USS Prometheus

"Welcome to the Prometheus, gentlemen. It's about time," the Voyager Doctor said in a satisfying tone.

The two security officers eased up, sighed, and put down their weapons once they realized everything was clear.

Sometime Later

The Voyager Doctor was still on the bridge of the Prometheus along with the mark II EMH, although the mark II had been sitting at the helm console the whole time listening to the Voyager Doctor state his case saying the same story to an admiral who was on the viewscreen. Several officers were behind both the holo docs.

"I can't believe it," the admiral said. "The Voyager, Janeway, all of you, stuck in the Delta Quadrant. It's a miracle you all are still in one piece."

"It is, but it's also due to the fact the Voyager crew is outstanding along with the leadership of Captain Janeway herself," the Voyager Doc responded. "Both Starfleet and Maquis have been working side by side for almost four years now. We're one crew, a Starfleet crew."

The admiral nodded. "Well, not only are you all surviving impossible odds but also have a blended crew."

The Voyager Doc nodded. "Indeed. The former Maquis don't even think of themselves as Maquis anymore. It's as if we've all been one crew since the beginning."

The admiral was impressed. "Well, I'm glad to hear everything has been working out for you all despite the fact you're stuck on the other side of the galaxy and that Captain Janeway found a way to send you over here to communicate with us." The admiral paused briefly. "You have my word that we're going to try to find a way to bring you all home, Doctor. That's a promise."

The Voyager Doctor smiled hearing those words. He looked at the mark II who smiled and nodded also. The Voyager Doctor turned back to the viewscreen with the image of the admiral.

"One other thing, Admiral," the Voyager Doctor began. "Can you deliver a message to all the families and tell them their loved ones on Voyager are doing fine?"

The admiral nodded. "I can do that."

The Doctor handed a padd with the list of names of the Voyager crew to one of the security officers. "You'll find all the names of the Voyager crew on there. Hopefully it can give some happiness and joy to their families."

The Doctor turned back his attention to the admiral. "Is there anything else you would like to convey such as what has been going on these past four years. The mark II mentioned a name called the Dominion Starfleet is fighting. Who are they?"

USS Voyager

"And they asked me to relay a message," the Doctor said. "They wanted you to know, you're no longer alone."

Janeway's heart nearly skipped a beat hearing those words coming out of the Doctor. She was not only moved, but almost misty eyed. "Sixty thousand light years, seems a little closer today."

"Good work, Doctor," Chakotay said. "We'll note that in your record. You should be commended."

"Indeed," Tuvok responded. Coming from him, that was high praise.

Even though the Doctor did not want to spoil the moment, he let out a sigh.

Janeway, who had been caught up in the moment, snapped back to attention and gazed at her chief medical officer. "Something else, Doctor?"

"I'm afraid so," the Doctor began. "Captain, are you aware of the Dominion?"

Janeway had recalled the name. "Yes. I was at a briefing on them sometime after Commander Sisko and his crew met some of the Founders and came back from the Gamma Quadrant."

"Well it's Captain Sisko now, and the entire Federation along with the Klingons are at war with the Dominion," the Doctor pressed on.

"What do you mean war with them?" Chakotay inquired.

The Doctor began again. "Well apparently after we had left Deep Space Nine and got sent to the Delta Quadrant by the Caretaker, that's when things took a turn for the worse."

"By how?" Tuvok questioned.

"Well for starters, the Romulan Tal Shiar and the Cardassian Obsidian Order launched a joint venture with Cardassian and Romulan ships into the Gamma Quadrant hoping to destroy the Founders' home world. The Founders became aware, had moved to another planet, and had the Jem'Hadar, the Dominion's soldiers, destroy all of the ships."

"My god," Janeway was speechless.

"And then at the beginning of two years ago, the Klingons broke off the Khitomer Accords and launched an invasion in Cardassian Space thinking the Cardassian government that had changed power was infiltrated by Changelings," the Doctor continued. "The Klingons and the Federation were enemies again."

As the Doctor mentioned that, Janeway, Chakotay, and Tuvok looked at each other in disbelief. What they were hearing was beyond anything they were used to experiencing as Starfleet officers.

The Doctor continued. "And then about a year ago, with having dealt with the Klingons and losing to them, the Cardassians aligned themselves with the Dominion."

"This sounds like a bad dream, like all hell has broken loose back home," Chakotay was exactly on point with his reasoning.

"Because of that, the Klingons resigned the Khitomer Accords, and the Federation and Klingons were allies once again in a united front against the Dominion," the Doctor added. "At the end of last year, the Cardassians and the Dominion launched a full assault on Deep Space Nine and the Federation. The Federation abandoned the station and left the Bajorans there who had signed a nonaggression pact with the Dominion. However, several months ago, the Federation retook DS9 and drove the Cardassians and Dominion back into Cardassian held space."

As the Doctor said those words, he couldn't help but feel sadness for the people back home who are going through the war.

"And that's what has been going on while we've been stuck out here," the Doctor finished.

Janeway was shaken up with the news. She managed to put here game face on. "Thank you Doctor. You've done a great job."

The Doctor nodded and then walked towards the cart where his medical tools were at as Janeway, Chakotay, and Tuvok exited sickbay. "Who's been here covering for me? Ugh, Mr. Paris?!"

As the three were walking in the corridor, Tuvok was the first person to ask the question all three had in their minds.

"Should we tell the crew now?"

Janeway shook her head. "No, we'll wait a few days and then tell them of the news back home."