STAR TREK: Where No One Has Gone Before
"The (Mis)Adventures of January McKenna"
By Michael D. Garcia

Disclaimer

STAR TREK(R) and all related trademarks and copyrights used by this game are the property of Paramount Pictures Corporation. This work of fanfiction is intended for non - profit and entertainment purposes only and is in no way assuming intellectual property for any previously registered trademarks and copyrights. This disclaimer is pursuant to US Copyright Law (Chapter 1, Section 107 and Chapter 1, Section 117). The following is a derivative work that is my only claimant. Thank you for not suing me! :)

Foreword

This series of chapters were originally written for the online role-playing game "Where No One Has Gone Before." This story is the culmination of the hypothesis, what would have happened if the crew of the Enterprise-D failed to stop the single Borg Cube at Sector 001 in the second part of "The Best of Both Worlds?" As a result, we made an entire RPG around that theme. Needless to say, this is very much an alternate universe Trek. I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter Ten (Final Chapter)
not with a bang, but a whimper*
*with apologies to E. E. Cummings.

Following the victory at the Battle of Cirrius Prime, it was made known to the public that Chancellor K'mpec passed away. He had passed while listening to the tactical frequency communications traffic between the fleet, and it was as close to dying in battle that he could come. The new leader of the Alliance High council was already in line for the choosing. In the dawn of the year of 2368, Gowron, an ambitious and young Klingon man, ascended to power through the rites that Klingon tradition demanded. With the new Chancellor reveling in the glory of victorious combat, he made his first public appearance in his new capacity and delivered a speech to the citizens of the Galaxy Alliance.
While the battle had been won, the war was not yet over. The victory at Cirrius Prime appeared to be a reminder to those serving that it was possible to make a stand against the Borg and survive. The fleet of the twenty remaining warbirds would be spread through the reaches of the Galaxy Alliance, many of them used as fleet flagships. They were more than ships; they were symbols. For the lack of a flag flying, they were the ensigns by which Starfleet rallied behind in the course of the war. But by the time the war ended over three years later, only three of them would survive.
The Pride of Qo'noS fell at the engagement near the border of the Borg Hot Zone (BHZ) closest to the Narendra side in 2370. Defending Starbase 818, it was leading the engagement against two cubes and assorted support vessels. Due to the overwhelming nature of the attack, the Borg destroyed the Pride and the starbase. Rear Admiral Ross was among the dead, as was several of the original members of the crew that fought at Cirrius Prime. However, none of the senior officers were aboard her at that time. For January McKenna, Sten, Norman Yamaguchi, and Thomas Donner would all find their fates in very different circumstances.

Norm smiled to himself, satisfied with having made his decision. The door to the captain's ready room on the bridge of the Pride of Qo'noS slid aside to admit him, and he entered. "My apologies," he started, "I can come back later if you're busy, sir."
January was grateful for the distraction, "Not at all. Have a seat." She proffered the chair in front of her desk, rising from hers to get herself a drink. "Can I offer you some coffee?"
"Uh, no, thanks, sir. I had actually not planned on staying too long," he admitted, the smile now gone from his face as he realized the dilemma of trying to break the news to her.
The captain gave a slight shrugs as she requested a mug of coffee from her personal replicator and returned to her seat. "What's up?" she asked, expressing her curiosity.
"I have a request to make of you, sir."
"Let's hear it," she replied, looking for the packet of sweetener to upend into her mug.
Yamaguchi shifted in his seat, and after going through several versions of his request in his mind, he decided to be as direct as possible. "I would like to transfer to a marine division, Captain."
She looked up at him suddenly, unable to believe her ears, "I beg your pardon?"
"I would like to transfer to a marine division," he repeated, trying not to sound too belligerent.
"You mean to the marine division aboard ship?"
"No, sir. To the Iwo Jima." There, it was all said, now. He looked at his captain, waiting for her response.
Lieutenant Commander McKenna frowned. "I see. May I ask why you've decided to request this transfer?"
It was the question he had been waiting to answer. This was the one topic he had realized in the middle of the battle, taking orders on the bridge, growing furious with his ability to be with his friends on the Borg cube, setting the charges, risking their lives in a more real capacity than the safety and comfort of a starship bridge. He wanted to tell you exactly what he thought of her as an officer, and why he very nearly relieved her of command, had Sten not intervened. There was no more respect for her within him. He needed to be somewhere else, as soon as possible.
Watching her peer at him, though, he felt that need to be so cruelly honest fading away. What good would it do either of them to lay it out on the line? With her recent choice to hide in her ready room, it was probably her way of doing penance for letting her personal emotions overrule her duty to the ship in such a public fashion. She had not been seen sitting in the center seat since Cirrius Prime, and that was over a week ago. For all intents and purposes, it appeared that Sten was the de facto captain. Though Norman had intruded upon her ready room easily, he was the first officer besides Sten to see her for more than a few minutes, in the corridors below deck, or on her way to the bridge or her quarters.
"I would like to be as useful as possible to Starfleet, sir," he finally decided to say, averting his eyes for fear of being seen through. "My friend Nancy is extending an invitation to join her battalion."
McKenna understood, "I see no reason why not, Captain. Have Sten send the order to me, and I'll sign it and transmit it to the Bureau as fast as subspace will carry it." She smiled, believing he was just wanting to be near Nancy. "I wish you the very best, Norman." She stood from her chair, extending a hand out to shake his.
This was yet another moment he envisioned, swearing to himself that when the time came to shake her hand, he would simply turn his back on her. Yet again, he did not have it in his heart to be that disrespectful. Instead, of reached out with his own, shook her hand a couple of times before releasing it and returning her best wishes with a few of his own.
He parted company with January McKenna, and put her behind him as he walked through the ready room door and into his future.

Norman Eikichi Yamaguchi decided to further his career by requesting a transfer to a marine infantry unit immediately following the engagement at Cirrius Prime. Issuing orders to the marine division for such an important boarding made him realize that his true place was in the battle with a phaser rifle in his hands, not sitting at a station on the bridge of a fleet vessel. He wanted to serve alongside his fellow marines. His transfer to the Fourth Marines earned him a promotion to major within six months, and his battalion would be the first to make planet fall on Earth three years later, when Starfleet would take it back from the Borg. For his courageous actions during the Borg war, Starfleet decorated him with several high commendations. Among which were the Silver and Bronze Stars, the Starfleet Cross, and four Purple Hearts.
When Colonel Nancy Kotobuki's husband was killed while attempting an evacuation of Bajor when Terok Nor fell, she turned back to her old friend Norman for emotional support. Eventually, the two married, and took up residence on Bajor. Nancy took time off to give birth to two children, one in 2371 and the other in 2373, but returned to the Corps as soon as she possibly could, and finally retired as a Major General at Marine Corps Headquarters on Bajor in 2384. Both of their children have plans to join Starfleet.
Brigadier General-select Norman Yamaguchi is the current barracks commander at Starfleet Academy's marine training facility on Bajor.

Thomas James Donner departed the Pride of Qo'noS less than six months later. As he and Sten spent more time in each other's company, he confessed the true nature of his emotions to her. She reacted in true Vulcan fashion, but he never gave up hope. He requested a transfer from starship duty to teach engineering courses at the new Starfleet Academy facility on Spacedock in orbit of Qo'noS. Finding the taste of combat growing stale upon his palette, he would spend the next twenty years making certain that the next generations of Starfleet officers would absorb his experiences and take that knowledge with them out to the stars.
His experiences aboard the Malinche, Berlin, and the Pride were recorded and written of in a book of accounts relating to the Borg War, published a year after Earth was retaken. The proceeds from that book were shared with him and others who contributed, and with that money he purchased a home for himself and his wife on Betazed. Professor Donner is the current head of the engineering department at the University of Betazed. They have no children, as of 2386.

Following the outburst he made to her in the engineering compartment of the Pride, she always assumed he would take it back or try to play down the magnitude of his confession. It would not be the first time it had happened, nor would it be the first time the subject person would retract his words to her. Tom Donner continued to talk to her and paid a great deal more attention to her in his off-duty hours. For months after, he would invite her to spend time with him in the holodecks, or the crew lounge. They would discuss many topics of mutual interest, and she taught him how to play Kal'Toh.
Then, it happened one evening, as they played alone within his quarters. The set was one she replicated for him, so that he would learn how to play and build his skill level up to a point of presenting a challenge to Sten.
"Sten?" Donner asked.
"Yes, Tom?"
"Where do you see yourself in twenty years?"
There was no hesitation as she kept her eyes and most of her concentration on the game. It was not beneath Tom to use a distraction tactic to try and win. However, it was never successful. "I assume I would continue to serve in Starfleet, barring any unfortunate circumstances." She picked up a metal stick and replaced it. The shape moved slightly, but not entirely.
Donner made his move after asking another question, "Aboard a starship?"
She repeated her motion with another stick. The shape changed again and she replied, "Of course."
He fell silent, feigning concentration on the game for thought on the subject he was about to broach. She wanted to serve on a starship, but he had other options presented to him. It was like that old song he once heard, does he stay or does he go? They were friends, close friends, but friends nonetheless. He cared very deeply for her, but she gave no indication of reciprocation beyond enjoying his company; as much as her training would allow her to express that enjoyment, at least. He never once regretted confessing his feelings, even in such a stressful situation as that. Tom tried to think of something else to say, another way to say what it was he needed to say.
Picking up another metal stick at random, he replaced it and said at the same time, "I've been offered a teaching position at Starfleet Academy's engineering college." The Kal'toh sphere changed into a hideous shape immediately after the stick landed and his finished his statement.
Sten fixed her gaze upon him and said, "An honorable profession. Is it what you desire?"
Tom tried not to smile under the weight of the question. There was an expressed need to tell her again what he truly desired. He gave into it. "What I desire is to be near you, Sten."
She expected that response, given his behavior since Cirrius Prime. The Vulcan woman returned her attention to the game, and asked Tom, "Is that wise?"
He snorted a little, "Probably not. My emotional state has never been wise, Sten."
The shape returned to a more healthy-looking sphere than before, as Sten made her move. "I would not presume to debate you on that point, Tom."
He was unable to hold back a chuckle. "Even though you probably don't intend to, you always put a smile on my face."
Sten did not react. Instead, she said, "It would be unwise for you to make career choices with me in mind, Tom. I am a Vulcan. I am unable to return your emotions. There would be no logic in pursuing a relationship with me, as there would be no reciprocation."
"I sincerely doubt that," Tom replied, his smile now gone. He stood up, unable to play any further. She had never openly rejected him; instead allowing him to get close to her, spend all that time with her. This was, to him, as close to a rejection as Sten would get. "You suppress your emotions, Sten, and you refuse to allow yourself to be governed by them. You still possess them."
"That may be true, however, you cannot assume that I would change who I am," Sten said, her voice the same dispassionate tone she always used with him and others. Sure, she addressed him by his first name, but that was out of respect for his desire that she do so. Had he not, he was sure she would still call him "Lieutenant," or "Mister Donner."
Tom did not face her. He spoke to the bulkhead, "I like you just the way you are." Was that a lie? Something said to convince her of his emotional state, or did he honestly believe that? He sighed, "That's not true. Sometimes, I do wish you were able to feel as freely as I do. It drives me a up a wall to look at you and feel the way I do, hoping and wishing that you would smile at me."
"You are infatuated with me," Sten concluded.
"Maybe that's it," Tom admitted. He returned to his seat, folding his arms over his midsection and thinking about the decision he had to make. "Would you answer a question for me?"
Sten nodded, "Of course, Tom."
He asked, "If I were to take the teaching position at the Academy for a few years, and if in that time, I still felt as strongly as I do now toward you, would you reconsider a more intimate relationship with me at that time?"
"Tom, I do not believe it would be wise to…"
He raised a hand, "Sten, if I was to care as deeply for you in five or ten years as I do right now, would you accept those feelings? Would you understand and maybe even, I don't know, just let me be with you?" He looked away, a blush settling on his cheeks, "Maybe for the rest of my life?"
"You are speaking of marriage?" Sten asked, her tone changing for the first time that entire evening. "Is this a proposal?"
Tom stammered, "N-Not exactly. I'm not proposing we get married. I was asking a hypothetical question, really."
"Hypothetically, then, I can only answer that it is a possibility," Sten replied.
He thought over her response, trying to figure out if there was another meaning behind it. But her tone was so level; he failed to detect any hidden messages. Tom took it at face value, "That's good enough, then. I will transfer to the Academy. Until then, may I correspond with you?"
"I would welcome your mail, Tom," she said. Gesturing toward the table, with the misshapen sphere atop it, she asked, "Now, may we finish the game?"

Sten remained aboard the Pride of Qo'noS until January left at the end of 2368, accepting the invitation to continue to serve as her executive officer aboard a new command. In 2369, Sten received a promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Commander, and had earned herself two letters of commendation from Commander McKenna for outstanding service in the line of duty. Though Sten outwardly held no affection for McKenna, it was clear to many who served under them that they had grown to being as close as friends that a Vulcan would allow.
However, their professional association came to an end when Sten was offered command of the Shutsugun-class USS Kearsarge in 2370. Following the end of the Borg War in 2371, Sten's time in grade and promotion to Commander was confirmed. She took the Kearsarge on a five-year exploration mission into the Beta Quadrant, attached to Deep Space Five. Throughout the years of the mission, Sten maintained frequent correspondence with January and Tom Donner, though the relationship between Sten and Donner grew to an intimate level despite the distance between them. She found logic in Donner's request to marry her in 2376, and upon her return to the Alpha Quadrant, she and Thomas Donner became husband and wife in the spring of 2377 on Betazed.
Captain Sten is currently the commanding officer of the Sovereign-class battlecruiser USS Aphrodite, assigned to the Rigellian Defense Fleet at Starbase 12.

The Battle of Wolf 359 Memorial Ribbon was distributed to all those who served at the Battle, or was within Starfleet at the time that the battle occurred. Most of the Borg War veterans wore it as a way to remind others of the sacrifice of so many people. Since the end of the Borg War and the beginning of this new war with the Breen, January McKenna had often visited the physical memorial that was constructed on Qo'noS in the last year of the Borg War. All of the names of her shipmates were placed underneath the heading "USS Roosevelt." Captain Sotek. Commander Granger Kim. Ensign Kimberly Dawes. She visited this list several times out of every year. Prior to each assignment since the wall was constructed, to would stand before the names and speak to them.
"Well, Captain, sir," she said, looking at Sotek's name. "They finally promoted me up, gave me a carrier. Her name is the Ark Royal; she's one of those new model Akira-class ships I told you about last time."
Jan allowed her eyes to drift down to the first officer's name. He was killed while standing over her when the bridge superstructure gave way. She always believed he saved her life. "We've got a new enemy, now. The Breen. Those helmeted people that you never really cared for, Commander. They attacked the Venture some time ago, and now the High Council's up in arms again. We're all being ordered to move out as soon as possible."
By the time her eyes moved downward to her friend's name, the operations ensign who had lent her the headband that morning before shift. January cradled the now faded headband in her hand, worn and old from years of use. "Kim…" She was unable to say anything further, her eyes welling up and her throat constricting. She coughed to try and clear her voice for use, but it was pointless to try and continue.
Reaching up with her hand, she placed the headband on her head and smoothed her hair back into a more manageable position. She brought her hand up in a salute to the list, and then activated her communications implant. "McKenna to Ark Royal. One to beam up."
Captain January A. McKenna dematerialized within the transporter beam, fading from view until it was if though she never existed in the first place.

Lieutenant Commander January A. McKenna relinquished command of the Pride of Qo'noS to accept command of the Nebula-class heavy cruiser USS Phoenix on New Year's Day, 2369. Three years after the Battle of Wolf 359, and one year after the victory at Cirrius Prime, January proved herself as a capable starship captain for over twenty years. She remained close with Sten, following her choice to pursue her career to its logical end. She lost touch with Norman after Cirrius Prime, and kept in touch with Thomas Donner from time to time.
Though she did attain the rank of Commander by the time the Borg War ended, due to a lack of time in grade as a Lieutenant, the Bureau of Personnel reduced her one grade back to Lieutenant Commander. She was relieved of command of the Phoenix and offered the opportunity to retire her commission, along with a great many officers who wished to put down their arms and return to their families. January had no other family beyond Starfleet, and elected to remain an officer. She was assigned as a staff officer on Admiral Mandukar'us' and then Admiral Sanuk's staff on Qo'noS and Spacedock for three years, until she returned back in favor with the Bureau as a Commander once more in 2374. While she worked at a desk on Spacedock, her accounts and logs were made a part of the same book that Donner collaborated on. That book was entitled Perseverance Overcomes Adversity: A Study of the Borg War. The proceeds from the successful sale of the book provided her with a comfortable account at the Intergalactic Bank; however, she declined to retire outright.
In 2377, Commander McKenna was Captain Sten's maid of honor, and it was during a conversation at the reception that January was convinced to return to active duty. Captain Sten had invited her aboard her ship as executive officer, but out of respect, January declined the offer. Instead, she reapplied for command status with Starfleet, and six months later, was assigned as the commanding officer of the Intrepid-class light cruiser Constitution and accepted a three-year mission to patrol the Alliance borders.
When the Breen attacked Beerax in 2380, and war was declared, Commander McKenna was promoted to the rank of Captain and given command of the Nadesico-class escort carrier USS Ark Royal. On Sunday, February 26, 2381, Captain January McKenna, after having given the order to abandon ship, piloted the Ark Royal into a Breen heavy cruiser in a vain attempt to prevent the Breen from capturing the Brethrax Colony. She did not survive. Posthumously, she was the recipient of the Medal of Valor for her actions in battle.