Voyager: The Next Generation
Chapter 1-
Voyager-E (2419)
The Voyager-E stood proudly in spacedock, waiting for someone to captain her.
And that would be me. Kate "Kathy" Janeway. "Kathy" because I really do remind people of my mom, with the personality, and how I looked, with auburn hair and blue eyes. I had my dad's build and height. But also I had a dark secret-I was a Speaker once- like Picard- for the Borg.
"Captain Janeway?" My mom tapped my shoulder. "You're leaving in one hour, maybe you should go in."
"Oh." I didn't realize that I was actually staring at it. "Sorry, mom."
"That's what I did when I was the captain then." She smiled at me. "Come on."
We both went into Voyager-E's bridge, which was identical to the original Voyager's Bridge. This Voyager was the latest incarnation, with quantum slipstream drives, transwarp, and an improved warp drive. The last Voyager lasted for five years before it crash landed in the Utopia Planetia Ship Yards. And every Voyager before that lasted for only five years. Of course, Starfleet was happy to give my mom a new ship. Except for this one.
"So this is the new Voyager-E." I then promptly sat in my mom's chair, the one she had for 27 years. Seven on the original, five on the others. I'd say she was jinxed.
"It's yours now. I humbly pass this ship from mother to daughter." She then sat in the other seat. "But please, make this one last longer."
"I promise." I turned to her. "So, Starfleet made you come on the shakedown cruise? Is it because you're an admiral?"
"Orders from Starfleet." She chuckled.
"Captain Janeway, please report to the briefing room."
I looked at my mom. "You can go anywhere you like."
"I'll just roam around this bridge."
I nodded, and went out of the doors, to the briefing room. The doors opened, and everyone stood. "As you were. As you all know, I will be your captain for the five-year mission we are going to be on. Our mission from Starfleet is to explore space, provide assistance to planets, and protect the Federation from hostile threats. I hope that what happened to my parents 27 years ago never happens to you or this ship. Today is our shakedown cruise, the most crucial part of our journey." I paused. "Don't call me sir. It's 'captain' around here on Voyager. Enough of my rambling- introduce yourselves."
"Commander Robert Solares. First officer." Robert was a long time friend of mine, and a Betazoid- good when interviewing detainees. I just hope that we don't have that problem.
"Lieutenant Commander Colin Paris. Helm." He was one of Tom and B'Elanna's children. Tom was the best pilot in Starfleet today, and I hoped that Colin here would continue the Paris legacy.
"Lieutenant T'Vela." She was a Romulan- part of the Romulan-Vulcan Unification movement. She was the only Romulan here.
"Lieutenant Miral Paris." She was my chief engineer, and the best one in the 'Fleet, the older Paris.
"Ensign Jolie Kim." She was the ops ensign, fresh out of the academy.
I looked at all of them. "Let's hope that our time here is the best ones we will ever have."
But before I could say "dismissed", another voice spoke.
"Captain, how could you forget about me?"