Disclaimer-None of the dialogue is mine.
Gravity
Science was first and foremost the calling of Kathryn Janeway's life. It had been a subject that she had been fascinated with from a young age. As such, she had taken a multitude of science classes throughout her school years. And, after being accepted to Starfleet Academy, it was no surprise to anyone that it was what she decided to focus on in her studies.
Upon completion of her studies, the young Ensign climbed up through the ranks at a steady pace, until the day that she officially became Captain Kathryn Janeway.
Her first command would be the maiden voyage of the starship Voyager. It wasn't supposed to be a long mission; three weeks at most, according to Starfleet Command. Voyager was merely needed to investigate the disappearance of a Maquis ship in the Badlands, and hopefully find it and it's crew, including the undercover operative who was Janeway's chief of security.
Things had not gone quite according to plan, though. Indeed, they rarely ever did, although the events of this particular away mission could never have been predicted. Voyager and her crew ended up 70,000 light years away from Earth. It was a return journey that would take upwards of 75 years. And that was at top speeds.
They were alone in the Delta Quadrant with no way to contact Starfleet Command, but Kathryn Janeway was determined. With the destruction of the Caretaker's array and the unification of Voyager's crew with that of the Maquis ship, she knew it would be a long journey home for all of them. And, after outlining their continuing mission of scientific discovery, she had but one thing to say.
"Set a course, for home."
There was never any doubt in Captain Janeway's mind that Voyager would return home. In all of her extensive experiences with science, there was one thing Kathryn would always remember from her very first basic Astronomy class: After leaving Earth's atmosphere, no matter how far away a person went, the planet's gravitational force would always have a pull.
Voyager might have been 70,000 light years away from home, but Captain Janeway could still feel Earth's gravitational pull, all the way to her bones. She was going to bring her ship and her crew home.
There were many trials and tribulations along the way. Scientific discoveries were made, new civilizations and species were discovered, and, unfortunately, crew members were lost. But, finally, the U.S.S. Voyager returned home. And in only a mere seven years at that.
The crippling blow to the Borg that allowed Voyager to return to the Alpha Quadrant was quite miraculous, but Captain Janeway had never doubted her crew's ability to return home, albeit in a manner that she hadn't quite expected.
"We did it," Were the only words she could manage, amazed by the long-awaited sight of the Alpha Quadrant after so many years.
As for Starfleet Command…well, the shock apparent on Admiral Paris and his associates' faces at Voyager's feat had no parallel.
"How did you…?"
"It'll all be in my report, sir."
Captain Kathryn Janeway had a calm sense of pride throughout it all. She had known all along that Voyager would return. The force of gravity would always pull her back to Earth. She had felt it from the very beginning.
