Chapter 2 Remembrance
At 0700 Captain Amanda Janeway heard her alarm sound.
"It is way too early for this," she said as she sat up out of bed and looked at the crumpled sheets.
Just like high school again. Just be thankful it isn't 0530.
She got a hold of herself and got out of bed. Going to her bathroom she looked in the mirror.
I look just like my mom.
She was going through her memories again.
She was a great person. She'd be so proud.
She thought about how her mom had been captain of another StarFleet ship, the U.S.S Voyager. Captain Kathryn Janeway, her crew stuck out in the middle of the delta quadrant for 7 years with not much hope for a return home.
I bet she's watching me now.
She thought to herself. Her mother had died doing what she had always wanted. When Amanda first met her mother she was only 12 years old.
It was right after Voyager had gotten back form the delta quadrant. She got a hold of herself again and decided to get ready. Janeway took a quick 15-minute shower like usual and headed for the closet to get a uniform. She got dressed and by 0745 she was off to her ready room.
In the mess hall sat Lieutenant Amber Collinsworth and Ensign Melinda Johnson, two of Janeway's most trusted bridge officers.
"Wonder what the captain plans for today," Johnson asked.
"I'm not sure," answered Collinsworth.
"You should. You DO work on the bridge and all that," Johnson finished as she saw the captain walk in.
"Morning captain," said Lt. Collinsworth
"Good morning ma'am," said Johnson.
"Good morning Ember, Morning Ensign," Janeway said.
She walked back to the galley and saw her Bolian friend cooking scrambled eggs for breakfast.
"Morning Eyvan," she said.
"Ah! Captain how are you this morning?" he asked cheerfully
"Good, yourself?" she asked
"Fine," he replied.
"Regular morning tradition as usual today?" he asked
"Yes, as always," and he handed her a steaming cup of black coffee and she headed for the bridge.
"Captain, good to see you this morning," said her trusty first officer Jonathan Emerstein.
"Good morning Jon, how are you today?" she asked politely.
"Good, you?" he said
"Just fine," she replied.
As they conversed for a few minutes she then observed her operations officer and Conn. officer walk onto the bridge.
"Captain, we're receiving a hail from the Saturn," said Collinsworth.
"Put it through to my ready room and I'll take it there" said Janeway.
"Yes, ma'am," the officer said.
As Janeway entered her ready room a very familiar face showed up on the screen.
"Ah, my friend. We meet again," she laughed quietly
"Hey Amanda, how are you this morning?" said Captain Haley.
"Just fine Xander, how are you?" she asked.
"Oh, you know the usual. I got some more information about this new ship we've been discussing lately," he told her.
"Really? How much info did you get from Ryan?" she said.
"Not a whole lot. But he told me something I don't think you knew. You are sitting down right?" he looked at her with all seriousness.
"Yes, why?" She asked very curiously.
"Because what I'm going to tell you is going to most likely shock the hell out of you," he responded.
"Xander, just get it over with before next year ok?" she laughed.
He looked at her again and said
"It's an Ambassador class star ship and a Intrepid class star ship mixed together named the U.S.S Renegade Star and her captain is…well, like I said, you might want to be sitting down for this,"
She looked a little annoyed.
"I am Xander," she replied
"Okay good because... Ashley is the captain,"
A completely shocked and disturbed look came to her face.
"Oh my god…" She exclaimed. "How in God's green Earth did she ever get a command?"
Haley looked at her.
"I have NO idea, but its sort of scary," They both laughed
"Yeah, it kind of is in a way. You only got that much information from Ryan?" she asked.
"Yeah, unfortunately," he said
"If you want, you can talk to him yourself," he said,
"Maybe I will call him. You know, just to say hello," Janeway said,
"Yeah, he still cares about you, you know," Haley said
"I know Xander, I know. Well, I think I'm going to call him in a little while. How many other captains know about this?" she asked
"Not many. I think that you and I are really the only ones. Maybe it's because we've got connections," he said lightly
"Maybe," she replied.
"Well, I've got to get back to ships business. Talk with you later. Captain Haley out."
The transmission ended.
Janeway sat in her chair, lost in thought again.
Oh my god what is the galaxy going to do now? She thought.
What am I going to say to Ryan when I talk to him?
"Hey Ryan, how are you? Got a new girlfriend?"
No, I can't let myself get caught up in him again. That's what got me in trouble last time. Not trouble, heartbroken. We're too different for each other. Face it Amanda, it's over.
She tried to keep herself from getting emotional and got back to business.
"Computer, open a channel to Admiral Everson on Earth," She said
"Affirmative Captain," said the computer.
Not two minutes later an old lover came upon the screen.
"Manda! Hey it's so good to see you again," Said the Admiral
"How are you today? How have you been?" he said to her
"I'm fine. You?" she asked him
"I'm pretty good. How's your crew? I'm sure they're good. They've got the best captain in the fleet."
She blushed a bit.
"Yeah, whatever you say Ryan," they both laughed together.
"I miss Earth, I miss you too," she said to him
"Yeah same here," the Admiral said. "You and Xander both, believe it or not!" he laughed. "You'll be ok though. Trust me, I know how you both feel. You get use to it," he said trying to reassure her.
"Yeah, I believe you. Don't worry. Well, speaking of my crew, I'd better get back to them. Hope to talk to you again soon. Love you. Captain Janeway out,"
As the screen went blank, Ryan couldn't help but think to himself.
Why? Why did I ever let her go like this? I should be protecting her, not letting her nearly get herself killed. But then again, if she knew my secret…she'd never speak to me again.
As he brought himself back to reality, he heard his secretary come over the Comm. to say
"Sir, I'm receiving a transmission from SFC headquarters. Admiral Lehman says she needs to see you in her office immediately," said the secretary.
"Tell her I'm on my way Ensign. Thank you," Everson said
"Yes, sir," said the Ensign.
With that on his mind along with Amanda, he headed to Admiral Heather Lehman's office.
Admiral Heather Lehman sat in her office wondering about this new vessel.
I wonder if Star Fleet is going to hold a big celebration for this "new" star ship.
She tried to keep from admitting it but she was a bit jealous of Captain Ashley Torres.
She doesn't deserve to be captain. I came up with the idea for this new ship. I should fly it out, not her.
She kept thinking to herself until she heard her door beep.
"Come in," she said.
When the door opened she saw Admiral Everson standing in the doorway.
"Hello Ryan. How are you today?" She asked.
"I'm good. You?" he asked,
"I'm fine. Your probably wondering why I called you here, right?" she said,
"Yes, actually I am. What's going on? Does this call have to do with the new star ship?" Everson said.
"Yes Ryan, it does. We found out that on this new star ship there will be a crew of about 750 people. I also know that Captain Torres will be the ship's CO. To tell you the truth that kind of disgusts me to the core. I have respect for her, but she doesn't have the experience of space like you and I do, or even Amanda. I don't believe it's fair Ryan." She explained.
"Well Heather, you know what I'm going to say. That would be to…" she cut him off to say
"You're an Admiral, tell Star Fleet yourself, I know Ryan, but I can't just go to SFC and say "Ok, Captain Torres isn't qualified for this command, take her off this mission and out of her rank"! I just can't do that. It's not right no matter what my feelings tell me." She finished
"You agree with me don't you Ryan?" he looked at his old friend.
"Yes, I do agree. But we've somehow got to stop her mistakes before she makes them. The Federation is already starting to fall apart and if we don't do something quick, there won't be any Federation. Look, Ash is my friend, but I don't think she's had the proper training to do this. We have to figure out what we can do to help her before the ship launches. Look, she's a good person and she means well. You know that," he said.
"Yeah Ryan, I know that but you don't seem to understand the tenacity of this. The Federation is supposed to start trade negations with a species called the
Tramullians. They are a very polite species, but it may be hard to come to terms with them because of the fact that they have just come out of a devastating situation with the Borg. You've got to get Amanda and Xander to help us on this too. This will probably be our biggest diplomatic situation ever. I need your help. I know you care for Amanda, but she's a damn good captain and a fine officer just like her mother was. She needs a chance to get her revenge and discover her destiny. Xander needs to work with you guys because he's the only one who really knows the Borg out of the four of us." She said.
Ryan replied, " Alright, we'll do this. I'll get my ship ready and we'll head out in two days,"
"Understood." said Lehman.
"You'd better call Amanda and Xander because they are going to need to meet us at least half way," she said,
"Alright, then it's a done deal. Talk to the other Admirals and tell them our plan. Two days Heather, Two then we're out of here. Understood?" he said
"Understood SIR!" she mocked.
They laughed has he left and headed for the shipyard.