Additions

Disclaimer: I do not own anything you recognize. I only own my original storyline, plot and any original characters. As per usual all mistakes are my own.

o0o

The suspense in the room was quickly turning into tension. Captain Kathryn Janeway stood from her command chair and walked towards the view-screen. The object was grey in a sea of black and was oddly familiar. The problem was that it couldn't be. A ship of that design had no business being in the Delta Quadrant.

She peered closely at the object suspended in space, not daring to hope that it was what she thought it was. "What is it?"

At the helm, Lieutenant Tom Paris spun around in his seat to face her. "It looks like a StarFleet design." He said.

"Let's not make an assumptions until we know all the facts, Mister Paris." Janeway was quick to remind him. If the vessel wasn't StarFleet, it wouldn't do to raise the crew's hopes only to find that it was an illusion, or something worse.

Janeway turned towards Lieutenant Commander Tuvok, her Vulcan security officer. He looked up to meet her eyes. They had been friends for long enough that she was able to read surprise in his dark eyes.

"It appears to be a StarFleet vessel." He announced. "Registration identifies it as the USS Belfast; Sabre class."

"Request verification." Janeway ordered. She addressed the computer. "Commander Chakotay report to the Bridge."

"Confirmed." Tuvok told her after punching a few buttons on his console. He looked to Janeway once again. "It is the Belfast. StarFleet records indicate that it was lost several years ago near the Badlands."

"The ship is badly damaged." Ensign Harry Kim called from his post behind Janeway. "I'm reading multiple scoring from some kind of energy weapon on the hull. They also have several hull breeches on deck eight through ten."

"Confirmed." Tuvok replied. "They are in intact, but damaged. I am also sensing an energy build up coming from their warp core."

"Hail them." Janeway commanded, walking back to the middle of the bridge and turning to the view-screen.

"Haling frequencies open, Captain." Tuvok said a moment later.

Janeway took a breath and then addressed the StarFleet vessel. "This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the U.S.S Voyager."

The view screen snapped on, displaying a man with dark blonde hair and blue eyes. He wasn't wearing any StarFleet regulation uniform she had ever seen before and that in itself was concerning.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Captain, but at the moment things are..." He was interrupted by an explosion. "Lock down that conduit!" He yelled turning away from the view-screen."And someone get down to Engineering!"

"Captain! I could use some help over here!" Someone called in the background.

"Sounds like you're a little busy." Janeway said as he turned back to the screen. In the background the turbo lift's doors opened and Commander Chakotay stepped onto the bridge.

"No kidding." He ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know if I should be glad you're here or disappointed that another ship is in the same mess we are." He nodded to someone off screen.

"Same here." Janeway replied. "To whom I am speaking with?"

"Captain Christopher Olsen, commanding officer of the U.S.S Belfast." He replied. "Voyager, eh? Your ship must be new, the readings aren't like anything I've seen before."

"I know you must have many questions, Captain. So do I. But I think they are better discussed in person."

Olsen shrugged."You're welcome to beam over, but I'd suggest taking some layers off first. Our environmental controls are malfunctioning and it's hotter then a desert in here." The screen blinked off.

Janeway turned around, acknowledging Chakotay with a nod. "Commander. Nice of you to join us. We've detected a Federation vessel; the USS Belfast."

"Federation?" Chakotay asked in surprise. "I thought there was no Federation vessels in the Delta Quadrant."

"Exactly." Janeway said. "They've invited me to beam over." She looked at Tuvok. "What do we think? Some sort of trick?"

"My sensors are reading a Federation Vessel." Tuvok replied. "The verifications are old, but correct. However, the question remains wither or not this is the same ship that vanished in the Badlands over five years ago. But if you trust them is another matter entirely."

Janeway nodded thoughtfully. Chakotay looked at her. "You're thinking about beaming over there."

Janeway smiled. "Yes. Yes, I am. Tuvok, you're with me." She said walking to the turbolift. "Commander, you have the bridge."

o0o

Several moments later, Janeway and Tuvok mineralized outside the bridge of the Belfast. The first thing Janeway noticed was the heat. "Captain Olsen wasn't kidding about the heat." She said pulling at her collar.

"Indeed." Tuvok said consulting his tricorder. "It is twenty-five degrees above normal."

Janeway walked to the doors and after they had opened, entered the bridge. The picture on the view-screen hadn't even done the bridge justice. It was more of mess then she had thought. Several members of the bridge crew looked at her and Tuvok.

She scanned the room – ignoring the looks – and located the man she had talked with moments earlier. "Welcome to the Belfast." Olsen said walking over to greet them. He was taller then Janeway expected. She looked around the bridge and saw that most of the crew were also attired like Olsen without any regulation clothing.

"Sorry about the mess." Olsen said pulling her back to the conversation. He held out his hand.

"That's quite alright." Janeway replied, taking his hand. "This is Commander Tuvok, my chief of security."

"Commander." Olsen said nodding. Tuvok nodded back.

"I must say, Captain, I didn't expect your ship to be this badly damaged." Janeway said.

Olsen made a face. "Yeah. She's not in great shape, but it's not the outside that counts. Her insides are still intact. Our warp core fluctuates from time to time, but my engineering team has managed to keep it under control lately."

"I do have some questions for you, but I think the first priority is get that warp core functioning normally. The last thing we need is for a breech to happen. I'll have my engineer beam some of our spare parts aboard. We don't have much, but at least we can do something to help."

"That would appreciated, Captain. Thank you."

"I would like to know why your ship is in the Delta Quadrant." Tuvok said. "The last known position of the Belfast was in the Alpha Quadrant, the Badlands to be exact."

Olsen scoffed. "I'd give anything to back in the Badlands at this moment, Commander. I would also love to think that you were sent to rescue us, but I guessing that isn't the case. All I can tell you was that we were on an intelligence mission, following a Cardassian vessel into the Badlands, and then poof; we ended up here."

"A similar thing happened to us." Janeway said. "We were pursing a Maquis ship when we were brought here by an entity called the Caretaker, almost four years ago."

"Never heard of it." Olsen replied. "I've also never heard of the Maquis." He frowned. "I'm sorry, Captain, but I can't help but feel like I'm missing something here. I've never heard of Voyager, which makes me think your mission is classified. But if you've been here four years, then there is no way in hell that you would know about the Belfast unless you have a way of communicating with StarFleet."

Janeway shook her head. "We don't. I assure you, Captain."

"The Belfast went missing and presumed destroyed a little over five years ago." Tuvok said softly.

Olsen managed to control his surprise. "Years? What's the star-date?"

Janeway told him.

Olsen breathed out and ran a hand through his hair. "Five years? We've only been out here five months." He said in disbelief. "That would explain the design of your ship."

"It's been a rough journey." Janeway said. "But we've managed to survive. I'd like to have a repair crew beam aboard and help you get the Belfast back to normal. It's the least we can do."

"Thank you, Captain. Thank you." Olsen said. "I'd also ask you keep the information about the differences in our star-dates to yourself. I should be the one to tell my crew."

Janeway nodded. "Certainly. Also in the meantime, I think showers and something other then rations could be arranged. Would you and your senior staff like to join us for dinner? We can talk more then."

"I think they'd jump at the chance to get some real food." Olsen said smiling.

"18:00 then." Janeway said returning the smile.

o0o

Captain's Star-Log:

We've synced our course with the new StarFleet vessel identified as the USS Belfast. They are in rougher shape then we are due to what looks like phaser fire. We've started repairs and invited the senior staff to join us for dinner. Hopefully, we'll be able to learn more about what brought them to this side of the galaxy. Though I am happy to see other members of StarFleet, I can't help but be cautious considering what we've faced in the Delta Quadrant. Hopefully this dinner will help ease those feelings.

"This is all a little hard to believe." Chakotay said as he walked alongside Janeway and Tuvok towards the transporter room. "Another StarFleet ship showing up in the Delta Quadrant after all this time… I must say I'm not too sure what to think. The odds are one in ten..."

"1 in 1000 would be more precise." Tuvok commented.

Janeway took their comments in stride. "They were slim to say the least. I'm hoping that this dinner will help shed some light on how that happened.

"Captain Olsen's comment about time travel was a little hard to believe." Tuvok said. "I too would be curious to know what he thinks happened."

"I thought Vulcan's don't believe in time travel." Chakotay said.

"The Vulcan Science Academy position is that time travel doesn't exist. I have held to that theory until given the evidence to prove otherwise. However, I must admit that there are many circumstances involving StarFleet captains that may have already proved that theory obsolete. Captain James T. Kirk for example." Tuvok concluded as they entered the transporter room.

"Well, let's hope this isn't one of Kirk's incidents." Janeway said. "That man had some knack for getting into trouble. That's the last thing we need."

"A chance to be like Kirk?" Chakotay joked with a slight smile on his lips. He looked up at B'Elanna who was at the transporter controls. "Ready?"

The engineer nodded."Yes, Commander. Though I'm getting an interesting signal. I usually wouldn't mention it, but I can't quite pin down one of the bio-signatures. It's like the computer can't identify the signals at the other end; I'm getting conflicting results. Apparently, the computer wants to beam half a dozen Alpha Quadrant species aboard."

Chakotay exchanged a quick glance with Janeway before turning back to B'Elanna. "Are you sure?"

B'Elanna didn't even have to double check the console. She nodded. "I'm sure. Captain?"

Janeway tapped her comm badge. "Janeway to Olsen."

"We're ready to beam over, Captain."

"Stand-by. We're reading a malfunction at your end. Is there a problem we should be aware of?" Janeway asked.

"Not that I'm aware of. My transporter chief assures me everything's fine on this end. Energize when ready."

Janeway looked at Tuvok and then made her decision. "Energize." She ordered. A hum started and then three people materialized on the transporter pad; Olsen, a humanoid looking woman, and one male Vulcan.

"What's left of my senior staff," Olsen said gesturing to the officers behind him as they stepped down. He motioned to the Vulcan. "Lt. Commander Samar, my science officer and now helmsmen."

Samar, a light skinned Vulcan with dark hair, nodded to Janeway and then clasped his hands behind his back. His blue uniform looked slightly too big for him.

"And Commander Natalia Carey, my security chief and now, temporary first officer and engineer." Olsen continued. Commander Carey had dark brown hair, almost black and pulled back into a bun, exposing small braids scattered throughout. She wore the red command uniform with only lieutenant pips on the collar.

"Everyone's been taking on double duties since most of our crew died." Olsen explained.

"Welcome to Voyager." Janeway said. "My security chief, Lt. Commander Tuvok and first officer, Commander Chakotay. Glad you made it."

"I want to thank you again, Captain." Olsen said. He smiled. "It's nice to get a chance of scenery, especially in the Delta Quadrant."

"I know the feeling." Janeway said. Her curiosity persisted regarding the strange bio-signature, but she let it go for the moment. Maybe it was something faulty in the transporter circuits. "Shall we?" She asked gesturing toward the door.

"I must say, Captain that Voyager is an impressive ship up close." Olsen said as they walked into the corridor.

"That she is." Janeway said her voice full of pride. She turned back. "B'Elanna, run a full check on the transporter when you have moment. Let's get those circuits checked out."

"Aye, Captain." B'Elanna said.

"I was wondering if you would have some time to take me on a tour, catch up on what I've missed..." Olsen said his voice fading as the two Captains walked further away, the other four officers following them out of the transporter room.

B'Elanna felt someone's eyes on her before the doors closed and felt that hair on the back of her neck stand up. That gaze had felt like a challenge.

o0o

After dinner had been finished and Neelix had cleared away the plates and set dessert on the table, something which neither of the crew members was inclined to try, Janeway took a sip of her drink and leaned back in her chair. The rest of the senior staff, mainly B'Elanna, and Harry, had gotten duty shifts that evening; though she knew that they must have been burning with curiosity over their new guests.

The conversation over dinner had been kept to small talk, she had learned that Olsen had been a test pilot before joining StarFleet, and he had told her that his interest in Voyager was more professional then personal. She had a feeling that Tom would want to talk to him about some of the early space fights Olsen had done.

Neither of their two human guests had been born on Earth which wasn't a surprise to her. The UFP had many colonies, but it was of interest to her in judging what their guests were like. She had read up on Olsen before he transferred over and could see much of his service record, demotions and all, came from growing up on an outer colony where decisions had been be quick and innovative.

The other two officer's services records had been short and to the point, as was expected with the ranks they left the Alpha Quadrant with; both had been lieutenants before obviously being granted field commissions.

Olsen also leaned back in his chair and spread his hands in gesture of goodwill. "Questions, Captain? I know I have a few of my own. I had the Belfast prepare a data packet to send to you on the alien races we encountered."

"Yes, thank you. Commander Chakotay has been going over your packet." Janeway replied.

"From what I've been reading you all got one hell of a beating; there was no provocation?" Chakotay asked.

Olsen sighed. "Not from what we could determine. That in itself was frustrating. Apparently, I should have fought back on first sight instead of trying to communicate with them." He grinned. "Not exactly a positive first contact situation."

"We've had a few of those ourselves." The commander said with a wry smile.

"Let's talk about the circumstances that brought you here." Tuvok suggested. "StarFleet records show that the Belfast was in Badlands…"

Olsen nodded. "Carey?" He asked, turning to his first officer.

She took up the story. "The closest our science officers could figure is that we stumbled upon some sort wormhole, but of course that is just a good guess. The Captain tells us that you think we've time travelled three years into the future, while for us only a few months have passed."

"It would seem so." Tuvok replied.

Janeway jumped in. "I'd like to see your sensor data from before you time travelled into the Delta Quadrant. Maybe there is something in them about who or what brought you here. When your computer is working of course."

"Of course." Olsen repeated with a small smile. "Speaking of things working correctly, I hope you got your transporter up and running again."

She decided to play a hunch. "It turns out that it wasn't the transporter circuits after all. We detected several overlapping bio signatures. Our computer couldn't make heads or tails out of them. It was almost like multiple bio-signs appeared from nowhere."

"We've had a few of those several months ago too." Olsen said. "It was one of the things we were investigating before we ended up here."

The mood in the room turned tense. One of them was hiding something from her. The question was who?

"I would like to hear more about what your mission was." Janeway said. "It might explain the events that lead up to the time travel."

This time the tension in the room was almost palpable.

Olsen rubbed his lower chin, caressing the stubble that was growing there. "Honestly, Captain, it's rather a long story. Maybe best served tomorrow. Would you allow me to beam over in the morning and discuss it with you? It's been one hell of a day."

"Of course." Janeway replied. She stood. "I should have realized how late it was getting. You must want to return to your ship."

Olsen nodded as he rose to his feet. He smiled. "I think my doctor would agree. She kept advising me to get more sleep. I assume yours does the same?"

Janeway smiled and nodded. "Of course. Though I imagine it's the same all over StarFleet. There's just never enough time as a captain."