VII

The Calgary, Phantom, and Icheb I all left Ganymede as quickly as possible. They headed away at full impulse and to a rarely reconnoitered area near the Kuiper belt, to take stock. The moment they were headed toward the rendezvous point, Sickbay was already mayhem. B'Elanna had piloted the Icheb I solo, Tuvok doing the same for the Phantom, as Paris and Seven had beamed up with Janeway onto Calgary. When they reached the stop point, the two smaller ships were put on automatic hover, and everyone was aboard Calgary.

"Mr. Paris", the Doctor ordered, forty CC's of Ardrosam-G, the first thing we need to do is get her heart beating again!"

Seven of Nine was standing rigid in a corner of the Calgary's Sickbay, as the former Voyager EMH began to work on Kathryn Janeway.

"Doc", Tom Paris said as calmly as he could, "she's slipping into neuroleptic shock from the phaser blast."

"If we can't get her heart started", the hologram announced, as he took the hypospray from Paris, "then what's the point?" He looked at his monitor, and got a uneven blip on the scream. "Ten more CC's, Mr. Paris." The next hypospray was in his hand before he got the last words out, Paris anticipating his request.

"That put the heart in rhythm", the Doctor said with a little satisfaction, now. "Fifty CC's of Synaptizine, now we can work on the neuroleptic shock."

Seven didn't hear any of the hologram's words. She heard nothing of the noise within the large Sickbay on the Galaxy Class ship, as other members of the Away Team, and a few of those who had defended the XB compound were being treated by four other doctors. It was the usual organized chaos that reigned in such a situation.

All Seven heard, at least now, was the beating of Janeway's heart, which she had always been able to hear when Kathryn was near, even when they were emotionally torn apart. Minutes seemed like hours to the former drone, even with her internal Borg chronometer, which would always be present as long as she had her cortical node.

She and Janeway had been emotionally and physically separated for two decades, because of the stubbornness of both women. It had nearly destroyed both of them, and then they had both nearly destroyed themselves in the intervening years.

The only good thing to come out of Seven's one-woman war in the Alpha Quadrant, in a drive to avenge Icheb's death, was that she had Kathryn had become closer, after so many years of heartache. Now, she could lose Janeway again-this time permanently.

You will not leave me now, Kathryn, Seven raged at the women, in the depths of her mind. Not after we've found each other again. I won't allow it.

Yet despite the defiant words in her mind, Seven could do nothing to save Kathryn now. It was all in the hands of their former EMH. She knew The Doctor would go above and beyond to save his former Captain, of that she had no doubt.

The Doctor was now treating the huge phaser burn that had struck Janeway on the right side of her chest, making sure the burns healed properly, and that no infections became apparent. While he was working, Tom moved over to Seven for a moment.

"Seven", he said softly, but with a firm voice, "are you sure you don't want to sit down in the office? Or maybe in some guest quarters while we work?"

Seven shook her head. "No, thank you, Tom", she said with a small smile, silently blessing her friend for his concern. "I'll remain here, out of the way, if that's OK. I can't leave Kathryn right now. Remember, you gave me the task of looking after her." He small smile vanished. "I failed in that assignment, obviously."

Tom squeezed her shoulder. "We'll discuss that opinion later. I just wanted to make sure you're all right."

Seven gave him a quick hug. "Thanks, Tom, but I'm OK for now. Get back to work."

Tom nodded and returned to The Doctor's side.

In his Briefing Room, Captain Harry Kim was meeting with his commanders that had been on the raid, along with Tuvok and B'Elanna, to go over the details, and prepare to leave for Vulcan.

"I destroyed all their communications systems", Commander Brown said succinctly. "I was also able to gain information on where their shuttles were. They were located in an underground facility about a thousand meters from the compound, connected by underground walkways, sir. None of them are going anywhere any time soon", the SpecOp leader said with a smile.

"Did you leave them enough food and other provisions until they can contact Starfleet, Rufus?"

The man nodded to his captain. "Yes,sir. We beamed down the non-perishable foodstuffs that we had ready. They won't starve, and the basic amenities like heat checked out fine before we left."

"Tuvok?"

"Captain Kim", Harry's former superior officer said evenly, "Admiral Janeway is undergoing surgery right now. There is no word on her condition, but I can tell you her injuries were severe."

Harry nodded his head, a lump in his throat forming, and not wanting to leave. The last thing he wanted was for his former captain-a woman that he thought more highly of than any other person in the Universe, to die under his command. He would visit Sickbay when they were en-route to Vulcan.

"How many XB's did we save, and how many, that we know of, who were dead?"

"Fifty-seven XB's were beamed aboard Calgary, Captain", the Vulcan continued. "There were fourteen that did not survive. Three died in the firefight, and the rest were either dead, or close to death, when we arrived in the...medical area of the station. We had to euthanize five of those below."

Harry shook his head. "At least they're no longer suffering. It isn't good, but it's better than what they were going through."

"I concur, Captain", Tuvok said, with a little more quiet in his voice. As he had told Seven, what he had seen had shaken even his Vulcan emotions. "There was an incinerator in the lower level, obviously to destroy the organic remains of the subjects. With help from Commander Brown's team, we though it best to incinerate the dead XB's."

"There was also a large area to store bodies in subzero temperatures, Harry", B'Elanna added. "We put the personnel that worked there who had died, in the freezers. Personally, I might have wanted to incinerate them, but...well, we can't stoop to their level."

B'Elanna had had her own quiet moment with Seven after they had incinerated the former drones, B'Elanna offering up a Klingon prayer to their souls, while she had her arms around her tall, blonde friend. Gone forever were the days when she felt Seven was no better than a cold, unfeeling automaton. B'Elanna loved Seven in her own way, as much as Janeway, and her heart had shattered seeing the despair on Seven's face in that dungeon.

"Necheyav won't be happy with the raid, but we'll get some brownie points for not burning the workers like they did XB's", Harry said distastefully. He turned again to Tuvok. "How long do you believe they'll need to to communicate with San Francisco?"

"Given the damage that Commander Brown's forced did to their communications array, I would estimate it will be approximately five days. Those people may be cruel, but they're not unintelligent. At the most, Captain, I would say a week."

"Five days to a week", Harry said, almost to himself. He looked to his XO. "Commander Garcia, take the Conn and set a course for Vulcan, Warp 7.5."

"Aye, Captain", she said crisply, and left.

"Thank you, everyone", he said with a small smile-this wasn't the time for pats on the back. "With luck, we can have the XB's on Vulcan, and back to our station at the DMZ before San Francisco figures things out. If you'll excuse me, I need to check up on our casualties that were brought aboard. Dismissed."

A few minutes later, Harry entered Sickbay, which had calmed to simply being terribly busy, not the mayhem it had been a short time earlier. The Captain of the Calgary took care of business first.

He approached is Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Louise Bremmen. "Report, Commander Bremmen."

The doctor had just finished up work on a worker wounded at the facility. "Sir, we've gotten through the most critical patients, and are onto those not as badly injured. Two XB's died after coming onboard, as well as two more SpecOp members, and three of the wounded workers."

"Admiral Janeway?"

"I didn't work on her, Captain", she admitted. "I would talk to the EMH. He's quite an amazing doctor, you know?"

Harry allowed a small smile. "I figured that out a long time ago, Louise. Thanks."

He walked over to his old friend, who had just finished up with the Admiral. Harry had not had the luxury to talk to the EMH after he had beamed aboard. He hadn't seen the Doc in over ten years.

Harry smiled warmly at the hologram, despite the circumstances. "Doc!" He walked up and warmly shook his hand, patting him on the shoulder. "It's good to see you, my friend. I've missed you."

"Captain Kim", the photonic man said with his own warm smile, "likewise. It has been a while, hasn't it?"

"Doc", Harry said with a small smile, "you can simply call me Harry, or Mr. Kim. We go back far too long for you to be saluting me."

"I don't think I've ever saluted anyone, Mr. Kim", the Doctor said with a smirk.

"Touche", Harry said, putting a hand on the Doctor's shoulder and leading him to his office. "How's Kathryn?"

The Doctor heaved a large sigh, even though he didn't have to. "She's going to make it, Harry", he said, with genuine relief. "She had third-degree phaser burns to her chest, it took a while go get her heart going on her own, but I don't suspect there's any brain damage, and she'll wake up sore as hell, but...one again, Kathryn Janeway defies death."

"You know your orders when you get to Vulcan, right?"

"I do, Mr. Kim", the Doctor confirmed. "Since my doppelganger is up and running at Starfleet Medical, and no wiser that I took his job for a while, I'll be able to treat the XB's, at least for the short-term with my Vulcan colleagues. When I boarded, Commander Garcia gave me a message from Vulcan, informing me they're all set to go."

"Under normal circumstances", the Captain explained, "I'd probably have Seven go with you, but...I think that might do more harm than good. What do you think?"

"I honestly think, sir, it's a moot point. She isn't going to leave Kathryn. From what little I could pull out of them the last time we talked, they are starting to mend the fences between them, and right now, that's the best medicine for both of them."

"I agree, old friend", Harry said. He sighed himself. "Those two are the most stubborn, opinionated, brilliant, and bravest women I've ever met-along with B'Elanna. So many lost chances for them over the years, Doc." Harry shook his head sadly.

"That is true, Mr. Kim", the Doctor agreed grimly. "But looking at Seven now." Both men turned to look at the former drone, who was sitting in a chair next to Janeway, holding her hand. "I believe that you won't be able to separate them much from here on out."

"Let's hope you're right, Doc." Harry again shook his hand, then proceeded to approach Seven. The tall blonde didn't hear the Captain of the ship walk up behind her.

"Seven?"

Seven came out of her trance. "Harry?" Then she realized... "I mean, Captain!"

"Right the first time, Seven", he said with a little laugh. Seven rose and wrapped her dear friend in a strong, loving embrace. "It's good to have you on board, my friend."

"Harry", Seven said, tears releasing from her eyes. Harry had pined after Seven himself when she first came on Voyager, Seven thinking for a long time that Harry was kind of nerdy, and his passes laughable. But in time, especially after they had built Astrometrics together, Seven had come to love and cherish her friend in a way that was unique to anyone else she knew. She had seem him develop into a fine officer, and a fine man, on Voyager, and she thanked the stars that she had been blessed with is friendship.

"It's good to see you, too, Captain Kim", Seven said with a brilliant smile, hugging him again. "I've missed you terribly."

"We don't have a lot of time this time around, Seven, but I promise you that before we get to Vulcan, we'll sit down and talk a little."

"I'd like that, Harry", Seven said, grasping one of his hands.

"How are you holding up?"

Seven shrugged. "Kathryn is gonna make it, which I'm thankful for. I wasn't sure she would when we first beamed onboard. But the Doctor and Tom, well, they did their usual splendid job. It makes me proud to remember what an amazing team we had on Voyager."

"Amen", Harry said, quietly, then he grabbed both her hands. "You need anything from me, or my crew, just let any of us know. You'll need to get a little rest, but for now, the best place for you is here, next to Kathryn. She'll want to see you when she comes to."

"Either that or she'll smack me for not jumping in the way of that shot." They both laughed quietly. "I promise you, I will get a little rest, but right now, I need to be with Kathryn."

Harry nodded. "I understand my dear. I'll stop by later this evening, and maybe we can have that little talk?"

"Aye, Captain", Seven said more formally. Harry gave her another hug, kissing Seven on the cheek. Seven watched her longtime friend depart, looking forward to their chat that evening. Maybe he could persuade the others to join them.

Captain Munshif had the Alpha Shift, as usual. And as usual, there were one or two enemy ships-he had to think of them as that-sniffing around his ship, the Intrepid. For his crew, it looked to be just another normal day on "picket duty", as it used to be called in wars past. Munshif knew otherwise.

His Senior Staff, and most of his mid-level officers had been picked not only by him, but by Sloan at Section 31. Sloan looked for people who were fanatics, for lack of a better word-people who didn't want The Federation to be some mamby-pamby "seek out new worlds" bullshit, as they thought of it. They wanted power: power to dominate; power to determine the course of entire worlds and quadrants; power over life and death. And such fanatics were willing to die for their cause.

Around 1100 Fleet time, two of the Fenris medium-sized attack cruisers headed toward them.

"Captain, two Fenris cruisers, eight thousand kilometers off the starboard bough, heading in toward us.

"Status of their shields and weapons, Helm."

"Shields are up on both ships, weapons on stand-by only at this time."

"Ops, any incoming transmissions from those ships?"

"Negative, Captain."

"Tactical, status of our weapons and shields?"

"Captain, shields at maximum, weapons warmed up."

Munshif had a few moments to think. Tactical had reconfigured four probes that, when launched, would show the signature and profile of four photon torpedoes set at maximum yield. The Fenris ships would think it was the beginning of a massive attack, and they would, no doubt, act accordingly.

"Mr. Fleming, set up probes, and fire when ready."

The die was being cast.

On one of the two ships opposing the namesake of the Intrepid Class Starships was a medium cruiser that the Rangers had bought from the Fenris government. On this ship, Fenris Ranger Commander Ani Besho was at the Conn. She took as many chances on such duty as everyone else. She always said you can't lead from behind, and she wouldn't ask her crew to do any more or any less than she would.

She new the Federation ship's shields were up, which was standard, but was surprised that her weapons were showing hot. In every other encounter, opposing ships had kept their weapons in stand-by, not wanting to have an accidental firing that could trigger a war.

Besho was contemplating putting her weapons online-which could be done in a matter of two seconds, but she hesitated. She would let this Federation vessel play it's little game.

As Commander Besho was ready to ask for a new bearing on the Intrepid, tactical cut in.

"Commander, their ship has fired four high-yield photons, two heading for us, two heading toward the Osprey!"

Besho couldn't believe it-they were firing without provocation? She checked her display, and it clearly showed two photon torpedoes headed straight for them, approximately eight seconds away.

"Helm new course 152, mark 345, Tactical lock our photons on them and fire!"

Within two seconds, two photons hurled away from the Rangers ship, as she tried to maneuver away from the bogus photons heading inbound.

As her birds flew true, tactical again reported. "Commander those four photons...they've vanished. They're not there!"

Besho quickly looked at her screen. He was right-where were those damned inbound torpedoes?

Onboard The Intrepid

As Munshif's ship also indicated that the probes had vanished, he played the second part of his mission.

"Fire full spread of photons at both ships", he said loudly. "Time on inbound photons?"

"Five seconds, Captain!"

He didn't have a religion of any type, but he believed there was something beyond this life of flesh and blood. He and his crew were about to test that theory.

"Tactical-drop shields! All hands, brace for impact!"

"Where the fuck are those inbounds, Tactical!"

"Sir, they're been re-acquired, they're...gods, they're only probes!"

"What?"

"Only probes, Commander." A moment later Tactical spoke again. "Commander a spread of real photons inbound! Impact in five seconds!"

Ops was right behind him. "Commander", he said, looking at her with disbelief. "The enemy vessel has dropped their shields!" Everyone on The Bridge was aghast.

Prophets, the Bajoran thought to herself, horror sweeping her face, what was that maniac on the Federation ship doing? In the few moments before three torpedoes were to impact her ship, she realized what the game was.

He suckered us into firing, and is letting his ship get destroyed! He's trying to start a war...

Besho was finishing that thought when she saw the explosions rock the Federation ship, a tremendous explosion obliterating it. She didn't have the chance to see the disintegration, as two seconds later, all three Federation weapons slammed into her ship, her ship and her crew joining that of the Intrepid in discovering if there was, indeed, something beyond this life.