"Ten years and two months ago, the starship Voyager made its return from
the Delta Quadrant. Voyager brought back with it not only information on
new races and astrometric data, but also the latest in propulsion
technology. The Quantum Slipstream drive has fostered a golden era of peace
and scientific exploration unlike any the Alpha Quadrant has ever seen.
Today, I am here to introduce you to the next generation of Quantum
Slipstream technology." Admiral Kathryn Janeway hit a switch, and a large
bay window opens revealing a massive starship that is at least 900m long.
It looked like someone took the original Intrepid design and blew it up
like a balloon. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I present the Voyager-A, the first
in a line of Voyager class ships to contain the Mark-II Slipstream drive.
The original design can make a 70,000 light year journey in eight months,
the Mark-II can make the same journey in seven days." The crowd broke into
excited murmurs before a voice shouted at Kathryn.
"Admiral, Robert Starr of the Federation New Service, are all Starfleet ships going to be refitted with this drive?"
"The Mark-II requires a significantly more power than the original drive, so right now only the Enterprise-E, a Sovereign class ship, and the Voyager class ships in development will be fitted with it. In the future, other Sovereign class ships will be refitted with the drive."
"Shar'tan, Klingon News, When will we see this drive in action?"
"The Enterprise refit should be completed tomorrow, Voyager will take another week to work out all the bugs on a new ship. Both ships are schedule for a test launch in 8 days. I have no information on when the Klingons or the Romulans plan to test the drive."
"Plotek, Romulan Star News, who will command the Voyager-A?"
"I will assume command of the Voyager-A with Captain Chakotay acting as my first officer. A large number of Voyager's former crew has signed on to her." Suddenly her com badge chirped, "Admiral Paris to Admiral Janeway, I need you to return to Starfleet Command immediately, this is a priority one message. Paris out."
"I'm sorry I have to cut this short ladies and gentlemen, but duty calls. Let me introduce Dr. Sela Remor of Romulus, the architect behind the Mark- II drive. She can answer any questions you have about the drive itself."
Janeway knew that this wasn't a social call as soon as she entered the office. Waiting inside were Klingon Ambassador Worf, and Ambassador Plitan Jetal, a Romulan Ambassador. Admiral Paris entered the office and directed the three people in his office to the conference room were Admiral Hayes was waiting.
"All right everyone" said Hayes, "this morning we downloaded the following message from the MIDAS array."
The Admiral hit a button on his console and a strange voice filled the room.
"This...Patel...USS...attack from...Cube. They...apted...armor... torpedoes. The...drive...offline...our shields. We...Malon sector, coor...zero...mark two."
"Which ship did this come from?" Asked Janeway.
"The USS Venture, an Akira class ship under the command of Joanne Patel, she was under orders to head to Malon Prime, we have been unable to raise her since receiving this message."
"Cube? As in Borg Cube?" asked Paris.
"That's what we are assuming."
"I thought it was concluded that Voyager destroyed the Borg Collective. We haven't spotted as much as a sphere in the last 10 years," said Jetal.
"We need to get a ship out there. Admiral, what is the closest ship to the Malon Sector?"
"The IKS Gret'Pa is twenty days away," replied Hayes.
"We don't have that kind of time. Admiral Janeway, is Voyager-A ready for its first mission?" asked Paris.
"Honestly Admiral, no, particularly if we have to go up against the Borg, but the Enterprise will be ready to go tomorrow. She can get to the Malon sector in four days."
"All right Admiral, you and Seven of Nine will accompany the Enterprise-E."
"I will have to contact my government, they will want to send someone along," commented Worf. "As will mine," added Jetal.
"All right everyone, until we have more answers keep a lid on this, dismissed."
"You're leaving?" asked Chakotay with look of a wounded animal on his face.
"I'm so sorry Chakotay, but you know I wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't absolutely critical."
"Can you at least tell me why Starfleet is tearing you away from me?"
"You know I can't."
"Humph. I can't wait until I make Admiral, then you won't be able to keep any secrets from me. Is this a dangerous mission?"
"No more dangerous than any day in the Delta Quadrant."
"That doesn't make me feel any better. When exactly are you going on this all important mission?"
"Tomorrow at 1200."
"Then we still have one night together," said Chakotay as he drew Kathryn closer to her.
"Yes...mmmm...one night, "Kathryn mumbles as Chakotay starts on her neck, "one night...right after I go see Jean-Luc Picard," she suddenly pulled away from him.
"Ugh! You love to leave me hanging, don't you? Jean-Luc Picard, you would choose that geezer over me? Kathryn, the man doesn't even have any hair."
"I'll be back soon, I promise. I have to give the good captain his orders, oh and captain."
"Yes admiral?"
"At ease, before you sprain something."
"Geordi says that the last of the computer simulations should be done tonight. It looks the ship will be ready tomorrow," informed Commander Will Riker.
"Thank you Number One, stay for dinner Will?"
"I'm famished sir."
"I hope you like Vegetable Casserole."
"Captain, I'm curious, why is Starfleet holding off our test of the new drive for another week?"
"Its all pomp and circumstance Will, they want the Flagship and Voyager to go off together. They'll generate more publicity that way."
"I take it they think a drive that can take you to the other side of the galaxy and back in two weeks won't garner enough publicity by itself."
"Just sit tight Will, we'll get underway soon enough. By the way, did you hear that Admiral Blackwell is retiring? We've all been invited to his retirement party tomorrow."
"Blackwell, I didn't realize he was that old to begin with."
"He is younger than me, Will."
"Sir, how is it that at eighty years old, you are still going strong as captain of the flagship. Hell, I'll probably retire before you."
"Will, do you remember the mission where the Enterprise-D was destroyed?"
"How could I forget, I blew up half your ship and crashed the other half into a forest on a planet sporting a pre-warp society."
"When I was on Viridian III, I was pulled into the Nexus along with Soran when he destroyed the Viridian sun..."
"But he never destroyed the sun."
"Let me finish Will."
"In the Nexus, I met Captain Kirk, who was pulled in after saving the Enterprise-B. He gave me a piece of advice that I will never forget. He told me to never let Starfleet promote me, never to let them transfer me, or never to leave, because while I'm in command of the Enterprise, I can still make a difference."
"So in another words, I wont get a crack at the center chair anytime soon."
"You can always transfer Will, one of those Voyager class ships puts the Sovereign class to shame."
"Its tempting sir, but my home and my family are on the Enterprise."
"In that case Number One, I guess you'll just have to wait for me to kick off."
Captain Picard heard his door chime.
"Enter," he called.
In walked Admiral Janeway; at the sight of her both men began to rise.
"At ease gentlemen, I hope I'm not interrupting anything."
"No Kathryn, we were just having dinner, would you like to join us?" Asked Picard.
"No thank you Jean-Luc, I don't have much time, I came here to give you your new mission orders."
Kathryn walked over to the Captain's console and inserted a data chip and played the distress call for the two men.
"We received this from the USS Venture this morning through the MIDAS array. We have been unable to reestablish contact with her."
"Borg," Picard stated callously.
"That's what we are assuming. The closest ship to the Venture's last known position is still two weeks away; Starfleet has decided to send the Enterprise to investigate. Myself, Seven of Nine, and a representative from both the Klingons and the Romulans will join the Enterprise for this mission."
"When do we leave?" Asked Will.
"Tomorrow at 1200, assuming everything is ready to go."
"It will be," replied Picard.
"That's good to hear, good evening gentlemen." Janeway turned to leave.
"So much for Admiral Blackwell," added Riker.
"Admiral, Robert Starr of the Federation New Service, are all Starfleet ships going to be refitted with this drive?"
"The Mark-II requires a significantly more power than the original drive, so right now only the Enterprise-E, a Sovereign class ship, and the Voyager class ships in development will be fitted with it. In the future, other Sovereign class ships will be refitted with the drive."
"Shar'tan, Klingon News, When will we see this drive in action?"
"The Enterprise refit should be completed tomorrow, Voyager will take another week to work out all the bugs on a new ship. Both ships are schedule for a test launch in 8 days. I have no information on when the Klingons or the Romulans plan to test the drive."
"Plotek, Romulan Star News, who will command the Voyager-A?"
"I will assume command of the Voyager-A with Captain Chakotay acting as my first officer. A large number of Voyager's former crew has signed on to her." Suddenly her com badge chirped, "Admiral Paris to Admiral Janeway, I need you to return to Starfleet Command immediately, this is a priority one message. Paris out."
"I'm sorry I have to cut this short ladies and gentlemen, but duty calls. Let me introduce Dr. Sela Remor of Romulus, the architect behind the Mark- II drive. She can answer any questions you have about the drive itself."
Janeway knew that this wasn't a social call as soon as she entered the office. Waiting inside were Klingon Ambassador Worf, and Ambassador Plitan Jetal, a Romulan Ambassador. Admiral Paris entered the office and directed the three people in his office to the conference room were Admiral Hayes was waiting.
"All right everyone" said Hayes, "this morning we downloaded the following message from the MIDAS array."
The Admiral hit a button on his console and a strange voice filled the room.
"This...Patel...USS...attack from...Cube. They...apted...armor... torpedoes. The...drive...offline...our shields. We...Malon sector, coor...zero...mark two."
"Which ship did this come from?" Asked Janeway.
"The USS Venture, an Akira class ship under the command of Joanne Patel, she was under orders to head to Malon Prime, we have been unable to raise her since receiving this message."
"Cube? As in Borg Cube?" asked Paris.
"That's what we are assuming."
"I thought it was concluded that Voyager destroyed the Borg Collective. We haven't spotted as much as a sphere in the last 10 years," said Jetal.
"We need to get a ship out there. Admiral, what is the closest ship to the Malon Sector?"
"The IKS Gret'Pa is twenty days away," replied Hayes.
"We don't have that kind of time. Admiral Janeway, is Voyager-A ready for its first mission?" asked Paris.
"Honestly Admiral, no, particularly if we have to go up against the Borg, but the Enterprise will be ready to go tomorrow. She can get to the Malon sector in four days."
"All right Admiral, you and Seven of Nine will accompany the Enterprise-E."
"I will have to contact my government, they will want to send someone along," commented Worf. "As will mine," added Jetal.
"All right everyone, until we have more answers keep a lid on this, dismissed."
"You're leaving?" asked Chakotay with look of a wounded animal on his face.
"I'm so sorry Chakotay, but you know I wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't absolutely critical."
"Can you at least tell me why Starfleet is tearing you away from me?"
"You know I can't."
"Humph. I can't wait until I make Admiral, then you won't be able to keep any secrets from me. Is this a dangerous mission?"
"No more dangerous than any day in the Delta Quadrant."
"That doesn't make me feel any better. When exactly are you going on this all important mission?"
"Tomorrow at 1200."
"Then we still have one night together," said Chakotay as he drew Kathryn closer to her.
"Yes...mmmm...one night, "Kathryn mumbles as Chakotay starts on her neck, "one night...right after I go see Jean-Luc Picard," she suddenly pulled away from him.
"Ugh! You love to leave me hanging, don't you? Jean-Luc Picard, you would choose that geezer over me? Kathryn, the man doesn't even have any hair."
"I'll be back soon, I promise. I have to give the good captain his orders, oh and captain."
"Yes admiral?"
"At ease, before you sprain something."
"Geordi says that the last of the computer simulations should be done tonight. It looks the ship will be ready tomorrow," informed Commander Will Riker.
"Thank you Number One, stay for dinner Will?"
"I'm famished sir."
"I hope you like Vegetable Casserole."
"Captain, I'm curious, why is Starfleet holding off our test of the new drive for another week?"
"Its all pomp and circumstance Will, they want the Flagship and Voyager to go off together. They'll generate more publicity that way."
"I take it they think a drive that can take you to the other side of the galaxy and back in two weeks won't garner enough publicity by itself."
"Just sit tight Will, we'll get underway soon enough. By the way, did you hear that Admiral Blackwell is retiring? We've all been invited to his retirement party tomorrow."
"Blackwell, I didn't realize he was that old to begin with."
"He is younger than me, Will."
"Sir, how is it that at eighty years old, you are still going strong as captain of the flagship. Hell, I'll probably retire before you."
"Will, do you remember the mission where the Enterprise-D was destroyed?"
"How could I forget, I blew up half your ship and crashed the other half into a forest on a planet sporting a pre-warp society."
"When I was on Viridian III, I was pulled into the Nexus along with Soran when he destroyed the Viridian sun..."
"But he never destroyed the sun."
"Let me finish Will."
"In the Nexus, I met Captain Kirk, who was pulled in after saving the Enterprise-B. He gave me a piece of advice that I will never forget. He told me to never let Starfleet promote me, never to let them transfer me, or never to leave, because while I'm in command of the Enterprise, I can still make a difference."
"So in another words, I wont get a crack at the center chair anytime soon."
"You can always transfer Will, one of those Voyager class ships puts the Sovereign class to shame."
"Its tempting sir, but my home and my family are on the Enterprise."
"In that case Number One, I guess you'll just have to wait for me to kick off."
Captain Picard heard his door chime.
"Enter," he called.
In walked Admiral Janeway; at the sight of her both men began to rise.
"At ease gentlemen, I hope I'm not interrupting anything."
"No Kathryn, we were just having dinner, would you like to join us?" Asked Picard.
"No thank you Jean-Luc, I don't have much time, I came here to give you your new mission orders."
Kathryn walked over to the Captain's console and inserted a data chip and played the distress call for the two men.
"We received this from the USS Venture this morning through the MIDAS array. We have been unable to reestablish contact with her."
"Borg," Picard stated callously.
"That's what we are assuming. The closest ship to the Venture's last known position is still two weeks away; Starfleet has decided to send the Enterprise to investigate. Myself, Seven of Nine, and a representative from both the Klingons and the Romulans will join the Enterprise for this mission."
"When do we leave?" Asked Will.
"Tomorrow at 1200, assuming everything is ready to go."
"It will be," replied Picard.
"That's good to hear, good evening gentlemen." Janeway turned to leave.
"So much for Admiral Blackwell," added Riker.