Back to Land You Once Did Know! Part 12 & 13

Part Two

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Chapter 12

day 242

She smiled, not sure of her mood, as she studied the patterns in her ready-room desk. Within hours of Sarah's article being released there had been over 20 requests for interviews and information.

And Starfleet had finally responded. They didn't mention the article, but she knew they weren't happy. The tone of their orders was very efficient. Voyager and her crew were to proceed with best possible speed to Earth. And no more talking with reporters.

But one was all she'd needed. She had promised to do everything in her power to get them home and make sure no one landed in jail.

In the over a year-and-a-half since they'd been in contact with Starfleet, things had changed--more than she had realized was possible. A treaty with the Romulans. This she still found incredible. And she had managed to attack a Romulan ship within an hour of arriving. Fortunately that ship had only suffered minor damage.

It was quite the entrance--just not the one she had planned.

She glanced at her chronometer--they would be arriving at Earth in less than fourteen hours. A mood of nervous anticipation filled the ship.

There was a chirp. "Janeway here."

"Captain, we're receiving a priority signal from Starfleet." Words she had thought never to hear again.

"Transfer it to my ready room." It was encoded--but this time Starfleet didn't send it with the newer encryption methods. She wryly remembered that message with its so many layers of secrecy that had nearly gotten them all killed. And all for a nothing more than an apology that Starfleet wasn't able to help them.

The computer beeped when the decryption was complete. She read the first few paragraphs and a few of B'Elanna's choicer Klingon phrases passed her lips.

She ordered the senior staff to her ready room immediately.

#

"Captain!" B'Elanna stood, her anger clearly visible on her face. "What the hell does Starfleet think they are doing?"

Chakotay placed his hand on her arm. "B'Elanna, getting angry isn't going to help."

"No, but I might feel better." She sat down reluctantly.

Janeway didn't smile as she looked at each of them. "I don't know what's going on either and I don't like it. But we are home. Tom, lay in a course for the rendezvous site. We'll co-operate." She took a deep breath. "I'll inform the crew of the change." She looked at Chakotay and smiled slightly. He remained sitting as the others left.

"Kath?"

"Politics. Sarah warned me about that."

He frowned as he took her hand. "Federation prisons aren't that bad."

"No. I meant what I said..."

He smiled. "I know--we all know that. You'll go down fighting for us. But, you don't control the situation here..."

She tried to smile. "I know...I'm just so used to..."

"Being king-of-the-hill?"

She nodded. "There was no one looking over my shoulder. I missed the support, but now I think I might miss the freedom..."

"Do you know who will be on this ship we're meeting?"

"No. Probably some Federation officials and admirals. My guess is that they will settle the issue here. Or try to." She glanced at the PADD.

#

She stood by Tom's side as they waited for their distinguished guests to beam over. Chakotay stood by the transporter operator. She nodded slightly and watched as the twinkling lights coalesced into six figures. She stepped forward to greet their guests.

"Welcome to Voyager, I'm Captain Janeway." A tall Klingon stepped forward.

"I'm Ambassador Q'Pav." He introduced the three other ambassadors and the two human admirals. She in turn introduced Tom and Chakotay. Formalities completed, they headed toward the bridge. She wasn't sure what they wanted, but she would play along.

Tom hesitated at the door. "Captain." Tom placed a hand on her shoulder. "Admiral Joseph Bammings. I had him in my senior year for seminar. A real tight-ass..."

"Tom!" She said softly.

"Be careful of him. He was called By the Book Bammings. He was constantly saying that Starfleet had protocols and procedures on purpose."

"We've all met the type..."

"Not like this. He would flunk you if your papers weren't printed with the correct font..."

She smiled slightly. "Then he won't like our reports--we've not printed-out any of them."

Tom shook his head. "I hope that won't be a problem." They both started walking faster to catch-up with the group.

"Captain," Admiral Fredriksen said as the group stopped at a corner. He was the shorter one. She'd never met either admiral. "I presume you have quarters for us."

"Ummm. No, sir. We didn't know you would be remaining on board." She glanced at Tom. "We have two empty crew quarters on deck 4 and one on deck 3."

"And the VIP quarters?" Bammings asked.

"We allocated both to the two families on board."

"Families?" Bammings looked at her hard. "This ship was not designed for families."

"We noticed. Tom...Lieutenant Paris, have Neelix arrange for volunteers to share quarters." She glanced at her guests. "I believe we can have quarters for you in a couple of hours." She motioned for Tom to leave.

Day 243

She felt like a cadet during one of the endless inspections at the academy. The four Federation ambassadors and two admirals had inspected everything. The engines, reports, Neelix's kitchen...The sight of Admiral Fredriksen doubled over after trying one of Neelix's concoctions had been the highlight of the tour.

She stood as she answered a question. They were debating amongst themselves and had requested--ordered, she mentally corrected herself--that she leave.

She was half-way across the briefing room when Ambassador Q'Pav hit his fist against her desk. "I do not worry about regulations and laws. Did Voyager, the crew, and Captain maintain their honor? Have they brought dishonor on Starfleet or the Federation?" The Klingon looked at Janeway before placing his 2 meter tall frame directly in front of Bammings.

"The Federation has rules..."

"Bah...Those rules are not meant..."

Janeway quietly left. They would be deliberating long into the next shift--and not resolve anything. And Voyager was still stuck in the middle.

"Captain?" Tuvok asked.

She smiled. "Commander. Our guests are still debating."

"So we can hear." Sure enough, the sounds of intense discussion could be heard through the doors.

"I'll be in my quarters. Inform me when they leave."

"Very good, Captain." She nodded her thanks and left.

#

"Captain, stop pacing!" Chakotay looked up from his PADD and shook his head. "You'll wear a hole in the rug."

She smiled; it was the second time in an hour he'd made that request. "They are up there discussing our fate...How can you sit there and calmly read?"

"Who said I was reading. I didn't think the floor could handle both of us pacing..." He smiled at her. "I was actually thinking of a more pleasurable way of putting all that nervous energy to use."

She laughed. "Not now..." The thought did send a rush of a desire through her. "It's not in the books."

"Depends on what books."

She smiled, then laughed. "Chakotay..."

He held out a hand. "Kath, relax. You shouldn't expend all your energy wearing out the rug."

She looked toward her feet and studied the carpet. "This should be the crowning moment of my career--and yet it seems so anti-climatic." She walked over and took his hand. "This is not how I imagined our return." She let him pull her into his lap.

"Bridge to Janeway..." She sighed as she tapped her combadge.

"Janeway here. Harry?"

"I thought you would be interested. Bammings is sending a priority message to Starfleet. Do you want a transcript?" His voice dropped to a low whisper.

"No. But thank-you for informing me." She ended the transmission and stood. "Damn..." She grinned, Bammings would have a fit if he knew that his transmissions could be monitored.

day 244

She looked around the bridge and the many expectant faces. Throughout the ship, eyes were watching their monitors. It was early, yet the entire senior staff was present, even B'Elanna who had left Elaine with Sam, Naomi, and Neelix.

"Captain, we will be entering the Terran system in two minutes." Tom looked as excited as he sounded, she noticed when he glanced back. She stood behind her chair, gripping the back so hard her knuckles were white. She glanced up at the screen as Neptune appeared. She had to bite her lip to keep her own excitement under control.

"Slow to warp one." In fifteen minutes they would be within viewing range of Earth. They had done it.

"Captain, we're passing the Jupiter station..." Chakotay turned in his chair to look at her. "They have sent a welcome home message."

She smiled. "Play it for the crew." It was another typical message--it seemed only the Starfleet Admiralty were not enthusiastic about their return. She chuckled quietly. Their guests were probably sound asleep in their quarters--not noticing the momentous events that were happening. Her smile grew as they approached Mars. The red planet looked particularly welcoming this morning.

"Slow to full impulse," Chakotay said a few minutes later. She held her chair tighter, to anchor her, to hold her fast--otherwise she would be pacing again.

Then...

There was a small bluish green form on the screen that grew bigger with each passing second. "Bring us in for a standard orbit." Janeway said. She wanted to cheer, to cry...She settled for a smile. "Open a channel to Starfleet."

"Channel open," Harry replied. She stood straighter and looked straight at the screen.

"This is the USS Voyager to Starfleet."

"Welcome home," an unidentified young woman answered as her image filled the screen. "You are to maintain a standard orbit and await further instructions."

"Do you know what is going on?" She wanted to land Voyager and see Earth in person...and see her family.

"No, Captain Janeway," she smiled more to offer comfort. "I have my orders." The screen went blank, then a large spherical blue and green planet appeared. The familiar shapes and colors brought tears to her eyes. She wiped them away quickly, then glanced around. There probably wasn't a dry eye on the bridge.

chapter 13

Day 248

"Captain's log, stardate 52505.8. I spent another day at Starfleet headquarters answering questions, then re-answering questions. They seem most concerned about my decisions involving the Maquis. For five years we have been one crew. And now I am answering questions about their loyalty...What stupid idiot came up with the question *did any of the Maquis ever question your orders*? Of course they did, so did some of the Starfleet crew--that doesn't make them disloyal. Well, Seska doesn't count--and no one ever came up with a satisfactory reason why Mike Jonas would work for her." Kathryn leaned back in her chair and yawned. She had spent the day giving her deposition; or sitting around and waiting . She had found some of the questions offensive--and had said so, only to have Admiral Bammings order her remarks stricken from the record.

"I wish I understood what is happening. I'm missing something, but my questions have not been answered. On a more positive note, we received our first communications with our friends and families. Our spirits have increased immensely at seeing the messages. Well most. There were enough who didn't' receive any messages."

She picked up the PADD that contained her messages, from her mom and Phoebe. They would be in San Francisco tomorrow. She hoped she could meet them, but considering the security surrounding Voyager and the few crew members allowed to beam down, she doubted it.

It was this security/secrecy that was tearing at them. The thrill of getting home was being replaced by impatience and frustration. To be so close and yet so far.

She yawned again as she closed her log. Tomorrow was going to be another long day that started too soon.

day 249

Kathryn returned to the ship after another grueling day. She glanced at the PADD she was carrying and started to throw it against the wall of the transporter room. Only the presence of the young ensign at the controls stopped her. She gripped it harder to prevent it from leaving her hand. She muttered a noncommittal answer to the ensign's queries, then marched out the transporter room. Her face must have given away her desire not to speak to anyone. She barked to Lieutenant Paris that she wasn't to be disturbed for any reason. Her ready room looked the same as it had for five years--except it didn't seem as friendly. She ignored her dark mood and sat down and started to read the PADD.

She didn't look up when her ready-room door opened. She'd have Neelix fry whomever it was...She reached for her combadge to contact security.

"Captain Janeway?" She looked up with a start.

"Admiral Paris?" She stood and straightened her uniform. "I thought no one was allowed to visit us."

"Rank has its privileges. Welcome home..."

"Some welcome." Kathryn said, then added hastily, "Sir."

Owen Paris smiled slightly. "I've come to try to talk some sense into you."

"I've...we've done nothing to be ashamed of. But this doesn't seem to have made any impression on them."

"I know. That you made such a public entrance, before your return could be hushed, is to your advantage. You have to use it, Kathryn."

"What the hell is going on out there?"

The admiral snorted. "You've reappeared at an embarrassing moment for the Federation. We've been negotiating secretly with several factions of the Cardassian government and military--trying to convince them to abandon their alliance with the Dominion. We had some success--there is a lot of dissatisfaction." He took a deep breath. "Three weeks ago the Cardassian ambassador was killed." He took a deep breath. "The assassins were found...They were Maquis."

She was puzzled. "But Starfleet said the Maquis had been destroyed."

"A great many were. The Federation was remarkably lenient with the surviving Maquis and made almost no attempt to track down the few surviving cells. The Cardassians are screaming bloody murder about that incident...and the complaints are just starting to come in about your ship. You just appeared at the wrong moment...And it didn't help that you attacked the Romulan ship...I know, you didn't know."

"I promised them all..." She bit her lip.

"I know...Commander Wasser is waiting on the bridge." She looked up at him curiously. "She's a lawyer."

"I don't need a lawyer...Sir."

"Captain," his voice made the word an order.

She nodded. "Very well, sir." She controlled the urge to scream as her ready room door opened and an older black woman entered. She reluctantly shook her hand.

"I'll leave you two to discuss what is happening. Edwina is very good at these things." He smiled. "Now...Where's my son?"

"Lieutenant Paris is probably in his quarters...Shall I have him come to the bridge?"

"No, I'll find him...And Kathryn, I was very pleased to read your recommendations for him..."

She finally smiled, wishing she could accompany him. "I should think you are in for a few more surprises."

He cocked his head then smiled.

Kathryn frowned when the door closed behind him and looked at the woman. "Well?"

She handed Janeway a PADD. "These are the charges pending against you and your crew. But...we have several things in our favor."

day 150

She pulled on the bottom of her uniform jacket for the third time since beaming down. She grumbled quietly to herself rather than scream out to the galaxy. She turned when the door behind her opened and sighed. It was only one of the many aides that were flitting about the place. Commander Wasser had been negotiating with her review board for the past hour. She yanked at her jacket again and started pacing.

She looked at the door as she passed, knowing what was going on, yet wanting to be in there. Wasser and been very blunt about that after Kathryn was again tempted to blast Bammings out an air-lock. She was too irritated with the political maneuverings--and she and Wasser had been up late into the night discussing options.

"Captain Janeway," a voice said. She turned with a smile.

"Admiral Paris, somehow I'm not surprised to see you here."

"I thought you might be hungry." She looked at the clock--it was almost 1300. She'd been waiting for two hours.

"I'm supposed to wait here, sir."

"I know. But, you can't refuse an Admiral." He motioned the guard over. Janeway watched as Paris told him what to do. The man looked blankly at the door, but came smartly to attention. She had to smile.

"Lunch sounds perfect, sir. And thank-you for rescuing me--I was..."

"You were never one to hurry up and wait." They walked slowly down the hall toward the Gold Dining Room--she'd been there once with her father years and years ago. "And you still have a bad sense of humor."

"Sir?" She suspected what he was going to say. She'd liked to have been there.

"Telling me to expect a few more surprises." He smiled. "My granddaughter."

She laughed. "I would have rather been there to see your face than...well...with my lawyer."

He stopped to talk to the civilian who was in charge of seating. Janeway looked around the room. It had a quite elegance--and if she remembered correctly the food was pretty good. She wondered if her stomach could handle good Earth food after five years of Delta-Quadrant cuisine.

"Commander Wasser may join us--if they finish. They kick you out?"

Janeway nodded. "Wasser said I was getting too irritated...She was right--but I would..." She stopped, Owen Paris was still an admiral--even if he were also a friend.

"You would not be the first one who wanted to toss Bammings out a space-lock. The man is annoying, but efficient. Even if he has political ambitions."

"Oh." She picked up her menu, wondering if she had lost her appetite. She settled on a salad. It had been a long time since she'd had real salad. Paris looked at her and ordered a sandwich. She sipped her water slowly.

"So, what do you think of Elaine?" Kathryn asked after several minutes of silence.

"She is something. My irresponsible son has a child." He laughed. "And his wife is quite something. Your chief engineer."

"Best damn engineer I've ever had the pleasure of serving with...And that Starfleet ever lost."

"I read her record this morning. My daughter-in-law is quite a character."

Janeway laughed. "B'Elanna is a character, she's grown a lot since she slugged Carey. She and Tom have been good for each other."

Owen cocked his head. "She has been good for Tom, and I quote, she has a Bat'leth."

Janeway smiled as the waiter brought their food and at the image of B'Elanna and her Bat'leth--a weapon the young woman was not particularly fond of.

"So..." He asked between bites. "The hearing?"

"Inquisition..." She took a deep breath. "It goes." She didn't want to talk about it.

"Kathryn...What will you do?"

"That's what they are deciding now." She stabbed at her lettuce. "I don't know. For five years we've had one goal..." She put her fork down. "Sir, you just happened to show up with a lawyer?" She leaned forward. "What is going to happen?"

day 251

It was over: the five years of purpose; of having a goal. Right now, she had no idea what she would be doing. Since signing the paperwork five hours ago, she'd been avoiding everybody.

She took a deep breath and prepared to enter the holodeck. As long as she wasn't asked any questions, she would be fine.

A cacophony of noise greeted her. There were strange sounds as members of the crew blew horns and other noise-makers. It was worse than a New Year's Eve party. A drink was forced into her hand--the real stuff she suspected. She took a sip and put it down. Getting drunk had an appeal--but not tonight. Half the crew was already in that state--or at least looked like it.

"Captain, smile will you!" It was Harry he was holding a glass of something--and it was obviously not his first. "Neelix found weal Champaign..." He circled away in the throng.

"Kath, are you all right?" A deep baritone asked.

"Fine, Chakotay." She forced herself to smile. "You?"

"Well, outside of having no idea what I'll be doing after tomorrow, I'm fine. And be careful of the drinks--I believe they are all real."

She rolled her eyes. "Not surprising. They have good reason to celebrate."

"And you? You've explained what will happen to everybody here, except yourself...Kath?" He wrapped his arms around her.

She stiffened--this was the first display in public of the one thing she hadn't told the board. "Not here, please?"

He released her. "Later then?" She nodded. He wandered off to talk to a small group and she found a dark corner. She was delighted to be home--really she was, but the tears started gathering in her eyes anyway.

#

She'd left the party an hour ago. All charges had been dropped--and even though all the Maquis were being discharged--the crew were happy. They were home.

They'd actually made out well. Five years back-pay. Deep-space pay which was one-third higher than normal pay. Everybody was being paid that, even the Maquis. She frowned--it hurt to have to label her former crewmembers after their years of service. Then there was Seven. She was only being paid for two years. Kathryn had heard rumors that several research and development companies were interested in hiring the former ex-Borg who thought of money as irrelevant.

She wiped her eyes--furious with herself for breaking down. Furious with the galaxy on general principles. Of all the scenarios she'd imagined--this was one she'd never expected. Starfleet had been her life for over twenty years. And now...

"Admirals," she said with a frown. She'd been the political sacrificial goat. She was to leave Starfleet--they'd made that very clear. And she'd accepted. Not that the Federation and Starfleet brass had given her any choice. As Ambassador Bammings had said, she had to leave so that the Federation could be free of the taint of the Maquis. She hoped this worked. The Dominion were a potent enemy...

She started to catalog the many *enemies* they'd made in the Delta-Quadrant. It was a bizarre list. From the nearly illiterate Kazon to the brilliant Borg. But they all had one thing in common. They were driven, power-hungry, remorseless...

Chirip.

Her frown grew deeper. She instinctively knew who it was. "Come in," she said reluctantly.

She watched him as he looked around her darkened quarters, his eyes settling on the several opened suitcases.

"Why?"

She wondered how to answer him, since she couldn't even explain why to herself. "I need time." She clenched her fists to avoid the tears she felt.

"I can understand that, but you were planning on telling us? Weren't you?" His voice was quiet.

"I don't know." She closed her eyes, she was losing the battle not to cry.

"What happened?" He took a step toward her. She had notified everybody of most of the decision--just not her part. For two reasons, she didn't want to dampen the festivities and she'd been asked not to.

"I...I want time to think about my future..." She rubbed her eyes in a desperation--she disliked crying. Chakotay wrapped his arms around her and the tears started to flow.

day 252

She closed the last suitcase and looked around her quarters for the last time. Empty. Five years and she'd only gathered a few things that she truly counted as hers. Only a few souvenirs...A yellow butterfly-like creature carefully mounted--one of two souvenirs from New Earth. The other was a piece of wood from her bathtub.

The sound of soft grunt from the other room caused her to freeze. The last thing she wanted to do was wake him. He'd ask all those questions she didn't want to answer right now. Quietly she stacked the last suitcase in the middle of the room, and whispered instructions to the computer.

She disappeared in the familiar twinkling of lights, leaving a note for Chakotay and another for Starfleet--authorizing her Maquis First Officer to turn command of Voyager to whomever was taking her. The irony was deliberate and her last act as a Starfleet officer was in protest at Starfleet.

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