jean Luc Picard had been having a grand time as a guest of the Romulan Senate during the Federation peace talks he was attending. He had spent most of the evening dining with the Proconsul and now that he had returned to the Enterprise, he was headed to his quarters for some sleep.

He had just rounded the corner and was three doors from his ready room when his comm badge beeped. Thinking he might ignore it, Jean Luc continued on his way. The Romulan ale he had drunk at dinner was beginning to rush to his head and he certainly wasn�t at his best while intoxicated. He had just reached his door and pressed his code into the lock when the overhead comm interrupted him. �Captain Picard?� Will Riker�s voice cut through the quiet hallway. The very sound made chills run up Picard�s back and he made a mental note to never indulge in Romulan ale again.

�What is it Number One?� Picard managed.

�We�ve just received a Priority One message from Starfleet Command. Captain�s eyes only,� Riker informed him. Picard could hear the slight resentment in Will�s voice, no doubt he wanted to be privy to this information also. Then again, if it were Priority One, the entire crew would likely know soon.

�Put it through to my quarters Number One.� Picard finished inputting the code and entered his spacious quarters. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, trying to stimulate his concentration. After a moment, Picard collected himself, gave his jacket a tug and turned his attention to the nearby comm screen. �Open Priority One message. Authorization Picard Sierra one-one-four Echo.�

The obsidian panel, which had been inactive, displayed the Starfleet emblem that gave way to a face he hadn�t expected to see any time soon. Kathryn Janeway, newly appointed Admiral of Starfleet Defense, looked�apologetic and worried. �Captain Picard,� the recorded message began, �I�m afraid Starfleet long range sensors have detected transwarp signatures on a direct course for Earth.�

Picard couldn�t believe his ears. A little over a week ago, Admiral Janeway had assured him that she thought the Borg posed little or no threat to the Federation. She assured him she had dealt a devastating blow to the Borg collective. She had been wrong. She had made the same mistake dozens of others had. She underestimated the Borg.

Jean Luc was about to curse her when he realized that he was guilty of making the same mistake when he had given up his chance to eliminate the Borg permanently. He had to live with his decision to allow Hugh to return to the collective without the invasive program his crew had created to deal a lethal blow to the Borg. His humanity had overridden his desire for revenge, but what had they received for it?

�The Enterprise is ordered to return to Earth to help in the defense of the sector.� Janeway leaned back in her chair, the setting sun of San Francisco framing her petite frame. Admiral Janeway looked tired, she looked worried and she looked lost. Jean Luc Picard remembered he had felt that way before he had returned to Labarre after his assimilation. A week ago, Picard didn�t think she underestimated the Borg. Now, he knew she had.

Picard had orders and he intended to carry those orders out, but not before he stopped at sickbay for a hypo full of anti-intoxicant.

Commander Tuvok emerged from the turbolift, a ride he had taken an estimated Fourteen Thousand Five hundred and sixty six times in the past. The halls of this ship were so familiar, he could have walked them blindfolded. That might not be wise today, he thought, considering the collection of panels that lay haphazardly about the decks. Most of Voyager remained dismantled, though crews of engineers raced to restore the ship to functionality. Tuvok stepped carefully over and around crewmen and consoles before reaching Captains Janeway and Scott. �Commander Tuvok, reporting for duty.�

Turning around with the biggest smile she had had in days, Janeway looked at Tuvok. �Welcome aboard, or rather welcome back Commander.�

�Tuvok is it?� Scott asked, his Scottish baroque melodious among the singing consoles and buttons. �I knew a Tuvok once. An old friend of mine, Captain Hikaru Sulu said he made the best Vulcan tea.�

Ever the Vulcan calm, Tuvok merely raised an eyebrow, �We are one and the same. Perhaps I could make you a cup.�

�Thanks, but the only real drink is whiskey.�

�Or coffee,� Kathryn added. �But now back to business, I need a first officer for this mission. Although you outrank Commander Tuvok,� Janeway said to Captain Scott, �I would much rather have your talents in engineering.�

�And I would much rather have my arms buried up to the elbows in consoles and engines.� Scott smiled at the Admiral.

�Commander, that leaves you for the post.� Janeway laid her hand on his shoulder. She hoped it would reassure him, then realized it was more for her benefit than his.

�I accept. I must ask, however, what will I do when this crisis is averted?�

Janeway smiled again. �I thought you might ask that. After this mission, should we survive, you�ll be assigned as my attach� and become the liaison between the Starfleet Bureau of Defense and the Vulcan Defense Ministry.� Almost imperceptibly, Tuvok�s face changed. Kathryn Janeway had known him long enough to recognize it as the Vulcan equivalent of a smile.

[Voy_Girl]

This chapter is great too...

[Captain Michael Pike]

Chapter Three



Icheb stood perched on a white diving stand. He felt ridiculous. He was a good swimmer but not good enough to be on the swim team. At least, he didn�t think so. Aside from the ridiculous nature of his predicament, there was the matter of clothing. The swimsuit he wore left little to the imagination and made Icheb crave just a bit more material�

�On your mark,� came the disembodied voice of the Starfleet commander who had coached the swim team for over twelve years now. Most seasons the Academy won some type of award. If it hadn�t been for the Antedeans last year, the Academy would have won the Galactic Cup.

Having forgotten his ridiculous position, Icheb leaned forward on the dive platform. �Get set.�

�What am I doing?� Icheb thought as the ridiculousness of his situation caught up to him. He had spent the night before watching and even participating in his new friend Riley�s practice. He had picked up some pointers on form, but even still he wasn�t prepared for this.

�Go!� Finally, pushing all thoughts from his mind, Icheb pushed off the diving platform and hit the warm waters of the pool. Icheb swam as Rabbit had instructed him the night before. Furiously, he shoved hand over hand and kicked with his feet. Icheb touched the other side of the pool and started back on his way across the temperate pool. Rabbit had told him that this would be his opportunity to check how well his competition was doing, but the only thought driving him was to get to the other side of the pool.

After Icheb touched the ledge, the thoughts that had previously occupied him were forgotten. Suddenly, he understood why he was here at swim team tryouts. He decided that he enjoyed the competitive nature of the sport and he decided then that if he didn�t make the swim team, then he would tryout for some other sport. Somewhere in the back of his mind, lingered the only thought that had bothered him before his swim. Why was it important to him to please Rabbit anyway?

Icheb pulled himself out of the water and as luck would have it, he had beaten his competition. He had been the first to touch. He had won the race. Grabbing a towel from a nearby shelf, Icheb dried himself while waiting for the coach�s response. The suspense was incredibly excruciating.

Finally, after reviewing the results with his assistant, the coach turned and eyed the cadets. Each waited for his words, his approval. �Thank you all for coming, my decision will be posted tomorrow at 0800 on the daily bulletin.�

Icheb wrapped the towel around his waist and walked to where Rabbit was sitting, his momentary triumph forgotten. �That�s it?�

Rabbit sat forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and shrugged. �That�s it. That�s the way it always goes. But if you ask me�you�re in.� Riley smiled.

Icheb smiled back. He hadn�t expected he would relish this experience, but he had underestimated the excitement of competition. He turned to shower and get dressed, they had some celebrating to do. He was in�

Captain Picard had spoken with Admiral Janeway the moment the Enterprise entered the Sol sector. He got the distinct feeling that something was missing, a crucial part of the puzzle. The transwarp conduits would open mere moments after the Enterprise took her place in the assembled armada. He felt that he, Jean Luc Picard, Captain of the Enterprise, should know that missing piece. The truth of the matter was, he didn�t and that was why he now stood before his senior staff. He needed their input, and more than that he needed their support. �Well, we all know why we�re here. We are thirty minutes from sector 001 and thirty-five minutes from a possible Borg incursion.�

�However, things are different from the last time we encountered the Borg in sector 001,� Commander Riker informed the rest. �For example, we knew hours before the last incursion that it was the Borg. This time we have no confirmation of Borg transwarp signatures. All long range scans have shown inconclusive and now short range scans show the same confused data.�

�In any case, it would seem that we are missing some very important information. I can�t help feeling that there is a piece of this puzzle that is missing, a piece I am missing,� Picard told them his inner most thoughts, those which had troubled him enough to call this briefing.

�Captain?� Geordi was the first to break the silence. �Has it occurred to anyone that this may not be the Borg?�

Honestly, the thought hadn�t occurred to Picard. As he mulled it over silently, Counselor Troi interrupted his thoughts. �Captain, that is what we are missing.�

�Counselor?� Picard felt more puzzled now than before the briefing began.

�The piece of the puzzle we are missing, it�s you. Remember back to the last time we fought the Borg, not only did the Federation have advanced warning of their incursion�you did too.�

Of course, that was when it all fell into place. The last time they had encountered the Borg, Picard could still hear their thoughts, he could feel their presence. This time their influence was missing. Deanna Troi was right, it couldn�t be the Borg or Picard would have heard their thoughts, however muted long before now.

�Captain Picard, we are approaching sector 001,� the comm signal interrupted.

Picard gazed out the window at the familiar stars passing by, this thought over all the others bothered him most. Once again, they were facing the unknown. Picard faced hsi crew. �Before we end this briefing, I ask you to answer this question�if not the Borg then who?�

�I�m not sure we can answer that question Captain,� Data began, �but I think, perhaps, Admiral Janeway could.� Of course, leave it to Data to come up with the answer or, at the very least, the only other person who had the knowledge to answer Picard�s question.

�Dismissed.� Picard followed his senior staff, his friends, onto the bridge. Stopping before the captain�s chair, he ordered Lieutenant Daniels, �Red alert, Battle Stations and get me Admiral Janeway.�

[Captain Michael Pike]

Chapter Four


Kathryn sat in Voyager�s command center, her chair still comforting somehow even among such chaos. Fifty starships had rendezvoused in sector 001, Starfleet�s first, and probably last, ditch effort to repel a Borg incursion. She sipped a steaming mug of coffee as she worked silently with Tuvok to organize the fleet.

�Incoming message Captain,� an unfamiliar voice reported from tactical. They were all unfamiliar voices these days. Her only familiar friend was Tuvok, and he had assumed a new role. Kathryn had to admit he looked good in red. It seemed he felt good in red too because he carried himself more proudly, if that was possible. Smiling at her inner thoughts, she returned her attention to the business at hand. �From whom?�

�Actually, we have two. The first came from Captain Chakotay on the Charleston and the second is from Captain Picard on the Enterprise,� the young ensign amended.

Janeway looked over her shoulder and smiled at the ensign. �Put them through in the order they arrived Ensign,� Janeway asked. She was struck by the youth of the freshly minted ensign, he seemed as though he had just graduated from the academy. How many ensigns like this had she seen in her years and how many had she ordered to die for their cause. Today, she would ask them to do no less than those who had gone before and had given their lives for Federation ideals. She had resolved to defend those principles years before, probably before this boy was born, and now she only hoped they took their oath as seriously.

�Captain,� Chakotay interrupted her introspection. He ignored the admiral�s pips and addressed her by the traditional title. �Harry and I have been discussing the situation and we�ve come to the conclusion that this may not be the Borg.�

Breaking into the conversation, which would be considered rude if not for the gravity of the situation, Picard agreed, �We have come to the same conclusion. Sorry for the interruption but I thought it would be a waste of time to have this conversation twice.�

Staring at the split screen, Janeway considered the two men whose opinions mattered most at this moment. �If not the Borg, Captains, then who?�

�That is the reason we�ve contacted you. We felt that if anyone could shed light on this matter it would be you,� Picard assured her.

�We�ve had some time to analyze the data,� Chakotay explained. �Voyager only encountered three species who had knowledge enough to create transwarp conduits, the Borg, the Cooperative, and the��

Before Chakotay could finish his sentence, the ensign at tactical reported, �Transwarp conduits opening.� Janeway could hear it on the bridge of the other two ships as well. Abruptly, their links were cut as Voyager cut to an external view. The others wanted to know who was coming out of those transwarp conduits as much as Kathryn. �Visual on the destination points,� Janeway ordered, nearly crawling out of her skin to do it herself.

The viewscreen changed to an external view of the sickly green colored transwarp conduits. A squat greenish-gray ship emerged trailing green wisps from transwarp that were quickly dissipating. Immediately, Kathryn Janeway recognized the ship, even as four similar ships emerged from their own transwarp conduits. Kathryn smiled inwardly, Chakotay had been right.
_______________________________________________________________

Abruptly, their links were cut the Enterprise�s Lieutenant Daniels cut to the external view. Jean Luc Picard leaned forward in his command chair. He wanted to know who was coming out of those transwarp conduits as much as anyone even if it wasn�t the Borg. �Give me a visual on those emerging starships,� he ordered.

The viewscreen changed to a view of the greenish colored transwarp conduits, a color Picard recognized all to well. As he sat in anticipation, a squat greenish-gray ship emerged trailing green wisps from transwarp as if to appease his wishes. �Identify.�

�We are unable to identify Captain.� Data swiveled in his seat to report, �The ship does not exist in our databanks.�

�Just ours Commander? Or does Admiral Janeway know who our new friends may be?� Picard posed the question more to himself than Data.

�I can not say sir,� Data said with a shrug. It never ceased to amaze Picard just how human Data could seem.

______________________________________________________________


Abruptly, their links were cut and Charleston�s viewscreen darkened then returned to an external view. Chakotay frowned, feeling he had been snubbed by the greats. They had prematurely cut transmissions before he could even finish his sentence. Chakotay moved to the secondary science station and pulled up a visual of the emerging transwarp conduits. He wanted to know who was coming out of those transwarp conduits as much as anyone and overlaid the data readings from the sensor feed. �Put it on the main screen,� Chakotay said as he turned to Lieutenant Okala, his acting Chief of Sciences. The Bajoran relayed the information to the forward viewscreen.

The viewscreen changed to show the greenish colored transwarp conduits he had hoped he would never see again. A squat greenish-gray ship emerged trailing green wisps from transwarp. A ship he had seen before. A ship he had personally been on some four years earlier. It was shortly followed by three more similar ships. The question was what were they doing here in the Alpha Quadrant?
______________________________________________________________

�Captain Janeway,� Professor Forra Gegen smiled warmly at Kathryn. �Nice of you to offer a welcoming party.�

�It was not intended to welcome you, Professor, but to repel a Borg incursion,� Janeway countered. She hadn�t worked alongside the Voth scientist, Professor Forra Gegen, as Chakotay had, but she could tell he was nervous. She wanted to know what he felt so nervous about. �So tell me, Professor, to what do we owe this unexpected visit?�

�Perhaps we should discuss this privately Captain?� Gegen suggested. �It is a matter of importance that should be discussed face to face.�

Janeway thought back to her last encounter with the Voth. They had held her ship and crew hostage and helpless while Gegen and Chakotay fought the Ministry of Elders, attempting to convince the Ministry to accept the Distant Origin Theory postulated by Forra Gegen himself. Her stomach turned at the sudden implications of Gegen�s arrival in the Alpha Quadrant. �Perhaps we should,� she grudgingly agreed.

Turning to Commander Tuvok, Kathryn said, "Please meet our guest in transporter room two." Turning to the ensign at tactical, she ordered, "Get me Captain Picard and Captain Chakotay. Order the fleet to go to yellow alert."

[Voy_Girl]

great

[AJaneway]

Very very GReat

[Voy_Girl]

Please give us another chapter!

[Captain Michael Pike]

Sorry, been busy. Went to Miss Saigon thursday and Star Trek: Nemesis tonight. Will post a new chapter soon....

[Voy_Girl]

Oh, well, that's good excuses

[Captain Michael Pike]

Chapter Five


Forra Gegen stood in the observation lounge, gazing out at the unfamiliar stars. �Four years ago, when I proposed the Distant Origin Theory, I had no idea of the impact it could have on Voth society.� Gegen looked out on the blue and brown sphere, its white clouds wrapped lazily above the water and landmasses. �No idea�� he whispered.

Kathryn could feel the sadness in his voice, the regret as palpable as the PADD she was holding. �Please Professor, it�s important that you continue.�

His regret interrupted, Gegen braced himself with a hand against the bulkhead. �Before you left Voth space, you witnessed the Ministry force me to negate my life�s work, the Distant Origin Theory. But after you left Voth space, the Distant Origin Theory was spread among my people. Quietly, my supporters dissembled the theory, and with the existence of Voyager and the data from your own computers to support my theory, acceptance among the general public spread rapidly.�

Chakotay interrupted Gegen, �But that was what you wanted, wasn�t it Professor?�

�Yes and no. I wanted the Ministry to accept my theory and then allow the people to view it. But when the Voth people got it without approval from the Ministry, it created strife. Factions of supporters began fighting the Ministry. The Ministry began�eliminating supporters of the theory. What ensued was chaos which escalated into civil war.� A single tear traced the scaled cheek of Forra Gegen. He had seen so much death and destruction from a simple scientific idea, an idea that had begun with him.

�I have learned, from our own history, that the truth is often worth fighting for Professor,� Jean Luc Picard softly added. Admiral Janeway was glad he had come. Jean Luc often said what others were feeling, but couldn�t adequately say. He had taken some time before coming, to learn of Voyager�s encounter with the Voth. �For those who believe the cause is true and just, any price is worth paying in order to see their ideals accepted.�

Gegen wanted to agree, but with the death of his wife and daughter weighing on his soul, Gegen simply replied, �Perhaps Captain. Those who won the war would agree. You see, eventually, the Ministry was forced to accept the Distant Origin Theory, though it came at a great price to many.� Gegen sighed and took a moment before continuing, �The price was unacceptable, thousands had died, my wife and daughter among them, and the Voth were scattered in pockets across eighteen sectors. That was when the scavengers began circling. With the Ministry�s acceptance of the Distant Origin Theory, any species with a claim to our space moved in. They attacked us and in our weakened state, they took our space, they took our planets, they killed our people and because we had warred against one another, we were in no longer in a position to help ourselves.�

Janeway was beginning to understand. The Voth had an ancient claim on their region of space according to their Doctrine. When that Doctrine was called into question, any species that had evolved in that region of space now had legitimate claims to be heard.

�Our space became fragmented, our people enslaved or worse. With all that has happened in the few years since our last meeting, the Voth have gone from an expansive, proud empire to a group of pitiful nomads. We have wandered space for over a year now, unable to lay claim to new territory. Eventually the Ministry decided to claim the Voth birthright.� Gegen turned and looked to Janeway and Chakotay.

�The Voth birthrights claimed the areas of space in the Delta Quadrant,� Chakotay muttered more to himself than the others around him.

�That�s right, but now the Voth have accepted the Distant Origin Theory.� Gegen returned his attention to the blue sphere they now orbited.

�So their birthright now claims?� Picard questioned.

�Earth,� Chakotay answered. Gegen looked at his colleague and friend. They both understood the implications and allowed the rest of the room a moment to grasp their precarious nature.

Gegen whirled to look into the eyes of his friends. �And the Voth are coming�in full force. They have amassed an armada big enough to take Earth. The Voth may have been unable to maintain their hold on the Delta Quadrant space, but I assure you�we can still take Earth.� Gegen turned and leaned against the bulkhead again as if the weight of this threat he had borne was too great.

[Voy_Girl]

Super

[AJaneway]

Great New Chapter

[Captain Michael Pike]

Chapter Six


Icheb tapped his personal code into the lock on the door of the gym on the grounds of Starfleet Academy and entered with a bit more pride than before. He had made the swim team just as Rabbit had told him he would. Now more of his time had been dedicated to learning the essentials of swimming than studying particle physics, not that his grades were hurting.

Icheb entered the changing room and dropped his duffle bag silently on the floor before his locker. He fidgeted with the magnetic lock, inputting his code more than once before it opened. Icheb removed his uniform jacket and laid it on the nearby bench. In the late evening hours, the gym was preternaturally silent. Icheb began removing his tunic when he heard the sound of another duffle bag hit the floor. Leaving his locker open and his bag on the floor, he silently crept around the surrounding lockers.

Rabbit sat in the changing stall, on the benches between the lockers, and rummaged through his duffle bag. He had dropped his bag on the floor. He was already wearing his swimsuit beneath some sweats. He stripped them off, grabbed his towel and slipped into his sandals, but there was one more thing he needed before practicing. �The only good thing about late night swims was how quiet it was and the only chance to practice alone,� he thought as he found what he was searching for.

Icheb rounded the corner in time to catch Rabbit, poised over his duffle bag with a hypospray in hand. Taking a deep breath, Rabbit pressed the hypo to his arm. When its contents had been dispensed he turned the shiny object around in his fingers before jamming it back into the bag. Grabbing his towel, he walked confidently out the doors into the poolroom.

Icheb couldn�t help but wonder what Rabbit had just used. At the very least, Rabbit�s actions were suspicious; at the most, they were illegal. Fighting his sudden urge to ignore what he had seen, Icheb returned to his changing stall, grabbed a tricorder from his bag and returned to the �scene of the crime�. Using the compact scanner, Icheb gathered the information he required. He couldn�t help but feel that the actions he was about to take would ruin his friendship with the only person on campus that had shown any interest in his friendship. He glanced at the readings, but he didn�t know what Rabbit had injected before practice, but he knew who could help him find out.

Icheb returned to his changing stall and hid the tricorder deep in his duffle bag. He finished changing and exited the changing rooms. He had to act naturally. He wasn�t going to confront Rabbit, not without proof that something really was wrong.



B�elanna packed the last targ hide into the containment unit. �Finally! That�s the last dead animal in the house.� She turned to Tom with a triumphant smile on her face.

�I knew Klingons liked to display their trophies, but is it necessary to display every one they�ve claimed in the last century?�

After spending two days claiming the house Paris as their own, the couple collapsed onto a nearby sofa. Tom was glad they had finally gotten rid of the Klingon furniture; his behind had grate marks on it from the uncomfortable and offending furniture. �Who ever considered using construction grating in the construction of beds and sitting areas should be phasered then blown out an airlock.� He leaned to the side and rubbed his sore behind.

�I was thinking whoever chose animal parts as decoration deserved the same fate,� B�elanna agreed as she struggled with the antlers of something even she didn�t recognize. She was just about to seal the lock when the antler popped back out of the canister. B�elanna threw her hands up in defeat.

�Gonna let a little antler beat you? What kind of warrior surrenders so easily?� Tom stood and crossed to help his wife.

�The kind who�s been battling the same battle for days,� B�elanna replied sarcastically.

Just as the two had defeated the offending antler and locked the storage canister, the door chimed. It was distinctly Klingon, the very tone offensive. �Gotta change that,� Tom added another thing the growing list of �Klingon Things I Didn�t Know I Hated.� As he opened the door, surprise overcame weariness.

Ambassador Worf entered. His robes flowed behind him like waterfalls cascading from the cliffs of Andor. He looked around the newly decorated (or undecorated) hall. �Nice house,� Worf mumbled.

�Oh? You like it?� Tom asked innocently as he motioned towards the sofa. The massive Klingon lumbered over to it and sat uncomfortably.

�It is very�comfortable,� Worf stated. He couldn�t have looked more uncomfortable on the plush sofa.

�So what brings you Ambassador?� B�elanna asked as she handed Worf a flagon of Blood Wine.

�Miral brings me. Chancellor Martok thought it was time to discuss her birthrights as daughter of the House Paris.� Worf looked apprehensive discussing the matter with the newly settled parents. He imagined he must have looked almost as apprehensive as they suddenly looked to him.

[Voy_Girl]

Still very good

[Captain Michael Pike]

Thanks

[Captain Michael Pike]

Chapter Seven


Scotty swore under his breath as he squeezed into the cramped torpedo storage compartment. As he scooted between rows of photon torpedoes, he wiped a bead of sweat that had trickled down his forehead and into his eyes. He muttered again. This was a job for younger men, not someone who was now nearly two hundred years old. He laughed despite himself, or perhaps because of himself. He knew that his age was a technicality of a cosmic temporal joke that he had played on himself.

If he knew that he was going to be creeping about in a cramped torpedo room eighty years ago, when he had suspended himself in a looping transporter beam, he thought he might just have let himself go down with the Jenolen. He laughed again as he remembered the conversation he had with Janeway just a short while ago. She reminded him of Jim Kirk�a lot.

�Mister Scott, I want you to begin a comprehensive study of the transphasic torpedoes Voyager brought back from the Delta Quadrant,� Janeway informed him at the briefing. Captain Picard and Captain Chakotay both looked questioningly at her. �Don�t worry I have Seven informing the C-in-C about the threat from the Voth�we�ll have permission by the time she�s done and we�ll have a head start.� She gave Scotty that look; the one Kirk had always given Scott when he had accomplished the impossible like regaining command of the Enterprise so many years ago.

Chakotay smiled, Picard bristled and Scott merely shrugged his own agreement. �Aye Admiral. I�ll get on it right away.�

Now he regretted the decision, crammed between rows of weapons of mass destruction. He wondered whether Lieutenant Vorik, Chief Engineer of the Charleston and one typical Vulcan, was having any better a time in his containment suit studying the new armor mounted on the exterior hull of Voyager. �Come Hell or high water, we will be ready for the Voth,� Scotty assured no one or maybe he needed his own assurance�



Vorik watched his crew gather information at each of the juncture points between the hull and ablative armor generators. Before giving it much thought, Vorik reached up to brush a stray hair from his forehead. Realizing the error of his logic when his hand tapped lightly against his faceplate, Vorik returned his attention to the hull plating he had been magnetically sealed to for several hours now. He had studied the armor before returning to the Alpha Quadrant, but he hadn�t been on any team leading the installation process. He found the quietude of space calming and meditative unlike others on his team who had expressed misgivings when he mentioned their extra-vehicular mission.

Returning to the task at hand, Vorik tapped some notes into the built in PADD on his EVA, and considered how much easier this task would be if only B�elanna Paris could help them. He then considered how illogical that thought had been, but when it came to the former chief engineer, Vorik�s logic had always been unclear. Ever since he had bonded with her during Pon farr, he had what he could only describe as an infatuation.

�Sir, we�ve finished examining the locking mechanism and determined how to retrofit it to other ships.� The dismembered voice of Ensign Jiles startled Vorik out of his reverie. Jiles had been one of those who resisted the EV mission and it looked like he had cause to, Jiles face was greener than Vorik�s.

�Good work everyone, let�s pack up and head in. We�ll discuss team leaders and installation strategy at the post mission briefing.� After three hours in space, Vorik was looking forward to being back inside the confines of the ship. He crossed over to Jiles and helped the sickened ensign pack hyperspanners, flow distributors and electro-plasma regulators.

�Lieutenant Vorik to Chief Lyle Alpha team is ready to come back in.� The seven members of Alpha team dematerialized in the blue haze of a transporter beam.


Ensign Donovan Colt swung his quantum regulator at the offending isolinear chip, shattering the stubborn circuit into small shards. �Damn it,� he muttered as he began cleaning the mess he had just made.

�Sorry?� Harry wondered. He looked own the cramped confines of the Jeffrey�s tube they were squeezed into to see the disgruntled ensign sucking his finger.

�It�s nothing Commander, just cut myself on a shard of this isolinear chip.�

�It�s not the chip�s fault, they weren�t designed for this type of application,� Harry explained reasonably.

For the last two hours, they had been crammed into the Jeffrey�s tube trying to correct a phase inversion in the Charleston�s shields. Normally a job for Engineering, the task had been left to Colt after Vorik had returned to Voyager. Colt knew Vorik had been working on more important things or he would do this repair himself. �You know with all the improvements Voyager returned with from the Delta Quadrant, you never came up with a better shield technology.�

Harry turned as best he could. �Like what?� As far as he knew none of Voyager�s future technology had been declassified yet.

�Transphasic torpedoes, ablative armor generators and Borg enhanced weapons systems�� Colt wiped a hand across his forehead. His long blonde hair stuck stubbornly to his forehead as he thought it was about time for a hair cut.

�How did you know about those?� Harry thought his voice sounded strained even to himself.

�They were declassified this afternoon in light of the pending threat from the Voth,� Colt responded. He looked up from his junction point at the commander.

Harry laughed. Donovan Colt had just removed a weight from his shoulders that he had been carrying since Voyager�s return. Aside from that, the ensign had just wiped a dark smudge of lubricant across his forehead. Colt reminded Harry of himself, at least himself seven years ago, and had made a personal promise to help the ensign through this his toughest transition into Starfleet. After all, Tom had helped Harry integrate into Voyager�s crew. Harry suddenly wondered what Tom was up to.

[Voy_Girl]

[alisa_2002000]

Wow i just read all your chapters they're Mint. When we getting more

[Captain Michael Pike]

This is a bump. Also I've edited Birthrights and will post it...let me know which version is better?

[Captain Michael Pike]

Chapter Nine



Admiral Kathryn Janeway shifted uncomfortably in her chair as she studied mission logs of her last encounter with the Voth. �How many times have I done this,� she wondered as she stared out the windows in her readyroom at stars that had suddenly become very familiar. At least that had changed, she was home with her crew and friends, but at what expense? How many more species had Voyager encountered? How many species that might hold a grudge against them? How many species that might try to make a claim on Federation space?

Janeway stood and walked the distance to stand before those windows, feeling suddenly alone in the universe. �More alone,� She considered, �than I ever felt in the Delta Quadrant.� Kathryn felt she had every right to feel this way, her crew was divided on several starships. The people whose presence and opinions she had come to rely on were conspicuously absent. She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself. Things were never going to be the same now that they were home.

The sudden realization struck her harder than ever before. She had succeeded in bringing her friends home safely, only to have them separated from her, only to have them exposed to danger beyond explanation and all of it was her own fault. The Voth would never have known about Earth if she hadn�t forced everyone to act according to her ideals. If only she had ordered them home seven years ago, instead of destroying the Caretaker�s array.

�Captain?� the strong, assured tone of Commander Tuvok interrupted her self-recriminations.

�Yes Commander?� she very nearly whispered.

�The Terrans have a saying�penny for your thoughts?� Tuvok used the colloquialism properly, but coming from the Vulcan it just sounded so wrong.

�I was just thinking that this is all my fault, Commander.�

�I do not understand the human propensity for assigning blame,� Tuvok did his best to sound confused, �especially upon oneself.�

�I ordered the destruction of the Caretaker�s array. I am responsible for stranding Voyager in the Delta Quadrant. Without me, the Voth would never have discovered their connection to Earth, Gegen would never have been able to prove his Distant Origin Theory.� Janeway felt tired and old. She rubbed the bridge of her nose and sat on the teal couch cushions.

�Your logic is flawed, Captain. It was not by your order that we were abandoned on that planet where Professor Gegen found his proof. If I remember correctly that was due to the insurrection of Seska and the efforts of the Kazon under her and Maj Cullah�s command. If the fault lies with anyone, it is Seska and Cullah.� Tuvok finished outlining his logic for her and sat beside her. He took her hand in his, a very human gesture, and looked into her eyes. �You brought together a crew against impossible odds and under the most difficult of circumstances. Now you have brought them home even though the odds against that were astronomical. I have calculated those odds, in case you would like to know them.� Katherine shook her head no, she didn�t want to know. �I have also calculated the odds of the Federation retaining Earth and defeating the Voth. They are more in our favor than the odds of returning from the Delta Quadrant, however, there has always been a factor I have been unable to calculate.�

�What factor is that?� Janeway asked, feeling suddenly better the Tuvok thought they could beat the odds.

�The Janeway Factor,� Tuvok replied. He said it without a hint of sarcasm or disbelief, the way only a Vulcan could, but Katherine could hear the silent affirmation in her friend�s voice. He believed entirely what he said.

�Let�s go beat the odds, Commander.� Janeway slapped her thighs and stood. She rested a hand on Tuvok�s shoulder as they entered the main bridge.




B�elanna stood in the Great Hall of the Klingon High Council for the second time this week. She was regent of House Paris and as such, she was responsible for running the politics of that household as Ambassador Worf had explained to her. He had received a communication from Captain Picard, the Federation was soon going to be facing the Voth. B�elanna remembered the saurian race from the Delta Quadrant and their ancient claim on Terran space.

She stood with her peers, Grilka and G�errun, the only other females who held houses in the Klingon High Council. She had to convince the High Council that they should come to the aid of the Federation. They had been debating the issue for days now and Chancellor Martok was at his wits end with the endless debate. Quonos had its share of difficulties to overcome and getting involved in the Federation�s problems could only exacerbate those problems.

�We must aid the Federation in their time of need,� Martok argued loudly. B�elanna considered that he probably though the louder he was the better his argument. Martok was a lot of things, General, warrior, son and father, Chancellor, but he was not and never would be a diplomat.

�The Federation, our enemy and our friend, but what friend would leave us in our time of need to our own devices?� Ru�tol bellowed. Ru�tol was one of the oldest and most influential Klingons on the council.

�We have been left to our own devices by our own asking, because our own pride denied us help. If we had but asked the federation, they would have sent aid.� Martok stood at the end of his proclamation and pointed at the council members. �It was YOUR pride that denied the Federation�s help, not theirs.�

�They�ll still offer their help when this thing has ended,� B�elanna shouted as she stepped from the shadows.

�Who told the woman she could talk?� Ru�tol sneered. He waved her back to the shadows.

�I don�t need your permission, I am B�elanna Paris of the House Paris, and I warn you. Do not turn your back on the Federation. The Voth claim Terran space now, but rest assured once they have a firm hold of that space, they will expand outward and Quonos is the next likeliest target. �B�elanna whirled in place to look each member in the eye. �We will be next and there will be no Federation to come to our aid then. The Voth held hundreds of sectors in the Delta Quadrant and they have plans to do the same here in the Alpha Quadrant. This is not a Federation internal affair, this is a WAR.�

�We do not back down from war do we?� Martok asked the council members. �WE ARE KLINGONS!� he bellowed.

�And if we back down from this war, we will lose more than our honor,� B�elanna shouted to be heard over the Klingon war cries. She had done her duty as regent of House Paris, she had claimed Miral�s birthright. Today she was Klingon.