Disclaimer: I only wish Voyager was mine, but Paramount owns them and it is our duty to speculate what they don't see fit to reveal in the series, and are too lazy to make a movie. If only they would see it our way...
Synopsis: 18 months after their return, four Voyager crew members are the new teachers of a class created to prepare the new cadets for what lies ahead.
A/N: This story isn't finished, so reviews are strongly apppreciated and are my inspiration. I would like to thank all the people who have published stories, as they have also inspired my brain into overdrive, when I should be studying for my exams...
The class of cadets all filed in to the lecture hall, not knowing what to expect. After all, it was the beginning of a new term at Starfleet Academy, and this group of second-year students were the 'guinea pigs' of a new class that was soon to become compulsory for students in their second year.
An admiral stood in the doorway of the entrance to the lecture pad at the bottom, a doorway only staff were able to access. She knew no one could see her, so the silent observation of her new class went unnoticed. She watched as the last of the cadets took their seats, all talking with their friends, discussing matters from the subject of this new class, to dorm gossip, she suspected.
Suddenly, the hall went quiet. It was 1420 hours, time for the class to start. The main door that had been closed only moments beforehand swished open and the Admiral in charge of the Academy entered the room, surprising student's who didn't know of his intentions.
"Cadets," he called across the large auditorium, addressing over 250 young men, women and other species which belonged to the Federation. "I would like to take this moment to personally thank you all for participating in this new class. For those who don't know me, my name is Admiral Laurence Henderson, and I am in charge of the Academy."
A slight round of applause greeted the Admiral, but stooped as soon as he raised a hand in silence. "As an introduction to this topic, I'm sure you would like to know that I will not be taking this class. Surviving in the Delta Quadrant is a class designed to brief young Starfleet officers about the wonders in the galaxy that have only recently been explored. Without stealing too much of the limelight, I would like to take this pleasure in welcoming your teaching staff, none other than the people who charted the Delta Quadrant themselves, Admiral Kathryn Janeway, Captain Chakotay, Commander Tuvok and Seven of Nine!"
The students in the auditorium burst into a round of applause welcoming their legendary teachers, all who had received promotions shortly after their homecoming 18 months ago. A lot of the students stared with awe at the people they had only heard about, never having actually seen them in person.
The teaching crew all looked around at the cadets they would come to know, taking in the sight of their admiration. Taking their seats on one side of a table suitable for a briefing room, they each looked at one another, ready to begin the class they had spent the last seven years indirectly researching and documenting personally.
Kathryn Janeway stood up to address the class of second year cadets as they finished their round of applause and took their seats once more. "Cadets, over eight years ago, when my crew were drawn halfway across the galaxy against our will, I made a decision that stranded the crew of the USS Voyager over 70,000 lightyears from home. For the seven years we spent traveling across millions of kilometres, we encountered many different people, were involved in many different first contact situations, welcomed the knowledge of many different Delta Quadrant species into our memory banks."
Chakotay rose from his seat next to his wife and stood up to join her in the introduction of the new topic, one they them had lived for a long time. "The species we encountered on a normal day in the Delta Quadrant will soon become familiar to you, even haunting you in your sleep like they once did to us. Through our experiences, you will learn so much about these races you will be able to discuss them with us in your sleep. Though you don't have to live in fear of your lives, it will feel that way with the severity of some of their customs making you think like you are on the run."
Chakotay moved to stand behind his wife, slightly to the left, assuming the postion they usually stood in during their journey home. Identical wedding bands on their left hands shine in the reflection of the lights hanging above them. Tuvok then stepped forward to take the spotlight and make his presentation.
"During this course, you will study four different topics, the Inhabitants, Astrometric Phenomenon, Tactical Scenarios and Mission Logs. Each will be taught by all four of us," with this comment he turned and looked at each of the other Professors. "Though every subject will be mainly taught by the one with the expertise of the subject. I will teach Tactical, Seven of Nine will teach about Astrometrics, Captain Chakotay will teach a background on the Inhabitants and Admiral Janeway will review her mission logs with you, outlining what you could expect during a typical day in the Delta Quadrant."
Commander Tuvok moved to stand behind Janeway, this time slightly on her right, resembling their old command position, reliving the old times.
Seven of Nine stepped forward to speak. "This course will be a challenging one, your performance is expected to be no less than perfect. When it is time for exams to take place, they will be one of the most challenging exams you will partake this semester, but the course is madatory in the second year. As of the next lesson, we will start the course, beginning with the Kazon, and everything that has happened to the ship at their hands."
The students all turned to eachother and started discussing their new class. Only one student didn't turn to the young adult next to him.
"Cadet Icheb," came a call from the front of the hall to the student not talking to the rest of the class. "Come down here please."
Seven of Nine called her former protege down from his seat to the front desk where she was standing with the rest of the teachers.
"Hello again, Icheb," Admiral Janeway said to the young Brunali, having not seen him since their homecoming. "How do you like the Academy so far?"
