summary:

Set five years after the events of Counterpoint in season 5. Janeway gets remade and returns to find her old ship. She needs Voyager and the crew but can they trust her?

disclaimer:

TPTB are Paramount/Viacom. In a perfect world I would be own Star Trek but it's not and I'm don't. No infringement of copyright/trade marks or other intellectual property is intended. This story was written for fun and not profit.

warnings:

Warning: This story includes same sex relationships between women. If you are offended by this or it is illegal where you live or you are underage then please read no further.

Full warnings, credits and disclaimers can be found in the contents page and chapter 1.

text:

===The Delta quadrant - Five years after Voyager first encountered the Devore===

The red alert klaxon woke Captain Chakotay. A second later Voyager shook with the impact of weapons fire. Cursing he scrabbled for his comm badge.

"Chakotay to the bridge. What's happening Tuvok?"

"A warship has emerged from a transwarp conduit off the port bow and fired on us Captain. They are hailing us: demanding that Voyager heave to. We are trying to outrun it but it is maintaining pursuit, and Captain," Tuvok hesitated, "the vessel appears to be Devore in origin,"

"Open fire if you have to Tuvok. I'm on my way." Chakotay struggled into his uniform pants and boots. This was no way to wake up after only two hours sleep. His tiredness abated as the adrenaline pumped through his veins and the Captain's brain kicked into gear. He wondered why Tuvok had said that the vessel only appeared to be Devore. His first officer was always precise. Chakotay picked up his jacket and headed out of his quarters towards the turbolift.

A minute later he was on the bridge. A huge black ship was clearly visible on the aft view screens. It seemed very close. Another burst of green phaser energy bounced off Voyager's shields.

"Shields at 69% Captain." reported Lieutenant Harry Kim at ops. "They seem to know where to hit us Sir."

"Why are the Devore this far from home and what the hell could they want?" Chakotay wondered aloud. "I never thought we would see them again."

"I cannot speculate as to their intentions Captain." Tuvok replied in the same tone of voice he would use if he were discussing a new staff rotation. "However it is probable that the pursuit relates to our contact five years ago. Captain, it should be noted that this ship is not following standard Devore boarding procedures nor is the communication signal consistent with the Devore Imperium. We have attempted to scan the vessel, but we were unsuccessful in penetrating the shields."

Chakotay cast aside any further hypothesising. They needed facts. "Ensign open a hailing frequency to the ship" he ordered and paused momentarily waiting for the link to be established.

"Unknown vessel please identify yourselves and end this unprovoked attack. We will return fire if necessary."

As he spoke the great black vessel fired on Voyager and the smaller ship lurched as the shields flared. Harry Kim was openly worried as he reported "Their weapons seem to be more powerful than in our previous encounters with Devore sir. Shields are now at 23%. Another hit will leave us defenseless." Looking up from his console he hesitated and then continued too quickly "Captain, the weapons signature seems to be... Borg!". The tension on the bridge immediately increased. There could be no negotiation with the Borg and surrender would mean assimilation.

"Tom, evasive manouveures, try and keep out of range of their phasers," Chakotay sounded calm as he continued to give orders, "Harry see if you can slow them down a little, target the ship's engines and fire phasers at will." Turning to Ensign Nicoletti at the tactical station, Chakotay asked quietly "Susan is there anywhere we can run to?"

"There is a nebula less than 0.2 light years from here if we can make it. It should be large enough to hide in and its emissions would disrupt sensors. But it will take at least 33 minutes to reach at maximum warp," the ensign answered quickly and completely. She had been expecting the question - after ten years in the Delta quadrant, crew members knew exactly what was required of them.

Chakotay grimaced. This was a little too uncomfortable then again there wasn't much choice. It seemed his unknown opponent wasn't going to give him any opening. "Tom set course for the nebula, full speed. Harry, report."

"Captain I have returned fire but with no effect. The ship is gaining"

Chakotay suppressed a frown.

"OK Harry let's try and really shake them up. Target engines with torpedoes, full spread, fire at will. Tom. Make sure we don't take another hit."

Voyager's torpedoes hit their mark and exploded around the pursuing ship's glowing engines.

"The ship has slowed Captain," reported Harry Kim, "and it is damaged but the shields are regenerating quickly."

"OK let's take advantage of this and make tracks for that nebula. Tom, quick as you can."

Almost before Chakotay could finish speaking another blast rocked the ship. Some of the bridge personnel were thrown to the ground as power surges shorted their consoles causing a fanfare of pops and small explosions.

Harry's voice rose through the noise "Shields are down and Voyager has taken heavy damage. There are casualty reports from decks 6 to 8. There is a possible hull breach on deck 7. I am reinforcing the structural integrity fields."

"Nicoletti where the hell did that come from?"

The ensign struggled back to her station.

"A second ship has appeared from a conduit between us and the nebula Captain." Another phaser blast shook the bridge.

Hanging onto his console, Harry Kim despairingly issued more bad news: "direct hit on the starboard nascelle. Warp engines are damaged and we are venting plasma. Engineering are trying to reroute power to the port engine."

"We are losing speed Captain" said Tom, "I can't maintain power."

Nicoletti interrupted. "Captain, the second vessel is hailing us."

A voice, which Chakotay had thought he would never hear again except in his dreams, echoed through the bridge.

"This is Janeway, Marshal of the Free Alliance privateer, Fearless. Voyager your shields have gone and your engines are damaged, power down your weapons and prepare to surrender now. Yield and prepare to be boarded." Almost as an after thought the voice added "Or die."

At that moment Chakotay knew that this must be a bad dream. The voice was undeniably that of Kathryn Janeway, former captain of Voyager, but the message was being converted from another language by the Universal translator. The familiar voice and the inconceivable demands continued, resounding in the shocked silence. "Commander Chakotay, obey my orders and live. You have one minute to comply."

"If you have any ideas Tuvok now would be a damn good time to share them. What or whom the hell are we dealing with?" asked Chakotay, unable this time to repress his astonishment. "Is it the Borg? Do they have the Captain?"

"It is extremely puzzling Captain" Tuvok understated though outwardly the Vulcan had betrayed no surprise at hearing the voice of the lost Captain. "If these ships are Borg then they have not identified themselves as such nor do the vessels appear to be Borg in any other respect. The communications we have received from them were not Borg signals."

Chakotay considered the few known facts.

Otherwise unassimilated Devore ships with what seemed to be partially Borg propulsion systems, weaponry and shields, twenty thousand light years from the Devore Imperium. Yet only five years ago the Devore had no transwarp or slipstream drive though of course they may have developed it and had never heard of the Borg. Of course if they really were Devore then perhaps it really was Captain Janeway aboard that ship, maybe she had found a way back to them but then why would she attack Voyager?

He had no answers and in the end it came down to this: Voyager and its captain had been out-gunned and out-manoeuvered. This battle was lost. Chakotay made the only decision possible.

"Tom, all stop."

Voyager came slowly to a halt and the pursuing ships slowed and positioned themselves either side of the small white ship, their dark hulls almost invisible against the space behind. A tractor beam fastened on to the smaller ship, removing any hope of a quick get away. Chakotay looked at the faces around him and tried to think of something to say and failed. Instead he addressed their attackers.

"Commander of Free Alliance vessel Fearless we are prepared to negotiate terms with you. Permission to come aboard is granted."

Tuvok immediately started issuing orders to the crew and readying them for invasion. "All crew are to implement condition yellow. Prepare to be boarded and do not engage the enemy without further orders. The Captain is negotiating the terms of our surrender. Retreat to decks 1 to 5 and 12 to 15 where there is less damage. Security teams are to prepare themselves for a possible defence but repeat do not engage the enemy without orders."

The crew of Voyager waited to meet their conquerors, and wondered what they would see: soldiers of the Devore or the Borg or something else. After an agonising few seconds came the unmistakable whine of transporters and on each deck dozens of soldiers materialised. Harry Kim at tactical recorded over five hundred intruders before the bridge was taken and he was captured and knocked unconscious. The rest of the bridge crew were also rapidly and brutally subdued. The invaders shackled Chakotay and Tuvok together and dragged them into the Captain's ready room. Elsewhere on the ship, individual crewmen found themselves outnumbered three to one. All hopes of mounting a defence evaporated. With no orders forthcoming from the bridge Voyager's crew were swiftly disarmed and the frightened crewmen herded down the long corridors towards the cargo bays where they were held under heavy guard.

Amongst the invaders were indeed many Devore soldiers dressed in their usual black uniforms, however not all of the boarders were Devore; a great many Delta quadrant species were present; even the Brenari telepaths so loathed by the Devore were in evidence and there were many species completely unknown to the crew. But there was one chilling commonality among the invaders: the Borg-like implants visible on many of their faces, arms and hands. Yet these soldiers were not the Borg. These were not silent, implacable, walking-dead men. They were noisy, aggressive and piratical; pushing and shouting, cursing and swearing at their prisoners. They wore no single identifiable uniform and many, apart from the Devore, seemed to have a taste for bright colours. All were heavily armed but even in their weaponry there was variety and an apparent gothic pleasure in wearing lethal looking swords and knives in addition to the more usual forms of hand weapon.

Ensign Vorik watched as a heavily manacled B'Elanna Torres was taken away, still shouting abuse at her captors. The Chief Engineer had put up a fight and two of the invading soldiers lay dead on the floor of engineering. Sheer numbers had finally overwhelmed her, yet the invaders had not seriously injured the Lieutenant despite their own losses. The Vulcan thought that this seemed surprisingly disciplined behaviour for such rowdy pirates.

Still contemplating this paradox, he was doubled over by a blow to the stomach from a creature as broad as it was tall and with no apparent facial features. A guttural voice barked "Hands behind your head you skinny bastard and get in line." The engineering crew, minus their leader, were then marched out in a line, any hesitation or slowness being met with blows. As they marched away a replacement crew from the invasion force entered main engineering.

After ten minutes walking along corridors Vorik could see a small group approaching from the opposite direction. The Voyager engineering crew were pushed against the wall of the corridor and forced to their knees by their escorts shouting and waving weapons in their faces. The soldiers had become very agitated when they spotted the approaching group.

Four figures walked smartly towards them. Vorik took a chance, and looked up to watch them pass. The two beings in front were bipedal, tall, willowy and identical in appearance, dress and movement. Quite irrationally he found himself assuming they were female although they were, in humanoid eyes, quite androgynous. They looked straight at him, their dark heads turning in perfect synchronisation and two pairs of beautiful golden eyes looked into his and then passed by.

They were followed by a brutish animal as ugly as they were beautiful, three metres tall and also bipedal but with a strong resemblance to a Terran warthog with a fleshy face and prominent tusk like teeth. Its body was covered in reddish coarse hair. The creature was lightly armoured and carried no weapons except a curved blade nearly two metres long.

Behind the brute a smaller figure appeared, dressed in a black Devore uniform. Vorik looked into her face and with disbelief registered the features of Captain Kathryn Janeway. Her red hair was cut shorter and she seemed paler and a little thinner than he remembered. Then he noticed her hand, as she lifted a tricorder like device and stopped to scan a power relay in the adjacent wall. The hand was covered with an unmistakable tracery of Borg implants. She did not seem to notice the Voyager crewmen crouching against the wall of the corridor and walked past them impassively.

After the group had passed the prisoners were hauled to their feet and pushed on towards the waiting cargo bays. A wide-eyed Crewman Ryan looked at Vorik and mouthed "Did you see her?" A heavy blow on the shoulder with the stock of a disruptor rifle put an end to any attempt to answer.

==Old friends, new aquaintances==

Captain Chakotay struggled to sit up; the weight of Tuvok's unconscious body which had been thrown on top of him and the chains around his ankles and wrists made it hard to move. The Vulcan groaned incoherently as Chakotay tried to shift him.

"Tuvok. Tuvok are you alright. Wake up Commander."

Tuvok's head was resting on the Captain's chest and Chakotay winced a little when he realised that the dampness he could feel was blood from the his first officer's head wound, soaking through his uniform jacket.

Tuvok stirred and groaned again. Chakotay spoke to him gently, "Tuvok. Try not to move. You have a head wound, it's bleeding and you may have other injuries. I'll help you." Gently he helped Tuvok to ease into a sitting position between his legs so that the Vulcan was leaning against him. Chakotay could clearly see the deep gash in the Vulcan's skull. Unfortunately with his hands chained there wasn't much the Captain could do to stem the bleeding. He hoped it was slowing.

The door to the ready room hissed open and Chakotay looked up as Captain Janeway entered her ready room for the first time in five years. She hardly looked any older than when he had last seen her. He started to smile, Then he saw the Borg implants and fear and horror wiped the smile from his face and the words from his lips. Cold blue-gray eyes regarded him without any hint of emotion. Behind her a huge ugly bipedal warthog had entered the room together with a male soldier in Devore uniform.

Janeway spoke slowly, almost clumsily, in Federation Standard English.

"Captain Chakotay your ship is mine. We will discuss the terms of your surrender." He saw her take in the condition of Tuvok. She spoke in the same slow English and with a touch of regret. "It appears that Commander Tuvok is injured."

She addressed the Devore male by her side but this time the Universal translator kicked in as she addressed him in an unfamiliar language.

"Jerholdt bring Voyager's Doctor here. Let him treat the Bridge crew and then I want him taken to the cargo bay to treat any other injuries." Her voice became lower and menacing as she continued to speak to the soldier. "And I hope Major that the Commander's injuries are not typical of how you obeyed my orders."

Jerholdt looked nervous but replied steadily. "Marshal there have been no serious injuries amongst the Voyager crew although our marines have suffered several fatalities and serious injuries." Janeway nodded slightly to acknowledged his words and turned her back as the Devore left the room. She looked at Chakotay and Tuvok and, for the first time, a hint of a warmth entered her face. She switched to English.

"You don't look very comfortable Captain. Release them Kraal." She ordered quietly.

The warthog grunted and snorted. "It is safer to keep them tied up."

Janeway smiled then and continued in a mocking voice. "Kraal could you be afraid? Or perhaps you think you cannot protect me from such fierce creatures?"

"I can protect you Kathryn from far greater dangers than these pathetic creatures" replied the Warthog grumpily, "but you always like to make my job harder."

Chakotay was surprised at the clearly affectionate tone that Kathryn used towards the unappealing creature. The brute moved with agility and grace as it bent down and took hold of the chain that joined the manacles on Tuvok's hands and ankles. With a twist of his great hands and a small grunt Kraal snapped the chain and Tuvok was able to stretch out his legs. With a similar lack of effort the great beast broke the remaining chains leaving Tuvok with a broken manacle dangling from each wrist and ankle. The brute lifted Tuvok aside from where he had rested against Chakotay, and then Chakotay's bonds were broken equally quickly. Chakotay stood, grimacing slightly as the blood returned to his limbs.

"You could have used the unlocking code rather than destroying the ship's property," said Janeway, grinning openly now at the creature.

"Yes, but I was making a point. Do you think they understood? They do not look very intelligent and it surprises me that you survived as long you did in their company. We took their ship with little effort and they do not seem to be worth the journey," replied Kraal and he accompanied his words with a snort which was utterly derisive.

"Captain Chakotay, you have not impressed my colleague. But then he does not know you or this crew." She paused for a moment. "I am sorry about the manner of our reunion Chakotay but I am operating under certain constraints which made this approach necessary."

Chakotay was silent and his former captain said sharply "You don't have anything to say?". She stepped forward and placed a hand on his arm. "Chakotay you need not fear me. This ship and its crew are still important to me."

Glancing down Chakotay looked at her hand and the dull grey metal threading through it and could not stop himself from pulling away from her. He had never been able to forget his horror at being linked to a Borg hive mind.

"Are you..." his voice sounded hoarse and he steadied himself, trying to overcome the sudden dryness of his mouth, "Are you really Captain Janeway?"

Following his gaze down Janeway looked at her own hand and frowned a little, then she looked into his dark eyes and smiled the same lazy smile that he remembered so well. He remembered also how much he had missed her, missed their easy friendship, how much he had lost. Her smile became sad as she recognised the hurt on his face. Her distinctive low voice was gentle and reassuring.

"It is me Chakotay. An enhanced model perhaps, as Seven of Nine would have it, but none the less I am Kathryn Janeway former captain of the USS Voyager."

Startled again, Chakotay exclaimed "Seven of Nine! Is she with you?"

Janeway's expression darkened and she became brisk. "No. Seven is not with me. But she is the reason that I came looking for you. Look Chakotay I have a great deal to tell you but we will have time for explanations on the way back to Devore space."

Chakotay protested "Kathryn, the Devore Imperium is twenty thousand light years from here and it has taken Voyager five years and a lot of luck to travel that distance. You can't ask us to give up those gains."

Her eyes had hardened from the soft blue-grey of a few seconds before to an unyielding grey, any sympathy, real or fake, vanished from her steel-plated voice.

"I had forgotten how awkward you could be Chakotay. I am not used to having my plans questioned." Kraal snorted a little and looked unrepentant when Janeway scowled at him but the interruption seemed to calm her. She sighed and rubbed her face and said in a quieter voice. "I'm sorry Chakotay but command protocols are a little different in the Free Alliance. I'm afraid you will just have to excuse my occasional bursts of despotism."

She smiled at him reassuringly and her voice was again gentle and persuasive. "Chakotay the return journey will take just one week and, with good fortune, you, and the rest of the crew, will be home in the Alpha quadrant within two months. Trust me I am going to explain."

Ignoring Chakotay's still obvious suspicion, Janeway then knelt down to Tuvok and and hugged him carefully. "Tuvok it is wonderful to see you again old friend."

The Vulcan's face showed some alarm at the embrace despite his best efforts, as well as some discomfort from his injury, however he answered her calmly, as though meeting Janeway at some Starfleet social event. "I am gratified to see you also Marshal Janeway and to know that you are well."

Despite the situation Captain Chakotay was amused by Tuvok's extreme politeness but the Captain felt battered by the revelations and sudden changes of fortune. Kathryn had certainly retained her ability to disconcert and he could not shake the feeling that he was being manipulated. It was important to remain alert to possible opportunities, to recover some advantage. At the moment Janeway held all the cards and he could only go along with her plans whatever they might be. He made a conscious effort to look more relaxed and confident. He walked to the nearest couch and sank down and stretched out his legs and then sat back, smiling at Janeway who had now released Tuvok. She looked relieved.

Kraal was standing watching in the corner; he snorted again and muttered but his alert pose eased and he leaned his great bulk against the wall with one hand resting lightly on the huge sword that he carried.

Tuvok was still on the floor, propped against a step; he sagged slightly and Janeway immediately became concerned. "Jerholdt. Where is the Doctor?" she snapped, presumably to a communicator hidden somewhere on her uniform.

Jerholdt's communicator reply sounded a little tinny "My apologies for the delay Marshal but the Doctor has been less than co-operative."

"Well tell him Tuvok is injured and Captain Janeway says he is to come to her ready room immediately."

She heard Jerholdt repeat her words and then someone gasp. Then they heard the Doctor's voice. "What do you mean Captain Janeway. If this is a trick, it's not a very clever one. Obviously my good man no-one bothered to tell you that we lost the captain five years ago." By the end of the sentence the Doctor's tone had moved from bluster to become smug and superior. Chakotay offered a wry smile to his former captain. Some people never change was the unspoken thought. Janeway did not return the smile.

"Janeway to the Doctor."

She spoke in her most forceful command voice. "I am here in my ready room and we require your services. Now." Her voice became rougher. "In future Doctor if I give an instruction I expect immediate obedience. Deviation from this will not be tolerated and either you or one of your shipmates will be punished. Is that clear?" Not waiting for an answer she closed the comm link, "Janeway out."

There was a momentary shocked silence while Chakotay and Tuvok stared at the ex-captain. Janeway said carefully, "Chakotay it is imperative that you understand that my behaviour in front of my present crew may not be as you remember me. Please do not interfere. You may speak freely in front of Kraal and in front of my first officer Nithqref but no one else. Many of the Fearless's crew may also be trusted but as you do not know them it is better to trust no one. The Devore marines and the crew of the Revenge believe that you are unwilling prisoners and it is better that they continue to do so. To avoid any further complication I think it would be easier if Voyager's crew were also informed of the true situation on a need to know basis only."

Before Chakotay could ask what the 'true' situation was, a buzz at the door informed them of the Doctor's arrival with Jerholdt.

"Enter" said Janeway. The Doctor was pushed, complaining into the room. As he entered his gaze fell on Captain Janeway and he spluttered "Captain it is you. I can hardly believe it."

Janeway did not lift her eyes from the padd she was studying. "You do not have permission to speak Doctor. Treat your patient."

The Doctor opened his mouth and then thought better of it. He drew out his tricorder and moved to examine Tuvok.

Continuing in a voice that would freeze the feathers off a penguin, Janeway turned her attention to Jerholdt. "I want you to supervise the transfer of all healthy prisoners to the holding cells on the Fearless. We will only require a single platoon of marines to remain on Voyager after the transfer has taken place to guard any remaining sick prisoners while the Doctor attends to their injuries. You may then transport yourself and the remainder of your men back to the Revenge. Remember Major, no members of Voyager's crew are to be hurt. If any of them cause you any trouble then sedate them. When the Doctor has completed his work any prisoners remaining on Voyager will also be transferred to the holding cells. Report when you have completed the transfer and the withdrawal. Dismissed." Jerholdt turned smartly and left the room.

Janeway spoke again.

"Nithqref get here as soon as you can and please bring B'Elanna Torres with you." There was no answering voice from her communicator but she smiled and said. "I know. She's a handful."

The Doctor was finishing his treatment of Tuvok's head injury. He hesitated and looked at Janeway warily, then said "I have completed treatment of Tuvok's injury, Captain, but he should really remain under observation in sick bay for at least two days."

"Understood. Now get down to the cargo bays where the remainder of Voyager's crew are being held." As Janeway looked at him, the holographic doctor could have sworn the he felt the room get colder, "Doctor you have your orders. Please do not give me reason to be angry. Go. Commander Tuvok will be transferred in due course to the sickbay on the Fearless with the other injured prisoners." The Doctor hurried out of the ready room without another word. Smiling again, Janeway looked at her former officers, "I should have tried that approach with the Doctor years ago."

Chakotay had at last gathered his wits sufficiently to ask questions. "Captain, er I mean Marshal, what is going on here? Why are you transferring my crew to your ship as prisoners?"

"It is standard procedure. If I did not do it, Jerholdt would be suspicious and I would be endangering everyone. Listen Chakotay I will explain to you as soon as I can but I need to get the crew safely aboard the Fearless first. Suffice to say that I need your help but in return I will ensure that you and your crew get back to the Alpha quadrant."

Tuvok heard her words and noticed the phrasing. "You do not intend to return to the Alpha quadrant with us Captain?"

Quietly, she replied "My home is here in the Delta quadrant Tuvok; I have a family here. I am no longer a Starfleet captain." Both Chakotay and Tuvok felt the world slide a little further off its axis. She grinned lopsidedly. "It is one of the ironies of our lives in the Delta quadrant that Chakotay has become the Starfleet captain and I have become a rebel leader and an outsider in my own space. Lifting her chin she asked, "Would you like to see my family?" There was a mixture of determination and hesitation in her voice as though she wasn't sure that this was the right thing to do but wanted to anyway. Chakotay wondered briefly if Kraal were the lucky man and inwardly shuddered at the repellant images.

Janeway pulled a wallet out of her jacket and opened it. Inside was a picture of Seven of Nine standing with her arm around a smiling Janeway. Both women were dressed in outdoor clothing and they were standing in front of a wooden dwelling, that in the Alpha quadrant would have belonged at one time to an ancient pioneer or backwoodsman. Two small children stood in front of them.

Chakotay felt his mouth drop open again. The two children, both girls of about two and four years of age, were the spitting image of Seven of Nine except for their red hair and the lack of any apparent Borg implants. Janeway returned the picture to her jacket.

"It was taken six months ago on a trip to the back country on Kraal's home world. Two weeks later a faction within the Devore Imperium recaptured Seven of Nine. I have not seen her since. The children are with Kraal's wife in a Free Alliance colony. Chakotay I need you to help me rescue Seven before the Devore kill her."

The pain in her face and the note of pleading in her voice brought all his chivalrous instincts to the surface. He had loved this woman once and been forced to abandon her against his will. It would be nearly impossible to deny her whatever she wanted.

Another buzz at the door brought in a marine officer carrying a report. Janeway was immediately all cold efficiency and discipline. Chakotay slid back into his role of defeated commander and slumped on the couch, watching the small woman as she sat at her desk grilling the subaltern about his report.

Small wonder, Chakotay pondered, that Janeway could see no future in Starfleet. A lover of the same sex, and a former Borg at that, would damn her on two counts. The modern Starfleet expected its captains to conform to norms of behaviour - such stuffy and conformist attitudes had played a large part in Chakotay's decision to leave Starfleet many years before - however even without the unconventional family, he knew that Janeway would have had a hard time explaining to Starfleet many of her actions in the Delta quadrant. That would have been true even five years ago, and it was plain that she had been far from inactive since. There were many possible accusations that could result in a discharge from the service if Starfleet felt so inclined. And, even if all the other matters could be ignored or glossed over, there remained the apparent Borg assimilation of the Captain. Although the assimilation process had been reversed or arrested in some way, Kathryn Janeway was to some extent undeniably Borg.

Another buzz at the door and two beautiful androgynes entered the room side by side, followed by two soldiers holding a handcuffed, gagged but still struggling B'Elanna Torres. The escorting soldiers dumped her on the floor. Janeway looked up from her reading and dismissed the subaltern and the two escorts. One of the latter could not forbear from aiming a hard kick at B'Elanna's head as she lay on the floor. The engineer slumped into unconsciousness. A sharp word from Janeway and the soldier scampered from the room apologising for his existence. It was clear to Chakotay that Janeway was feared by her Delta quadrant crew in a way that had certainly not been true when she captained Voyager. It disturbed him. Trying to be rational, he realised that like a Maquis captain, Janeway may have had to adopt many unorthodox methods; cracking heads was often the only form of discipline widely recognised. That said, she had still changed; brutality towards her crew seemed to be very out of character with the woman he had once known.

Janeway's voice interrupted his thoughts "Captain Chakotay this is Nithqref, my intelligence officer and second in command."

Looking up, Chakotay could see her gesturing at the two androgynes. Slightly embarrassed he said "I am sorry Marshal but I didn't catch which one ....".

Janeway laughed "No you misunderstand, they are Nithqref. One mind, two bodies. Nithqref is a member of the Halquine species. The Halquine have many unique abilities." She smiled gently, more like her old self. "And Nithqref has been a good friend to me."

The tall beings did not say anything aloud but Chakotay could hear a voice speaking in English apparently inside his mind and from the manner in which Tuvok's eyebrow had suddenly lifted, Chakotay guessed he was having a similar experience.

"I am pleased to meet the great Captain Chakotay and you also Commander Tuvok. Kathryn has told me many things about you both."

Collecting himself Chakotay smiled as warmly as he could. "It is a pleasure for me also, Nithqref, to meet someone so obviously valued and trusted by my Captain."

Nithqref smiled - with both faces in unison.

Tuvok had made his greeting telepathically but for the sake of the two humans he then spoke aloud. "You are an entirely telepathic species without any spoken language. I find that most fascinating. How do you communicate when not within telepathic range of your crew?"

Any answer was forestalled by a groan from the engineer lying on the floor. Kraal stepped forward and hauled B'Elanna Torres upright.

"Now the pleasantries are over," he grunted, "perhaps we should do something about your little friend here." B'Elanna Torres scowled at him from behind her gag and struggled.

Janeway grinned slightly. "I should perhaps warn you Kraal, the Lieutenant is not as manageable as many of Voyager's crew."

Kraal wrinkled his nose in what Chakotay had begun to recognise as a sneer. "I do not think this little one poses much of a threat." He unlocked her chains with a key code and as they fell away the engineer unleashed her considerable pent up fury in a crushing kick to the stomach. Kraal found himself reclining on a large chair, several feet away, with the engineer starting to swing at him with his own sword. Struggling to his feet, he threw himself out of the way as the blade crashed down through the seat splitting it in two. A stream of Klingon invective rained down on him as B'Elanna prepared for another swing.

"B'Elanna drop the sword," Chakotay intervened and stepped between them. B'Elanna Torres tried to push him aside. This time he said more loudly "B'Elanna I said that's enough. Put down the sword this instant Lieutenant. That's an order." She stood swaying for a minute the sword half raised over her head. Standing between her and Kraal, Chakotay could see the half-Klingon's sense of self returning. He relaxed. The Klingon battle rage was cooling and she started to breathe more normally.

"One day Chakotay you are going to allow me to finish one of these fights" she grumbled. "You're always such a kill joy." B'Elanna then threw the sword to the floor and looked around her as if seeing the room for the first time. Her gaze lighted on Captain Janeway. Disbelief warred with hope. Hope won.

"So the rumours are true! In Kahless' name Captain." In two strides she had covered the distance, picked the ex-Captain up and tried to swing her round, only to drop her rather unceremoniously on the floor. Janeway looked up at her with a pained expression.

"No offence Captain but for a small woman you're pretty heavy" B'Elanna gasped apologetically.

Kraal had recovered by this time and infuriated by the apparent attack on Janeway, he grabbed B'Elanna Torres from behind, lifted her a metre off the ground and started to shake her.

"Put me down you great oaf" yelled the half-Klingon. "Don't you recognise an affectionate hug? No of course you don't" she taunted. "What am I saying? Who would hug a man who is a dead ringer for a warthog? I'll bet even your mother thinks twice!" Kraal shook her harder and growled with rage.

Picking herself up, Janeway gestured at Kraal to put B'Elanna down which he did reluctantly. The half-Klingon and the Warthog stood and glowered at each other.

Janeway addressed her former engineer with a little sarcasm. "Impolite as it was for you to mention my weight B'Elanna, it is true that a cyber-enhanced skeletal structure does tend to add a few pounds."

The normally fearless half-Klingon stepped back with an ill disguised look of terror. Chakotay was watching Janeway carefully and observed the pain in her expression as she reassured B'Elanna.

"I am not going to assimilate you Lieutenant and, despite the appearance, I have not been assimilated by the Borg either."

"If you were not assimilated by the Borg, Marshal Janeway, then how did you acquire those?" asked Tuvok, his eyes fixed on the implants on her hand.

At first Janeway glanced away, appearing to be annoyed by the question, then she raised her hand, examining the back of it as carefully as though it were strange to her. She half-smiled, another echo of her former easy charm. "I am what you might call a prototype" she explained. Her smile seemed to chill, losing its charm as she added, "Not a satisfactory prototype from my progenitors point of view."

"Five years ago, as you no doubt recall, the Devore were lords of all they surveyed in a very large sector of space. It didn't last. Only months after Voyager left Devore space who should arrive but the Borg and they meant business."

"The Devore are nothing if not determined and well organised militarily; they put up one hell of a fight but like most species, resistance was increasingly futile and the Borg made steady inroads in a matter of weeks. Many of the Devore colonies and slave worlds were assimilated. Just as it looked hopeless, an opportunity fell into the laps of the fortunate Devore - Seven of Nine, to be precise - looking for me." She paused, taking in the varying expressions of her prisoners. "However I think it would be better if I told you this story from the beginning and now is not the time. I need a report on Voyager's space worthiness and a repair schedule. B'Elanna. You are to work with Nithqref and report back to me in two hours."

The note of command in Janeway's voice was still so familiar and current in the chief engineer's memory that B'Elanna Torres responded "Aye Captain" as smartly as any new ensign on her first mission, turned smartly on her heel and had taken two strides towards the door before the engineer skidded to a halt just before the exit, with an apologetic look at Chakotay.

If Kathryn Janeway was amused by B'Elanna's embarrassment she hid it well. "What are you waiting for Lieutenant," she queried impatiently. "Captain Chakotay has surrendered his ship and you are under my command."

B'Elanna stared at her captain, seeking confirmation. Chakotay nodded his agreement with Janeway and B'Elanna left the ready room, muttering what sounded like an oath of some sort. The Halquine followed and further cursing could be heard as the telepath silently introduced itself to her.

"Captain Chakotay, I'm glad that you have accepted your position. We will continue our discussion at eighteen hundred hours this evening. In the meantime please accompany Commander Tuvok to sickbay. Dismissed."

Janeway's demeanour was now fully that of her new, more intimidating self, her orders to be obeyed without question. Chakotay found himself on his feet, almost propelled from his chair by Kraal, and helping Tuvok out of the room before Janeway had finished giving instructions to her sub-ordinate.

"Kraal. Captain Chakotay and Commander Tuvok are to be detained in sickbay. I want you to bring them to the briefing room at eighteen hundred. The Doctor, Neelix and B'Elanna Torres are also to be present." Kraal scowled at the last name. His stomach still ached from where the half-Klingon had kicked him. "And Kraal, no-one else apart from Nithqref and yourself is to attend, or to even know that we are meeting. Oh and see if you can find them some food."

The big beast nodded his understanding. He followed the two Voyager crewmen onto the bridge. "Here we go again," he said to them cheerfully, a suspicion of a smirk on his warty face, "determined to take us through the Haroun Nebula. I feel quite nostalgic."

"Haroun Nebula?" queried Chakotay.

"Normally a metaphor for certain death, only a lunatic would actually plan a crossing. Of course in Kathryn's case, the passage through the Haroun Nebula is historical fact and a turning point in the first Borg war!"

"Then it would appear," said Tuvok, "that Captain Janeway remains as she was in at least one respect."

"You are not reassuring me Tuvok" muttered his captain. "You are not reassuring me at all."

TBC