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BEFORE THE DAWN
(PG:13)
Chapter Twelve
2378
From a window in her ready room, Kathryn looked out at the space they were traveling through. According to the information her holographic self from the future had given her, this was the region of space where the Borg transwarp hub could be found. Sensors had detected a nebula at the exact location the Admiral's information had said it would be, and Voyager was now on course for it. Apart from herself, only Chakotay, B'Elanna, Tuvok and Seven knew of the hubs existence. She had told them of a temporal infraction which had provided her with certain information, but hadn't told them of her "special visitor".
It had taken B'Elanna less than six months to create a cloak from the template provided, and for the past week the cloak had been continually in use. There were still some problems in maintaining the cloak, but so far is was holding up well, and Kathryn could only hope that it would hold until Operation Borg Transwarp Hub was complete. She had expected this region to be teaming with Borg, but not so much as one Borg cube had been detected in the past seven days. Kathryn had tried to not be unsettled by this, but now that they were only a few hours away from the nebula, she couldn't help give in to a growing fear that perhaps the hub did not exist after all.
The door chime sounded, and Kathryn called out.
"Come in."
The doors opened and Chakotay came in. Kathryn glanced at him briefly, but then looked out of the window again.
"Any sign of the Borg?"
"No," Chakotay replied. "But we are picking up what looks like wormholes within the nebula."
Kathryn turned to him at that. "Wormholes?"
"At the exact same place within the nebula that you were expecting the hub to be."
Kathryn pondered this, the reels of her mind turning. "Perhaps there is no hub," she contemplated. "Perhaps the hub was representative of something else...a cryptic message."
"Certainly a possibility."
"But if that was so," Kathryn considered further, "why provide us with information on how to create a cloak? Unless, of course, this region is inhabited by a species we can't detect..." She paused. "How long until we reach the nebula?"
"At our current speed, about two hours."
Kathryn was just about to speak when Harry's voice sounded over the comm.
"Kim to Captain Janeway. A Borg cube has just been detected leaving the nebula."
Kathryn's eyes lit up at this news. "Understood. Proceed to our destination. Janeway out."
The connection terminated and Kathryn smiled at Chakotay. "Looks like there might be a Borg Transwarp hub after all."
On the bridge's large viewscreen, Kathryn watched from her seat as Voyager entered the glowing nebula.
"Status of cloak, Mr Tuvok."
"Holding fast, Captain," the Vulcan answered.
"Alert me immediately if there is any degradation, no matter how small."
"Yes, Ma'am."
A Borg cube suddenly came into view, followed by a legion.
"Reduce speed, Mr Paris," she cried. "Evasive maneuvers."
The cubes whizzed passed them, totally oblivious to their presence, and more hovered and circled in the distance.
"We're almost upon the wormholes," Harry said from his station. "But I'm detecting something strange...some kind of Borg technology..."
Suddenly, the Borg transwarp hub came into view, sprawling across the core of the nebula like a spider.
Kathryn gazed at the hub, a million emotions stirring inside at the final confirmation that all the Admiral had told her was true, and then she glanced at Chakotay. He smiled warmly at the immeasurable joy in her eyes.
"What the hell is it?"
The words were Harry's.
Kathryn got to her feet and turned towards him. "That, Mr Kim, is a Borg transwarp hub. It contains dozens of transwarp corridors that lead all over the galaxy." She smiled, hardly able to contain her joy. "It's also going to be our ticket home." She then turned to Seven. "Seven, submit to Mr Paris co-ordinates of an aperture leading to the alpha quadrant."
Seven operated her console and sent to Tom the co-ordinates Kathryn had earlier instructed her to send.
"Co-ordinates received," Tom said.
Kathryn turned to him. "How long until we reach it?"
"Approximately ten minutes."
"Then find us a spot to park, Mr Paris, and await further instructions." She then addressed Chakotay. "Commander, you have the bridge."
Without another word, she left.
There was no one in the shuttle bay when Kathryn arrived there. Wearing her Starfleet over-coat, she made her way over to a shuttle, entered it, and pulled out the Admiral's holo-emitor from a deep pocket. As quickly as she could, she activated the device, and then put it to the floor. Seconds later, the Admiral appeared.
Kathryn smiled. "Hello again."
The Admiral looked around, absorbing her surroundings. "Has two years passed already?"
"And more," Kathryn replied. "It's 2378."
"Stardate?"
"54989.6"
"Incredible. It's only a few days later than when we were here in my timeline." She paused. "That is if here is where here should be."
"Yes," Kathryn smiled. "We're at the Borg transwarp hub...thanks to your cloak."
The Admiral smiled in return. "I knew it would work. I knew we could do this."
"And we will," Kathryn replied. "We're going to get Voyager home." She paused. "But we've never been able to maintain the cloak indefinitely. It could collapse at any moment. So, as much as I'd love to stay and chat, there just isn't time. Every second we wait around is a second closer to the Borg discovering us."
"Agreed. Just tell me what you want me to do."
Kathryn made her way over to the helm and powered up the shuttle, talking as she did so. "Once we'd got the cloak to work, we were able to apply the principle to every shuttle aswell. The cloak only seems to hold on them for about an hour, but that's more than enough time for you to do what needs to be done." She operated a console. "I'm downloading all the information we've collected on the nebula and the hub so that you're up to date." The console bleeped as download completed, and Kathryn turned to the Admiral. "Now, this is the plan. As soon as I'm back on the bridge, you'll launch this shuttle and pilot it. We'll take Voyager into the aperture, but before we go, we'll eject the warp core. After a head start of about ten seconds, you'll fire at the warp-core. The explosion generated will obliterate the hub."
The Admiral smiled. "Good plan."
Kathryn looked at her sadly. "I'm just sorry that...I'm sorry what it means for you."
"Then don't be sorry," the Admiral answered. "I'm just a hologram, an echo of a future-you who will never exist now. I came here for a specific purpose and I've fulfilled that purpose. It's time for me to desist now."
"I will never forget you," Kathryn said seriously. "If you hadn't of come then...Well, we both know what would have happened."
The Admiral nodded. "How is our Billy?"
"He's just fine," Kathryn smiled. "The image of Chakotay, you just wouldn't believe..." She reached into another deep pocket in her coat and pulled out a padd. "You can watch this while I return to the bridge. It's a video Tom took at Billy's second birthday party a few months ago."
The Admiral took the padd gratefully. "Thank you."
"Now, I'd better get back to the bridge. I'll hail you when I'm there so you can launch."
"Acknowledged."
Kathryn held out her hand. "Goodbye, Admiral. And thank you...for everything."
The Admiral took her hand and smiled warmly. "Goodbye, Captain."
The two Janeway's looked at each other for a moment, and then Kathryn left, leaving the Admiral alone.
When Kathryn was gone, the Admiral went over to the helm, sat down, and activated the padd. As soon as the screen illuminated, an image of Voyager's mess hall appeared. It was crowded and there were blue and yellow balloons hanging from the ceiling. Then the picture began to move and a gorgeous dark haired little boy with chocolate brown eyes and cute dimples came into view. He was sitting on someone's knee...Chakotay's knee...and was laughing. Happy holographic tears welled in the Admiral's eyes and slowly, tentatively, she reached out and touched Billy's smiling face through the screen.
"Report," Kathryn said when she finally returned to the bridge.
"We've parked close to the aperture," Chakotay said. "Cloak is holding."
Kathryn sat in her seat and hit her commbadge.
"Janeway to Torres."
B'Elanna's voice responded. "Go ahead, Captain."
"Prepare to eject the warp-core."
B'Elanna hesitated. "Captain?"
"I don't have time to explain, B'Elanna. At my command, eject the warp-core."
"Yes, Captain."
"Janeway out."
Kathryn then quickly operated her console as she both hailed the Admiral and authorized a shuttle launch. As she worked, she was oblivious to the anxious looks being exchanged between her bridge crew until Harry spoke.
"Did I hear you right, Captain? You're going to eject the warp-core?"
"That's right, Mr Kim."
"But why?"
"We're going to give the Borg an explosive present before we leave."
Tuvok spoke before Harry had the chance too. "I am detecting a shuttle launch."
Harry turned to him. "Shuttle? But who?"
"Automated, Mr Kim," Kathryn replied. "I've set everything up so that once we're inside the aperture, the warp-core will explode, destroying the hub. Seven years ago, we had to sacrifice our passage home to save thousands of lives. This time, we're going to get our cake and eat it too."
"But how?" Harry questioned. "We don't have shuttle technology sophisticated enough to auto-detect our warp-core and destroy it."
"My method is unconventional," Kathryn said, trying hard not to have to deliberately lie, "but it will work. Trust me."
Those words were enough to silence Harry. He trusted his captain completely.
"There may be a shockwave," Chakotay considered. "And if there is, it may follow us into the aperture."
"Good thinking," Kathryn replied. Sheturned to her right andaddressed Tuvok. "As soon as we're inside the aperture, reroute all power to the shields. We won't be able to outrun the shockwave so we'll have to ride it." She then hit her commbadge. "This is the captain to all. We will shortly be entering a transwarp aperture and may experience severe turbulence. Brace yourselves accordingly. I repeat. This is the captain to all. We will shortly be entering a transwarp aperture and may experience severe turbulence. Brace yourselves accordingly."
As the connection terminated, Kathryn operated her console, tuned into the shuttle's cloaking frequency, and saw that the Admiral was pursuing. She then looked up at Tom.
"How far are we from the aperture, Mr paris?"
"About three minutes..."
"The resume course."
Voyager began to move and the aperture came into view on the viewscreen. Kathryn watched as it grew larger and larger.
"Tell me when we're 30 seconds away."
"135," Tom said, counting down. "108...75...48...34..."
"Good enough," Kathryn replied. "Janeway to Torres. Eject the warp-core."
Just as B'Elanna responded they soared into the aperture. "Warp-core ejected."
Blue swirls filled the viewscreen and Kathryn gripped the side of her chair as Voyager rocked from side to side at the pressure.
"Any sign of a shockwave, Mr Tuvok?"
"I am not..." He stopped as he detected a shockwave. "A shockwave detected. Intensity diminishing rapidly."
"Then lets hope we stay ahead of it until it's too weak to do much damage."
"The corridor is collapsing," Harry cried. "It may not take us all the way to earth..."
"But close enough," Kathryn answered. "Close enough..."
The vibrant blue swirls on the viewscreen before her began to fade, and then disappeared as they soared into open space.
"The corridor ahead has dissipated," Tuvok stated.
Kathryn got to her feet. "The shockwave?"
"On our tail."
Kathryn then addressed Tom. "Maximum non-warp speed, Mr paris. We've got too..."
But before she could finish her sentence, the shockwave engulfed Voyager and she was thrown to the floor. Pain surged through her body as she was rocked too and fro, then all went black as her head slammed against cold metal.
Noise...Lights...Pain... Those were the first things Kathryn became aware of when she regained consciousness. Every part of her body seemed to be crying out in agony and it was a moment before she became aware of what had happened and where she was. As soon as her memory registered, she forced herself to focus and tried to get to her feet. Hands stopped her.
"Be still, Captain. You are injured."
The voice was Tuvok's.
"Tuvok," she said. "Report..."
"We sustained heavy damage from the shockwave. Many casualties, no fatalities."
At that, Kathryn breathed easier.
"What's our position?"
"21.7 light years from Earth. I sent out a distress call and it was received by the USS Saturna. They will arrive in approximately four hours time."
Kathryn smiled, tears of joy welling in her eyes. "Then we did it. We're home, Tuvok. We're home."
"So it seems," Tuvok replied, his cool Vulcan exterior giving away nothing of what ever joy he felt at their accomplishment.
Kathryn looked around, searching for Chakotay. "Where's Chakotay?"
"In sickbay. He has also been injured. Now, please, lie down and let me treat you, Captain. "
"If you insist," Kathryn smiled.
She lay down, closed her eyes, and for the first time in seven years felt truly at peace. Voyager may have received some bumps, and the crew some bruises, but they were home. At long long last, they were home.
Sickbay was quiet when Kathryn finally arrived there two hours later. She had expected there to be a number of officers receiving treatment for minor injuries, but there was only Chakotay, who was being attended to by the Doctor, a young female officer she recognized as Ensign Kara Varlina, and Toraka, a Vulcan science officer who was being treated by Tom. They all appeared to be unconscious and Kathryn's elated mood sank at the sight.
"Report," she said, addressing the Doctor.
The Doctor left Chakotay and made his way over to her.
"Commander Chakotay, Ensign Varlina and Lieutenant Toraka have all sustained serious injuries," the Doctor began. "Varlina should regain consciousness within the next few hours, but Chakotay and Toraka both suffered serious head-injuries and are on life-support."
Kathryn's face paled and it was a moment before she could speak. "What is... what is their prognosis?"
"At the moment, it is difficult to say. The odds are in Toraka's favor, but Chakotay's odds are not so good." He paused. "But odds can change. The next 48 hours will be crucial."
Trembling, Kathryn made her way over to Chakotay and gazed down at him. He was lying so lifelessly on a biobed, only technology keeping him alive. Tears filled her eyes and she blindly reached for his hand.
"Don't die, Chakotay," she whispered. "You can't die. Not now. We're home, we made it." A tear ran down her cheek. "Please don't die."
How long she had been in sickbay, Kathryn didn't know. Two hours, perhaps, three. Time seemed suspended as she sat next to Chakotay, his hand in hers, just wishing she could will him awake. While they were waiting for The Saturna to arrive, there was nothing for her to do on the ship. Already the homecoming celebrations had begun on the holodeck, even though it was going to take at least another week for the crew to reach Earth on The Saturna, and no doubt the celebrations were only a mild taste of things to come. Voyager herself would need to be fitted with another warp-core before she could make it home, so unless The Saturna carried a spare one, it was going to be at least another three weeks before Voyager reached the destination she had strived so hard to reach for seven years. Celebrating was the last thing Kathryn felt like doing, however. For so many years she had dreamt of getting Voyager home, but now she couldn't help wish they were still in the Delta Quadrant. Getting home at the expense of Chakotay's life, at the expense of anyone's life except her own, was too high a price to pay.
Suddenly, a monitor began to bleep and the Doctor rushed over to Chakotay.
Kathryn got to her feet, her stomach churning. "What's happening?"
The Doctor made no reply, just shouted commands at Tom, who was attending to a now stable Toraka. Voyager's chief Engineer hurried over to a console and as fast as he could began to operate it. As he did so, the urgent bleep of the monitor changed to a dead tone, and the Doctor shouted again at Tom.
Kathryn watched in a daze, hardly able to take in what was going on, as the Doctor and Tom tried desperately to revive Chakotay.
Then, the chaos seemed to calm and she felt a kind hand on her shoulder. It was the Doctor's.
"I'm sorry, Captain," he said sadly. "There's nothing more we can do."
Tears flooded Kathryn's eyes. "No,"she cried. "Keep trying..."
"Captain, there's no..."
"Keep trying!"
At that, the Doctor gave in and he and Tom once moretriedto revive their patient.
Kathryn sat beside Chakotay again and took his limp hand in hers. "Don't leave me, Chakotay...Please don't leave me..."
Moments later a monitor bleeped and then Chakotay's chest began to move.
"We have him," the Doctor said. "He's come back to us."
Kathryn smiled through tears, kissed Chakotay's hand, and then held it to her cheek.
END OF CHAPTER 12