"Chakotay's Letter"
by Andra Marie Mueller

AUTHOR’S NOTE: This was my contribution to the Voyager Virtual Season 7.5 episode “Letters”. The entire epiosde can be found at the VVS7.5 main site.

DISCLAIMER: Paramount is the legal owner of the characters of 'Star Trek: Voyager'. I just borrow them for my own nefarious purposes and to give them real lives.

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All was quiet on the bridge. Janeway was sequestered in her Ready Room sifting through her latest round of reports, while Tuvok was in the holodeck making adjustments to his latest training program. Harry was in Astrometrics enlisting Seven's help on a project he was working on, and Tom was spending quality time with his wife. Their monthly correspondence with Earth had improved the morale of the crew immensely, the bits of news and personal data they received making them feel a bit closer to their loved ones. Chakotay himself had been corresponding with his cousin in Ohio, and the latest letter had included a miraculous surprise: his younger sister Maya had not only survived the extermination of the Maquis, but was alive and well on their home world. The news had filled him with joy, bringing to mind memories of summers spent getting into mischief with friends while a worshipful Maya shadowed his every move. She had been a constant light in his life since the day at five years old he had looked into her tiny infant face and proclaimed her to be his personal ray of sunshine.

Hearing the doors open behind him, Chakotay glanced over his shoulder and saw Tuvok walk onto the bridge. "Finished tweaking your training program?" he prompted.

"Yes," Tuvok confirmed. "I believe the upgrades I have implemented will substantially increase the efficiency of the training exercises."

The XO hid a smile. "I'm glad to hear it," he said, and rose to his feet. "Well everything seems to be status quo, so I'm going to leave the bridge in your capable hands and take care of some personal business. The captain's in her Ready Room, but shouldn't be disturbed unless there's an emergency."

"Aye, Commander."

Relinquishing command to Tuvok, Chakotay made his way to his quarters. After replicating himself a mug of spice tea, he grabbed a data PADD and settled on the couch. His letter for this month was for his sister, an attempt to put into words what had transpired over the last six years of his life.

From: Chakotay,
First Officer, U.S.S. Voyager
NCC-74656
To: Maya Lupes
CMO Dorvan Medical Center
Router Heading: Sector 047; Dorvan V Colony
276478341
Stardate 54382.4
Personal and Confidential

Dearest Maya -

Hello, Little Sister. I was relieved and delighted
when I received Teren's message in the last data
stream that you are alive and well. After hearing
of the slaughter of the Maquis, I was afraid to hope
that you had somehow managed to survive. But
you were always Father's favorite, so perhaps
he watched over you during those difficult times.

Congratulations on your marriage; I'm certain
your Esteban is an honorable man. Teren tells
me that he is from our mother's home planet
Trebus, and shares your gift for healing. I hope
one day I will have the pleasure of welcoming
him to the family in person. And if the Spirits
are willing, you will begin another generation
to carry on your work.

Have I told you how proud I am that you are
a doctor? You had mentioned years ago wanting
to find a way to undo the damage done to Dorvan V
by the Cardassians. Your ultimate goal was to
return home and rebuild the colony. Given the
destruction of our home world, I did not think there
would be anything to return to. But your descriptions
of the efforts to rebuild Dorvan V are certainly
encouraging. The new villages being created and
the growing population would seem to indicate
that our people may yet rise from the ashes and
restore the life that was stolen from us by the
Cardassians.

I can only imagine the questions you have about
what transpired six years ago, and how I wound
up on a Federation starship in the Delta Quadrant.
Perhaps the simplest way to tell the tale would be to
start at the beginning.

By now you have most certainly heard the story
of the mysterious disappearance in the Badlands
of both my vessel the Freedom as well as Voyager.
Of all the outcomes I imagined for my fate in the
Maquis, being transported to the opposite end of
the galaxy by an unknown alien was not among
them. The Sky Spirits must have been on my side
that day, however, as aside from some minor
damage to the ship and a slightly battered crew,
I escaped the transport with no casualties.
Unfortunately, Voyager's crew was not as lucky,
and almost a third of the officers on board were
killed in the transition from the Alpha Quadrant.
It was this loss that prompted Captain Janeway
to make the decision to integrate the Maquis into
her crew. My surprise at her offer to join our crews
was only surpassed when she requested that I
accept the position of her First Officer. With the
lack of alternatives, I agreed. I had sacrificed my
own ship to protect Voyager, and spending my time
on the bridge of a Federation ship was certainly
preferable to spending it in the brig.

It wasn't easy at first, for any of us. The Maquis
were resentful at having to wear uniforms that
represented everything we had been fighting against,
and the Starfleet personnel were mourning the
loss of their crewmates. There was suspicion
and mistrust; nerves were frayed and tempers
flared. And Captain Janeway and I were having
difficulty getting past the issues of "your crew vs.
my crew" when protocol issues arose. But as time
passed, we gradually began to put the past behind
us and pose a united front for the crew. Eventually
a friendship grew from our forced professional
alliance, and it has grown into the most amazing
relationship I have ever known.

It's hard to describe my feelings for Kathryn.
From enemies to allies and now best friends, she
and I have had more than our fair share of hurdles
to overcome. I respect her more than anyone I've ever
known. She's intelligent, brave, inquisitive and
beautiful. She has made me alternately both the
happiest and angriest I have ever been, and I have
never regretted my decision to follow her. And yes,
I was in love with her, for a time. On some level
I still am, but it has changed over the years, as
have Kathryn and I. Blind adoration has tempered
into silent appreciation and deep affection, a
more mature type of emotion than the near worship
I initially felt. A little older and a great deal
wiser, I understand now that an intimate relationship
with Kathryn would not have survived some of the
storms we have weathered. Yet I am honest enough
to admit that I still hold onto the hope that the
end of this journey through the Delta Quadrant will
bring the beginning of our journey together through
the rest of our lives. And given her recent actions,
perhaps it is a hope that Kathryn shares as well.
Only time will tell.

Along with Kathryn, the crew is full of many
fascinating characters, many of whom I am pleased
to call friends.

B'Elanna Torres is our Chief Engineer, and is married
to our best pilot, Tom Paris. On the surface they go
together about as well as oil and water - she's got
the temper of her half Klingon heritage and he treats
life as a game only he can play - but somehow they've
managed to build strong foundation for their future.
Tuvok is our Chief of Security; a typical stoic
Vulcan on the outside, but as loyal and honest as
anyone I've ever known on the inside. Our Chief
Medical Officer is actually a hologram, yet
he's sentient and has a zest for life matched by
few flesh and blood beings. Speaking of which, he
apparently has developed feelings for our resident
former Borg drone, an attractive young woman
named Annika Hansen, who prefers to be addressed
by her Borg designation Seven of Nine. Neelix is
our resident 'court jester' and morale officer. He's a
member of a species called Talaxians - not much to
look at but he has the biggest heart you could ever hope
to encounter. And of course, there's Harry Kim - Ops
officer and eternal optimist. He started out as green as
grass, but his experiences on Voyager are shaping him
into an excellent officer.

Well, duty calls, so I have to go. I pray that this letter
finds all well with you and yours. My thoughts are with
you.

Chakotay

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