CHAPTER 11: Day 226

Ensigns Log, Stardate 51824.91. The repairs we made on the Nihydron vessel were completed a lot quicker then I'd anticipated. We've set a course for Voyager and have been travelling at high warp for at least half a day, and we have also picked up a distress call leading us straight to their position. The two other Nihydron vessels that Forhn called in for extra support are travelling alongside us. Whether or not they fully comprehend the dangers they're about to cruise into, they do a pretty good job at hiding their fears. Maybe the Nihydron don't fear death?

...

"Ensign, I am picking up a vessel. A few hundred kilometres ahead," Orbin reported from his helm station. Ensign Lee strode over from Tactical and leaned over the screen to see a familiar outline of a Federation class vessel. He smiled.

"It's Voyager," he remarked and turned to look over his shoulder at the young Engineer sitting next to Forhn at the command station. She exchanged an affectionate smile with the security officer, butterflies fluttering in her stomach making her feel giddy with nerves. It was like coming home after a long-term away mission, a similar sensation she used to feel when returning home from her training at the Academy every summer. With nostalgia heavy on her mind, she almost missed the static crackle coming over the com system followed by a gravelly voice slowly breaking through the disturbance.

"Th- is Capt- ay of the S- ship Voy- ger. Plea- respon-"

The engineer's eyes widened and her grip on the arm rests of her seat tightened to the point where her knuckles turned white, "She's alive," she muttered to herself. Forhn glanced at her curiously, small eyes blinking as she looked back at the grey alien's questioning gaze.

"It's Captain Janeway," she explained, heart overjoyed that at least someone on board Voyager was still alive after all these months. Whilst attempting to clear the disturbance, Forhn also ordered for a visual of the Federation ship on the view screen. Swallowing back the lump in her throat, (y/n) watched as the vessel blinked into view. The breath caught in her lungs and she almost leapt up out of her seat; Voyager was a mess. A complete battle scarred, metal jarred, engine burned, hull torn mess. Before she knew it, she was already going over the unbelievable amount of repair jobs that it would need to be able to survive another Krenim wave, which was highly improbable. There were two other cruisers a similar size to Voyager stationed nearby, but who they were she couldn't tell.

"Hail them," Forhn ordered in his soft melodic voice and Orbin swiped at the terminal screen to open a channel. The visuals wouldn't transmit to Voyager as it was in so bad a condition, but the sound wasn't an issue. Forhn got to his feet and walked a few slow steps to the edge of the command platform, hands cradled together at his waist.

"Captain Janeway. We are Nihydron. We heard your distress call. How may we assist?"

...

After a difficult to interpret conversation with the Captain of Voyager, Forhn agreed to help them track down the Krenim Imperial ship and to aid in the rescue of their Commanding officers. What he didn't explain was that they had already known about Voyager's condition and had already installed the temporal shielding. This was at the personal request of the two Ensigns. Even though Lieutenant Tuvok had asked the security officer to send back reinforcements, the Vulcan never intend for the Ensign to come back with them as well.

"I wish we could tell them that we're alright," she sighed into her hand as they sat at the long table in the dining room, "Especially Neelix."

"I know, but it's best not to cause more worry on their part. I don't think they would appreciate the fact we've disobeyed direct orders either," Lee replied truthfully, sitting opposite the engineer and offering her a glass of water. It had the juice of a Nihydron home world plant laced into it, a sweet flavour that made their tongues feel warm just like the orange stew had. Swallowing the exotic drink, they hummed at the deliciousness of its unique flavour.

"I'd hate to forget what this tastes like," she laughed out and stared down at the water in the glass. The florescent lighting above her reflected down onto its surface as an awkward silence suddenly smothered her senses. Biting her lip, she glanced up at Lee and shook her head regretfully when she saw his downcast expression.

"I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have made a joke like that," she pleaded honestly, putting her drink down to place her hand over his. His solemn face looked up at hers and slowly melted away into a subtle smile.

"You were only trying to lighten the mood," he replied, taking her hand into his. They held their gaze again, sharing another precious moment they didn't want to forget...

"Ensign Lee, Ensign (y/n)," Orbin seemed to appear out of nowhere and the officers quickly sat back from each other, hands retreating back into their laps. This didn't seem to faze the Nihydron officer as he continued with a tilt of his head, "Voyager have issued a plan. We are to take on two more Starfleet officers. They will install temporal shields to the otger ships. You must join us."

The Ensigns froze in their seats, worried glances passed between them as they stared at the grey alien with concern. Who was beaming over? And more to the point, what on earth are they going to say when they see them there on a Nihydron vessel? There wasn't much they could do to avoid the situation so they both got to their feet and anxiously followed Orbin back to the Bridge. On the way, (y/n) grasped Lee's hand and squeezed it reassuringly, reluctantly letting their hold on each other go as they entered the Bridge.

"Transporting," one of the Nihydron announced from his station. Two strips of glistening light shimmered into view right in the middle of the command platform, and the unmistakable yellow and black uniforms materialized along with the baffled faces of Ensign Harry Kim and Lieutenant B'elanna Torres staring back at the Ensign's equally shocked expressions. This is gonna be good...

"Ensign (y/n)?" B'elanna stepped forward, completely missing the welcoming bows of the grey aliens surrounding her, "What are you doing here?"

"It's a long story Lieutenant," she replied nervously, the look in the half-Klingon's eyes already beginning to bubble with rage, "but perhaps you might discuss your plans with the Nihydron leader first."

Forhn walked up to the two commanding officers and bowed again, this time much lower than before, "I am Forhn, leader of this vessel. We are pleased to receive you." Harry and B'elanna exchanged unsure glances and smiled back, shaking hands with the grey alien one after the other.

"Likewise," Harry smiled broadly as Orbin stepped forward to also shake hands with them. It was then that Ensign Lee joined them and began helping the Nihydron leader with explanations on how they decided to reach out to Voyager. The additional news of the success of implementing the temporal shields made B'elanna uncharacteristically joyful, but that wouldn't keep her spirits up for long.

"This is good news and all but why didn't you tell us about having two of our own crewmen on board?" B'elanna questioned the alien and he blinked back at her slowly. Feeling a heavy responsibility on her shoulders, the young engineer shuffled forward towards the group and fumbled nervously with her hands.

"Because I asked them not to," she spoke up, getting surprised glances from the five of them. Her heart was beating faster as she suddenly became the centre of attention. She quickly remembered why she had preferred to stick to the lower decks than work her way up the ranks to commanding officer.

"Why?" B'elanna shook her head in confusion, folding her muscular arms over her chest as she waited for an answer. Stammering on her own words, she glanced up at Lee and bit her lip. This is going to sound so stupid.

"We were given instructions by Lieutenant Tuvok to send back help if we could, but we're not supposed to be here. I know we've disobeyed a direct order from the Captain but we couldn't just spend our time floating around out there when we should be here, fighting to get our family back safely." The words just kept flowing from her mouth and she couldn't stop, passionately driven to show them just how much this mission meant to her. "So forgive me but if you intend on sending me away- I'm not leaving."

Her Commanding officers stared at her serious countenance, eyes sparkling with determination. Lee smiled proudly at her and moved over to stand beside her.

"Neither am I," he spoke up decisively, "Tuvok may have asked us to send back help, but I'll be damned if we have no part it this rescue mission." To the Ensigns absolute relief, their Commanders allowed them to remain on board and to go with them to find the Krenim vessel. There was no point in sending two well trained, healthy Starfleet officers away anyway. It was also agreed that the Captain was not to know of of their presence on board the Nihydron ship, Janeway's patience and reasoning already nearing the end of its tether.

In the moments that followed, Ensign Lee joined B'elanna at Tactical to look over the Nihydron weapons systems, leaving (y/n) to work alongside Harry Kim. She enjoyed the opportunities she had working with the Ensign who had a permanent position on the Bridge of Voyager. Even though he was an Ensign by rank, she always felt he was by far her superior. Watching as he set in a course, she read the coordinates and quickly rounded up the math.

"Wow..." she mumbled to herself but he very easily noticed her reaction.

"I know," he exclaimed with a deep sigh, "If we had full engine power on Voyager we would be there in no time. Sadly we don't, so-" he stopped to finalize the navigational changes.

"It'll take us about a month to get there?" the young Engineer guessed, shyly combing a stray hair behind her ear as he looked back up at her; his deep brown eyes showed weeks of endless stress and sleep deprivation, his jet black hair now long enough to touch his cheekbones.

"A month at most, yeah," he agreed sadly. She began to wonder whether Commander Chakotay and Lt. Paris would still be alive after another month. What if the Krenim decide they don't need them anymore?

"So, how did you find the coordinates for the Imperial vessel?" she asked quickly, stopping her horrid thoughts from escalating any further.

"Tom- I'm mean Lieutenant Paris managed to sneak a message to Voyager from the Krenim ship. The Captain received it a few hours ago and she's determined to get there as soon as possible. She's not the only one," Harry stared out of the view screen at the battered Starship, metal plating twisted off in sections all over its exterior.

"You must miss him," she noted genuinely. The weary man smiled a thin smile, grief slowly working it's way up to his eyes as he nodded silently in reply. Striding across the command platform and down to the terminal station where the two Ensigns stood, B'elanna placed a firm hand on Harry Kim's shoulder and blew out a long breath.

"Alright, we've got two more Nihydron ships to fit with temporal shielding, and as soon as we get that done we can start our route to the Krenim," she explained and the officers walked back up to ask Orbin to beam them over to one of the other ships.

"Lieutenant!" the engineer called after the half-Klingon, following them across the platform, "To speed up the process, would you object to Ensign Lee and myself sorting out the shields on the third ship, as you and Ensign Kim prepare the second?" B'elanna pursed her lips in consideration before shrugging her shoulders casually,

"That's a sound plan Ensign, make sure to brief the crewmen on how the shields work."

Orbin then informed the other Nihydron vessels they were to expect two officers each and after transporting the commanders over, Lee and (y/n) stood side by side ready to beam over to the third vessel. Gulping nervously, she closed her eyes as the tingling sensation filled her bones and warmed her muscles as they transported through space to their next destination.