"Janeway to Be'Lanna"

"Go ahead Captain"

"Can you tell me the status of the auxiliary core?"

"As far as I know it is still in storage in the auxiliary core room since it was damaged from the Care Taker Array."

"Can you repair it?"

"Well yes, but I'm afraid we just don't have enough fuel for 2 warp cores Captain."

"We just re-fueled the entire ship!"

"Yes, but Captain, we only re-fueled only for the shuttles, the power plant, and the primary warp core. We just don't have enough Dilithium, and anti-hydrogen to fuel the auxiliary core."

"Start repairing its systems, I'll find the fuel some where, even if we have to go back to Jona."

"Aye Captain, I'll have the complete damage report, and projected systems boost by Staff Meeting tomorrow."

"Acknowledged"

Captain Janeway contemplates where she is going to get the fuel to power the additional core. She decides its time to go visit Seven of Nine about the Astrometrics scans.

"Captain, is there a problem?"

"Not at all Seven, I was just wondering if there was a place up ahead where we could re-fuel the ship?"

"I was under the impression that we re-fueled at Jona."

"We did, however we are going to be bringing the auxiliary core online."

"Indeed. There is a Class 10 nebula 4 light years ahead and off our current course. I believe it should supply us with enough fuel for the auxiliary core."

"Excellent Seven, start mapping the nebula for the highest concentration of what we need. We just might make it out of this alive Seven."

"I believe we will Captain."

Janeway said here goodbyes to Seven and made her way to the Bridge.

"Current status?" said Janeway as she walked out of the turbo lift.

"We will be at the edge of the Borg activity in just over a week. As far as the ship, we are just as good as we were, I believe, 20 minutes ago Captain." Said the 1st officer.

"Of course, but you can't blame me for worrying."

"Absolutely not, I believe it is called Captain's Prerogative."

"Is that so. I have an assignment for you."

"And what would that be?"

"Your going to take over OPS for Ensign Kim."

"And where might I ask is Ensign Kim going?"

"He is going to assist Be'Lanna in Engineering. We're bringing the auxiliary core back online."

"If I recall correctly, the auxiliary core was damaged by the Care Taker. And was badly enough damaged that we decided not to take it on with our resources."

"Yes, that is correct. However, with the assistance of Jona, the ship has just about as many resources as before we left the Alpha Quadrant. Be'Lanna is preparing teams, and Seven is mapping a nearby nebula for additional resources for fueling it."

"Sounds like a plan."

"Yes, it is, and it is also a plan in motion. Mr. Kim, report to Engineering, your going to assist Be'Lanna with the auxiliary core. Mr. Chakotay, report to your newly assigned duty station."

"Aye Ma'am." Said the young Ensign as he walked off the Bridge onto his awaiting turbo lift.

"You just like ordering people around don't you?" said the playful 1st officer.

"I believe you called it "Captain's Prerogative", if I'm not mistaken."

With a quick flirting smile the man named Chakotay left his chair by the Captain to take position at the OPS station.

It is about 6:45 and the Computer is calling for Be'Lanna to wake up.

"It is 06:45. It is 06:45. It is."

"Alright, I'm up."

Tom Paris walks into the room, finishing getting dressed.

"Late night, I didn't even hear you come in."

"Yeah, Harry and I stayed up late to work on the damage report for the auxiliary core. That thing is really bad off."

"Well I suppose, I mean it has been 6 years since it has been operational, think of all the battles it has gone through."

"Yeah your right. Hey its 06:50 all ready, I've got to get ready. Computer, replicate a PADD with the auxiliary core damage report loaded onto it."

"I'm going to head to the meeting now, try not to be late."

"If you quit talking to me Fly Boy, maybe I won't be."

Tom walks out and Be'Lanna hurriedly gets ready.

The time is 07:00.36 and the Captain is in the ready room waiting on Be'Lanna with all the other Senior Officers except for Harry, and obviously Be'Lanna.

"Sorry I'm late Captain, Be'Lanna/Harry and I were working late on the auxiliary core and…"said the Chief Engineer and Chief OPS officer at the same moment they both entered the Conference room from the opposite side.

"It quite all right Lieutenant, Ensign, sit. I realize your trying to do a lot in a little amount of time."

"Thank you Captain." Again the two late Senior officers were in unison.

"Be'Lanna, Harry, what is your report on the auxiliary core? And please only one of you speak." The group of people around the table laughed at the pun.

With a couple quick nods between the Engineer and the OPS officer it was decided Be'Lanna would speak, "Captain, there is about 40 percent damage to the core, it will take all my Engineers about 2 days to fix it, and about 3 days to reprogram the damned thing. But I have already managed to prepare the power grid for it, and have already set the Computer to reprogram the major systems to accept more power. Such as the shields, weapons, etc. I of course couldn't have done it with out Harry's help." With that last statement the Ensign blushed.

"Good, Seven will assist you with the reprogramming shortly. Is that understood?"

Both Seven and the Chief Engineer nodded in understanding.

"Seven what is your report on the nebula?"

"I have successfully mapped the highest concentration of the elements we need. I have also rerouted the Bussard collectors on the Delta Flyer to automatically store the elements in the cargo bay, for which I have installed containment fields. We should then be able to fill the Delta Flyers fuel tanks, and its Cargo Bay with the elements, it should take about four trips, the fourth Being to refuel the Delta Flyer itself."

"Understood, transfer the maps to the Flyer and report to Engineering with Be'Lanna when dismissed. Tom you will be piloting the Flyer, take who you need that hasn't been already drafted. I will be taking over the Conn while your away."

"Understood Captain."

"Is there any new business?" when there was no reply the Captain continued, "Dismissed."

Tom, had drafted Megan Delayney to the Flyers mission. With a brief message to and from the Captain the two set about getting the Flyer ready for take off.

"Computer, begin level 1 diagnostics of the Delta Flyer's onboard computers."

"Working. Estimated Completion in 5 minutes."

"Well aren't we in a hurry to get going?"

"Tom, we can't fool around, we have 4 trips to make, this is going to a long trip."

"So are ya saying we need to make our selves comfortable?"

"Yes, but I think I can handle my self just fine."

After the playful shot down the Helmsmen got from Megan, he immediately began working on diagnostics.

At exactly 5 minutes from when it started, the computer reported the Diagnostic results to the small crew onboard the Delta Flyer.

"Diagnostics complete, all computer systems at 100 percent."

"Okay, time for phase 2."

With a few taps of the panel in front of him, Tom booted up the shuttles computer and disconnected remote service so it could take over.

"Compute began pre flight check list."

At that the 2 began going through the Flyer's systems one by one to check for any flaws.

"Computer, what is the containment level of the Auxiliary core?"

"Containment levels at 40 percent"

"Well at least were making some progress. Although it has taken us hours." Harry, Be'Lanna, and Seven had been working on repairing the aux. core for 10 hours. They had only been able to prep. the core for emergency startup, they needed to know more about the damage.

"Harry, try and see if you can locate any damaged power relays." Said Be'Lanna

"Hold on a moment, I need to run power to them," for a moment he worked the core control panel, rerouting power to the containment field power relays, "Okay, got it, the computer has prepared a list of the damaged relays."

"Load it to a PADD, we will need to fix them before we can ever hope to bring the core online."

Ensign Kim replicated several PADDS and Be'Lanna had people, including themselves, get to work replacing the damaged relays.

It took only a few minutes to travel to the nebula, because it was only 4 light years, but it took hours to collect the elements from the complete mixture of gases. Tom was piloting the vessel in swift motions trying to keep the Delta Flyer in the most dense areas.

"Lieutenant, how are those tanks coming along?"

"They are at 99 percent capacity, give us about 30 seconds more then turn about and head for Voyager."

"Understood, setting program in now. Tom out."

For 30 seconds the Flyer continued on its swooping course, then with perfect timing, on it next swoop it came all the way about and headed at full impulse to the edge of the nebula, where it will engage warp 5 until it reaches Voyager.

"Lieutenant Be'Lanna, I believe we have completed the list." Said Seven of Nine, hating the way this precious time was being wasted.

"Alright, we'll bring it online. Harry, reroute power to the containment systems."

"Doing so now, containment is online. Computer, load 100 kilos of matter and anti-matter in the auxiliary core tanks."

"Load complete"

"Okay Be'Lanna, we're ready."

"Okay people we need to do this carefully, if it starts to breech I want it ejected immediately. We may have repaired it, but it could still blow this ship sky high."

With a touch of the controls Be'Lanna initiated the core start up and the computer said so over the speakers.

"Magnetic Constrictors online, Preparing injectors, Dilithium is loaded, Bringing core to the start up temperature. Core is ready for reactions."

"Okay here goes nothin'. Computer bring core reactions to threshold."

"Start reactions. 3 seconds until threshold. Threshold achieved."

"Okay, Be'Lanna, it powering its containment system. All systems check." Came from the Ensign usually appointed to OPS who was carefully monitoring the cores condition.

"I have finished updating the cores control program. It is now automatically controlled by the computer of the main core. The synchronization program has already been set."

"Good, unfortunately we can't bring the core to full capacity until Tom gets back with the additional fuel."

"Paris to Voyager"

"Go ahead Tom"

"We've got the fuel, ready to offload"

"One moment, I need Be'Lanna"

"Okay Captain"

"Bridge to Engineering"

"Torres here Captain"

"Be'Lanna, Tom is back with the fuel, how should we proceed to take it off his hands?"

"Scans say we can't safely transport the material, so tell him to release it in front of the Bussard collectors. We should be able to bring it safely onboard that way."

"Understood Bridge out. Tom, Be'Lanna says to release the fuel in front of the Bussard collectors and let them do the hard work for us."

"Understood. Reversing collection system. Captain I've started venting the fuel directly into the primary Bussard tank, moving into position."

As Tom moved on top of and directly behind its saucer section, he vented the fuel directly into the starship's Bussard collectors.

"We're getting it Tom, finish venting and continue with you mission."

"Understood Captain"

For about five minutes more Delta Flyer spewed the orange colored gas from its nacelles while Voyager took it in.

"Torres to Bridge"

"Go ahead"

"We've taken as much as we're going to from this batch, permission to begin refining for use?"

"Granted"

"Also have Tuvok scan for large concentrations that might not have gotten into the collectors. The helmsman on duty should be able to adjust the ship to get them"

"Understood. Janeway out. Tuvok?"

"No Captain, there are no such concentrations at this time"

"Computer, what is the status of the Bussard tanks?"

"The Tanks are at 90 percent"

"Computer divert the gas in the tanks to the refiners"

"Refining in progress, estimated 1 hour till completion"

"Acknowledged"

For the next few hours that was the process for the crew. Tom and Megan we're relieved when Be'Lanna increased the required trips to 7. And the crew began taking shifts collecting the gas. When the computer was finally done refining all the collected fuel Captain Janeway was called to the Auxiliary control room.

"Okay, Be'Lanna, are you ready to bring the core online?"

"Yes, we did have to shut it down to keep it from using any of the main cores fuel, however, now that its fuel tanks are complete we can bring it back online."

"Proceed"

"Computer, activate constrictors."

"Constrictors online"

"Computer bring the core to the threshold"

"Auxiliary and Main core are being brought to threshold levels."

"Be'Lanna, I thought it was just the aux core that was offline."

"The computer just needs the two cores to be at the same level for auto-sync operations."

"Understood, continue."

"Computer, core report"

"Constrictors and containment at 100 percent, reaction levels at threshold."

"Computer, bring the reactions up to 30 percent and rise to 100 percent, adjusting for the synchronization program."

"Cores at 30 percent, 45 percent, 67 percent, 80 percent, 95 percent, 100 percent, 110 percent. Core stabilised to 100 percent."

"Computer what are the maximum efficiency levels for the cores?"

"The main core upper limit is 167 percent, the auxiliary core upper limit is 120 percent, and the combined cores produce 260 percent as their upper limit."

"Amazing, Be'Lanna, is there any way we can start utilizing that extra power?"

"Seven"

"Captain, as the cores were being brought to their conservative maximums, I was programming the power network to accept the additional power when the order is given to boost power."

"What are the new specs then?"

"Theoretically we could achieve warp 9.9999, however, it will take a month of adjustments to the ship to achieve said speeds."

"How is it that Starfleet over looked such information?"

"Captain, if I may, Starfleet does not contain a former drone, such as my self, that has been assisting Chief Engineer Torres with Borg modifications to the engines."

"She's right Captain, normally 260 would be way over the combined upper limits, and even if they did get their without breaching the cores it would overload the power network. Only Sevens modifications to the programming and the adapted Borg technology I have installed all over the ship."

"I guess I never realized how much of an asset the both of you are to the ship."

"Captain, I believe I speak for Be'Lanna as well when I say, we'll take that as a compliment."

"As you should Seven"

"Now I have the tough decision of deciding weather to have you two modify the ship for transwarp, or continue through the Borg activity," after a brief pause, she continues with, "Staff meeting in 20 minutes."

Janeway walks out the auxiliary core room, through the main core room, and into a turbo lift headed for her ready room.