All characters and concepts are the property of their respective owners. No copyright infringement is intended, or profit made, from this work of fiction.

Harry Kim unconsciously straightened his tunic as the door to the transporter room hissed open. A dark-haired, youthful man, he was carrying a small hold-all over one shoulder. Handing his PADD with his travel authorisation to the Transporter Chief, he stepped onto the Transporter Pad.

'Energising,' the Transporter Chief said and Harry felt a flutter in his stomach as he heard the familiar whine of the transporter effect. However, it wasn't the transporting that made him feel nervous. Over his four years at the Academy, he'd lost count of the number of times he'd been through it. Even though he'd already served on two starships and a Starbase as a cadet, this would be his first posting as an officer.

As the transporter effect faded, he found himself standing in a smaller transporter room, where an officer from the Command division was waiting at the bottom of the pad. Broad-shouldered with dark hair and the first signs of grey creeping into his temples, he had strong cheekbones and a tight-lipped expression.

'Ensign Kim, reporting onboard,' Harry said and the officer nodded.

'Welcome aboard USS Voyager, Mr Kim,' he said. 'Lieutenant Commander Cavit...'

'Thank you, sir,' Harry said, descending the steps from the pad.

'We'll be departing in under an hour,' Cavit said, handing him a PADD. 'This is your cabin assignment. Drop of your bag and report to the bridge...'

'Aye, sir...'

###################

Janeway looked up from her PADD as the turbolift door hissed open to see a youthful, dark-haired man stepping onto the bridge. He hesitated for a second, glancing around before striding towards her.

'Ensign Kim, reporting as ordered,' he said, stopping at attention in front of her.

'Welcome aboard, Mr Kim,' Janeway said, standing up. 'Take your station...'

'Aye, Captain,' Kim said, turning on his heel, marching to the operations console.

'All decks report ready for departure, Captain' Chakotay said and Janeway nodded.

'Mr Kim,' she said, turning to the viewscreen. 'Contact Starbase Operations and request clearance for departure...'

'Aye, Captain,' Kim said, tapping a sequence into his console. 'Operations has cleared us for departure...'

'Thank you, Mr Kim,' Janeway said, settling into her seat and turning to the blonde-haired man at the conn. 'Take us out, Mr Paris. One quarter impulse...'

'Aye, Captain,' Paris said, his fingers flying over the controls and Janeway felt the surge of power as the engines hummed into life.

'We've cleared spacedock, Captain,' Paris reported. 'Course for Sector 142 is laid in...'

'Engage...'

###################

'Entering Sector 142, Captain,' Paris said.

'Acknowledged,' Janeway said. 'Mr Kim, open subspace frequency Delta-1.'

'Frequency open, Captain,' Kim said and Janeway stood up.

'This is Captain Janeway of the Federation starship Voyager. Please acknowledge...'

There was silence for a moment and then a monotone voice came over the comm.

'Captain Kathryn Janeway of U.S.S Voyager, N.C.C 74656. Relocate to grid reference 37.42.71...'

'Talkative bunch,' Paris muttered as the comm went dead.

'I've got the co-ordinates,' Harry said. 'A J-class system three light from our current position...'

'Lay in a course, Mr Paris...'

'Aye, Captain...'

###################

'We've reached the co-ordinates, Captain...'

'Thank you, Mr Paris,' Janeway said. 'Report, Mr Tuvok...'

'I am detecting three Borg Nexus with approximately 3000 life signs on each, as well as 23 vessels. Captain, one of the vessels has changed course towards us...'

'On screen,' Janeway say, turning back to the viewscreen as Tuvok brought up the image of a spherical vessel constructed from overlapping metal plates.

'We're being hailed,' Harry said.

'U.S.S Voyager. NCC-74656. You will accompany us to grid 6.32...'

'Steady as she goes, Mr Paris...' Janeway said.

'...aye, Captain...'

###################

'Transwarp Hub at 2000 AUs, Captain,' Paris reported.

'Our escort is falling back,' Harry added and Janeway stood up.

'Open shipwide communication, Mr Kim,' she said.

'Shipwide open, Captain.

'Attention all hands. We're about to enter the Transwarp Hub. Secure all stations. Mr Paris, take us in...'

###################

'We've cleared the Transwarp Gate, Captain...'

'Thank you, Mr Kim,' Janeway said, standing up. 'Mr Paris, can you confirm our position?'

'Aye, Captain. Astrometrics confirms that we're in Sector D-1 in the Delta Quadrant...'

'Long-range scans match the data from the Pathfinder probes,' Harry added and Janeway nodded.

'Thank you. Mr Paris, set cou...'

'Captain, I'm detecting a transporter signature,' Tuvok interrupted, just as a Borg appeared on the bridge. Before Janeway could even begin to wonder how they had penetrated their shields, Tuvok had drawn his phaser, levelling it at the intruder.

'Stand down, Mr Tuvok,' Janeway said, turning to the Borg. Tall and hairless, she wore a plain grey jumpsuit and had a metallic implant around her eye.

'Identify yourself,' she said and the Borg turned towards her.

'My designation is Seven of Nine. I will be your link to the Collective during your mission...'

'This isn't a condition that was discussed...'

'The Collective remains unsure of the benefits of this alliance,' Seven of Nine said. 'My instructions are to monitor your actions and report back to the Collective...'

'Very well,' Janeway said. 'Mr Paris, lay in Course Alpha and engage...'

'Aye, Captain,' Paris said and Janeway turned back to Seven of Nine.

'I'd like to speak to you in my Ready Room...'

###################

'While you're onboard my ship, I expect you to abide by our rules,' Janeway said, as soon as the door to her Ready Room hissed closed.

'I will comply with your directives,' Seven of Nine replied.

'...alright,' Janeway said, relenting a little. 'We can provide quarters for you...'

'That will not be necessary,' Seven of Nine said. 'My implants automatically regenerate my cells and provide the sustenance that I require...'

'Very well...'

'Chakotay to Janeway...'

'Go ahead, Commander...'

'We're approaching System Alpha-1...'

'I'm on my way...'

###################

'Report,' Janeway said, as she emerged from her Ready Room, followed by Seven of Nine.

'Initial scans match the details obtained by the Pathfinder probes,' Chakotay said. 'We've detected what appears to be an M-Class planet, but the atmosphere has no nucleogenic particles...'

'Am I the only one who doesn't what that means...?' Paris asked.

'It means it doesn't rain,' Kim said, with a grin.

'Long-range scans have detected no energy sources or lifesigns,' Tuvok added and Janeway turned to Seven of Nine.

'Do you know anything about this planet?'

'This world is of no interest to the Collective...' she replied and Janeway frowned, just as Tuvok's console beeped.

'Captain, I am detecting two vessels approaching from the planet's surface. They are on an intercept course...'

'All stop, Mr Paris,' Janeway ordered. 'On screen...'

'Aye, Captain,' Tuvok said, an image of two boxy vessels appearing on the viewscreen. 'They appear to be short-range vessels, but they are armed with powerful disruptors...'

'We're being hailed,' Kim reported. 'Audio only...'

'On speaker,' Janeway said, moving back to her seat.

'Attention, unidentified vessel. I am Toscat of the Ocampan Administrative Authority. You will submit your vessel for inspection...'

'Of course,' Janeway said. 'Mr Tuvok, lower our shields.'

'Aye, Captain...'

There was the whine of a transporter effect and three figures in black uniforms appeared on the bridge. Each bore a disruptor pistol on their belt, their short hair revealing the ridged points on their ears.

'Thank you for your co-operation,' one said, Janeway recognising his voice as belonging to Toscat. 'My subordinates will need to inspect your weapon systems and engine rooms, while I speak to you, privately...'

'Of course,' Janeway said. 'Commander Chakotay and Lieutenant Tuvok will show your officers whatever you need. We can speak in my Ready Room...'

###################

'Can I offer you a drink?' Janeway asked, as the door to her Ready Room hissed closed, but Toscat shook his head.

'No. Thank you...'

'Coffee, black,' Janeway said, crossing to the replicator, taking a sip from the cup as she sat down.

'So, how can I help you...?'

'You have entered our system uninvited and unannounced. I would like to know what your intentions are...'

'We are peaceful explorers from the United Federation of Planets. We would hope to be able to visit your world and learn about your culture...'

'That decision will need to be made by the Ocampan Council,' Toscat said. 'Depending on the result of our inspection...'

###################

'This is our Engineering Department,' Chakotay said, as he lead the tall, fair-haired Ocampa inside. 'I would be happy to answer any questions that you have, Mr...?'

'Orra,' He said, without looking up from his scanner. 'What are the specifications of your engines?'

'Who the hell are you and why do you want to know?' A voice snapped and Chakotay turned to see Torres storming towards them, her short, dark hair brushed back to reveal the ridges of her half Klingon heritage.

'At ease, Lieutenant,' Chakotay said, turning back to Orra. 'They are dilithium based, using a matter-antimatter intermix...'

'I will need to take a sample,' Orda said, producing a small, blocky device from his belt and advancing towards the warp core.

'The hell you will,' Torres snapped, shoving past Chakotay and Orra drew his disruptor.

'Stand aside, Lieutenant Torres,' Chakotay barked.

Torres stood her ground for a moment with her fists balled, before stepping back and allowing Orda to take the sample and securing it in his carry case.

'Thank you for your co-operation,' Orda said, with a sideways glance at Torres, who scowled back at him.

###################

'What is the nature of these weapons?' Viraran asked, as he consulted his scanner.

'They are anti-matter torpedos,' Tuvok replied and he frowned.

'Why does a vessel of peaceful exploration require such powerful weapons...?'

'We have encountered situations where we have been required to defend ourselves. As a Starfleet Command Officer, Captain Janeway has a responsibility to protect those who are depending on her, when all peaceful options are exhausted...'

###################

'Understood,' Toscat said, switching off his communicator and clipping it back to his belt. 'My teams have finished their inspection...'

'What will happen now?' Janeway asked and Toscat stood up.

'I will need to present my findings to the superiors. In the meantime, you will remain at these co-ordinates until the Council decides whether or not you pose a threat...'

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed it. Any reviews, comments or constructive criticisms are very welcome.