Countdown

The Season 1 Cliffhanger!
Authors: Christina and Sara

spoiler: With all systems ready, it's time for Voyager to go home!

Prologue

Chakotay forced himself to relax as the Captain continued the preflight check. She was so calm, only the hint of a smile on her face gave away her excitement and anxiety. "Zornon shield?"

The young cadet at the science station turned to face her. "Ready, Captain," Icheb said.

"Excellent, prepare to engage. Engineering, the transwarp coil?"

"We're ready down here, Captain," B'Elanna's voice said.

Janeway glanced at Chakotay, "Ready, Commander?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," Chakotay answered. He smiled at her and considered reaching out and touching her hand, but she walked away. "Systems check." He glanced around the ship as each person spoke.

"Captain, temporal stabilizer checks out," Sarexa said. Despite her shyness with the crew, she had the knowledge of the Borg, so had volunteered to be on the bridge.

"All systems nominal." The lieutenant was making no attempt to hide his excitement. A huge smile revealed Harry's optimism.

"Computer, record that at fourteen hundred hours on Stardate 54746.1 that the Federation Starship Voyager was prepared to open a transwarp conduit." She smiled at Chakotay, who nodded his head twice. "Engage the shield," Janeway said. They waited several seconds, then a yellow light blinked on Icheb's console.

"The shield is at optimum strength," Icheb said.

"Engage the temporal stabilizer," Chakotay said. The blinking yellow light turned green.

Not even a second later, Janeway spoke, "Bridge to engineering. Begin the transwarp countdown."

"Very good, Captain. Transwarp countdown is now engaged. Transwarp in three minutes." The computer took over the countdown at that point, counting down the seconds.

At two minutes, thirty seconds the ship went to warp 7.6.

At two minutes, the speed increased to warp 8.6.

At one minute, Voyager reached optimum speed of warp 9.7.

At fifty seconds Chakotay gripped his armrest. This was it. If all went well, they'd be home in about two months.

At forty Kathryn finally sat down, clasping his hand tightly.

At thirty, the ship started to shudder. Expected, but still he found his heart racing-though that might be also be a result of the fact she was still holding his hand..

At twenty, Tom said, "Captain, I suppose this is a bad time to say I need to use the head?" The only words spoken during those three minutes by a living being on the bridge.

Ten, nine, eight, seven, six...

At five seconds, Chakotay wondered how the rest of the crew felt.

At four, he took a deep breath and held it.

At three seconds, the stars started to blur.

Two...

One.

Act 1

Harry walked into the Mess Hall with a spring to his step. His spirits were soaring high, as they had been for the last two days, and he was eager to talk to his shipmates. One particular shipmate was uppermost on his mind and he spotted her at their regular table. Marla Gilmore spotted him and raised a hand holding a cup to indicate she had already gotten him a cup of tea.

The room was full of those just released from duty on the Alpha shift as well as those killing time before they reported for the Gamma and Harry was forced to wind his way through the crowd to reach his destination. As he made his way toward Marla he couldn't help overhearing conversations from others in the crowded room.

"I'm counting on a Christmas at my grandmother's." He heard Jenny Delany saying to the crowd at her table. "She makes the most incredible Andorian chocolate cake."

Harry smiled, Jenny was almost as much of a homebody as he was. He hoped she got her traditional holiday.

As he hooked his way around another table on route to Marla he bumped into Hugh Murphy. "Hey, Harry, you'll know," the crewman said.

"Know what?"

"Are things really going as well as we think?"

"Seem to be. I'd say we'll be right on target for arrival in the Alpha Quadrant." Harry said with a broad grin. "B'Elanna's going to make sure she gets us home before that baby is born in the wrong section of the galaxy."

There was a chuckle at that.

Murphy smiled, "All right, Peterson, I'll take that bet," he said to his companion.

"What bet?" Harry asked.

"I told him we'd be home in time to catch a Premier League match. His team plays mine right before Christmas."

Harry smiled and winked, "Good bet."

Excusing himself Harry closed the distance between their table and Marla's. "Hi!" he called cheerfully as he sat. The sight of the distorted streaks of light through the messhall viewport was thrilling. It meant their imminent return to the Alpha Quadrant.

Marla's greeting was far less enthusiastic; a genuine but reserved smile crossed her face. "Hello, Harry. How was your shift?"

"Great. Although pretty uneventful, there's not much to see or do right now."

"Guess not."

Her reserved manner had not gone unnoticed. Harry was fairly certain what the problem was, but he decided to play dumb, maybe that would help make his point. "What's up?"

"What do you mean?"

Harry smiled, "Sorry, it's one of Tom's expressions. I mean, what's wrong." He squeezed her hand in an effort to offer comfort, "You don't seem your usual smiling self."

Marla smiled for his benefit. "I'm just worried. Getting home is turning out to be a fairly imminent proposition, and I'm not sure I'm ready for it."

"You won't know what's going to happen until we get there."

"And that's the problem. Those of us with uncertain futures may be headed to prison the moment we dock. That's not something to look forward to."

"Prison seems a little extreme to me, Marla. I'd imagine your time on board Voyager will mean a lot, as will the Captain's belief in you."

"Janeway may have very little to say about it, Harry. We followed orders that we knew were wrong. We engaged in behavior that at the very least will get us court martialled and at the worst could leave us in prison for the rest of our lives."

Harry shook his head, "I don't believe that will happen. Captain Janeway has treated you like any other member of this crew. She even promoted you, remember. She's not going to let the five of you down. You are just as responsible for our getting home as any member of this voyage, and she'll be there for you."

"We're not like the Maquis, Harry. They're going to be fine, despite the rumors to the contrary, but those of us from the Equinox are done for, I'm sure of it."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that opinion of the Maquis."

Both Harry and Marla looked up to find Gerron standing over them. "Sorry," he apologized, "I couldn't help overhearing that last part."

Marla waved off the apology and gestured to the seat across from her. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, I'm not so sure the Maquis are safe from retribution. I heard Chakotay ask Janeway if she's heard anything. She didn't give any specifics, but we both know there are plenty in the Admiralty who still hold us responsible for our actions against the Federation. They may not be willing to let it go."

"After all this time?" Harry asked incredulously, "And after all that's happened? B'Elanna told me that any remaining Maquis were released from prison after the war ended. Why would they want to punish those of you here? You're heroes, remember?"

Gerron shrugged, "I'm just passing on what I heard. The Maquis may still have to answer for getting Voyager stuck out here in the first place."

"Responsible? It's not your fault we're out here." Harry interrupted. "You're talking nonsense."

"I hope you're right, Harry." Gerron answered. "I had hoped to stay in Starfleet once we returned." He smiled self deprecatingly, "but if the brass is still looking to run us over the coals, what I want to do won't matter."

"I'm sure you're worried about nothing." Marla assured him. "The Maquis actions were justifiable. Review for those of us on the Equinox won't be as defensible." She smiled sadly at Harry, "All the faith from our friends won't keep us out of jail."

Harry wanted to say that he was more than a friend, and that she shouldn't give up. Starfleet was known for occasionally overlooking such transgressions if the end justified the means, but he didn't have a chance to say it. Marla squeezed his shoulder as she stood.

"I'm going to go, Harry. I'm not very good company right now and you shouldn't be stuck sitting here with me."

She left before either man could protest and together they watched her leave the room.

Gerron waved his fork in her direction as he observed, "The Prophets said 'nothing excuses genocide'. That particular verse spawned the Resitsance.: she and the others should have done the same. She's right Harry, and don't let your emotions cloud your ability to see it, Starfleet won't ignore what they did. Prison may be their best option."

Harry fought to control his anger. "You better watch your mouth, Gerron. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that once upon a time you were in Marla's shoes. Seven years ago the Maquis were just as easily headed for prison if we ever made it home. That didn't stop the rest of us from accepting you as our crewmates, as our friends. We had faith in the Maquis, Gerron, the least the Maquis can do is have faith in the Equinox crew."