Worlds Without End, Part IV

Captain Janeway tried not to fidget in front of the admirals, but it wasn't easy. With the celebrations of Voyager's return ending, the reality of all that had happened had sunk in. For five years she had no superior officers to deal with, no one to report to but her own conscience. Now that she was home, those five years were about to be placed under a microscope.

"Captain, before we begin," said Admiral Parks, the senior officer present, "I want you to understand that this is not an official inquiry or a disciplinary investigation. We just want to clear up some of the events that took place during your absence."

Janeway nodded. "I understand, admiral." She was glad none of them were telepaths and could tell what a lie that was.

"Good," Parks turned to a white-haired man at the end of the row. "Adm. Jellico, I believe you had a topic of particular concern."

Admiral Jellico nodded. "Captain Janeway. You ascribed your speedy return to a group called the," he turned to his notes, "the Galactic Empire?"

"Yes," Janeway answered, "we worked out an exchange with a representative of the Empire wherein they were given transporter technology and we were given their propulsion device."

Jellico consulted his notes again. "A device called a 'hyperdrive'."

"Yes. They showed interest in our transporters, and we obviously needed their device a great deal."

"Enough to violate the Prime Directive?" Jellico replied.

The suddenness of the remark caught her off guard. "What do you mean, sir?" Janeway replied.

"According to your report," Jellico said, "the Empire is not only on the other side of the universe, but is existing at a time far earlier than our own."

"Yes," Janeway replied. "We discovered that the wormhole displaces in space as well as time, at the speed of subspace in fact."

"Very convenient," Jellico said with disinterest, "but it doesn't explain why you deliberately gave technology to a society that existed, by your own admission, before our own."

Janeway's voice dropped in pitch. "We didn't know about this at the time. It wasn't until the Borg showed up that we realized it. In either case, I stand by my actions."

"Even though they violate Starfleet regulations?" Jellico asked pointedly.

"Yes," Janeway remained stoic, "I do."

Janeway expected the barrage to continue, but Jellico suddenly reversed thrusters, catching her off guard. "Would you not in fact say that your actions were necessary to ensure the safety of your crew?"

"Yes," she replied, wondering if she'd just stepped into Jellico's trap.

"Would you describe the Galactic Empire as being hostile?"

Janeway was growing more suspicious, but she firmly believed that the truth justified her. "In every encounter I had with them, the Empire showed they were civilized and cooperative."

Admiral Parks spoke up. "Would you be willing to testify to that before the Federation Council?"

"Yes," she replied, but didn't understand. She said as much.

"It's really quite simple, captain," Jellico said. "We want you to tell all of this to the Federation Council tomorrow."

"To accomplish what?"

"A lot has happened while you were gone, captain." Parks hesitated. "The Federation is in trouble. We've been having diplomatic negotiations with practically every two-bit planet in our part of space. We need support if we are to survive."

She'd been gone too long, Janeway realized. She'd forgotten about how much of a hotbed the alpha quadrant can be. It fell into place in an instant. "Then what you want..."

Jellico finished, "We think the Federation should form an alliance with the Empire."

Seven of Nine waited outside the briefing room, hands clasped behind her back in what passed for a relaxed pose, moving only as much as was required to remain alert. It was for this reason she was aware of the small group of Starfleet personnel - cadets, she noted from their insignia - that had gathered to stare at her since she and Captain Janeway had arrived. Scoptophobia was an irrational fear, as was paranoia; human foibles that she as a Borg had grown far beyond. Their whisphered discussions about her were of no concern, no concern at all.

"Do you require something?" she asked, causing the small crowd to jump at the suddenness of her remark. Despite herself she hadn't been able to keep the belligerence out of her voice.

"Um," one of the female cadets said as her classmates distanced themselves from her slightly, "we were wondering if it was true... what they said, I mean. That you're a Borg."

"I am an individual now," Seven replied.

"But, you were a Borg," the cadet replied. "You used to be."

Seven resisted the pointless desire to rub her hands together at the uncomfortable situation. "Yes," she finally replied.

"Does it hurt when you're assimilated?" someone else asked.

"I don't remember," Seven replied.

"I thought Borg never forget anything," the first cadet replied.

"We do not waste valuable resources on the pointless recollection of pain."

"Did you ever help assimilate anyone?"

Seven wrung her hands instinctively. "Yes," she replied quietly.

"Did they show they were in pain? Did they want you to stop?"

"I don't remember," she said sharply.

"Mr. Hicks," a voice came from behind Seven, "are you in charge of this gathering?" All the cadets drew to attention. Seven glanced between them and a white-haired man that had just exited the briefing room.

"No, sir," the female cadet replied.

"You are now," he said. "Since your classmates have nothing better to do than gawk in a hallway, I think you can find the time to inventory the cargo containers at Docking Platform #2. I'll inform the quartermaster that you will personally have it on her desk by 2100 hours."

"Yes sir," she replied, and with a nod from the officer they rushed off. As they left the man joined with a small group of others who had just left the briefing room. Seven noted the smile on Captain Janeway's face, a complete reversal of her previously somber attitude.

"Your debriefing went well?" Seven asked.

"Better than well," Janeway replied as the two started walking through the corridors of Starfleet Command. "It seems our little detour through the wormhole may have a much larger consequence than we'd thought."

"The hyperdrive will bring substantial changes," Seven remarked. "Further tradings for Imperial technology would be wise."

"Off the record," Janeway remarked, a phrase that Seven still failed to understand, "it's going to be a lot bigger than that." They drew to a halt as the cadet returned. "Can we help you?" Janeway asked politely.

"I'm sorry, sir," she replied nervously, then turned to Seven. "I just wanted to apologize on behalf of myself and everyone else. We didn't mean to offend you."

"I do not take offense," Seven replied.

"Well, what we did was rude, and as future Starfleet officers we should've known better."

Seven looked at Captain Janeway nervously, then back. "You should be completing the admiral's orders. It would be a mistake to neglect your duty by talking to me." She continued walking, the girl looking oddly between her and Janeway before the captain rushed to catch up.

"Was there a problem?" Janeway asked with concern.

"No," Seven said curtly.

Captain Janeway nodded, clearly not believing it but knowing better than to bring it up now. "Let's get back to the ship. I think we've spent enough time on Earth for right now."

Seven took a deep breath. "Agreed," she replied with a hint of exhaustion.

Lt. Delric Taar tapped his datapad absentmindedly on the table in front of him as he waited for the fleet-wide briefing to begin. Whatever was going on made him edgy; the zero hour for the rebel attack had come and gone, and command refused to breathe a word to the lower decks of what was going on, even though it was obvious something was up. The fleet had left the incomplete Death Star undefended days ago, a dangerous move in his opinion. Of course, there was no love lost between himself and the Death Star. More than one of his friends had left the service over Alderaan, their hatred overwhelming their loyalty for order and peace. Now he'd been forced to blow his former wingmates away, and all because of a superweapon that was, by its very nature, a tactically useless tool.

According to the rebellion, Alderaan had been destroyed by Grand Moff Tarkin just to spite a rebel spy. Of course, it was probably just propaganda, but down deep Taar had to wonder whether or not anyone could command such power and be able to show restraint. He wasn't optimistic, especially with Moff Jerjerrod in command. He'd seen the moff's reaction to Lord Vader, and putting ultimate power in the hands of a whiny sycophant was like giving an infant a thermal detonator to play with.

Before he could continue the thought the holograms of other squadron leaders appeared throughout the room, the fleet flight coordinator appearing in the center. Taar got his datapad ready as the briefing began.

"Squadron leaders," the major began, "meet your new enemy." The rotating image of a cube-shaped object appeared on each table, a smaller one of a star destroyer alongside it for scale. "They're called the Borg, and it is our responsibility to ensure that they pose no threat to the Empire." Taar took notes as the previous battles involving the Borg were given, the known points of their defenses, and the reason for the upcoming mission.

"We are going to cross through the wormhole and into Borg space," the major continued. "Since they have no concept of diplomacy we plan to annihilate enough ships and planets to show them that further attacks on the Empire would be a devastating mistake. Any questions?"

Taar spoke up. "Sir, Interceptors, as the very name implies, are meant to deal with fighter craft. They cause minimal damage to corvettes. What possible use do they have against a ship this size?"

The major exhaled in annoyance. "We've determined that swarming the cubes with fighters will provide a distraction that will allow our star destroyers to do their work."

Don't say it, Delric. Don't say it, Delric. "So we're flying targets. Sir." You shouldn't have said it. The major's look of scorn agreed with that sentiment.

"I think the major was impressed with your tactical assessments," Lt. Starrunner, squadron leader for Grey Squadron, remarked after the briefing was over.

"Kriff him," Taar said with disgust. "These guys get taken out of the pilot seat and suddenly they forget what it's like to have inches of plexisteel between you and death."

"This is messed up," Starrunner agreed. "You heard how accurate those Borg can get. They're asking us to basically die when we can't fight back. And do you think my bombers have a chance of staying ahead and outmaneuvering these Borg?"

"Not without cover," Taar said. He sighed, then rapped his datapad on the hull a couple of times. "Lohl," he said finally, "let's get our squadrons together for some simulations. Maybe there's a way we can fight back against the Borg after all."

Jean-luc Picard, captain of the Federation flagship, Enterprise, sighed with impatience as he waited outside the office of Adm. Parks. After six weeks of separation from my ship you would think I'd be used to it, he thought gloomily. He wasn't accustomed to being out of the loop, at least not when it came to the Enterprise. That Data, Geordi, and his engineering staff were allowed on board was all the more infuriating, but at least now he could speak to someone who could give him information, maybe even access to his ship again. He got to his feet as that someone arrived.

"Apologies for the delay, Jean-luc," Adm. Parks said, shaking his hand.

"Not at all," Picard lied. "It seems these days time is something I have plenty of."

Parks laughed as he led Picard into his office. "Yes, there's a fine line between R & R and boredom, isn't there."

"Exactly," Picard said, hoping this meant the admiral was going to let him in on what was happening.

Parks took his seat, offering Picard a chair as he did. "Jean-luc, I know it's not easy being kept in the dark on what goes on on your own vessel, but believe me, it's in the name of Federation security."

"Indeed," Picard said neutrally. It seemed to him that a lot was being done in the name of Federation security lately, and he wasn't all that pleased with where that was leading. The declaration of martial law remained a particular sore spot with him, and a reminder that their society was not as rock-solid as he'd like to think.

"We have an opportunity to forever change the balance of power in this quadrant," Parks continued. "A chance to ensure that the Romulans, the Cardassians, not even the Dominion will be able to threaten the Federation again."

"A new weapon?"

"An ally," Parks answered. "Someone with resources and technology that, along with our own strength, will deter practically any power that might try to wage war on us."

"And you're afraid someone might form a treaty with these people first," Picard said.

"Not exactly. No one can reach them in any reasonable amount of time; they exist on the other side of a wormhole that's over halfway across the galaxy."

Picard was a bit baffled. "I'm not sure I understand. How helpful can this power be if it would take decades just to reach them?"

Parks smiled. "Because right now we're the only ones who can reach them without taking decades." He explained to Picard about Voyager's encounter with the Borg, the Empire, and the new hyperdrive.

"And this is what you've been doing with the Enterprise all this time," Picard concluded at the end. "Installing this hyperdrive."

"Yes," Parks confirmed. "You can see the need for security. Even without the possibility of an alliance, the ability to deploy our forces at hundreds of times the speed of our enemies gives us an incredible advantage. If that technology were stolen, it could be damning."

"I understand," Picard added. "But there's something I'm not clear on. If this treaty with the Empire is so important, why did we not send Voyager? They have a functioning hyperdrive."

"Yes, but that's about all that's functioning. Voyager's been flying through Borg space for some time; she wasn't in the best shape when she returned. And besides that, a mission of this importance requires a captain with a skill for diplomacy, and I think there's no one better qualified."

With each passing second the frustrations of the previous weeks was replaced with anticipation as Picard thought of the magnitude of this mission. A mission of diplomacy to a civilization that spanned an entire galaxy was beyond the expectations of even the most fanciful cadets. "When do we leave?" he asked, now all the more impatient to get back to his ship and begin this historic trip.

"Three days," Parks replied. "The hyperdrive should be finished tomorrow, which should give your people enough time to familiarize themselves with the new equipment and prep for the mission."

"Will Captain Janeway be giving us a briefing?"

"Better. She's re-assigning a member of her crew to act as your advisor on both the delta quadrant and the Galactic Empire."

"Who?"

"She hasn't decided yet," Parks answered. "She needs someone who's not only familiar with their technology, but has expertise in delta quadrant astrometrics and dealings with the Imperials. Finding someone who fits that bill won't be easy, and giving them up will probably be even harder."

"Well," Picard said as he rose to his feet, "I'll certainly look forward to meeting whoever is up to that challenge."

Seven of Nine walked through the door to the captain's ready room. As always, Capt. Janeway was seated behind her desk, a PADD in one hand, a mug of coffee in the other. She was nothing if not predictable. "You wished to see me, captain," Seven stated.

Janeway continued to look at the PADD. "Yes, Seven, please sit down."

"Unnecessary, I'm comfortable standing."

Janeway put down the PADD. "Yes, of course you are. I forgot, the Borg even sleep standing."

"Inaccurate. The Borg regenerate, they do not sleep."

Janeway came around and sat on the edge of her desk. "Yes...." Janeway continued after a brief pause. "Everything is in order, all damage to the ship has been repaired, and I've finally got my private dining room back," she added with a slight smile. "Some of the Maquis officers have asked to transfer to Starfleet, and permission has been granted for them to remain at their current posts. I've even persuaded them to keep the Doctor on line as our chief medical officer, although that took a little convincing."

"I assume you're not updating the ship's status with the entire crew in this manner."

"No." Janeway had a look of disappointment. "That leaves us with our two resident civilians. Mr. Neelix has already departed. That leaves us with you."

Seven breathed a little heavily, then began to speak. "If you do not wish me to remain on board I will leave. I understand that circumstances have changed."

Janeway stepped forward and grabbed Seven's hand. "That's not what I'm saying. You've been an asset to this ship. There's a chance that we wouldn't be here if it weren't for you. We don't want you to leave. But it would be selfish of us to force you to remain on board. We'd be denying you new experiences, a chance to explore your humanity." Seven was uncharacteristically silent. "Going from life on Voyager to life on Earth isn't going to be an easy transition," Janeway continued. "I think that's obvious to the both of us."

Seven nodded slowly, not looking at her captain. "Adapting would be... difficult."

"Perhaps it's time for a small step in the right direction." Janeway turned and picked up the PADD off her desk. "And I think we have the perfect opportunity for you to take that step. Tell me, are you familiar at all with the Enterprise?"

Go To Part V
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