Disclaimer: Sadly we do not own any of the Voyager characters, ships, plots or universe. They belong to Paramount.

Summary: After a year of being home, Voyager's scattered crew gathers together for one last battle~ but it's not the jolly reunion one might expect… Janeway, Chakotay, Tuvok, Tom, B'Elanna, Harry, Seven…and some new characters. Enjoy!

Past Re-Visited

By Erin and Rebecca

Chapter 1:

The Athena

            "We did it."

            The armada of Starfleet ships on the viewscreen was a heavenly image. Earth was less than one light-year away. It was like a dream.

            Janeway jerked awake. Looking out the window, she saw familiar stars. After seven years in the Delta Quadrant, the homecoming seemed like a dream. Even 13 months later, Janeway would wake up thinking her dream was just that and not a memory.

            Kathryn Janeway checked the chronometer. 0700. Still an hour before duty, but she knew that she couldn't go back to sleep. Sitting up in bed, she looked around her quarters. She never understood why Captains needed as much space as she had. Her new quarters on the U.S.S. Athena were twice the size of Voyager's. Climbing out of bed and heading towards the bathroom, she noticed a picture on her desk. It was the banquet a week after Voyager's return. The whole crew, their friends and families were all there. This particular picture was of the senior staff. Tuvok, Harry Kim, Tom and B'Elanna Paris, Seven, the Doctor, Chakotay and herself. That was the last time they were all together. She hadn't even talked to most of them in the last year.

            After getting ready for duty, Captain Janeway stepped into the corridor. The halls were larger and brighter on the 24-deck ship than on Voyager. After their homecoming, Starfleet took one look at the ship, and she's been in dry-dock ever since.

* * * * *

            "Are you sure?" Janeway asked Admiral Ross.

            "Let me ask you a question, Captain," he began, "How much of the ship is its original material from her launch? How many Starfleet refits and overhauls has the ship had? How much technology is in there that our scientists and engineers have never seen?"

            Janeway didn't respond immediately. It was true. B'Elanna's engineering staff basically rebuilt the entire ship in their seven-year journey, none of which had Starfleet's support.

            Ross read the understanding expression on her face and continued with the debriefing. "Nineteen months, minimum."

            Janeway's look shot up, "How can the refit take a year and a half?"

            "Between the technology that needs to be ripped out, and replacing systems with seven years of advancements, it's going to take a while."

            "But nineteen months?!"

            "We're still trying to rebuild the fleet from the Dominion War."

            "All the more reason to have Voyager checked out and back in space again."

            Ross sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration, "Captain, I understand your loyalty and…dedication to your ship. But we've already scheduled the refit to begin as soon as your crew has cleared their belongings. Plus," he added with a grin, "We've already commissioned a fine ship for you to command as soon as you're ready to get back into space."

            Janeway froze. Another ship? She thought. She'd never even considered it.

            "The U.S.S. Athena. It's been in dry-dock for six months and we've started accepting Starfleet applications. They'll be ready for you to review in two months, when it's scheduled to launch," he paused before he finished, "if of course you accept the command."

             

            "…if of course you accept the command." The words ran through Janeway's mind as she walked the corridors of the Athena. It had taken her several weeks to come up with an answer, but obviously she had given Ross the affirmative.

            "Captain on the bridge," her first officer pronounced. Janeway nodded as she took her place and sighed. The man at her side was not Chakotay and the guy at the helm certainly wasn't Tom. In fact, of the entire Bridge crew, the one familiar face was that of her best friend, Tuvok. Despite a chance to go back to Vulcan, he decided to stand by his commanding officer until Voyager was re-commissioned.

            The Athena's a good ship, Janeway thought as she took her seat next to the first officer. I just want to get back to my home. But how much of the family will be there.

* * * * *