All characters and concepts are the property of their respective creators. No copyright infringement is intended, or profit made, from this work of fiction.

Captain's Log.

Stardate 74523.9

"To boldly go where no-one has gone before." Those words have a new meaning for me, now. As part of our ongoing alliance with the Borg, Starfleet has been given the opportunity to travel to the Delta Quadrant using one of their Transwarp Gates. As one of the new class of long-range patrol vessels, Voyager is seen to be uniquely suited to this mission. Despite the potential risks, the chance to explore such a distant region of our galaxy is hard to pass up...

#############

'Come,' Janeway said, as the door chimed, without looking up from her terminal. A stern faced woman with strong cheekbones, her hair pulled back into a tight bun, she was dressed in the red and black uniform of Starfleet Command. The door hissed open, revealing Commander Chakotay. Tall and heavy set with dark skin, he was dressed in the same uniform as Janeway, with a Maori tattoo stretching from his forehead to his temple.

'The final manifest is complete,' he said and she looked up, accepting the PADD that he was holding and applying her thumb print.

'Thank you, Commander,' she said, putting down the PADD and offering hers to him. 'I'm just finishing reviewing the crew roster and senior staff...'

'Ensign Kim's a little young,' Chakotay said and Janeway nodded. 'So were we, once. But, he graduated top of his class in Quantum Physics...'

'I see Lieutenant Carey is still up for Chief Engineer...'

'Yes. He is...'

'What about B'Ellana Torres...?'

'Commander...'

'You feel that she's unqualified...?'

'Hardly. Her transcripts from the Academy are as good as any I've seen. Top grades in warp theory and starship operations. Excellent physical aptitude. No, it's her personal record that troubles me...'

'Captain...'

'Two counts of insubordination and one report of striking a superior officer...'

'Mr Carey's a fine engineer. But, you need a Chief who can push the boundaries and do what needs to be done. B'Ellana can do that and I can keep her in line...'

'...alright, Commander,' Janeway said, taking back the PADD and tapping in a sequence of commands. 'See that I don't regret it...'

'Aye, Captain,' Chakotay said, just as Lieutenant Tuvok came over the intercom.

'Captain Janeway to the Bridge...'

#############

Janeway stepped out of her ready room, taking a moment to look around the bridge. To her left was Harry Kim at the Operations station, his short black hair and youthful features giving him an earnest demeanour. At the front of the bridge, seated at the curved helm console was Lieutenant Paris, blonde haired with a cocky smile as his fingers flew over the controls. Off to the left was Ensign Wildman at the Science station, her blonde hair not quite hiding the small horns that came from her Katarian heritage. Finally, there was Lieutenant Tuvok. Dark-skinned with black hair, he was seated in the command chair, radiating his usual Vulcan composure.

'Captain,' he said, rising from his seat as she approached. 'Engineering reports that the final warp core diagnostics are complete.'

'Thank you, Lieutenant,' Janeway said, turning to the Operations station. 'Mr Kim, hail Ops and request clearance for departure.'

'Aye, Captain,' Harry said, his fingers tapping in a sequence of commands into his console and the image of a stern-faced woman appeared on the view screen. She was dressed in the uniform of the Bajoran militia, the ridges on her nose just visible, as was the silver earring that she wore.

'Major Kira,' Janeway said.

'Captain Janeway,' Kira said. 'You're cleared for departure...'

'Acknowledged,' Janeway said. 'Mr Kim, release docking clamps. Mr Paris, maneuvering thrusters. Take us out.'

'Aye, Captain,' Paris said, tapping the controls and Janeway felt a surge of power as Voyager began to move away from the station.

'We've cleared the station,' Kim reported and Janeway nodded.

'Mr Paris, lay in a course for the Transwarp Gate.'

'Course laid in, Captain...'

'Engage...'

#############

'Entering System 12-22,' Paris reported, just as Harry's console chimed.

'We're being hailed,' he reported.

'On screen,' Janeway said, standing up as the image of a fresh-faced man in a yellow tunic appeared on the screen.

'Captain Kirk...'

'Captain Janeway,' Kirk said. 'We've orders to escort you to the Gate. Truthfully, I wish I was going with you...'

'I'll bring you back a souvenir,' Janeway said and Kirk grinned.

'I'll hold you to it. Enterprise, out.'

He closed down the link and Janeway turned to the Helm.

'Set course towards the Gate, Mr Paris. One-half impulse...'

'Aye, Captain,' he said, just as Tuvok spoke from the Tactical Station.

'Captain, I'm detecting 13 Borg vessels in the vicinity of the Transwarp Gate...'

'Acknowledged, Mr Tuvok. Helm, steady as she goes...'

'Aye, Captain. Transwarp Gate, 10,000 AUs...'

'Onscreen,' Janeway said and Harry punched it up on the screen to show a large, roughly cyclindrical shape that was revolving slowly. As it spun, Janeway caught a glimpse of a swirling green maelstrom inside.

Like an artificial wormhole...

Around the Gate were about a dozen Borg ships and Janeway couldn't help feeling her pulse quicken at the sight of them. Even if she hadn't seen the video logs of the Federation's first encounter with them, she imagined that she would still have been unnerved by the way the boxy, cube-shaped vessel seemed to hand in space.

'5000 AUs to Transwarp Gate,' Paris reported and she nodded.

'Mr Paris, take us in...'

To be continued...

Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed it. Any reviews, comments or constructive criticisms are very welcome.