CHAPTER 14
Saturday morning dawned clear and cold. As she stepped onto the porch Janeway
realized that Seven would need warmer outerwear if they were to continue
visiting the farm. Seven had researched the MIT-Daystrom Institute to find that
during the upcoming winter months, cold weather and heavy snow were the norm in
the Boston area. So when they’d finished breakfast they took a quick trip into
town to get Seven a parka. They returned with a multi-season jacket usable from
early fall through late spring. It would allow Seven the freedom to transport to
several stations around the university and research complexes in Cambridge and
walk to her labs at the Institute. She was looking forward to wearing it without
its insulating liner for the party that afternoon.
When they arrived back at the farm employees of the catering company Phoebe had
hired were swarming over the lawns setting up tents, temporary kitchens, bars,
fire pits and grills and tables and chairs. Phoebe and Gretchen watched, smiling,
from the porch as they enjoyed some mid-morning coffee. Seven joined them as
Kathryn went into the kitchen to fetch coffee and tea.
“Sharp jacket, Seven. It looks warm,” commented Phoebe.
“Thank you Phoebe. It should suffice to keep me comfortable through those months
of the year that are not temperate. And I like the red color. Kathryn says it is
a good color for me.”
“Darling, any color is a good color on you,” said Gretchen patting her
soon-to-be daughter-in-law on the knee. Seven looked up with a smile as Kathryn
stepped back out of the house holding a mug of tea for her and another with her
own coffee. The four women settled comfortably on the porch swings and watched
as the party preparations continued.
* * *
Half a galaxy away at the far side of the Alpha quadrant, Ensign Bel Landes
scanned her board looking for any anomalies. She had agreed to work a double
shift in the Command Center of DS7 both days of the weekend as a favor to her
friend Moser. Monitoring the perimeter sensor grid of the Starfleet outpost was
not an exciting assignment, but a necessary one. The Federation and Starfleet
had been caught unawares by the sudden aggression of the Dominion and
Cardassians in the last war. No one was more aware of the need for constant
vigilance than the young Bajoran whose people had suffered so cruelly at the
hands of the Cardassians. Landes was too young to have been confined in a camp,
but her mother had been and her horror stories of that bleak time had convinced
her daughter to attend Starfleet Academy. Landes promised herself at a young age
to do her part to insure that no one would ever conquer her people or come so
close to destroying the Federation again.
Upon her graduation from the Academy she had hoped for assignment to a starship,
but the training she was receiving as an operations officer on the deep space
outpost was topnotch. On those isolated outposts officers were required to do
many jobs; Ensign Bel had served as tactical officer, communications officer and
spent time in engineering in addition to her assigned duties. When her
assignment on DS7 was complete in eight months she would have her pick of
starship postings. Rumors were rampant that Captain Janeway’s refit of Voyager
would be complete about that time and that the fabled commander would again be
taking the Intrepid class ship to the outer reaches of the galaxy. Landes
wondered if she had enough experience to be seriously considered for a posting
on Voyager. If the rumors were even close to being true, hers would be the first
application on file.
With a determined nod of her head she turned again to the readouts on her board.
* * *
By 1745 hours Kathryn, Phoebe, Gretchen and Seven were busy greeting guests as
hovercars came up the farm lane in a steady stream, parking in an adjacent field
which had been mown the previous day for their use. Admirals Paris, Hayes, Ross,
Patterson and their respective spouses had come in a shuttle now secured behind
the barn. Gretchen and Phoebe entertained the Starfleet brass while Kathryn and
Seven circulated among the Voyager crew laughing and reminiscing. The story of
Janeway’s proposal to Seven was told and re-told and many admiring comments
accompanied the crewmates’ viewing of her engagement ring. Seven considered that
perhaps Phoebe had been correct in her assessment that the ring was a ‘gasper’.
It certainly did seem to evoke an admiring response from everyone who saw it.
Leaning against the porch she watched Kathryn move among the tables chatting and
smiling at members of the crew. At one point Kathryn raised her head and their
eyes met. A molten surge of desire shot through Seven at the wry grin on
Kathryn’s face when their glances locked. Little more than a week ago they had
made love for the first time. Now she could hardly stand to be separated from
Kathryn for even a few moments. Would she ever get used to the flashes of naked
want that struck her so often now?
She and Kathryn had spent the week settling into their home in San Francisco.
She had lost count of the times during those days that she and Kathryn had
looked at each other and been overcome with desire. Looking back on it, Seven
wondered how they had managed to accomplish anything at all. But all their
possessions were in place, Kathryn had been in close contact with Radcliffe at
Utopia Planetia and she herself had begun the process of staffing her labs at
MIT-Daystrom so apparently they had not spent all their time making love.
Kathryn had been adamant that they needed to ‘christen’ every room in the house
before they could truly call it home and enthusiastically set about doing so.
Had it not been for the two days that Gretchen and Phoebe had spent with them
Seven had no doubt that each room would have been christened at least twice by
now.
And their bed! Seven shivered at the delightful memories of falling asleep
wrapped around Kathryn each night and waking to the feel of her lover in her
arms each morning. Of sleeping on silken sheets with the feel of her lover’s
silken skin as well. Kathryn had told her that prior to their relationship she
had never enjoyed sleeping with any of her lovers. Seven was fervently glad that
was no longer the case. Sleeping was a human requirement that she had previously
considered irrelevant. Now, she could not contemplate living without sleeping
with Kathryn. And loving Kathryn…as often as possible.
With a smile she rejoined her fiancée and their guests.
* * *
“Warning! Incursion alarm at grid location 36-Beta, Sector 16,” reported the
computer as an indicator light flashed on the console. Ensign Bel Landes’
fingers flew over the console noting the time – 1747 hours – and calling up all
available information on the alert. She observed a slight phase variance between
that grid location and the adjoining sectors and immediately began a diagnostics
routine to determine if the grid sensor array was underpowered or malfunctioning.
Glitches in the array were fairly common and standard protocols called for
diagnostics to be run if only one sensor in the grid tripped an alarm.
By 1801 hours the computer reported the diagnostics run complete. “Diagnostics
complete. Systems indicate power variance of 4.67 millivolts.” Bel frowned as
she considered the power variance. The sensor data indicated a miniscule
triquantum wave flux and an undefined subspace disruption, but the power
variance could mean she was receiving faulty data. Knowing Lieutenant Sepik, the
watch commander, was a stickler for data confirmation, she made her decision.
“Computer, re-run diagnostics. Sensor 36-Beta, Sector 16.”
“Acknowledged. Running diagnostics.”
Bel uneasily gnawed on a cuticle as she waited for the results. There was
something about those readings...they seemed familiar but she could not think
why. Deciding a lecture on over caution was better than making a tactical error,
she notified Lieutenant Sepik of her findings and actions and awaited the second
run of diagnostics to finish. She was aware of the door opening and closing as
she reconfigured her board to download additional data from the sensors
surrounding the apparently faulty one.
“Report!” the quiet voice behind her ordered. She turned to face her Vulcan
watch officer.
“At 1747 hours I received an alert from sensor grid 36-Beta in sector 16.
Readings were inconclusive, indicating a slight power phase variance, minute
triquantum wave resonance and an undefined subspace disruption. I immediately
ran diagnostics on the sensor in question, but none of the other sensors in the
area tripped and the power fluctuation indicated that it might be a faulty
sensor. I ordered a rerun of the diagnostic protocols at 1801 hours and am
awaiting those results now, sir.”
“Very well, Ensign. You acted appropriately. If the second run of diagnostics
proves inconclusive as well, what should our next step be?”
She hesitated as she weighed possibilities. “I would dispatch a runabout to the
sector and have the crew test the sensor on site.”
Her commanding officer nodded in agreement. “That is a logical and correct
course of action. Alert the runabout crew now so that they can be away quickly
if your next diagnostics run still has conflicting data.” He settled into an
adjoining console and began to analyze the sensor data she had uploaded.
“Command Center to Operations,” hailed Bel.
“Operations here.”
“We’re getting some anomalous sensor readings in sector 16. Prepare to launch
Shenandoah to assess the situation onsite at our command. Downloading sensor
data to the runabout now.”
“Acknowledged, Command. We’re scrambling the crew. We’ll launch on your orders.”
“Acknowledged. Command, out.”
“Diagnostics complete. Systems indicate power variance of 6.73 millivolts.” Bel
noted the time at 1818 hours in the log. Lieutenant Sepik worked the board next
to her analyzing the new data.
“Launch the runabout, Ensign.”
“Aye, sir. Command Center to Operations.”
“Operations, here.”
“Launch the Shenandoah. All sensor data uploaded. Report to Command when they
arrive on site.”
“Acknowledged, Command. Launching Shenandoah now. Operations, out.”
Now all they could do was wait. Bel Landes unconsciously worried at the already
bleeding cuticle.
* * *
The arrival of B’Elanna, Tom, Miral, Harry and the EMH at 1820 hours caused a
stir through the crowd. Every member of the crew felt like a proud parent toward
the infant born as they had arrived back in the Alpha quadrant and couldn’t wait
to take their turns holding her.
“It’s a good thing she’s got my temperament and not her mother’s Klingon one,”
joked Tom as he watched his daughter being passed around the adjoining table,
“or she’d be screaming bloody murder by now.”
B’Elanna swatted his arm playfully. ‘Wrong, helmboy. Don’t you know that
Klingons are the life of any party?” The group laughed as they nibbled on the
platter of appetizers in the middle of their table. Phoebe’s caterers had seen
to everything and the tantalizing smell of charcoal-grilling filled the air.
Each table had a large platter of appetizers at its center and the wait staff
moved in steady streams to and from the bars.
The air was cool with more than a tinge of the upcoming winter in it, but the
large crowd didn’t seem to mind in the least. Warm jackets abounded and Gretchen
kept a crackling blaze going in the living room fireplace if anyone needed to
warm up. Staff circulated constantly with pots of hot coffee, tea and cocoa for
the partygoers. That and the alcohol being distributed by the bartenders kept
the chill at bay.
Janeway and Seven strolled over to the tables where Gretchen held court with the
Starfleet brass and joined the group. While Kathryn, Phoebe and Gretchen were
all at ease with the flag officers Seven was slightly apprehensive. Her
relations with Starfleet had not been cordial prior to her abduction and she had
heard from Kathryn that Starfleet Command was not pleased that she had accepted
the research fellowship with MIT-Daystrom instead of their own Theoretical
Propulsion Group headed by Leah Brahms. But so far, nothing unpleasant had been
said and she was determined to avoid the topic if at all possible to keep things
that way.
Gretchen and Owen Paris’ wife, Siobhan, were looking over at Tom, B’Elanna and
Miral and laughing at the young family’s antics.
“Gretchen, I need to thank you.”
“For what?”
“Owen and I are so happy with how Tom’s settled down. I wish he didn’t have to
be lost in the Delta quadrant for seven years to do it, but we can’t thank
Kathryn enough for taking a chance on him. And for making him the good man we
always knew he could become.”
“Siobhan, he would have grown up eventually regardless. And, truth be told, I’m
just the tiniest bit jealous of you and your grandchild. Miral is just
adorable.”
Mrs. Paris grinned and cast a sidelong glance at where Kathryn and Seven were
talking with Admirals Paris, Patterson and Ross. “Gretchen, now that Kathryn’s
getting married and settling down you can start your own campaign for
grandchildren.”
“I know. I only have to stay quiet for two more weeks and then I can start in
earnest. I don’t want to push before the wedding,” the elder Janeway laughed.
Unbeknownst to her Seven’s enhanced hearing picked up every word. She blanched
and quickly took Kathryn’s hand.
Janeway looked down at the clasped hands and leaned close. “What’s wrong,
darling? All of a sudden you’re pale as a ghost.”
“Your mother wants…grandchildren!” Seven whispered, clearly upset.
Janeway laughed and whispered back. “Don’t worry; she’s pestered me about them
for fifteen years. Just ignore her. If we decide to have children it will be on
our terms and not hers. And we’re going to take a good long while to get used to
each other before we think about children. We have plenty of time to think about
that. Don’t get excited.”
Seven visibly relaxed at her words and squeezed her hand. “Thank you, Kathryn.
For a moment I was afraid that I would not have time to enjoy being married to
you before we were required to start a family. I look forward very much to being
married to you.”
Once again Kathryn felt herself fall into the vibrant blue pools of Seven’s eyes.
All she could do was grin and hold her love’s hand. And that was all she was
required to do.
Phoebe managed to break their heated gaze by leaning over Seven’s shoulder and
hissing, “Get a room you two!” When Kathryn started and looked up at her she
continued, “The chefs just told me they’re ready to begin serving. Can you get
everyone’s attention and make an announcement?”
“I sure can.” Janeway released Seven’s hand and climbed up on a nearby picnic
table. After cupping her hands around her mouth and hollering for a minute or
so, she managed to make herself heard and got everyone headed toward the tents
where the food was waiting to be served.
* * *
Ensign Bel Landes glanced at the chronometer mounted on the far wall yet again.
It was 1845 hours and by her calculations the Shenandoah should be on site at
the faulty sensor in sector 16 by now. She was beginning to worry slightly that
there was more wrong on the perimeter than merely a blown sensor module. She
keyed her COMM controls and hailed the runabout.
“Command to Shenandoah.”
“This is Shenandoah, go ahead Command.”
“What is your location? How far are you from the sensor array?”
“We’re only a few minutes out, Command. There’s some kind of strange subspace
disturbance we can’t seem to compensate for and our sensors are all over the
place. We’re reading triquantum waves and higher-than-normal tachyon levels. But
we’re not sure our sensors are picking those readings up or not. We just about…”
Panicked shouts interrupted their communication and screams echoed in the
Shenandoah’s cockpit.
“Shields! Get the shields up!”
“Powering weapons!”
“Evasive maneuvers! Now!”
Using every Bajoran curse she’d ever heard Bel Landes tried to get the runabout
on their view screen, but the subspace disruptions allowed them only flickering
images, heavy with static.
“Shenandoah! What is your status? Report!” she commanded harshly.
When she and Lieutenant Sepik heard the response they could only stare at each
other in disbelief. Then Sepik leapt for the COMM controls to hail Starfleet
Headquarters. As he keyed in commands at his board he instructed Bel to order
the closest available Starfleet vessel to Sector 16 to confirm Shenandoah’s
report.
* * *
Standing the weekend dogwatch at Starfleet Headquarters COMM Center was not
considered a choice duty assignment. Even the deep-space explorers tended to
moderate duty shifts over the weekends. While you were technically never off
duty on a starship, most enlightened commanding officers realized that whenever
a skeleton crew could run the ship and allow most of the crew some extra free
time it meant a happier crew and higher morale. So things were quiet in the COMM
Center that Saturday evening when the call from DS7 came in.
“Starfleet Headquarters, this is Lieutenant Sepik on DS7. I have an emergency
transmission for the ranking duty officer. Priority Alpha-One-Red.”
“DS7, this is Starfleet Headquarters. Repeat your transmission, please,” the
young ensign manning the console had never heard that high a priority before.
“I have an emergency transmission for the ranking duty officer. Priority
Alpha-One-Red. Summon the duty officer immediately!”
The tone of the normally sedate Vulcan’s voice left no doubt in the young
ensign’s mind and his hands flew over his board hailing the Lieutenant Commander
in charge. That officer was in the middle of his dinner and was not particularly
thrilled at being summoned to the COMM Center. When he strode in the door he
barked, “Report!”
“Sir, I have Lieutenant Sepik of DS7 with an Alpha-One-Red transmission.”
The duty officer was stunned. “What? Put him on screen!” He waited a moment for
the image to clear. “This is Lieutenant Commander Tripp. I’m the duty officer.
Go ahead with your transmission.”
No one in the room was prepared for what the report contained. Tripp blanched
visibly at the news but command protocols had to be observed. “Have you
confirmed your runabout’s report? We’re going to need confirmation before I can
move anything substantial your way.”
“We have the USS Daran enroute and have received answering hails from the
freighters Nakamura Maru and Agamemnon. The Daran should be on site within ten
minutes, the freighters in perhaps fifteen.”
“Very well, DS7. Stand by for word from your ships. We’ll maintain an open
channel with you. Get back with us as soon as you have more solid information.”
“Acknowledged, Headquarters. Standing by.”
Now there were several people chewing on cuticles. Their wait was not long
however. At 1912 hours, Sepik activated the COMM channel.
“Sepik to Headquarters. Earlier reports confirmed. I repeat, earlier reports are
confirmed by USS Daran.”
Lieutenant Commander Tripp began snapping out orders. “Lieutenant Sepik, lock
down your station and prepare to defend yourselves. I’m ordering everything we
have in the area to your location. Keep this channel open.”
“Acknowledged, Headquarters. Tactical lockdown commencing now. DS7 standing by.”
Tripp turned to the officers in the COMM center. “Who’s the flag officer on duty
this weekend? Nechayev, isn’t it?”
“Yes sir, most of the other Admirals are at some function in Indiana,” reported
a lieutenant.
“Hail Admirals Nechayev and Patterson. Emergency protocol! Get me the location
and status of every vessel within ten light years of DS7. Put up the tactical
display for three sectors around the station. What have we got out there in the
way of heavy ships of the line? Get Operations and Intelligence in here and have
Security lock the building down. Move people!”
Everyone jumped to obey his commands.
* * *
The meal had been a huge success and everyone was comfortably stuffed when
Kathryn rose and once again got everyone’s attention. She again climbed on a
picnic table, this time pulling Seven up alongside of her. Holding her lover’s
hand she signaled the crowd for quiet.
“I’m not planning on talking for a long time so I’ll get right to the point. Did
everybody have enough to eat?” The answering cheers from the crowd nearly
drowned out the beeping sound behind them. Seven turned her head and looked at
Admiral Patterson who was reaching into his pants pocket.
“I just want to thank you all for coming here to celebrate with us. We’ve been
like family for so long that it just seemed…” This time the beeping could not be
ignored. Admiral Patterson rose with a shrug of apology. Kathryn nodded him
toward the house and turned back to continue her speech.
“As I was saying, we’ve all been a family for the past seven years and it only
seemed right that we all celebrate the…”
This time, even the partygoers several tables away heard the insistent beeping.
Admirals Paris, Hayes, Ross and Pulaski all reached for their COMM badges.
“This can’t be good,” Kathryn murmured to Seven. To the crowd she continued,
“Well, we all know that Starfleet can spoil even your best plans, so I suppose
we’d better answer these hails and then get back to some serious partying.
Everyone please carry on. We’ll be back in just a minute, I’m sure.” With that
she and Seven jumped down from the table and led the Admirals into the house.
In her father’s den she sat at his antique desk and activated the COMM unit that
sat on it. Admiral Patterson gave her the channel frequencies and in a moment
the channel with Starfleet Command was open.
“Starfleet Command, this is Captain Kathryn Janeway. I have Admirals Patterson,
Paris, Ross, Hayes and Pulaski with me.”
The COMM officer at Headquarters answered promptly. “Yes, Captain. Standby while
we link you into the command call.”
In another moment the faces of the others on the call appeared on the screen.
Admiral Patterson leaned down toward the screen and asked Admiral Nechayev
“Alynna, what’s going on?”
Admiral Nechayev responded quickly. “Apparently we have an Alpha-One-Red
emergency transmission from DS7. Commander Tripp, are you ready?”
“Yes, sir. Linking to DS7 now.”
If Lieutenant Sepik was at all uncomfortable briefing six admirals and one of
the most distinguished captains in Starfleet it did not show. His face was
perfectly composed and if there was a hint of a tremor in his voice as he
delivered his message no one commented on it.
“Admiral, the Borg are here.”
End of Part 1