X

On Vulcan, the mood of Janeway and the others darkened, as news that Shelby's fleet was departing for Fenris became known. They had obviously known this was coming, but like most other things, the actual even made everyone more jumpy.

"According to the information Admiral Patterson was able to send us", Janeway told her former crew, "Admiral Shelby's rear echelon of two Galaxy Class, and two Sovereign Class ships will pass us in approximately five days. We have to wait until they clear for us to move toward Earth."

"Five days", Seven said, almost to herself. The reality of the reckoning that lay ahead for her had made Seven as quite as anyone could remember. Everything that was happening right now, was because of her foolishness. Not in dispatching Bjayzl-she had deserved it. No, it was because of the others killed on Freecloud, at the Cardassian prison, and the Ferengi trading post. She alone had put this in motion.

Everyone gave her a wide berth for the moment, letting her process her thoughts.

"We will, as planned", Tuvok continued the conference, "leave Vulcan twelve Earth hours apart. The Phantom will pass by Earth, and circle back once it reaches Terra Nova. The Icheb I, with Tom, B'Elanna, and The Doctor, will approach Earth via the Tellerite Sector, swinging around the far side of Tyrellia. With our ships positioned in this way, we can easily scan the areas of the Muratas, Tellerite, Vulcan, and Terran Sectors that are within easy reach of Earth."

"The Phantom is the lead ship", Janeway continued. "I will adjust Seven's cortical node once we reach the Terran Sector. Unless Seven picks up something this side of Terra Nova, I will follow that route back to Earth. Our two ships will be within approximately ten hours of each other at all times. If Seven is able to locate an XB concentration, we approach it together, not one at a time. This gives us the best chance of success."

"If it is necessary", Tuvok added, "Admiral Jellico has advised us that we will have backup: at least on Galaxy or Sovereign Class ship, which can be dispatched rapidly. There will be a contingent of Starfleet Special Operations forces ready to assist us."

"Wow", B'Elanna said, about as impressed as she could remember. It took a lot to impress perhaps the best Engineer in the galaxy. "Simply one of those ships has a lot of firepower to help us. This thing is real, isn't it?"

"It is, B'Elanna", Janeway said seriously. "As real as it gets. Admiral Jellico has advised us that, currently, there are twenty-three ships of different sizes and classes that have been moved into or near the Terran Sector if they are needed."

"What defines 'needed', may I ask", The Doctor said pointedly. "I would assume there is a litmus test for that."

"There is, Doctor", Tuvok responded. "If a war with Fenris would occur, and spread beyond the appreciable area of Fenris, they could be called to action. If we are successful, and Seven finds a large concentration of former drones, in what looks to be a Federation facility, they could be summoned to protect our operation. They would, in essence, be like an ancient picket line from wars in the past-giving us warning if Necheyav is sending ships to interdict us."

"What about Picard and the La Sirena?" Tom hadn't forgotten about the legendary Admiral and his crazy band of misfits.

"The La Sirena will be used to augment our opposition force, if needed. As Admiral Jellico stated at our meeting a while back, Captain Rios will be given a "provisional" rank of Captain, and he will have loyal Starfleet personnel added to his ship. As for Picard", Tuvok finished, "he will be on Earth. What he will be doing has not been made known to us."

"He may not even know yet", Seven said, breaking out of her silence for the first time. "He has been through a lot lately, but he has never lost his...displeasure at where Necheyav has been leading The Federation. Perhaps he'll try to find Sloan?"

"Unknown at this time, Seven", Janeway added. "Jean-Luc can take care of himself. With Elnor and Soji as his shadows, pardon my language, but I wouldn't fuck with him. He's on a mission."

"Since when did you become such a potty-mouth, Kathryn", Tom said with a chuckle.

Seven gave Kathryn a knowing look, after the many conversations they had partaken in since their reunion. Neither one of them were the straight-laced people they had been on Voyager. Too much had happened to them.

"It comes from a lot of mistakes over the years, Tom", Kathryn said with thinned lips. "But it's an accurate description, I believe."

"Maybe I should give you those lessons in humanity that I gave Seven all those years ago, Captain", the Doctor said with his acerbic wit.

"Oh, I'd love to see that", Seven said, laughing over at Janeway, breaking the tension. Kathryn simply gave her a mock Force Ten Glare.

"That is all the information we have at the moment", Tuvok said, finishing the briefing. "We must be ready to depart shortly after the larger Federation ships the immediate vicinity of Vulcan. As of now, I believe, if we were still on Voyager, we'd be on Red Alert."

"You're damn right, Mr. Tuvok", Janeway said in her full command voice. "We're going to war, people."

Picard didn't have the luxury of a state-of-the-art cloaking device to hid the ship he was on. Nor did he have a slip-stream drive, or ablative armor. He had to admit that, what he did have, were two of the best pilots he had ever seen in Raffi Muskier and Cristobal Rios. They both had some issues, but they were nimble at the helm.

Ed Jellico had advised Rios that Earth's defenses were on a slightly higher alert level, with the Shelby fleet heading toward Fenris. They needed to be cautious, but not paranoid about approaching Earth. Even in a time of raised tension, there was so much space traffic heading to and from Earth that one single ship wasn't going to raise the hackles of The Federation, unless it was cubed-shaped.

The would put down in southern France near Toulouse, then catch a high-speed hover train from there to Malaga. Once there, Picard and his crew would confer with the four Admirals who had been key to organizing the resistance to Necheyav. He would let the four Admirals hear his idea on what he wanted to do, then allow Rios, Raffi and Agnes to be assigned a staff of Starfleet personnel that Jellico had picked himself, to make La Sirena part of this rebel fleet, if it was needed.

One thing Picard knew he'd have to take care of almost immediately, was a private audience with Deanna. Now that he was a synth, she wouldn't be able to use her empathic abilities that naturally came to her. She's sense nothing, and that would raise a red flag with Will's wife.

That was a conversation he was not looking forward to, but one that would be necessary.

Fenris

The news had indeed reached Fenris. The government on that world had not yet informed the general public about the approaching crisis, but that would change in a matter of hours. Currently, the Prime Minister, Cyan Sladek, was meeting with General Larnek Grenthik, head of the Fenris Armed Forces, Commander Ani Besho, Commander of the Fenris Rangers, his Chief-of-Staff, and other aids. Qochur had been invited by the Prime Minister to attend.

Prime Minister Sladek called the meeting to order.

"General Grenthik", he said evenly, no apparent emotion in his voice, "can you give me a rundown of our current Order of Battle?"

The Prime Minister well knew himself what the current OrBat was, but he was a thorough man, and wanted everyone in the room to be up to speed.

"Prime Minister, our eight Sukkiv Class Destroyers are all operational, and fully loaded with personnel and weapons. Those ships, as you know, are pretty equal to Intrepid Class ships that are leading The Federation fleet." The General glanced down at his PADD. "We have fifteen of our Skylar Class Attack Cruisers operational. We have a total of nineteen, but four are currently going over an engine overhaul. Each cruiser has twenty fighters onboard for space combat.

"As for on the ground and within the atmosphere, we currently have twenty-eight combat divisions that are operational, and another six on reserve. We also have approximately three hundred Lynx Atmospheric fighter aircraft available."

"Commander Besho? The Rangers current OrBat?"

"Sir, by the time the Federation fleet arrives, we should have approximately forty Ranger ships in the vicinity of Fenris, at your service in case of a battle."

"Very good", the Prime Minister smiled. "Just before our meeting, the Federation Consulate delivered a formal diplomatic message from their government, staring that the fleet was heading to Fenris to, "discuss a delicate situation", and that they hope that "this situation can be resolved amicably."

Qochur gave a loud snort. He wasn't part of The Brass, but The Brass respected the man, and he had a free voice in such meetings. "Pardon me, Prime Minister, but that's a bunch of political lIngwI. They're telling us 'give us Seven of Nine, or we'll go to war, and, oh, if you don't have Seven of Nine, since we're already here, well too bad for you'."

General Grenthik tried to suppress his own snicker, but failed. "I would like to disagree with the man, Prime Minister", he said, smiling at the Klingon, "but he's probably right. I believe, eventually, they will commence hostilities."

"And let's remember", the Prime Minister reminded all of them, "that they have three Galaxy Class, two Sovereign Class, and four troop transport vessels a few days behind Admiral Shelby's Intrepid's. We have nothing that is equal to those starships."

"Whatever they bring", the General said, somewhat defensively, "we will fight them with everything they have."

"Oh, I have no doubt of that, Larnek", Cyan Sladek said soothingly. "I am not doubting our resolve, just stating a fact."

Others joined in the discussion, which lasted a good forty-five minutes. When it was finished, the man on the spot spoke one last time.

"Alright, everyone. General Grenthik", he turned directly to the man, "upon leaving this meeting, put our forces on Condition One, full war footing. Commander Besho", he turned to Ani, "contact your ships and inform them that, as of this moment, if they are within two light years of Fenris, that they are now under my command, per our long-standing agreement."

"Aye, sir."

"I will inform the Senate leadership of the situation as soon as we're done here. After that, I will make a planet-wide broadcast to the people of Fenris, to prepare for war. Let's get moving, people."

The meeting adjourned, a Prime Minister, like so many leaders throughout history, sitting alone now, feeling the weight of his people on his shoulders on the eve of yet another conflict.

Three Days Later On Vulcan

It was lunchtime, and the former Voyager officers were relaxing after a morning workout. They were becoming very keyed up, knowing that the time of doing "nothing", as Seven had grown fond of saying, was coming to an end. Very soon, they would be facing a very serious situation.

T'Pel was hosting the lunch, which consisted of Iceberg lettuce, which the Vulcan grew in her garden, as well as a Italian-like dressing. They wanted to keep the meal light. The Doctor was onboard the Phantom, monitoring communications that may come in.

The conversation, despite the rising tension, was light, with lots of laughter, and in the case of Tuvok and T'Pel, raised eyebrows. Kathryn looked around proudly at Tuvok, B'Elanna, Tom, and Seven, realizing that she had been blessed to have had them in the Delta Quadrant. They had always given Kathryn Janeway all of the credit for getting them home, but Kathryn knew that every member of her Voyager crew had done as much work as she had to get home.

Seven, surprisingly, was very relaxed at the moment. Perhaps because she was ensconced among friends that she trusted-Kathryn not yet knowing if she herself was included in that definition quite yet-and was able to let her hair down. They saw a delightful, smiling, joking woman, comfortable in her skin, with so much to offer the Universe.

Kathryn and Seven had once had an unrequited love, that neither acted on while in the Delta Quadrant. By the time they had returned as heroes to the Alpha Quadrant, Seven had grown up enough, and had grown tired of waiting for Kathryn, so she had paired off with Chakotay.

That pairing had been part of the cause of a twenty-year rift between them. There was some light breaking through the storm that they had traversed, still a few cracks of lightning, and loud rumbles of thunder being heard now and then, but the storm was dying out. Their confessions to each other over the past few months, both of them realizing that the other had been, in their own way, to Hell and back, was bringing them to an understanding.

Watching Seven, Kathryn had to admit, she still loved Seven of Nine. Very much. She was doubtful they could ever find that feeling again, but Janeway knew if they did, she wouldn't forsake it this time for anything.

She was brought out of her reverie as The Doctor materialized near them.

"What is it, Doctor", Janeway said seriously.

"Monitoring Vulcan military frequencies, they just announced that the last Galaxy Class ship assigned to Admiral Shelby's fleet, has just passed through Vulcan space."

They all looked at each other momentarily, knowing that they had been through so many trials and tribulations when together. This was another one.

Kathryn looked over at Seven and Tuvok. "We leave in eight hours. Tom, B'Elanna, Doctor, you leave in fourteen hours. Here we go..."

To Be Continued...