summary:

TITLE: Janeway Redux AUTHOR: halfofone
FEEDBACK: Constructive feedback welcome.
SUMMARY: Set after 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 many. In a perfect world I would be one of them but it's not and I'm not. No infringement of copyright/trade marks or other intellectual property is intended. This story was written for fun and not profit.
SPOILERS: Some Season 4 and Season 5 spoilers.
ARCHIVING: If you want ... I would quite like to know where.

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:

Part 14 - We Won, I think!

Janeway addressed the milling mob of semi-droned life-forms with as much authority as if she was talking to a squad of Starfleet Academy cadets.

"I am Kathryn Janeway. My comrades and I have the command codes and we intend to take this ship from the Devore. We will secure the bridge and engineering and then the rest of the decks. Major Kraal will choose a team to go with him to engineering, Nithqref and the remainder are to come with me to the bridge. Are there any good pilots here?" she asked. One of the rebels gestured at a dark figure resting at the back of sickbay.

"Arrin is one of the best I have ever seen." remarked the large solid looking man. He had a disproportionately small head, sharp weaselly features and little round twinkling-black eyes.

Kathryn nodded approval. "We are going to need a good pilot when we have control of the ship. Bring him here. He's to come along with my group."

The weaselly rebel displayed theatrical levels of horror and shushed her with his hands.

"That's a Her, for pities sake sweetheart. Her. Do not mistake her for a man," he stressed under his breath, "or she'll refuse to help you at all. She's like that, you know, hates men, can hardly bear to be near us."

He grinned evilly and displayed a fine set of pointed yellow teeth before he ambled over to the vaunted pilot and woke her with a good kick. After a short verbal struggle the tall, dark and strikingly good looking woman got to her feet and casually flattened the weasel with a solid punch. Dressed in a slightly ragged black flying suit the pilot swaggered towards the appalled Starfleet Captain and stopped in front of her. The only Borg implant visible on the arrogant face was a small starburst on her left cheekbone. It enhanced her dangerous appearance. She looked Janeway up and down.

"Apparently I have to help you out Red. Just remember I don't take orders from lesser beings. So ask nicely in future" she sneered in a low clipped accent.

Nonplussed at the familiarity and unprofessional behaviour Kathryn raised her eyebrow but decided to ignore the attitude for the moment. She turned away and raised her voice for the next request and tried to sound more forceful.

"Are there any engineers here who are fit for duty? We need them to go with Major Kraal and standby in engineering."

Two slightly shaky figures presented themselves, neither species was recognisable to her but one had two pairs of arms. Pretty useful, she supposed, for an engineer. Uncertain how to acknowledge crew in this strange world and even more uncertain how to establish command she hesitated.

Kraal stepped into the breach and took over in best parade ground command voice.

"Over here both of you, on the double and try not to look so droopy" he bawled and glared at them both as if their appearance were a personal affront to him.

Her ears ringing Kathryn half smiled as the two unfortunates limped over to join the engineering assault team. She was amused to note that Kraal had chosen the weaker looking rebels for his own team leaving her with a much burlier crew.

She looked at them critically. The alliance soldiers were a surly bunch of malcontents and Kathryn could not be sure of their loyalties but as there was no other choice she decided to concentrate on the plan and worry about the niceties later. After all, she reasoned, they all wanted to escape. That at least should keep them in line for the moment. Over the open communication link she asked Seven of Nine for a status report. Seven's reply sounded calm.

"The Devore are becoming increasingly agitated about the loss of internal communications and they are looking for Morvius. It may be difficult to disguise our presence for much longer."

"Hold on Seven if you can keep them confused a little longer, we'll try and get this over with quickly. We have split our forces in two. On my mark transport the group accompanying me to the bridge and the group with Kraal to engineering. Disable all external communications and put up forcefields at key positions to contain movement, I don't want any warning being given to the other ships nor do we want to be interrupted by regiments of Devore soldiers boarding us from the Revenge."

"Acknowledged, I will do my best Kathryn," said Seven before adding in a pleading voice "and be careful."

Warmed by the concern in her love's voice Kathryn joked gently. "And that makes 21 times. I'll be alright Seven, I promise."

"Kathryn please do not break that promise," Seven said seriously. Janeway was hard put to stifle the soppy smile that threatened to appear on her face.

"Everyone ready?" She said and looked round carefully at her team of eight alliance soldiers, the arrogant female pilot and Nithqref. They only had six disruptors between them. She was surprised when Nithqref insisted on taking two of the weapons, the peacable telepath simply said 'I will keep you alive Kathryn.' and Kraal had nodded approvingly. Those without guns equipped themselves with metal bars and surgical knives. With their Borg implants and unkempt appearance they looked fearsome enough.

She glanced at Kraal for confirmation that his team were also ready and he raised a clenched fist. The rest of his team did the same and shouted 'The Alliance'.

And once again Kathryn was out of her depth, Starfleet had rather given up on that sort of military gesture. Seeing the expectant faces of her team (those who had faces) she raised her fist in what she hoped was the appropriate manner. Her team promptly followed suit and shouted also.

Holding onto her command mask with some difficulty Kathryn said "I want everyone to come out of this alive. No killing unless you have to, but no hesitation if your comrades are in danger."

"We must liquidate all prisoners." objected a tall scarred man with an air of authority. "That is standard Alliance battle orders in this situation." Several of the other Alliance soldiers grunted or squeaked in agreement. The objector continued his criticism. "I do not know who you are lady but I can tell you we do not have sufficient men..."

A sharp poke in the back with a disruptor brought him to a savage halt: the point reinforced by a second disruptor held to his neck. Nithqref glared at him silently and then looked pointedly at Kathryn. Every soldier in the room experienced the Halquine's telepathic message.

'Captain Janeway has given you orders. On this ship she commands and any person here who does not follow her orders will answer to me or to Major Kraal with their lives. She is Khalid. Understood?' As one person, the assembled soldiers bowed to her, respect and even fear visible in their bodies and faces.

Kathryn was astonished and somewhat horrified, she had never seen the Halquine be anything but serene and mild-mannered. But the twin bodies, still threatening the tall humanoid male with disruptors, radiated an anger and ferocious tension that she could not have imagined; the very air around the elegant, graceful being seemed to hum with seething violence, the golden eyes afire with rage.

Even Kraal was impressed and caught up in the moment he lifted his mighty paw and roared "Janeway". The rest of those present followed suit and the air split with the noise.

Kathryn could just hear Seven's urgent voice on the comm system. "Captain, what is happening? Do you require assistance?"

The sound of Seven's voice delivered Kathryn from her state of shock and she replied, remarkably calmly she thought.

"It's okay Seven, somewhat different customs, but we're ready now." She signalled to Kraal to quiet the crew which he did by bawling louder than any of them.

"Silence!"

Absolute quiet followed. Kathryn made a mental note that she would have to try and encourage less noisy briefings.

"Seven, ready to transport the assault teams. Now."

The Bridge

The first thing Kathryn saw as she materialised was Inspector Kashyk smirking at some remark made by Controller Goff. In the next instant he turned to face her and the smirk disappeared.

"Drop your weapons now" she barked.

Three Devore guards lifted their disruptors to fight but before they could fire, the Halquine had fired four shots, two from each weapon. The three guards sagged to the floor. There were no further attempts at resistance, the dozen Devore guards still standing dropped whatever weapons they were holding.

"Get them you cowards," shouted a wild-eyed Kashyk and tried to unholster his gun, but as it cleared, and quicker than the human eye could focus, he was disarmed by the long flickering tongue of the lizardman who had materialised behind him. Kashyk stared unbelieving at his empty hand.

"Effective," murmured Kathryn appreciatively, the lizardman chittered something unintelligible in reply and waved the captured weapon about dangerously with his tongue, before bringing it down hard on the back of Kashyk's head. The Devore Inspector subsided to the ground.

Kathryn ignored Kashyk and concentrated on Goff.

"Controller, the ship is mine. At this moment my crew is taking engineering and then we control access to all major systems."

"Captain, without the command codes you control nothing."

It was hard not to admire the fat man's coolness, his pale eyes hardly even registered mild annoyance. He spoke with equal mildness. "If you do not surrender yourselves then your comrades on the surface of that moon will be liquidated in..." and he glanced at the countdown ".... forty three seconds."

Kathryn smiled graciously. "Controller look about you, look at these crew, where do you believe I found them?"

The Controller looked round at the motley assembly of alliance rebels, their Borg implants gleamed dully in the emergency lighting. He gasped slightly and for the first time appeared worried.

Janeway continued smoothly, "the only living beings remaining on that planet are a large number of your own men. I suggest we terminate countdown to the experimental firing. Battle computer, stand down. Do not fire without my authorisation."

The computer acknowledged the instructions.

"Computer," Goff shouted, "ignore orders from the renegade Janeway. Resume targeting moon."

Authorisation level insufficient replied the computer.

"The Farini," he hissed in frustrated realisation "They will pay for this, the Imperium will hunt down every last one of them."

His fury was compounded when Kraal's voice was heard over the communicator. "Engineering secure Captain, we are standing by."

"Any problems Kraal?" she asked.

"None at all, it was very dull, we have fifteen Devore under guard and no casualties," replied the Parath. "Our two little engineers are running about like piglets in a candy shop. They seem very excited."

"Can you secure the decks between yourselves and sick bay?" she asked.

"I cannot imagine it will be very difficult." He replied.

Kathryn was amused by the affected boredom in his voice but there was still much to do before she could be similarly relaxed. They needed to get away from the area as soon as possible.

"Seven we need you here to pilot this thing. Reroute control of sensors and communications back to the bridge and seal all access from the Devore crew quarters."

"It is done." said Seven. "I am on my way."

Kathryn spoke to Arrin.

"Pilot. When Seven of Nine arrives I want you and she to get us out of here quickly. Use whatever evasive manouevres you know."

The dark, good looking pilot scowled at her.

"I've never flown a ship like this. I need time to familiarise myself ......"

"You have until the Devore ships around us start firing at us pilot. However long that is. I suggest you get busy and persuade that good fellow there to help you." She gestured impatiently at the scared looking Devore pilot still seated at the navigation controls.

Arrin folded her arms and looked stubborn. "I told you Red, ask nicely."

Janeway lost patience. A full force ten command glare was levelled on the insubordinate pilot backed up by a raised disruptor.

"Follow my orders pilot or you will be the first dead alliance body on this bridge." Behind her she knew Nithqref had levelled both disruptors on the pilot.

Gazing into cold and apparently merciless granite blue eyes, Arrin recognised defeat and nodded reluctantly. She was not often scared but something about Janeway told her the small Captain was not bluffing.

Kathryn turned her own disruptor on the irate Controller standing between two of her men. "Controller Goff you are to order your remaining crew to surrender immediately."

"No." he said bluntly. "We will not co-operate Captain Janeway, you are the ones who should surrender. You will not be able to escape in this ship, you do not even have a pilot and none of my men will help you."

While the Controller was speaking Janeway just glimpsed out of the corner of her eye one of the Devore officers shuffle back towards a console and conceal something in his hand. Her alertness triggered Nithqref who was trying to monitor the minds of all those on the bridge, Nithqref's two halves spun and fired and the Devore dropped instantly to the deck, two huge holes in his chest. His lifeless fingers released the emergency beacon he had been holding. The small box tumbled to the floor and lay there, a green light blinking in synchronisation with the emergency signal it was transmitting to every Devore ship in range. For a split second everyone on the bridge just gaped at the box then Kathryn fired at it with her disruptor and it disintegrated.

"Battle computer," She yelled. "Shields now!" Before she finished speaking the Fearless shook from the impact of phaser fire from the adjacent Devore ship.

ACKNOWLEDGED said the computer and all hell broke loose on the bridge.

"Arrin, your time just ran out." Kathryn shouted at her reluctant pilot. "Get us out of here as fast you can manage."

Ignoring everything going on around her and trusting that Nithqref would make good the promise to keep her alive, Janeway ran to the tactical station hoping the hours she had spent studying the Fearless were going to be enough. She struggled to deploy the tactical sensors.

From the corner of her eye she saw Seven of Nine enter the bridge and start towards her. Kathryn felt her heart lift in spite of the danger but she snapped at the tall drone.

"Seven. Don't waste time. Get us out of here."

Without speaking Seven of Nine reached the navigational console in two long strides, threw the Devore pilot out her way with one hand and equally unceremoniously pushed the hapless Arrin aside with the other. Both gaped at the breathtaking blonde, who apparently unmoved by the chaos, began readying the Fearless for flight.

Janeway concentrated on the tactical display. Photon torpedos were closing in. Her fingers seemed clumsy as she tried to target the ship's phasers. The lead missile came in range and she pressed the firing control. A direct hit. The missile exploded but there was no time to congratulate herself. She targeted four more missiles and fired. Two destroyed but two were through and there was no time to intercept.

"All crew. Brace for impact." Seconds after her words echoed over the Fearless's comm system the ship rocked wildly and Kathryn lost her hold and fell sideways banging her head. But Seven hung on and Kathryn, lying on the floor, heard her calm report.

"Engines on-line Kathryn." Pulling herself upright Kathryn felt a stab of pride in her protege. "Course set for evasive pattern." continued Seven. "Engaging impulse engines. Slipstream in three seconds."

In the eternity that followed another direct hit shook the ship tossing Devore and Alliance soldiers about. Fighting broke out as the Devore took advantage of the situation. Then a different vibration began and for a moment Kathryn feared that the ship was going to shake itself apart.

"We have entered the slipstream Kathryn," Seven explained. "I am not entirely sure of our exact destination but we are leaving Devore space ..... "

An angry howl interrupted her. Inspector Kashyk twisted free of his guard. He grabbed his captor's disruptor. Unable to get a clear shot at Janeway who was still sitting on the deck he turned his gun on Seven.

"Watch your bitch die Janeway!" he screamed and aimed at Seven from almost point blank range. The Fearless veered sideways throwing him off balance. He missed. The ship pitched up like an old sailing clipper, climbing a giant wave, and every person on the bridge scrabbled to hold on to whatever they could. Those who failed, slipped and rolled towards the back of the bridge. Gripping the edge of the tactical console with one hand Kathryn hauled herself to her feet with desperate strength. In the other arm she braced the stock of the disruptor against the crook of her elbow. The violent motion had deposited Kashyk in a command chair from which relative safety he was struggling to aim his disruptor at Seven of Nine's back as she valiantly tried to stabilise the ship's gravity field.

Kathryn concentrated on holding her weapon steady. The noise and screaming around her faded and her vision seemed to narrow until all she could see at the end of a tunnel was Kashyk, his face contorted. He was still shrieking but she couldn't hear the words. She fired twice.

The Inspector carried on screaming but he dropped his disruptor. He had no choice. Kathryn's shots had severed both his arms at the shoulder and the limbs lay twitching on the floor. In that instant Seven brought the Fearless under control and the ship seemed to right herself. The crowd of Devore and Alliance personnel slowly disentangled themselves but there were no further struggles. Everyone was mesmerised by the agonised screams of the armless Kashyk.

Kathryn stifled the urge to vomit. She turned to the command console and announced ship-wide with as much cold force as she could muster. "All Devore crew are to surrender. Your commanders are imprisoned and we have evaded the Devore fleet. If you do not co-operate fully and completely my crew will execute you without further delay."

Around the ship her words were heard punctuated by Kashyk's pleas for mercy and death. Fear was apparent on the faces of the Devore bridge crew.

She pointed her disruptor at a white-faced Controller Goff and his head drooped in acknowledgement. He spoke quietly.

"To all crew. This is Controller Goff. I have agreed to surrender. Offer no resistance. You are to co-operate with Captain Janeway and her crew."

"Remove him to sickbay." Janeway ordered two of the Devore guards and indicated Kashyk with her hand. "And get rid of those," she added pointing at his severed arms.

"The surgeon may be able to reattach ...." protested Goff.

"Get rid of them." she said coldly, aware that fear was holding the numerically superior Devore in thrall and she was unwilling to give up that advantage. "And I'm afraid I must confine you to the brig Controller Goff." Nithqref. Get them all out my sight. she thought.

The Halquine's own artificial battle rage had faded already and Nithqref shivered at the ferocity still radiating from Janeway.

Without further instruction from their new leader, the Alliance crew rounded up the Devore on the bridge, kicking and punching them into obedience before marching them and the stretcher party from the bridge leaving just the Captain, Seven of Nine and the pilot, Arrin. The latter was now watching at the former Federation captain with undisguised admiration and some fear. Seven on the other-hand looked troubled if also slightly fearful. Kathryn felt a stab of regret. All she seemed able to do these days was to frighten people, including those she loved.

"Your aim was remarkably accurate in the circumstances" Seven said neutrally.

"It was no such thing," Janeway replied, her voice remaining unemotional. "I was aiming at his chest. Kashyk was a lucky man."

"I do not believe he thought so," replied Seven soberly.

Janeway shrugged. "It was him or you."

*~~~*

Five years later - Voyager

"And that was it," said Janeway. "We escaped, took the Fearless and joined the Alliance fleet."

Chakotay shook his head in disbelief.

"So then what? I suppose you defeated the Devore and the Borg."

Janeway grinned.

"I appreciate the confidence but it was more complicated than that. It was quite clear that neither the Alliance or the Imperium could defeat the Borg alone. There was a treaty. All the unsubjugated planets were allowed to secede to the Alliance in return for the technology we had stolen. The Borg were driven back." Her eyes darkened. "I don't want you to think it was easy. There were terrible losses. And for all our efforts the Borg will return one day; we are engaged in a ceaseless arms race."

The Voyager crew looked at their former leader and felt dismay. It was obvious that Janeway was not here to rejoin them. Chakotay was equally disappointed but he also felt apprehension. Why did Janeway need them now? Why was she here?

tbc