I don't own etc, etc, etc

It seems I've been inspired this week. This exists in the same universe as A New Beginning, but you don't have to read that to get this. This actually starts before that, I hope to eventually bring it to that point.

I still don't have a beta, please excuse any roughness around the edges.

I do my research, but I do take some liberties here and there. If you see any glaring mistakes they may or may not be on purpose, but feel free to point them out. While I'm on the subject of research, this story never would have come to be without the aid of two sites, Janet's Star Trek: Voyager website and the Star Trek: Voyager Lower Decks website.

A little back-story so you aren't completely confused: The storyline goes AU some time mid to late season 7, pre-that nasty relationship thing with Chakotay and Seven, post-everything else. This is maybe a year after the point where it goes AU.

Dear Alisia,

Since we have established contact, I have begun to miss your heart and steadfastness even more. I was never meant for Starfleet, and I am surer of that everyday, no matter how much I've learned over the last seven years. I am often reminded of how we were as kids; how you always followed the rules and got me out of more scrapes than I care to remember, and how I could never seem to stay out of trouble. Those times seem even further away than thirty thousand light years and a handful of misunderstandings. I am more than happy we can finally put that behind us. I find myself being almost glad to be stuck on this ship for that very reason.

Everyone on this ship has lost family, whether we came from Starfleet or the Maquis, but it feels so much harder knowing that the only family member I have left in the whole galaxy is on the other side of that galaxy. This last week their have been rumors floating amongst the crew about losing our contact for an extended period of time. I hope it isn't true, but like everything else on this ship, I've come to expect things to go wrong at some point. I don't want to lose you when we've only just begun to be family again.

Sometimes I wish you could be here with me. I wish I could share some of our better times with you. My roommate, Marta, and I have been participating in a hoverball tournament with several other crewmembers. She makes an able partner, and she's a good friend, but you and I always paired so well together. Marta has been pushing me to try a date with one of the security officers, Ryan. I have not decided yet whether I want to. At first everyone on board went a little crazy with dating, and then once the shock wore off it stopped. Now with so many years behind and so many still ahead people are beginning to realize we can't leave our lives on hold forever. People have been pairing off quite a lot lately. There have been three marriages and two babies born so far (with another two on the way!) I don't know if I'm ready for dating yet though. Our cook Neelix (who I've told you about before), told me that there was no harm in going on a date, but I'm still not sure. Maybe you can offer an outsider's point of view.

My commanding officer, Lieutenant Torres, has recently returned from maternity leave. I haven't decided yet whether that's a good thing. She's a pretty amazing engineer and whole lot smarter than I am, and I admit she's a lot easier to work with than the B'Elanna Torres I knew back in the Maquis, but she's still a far cry from a pushover. Right now she's itching to get things back under her control after being away for so long, and she is a little more forceful with her orders and a little quicker to temper than she normally is on a day to day basis. Thankfully I don't spend too much time under her direct supervision. Lieutenant Carey and Lieutenant Nicoletti seem to know how to handle her most of the time.

You seemed a bit down in your last letter. I know you said that ending things with Tylan was for the best, but are you sure you aren't a little more upset than you are letting on? It's hard not being able to see you face to face, so that I can judge for myself. If you don't want to talk about it than I understand, but remember that no matter how far we are apart, I'm still your sister and I'm here for you if you need me.

I hope to hear from you again soon, and pray that those rumors I heard aren't true.

Love,

Isabella

Dear Isabella,

You are a lot more perceptive than I remember you being. The last time I wrote you I had just seen Tylan for the first time since we broke up. As much as I still feel that it was a good decision, it was not easy to see him again so soon. We fell apart a long time ago, and I know I was only holding on to him because I thought I had no one else, but it's still painful to see him. I am doing better now, and I will avoid seeing him again until the pain lessens a little more. I am glad, though, to have your support.

With such a big change in my life, I seem to be looking at everything else to see if it too should be changed. I have been mired so long in the familiar that I never saw how dissatisfied I truly was. My job rarely brings me the enjoyment that it used to, and while I still whole-heartedly believe in Starfleet and the Federation, I have considered requesting a transfer to something aboard a ship. Perhaps a change in scenery will help bring me satisfaction. I only hesitate because it might make it harder to stay in touch with you.

Please don't blame me, but I sometimes envy you. I know there are many difficult things for you and the crew out there, but you have so many opportunities as well. My life has been very dull since the war ended, and really even before that. I've been at a desk job for more than five years. I don't know the person who works in the office next to mine. I have few friends, and I rarely go out, especially now that I have ended things with Tylan. Even before that, there was little excitement in my life. We were like an old married couple, but we had lost all of the passion. You have friends, and excitement, and I know you struggle with the Starfleet lifestyle, but I also know your determination. I imagine your superiors think much higher of you than you realize. I suppose the grass is always greener though.

I will definitely be praying that those rumors aren't true. I haven't heard anything here, but then they rarely tell us anything. I couldn't imagine losing you again. As for your affairs of the heart, I would encourage you to give it a shot. After all it really is just a date. I know why you hesitate, but your friends are right.

I remember us playing hoverball very well. We were very good together, but I'm sure Marta is better then you think if she is an"able partner". I also remember your competitive streak, and you would not describe her so if she were not at least as good as I was. I wish sometimes I could be there with you as well. I would love to meet all of the people you describe. I pray everyday for some miracle to get you home faster.

Love,

Alisia

Dear Alisia,

I have awful news. The Captain has just told us the rumors are true. Due to the area of space we are about to enter, it is unlikely we will have contact with the alpha quadrant for the next few years. Our astrometrics and the people at Pathfinder believe it will be at least five years and could be up to ten before we establish contact again. They think we will lose contact within the next six months.

Everyone is devastated. We have all been so much more positive and upbeat since we established regular contact. To lose it again for so long seems like the worst kind of punishment the universe could give us.

I don't know how to take this news. My heart hurts at the thought of not being able to speak to you again for so long, and I don't think the news has really sunk in yet. I still feel like it can't possibly true, like there must be some mistake.

I have nothing else for now.

Isabella

Dear Isabella,

Your letter reached me with a heavy heart. Like you, I don't feel it has sunk in yet.

I have been trying to find out more from Starfleet, but so far I have been very unsuccessful. They've been pretty mute about it, but there is supposed to be an official announcement sometime today.

There were other Voyager family members waiting for news with me, it seems they all got letters like yours. We are not the only ones who feel such dread at the loss of contact as I'm sure you know. The only comfort I have had so far is to know there are others here who, like me, feel their whole lives rest with a ship on the other side of the galaxy.

It just can't be true.

Love,

Alisia

Dear Alisia,

Life on Voyager has been very subdued since we received the news. What's worse is I heard Lieutenant Torres talking with Lieutenant Carey today. This ship has been a long way and through a whole lot more than it was meant to before a refit and it was due for one two years ago. Things aren't looking good for us right now. We always have to worry about energy shortages and running out of some material or another that we need to run the ship, but if the ship stops working properly because it needs new parts and we can't get them, then I don't know how we will ever get home.

I'm so worried, and I've seen the Captain and the senior staff, they are under a lot of stress right now. It's hard to see how things could get better again. We've been so lucky so many times. I always wonder when our luck will run out. I'm afraid that this time it might be it.

Love,

Isabella

Dear Isabella,

I have been spending a lot more time with some of the other families since we got the news. I have been trying to drudge up any news I could with the help of Elena Gibson (her husband is Crewman Patrick Gibson), and Sarah Carey (wife of your Lieutenant Carey) has invited me over a few times, but like our families, our hearts just aren't in it right now. We are all so worried for you and the ship.

I know how hard it must be for you right now, but I want you to try to look at things positively. My hope is that that famous luck of Voyager's will return soon. It must seem to make everything else worse to see your captain so stressed, but try not to let it affect you too much. From what you've told me she's a good captain, she will do all she can to solve these problems.

If I find out anything else, I will of course let you know, but Elena thinks that you all are more likely to find out anything real before we will. I don't want to think badly of Starfleet, but it is very frustrating. I'm glad to have someone else to talk to about this here.

Even if you don't have any news please keep writing as much as possible. The only comfort the families have is to hear from you.

Love,

Alisia

Dear Alisia,

Even with so little news, things seem to have brightened a little. We are a determined crew. Everyone is still a little down, but the air of complete despair seems to have dissipated. We are all willing to do what's needed to get us through, now we just need someone to think of a plan.

There has been some news, though I don't know if you heard yet, but apparently the Captain has been trying to get a lot of things approved ever since we've had contact. Starfleet had been sluggish until now, but with a deadline so near, they seem to have finally approved a whole lot of promotions.

My friend Sam Wildman (remember the holo-images I sent of her and her daughter Naomi) got promoted to Lieutenant JG, and she was named head of the science department. No one has had that title since Voyager lost its science head when it first came to the delta quadrant. I was so proud of her. She's not had it easy being the only mom on board until recently. Naomi's growing really fast, and everyone on board adores her. Sam has been pretty happy since she got the news.

I spoke to Patrick Gibson the other day. We're on the same shift and the structural engineering crew have been working in the main engineering for the last few days. He was glad to hear his wife was connecting with other Voyager families. He said Elena didn't know any 'fleet people until they met.

I cancelled my date with Ryan. I know what you're going to say, but I really think this whole thing was a sign that maybe I should wait just a little before I try dating. Things are just too uncertain to bother with something so trivial. He understood too, he said maybe we could try once things settled down.

Lieutenant Torres has been very stressed lately and we've all been doing the best we can to help her (and avoid her when necessary). Miral, her new daughter has colic, and some of the warp coils keep cropping up with some problem or another. Joe is the best at soothing her nerves especially since he knows about colicky babies, and when he fails Lieutenant Paris can normally drop in and steal her away for a meal. All of us in engineering hope Miral gets better soon, but even more we hope the warp coils will stop acting up.

Hopefully some of this more mundane news will put you at ease. I will try to write often because I know your letters help soothe me, and I hope mine do the same.

Love,

Isabella

To: Captain Kathryn Janeway

From: The Desk of Admiral Hagan, Starfleet Headquarters, San Francisco

Regarding: Promotions

This is official notice that all requested promotions have been formally approved. In the case of any of the former Maquis this is provisional until legal status is confirmed.

Promotions granted are as follows:

Lieutenant Tuvok, Lieutenant Commander

Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres, Full Lt.

Lieutenant Tom Paris, Full Lt.

Lieutenant Joe Carey, Full Lt.

Ensign Harry Kim, Lt. J.G.

Ensign Samantha Wildman, Lt. J.G.

Ensign Andrea Lang, Lt. J.G.

Ensign Vorik, Lt. J.G.

Ensign Tarrah Brooks, Lt. J.G.

Crewman Meghan Delaney, Ensign

Crewman Emmeline Jor, Ensign

To: Captain Kathryn Janeway

From: The Desk of Admiral Hagan, Starfleet Headquarters, San Francisco

Regarding: Crewmember known as Seven of Nine

Your former Borg crewmembers will have to go through official channels, but the board has granted them provisional federation status under the umbrella of Starfleet. Your former Borg crewmember known as Seven of Nine is granted the provisional status of Ensign should she choose to accept. As per your request she will now be officially known as Ensign Annika Hansen on all Starfleet records

Dear Isabella,

Sarah told me about Joe's promotion. She was very excited. It's nice that those finally came through right when everyone needed some good news. Sarah's boys are so very proud for their father. I can't help but be happy for them. They haven't gotten much good news over the last few years.

Everyone here is trying to ignore the fact that every day is just a little closer to when we lose contact. None of us are ready to give up hope yet, and until there is no other choice we are putting it out of our minds.

Your mundane news is not so mundane here. I love hearing about your life there, and I'm glad life is resuming for your crew. I am disappointed you cancelled your date, but I understand.

Sarah was happy to hear about Joe helping out Lieutenant Torres. She said that that is the kind of person Joe is, and that he certainly knows about colicky babies because he had sat up many a night with theirs. We've been sharing many of our letters because it's nice to learn all we can about what it's like there.

I still haven't figured out what to do about my job. I've put any major decision making on hold until things are more settled, but it is more and more frustrating each day to stay in a job that is so unfulfilling.

I can't begin to explain how much of a comfort your letters are to me, please continue to write as often as you can.

Love,

Alisia

Dear Alisia,

I have spent much of the last few days cross training in astrometrics. The captain has been adamant about cross training since the beginning, and I understand that it's a good practice on our isolated and small ship, but I hate working in astrometrics. I don't care if that department lost half of its members tomorrow, I would not volunteer to transfer. Part of the problem is that working with Ensign Hansen (Seven of Nine's new designation) is an exercise in frustration. I also just plain don't like it. Give me a sensor array to repair, and I'll be happy, but I don't want to analyze the data that it brings in. I'll be happy to be back in Engineering tomorrow, though I will miss the Delaney sisters. Meghan is great to talk to and Jenny is a riot. They've helped the last few days pass a little easier.

Marta and I won the hoverball tournament. She agrees with you about my competitive streak, but says she doesn't mind. We weren't sure we would get to finish the tournament for a while there. The holodecks were offline for a few weeks, but they finally got them back up and running a few days ago.

Lieutenant Torres has been a little less stressed, so engineering has been a lot more upbeat. Tom Paris stopped by one day to chat and said that Miral has been feeling a lot better. It seems she beat the Warp coils, they're still acting up. It's hard not to worry about all the parts that we need replaced, but I'm trying.

I agree with Sarah Carey, Joe really is a good person. Lieutenant Torres really was the best person for Chief (she really is that brilliant), but I'm very glad she has Joe as her second in command. They make a good team, her brilliance and his steadiness. You can let Sarah know how respected and liked her husband is on this ship. Most of us don't know what we'd do without him.

I'm so glad that you have someone to talk to and spend time with. I was very worried about you last month, but you seem a lot happier now. I'm sure when things are more settled you will figure out what to do about your job.

There have been some strange rumors floating about. People think that Starfleet may have a plan, but no one seems to have a clear idea what that might be. Some of the speculation is pretty wild. I almost hope for once that rumors are right; a plan would be a great boost to moral right now.

Your letters are a comfort to me also, and I am glad to share my life with you. Hopefully we'll know more soon.

Love,

Isabella