AN: With this chapter I'd sincereley like to thank my reviewers, your input is most welcome. Tayababy, thank you very much for the title suggestion.
At 1845 the next day Kathryn was, yet again, in the ready room, pacing the room until, ten minutes later, Chakotay arrived.
"I'm beginning to see a distinct groove in the floor," he noted with a smile and shake of his head, trying to suppress a grin and lighten the mood of the room.
This didn't work, Janeway simply levelled a steely eyed glare at him before settling into her chair. "I can't leave the crew, not on a colony or the ship, yet I know this is going to be a split decision…" she didn't have time to deliberate further, as her senior staff had arrived, amazingly punctual.
"Good evening, again. B'Elanna, let's start with you," Janeway looked at the engineer, waiting.
"Well, Captain, I've talked to my crew and was summarily informed that they'd rather stay here than take their friends to a Starfleet prison," she said, promptly receiving a startled look from Kathryn.
"Tuvok?" She questioned.
"Security is of the same opinion, Captain."
Kathryn went through every officer and got similar answers from all of them.
"I'll talk to the admiral," she said, trying to stop the lump from forming in her throat, it didn't work. As the lump started to cause Kathryn to choke up she waved her hand, dismissing her staff.
"They made their decision, Captain. This is a loyal crew, that you had no small part in," Chakotay patted her shoulder. "I'll tell Harry to contact the admiral on your command, we'll figure things out from there," with those last words he exited onto the bridge.
Kathryn sat there for a bit longer, amazed at the singular unity of this crew, her crew. Finally she shook herself out of her reverie and walked out onto the bridge.
"Ensign Kim, open a communication with Admiral Paris and patch it through to my ready room," she ordered before marching to her ready room doors, she stopped, however, before the doors opened. "Lt.'s Paris and Torres, care to join me?" she enquired.
Tom and B'Elanna immediately left their stations on the bridge and followed the captain.
"Have a seat, you two, I'll be with you once I've talked to the admiral," Janeway beckoned before turning to her screen where Harry had just finished opening the communication.
"Admiral."
"Captain, I take it you have talked to your crew?"
"Yes, Sir, they have unanimously decided to colonize a planet," she stated.
The admiral's face fell slightly but he continued. "If you'll send us the location of the planet we'll do what we can to be of assistance."
"Thank you, Admiral, I'll let you know once I know," Janeway stated. "Sir, I'd like to request that my crew get to talk to their family members before we colonize, so they can say their farewells."
"I'll see what I can do, Captain, I'm sure it shouldn't be a problem."
"Thank you, again. Now I know of at least one person who'd like to talk to you," with that she beckoned Tom and B'Elanna to take her place and left the room.
TBC