The next day was very formal and busy, integrating a new crew member, something that had not often been done on Voyager. A cabin was secured for their visitor, one near the command officers. On the one hand, Janeway thought she should keep an eye on the woman, on the other their visitor had been a "Captain" and they would have to think of a proper rank, and on Janeway's third hand, well….she didn't want to think about that.
Janeway had decided that the woman would be an advisor in the style of Neelix, not a true senior officer, but included in decisions. Taking her intimate knowledge of Voyager's future, it seemed foolish not to make her an advisor.
However, there was still the question of an everyday job, if it was going to take changes in their decisions over a period of years to get them home, their visitor would have to contribute to the life on Voyager. It might be hard for her to fit into the command structure, taking that she was used to being in charge of the ship, but she would have to get used to taking orders. All of the command and division head positions were filled, but Janeway would try to accommodate her wishes as much as was possible, feeling it was the only reasonable, and even decent thing to do in the circumstances.
I've been putting off this conversation, thought Janeway to herself as she entered Sickbay yet again.
This time their visitor, her daughter, was going over something on a datapad with the Doctor.
"Ah Captain," said the Doctor, as he saw her, "We were just going over some of Gretchen's medical records for her crew file."
"Gretchen?" said Janeway, feeling extremely strange that the Doctor was informing her of her own child's name. My mother's name.
"Yes" said the woman, looking up rather grimly, "My last name is Janeway, but I didn't know if you would want to let the cat out of the bag to the crew. I suppose I could be a distant cousin, it IS a Starfleet family. But you're certain to get questions."
"I've been thinking about what to tell the crew all night," said Janeway, "And I think we should sit on most of the facts for now. Officially, and for any log purposes, you're on a secret mission from Starfleet."
"Reasonable," said Gretchen, nodding, "How about Kincaid?" she said turning to the Doctor, "I've always just liked the sound, and it has no particular connections."
"Kincaid it is," said The Doctor smartly, typing it in, "What about rank?"
"Ensign," said Janeway formally, "No offense intended to your skills, but you're quite young and Voyager has an established command structure already."
Gretchen did not react to her demotion, but Janeway added in a conciliatory tone, "But I've given you special advisor status, you'll be at meetings and have direct access to me without going through the command structure."
Gretchen's lips spazzed, "That's reasonable," she said, "Where you do plan on putting me?"
"I wanted to leave it up to you, depending on your abilities of course. Did you have a specialty of some kind? Or more than one? Other than command?"
The Doctor chimed in, "I had her taking tests this morning for cognitive abilities and memory. She scored very high in engineering."
"Wonderful," said Janeway, "We can always use another engineer,"
"No," said Gretchen, lips spazzing briefly again, "That is, astrometrics is a very similar field, and I believe that's well within my abilities, if this is my decision."
"Very well," said Janeway, "I'll tell Seven. When can she be released from Sickbay Doctor?"
"Tomorrow," he said crisply, "I watch to watch over her recovery a bit more. I would recommend an additional day before she assumes her duties."
Janeway nodded, "I'll send someone tomorrow to show her her quarters and take her on a tour of the ship."
Gretchen's lip's quirked up.
"We're getting a new team member," said Janeway to the senior staff members seated in Voyager's briefing room.
"So we hear," said B'Elanna, "But who is she, why is she here? And can we trust her?"
"Her name is Gretchen Kincaid, and on this ship she will be an ensign. She's going to help us get home."
"So Starfleet sent her?," asked Harry Kim.
"That's going to be the story," said Janeway, "A secret mission we can't discuss."
"So what's the truth?" said Tom, "Don't leave us in suspense."
"What I'm about to say does not leave this room," she said, pausing for effect, and looking at Chakotay, B'Elanna, Tom, Harry, Tuvok, Seven, and Neelix.
"She's from the future," several of her staff gasped, "A future Voyager. One where we made a lot of mistakes. Mistakes we are not going to make again."
"The future?" said B'Elanna skeptically.
"Come on B'Elanna, you have plenty of reason to believe that's possible," said Chakotay.
"Possible, yes. Probable, no. You're telling me you believe this?"
"Yes," Chakotay said with conviction.
"Then you know something you haven't told us either,"
"I do," answered Chakotay evenly, "It's not the right time,"
"Who knows, and why can't we be told?" answered B'Elanna, "I don't like being left out of the loop."
"I know," answered Tuvok, "I was asked to do a Mind Meld to confirm she was telling the truth. I was convinced of her veracity."
"The Doctor knows as well," said Janeway, "I realize it's natural to be curious, but you have my word that you'll know all pertinent information as soon as it can be given."
"Alright," acquiesced B'Elanna begrudgingly.
"She's going to be working with you in Astrometrics, Seven," said Janeway.
"Very well," answered Seven, "I trust someone with knowledge of the future will be competent at that role."
"I trust," said Janeway, "Remember, unless you are alone with senior staff, there will be no discussion of her mission, background, or the state of the Alpha Quadrant. Harry…."
Harry met her gaze, "I'd like you to give her a tour of Voyager, and show her her new quarters."
"Aye, aye Captain,"
"Dismissed."
"So that's most of the ship," said Harry as they entered a turbolift, "I thought I would save the Mess Hall for last, we can get some lunch, and I can fend off question seekers for you."
"That's kind of you," she said genuinely.
"Least I can do," said Harry, "Besides it's really part of my job."
The turbolift doors closed, "Is this like Voyager is in your time?"
"It wasn't quite this nice by the time I can remember. But in my childhood it was much like this, except everyone was older."
"So you did grow up on the ship?"
"Oh yes. Born and raised. I hardly know anything else. Voyager is a whole cosmos to me. Imagine your childhood home swirling through the galaxy."
Harry laughed, "That's quite a thought, I used to dream about going on adventures like this as a child on Earth."
"I've never seen Earth," she replied, "To me, that's the dream."
"We have that in common now," said Harry, "But I'm sorry you've never seen it….I promise if we get back there I'll show you around San Francisco, that's where Starfleet Headquarters is, and where I lived, before all this happened."
"Thank you," said Gretchen warmly, as they stepped off the turbolift.
"Harry!" said Tom Paris, appearing in the hallway.
"Tom!" said Harry, "What an enthusiastic greeting for someone you've worked with every day for the last five years, and this morning."
"I'm just excited to have lunch with you," said Tom, "It's been a long two hours without you."
"I'm sure it has," said Harry, rolling his eyes, "Tom, this is Gretchen Kincaid, Acting Ensign."
Tom offered his hand, "What a pleasure to meet such a beautiful ensign."
She offered her hand back, and Tom held it, "It's nice to meet you Lt. Paris."
"You are just going to love the food we have here. Why don't you go first," he said, releasing her hand and waving his arms towards Neelix in his chef's hat and a short line of crew members.
Gretchen stepped forward and just out of ear-shot of Tom and Harry.
"Why are you lying to her?" whispered Harry angrily, "And what's with the tired Casanova routine? Even if you didn't have B'Elanna, haven't you realized she could be your child?"
"Oh, I have my own theories about that," said Tom mischievously.
"Ensign Kincaid! It's so wonderful to have you here," said Neelix, as Gretchen reached him, "I hope you enjoy our food," he said as he placed some gray and yellow slime in a bowl for her, "Nothing but the best for our hard-working crew!"
"I'm sure I'll love it," she said cheerfully, "Are you Neelix?"
"Yes, yes, I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself, silly me! Looks like some more crewman are approaching, but if you need me for anything you just let me know!" He said winking, as Gretchen left the line.
Gretchen waited for Tom and Harry to be served their food in the new line of crewman, and then sat with them at a small round table.
"How do you like the ship?" asked Tom.
"It's beautiful, and so well staffed," she replied.
"We do have a great crew," said Harry sincerely.
"Best crew in the fleet," said Tom, "In the Delta Quadrant anyway," he joked.
"I'm sure you're right about that," agreed Gretchen, smiling.