Star Trek Voyager characters are the property of Paramount Pictures.

LIBERTIA

CHAPTER ONE

Admiral Abigail Reese, a tall woman with short black hair and ebony eyes, picked up a newly replicated pot of black coffee and carried it over to her desk. It was a large desk, very cluttered, and sitting in the seat opposite hers was Admiral Kathryn Janeway. The two women had been friends for years, ever since their Academy days, and now that they were working in the same builing, on the same floor in fact, they often took coffee breaks together. It was good to talk about old times and gossip about the new.

"So," Abigail said as she sat, "what are your plans for the weekend?"

"Oh," Kathryn replied, pouring herself a coffee, "nothing much. In fact, I'm going to be working most of it. I've got a lot of marking to do."

Abigail reclined with a disapproving look on her face. "You work too hard."

"I know," Kathryn conceded, "but do you really expect me to change the habit of a lifetime?"

"Yes. Especially when the dashing Damon asks you out. I still can't believe you turned him down."

Kathryn put down the coffee pot. "What can I say? He doesn't turn me on."

"But he's gorgeous! Definitely the most eligable admiral in Starfleet!"

"And somewhat younger than me. You know I like older men."

"Then why did you turn down Admiral Scott? He's an oldie but a goldie."

Kathryn picked up her cup of coffee and took a sip. "Because he's not my type."

"And Admiral Layton?"

"Lays himself around a little too much for me."

Abigail laughed. "There's just no pleasing you, is there?"

"Oh, I wouldn't say that," Kathryn smiled. "I can go weak in the knees for a man. It just takes a certain man."

"A certain man as in a type," Abigail teased, "or a certain man as in a particular one?"

"Maybe," Kathryn blushed. "Maybe a particular one. Maybe a particular First Officer."

At this, Abigail's eyes dulled and she looked at her friend in concern. "I take it by that you mean Chakotay."

Kathryn hesitated, but then nodded.

"Oh, Kath," Abigail said sadly. "You know that's an impossible situation."

"I don't," Kathryn replied. "I don't know it. We had something special once and...and I believe we can again. He's unattached, I'm unattached, and now we're home the future's ours for the taking."

"But it isn't. You know as well as I do that if the Maquis reform, and that's looking more and more likely every day given the chaos in the Former Demilitarized Zone, he'll rejoin them. Already he's working on a starbase close to his homeworld and I can't believe he's not in communication with the freedom fighters. I'm expecting his resignation any day now."

"Then don't expect it. Because I really don't think things will come to that."

"They will, Kath. They are. You just don't want to accept it. But you must because it's going to happen. The colonists are not going to let either us or the Cardassians take control of their worlds again. They're going to unite and fight for an independent state. That fighting force will be The Maquis."

At these words, tears welled in Kathryn's eyes. Abigail was right. In her heart, she knew that. And, in her heart, she had been dreading this for weeks. Because if the Maquis did revive, and it did look likely, she knew Chakotay would rejoin them. He would see it as his duty, his obligation to his family. And, if he did rejoin, she didn't want to think about the implications. So she didn't think about them. She just put the matter out of her mind.

"I know it's hard to let go of someone," Abigail went on, "and I know you've had to do it more times than is fair, but sometimes it's only in waking up from a dream that we can move on. You and Chakotay are from different sides of a divide too great to bridge."

"I know," Kathryn said, wiping away a tear. "I know the time and tide has always been against us. And, the truth is, I don't know what he feels for me now. We've barely been in touch since we got home and I know he's been dating other women. But I've been dating other men too and...and none of them even come close to him. So I ask myself what's the point? What's the point in sitting opposite a man all night, trying hard to be interested in what he's saying, when all the time I'm thinking about someone else? There is no point. So I'm not doing it anymore. If I'm meant to be with someone, and that someone isn't Chakotay, then I'm just going let things happen by themselves. But, right now, I don't want anyone but him. I think about him all the time and I miss him all the time."

Abigail reached out and put her hand on Kathryn's. "I'm sorry, Kath. Truly."

"Me too. I'm sorry for so many things. Not that I have regrets, I don't see how we could have done things differently on Voyager, but I'm sorry that things are the way they are now. I'm sorry that we've gone our separate ways and I'm sorry that the issue that brought us together is still an issue. I really didn't think it would be. We were given the impression that the region was stable now and the colonies independent."

"That's always been the official line. But there's been tension there for years. No one knows who owns what and everyone thinks they have the best claim. I'm not surprised the conflict is escalating. I'm just surprised it's taken this long."

"I wish it hadn't. I wish it was all over."

"You and all of us. But it isn't and we have to accept that. We also have to accept that this is just the beginning. We're probably looking at a long struggle with a lot of bloodshed."

"But why? Why does the Federation have to interfere? They lost all claim to those colonies when they abandoned them."

"I agree but many don't. They feel it's in the interest of Federation security to control them again. Relations with the Cardassians have soured and it doesn't serve anyone's interest to have this no man's land between us. Regaining control of the colonies would stabilize the area and fortify our border. At present it comes under fire daily from the freedom fighters."

"Only because the Federation is trying to take what it isn't theirs." Frustrated and angry, Kathryn got to her feet and went over to the office window. "Damn this conflict! And damn that treaty for causing it in the first place!"

Seeing how upset Kathryn was getting, and with good cause, Abigail tried to change the subject.

"Let's not talk about this anymore. If what's likely comes to pass then we'll all have to deal with it then. But, as you say, who knows what will happen. Politics can change in an instant. And, if does, Chakotay will be back to teach at The Academy next semester as planned. That will give you and he the chance you've always hoped for."

"Yes," Kathryn conceded. "It will. But I don't hope anymore. Not really. I'm too afraid to."

Abigail got up, joined Kathryn at the window, and put a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I think you do. Otherwise you'd have said yes to the dishy D."

At this, Kathryn had to smile. "Maybe."

"Definitely. But if you don't want him that leaves him free for me. So, what do you say? Will you charm him into a date with me if I do all the Nylacine Reports next week?"

Kathryn laughed. "Charm a man who wants to date me into dating you?"

"Yes. You know you can do it."

"For a week off the Nylacine Reports, I know I can try."

Abigail laughed now. "Then we have a deal?"

Kathryn nodded. "We have a deal."

END OF CHAPTER ONE