Nine Months – Voyager 6
By Kudara
Disclaimer: Star Trek Voyager and all who sail in her belong to Paramount/Viacom and no infringement of copyright/trade marks is intended.
Note: The Naval Hymn was first written as a poem in 1860 by William Whiting, the melody was published in 1861 by Rev. John Bacchus Dykes. It is currently used by several Navies around the world, including the British Navy, the United States Navy, the Canadian Navy, the Australian Navy and probably many others.
Rating: Mature
Feedback: Always welcome, feedback is what encourages me to keep writing. Please let me know what you like and what you dislike about the story.
Revision History: 01/10/06; minor revision 01/05/07
Summary: Voyager leaves the Delta Quadrant through the Ilanar wormhole.
Chapter 45 - Stardate: 53025.55 (Jan 10, 2376 8:30 am)
Voyager's sensors had detected the formation of the wormhole 6 light years away the previous day, and had received confirmation from the Artemis that the Ilanar were responsible. Elizabeth had told Kathryn Janeway that the wormhole would be formed too far away for them to determine how it was created, and she had been correct. Their sensor data included nothing that would indicate how the Ilanar had managed to create the wormhole.
Now they were 300 million kilometers away from the wormhole entrance waiting for the probe they had just sent into the wormhole to exit and send data back. The Artemis had traveled with them, and was currently at station keeping two hundred thousand kilometers from Voyager.
"Captain, the probe has exited the far side of the wormhole, receiving telemetry data now." Kim informed her. She hid a grin, if Harry sounded any more intense she would have to look back to see if he was vibrating with excitement yet.
"Captain," his voice sounded awed, and she just had to turn around to meet his dark eyed gaze, "The probe is 10 light years from Wolf 494, and 17 light years from Earth."
"I guess when the Ilanar said near Earth they meant it," commented Chakotay with a grin.
"And, Captain," Ensign Kim continued his voice awed, "I'm picking up a Starfleet vessel," he paused staring at his board then looked up at her wide eyed, "it's the Enterprise."
Janeway whipped around and stared at the screen intently, "Can you contact them?"
"Attempting to now," Harry bent over his console working feverishly.
The view screen showed static for a few seconds then finally cleared. Janeway immediately recognized the features of the man standing in the middle of the Galaxy class bridge. "Captain Picard," she paused a moment controlling her voice, "it's so very good to see you."
"There's a bit of a time delay Captain," Kim advised her, "Three point two seconds."
"Captain Janeway," Picard smiled, "It seems you found your own way home." His smile faltered, "Do you have any information about this wormhole; my officers suspect it's not naturally formed."
"It isn't, an advanced race called the Ilanar created it for us. We weren't permitted to witness its creation though; they have their own version of the Prime Directive that forbids it." Captain Janeway informed him.
"Captain," Kim interrupted quietly, "The Artemis is contacting us." He frowned at his board, "And the Enterprise just sent their own probe through. I'll try and patch the two probes together it should help cut down the time delay."
Captain Janeway waited impatiently until Kim looked up and nodded to her. "Can you patch in the Artemis?" she asked.
"Yes, Captain," he answered.
Janeway turned around and looked at the screen as it split and now showed both the bridge of the Enterprise and the Artemis. "Governor Elizabeth Janeway, we have a communications link with a Starfleet vessel at the other end of the wormhole, this is Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Enterprise."
Elizabeth grinned, "Well I'm glad to see that name carried on, I was aboard the Enterprise in 2001 when she was an aircraft carrier."
Captain Janeway noticed Picard giving Elizabeth a frowning look, "Captain Picard, meet Governor Janeway a rather distant cousin of mine, formerly Colonel Elizabeth Janeway of the United States Marine Corps."
Picard's eyes widened slightly as he absorbed the information, "Pleased to meet you Governor Janeway." He greeted her in his cultured voice.
Elizabeth nodded, "Captain Janeway, Reverend Scott has arranged for a proper send off for you, do you have an estimated time for your departure?"
"We're ready to go now actually, we hadn't expected to contact Starfleet so soon." Captain Janeway answered, wondering what was going on.
"Well then I'll let her know," Elizabeth drawled with a grin, she nodded to someone off to the side.
Janeway waited puzzled for a few minutes, until Elizabeth Scott wearing her ministerial robes walked onto the bridge followed by members of the new Defense Force in dress uniform, including white gloves. Seven and B'Elanna were among them, and with amusement she noticed when Seven saw who else was in the communications link with them. Though she couldn't hear her, she would swear that the former Borg mouthed, Locutus, before focusing her attention back on Elizabeth Scott. The group of women arranged themselves into a small arch around the diminutive woman, and held up what looked suspiciously like old paper choir books.
"Mr. Kim patch this through to the entire ship," Janeway whispered urgently, suspecting what was about to happen.
Reverend Scott addressed her, "Captain Janeway and the crew of Voyager, though you do not sail upon the sea this day, there is a hymn that was in our time traditionally sung for those embarking on a journey," she turned back around to face the other women. She paused for a moment making sure she had their attention then she lifted her arms and began to direct them.
Eternal Father,
strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who
bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh,
hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
O Christ! Whose
voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who
walked'st on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage didst
sleep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on
the sea!
Most Holy
Spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid
its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh,
hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
O Trinity of
love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From
rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they
go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from
land and sea.
The last notes died away and Reverend Scott turned around to face the screen, "May our Eternal Creator watch over you and your crew, Captain Janeway."
"Thank you Reverend Scott," she responded.
"You are not accompanying Voyager through the wormhole Governor Janeway?" inquired Picard, his dark eyes searching.
"No Captain Picard, we have a planet to colonize," Elizabeth responded.
"I'm certain Starfleet and the Federation would be very interested in meeting you," he assured her.
Elizabeth grinned, "I'm sure they would, but the decision's already been made; only Voyager will be traveling through that wormhole today." Elizabeth glanced over at something then back to the screen, "Captain Janeway, the Ilanar have asked that you complete transit of the wormhole in one hour, they need to close it as soon as possible."
Janeway nodded, "I understand, and please thank them for us again."
Elizabeth just nodded; she had passed on several thanks from Voyager already.
She took a deep breath, "Mr. Paris, take us in," Janeway ordered.
"God bless and God speed, Voyager," Elizabeth wished them.
"Good luck, Artemis," she returned it, taking one last look at B'Elanna Torres and Seven of Nine, no Seven Hansen now, standing at attention behind Reverend Scott in their new uniforms. After the wedding she had understood better why the two women had not wanted to come back to Voyager. Seven was more than accepted by her fellow former captives, she was one of them, and had made several close friends there. No one stared at her implants, or whispered about her behind her back, or told her that she should have remained lost.
The last when Neelix had told her about it a few days later had first infuriated her then the anger had drained away and defeat set in. She knew that between her own behavior at the meeting, and those crewmembers hateful words Voyager had lost. Lost the two women to the love they had found in one another, and the acceptance they had in their new community.
Five minutes later after a slightly bumpy ride Voyager exited the far end of the wormhole. Filling their view screen were the stars of the Alpha Quadrant and the Galaxy class Federation Starship Enterprise.
"Communication from the Enterprise, Captain," Kim almost sang in his excitement.
"Put it through Ensign Kim," she ordered huskily.
Picard was smiling warmly, "Let me be the first to say… Welcome home, Voyager."