The Inevitable Truth
by: AW
Chapter 19
Rating: MA
Pairing: J/C
Summary: The Consequences of 'The Killing Game'.
Disclaimer: Paramount/Viacom owns the series and the characters that are related to Star Trek: Voyager, but the story is mine.
Length: words
Date: April 2018
[A WEEK AFTER PART 18]
Kathryn stared at the new Admiral's uniform she wore.
True to his word all the crew had been given their just deserved promotions.
Chakotay was now a Captain and Tom and B'Elanna had both been promoted to full Commanders.
She ran her hand down the front of her uniform – the uniform did hide the pregnancy well.
Chakotay came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Are you sure this is what you want to do?" He stared into the depths of her eyes so blue.
"I don't have a choice: I already accepted the assignment and the promotion."
Chakotay stared at her, "You always have a choice Kathryn."
She shook her head, "You always have a choice. I never have. I was born and bred Starfleet."
He had to make her see. "Have you even told your mother?"
She sighed, "No, she'd love you and the idea of grandchildren and tell me the same thing you did. I don't have to do this. I don't think I could go against both of you." She stared into his eyes, "I need you to support me on this."
He felt like he was once again on Voyager and she was asking him to support her with her deal with the Borg. Why did she keep doing this?
The difference this time, she was his wife and the mother of his children.
He sighed, "I will always support you. You are not alone Kathryn." He stared at her, "I just hope it will not cost us more than either of us can bear." He pulled her in for a hug and felt one of the twins move against his stomach. He kissed her on the top of the head and walked out of their home.
Kathryn knew that Chakotay had a ship of his own to deal with and she had been assigned to Geordi LaForge's ship for her jaunt on the front line.
He had been given the Enterprise after in this timeline Picard and Riker had been killed at Wolf 359.
She transported to the Enterprise and met with Captain LaForge in his ready room. "Admiral Janeway."
Kathryn nodded and sat down across from him.
"Hello Captain." She paused collecting her thoughts. "We are being sent to the front line, we are to attempt to bring the Cardassians into the war on our side."
LaForge nodded. "I know what our mission is; let's just hope that we can get it done
Kathryn stared at the man, "And let's hope we can get it done quickly. There are too many casualties on both sides."
The Admiral got up to leave and thanked the Captain for his time.
Three hours later the Admiral finally went back to her quarters for the night.
Before she made her way to her quarters though, she stopped by Tom's quarters for a visit.
He had been made the Commander of the Enterprise and along with the EMH he was one of only two members of the former Voyager crew here.
She rang the chime and was granted entrance. "Hello Tom."
"Admiral! What a pleasant surprise."
Kathryn rolled her eyes, "Oh yeah, I'm sure that people frequently want to see their bosses off duty." She pulled her uniform jacket off. "I'm not sure how much longer I can hide these two." She put a hand on her belly.
Tom walked up to her, "These uniforms do a good job of hiding this." He stared at her, "Who knows on this ship?"
"Just you, me and the Doctor."
He stared at her. "I don't know how much longer you can keep this a secret."
Kathryn slowly nodded and stared at her former helmsman. "I know Tom, but I have to keep this a secret for a little while longer."
"I have to get through these negotiations before this becomes an issue."
Tom sighed, "What if you meet the same Cardassians you did before? Gul Dukat knew you were pregnant, with a Maquis child non-the-less and he will know you are trying to hide it from him. Not to mention now you're an admiral."
Kathryn brushed his concerns away. "These are the same concerns that Chakotay had. I'll tell you the same thing I told him. I can't ignore my duties."
Tom bowed his head, he knew that once Kathryn got her mind made up there was no changing it. "Just promise me you'll be careful. I promised Chakotay I would take care of you."\
Kathryn nodded her head. She heard a hail from the bridge. "Captain LaForge to Admiral Janeway."\
"Janeway here."
"The Cardassians have beamed aboard the Enterprise. Time for the negotiations to begin."
"Be right there Captain."
Kathryn pulled her jacket on, smoothing it over her baby bump and made her way to the bridge.
[10 MINUTES LATER – BRIDGE]
Kathryn exited the turbo-lift approaching the conference room.
She entered the room and stared at the Cardassians around the table and the Enterprise senior staff.
She took the seat the head of the table and stared at Gul Dukat and the other Cardassians staring at her menacingly.
Gul Dukat stood up and held his hand out to her, "Hello Admiral Janeway."
Janeway internally shuddered.
"Dukat." The simple word neither showed nor betrayed her feelings of anxiety.
He looked at the woman that her had seen the whole of. "You have a proposition do you not Admiral? "
Kathryn imperceptibly nodded. "We propose an alliance between the Cardassian Alliance and the Federation."
Dukat let out an evil laugh. "And what makes you think that if we joined you and made an enemy out of the Dominion that any of us would get out of this alive?"
"Dukat we have to do something, the Dominion is gaining ground on all of us."
Dukat stared at her, "At the moment the Dominion isn't fighting us. There is no reason for us to get involved at this point."
She glared at him, "What makes you think that they will stop after they are done with the Federation?"
He laughed, "What makes you think they'll keep going?"
Dukat's assistant walked up to him and whispered something in his ear. "You're sure?"
She watched the assistant nod. "If you will excuse me Admiral, something has come to my attention that I need to take care of."
Kathryn stared at him, "Of course we can finish this meeting another time."
Kathryn tapped her combadge and had the Cardassians beamed to their vessel.
Kathryn made her way to the ready room. "Janeway to Paris, can you meet me in Captain Laforge's ready room."
"Be right there Admiral."
[READY ROOM]
Kathryn walked into the ready room. "Captain, I assume you have some news about the Cardassians."
Captain LaForge stared at the Admiral, "Let's just wait until we're all here."
Kathryn nodded and waited for Tom to show his face. Soon he entered the Ready room. "Ok we're all here now."
Janeway opened her mouth, "So what happened. I was speaking with Dukat and he got a message and ended the negotiations?"
"I have no idea Captain, but something caught his attention."
Kathryn stared at Captain LaForge. "I think I'm going to need a maternity uniform before too long Captain."
LaForge nodded, "And you knew this before you took on this assignment."
Kathryn nodded, "Starfleet didn't give me much of a choice."
She got her mind held on other things. "So what is happening right now with the Cardassians?"
LaForge turned the screen around so she could see the message from Gul Dukat. "As of right now we are rescinding our treaty with the founders. We are now their enemy. They have made an enemy out of us by destroying one of our ships and killing loyal Cardassians."
Janeway smiled and thought, *They had taken the bait.*
She rubbed her hand over her baby bump. All she had to do now was get back to the father of her children.
END CHAPTER 19
TBC IN CHAPTER 20