Chapter Six
Cowboy Diplomacy
As Janeway prepares to throw her career away for one little adventure, Starfleet gets a message that the Enterprise has been attacked. Tuvok is with her on the way to mothballs near the dark side of the moon. Crusher, O'Brien, and the Doctor are already they're waiting to gain access to Voyager.
The glorious ship sits in the holding area it has been in since Voyager returned. It still has all of the Borg modifications that they had made over the years in the Delta quadrant. Some of the systems have been taken apart to see how the Starfleet and Borg technology worked so well together.
As the two doctors and an engineer wait by the access door to Voyager, son security guards walk up and ask what they are doing. The come up with some story that Admiral Janeway is going to give them a tour of the ship and reminisce about all the good times they had. The guards leave but are suspicious.
The turbo lift doors open and out walks, the admiral and the Vulcan.
"Are we ready to do this?" the admiral asks.
"We're as ready as we'll ever be. Let's just get this over. After all none of us will be allowed on a starship again." Crusher replies.
"That suits me, I like Earth anyway. No wars, no systems to fix. Retirement can be enjoyable as long as we have something to enjoy." O'Brien adds.
"While I don't have your enthusiasm I'll join follow your orders, Admiral." Tuvok responds.
As the rouge crew goes aboard, they think that they are home free. Little do they know that someone has tipped off the authorities? The main turbo-lift doors open and the bridge is quiet except for one station near ops. Tuvok goes over and bring the ship to life. O'Brien takes the engineering station. The Doctor takes the astrometrics station behind the command chairs. And Janeway and Crusher take the command canter.
"Preparing to release moorings and powering thrusters, Admiral." Informs Tuvok.
"Thank you, Commander. One quarter impulse power." Janeway commands.
On hearing the comm. trying to contact them, Crusher goes to the security station and says, "The base commander orders us to surrender this vessel."
"Put them on audio only." Janeway asks.
"This is Captain Jefferson. I order whoever is stealing Voyager to cease and desist. We will fire a warning shot if you don't."
"This is Admiral Kathryn Janeway, former commander of this ship. I just thought of taking her out for a little joyride. After all, we don't have very much excitement these days. I promise I'll bring her back in one piece."
"Admiral, we order you to contact Starfleet command. We knew you might do something like this. They have instructions for you."
Puzzled by their response to their blatant disregard for chain of command, she agrees.
"Open a frequency." The admiral says.
"Already open Admiral." Crusher responds.
"This is Starfleet command. We knew you were up to something by recruiting some former officers of the Enterprise." Crusher and O'Brien look at each other and smile. "Since you have them all working together, perhaps you would like to undertake a mission. We have lost contact with the Enterprise. We need your crew to find them. There isn't anyone with your experience or authority to respond to this mission. We'll supply you with a skeleton crew to maintain Voyager. What is your response?"
Without even thinking Janeway responds, "We'll take it. What was their last known position?"
"All of that information will be provided by your new crew members. We can't risk telling that information over subspace."
"Very well. Janeway out."
As the crew embarks on their mission, they are shocked that they were even considered. But their shock is quickly turned for the concern of the crew of the Enterprise. What or why are they out of contact with Starfleet?
"It looks like we have a job to do." The Doctor observes.
"That we do, Doctor. That we surely do." Crusher responds.
While the new crewmembers beam aboard, they learn that Enterprise was last seen in the Romulan neutral zone. The head there as soon as everyone is aboard.
"Lieutenant, set course for the Enterprise, warp 9." Janeway commands.
And Voyager goes on what could be its very last mission. This also could be the very last mission for some of the people aboard.