Disclaimer: See chapter one. Last I looked I still do not own these persons, I just play with the toys. Will put them back when done.

Returnees?

The latest FNN report at the Black Rock Compound on Earth left the missing persons staring at the now blank screen in some confusion. What had the trio been up to whilst incarcerated in that compound?

"You're over thinking things," spoke a male voice. "I can hear you from here," he added with a wryly smile at his enforced house guest.

"Maybe," Chakotay responded with a smile of his own.

"Do you believe the Admiral?"

"Nechayev, never says anything she doesn't mean."

"Something in your tone tells me, you've crossed swords with the woman in your past!"

"Yeah!" he admitted reluctantly.

"Patience, my friend, patience," giving the younger man's shoulder a reassuring squeeze. The two males shared pointed looks with each other, before returning to more mundane things.

=/\=

'What comes next?' the alien male had wondered the previous afternoon as he and Admiral Nechayev had made their way back to Starfleet Admiralty HQ, walking through San Francisco's streets, rather than use the transporters, escorted by the Black Op's Squaddies. Starfleet Security was not happy about it, but the President waved away their concerns, realising the people in general needed to see himself and the Admiral in the flesh so-to-speak. Robin Hood and Zach quietly walked with them, recording as they went. They'd gathered quite a crowd too, moving through the streets at an easy pace, passing the cafe, where the other Squaddie still sat. He watched them a moment and then got up and quietly joined his mates, feeling the eyes of the cafe owner watching him.

'The Mandate still stands!' rang in his brain and yet as he walked close to the alien male, almost within touching distance another voice seemed to override it. 'We all choose our own way.' He heard the President contact his aides to call the UFP Council to the chambers immediately. 'What a golden opportunity!' he thought. His Squad Leader came up beside him and whispered something in his ear. The Black op's face paled at the revelation of what had happened back at Black Rock Compound.

"The Voyager three neutralised it completely," Squad Leader added quietly.

"Now why doesn't that surprise me?!" grinning softly, feeling himself relax, the last message from his bosses finally fading into the background.

=/\=

Paris thought over his father's observations from the previous day about the Voyager family and what it could mean, not just to them, but perhaps to Starfleet and the Federation as a whole.

"That's it!"

"Tom?" questioned his mother as she made his favourite breakfast.

"Thinking out loud," smiling at this woman who'd birthed him, taking the plate of food, when she'd finished. "Thanks, Mum," kissing her cheek.

"Get away with you," she admonished him. "Save those for your lady love!" her comment had her son grinning at her as he left the family kitchen. He joined that 'lady love' in the dining room, where she was feeding their growing daughter, whilst also trying to feed herself. Paris just smiled at the industrious picture of domestic bliss and chaos that was presented, as he sat and ate his own breakfast. Once he'd finished he gently took his crabby daughter from his wife and completed the task of winding her, so B'Elanna could finish her own meal.

The woman watched him as he spoke to his daughter, wondering where this thoughtful caring man had come from, recalling some of the boyish antics he'd got up to on Voyager and even when she'd first met him in the Maquis. A personage sat next to her with a soft sigh.

"I can't believe that this returned man is my son," the soft sentiment in the female voice echoing the thoughts, Torres herself was thinking.

"I've been wondering that too," she admitted quietly. Julia Paris smiled understandingly at her daughter-in-law as they both watched the man they both loved in their own unique ways. As if sensing their combined scrutiny he turned and smiled at them, although it was a little unsure, as if afraid of what they were both thinking.

"What?" he decided to ask. Both females said nothing, just shared a knowing look between them, leaving the former pilot even more puzzled.

=/\=

Although all was calm within the Paris household, the same could not be said of Starfleet HQ. What with the Kamikaze attack by the Vaadwaur vessel from sub-space, destroying the Ambassadorial area within the Starfleet buildings and the underground bunkers that had housed Section 31, the whole place was on Red alert, in fact Admirals Paris and Janeway could even call it triple red alert.

Robin Hood's calm reassuring, FNN report from the Black Rock Compound and the President's walk through the city streets had gone someway to easing some of the tension, but not all.

Paris and Janeway breathed relieved once they'd reached the inner sanctum of Owen's office. Elliot trailed in with them, all having had to endure several security checks to reach the quiet office; all to ensure they were who they appeared to be, putting them on edge.

"Left over paranoia from the Founders/Dominion forces infiltrating us," Paris sighed, sitting heavily into his chair behind his desk.

"Elliot?" queried Janeway with a certain look. The young male aide grinned and left the office, whilst Kathryn stood quietly contemplating her senior Admiral and mentor. "You look tired, Owen," she said softly, hoping not to offend him.

"I am, Katie," he responded quietly, his resigned tone worrying her even more. "Starfleet and the Federation isn't what it should be," he sighed again, putting his head in his hands, elbows on the desktop. Just then Elliot arrived back with the smell of her favourite brew wafting in before him, holding a tray with not only a full pot of coffee, cups, but also some warm sweet pastries. Owen Paris looked up and sniffed appreciatively, his eyes smiling as he took in the sight as Elliot put the tray down on the coffee table in the office.

"Where did you get those?" he asked, standing.

"I didn't, Sir. Your aide did," the young man said. "He said, he'd bought them on the way in earlier this morning."

Admiral Paris smiled pleased, joining these younger persons at the relaxed seating around the coffee table, whilst Janeway helped herself to the coffee pot contents, pouring a generous amount of the black brew into the only mug on the tray.

"You drink too much of that, Katie," the senior male said good naturedly.

"So I have been constantly reminded over the years," savouring the smell wrapping her hands around the hot mug. "But I did beat the Borg, with it," she softly reminded them, whilst standing at the large picture windows and noting the goings-on outside. "People in general will not like what Starfleet is proposing as to these security measures, for everyone not just Starfleet personnel. Especially as it's too little too late."

"I agree," indicating to Elliot to join them in the coffee and pastries. "Until the President sets the date for the conference; I don't think Starfleet Admiralty will settle, even then," having bit into the warm apricot pastry.

"War does strange things to people," commented Elliot unthinkingly and then looked abashed. Janeway only smiled, as she'd encouraged the young man to think outside the box.

"Indeed it does," sighed the older male, brushing the pastry flakes off his uniform. A uniform that was feeling strangely restrictive and uncomfortable these days; especially since Voyager had burst back into the Alpha Quadrant.

"It's as if our return, has kick started something bigger than Starfleet," Kathryn murmured, unknowingly echoing the thoughts of her former mentor.

"Maybe it has at that," Owen acknowledged quietly.

"To what end? Sirs … Ma'am!" Both Admirals's smiled at his slip, but didn't comment, as they were asking themselves the same question.

=/\=

Starfleet Security didn't waste time on nicer-ties, but got down to the business of implementing - what they saw as necessary measures to ensure the safety of all citizens on Earth, not just its top Federation officials.

One of those 'citizens' was the FNN's top reporter - S. Copper. He was bold, brash, charismatic and didn't suffer fools lightly. His attitude didn't always go down well, especially with those he interviewed, as he tended to push for what he wanted to hear, what he felt was the real heart of the matter, even if it was a blatant lie; but the public in general liked him as he could, for those that knew him in the journalistic trade 'Talk the hind legs off a donkey!'

At that moment Copper was arguing with his Gaffer of FNN, who'd been editing the incoming reports of the unease in the general populace about what was happening with Starfleet, the Admiralty, the UFP, its council and especially the on-going saga with Voyager,plus the new security measures, put in place to keep tabs on who was where. Thus the reports weren't going out live.

"People are up in arms! And you put out that muted report!" Copper raged.

"People are not up in arms. You just make it appear so," the Gaffer responded mildly, ignoring the man's grinning of his teeth. "You will report what is happening out there, not what you think should be happening," he ordered firmly. Gaffer knew that Copper had been 'assaulted' - his words - by Starfleet security at least three times over the last day or so, for going into places he had no right to be in the first place, whilst hunting for his story. Starfleet had already sent him a report on S. Copper, letting Gaffer know how and where this reporter had been discovered and when he'd been asked to leave, had caused a rumpus, thus getting himself manhandled out of the restricted areas.

"Robin Hood is covering that aspect of this News report. Not you. Now out!"

=/\=

Hood and Zach were in the Presidential offices when the acceptances started to come in for the conference to be held in due course. The first to respond was the current Federation High Council, all its members not only responded via electronic means, but later turned up in person, which surprised some of the President's staff.

Thus the inner council chamber was opened to accommodate them. Hood and Zach quietly watched and recorded what was happening; startled but the fact that Security didn't throw them out.

Next in line was Pacifica who offered their planet's facilities for the conference. Not long after all the other members of the UFP got in touch, including former members and War Allies, which included; Klingon, Bajor, Romulus, Ferengi, even Cardassia were all getting in touch with Sol III/Earth.

"Trill, Beta-zed, Gorn's. You name it they're all giving us a call."

"Returnees?" questioned Robin of the startled Senior Presidential staff.

"Would appear so," the person acknowledged. "Crazy!" shaking his head at the PADD in his hand and its contents.

"No so crazy, really," Zach noted softly after the official had moved away.

"True, Zach. No-one really wants war, they just endure it once its started, until the military machine has run its natural course. And then we ordinary folk just pick up the pieces and start again," Robin added quietly, watching the quiet slightly semi-chaotic scene in front of him, of people running here and there, PADDs passing hands, communications clattering with incoming messages and requests.

"Someone though wants things disunited!" the cameraman observed; pointing to where FNN reporter S. Copper was being forcibly removed by Starfleet Security, yet again. The man's strident voice ringing out over the busy scene, yet the clarity of his angry words was lost in the general melee of noise in the area. It was clear to his fellow reporters that he was now showing his true colours, and they did not like what saw.

"Trouble with a capital Tee!" noted Zach, his experience in the business, telling in his tone.

'Especially for one missing person.' Robin thought to himself.

=/\=

NB: Another chapter done. I wonder if you thought by the title someone would be returning! Let me know what you think - Reviews welcomed - Thank you.