DISCLAIMER: You all know the drill - Paramount is God. All hail Paramount. They own everything in the Star Trek Universe - I'm just
using my overactive imagination to take their characters where they refuse to go. All in the name of fun, not profit (I wish).
RATING: PG-13 Nothing my momma couldn't read.
<< BACK TO PART XXVII: MOVING FORWARD
B'Elanna turned a corner and nearly collided with Admiral Janeway as she was running back and forth in Engineering. "Admiral, sorry, I didn't see you there."
She followed B'Elanna as the engineer continued walking briskly down the hall. "I hate to bother you, but I need the personnel forms."
B'Elanna stopped dead in her tracks. "The what?"
"The personnel forms I sent you last month."
"Oh, right." Her eyes widened. "Is that today already?"
She nodded. "I need all the paperwork finished for the crew requisitions."
B'Elanna changed direction abruptly. "They're in my office�somewhere. What time is your meeting?"
"Headquarters, two hours."
B'Elanna shook her head in disbelief. "When you had that first meeting, three months to get everything up and running seemed impossible, but it felt like we had forever to get the paperwork done."
"Your team did incredible work."
B'Elanna smiled. "You should bring Taya and Chakotay by for a tour."
"At the rate she's going, she'd be running all over the ship."
"She's walking already? What is she, seven and a half months?"
"Eight," corrected Kathryn. "Although, really, she can't go more than three or four steps before she loses her balance."
"That's still incredible. Miral didn't get to that stage until she was nine months old, at least. Owen�he was almost a ten months, I think."
They reached B'Elanna's office, or what was left of it. Spare parts and engineering reports were strewn everywhere. "I need to find some gullible crewman to clean this up," she muttered as she rifled through the mess.
"So," she said as she continued looking through the piles. "If you're not going to let Taya run loose just yet, have you at least let Chakotay look around?"
"No, not yet."
B'Elanna stopped her search and stood up, turning around to look at Kathryn. "You haven't told him, have you."
The Admiral didn't stop rooting around the disorganized collection of PADDs. "I didn't want to mention it. I still have to deal with Admiral Hayes, and I have a feeling he's going to need a lot of persuasion."
"Not a word to Chakotay? He has no idea?"
Kathryn finally stopped looking for the personnel forms and turned around. "No, and I expect you to keep it to yourself."
B'Elanna put a hand on one hip. "I can't believe you haven't told him. Does he think he's just along for the ride?" Her eyes widened when she saw the guilty expression on Kathryn's face. "Kahless -- you haven't even told him you're doing it, have you?"
"No."
She shook her head in disbelief before noticing a stack of PADDs on the floor. She knelt down to pick them up. "Here we go."
"Thank you, B'Elanna," she said as she collected the PADDs and turned to leave.
"Admiral?"
She turned back around.
"Admiral Hayes is going to be the least of your problems this doesn't work out the way you want it to. Chakotay won't be very happy if he finds out you kept him in the dark."
"Trust me, B'Elanna," she called over her shoulder as she walked away.
* * *
"Come in, Admiral," said Hayes when he saw Kathryn in the doorway. "Have a seat. I trust you enjoyed your Christmas holidays?"
"Yes, thank you."
"Although, knowing you, you probably only took�five days off?"
"Four, actually. You don't expect me to just sit at home when we're at this stage, do you?"
He smiled. "No, I suppose not. Not that I'm complaining -- you've made incredible progress. You brought the crew requisitions?"
She handed him the PADD she was carrying. "I left the necessary paperwork with your aide."
He nodded as he perused the list. "I'm glad to see so many of your former crew on this manifest, Captain. Their experience will be�" Admiral Hayes frowned and set down the PADD. "Admiral, with all due respect, what the hell are you thinking?"
She stared back at him, not bothering to answer.
He picked up the PADD again and waved it at her. "We both know this isn't going to happen. Starfleet protocol explicitly prohibits this sort of thing."
"Actually, it doesn't." She handed him another PADD. "Starfleet regulation seventy four, subsection forty seven. It says that assigning married officers to the senior staff of the same vessel should be avoided where possible, not prohibited."
"It's out of the question."
"This is a deep space mission, for one. For another, I'm not leaving without him."
"You'll be in constant contact with --"
She stood up and leaned forward with her hands planted on his desk. "I'm not leaving without him," she said firmly.
"Then he and your daughter can accompany you as civilian passengers."
"Unacceptable."
He frowned at her tone that bordered on insubordination. Seeing his displeasure, she reclaimed her seat. "It will have to be acceptable," he said coldly. "I'm sorry, Admiral."
"So am I, sir." She rose to leave. "How long will it take you to find someone else to command her?"
His face clouded over at the threat. "You and I both know there's no one half as qualified as you. If you hadn't volunteered we would have approached you."
"You won't get me on that ship without him in the chair beside mine." She leaned forward on his desk again. "And I can assure you that nearly everyone on that list will have the same reaction."
"We won't be blackmailed into this, Kathryn."
"I'm not trying to blackmail you. You say there's no one as qualified as me to take this mission. I'm telling you there's no one as qualified to be second in command than Chakotay."
Hayes observed her thoughtfully for a long time before he sat forward in his chair and leaned on his desk. "You drive a hard bargain, Captain."
He reached for the crew manifest and approved it before handing it back to her.
"Thank you, Admiral," she said, feeling as though an enormous weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
"How soon will she be ready to take out?"
"Lieutenant Commander Torres informed me yesterday that she'll be ready to go within four weeks."
"Is that enough time for you to assemble your people?"
She nodded. "I'll have my entire senior staff in place by the end of tomorrow."
* * *
"If I may be frank, Admiral, I am surprised that you would consider this."
She smiled and leaned back in her chair with a smile. "In other words, you think I'm nuts."
On the other end of the comlink, Tuvok raised an eyebrow. "I did not say that."
She laughed. "You didn't have to." She became serious and leaned forward again with her elbows on the desk. "I know it's asking a lot, Tuvok�but there's no one I'd rather have for this than you."
"Thank you, Admiral."
"Would T'Pel be willing to join you?"
He thought for a moment. "We will have to discuss the matter. I believe, however, that she would find it�an acceptable proposition."
She leaned even closer to the monitor. "Is that a yes?"
He raised an eyebrow. "I would be concerned for your safety if I was not present, Admiral."
She broke into a warm smile. "I'll transmit the order first thing in the morning. Thank you, Tuvok."
He nodded, and she cut the channel before leaning back in her chair with a smile. Her attention was drawn to the door when the chime rang. "Come."
Annika entered. "I have the specifications for the new power matrix that you requested."
She reached her hand out for them. "Fantastic." She looked up from the PADD. "I just spoke with Tuvok."
Annika raised an eyebrow. "Did he accept your offer?"
"He thinks I'm out of my mind, which is probably why he agreed."
She smirked. "Out of your mind? I must admit, I had the same thought originally."
Kathryn set the PADD down. "Oh really?"
"You spent seven years trying to get Voyager back to Earth. I would not have expected you to be so eager to leave again."
"Neither did I�but�I need to be out there, Seven. I'm just not made for a desk job."
"I suppose not."
"Being a starship Captain�it's in my blood. I just can't accept anything else."
"Have you told Chakotay?"
She sighed. "He's due here in about fifteen minutes. I'm going to show him around and then tell him."
"What do you think he'll say?"
"I'm not sure." She thought for a moment. "I remember when we were first stranded out in the Delta quadrant, we had a conversation once about allowing the crew to have children�I wondered what kind of life those children would have, traveling through hostile space."
"Naomi grew up to be a well-adjusted young woman. She doesn't show any ill effects from being raised on Voyager."
"Oh, on the contrary," said Kathryn. "I think growing up on Voyager was an extraordinary experience for her. It's given her an incredible courage and determination."
"She learned from the best," said Annika with a smile. "I have no doubt that your daughter will fare just as well."
"I'm just not sure if that's the way Chakotay will see it."
The door chimed. "Come in."
Kathryn got a knot in the pit of her stomach when Chakotay entered. "You're early."
"Sorry. There was less traffic in the docking bay than I expected."
Annika rose to leave. "We can finish this later, Admiral. Good luck."
She smiled. "Thank you."
Chakotay watched her leave with a frown. "What did she mean by that?"
"I'll tell you later. Ready for the grand tour?" she asked, making her way around her desk to join him.
He motioned towards the door. "After you."
* * *
The shuttle slowly rounded the orbital station and the large docking bay came into view.
"There she is," said Kathryn at the helm with a proud smile.
Chakotay leaned forward in awe to get a better look and whistled. "Wow."
The ship was sleek in design, completely unlike any Starfleet vessel before it. Instead of separate saucer and drive sections, the new ship was much more aerodynamic in design, shaped more like the Delta Flyer, almost triangular. There were shuttles swarming all around it, trying to get it ready for the fast-approaching launch date.
"The U.S.S. Providence," said Kathryn quietly. "NX-94047. Bio-neural circuitry, sustainable warp of 9.985, and the first hybrid quantum slipstream drive."
"Incredible. How far have they taken her?"
"The longest run was to Deep Space Seven and back. In under three minutes." She reached over and opened a comm channel. "This is Admiral Kathryn Janeway aboard the shuttlecraft Archer requesting permission to dock."
Permission granted, Admiral. We'll need you to transmit your authorization code.
"Transmitting now."
Confirmed. Please proceed to docking bay four.
* * *
The turbolift doors opened and Kathryn and Chakotay stepped out onto the bridge.
It had a different layout than Voyager's bridge, he noticed immediately. The command chairs were still in the center of the bridge, but the layout of the stations seemed tighter, more efficient. Everything was brighter and more open. He could discern B'Elanna's touch in some of the aspects of the design, Annika's in others.
He followed Kathryn around the room as she pointed out the different features of the ship. When had made the circuit of the bridge, she moved towards the two chairs in the middle.
She motioned towards one of the chairs. "Go on. Try it on for size."
He chuckled. "Are you sure the first officer won't mind?"
"I won't tell if you won't."
He walked over and tentatively lowered himself into the chair with a satisfied smile.
"So?"
"Comfortable. I could get used to this."
She stepped in front of him and leaned forward, her hands on the armrests of the chair. "It's yours if you want it."
He laughed, but stopped abruptly when he saw her earnest expression. "You're serious?"
She motioned her head in the direction of the chair next to his. "I don't plan on sitting there without you."
His eyes widened. "You�you're taking command of her?"
She leaned closer to him. "Only if you're coming with me."
He thought carefully. "What about Taya?"
"I don't plan on leaving her behind."
"Are you sure you want to raise our daughter on a starship?"
She knelt down and rested her hands on his legs. "I know it might be dangerous, Chakotay. But she'll be with us. We'll be together. And we'll be exploring areas of the galaxy that no human has ever laid eyes on before." She moved one of her hands back and forth on his knee. "It won't be like last time. We'll be in constant contact with home, we won't be leaving anything behind�we'll have our families with us."
He took a deep breath and stood up, moving away from her. She stood up as well and watched him walk around the bridge. She kept silent, allowing him time to think.
"Who else?" he said, his back to her.
"You're the only one left."
He turned around, surprised. "What?"
"Our entire senior staff is already on board," she said with a smile. "Tom, B'Elanna, Annika, Mark, Talia, Harry, Tuvok, Doc�even Neelix."
He nodded, deep in thought, and continued walking around the bridge. She saw him notice the dedication plaque, and she moved over to join him.
"Who chose the name Providence?" he asked.
"Admiral Paris, actually. I didn't want another ship named Voyager, and Owen said he thought Providence would be a fitting name, considering all the times we came out of close scrapes in the Delta quadrant."
He reached over and ran his finger along the edge of the plaque. "I agree. It's perfect."
"It didn't feel like we were naming it," she said softly. "It felt like we had just found out what its name already was."
He noticed the inscription below the names of the design team. "E pluribus unum," he read.
"From many, one," she repeated softly. "It fits, doesn't it?"
He turned around. "Only if you're commanding her."
"Am I?"
He looked back at the plaque, then at her again. "I can't think of anyone better. And there's nowhere I'd rather be than by your side."
She stepped forward and put her arms around his neck.
"Thank you," she whispered in his ear.
* * *
The bottle turned slowly end over end, propelled through the void of space by its own momentum. The peaceful calm of its motion ended abruptly when it shattered on the hull of the new ship.
The spectators applauded.
"Almost five years ago," began Admiral Hayes, turning from the window to face the gathered officers. "The U.S.S. Voyager returned home after spending seven years stranded in the Delta quadrant. Their return marked a new day in Starfleet history when we discovered the wealth of new technology they had encountered. What you see before you is the embodiment of that technology. Admiral Janeway and her team have developed Starfleet's first hybrid quantum slipstream drive, capable of traveling at sustained transwarp velocity. The galaxy will be a much smaller place after today. The Federation may never be the same."
He turned to Kathryn and her officers. "I think it's appropriate that Admiral Kathryn Janeway and her officers should be the ones to take command of this new vessel. They survived the Delta quadrant for seven years and made hundreds of first contacts. Luck was certainly with them, which is why we named this new starship the U.S.S. Providence. Admiral, safe journey and Godspeed."
He nodded at her, and she stepped forward.
"I hereby transfer command of this vessel to you, Admiral," he said.
"Thank you, sir." She led her senior staff to the lift that would take them to the Providence.
* * *
"Captain on the bridge!" announced Tom, who was at his station by the time she and Chakotay made it to the bridge.
Kathryn stopped in her tracks with a smirk on her face. "Mr. Paris?"
"Sorry, Admiral. Old habits die hard."
She nodded, her eyes roaming over the bridge. Her bridge. "As you were."
The postures of the officers on the bridge relaxed, and Chakotay followed her to the pair of seats in the center of the bridge. Before she sat down, she stopped and slowly turned around, looking at her officers watching her with anticipation. Chakotay came up to stand behind her.
"Almost twelve years ago," she began, "We were all thrown halfway against the galaxy against our will. It took us seven years and a lot of courage, dedication and luck to bring us home. Now, we're leaving our home again, but this time it's different. We have new technologies at our disposal, and we'll be using them to explore the galaxy as never before. We'll be in constant contact with home, and our families will be with us. One thing is the same, though -- we're in this together. And there's no crew that I would rather have under me than this one."
She turned to Harry. "Mr. Kim, do we have permission to leave spacedock?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Take us out, Mr. Paris. Nice and slow."
"Aye aye," he said, and the ship shook gently as it pulled away from spacedock.
"We're clear," he said. "I'm taking us out of orbit."
She took her chair, and Chakotay sat beside her.
"Mr. Paris," she said, staring straight ahead with her chin raised high. "Set a course...for the unknown."
(That's really the end this time. I mean it. If you still can't get enough of me, go to my index -- I've got more where this came from.)
<< BACK TO PART XXVII: MOVING FORWARD
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