Title: The dark menace Part IV
Author: Dancing Star
Pairing: Janeway / Chakotay
Spoiler: Faded I-III
Rating: 12
Category: AU, Romance, SciFi
What happens: The fight against the Borg begins.
Notes: I hope you can keep up who is who :-) AND hopefully I don´t sound like Master Yoda.

The dark menace Part IV

"What happened, Commander?", Chakotay asked. He and Kathryn exchanged a worried look before they got up from the couch in the ready room. Both followed Tom to the bridge and saw how the rest of the senior officers watched the screen fascinated.
"The long-range scans show the Borg have provoked an anomaly in two light-years away," Harry said.
"An anomaly?"
"So, it's...", Harry looked slightly desperate, "To be honest, I don´t know what it is."
They looked at the main screen and saw how a Borg cube fired an energy beam in a small anomaly.
"What are they up to?", Kathryn asked.
At this moment, Captain Janeway of the second Voyager interrupted her: "Captain, you have surely noticed the Borg have provoked an anomaly."
"We have, Captain. Apparently the Borg focus on the anomaly. Maybe we should take advantage of this and leave the sector. "
"Negative," Janeway said by the Com, "We should keep the Borg in the eye." It bothered her they didn´t know what the Borg had in mind.

They met for dinner on the first Voyager. Kathryn was tense when she waited for the visit. With Riehsa on her arm she walked around nervously in her quarters. What would the captain think of her when they got to know closer? Kathryn had read the logbook, which Kathryn Janeway wrote before her memory loss. In this reality, the memory loss had never taken place. She hoped Janeway wouldn´t judge too hard on her, although she could imagine she was appalled, because this crew hadn´t continued their journey to the Alpha Quadrant to stay on Carea.
The door buzzer forced Kathryn to quit her nervous movements to answer the door. "Good evening," she said to Captain Janeway.
"Good evening." She was carrying a pack of pink gift paper under her arm. "That's for Princess Aeria."
"Thank you," Kathryn smiled when Aeria accepted the gift and unwrapped it. It was as pink plush horse with purple mane. "How did you know this is Aerias favorite color?", Kathryn asked.
"Your husband told me." Even the hint Aeria liked horses and cats, and that there were no dogs on Carea, proved to be extremely helpful. Apparently the princess liked her new toy so much that she had already given it a name.
The baby on Kathryn's arm started crying. Fortunately Janey entered the room at this moment. "Your Majesty, I take care of Princess Riehsa", Janey said, taking the baby on her arm and reached out to Aeria, "Come on, princess."
Kathryn thanked for the help.
"Neelix asked me to tell you, it's almost dinner time, Majesty," Janey also said. While they had to wait, Captain Janeway looked at the quarter of the Queen exactly. She was curious and tried not to stare at the framed wedding photo, which stood on a dresser. "You chose Hawaii as location for your wedding?", Janeway asked. She hoped it was okay if she took the picture frame in her hands. This photo said much about the Queen and her husband: When Chakotay looked at the queen, so much love was in his eyes. And in reality, it was no different.
"Yes, that was our first attempt. We were disturbed by the Borg", Kathryn told, "We got married in the engineering."
The door to her quarters opened and the two Chakotays stepped inside. Kathryn was amazed at how similar they looked, but she had no problem to keep them apart.
"... .And you have caught the queen", Commander Chakotay said to Captain Chakotay and Kathryn wondered what they had just discussed. They got along with each other.
"Janey says Neelix is almost ready," Kathryn told her husband and smiled, "We'd better get on the way to the mess hall before we're late." She linked arms with him.
"Yes, my queen."
The two seemed didn´t seem to be very happy not only on images, but also had a loving relationship, Janeway thought. It gave her a pang to see them like this.
"Bridge to Captain Chakotay," Harry reported, his voice sounding alarmed.
"Talk," Chakotay tapped his communicator.
"Captain, the anomaly is now quite large. A spaceship has just passed."
"A spaceship?", Kathryn's brow wrinkles because she recognized in Harry's voice, it'd was better to be interested.
"It is the Voyager."

They were excited when Harry sent them directly to transporter room one. Chakotay and Kathryn waited for the commander of the third Voyager who apparently insisted to meet them alone. First they sent out the guard and said goodbye to the Captain and Commander of the second Voyager.
The third Voyager was obviously the strongest ship, because it didn´t need support to destroy the two small Borg ships which had produced the anomaly. Chakotay wondered if he should worry. He also found it strange the third Voyager was heading immediately on the pink fog in which they still hid after the destruction of the Borg vessels.
Also Kathryn held her breath when a person was beamed to them. "Good day", a young woman with long, black hair said. She wore a black, carean battledress.
"Good day," Kathryn replied, "I am the Queen of Carea. This is General... "
"General Chakotay. I know you."
Kathryn and Chakotay exchanged a puzzled look. "Who are you?"
"Do you recognize me?", the young woman asked , "I am Aeria. "
She turned to her father. "My mother warned me you wouldn´t believe me," she said, rummaging in the side pocket of her combat suit, "Mother asked me to give this to you." She handed him a wooden pendant, which hung on a narrow leather belt and represented a strange shape.
"What's that?", Kathryn asked and watched Chakotay.
"That's...", he shook his head, "...Nothing." It was his gift for Kathryn to their next wedding anniversary and he worked secretly on the pendant.
"She is Aeria", he confirmed, "That's our daughter."
The woman was definitely the older version of the Crown Princess. Kathryn guessed she must be about twenty years old. The princess from the future was taller than Kathryn and her hair was long and black. Her tanned skin and her brown eyes, she definitely had this from her father, beamed in strength and courage. But her mother gave her the fine features.
Apparently the young woman had read Kathryns thoughts, because she looked at her, her face was gentle. "Riehsa looks like you", Aeria told cheerfully, "You've always been a little sad about the fact I have fathers hair color, but Riehsa has kept her red hair." Aeria thought of her younger sister, who looked quite exotic thanks to her tanned skin and the long red hair.
"Where is Riehsa now? Why isn´t she here?" For a moment, Kathryn was troubled.
"She represents the carean Royal Family in an important occasion. The daughter of Senator of Sembra Prime gets married."
"Well, I hate those mandatory dates," Chakotay was relieved that one of his daughters would take care of this task in the future, and he no longer had to grapple with it.
"Yes, I know", Aeria smiled.
"Why are you here, Princess?", Chakotay suddenly asked serious.
"I have a message for you," the adult Aeria said, "There is a plan against the Borg, prepared by my father and my uncle once. Although my father was against this journey, we decided to use the opportunity to tell you. Father didn´t need this plan but he never completely rejected it..."
"We´d like to hear the plan", Kathryn decided.

"It's nice to see you all again at this time", Princess Aeria said to them, when the senior officers had gathered in the conference room for this late meeting, "I came from the future to bring you a message. My father and my Uncle Tom Paris remembered the Borg would try to destroy the spatial and temporal structure: The Borg Queen´s goal was to kill me and my younger sister Princess Riehsa so the future never comes, a future in which we destroyed the Borg. Nobody could have guessed the Borg Queen confuses the spatial and time structure so the Voyager crews of the present, the future and from a parallel universe would meet. "
Tom interrupted the princess: He turned to Harry and said it was reassuring they would live in a world without Borg in the future.
Aeria ignored the interruption. "...As I said, my father didn´t agree a time travel, but we have decided it´s important to help you. I bring you a fully elaborated plan to destroy the Borg."
"I have a question," Chakotay raised his hand. He and Kathryn sat at the other end of the long conference table. "Why should we need your plan if we´ll manage to beat the Borg?"
Aeria's mouth twitched. "My mother warned me you'd say that," she sighed, "I don´t want to lie: My parents once had to deal with a second Voyager, too. Unfortunately... Unfortunately, the second Voyager didn´t survive the battle. Mother and father always felt a little guilty about it... I think you understand we want to prevent this calamity."
Kathryn and Chakotay looked at each other. "Time to take a closer look to the plan," she agreed
Aeria reached into the pocket of her carean battle suit and pulled out a small flat device.
"This is a holographic communicator. We got it from the Thalin in exchange for food- repilcation- technology", Aeria told then turned again to Chakotay,"I know this offends against some Starfleet protocols. When you found out we shared our technology with the Thalin, you didn´t talk to me for one week." Aeria now turned to the projection of a Borg vessel. "My father and my uncle's plan were to put a virus into the Borg collective. Father always said, Queen Riehsa inspired him more or less to this... We attack a cube, smuggle a team in the ship, which infects the collective with a virus..."
"What type of virus is that?", B'Elanna asked.
"Oh, don´t worry. I have a plan of the Nano- virus. The doctor and the nurse can quickly produce it. "
"Nurse?", Tom and B'Elanna exchanged a puzzled look.
"I see...", Aeria muttered, "I suppose it will take a while until the doctor requests a two-headed, holographic nurse." As Aeria said this, Tom breathed noisily and Chakotay hinted he better shouldn´t comment.
"I also have a question," Harry added, "Why should we bother to destroy the Borg now? Regardless of there will be many victims, we'll make it anyway. "
"The future is in constant change, Ensign Kim," Aeria looked at him, "Even if I stand here today and I and my parents have managed to destroy the Borg collective, this doesn´t mean you can rest easy now. As I said: The future is in constant change."
"I'll talk to the second Voyager´s Captain", Kathryn sighed.
"Excellent. If we attack a Borg cube with three ships, it will be easier for us to keep them in check. We also need the support of carean fleet. Majesty, how many ships do you currently have available?"
"2,500 carean starfighter can be here within a few hours."
"Great... We boarded a small Borg ship and brought it into the shuttle bay of Voyager. Someone has to fly it. The ship will act like a Trojan horse and bring a team to the cube, which infects the collective with a virus... "
"I'm curious to see who will sign up for this suicide mission...", Kathryn whispered, leaning against Chakotay.
"General Chakotay?", the adult Aeria suddenly asked, "My father pointed out to me you don´t want miss to defy the Borg Queen."
"I...", He noticed how Kathryn looked at him in astonishment, "I need an away team ..."
"General?", Kathryn put her hand on his forearm, "I'm ready."
"And I´m also," Tom agreed, "You need a good pilot."
"And an engineer. I also come with you", B'Elanna who ignored her husband's glance said.
"Perfect", the adult Aeria turned to the doctor, who had joined their meeting via monitor, "Doctor, I'm with you in half an hour. We´ll talk about the virus. Tom, please go to my Voyager. Ensign Paris will familiarize you with the stolen Borg ship."
"At your command, Princess," Tom got up. He was eager to meet the future version of his daughter. The meeting ended and Chakotay watched as Aeria talked to Neelix. Kathryn and Chakotay remained seated in their chairs. He leaned towards her.
"Seems like we have some problems with our daughter in the future", Chakotay whispered and thought of Aeria's narrative he shouldn´t have talked to her for one week. He knew Aeria in his time was a little girl but he couldn´t help: He now saw her form a different angle.
"Well, she is the crown princess of Carea" Kathryn said, "She does what she has to do."

The captain of the second Voyager had agreed to assist them in their plan. The three crews worked side by his so their mission was successful: The three doctors produced the virus while Tom had to learn to control the boarded Borg ship.
The crew three days spent together then it was time to strike against the Borg.
"I have to go unfortunately", Aeria sounded sad when she and her mother said goodbye at the transporter room, "I know how much you want to know something about your future..."
"Yes that's true. I'm currently worried...", Kathryn nodded.
"One day you will find out who or what the Queen of Carea really is. Telling you more would harm the supreme temporal directive but... I guess we keep this secret for us", Aeria smiled, "When I was nine years old I heard a conversation between my parents. They had figured out what the Queen of Carea really was: It turned out she was some kind of identity which has always slept in the body of Kathryn Janeway. And although both shared a body, they were two different people. I still remember my mother had asked my father if they´d also be a couple when the identity of the queen wouldn´t accidentally awakened in the body of Kathryn Janeway. Father said at the time, both of them would already know the answer..."
"Oh," Kathryn sounded disappointed, "Then we split?"
Aerias expression became suddenly very gentle. "No, quite the opposite. There´s no couple which shares more confidence and affection."
Kathryn now looked very relieved. She had always believed Chakotay only stayed with her because she stuck randomly in this body. This always caused a strange aftertaste when she remembered their encounter on Carea. She tried not to think about it, but then Aeria happened. Kathryn believed he had stayed with her because he wanted to be a father for his child. It took her twenty year old daughter who confirmed they were lived happily together since a long time. And when he told her he loved her, he really meant it. This realization made Kathryn incredibly happy.
Aeria saw in the corner of her eye how Chakotay now came to them. "Good luck", Aeria said, looking in their faces, "Mother, Father, it was very nice to meet you at this time."
First she hugged her mother and then her father. Then she went to the transporter platform and was beamed back to their ship.

Thanks to the help of Princess Aeria they also had some weapons, which they needed to fight. Aeria gave them a gun, which automatically increased its shield modulation. Kathryn sighed when she was in the engineering and as many other crewmembers she prepared her weapon. She pushed an energy core in the gun. Her husband didn´t like this exchange of technologies and Captain Janeway was determined not pleased as well.
Kathryn was worried. The adult princess Aeria had indeed spoken of both parents in her true future, but the princess also said the future was constantly changing.
"I know what you're thinking," Chakotay said, who joined her and also prepared his gun.
"I can´t imagine," Kathryn smiled. She had swapped the black dress against her leather battledress and she arranged her long hair in a braid, which resembled a cord.
"You think I'm mad because I let me recruit for this mission from Aeria. But I have to do this: The Borg Queen wanted to extinguish my family. And I will rather die before something happens to my daughters. Or you."
"You're right," Kathryn interrupted him and put her gun on the table in front of her, "I don´t agree that you're going on this mission."
"Is this the reason why you want to accompany me?", he interrupted.
Kathryn raised her hand in warning, "Don´t try to talk me out. Just promise me one thing."
"Whatever you want."
"Promise me we´ll survive. I can´t live without you…."
Chakotay didn´t let her continue speaking and took a step in her direction. Kathryn finally threw her arms around him and kissed him. They didn´t know Captain Janeway watched them while she pushed an energy cell in a phaser rifle. Commander Paris noticed her surprised look. "What did you think?", he asked her, "They have two children. And they don´t have them by holding hands." Janeway shook her head at his remark and finally turned away.
"Take care of yourself," Kathryn said to her husband.
"You also."
"Bridge to the Queen," Harry pointed out, "Your Majesty, the carean fleet is here."

Formularbeginn

Commander Paris and B'Elanna didn´t like that Captain Janeway had made it to persuade Captain Chakotay in a long discussion, to pick the Tom Paris from her crew for this mission. Fortunately, both men had received a briefing by Miral Paris on the boarded Borg ship.
"Do you think Tom can handle our Voyager?", Kathryn asked, while she checked the sensors.
"Of course," Chakotay looked at her, "He proved before." He reminded her of the attack of Preem. "If we would take him with us, we have to separate Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay at least temporarily. And the two are like us: They work better as a team. "
"If you say so," she remarked and when Chakotay noticed the sarcasm in her voice, he turned to her. Kathryn winked.
"Majesty. General. May I have your attention", Tom Paris said to them, "We are approaching a cube." Tom thought it was odd calling them like this.
They focused on their work. "What is the status of Voyager?", Kathryn asked. The chair on which she sat was extremely uncomfortable. The place which was the command center of the Borg vessel had been converted especially for them according Miral Paris' presumption. Nevertheless, the ship didn´t look inviting and it still caused a shiver. Kathryn suspected it wasn´t unlikely, but Aeria assured them it was safe.
"Princess Aerias Voyager has just launched an attack," B'Elanna informed her, "Your Voyager follows... Our forms the rear."
"Right. Now send the emergency call", Chakotay ordered. The fake emergency call, the little ship sent would help them to get on board of the Borg ship.
"Emergency call sent", Tom confirmed.
"Fly unobtrusively."
"And how does that work?", Tom turned around helplessly.
"I don´t know. You are the pilot."
A noise on the console excited Toms attention, "The Borg respond to our emergency call. They want to know what exactly happened... I think."
"Tell them we were hit by an ion storm and were severely damaged."
Tom nodded and watched curious how on the Borg cube opened a kind of shuttle ramp and they were recouped with a tractor beam. Kathryn felt uneasy at this moment. She hoped they would just manage to escape from the ship as easily, as they had entered.
She held her breath when the little Borg ship was hit by a slight tremor. The cube was almost hollow from the inside, but they could see it harbored little spaceships.
"We have just docked", B'Elanna informed them, "Now go."
They got up and put out with the samples of the virus, which were produced by the doctors. The virus was stored in small boxes hanging from belts. "We have to hurry," B'Elanna said when she and Tom went to the front door of the ship. Their plan was that the Borg would find this ship empty. The hatch opened with a hiss and Tom and B'Elanna stepped out, armed with rifles.
"I'm afraid," Kathryn told Chakotay before they´d leave the Borg ship.
"Me too," he said, hoping to calm her, but he realized too late this might wasn´t calming. They followed Tom and B'Elanna. The half-Klingon had memorized the way to the central node of the cube exactly in the last few days. When the virus was placed there, it would spread quickly throughout the collective.
Behind them a plasma conduit blew sparks. Apparently one of the Voyagers had hit the cube. An Alam rang. But something was wrong.
"Wait a second," Kathryn reminded while they walked to the central energy complex, "Where are the Borg?" She had noticed they hadn´t met one single drone so far.
"Maybe...", B'Elanna was about to answer, but she was interrupted by a loud, pounding noise. The ground beneath their feet trembled. There was still another pounding. Then another one.
Tom told them with a gesture to hide. Kathryn and Chakotay hid a console while Tom and B'Elanna crouched behind a box-like device on the other side of the room. The heavy pounding footsteps came closer.
"What's that?", Kathryn asked and Chakotay hinted to be quiet, he held her in his arms while they crouched behind the console. He wondered what the Borg was. He had never heard there was such a massive drone. He tried to stretch his neck so he could see something while the heavy steps walked past them. Meanwhile he felt how Kathryn's fingernails dug into the fabric of his uniform.
Chakotay saw a machine which was so massive it seemed almost invincible. The machine was also heavily armed and Chakotay could see it was controlled by a Borg. "Damn, what's that?", he muttered, thinking he shouldn´t have done this, because suddenly the machine stopped and went with hasty but no less serious steps to the console behind which he and Kathryn crouched.
Kathryn held her breath, when a spotlight glided over them. Her heart beat faster in fear. She was hot and cold at the same time.
Finally, the machine turned off and stomped down the corridor. Dry dust rained down on Kathryn and Chakotay and none of them dared to move. Finally, Tom and B'Elanna tore them from their stupor. "We have to continue," Tom firmly said. "Was that a Borg?", Kathryn asked. Her voice trembled.
"Looks like a kind of super-drone", B'Elanna suspected and helped Kathryn to get up, "One more reason we inject the virus quickly into the collective."

They reached the central energy complex and there was still no drone to see. "I have a sense of foreboding, where they all are," Chakotay muttered when he freed himself from the belt with the virus samples.
"Do you want to tell us?", Tom asked, who also took off his belt. The cube was hit by a shock and they stumbled, but they scrambled up.
"I suspect all of them are transformed into super drones."
"God forbid," B'Elanna muttered, but she decided to focus on their task. Each of them had placed in front of a box-shaped column.
"All right, listen to me!", B'Elanna asked her teammates, "Each of you sees a terminal. If I tell you, you must enter a decryption code..."
Kathryn didn´t understand what she said, because there were only arrays of different sizes, green circles on the terminal, which were now and then connected by lines.
B'Elanna placed her tricorder at her terminal. The device should decrypt the safety key. It took about ten seconds. "All right, I got it!", she said and Tom was surprised it hadn´t taken more time.
"Enter the following code," the half Klingon called them an array of circles and finally they should touch a formation of three bright green circles.
"I have three of them," Kathryn answered, "Which one should I take?"
"The right one!"
"I also have three possible formations" Chakotay confirmed.
"I also!", Tom yelled. He turned his head and could see the beads of sweat on Torres' forehead even at this distance. She also had to have three options. "And now?"
The Klingon took a deep breath. "I suppose the formation of three circles in the lower left corner." Her forefinger tapped the icon. A high-pitched noise that came from Toms Terminal, told her he had done the same.
"I take the same," Kathryn confirmed.
"Yes," Chakotay replied.
The terminals before them blinked and finally the sheathing of terminals drove upwards hissing. They now had access to the central power core. Kathryn and Chakotay were captured by the green light for a moment. "Focus", B'Elanna called.
Each of them took some Hypo- sprays with the virus samples and each gave the power line an injection. "When will we see if it works?", Kathryn asked.
"Find out," a soft, feminine voice called to her and in that moment, a massive door opened. They saw the Borg Queen, who was accompanied by two super drones.
"I knew we'd meet here. Finally I will add to our collective, Queen", she said," Resistance is futile."
At that moment a volley struck on her head. "Do you think you can threaten my mother?!", Aeria exclaimed angrily. She also entered the room and still fired with the heavy rifle at the energy cell. Sparks rained down on her and burned black spots in her thin, pale skin.
"Mother, father. Follow me", Aeria urged them. And this call came in time, because the super drones loaded their weapons. "Aeria, what are you doing here?", Chakotay asked, but he received no response from her. Instead, the super drones started shooting at them. Kathryn and Chakotay, their away team, Princess Aeria and their team could take cover in time.
"I thought you could need help!", Aeria had to shout through the noise. Then she tapped on her communicator. "Princess Aeria to Voyager!", she exclaimed, "What about the shields of the cube?"
"Not yet, princess," a voice answered and Kathryn thought she recognized Harry Kim, "The virus apparently is not effective."
"Damn!", Chakotay cursed. They needed a backup plan, because long their hiding place wouldn´t withstand the bursts of super drones for long.
"I have an idea!", B'Elanna crawled on her belly to a console and tapped her index finger on it.
The two away teams dissolved into air and Kathryn thought she had heard a very angry outcry from the Borg Queen.

The away team materialized in the stolen Borg ship and with Aeria's help B'Elanna succeeded to solve the docking clamps. They steered the ship toward the open hatch.
"They follow us," Chakotay said firmly when they were hit by a shot. Their Borg ship swayed to the left and he tried to catch Kathryn. Her cord- similar plait hit his face like a whip.
"I know! I know!", Tom cried stressed out.
"Fly faster!"
"What do you think am I doing here?!"
Kathryn watched the Borg at the screen and held her breath: Apparently the super drones weren´t only armed to the teeth, they could also fly. Their stolen Borg ship left the cube.

In space, a battle between the Borg and the three Voyagers was in progress. The Voyagers were accompanied by 2,500 carean starfighters. A group of fighters opened fire on the super drones.
"Something is wrong with the ship," Tom suddenly announced, "For some reason, my control is blocked!"
"Mine as well", Aeria agreed and tapped her communicator, "Voyager, beam us out!"
"Aye, Princess," it was the voice of Commander Paris and they were glad he was more cooperative, than the Harry Kim on Aerias ship. "We need to lower the shields for a moment", Commander Paris said, "It is necessary to protect the ship."
"Agreed," Captain Janeway confirmed, "Begin, Commander Paris."
Everything happened very quickly, but Kathryn and Chakotay were relieved when they found themselves seconds later on the transporter deck of their ship. Relieved, they fell into each other's arms and then Kathryn hugged her adult daughter. "Let's go to the bridge," Tom suggested and they hastened. On the way to the lift they have been shaken.

"Captain, good to see you again!", Tom cried, as both away teams entered the bridge.
"Nice to be back on board, Commander."
"What about the virus?", the doctor asked via communication system, "Were you able to infect the Borg?"
"Yes, but your virus has a damn long incubation period", Kathryn said. "I know what we have to do!", Princess Aeria cried , "Voyager. Initiate sequence Eighteen!"
Kathryn and Chakotay looked at each other, because none of them knew what sequence Eighteen was.
It took a few seconds before they realized what Aeria's plan was. Kathryn was shocked when Aeria's Voyager suddenly changed course and formally fell down on the Borg cube and crashed.
The cube exploded and the Super Drones, who fought with the carean starfighters seemed to suffer from a power failure and crashed as well.
The remaining Voyagers and the fighters were hit by a shock wave.
"Why have you done this?", Kathryn asked, as the bustle of the fight was over, "Why did you destroy your ship?" "The virus only needed a kick to start", Aeria said, who knew what her mother thought, namely that the future Kathryn would kill her for sure when she learned her ship was destroyed.
"But not in this way!", Kathryn's voice was loud, "Have you even thought about your crew for a second?!"
"The crew is safe: The introduction of the sequence Eighteen implies that all crewmembers were beamed to Captain Janeway's ship."
"She knew about it?" The fact they hadn´t shared their plan, made Kathryn even more angry.
"Don´t worry, mother. Your ship won´t end the same way", she calmed her," The future is in constant change, as I already said. For your daughter, there is now no reason to travel twenty years in the past." She had talked to Captain Janeway before this mission and she would help her to get back home in her time.
"This in turn means the Voyager crew of the past doesn´t has to defeat the Borg alone. What you say is quite a paradox... "
"Captain!", Harry Kim exclaimed, "I've just intercepted a message from the planet Corellia."
"What are they saiying?", Chakotay asked.
"A Borg attack was just in progress..."
Kathryn and Chakotay looked worriedly.
"Before the cubes neared the planet, they collided and exploded in orbit... A similar message comes from the Endoran- system... And from the Xentia- system. "
"I would say our mission was successful," Aeria confirmed.

The princess had left an hour ago and Janeway kept her promise to help Aeria and her crew return home.
While they waited, the crew members of their own Voyager started with repair work. "Your Majesty, can you please hand me this laser pen?", Commander Paris asked, who was trying to fix a console.
"Of course," she handed him the tool, when a small, shiny object caught her eye. She picked it up and smiled. "Excuse me, Commander."
"Sure…"
She got up and went to her husband, who tried to calibrate the sensors with Harry and B'Elanna. Both apologized: They would continue to work in the engineering. "Who would just wear this?", Kathryn asked when she stepped next to Chakotay.
"What?", curiously, he glanced at her hand and his face brightened.
"I found this on the floor and thought you might like to have this back."
"Thank you." He took the carean military badge of a General and attached it to his collar.
"How´s the repair?", she asked. She saw the second Voyager appeared on the main screen. It was time to return home.

Kathryn was relieved to see her homeworld again and she knew many crewmembers felt the same. It was summer on Carea and when the weather was good, most inhabitants of the main continent spent time at the beach. Mostly, there were thunderstorms in the evenings of the hot season, but Kathryn liked the warm rain on her skin. Voyager was again in the hangar where the ship used to dock and the second Voyager had received a dock right next to the ship. Kathryn found it was a little strange to see two spaceships of the same type next to each other, but she was pleased she could persuade the crew of the second Voyager to relaxing holidays. The end of the Borg was an event, celebrated throughout the galaxy, as far as Kathryn had heard.
She and Chakotay just walked through the palace and Kathryn linked arms with her husband. She smiled at him. Kathryn was dressed in the light blue dress she had worn a few days ago, when they introduced Riehsa to the population. It flattered her in combination with her blue eyes and red hair.
Aeria ran ahead of her parents and she seemed to be particularly excited because they just walked toward the stables.
"Let's get Riehsa and then stroll along the beach," Chakotay suggested, "Or should we prefer to travel to Caro?" The royal family of Carea owned a house on the forest moon and they had already spent a few vacations there.
"No, I have other plans for the house," she answered.
"So? Will you tell me about it?"
Kathryn was about to respond, when they met Captain Janeway and Commander Chaktoay. Both seemed to be in high spirits and they felt a little caught when they met them. "Captain, how are you?", Kathryn asked.
"Oh... We just finished a tour through the palace with Commander Paris," Janeway said, turning to the queen, "This is really a very nice Planet." And the palace was very impressive: The radiant marble and gold were a perfect contrast to the cloudless blue sky.
"Thank you... Like your accommodation?"
"It's very nice," Janeway thought of the guest quarters, which was located next to the gardens, "It´s very unfortunate we have to leave in two weeks ..." Carea was a paradise. When she realized how happy the crew was here, she wondered whether it was right to continue the journey to the Alpha Quadrant. The two crews got along well.
Tom Paris and B'Elanna Torres walked past them. "Captain, we could also stay here," Tom suggested.
"Thanks for the offer," Chakotay answered immediately, "It is hard enough to be friends with one of you. I don´t think Carea would survive a second Tom Paris."
"Your Tom Paris is a good guy," Tom said, "He has kindly given me his entire music database. There's a band called AC/DC..."
"I have no idea who that is," Chakotay said as he noticed Kathryn questioning look.
They saw how Tom rolled his eyes then he and B'Elanna left.
"Captain, most but not all crew members agreed when we decided to stay on Carea", Chakotay told Janeway, "If you allow, some crew members could accompany you on your journey to Earth."
"I think that's fine," Janeway said, "If you want, we can show you how to communicate with the Alpha Quadrant. Then, all crew members, who want to stay could get in touch with their families."
"Excellent. I´ll inform the crews." Commander Chakotay walked past them, while Princess Aeria lead her father to the horses which stretched their heads curiously from the windows in the barn.
Janeway turned to Kathryn: "What about you?", she asked.
"We?", Kathryn looked at her husband, "We have obligations. We are needed here."
"I understand... May I ask you a question?"
Kathryn hesitated. "Of course…"
"Do you sometimes miss the Alpha Quadrant?"
"No," she replied and Janeway seemed surprised, "Why should I miss something I don´t know? Carea is my home. My family lives here... I hope by the way, you´re not mad because of that... "
"No, I'm not," Captain Janeway confirmed.
"Excellent," the queen smiled when she watched how her husband lifted Aeria up she could pet a brown horse.
"What´s your future plan now that the Borg are destroyed?"
"I don´t know," Kathryn admitted, "Reign my planet. Raise my children... " She even considered to have more children, even though she had to admit she had imagined a pregnancy was easier. She thought about how difficult the last weeks before Riehsas birth were.
"Whatever you're planning, I hope it will become as you have imagined."
"I wish you well, Captain."

"Janey, do you know where the Queen is?", Chakotay asked, when he entered their home the evening. He had just been in his ready room on Voyager, because when he heard Captain Janeway's suggestion worked to provide them a way to communicate with Earth, he didn´t want to miss to write a letter to his sister. He told her about Kathryn, the children and Carea. Next month he would send her a picture of his family if there was enough space in the data stream.
"The Queen's in Princess Aeria's room", Janey replied.
He thanked for the information and left the living room through the door that led into the hall to the nurserys. Outside the nursery was a box. Chakotay knew a cradle was inside and it was a gift from the Minister of Corellia. The gift had arrived before Kathryn told him she wouldn´t support him in the battle against the Borg. Chakotay suspected the gift should influence her decision, but Kathryn wasn´t corrupt. They also didn´t need the cradle. Janey had confirmed. They already had a cradle for the baby aboard Voyager and at the Royal Palace so they wanted to give the furniture Tom and B'Elanna.
"Here you are." It was almost dark in Aeria´s room when Kathryn was sitting in a chair. In her arms she held the baby, which was sleeping and Aeria played with a pink plush horse.
"I have some news for you: Captain Janeway has just left to travel to Caro," Chakotay sat down beside her and put his right arm around her, "When I told Commander Chakotay about the peace on Caro, he thought it´s also a good destination", he looked up and admired the pattern the night lamp threw at the ceiling, "I'm curious to see if your plan will work and what the two say when they find out we have accidentally lodged them at the same time in the house." He heard his wife laughing softly.
"I'm a bit tired...", she admitted, raising her head.
"Shall I take care of Riehsa for a while?"
"I'm her mother and must be strong for her," she said when she swayed the baby in her arms.
"Mothers don´t need to be strong always", he took the baby from her, "Give fathers also an opportunity... Which reminds me I have something for you. I've decided to give it to you now. "
Kathryn raised her head curiously and her eyes lit up when he put Aeria's wooden pendant in her hand.
"Dearest, this is beautiful," she smiled and she noticed he had improved the pendant by having added a back, which was also decorated with patterns.
"Unfortunately, our daughter has quite spoiled my surprise for you for wedding anniversary..." And he had to think about a new gift for her now.

"No, it's a nice pendant," she smiled and snuggled up to him. They enjoyed the silence for a while and finally Chakotay asked: "Do you still have pain in your shoulder?"
"Yes, a bit," Kathryn agreed.
"Should I give you a massage?"
"Maybe later...", she raised her head and looked at him with sparkling eyes, "When the children are in bed, we should go to Voyager. There´s a Holodeck- program I've always wanted to try and you should join me. After all, that I don´t know New Earth has almost plunged us to destruction..."

"I´d love to spend some time with you there", he smiled, "I could cook for you…"

"Which is the best part of our relationship."

"You think this is the best part?", he asked, "I show you what the best part is." He kissed her and heard her giggling. "I know you hear that often, but I love you", Kathryn said.
"I love you, too."
Her forehead leaning on his neck, she closed her eyes tiredly to try to sleep. They had no idea how long they were sitting in the chair and tried to rest. Sometime registered Kathryn how Aeria also climbed to them in the chair and clung to her mother. Kathryn put an arm around her. Her eyes were getting heavier and Chakotay noticed the breathing sound of his wife had a calming effect on him.
At that moment, Janey appeared in the doorway to the nursery. "Forgive me for disturbing you...", she said, then turned to Commander Paris and his wife B'Elanna, "I'm sorry. They are asleep. Apparently they forgot you wanted to have dinner together..."
"Then let them sleep," Tom decided, "We will come over another time..."
Janey nodded and watched how the two left the quarters. Then Janey entered the nursery, took the baby from Chakotay and put the princess in her bed. Janey also laid Aeria in her bed and turned off the dim lighting in the room. Last, she closed the door behind her to let them sleep...

Fin?