Letters
Concept by Rick
Edited and compiled by Cybermum
Written by: Voyager Season 7.5 writing staff

Spoiler: Letters to home are a valuable tie to those left in the Alpha Quadrant.

Prologue

It happened once a month, in a pattern established nearly a year earlier; the atmosphere on Voyager underwent an abrupt change, and a sense of fervent expectancy gripped the crew. Duties were still performed as usual, orders given and followed, briefings attended, reports filed and logs recorded. Off-duty companionship in various forms was sought and shared, holodeck scenarios played out, parties to commemorate birthdays, holidays, and other special events planned, talent nights and sporting competitions arranged, and bets placed on everything from which department would rank highest in Seven's next unannounced efficiency survey, to who would win the current week's pool or velocity tournament. But, superimposed upon it all, a new focus emerged as the moment approached when the datastream window would open and letters would again be exchanged with those back home in the Alpha quadrant.

The increased level of anticipation and purpose always took hold a day or two before that moment. The crew in various numbers retreated to quarters, or sat with a cup of coffee or tea in a quiet corner of the mess hall, or found a comfortable chair at one of the observation windows with a view of the vast expanse of space that still separated them from old friends and family. Then, PADD or pen in hand, they composed the letters they would be sending home, or added finishing touches to letters they'd been preparing since the last datastream transmission.

Once finished, those letters were gathered and transformed into data bits ready to be transmitted through the datastream. After the transmission was completed, and the incoming data was received and decoded, the letters that had come over twenty-five thousand light years in the opposite direction to Voyager were distributed among the crew. The element of delay was always present-the incoming letters responding to the news, gossip, personal revelations and requests contained in the crew's letters from the previous month's transmissions-but each and every missive was enthusiastically welcomed nonetheless.

The letters were read and reread, and filed away to be answered in turn in the next month's outgoing letters. Then the crew returned full attention to their duties and lives on Voyager, until the moment approached when communication would be reestablished once more.

That moment was again at hand.

Harry looked up from the PADD he was working on with a shake of his head. Tom would kill him for missing tonight's 400 meter relay practice, but he really wanted to finish this letter. His mother's last letter had, again, asked about his love life. He chuckled. What was it about parents and grandchildren-or in his case, the lack of a girlfriend and no grandchildren?

He again wondered just what B'Elanna was up to. She'd managed to convince Janeway she needed to use the bulk of the data stream transfer to the Alpha Quadrant. And it had been his turn to send a video letter. Next time.

From: Ensign Harry Kim,
U.S.S. Voyager NCC-74656
To: Mr. & Mrs. John Kim
Router Heading: Sector 004;
Monterey; California 119847621
Stardate 54382.4

Personal and Confidential

Dear Mom and Dad, Sorry that I can't talk to you in person this month. I know that you were looking forward to it. Unfortunately, Captain Janeway made an announcement earlier today telling us that we would have to record letters this month due to a data exchange with Starfleet Command that would be taking up most of the time allotted for data transmission. The entire crew, including the Captain herself, is to write letters instead.

So where did we leave off last time? Hmm... Oh right, you were asking if I had a girlfriend. Well to be totally honest, no. For a while I was dating one of the Delaney sisters. Megan Delaney, actually. And then I did date Susan Nicoletti, but nothing ever came of that.

So after 6 years out here on Voyager I'm still a bachelor. Tom teases me every now and then about having developed a crush on Seven, but the truth is that I just really admire her. She is so intelligent, and she is able to solve all sorts of problems in ways that no one else would even think of. Okay, so maybe I do still have a little bit of a crush on her, but really, who wouldn't. Besides, Mom, you always told me to go for the best, and Seven is definitely one of the best on board this ship. I know what you're going to say about her being a Borg and all.. but she's had several chances to rejoin the collective, and aside from one or two early attempts that failed, she has never decided to go back.

You don't have to tell me... I already know. I'm hopeless. I'm always putting my heart out there to the wrong girl. Isn't that what you're going to say, Dad? And maybe you are right. Maybe I am always putting my heart out there for the wrong girl. Sometimes I wonder if I should be putting my heart out there at all. But then I get lonely out here too, and if you don't have something to take your mind off of it, a 25 year journey home can sure seem like a long way.

This is, I guess, as good as anywhere. Who told you I did what? Please Mom and Dad, don't believe everything the rumor mill tells you. I have no idea where this one even got started, but I have not been trying to sleep with every women on this ship. Sorry, I didn't mean to be so blunt, but I can't have you believing me capable of this. Now Tom-before he was married that is-might have tried. And I've heard Hugh (you remember Hugh-he used to date Libby's cousin, Teresa) and Jack have made a pretty good attempt at... I see I'm just as guilty as the person who started the rumor that worried you.

Well, I've got to get going. I have a duty shift on the bridge in ten minutes. Give my love to the family - oh, and please don't forget to give some envelopes to the cousins for me. I've made arrangements with Starfleet to credit your account with some of my acquired pay. I'd also like you to buy Libby something for her wedding. Thanks for telling me-I'd hoped she found someone else.

Your son, Harry.

PS I'm still an ensign. If everyone received the promotions we deserve; we'd be a ship full of Admirals and nothing would get done.

All was quiet on the bridge. Janeway was sequestered in her Ready Room sifting through her latest round of reports, while Tuvok was in the holodeck making adjustments to his latest training program. Harry was in Astrometrics enlisting Seven's help on a project he was working on, and Tom was spending quality time with his wife. Their monthly correspondence with Earth had improved the morale of the crew immensely, the bits of news and personal data they received making them feel a bit closer to their loved ones. Chakotay himself had been corresponding with his cousin in Ohio, and the latest letter had included a miraculous surprise: his younger sister Maya had not only survived the extermination of the Maquis, but was alive and well on their home world. The news had filled him with joy, bringing to mind memories of summers spent getting into mischief with friends while a worshipful Maya shadowed his every move. She had been a constant light in his life since the day at five years old he had looked into her tiny infant face and proclaimed her to be his personal ray of sunshine.

Hearing the doors open behind him, Chakotay glanced over his shoulder and saw Tuvok walk onto the bridge. "Finished tweaking your training program?" he prompted.

"Yes," Tuvok confirmed. "I believe the upgrades I have implemented will substantially increase the efficiency of the training exercises."

The XO hid a smile. "I'm glad to hear it," he said, and rose to his feet. "Well everything seems to be status quo, so I'm going to leave the bridge in your capable hands and take care of some personal business. The captain's in her Ready Room, but shouldn't be disturbed unless there's an emergency."

"Aye, Commander."

Relinquishing command to Tuvok, Chakotay made his way to his quarters. After replicating himself a mug of spice tea, he grabbed a data PADD and settled on the couch. His letter for this month was for his sister, an attempt to put into words what had transpired over the last six years of his life.