Chapter VII

Survivors of Voyager were rescued an hour later by the insurgent group lead by the USS Crazyhorse.  The Admiral was told that Wildfire survived and assisted in the destruction of the factory complex, before escaping into the safety of the Katasi nebula.  The Hellion shipyards were all but destroyed, however the Extremes survived as did the Command Center, which remained relatively untouched.  A hundred sixty-seven starships were destroyed and another eighty sustained damage of one form or another.  The USS Enterprise, under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard had suffered as well.  A third of her primary hull had been destroyed along with a fifth of the crew by the remaining missile that continued to track the ship in the nebula for over two hours.  Commander Data had been damaged and Geordi wasn't sure if he could repair his damaged circuitry.  The Starfleet objective had been achieved but the cost was horrific in manpower and equipment.  The allied fleet limped away with the Cylons nipping at their heels all the way until the second Klingon taskforce arrived to relieve the pressure.  The clash, nicknamed the 'the Katasi Conflict', was nearly as costly for both sides as the attack on the Katasi system.   The USS Melbourne's Captain, William Riker's back was broken and suffered from a punctured lung.  Commander Deanna Riker felt her husband's pain and nearly went mad from the psychic backlash and terror for her "Imazdi.  Although serious, he was expected to make a full recovery. 

The Cylons suffered the loss of seventy Basestars, the factory complex and the subspace accelerator. A half million Cylon warriors were lost.  And they didn't care.  This loss meant nothing to them as they were already repairing the damage and rebuilding with machine efficiency.   Plus, their second shipyard was nearly online.

Four days later:

In Fleet Admiral Alynna Necheyev's office, Admiral Janeway, Commander Apollo, Chancellor Martok, Captain Kagth and President Adama stood staring at the three dimensional map of a region of the Beta quadrant.  It was a wide expanse, covering almost three thousand square light-years. 

"This is the search area," Necheyev said, pointing to the three dimensional grid,  "a little less than half the size of the Federation.   It's unexplored territory, the same general area I might add, where the distress signal was sent to by the creatures that almost took over Lieutenant Commander Derrick Remmick and several high ranking officers of Starfleet several years ago.  According to your data, Admiral, our objective is somewhere there.  This is an area that is on the opposite side of previous Colonial space.  The expanse is nearly twelve thousand light years from your previous territory.  You were at the edge of Imperixe space."  She nodded.

Admiral Janeway continued the conversation.  "We know that the general direction was given to the Cylons by the Borg who've been after V'ger children for as long as they've been in existence.  They consider them the final solution, the final path to perfection.  So far, they've failed all their attempts to assimilate the children into the Collective and needless to say, the children hate the Borg.  But now, the Cylons are going to try to make contact with them.  This alliance between the Borg and the Cylons is an uneasy one at best.  The Borg want the children whom the Cylons have offered to give them; however they have another agenda.  They want to contact the creators of V'ger, which is a vast machine society that turned the 20th century Voyager VI spacecraft into a self-aware creature, like themselves.  To them Voyager-six, although primitive was a kindred spirit.  If they think of the Cylons in the same way, this galaxy will become a charnel house."

The Chancellor twitched at the information given him.  "How do you come by this information?" he asked. 

"I've had several long talks with Q," she responded.  "To say he dislikes Iblis wouldn't begin to give their relationship justice.   But he can't directly interfere unless the rules are broken.  And he doesn't want the Cylons in contact with the Great Machine Intelligum, as the creators of V'ger call themselves.  He also considers us to primitive to contact them also, but we may not have a choice."

"However, you will have to leave as soon as possible."

"The Battlestar Galactica has been rebuilt specifically with this trip in mind.  The tunnel-shift drive has been modified into a fully functional transwarp system.  It's better than any system we've developed and it will do the job nicely.  The solium drive units have been modified as well.  The Galactica can travel at warp speed, maximum warp eight point five."

"The Klingon Battleship Azetbur will also accompany it," Martok grumbled.  He tried to keep the excitement and pride out of his voice but he failed.  The top-of-the-line ship was named for the daughter of Chancellor Gorkon, widely acknowledged as the only Klingon strong enough to initiate the Khitomer accords.  It was a hybrid warship-science vessel, one of a few such blends in the Klingon fleet following the more science initiatives traits of Starfleet.  "It is our newest design and has the latest weapons.  It uses quantum slipstream pulse generator technology."

Only Captain Kagth grunted in surprise.  The technology had been under serious development ever since Voyager first began transmitting the data specs concerning the new FTL technology.  At present the theory was that the method of obtaining FTL speeds using this technique produced a slipstream in a form of, what was being called hyperspace (actually a layer between subspace and normal space), a non-subspace dimension.  Once the energies were funneled thru the array, speeds far faster than maximum warp could be produced without utilizing or damaging subspace itself.  The ships had to be specifically designed for use in the slipstream dimension and the first generation drive unit could only safely attain speeds of approximately one third of the original system.  The ship moved by the manipulation of quantum fields, at present an entirely new science for the Federation and Klingon Empire.  But it worked.  The physics were radically different than warp or transwarp drive, as ships using slipstreams had to travel defined paths to get to established points. Being a warrior he pretended that such things made his head hurt, but secretly he loved reading up on the subject.

"I want to pick my own crew!" he said, failing to keep his excitement out of his voice.

"You will be allowed some freedom, Captain Kagth," Martok said.  "This mission is to help promote Klingon good will across the galaxy."  His face remained as stone as he spoke.  "And to find out more about our future enemies.  I have picked you, because you have good relations with the Colonial humans.  And I have picked one more, Ambassador Worf.  He will work with the Federation on this mission."

The Captain nodded in understanding.  Worf was well known among the Klingons for a variety of reasons.

"One Federation vessel will accompany you on the trip," Necheyev added. "Admiral Janeway will be in command of the mission.  Commander Apollo and Captain Kagth will each report to her. She understands what you will be dealing with.  There is more, but you will each receive your orders when you're underway."

"I will be going as well," Adama said.

"With all due respect, Mr. President, I would recommend that you stay here.  Frankly you would be an unneeded reliability to this mission and your presence…"

"Fleet Admiral Necheyev."  His voice was quiet and it shook with fury.  "We fully appreciate everything that you and the Klingon Empire has done for us.  But we are not part of the Federation.  Your people were still riding animals and carried sharpened sticks when we traveled the stars.  I respect your authority and you will respect mine and my choice."    

"That's telling her, Adama," said a voice from nowhere-before Necheyev could respond.  A familiar flash and the Q's, both father and son, were there, he, dressed as a Fleet Admiral and his son a mere Captain.  "Humans have little understanding of their place in the scheme of things.  That's why you keep finding and messing things up.  The Colonials with the Cylons, the Federation and the Borg, the Alliance with the Sys…"  He stopped and smiled.  "Hey I'm getting way ahead of myself.  Besides that's not your concern.  Do you know why Iblis hates you?"  He answered before anyone could speak.

"He hates and fears you because of what you may become.  Your race has spread itself among the stars with a vengeance, so fast that in the galactic scheme of things, it's as though you're traveling like lightning.  Long ago in galaxies far away, there were Empires and Republics twenty-five thousand old, who have forgotten more than you have ever learned.  Yet you advance so quickly, if there were a war between you two, say fifty years from now, it would end in a draw.  A mere hundred years from now they wouldn't have a chance of winning.  But you would still know nothing.  Why?  Because, you are still clueless about the fundamentals of the universe.  Your enlightened Prime Directive, primitive and as short sighted as it is, does, I admit serve a minor function.  But there will be times when it will threaten to destroy you all." 

"You must understand, that like a little child, the Federation is just at the age where it's getting interesting.  But you are still children feeling your way around a universe waiting to step on you.   Years ago when I first spoke to Picard I warned him, but like all humans, he didn't understand what I was trying to say and so ignored the truth.  He's improved now with my tutelage, but you're still out here, groping along, stumbling from one place to another about to see wonders and terrors that will test your sanity." 

"The importance of this mission precludes any one individual, Q.  It is my job to make sure this mission succeeds by using whatever means I deem fit."

"I agree, human.  You simply don't understand how high the stakes are," Q answered her.  "What happens on this mission will ultimately change your understanding of the universe, or guarantee your extinction.  There are other factors, that we will be watching very closely."

"As in?"

"Humans must understand this one thing.  Your knowledge, your science is meaningless.  How well you conduct yourselves will be more important than what you do."  Q gave her a rueful smile.  "Such fire, such arrogance, Necheyev.  You remind me of the 'old ball and chain'.  And you, Fleet Admiral are worried about whether one man should or shouldn't go one this mission.  The point is, Adama is needed.  While you, Necheyev and your pitiful people are fighting to save the Alpha quadrant, they will be trying to save the galaxy, and more.  They will remember Adama long after your entire historical existence is dust.  I have told Kate what she needs to know.  The Cylons have already left on their journey.  You should do the same.  And get ready for the time of your lives." 

With that, he snapped his fingers and the two of them disappeared.

Deep Space Twenty-Three:

Captain Quangnat was not pleased.  First the Cylons had tried to ram a Basestar into his station and now his station was in the heart of the war.   His station had been designated the embarkation point for Bravo fleet.  Over two hundred ships had just moved out to join the fighting near the Cardassian border.  The Cylons had made a stand there and weren't moving.  Deep Space Nine was just as heavily involved with fighting throughout the Bajoran territories.  The Cylons were trying to annex the wormhole in an apparent effort to destroy it.  Evidently they didn't trust the Dominion not to get into the war. And they were right to worry.  The Dominion was waiting for an excuse to enter the conflict.  They were just as worried as the Federation was.  The Cylon production capability was simply too great to ignore.  No, he wasn't happy, but he would have been far less happy if the fleet wasn't here.  How had Sisko done it and remained sane?

"Of course, he was the Emissary," he murmured sarcastically.  

Outside his window, floating majestically in the void was the Colonial Republic's Battlestar Galactica.  Its refit completed, it looked more formidable than when he had first seen it.  The front dual sensor array, pulse quantum energy collector and mammoth twin rotating pulse disruptor cannons was intimidating to say the least.  The side mounted warp nacelles sat flushed to the downsized-flattened solium subspace engines. Every seventy seconds, two of the Viper Two's and Three's entered in the spacious landing bays.  The Cobras squadrons had already landed, as had the two Adders, both of whom had docked on the undercarriage of the Battlestar.  They were already two Sabers docked underneath as well.

Next to her, floated a Klingon battleship, of unknown configuration, as big as a Sovereign–class starship.  It was a tapered vehicle with fairly thickened wings.  The overall design looked more Romulan than Klingon, he thought, and more triangular-shaped, armed to the teeth, of course.   It was their version of an explorer-class vessel probably shaped like that to facilitate movement when using slipstream.  Personally he would have loved to get a good look inside, but he didn't have the time.  They would be leaving within the next four hours and he couldn't afford the luxury.  But he did wish-just for a fleeting second-that he too, was going.  

Admiral Janeway, her First Officer, Commander Chakotay and a Romulan Commander, were the last to be transported to the third of the three vessels that would make the journey into unknown territory.  The USS Colin Powell, a modified Sovereign, fifteen meters larger, boasting a crew compliment of thirteen hundred.  Outfitted with the latest scientific advances, labs and environmental friendly warp drive with a cruising speed of warp nine point two.  The nacelles were similar to the Intrepid class, adjusting position to maximize warp efficiency.  It also boasted a working pulse-quantum slipstream field generator.  Like its Klingon counterpart, the new slipstream shielding allowed the ship to better transit and resist the intense strain that slipstream brought to bear on the ships hull.  The generator itself could only be used for one point five hour's duration, equivalent to seven thousand light-years.  It was a milestone in FTL travel, but still first generation technology.  The system had been rigorously tested and pronounced fit-whatever that meant.  Her experiences had proven that 'fit' didn't necessarily mean that it would work as claimed.

Her first stop was the engine room. Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres-Paris was there, yelling for last minute adjustments and generally whipping the engineering into shape-her idea of it.

"I didn't think they could do it," she said to the Admiral.  "The power utilization is still higher than I'd like but the Starfleeters did okay."

Kathryn resisted rolling her eyes.  B'Elanna still resisted fully joining the 'club' even though she was Starfleet.  "We sent them the specs over a year ago. They've been working on it since then.  I expected them to get it right.  How's the baby?"

"All tucked away and settled in.  She's a Starfleet brat all the way," she said with pride.  "She's running around still biting furniture."

What a change in this woman, Kathryn thought ruefully.  "Good.  I shall leave things in your capable hands."

On the bridge, the first person she was Tuvok at his station.  He looked better than she expected considering the injuries sustained on Voyager.  The Vulcan's eyebrow rose a fraction when he saw who was with her.  It was unprecedented to have a Romulan Commander onboard. 

Tom was there seated at navigations, excited and depressed at the same time.  She walked over to him and touched him on the shoulder.  "I miss him, too," she whispered."

"Yes, Ma'am," he whispered back.  "He would have loved this."

"I know."

To Tom's left, was another officer, getting comfortable, as it were.

"It's good to see you here, Commander Data. Welcome aboard."

"I am glad to be here, Admiral.  I hope that I may contribute to the mission according to expectations." 

"I'm sure you will."  Geordi's team had done an excellent job in repairing Data.

"Greetings, Commander Sela," Data said.  " I hope you, will find this mission enlightening."

"If she could have shot him, she would have.  She hated being here.   She hated Data and what he-it-had done to her.  She hated the Federation.  She hated the Colonials. 

-And she needed to be here.  Tomalak supreme Commander of the Romulan defense force had ordered her to.  Her people had a stake in this also.  And her history made her an obvious choice.  She hated that also.

The suggestion to add Data to the crew had been Picard's.   What better way to show the children of an amalgam of organic and machine our intentions by having a crew of both organic and inorganic entities, humanoid and non-humanoid, carbon based and silicon-based, working together achieve a common goal?"

It was sound logic and she jumped at the suggestion.  And the two Hortas Ensigns in geophysical sciences were an added bonus.  Then there was Commander Worf, another addition to the bridge crew, looking all serious and stoic at tactical.  She nodded and he nodded back.

"Admiral," Worf said.  His eyes returned to the defense systems control system.  

He had never seen so many weapons systems on a Starfleet ship in his life.  Two layers of multiphasic shielding, phaser arrays, isomagnetic disintegrator banks, photon and quantum torpedoes, and transphasic warheads; evidently Necheyev and Janeway weren't taking any chances, he thought in rapturous approval.   The addition of the transphasic weapons was a nice touch.  He had heard of the arguments against them and thought the opponents were fools.  Not surprisingly, many of the front liners believed the same thing.   

"Mr. Worf, glad to have you onboard."  She turned to Communications.  "Give me shipwide."

"Aye, Admiral.  Shipwide."

"This is Admiral Janeway.  I want to say to all of you, welcome aboard. There are those here that have served with me before and those who have served this vessel, making it ready for this great undertaking we are about to embark on.  You have far more experience with the internal workings on this ship that I could possibly understand and I will be counting on that expertise to pull this mission off and get us back safely.  Our families are onboard and we will be responsible for their safety and we will not let them down.  Our mission is to contact the descendants of the entity called V'ger.  It's also the mission of the Cylons, so it's a race that we must win not only for the Federation, but also for our families and the Alpha quadrant.  I can't stress enough the importance of this mission.  So let's be on our toes, do what we've been trained for and we will succeed.  One last thing.  This request was made by Fleet Admiral Necheyev, and what she wants she usually gets.  Because of this mission, this vessel has been renamed from the Colin Powell to the USS Voyager B, in honor of another ship which I am proud to say, served its crew excellently, thru seven years of hardship and pain.  She brought her crew safely thru the storm-home.  May this ship do as well…"

The Battlestar Galactica:

On the bridge, Commander Apollo stood next to his son, Captain Boxey and Lieutenant Joliet. "Are you ready?"

Boxey gave a resounding yes, but Joliet was less enthused. 

"I fell strange leaving the people that I have protected so long, to go on this mission."

"Our people at Mariposa are better protected than eve before.  They have the Pegasus and Commander Cain with Wildstar. They have the Federation and the Klingons and the Colonial remnant fleet, which is getting stronger everyday, making sure that nothing happens to them.  If we don't go, the Cylons might become too powerful.  We have to stop that from happening.  They are our ancient enemies and we brought them here.  It's our responsibility to stop them from destroying everything."

"But I feel responsible.  I feel like we're about to abandon them."

"I know.  The President and I feel the same way.  But we both understand that what's at stake.   Our squadrons, especially the Cobras must train even harder.  I want you Boxey, to work them.  I don't know what's out there, but there is a Cylon taskforce searching for the same thing as we are.   They're the best that they have.  We know one of them is the Turrent, the same Basestar that destroyed every vessel it came in contact with.   It's as fast as we are with possibly more firepower.   I need the squadron in top form, especially with the Peregrines.  They may have had better technology by we've had a lot more experience.  They need as much practice as they can get and we need to teach how to work with each other and ourselves better.   If we make a mistake with our limited resources, the Cylons won't give us a second chance to do better."

"Well then, we better not make any mistakes."

Why did the room suddenly feel chillier?

Epilogue

High Lieutenant Athena and Lieutenant Commander Thomas William Riker had just left, leaving him alone with his wife and the glowing crystal in front of him.  Tinia sat next to her husband speechless.

"Why now?" asked Adama.

"Because you asked," the Aeriana answered within their minds.  The crystal shard pulsated with an inner light.  It was brighter now, as it generated internal energy that suffused the room with its light.  "I understand that you are living beings.  Communication is possible now.  I have made it so.  I will provide balance."

"I don't how long it will take."

"How long?  What is time to a star?"

There was laughter from the creature called Iblis as the three Starships warped away towards the unknown regions of the Beta quadrant.  The game had progressed.  There were unknown variables, but the future would be bathed in Blood. 

He would make sure of it.  And he would make Q suffer.

Q and Q, and Amanda, John and Trelane were watching also.  "I almost envy them," Q whispered.  "Everything will be new to them."

"Well, let's make sure that Iblis doesn't interfere."

"Four to one should be enough."

Q grunted.  "I have faith in Kate.  I just hope they brought enough with them.  This is not going to be easy."

The five of them disappeared.

Next: The Search for V'ger.

Notes: Instead of adding a new story I have decided to add the full 'Search' to this portion, hopefully starting in November.  The first 7 chapters will be the same as this, but starting at chapter 8, it will continue until the completing of the story and it will have a different title.  Thank you everyone for your comments and suggestions and I hope that will be able to bring you a story that will be interesting and enjoyable to everyone.

Annika's name is Anika Hanson-Chakotay.  I will correct this ASAP.  Sorry.

You may also notice that I have brought Trelane and a couple of other things that were mentioned briefly in the 'Gleanings' arc of the story.  Their importance will become clear in this next portion of the story.  Most of the ST experts will notice also that I have placed the 'signal' of Imperixe space in the Beta quadrant and not the Gamma-Delta region.  There is a reason for this as there have been explorations by the various series of the Gamma and Delta quadrants.  I'm about to go off in a tangent so, I wanted a bit of freedom to do play out the storyline, hence the move.

Thanks again, everyone.

Reading suggestions:

"Farscape: The lost warrior" series by Neil Gartner (fanfiction.net)

"Destiny's Child" (fanfiction.net) by Andrew James Williams.

"Culture Shock" by Senmut located at www.mirarialpacafarm.com/~archives.  He also has a few interesting crossovers on fanfiction.net.

"The Thirteenth Colony Series" by SG07 on fanfiction.net

"The Tangled web series" by Charles Nelson is also on Fanfiction.net