Voyager was in Earth orbit in the main space dock taking on supplies.  Her Maquis passengers had been greeted by Starfleet security personnel and placed in guest housing normally reserved for visiting dignitaries.  They were being well treated and it appeared that all Starfleet’s promises about their treatment would be kept.  There was no denying that Starfleet was extremely disappointed about the absence of the Élan’s captain.  Under the circumstances, they could not hold Kathryn Janeway responsible since he had been taken by the Cardassians weeks before she had received her orders to find the Élan.  Kathryn wasn’t so forgiving of herself; she still wanted to find Chakotay and bring him to Starfleet.  Tuvok had been thoroughly debriefed for five days by Starfleet security and by Starfleet intelligence.  Starfleet had been severely upset to learn that not only had the Cardassians managed to snatch Chakotay out of Starfleet’s hands, but had retrieved a well established spy at the same time.  While Chakotay was a potential security risk, Seska would have been a major source of information about Cardassian bases and general practices, not to mention their spy network and sympathizers.

Voyager was still in space dock ten days after her return from Deep Space 9 primarily because Kathryn had not yet received new orders.  Kathryn Janeway fully expected those orders to take Voyager back toward Cardassia and the war.  On its journey from DS9 to Earth, Voyager had passed over a hundred ships heading for the front lines.

Kathryn looked up from her desk to check the time.  She was due at headquarters in half an hour to receive her next assignment.  Voyager was only one of more than 20 ships awaiting orders in space dock.  She glanced out her viewport and saw another ship moving away from space dock.  Kathryn expected Voyager would be delayed only long enough for additional senior officers to come aboard before joining the stream of ships departing for the Cardassian border.  She sighed, stood up and headed out the door of her ready room.

Kathryn Janeway arrived at the reception area of Starfleet Headquarters.  She had not been told where to go to pick up her orders or who would be delivering them to her.  That was typical of communiqués from Admiral Necheyev.  The receptionist directed her to one of the smaller conference rooms usually used for small group meetings.  Headquarters seemed different.  There was a tension that normally would not have been there.  Everyone was serious; there was no small talk or quiet laughter echoing the halls.  The war had placed a quiet hush over the building’s routine activities.  Kathryn could only imagine how it would feel once the first casualty lists started coming in from the front lines.  Kathryn joined four other captains in the hall outside the conference room.  Evidently she would have to wait her turn.  Kathryn recognized one of the men, but the other three people were strangers.  That in itself was unusual.  Most captains knew other captains by sight and reputation, if not personally.  For Kathryn to come into contact with three captains who were all strangers was an indication of recent promotions, made in anticipation of losses soon to be felt as the hostilities intensified.  The three men and one woman did not seemed inclined to speak so Kathryn did not try to start a conversation.  A woman left the conference room, having evidently received her orders, and indicated that “Tallmadge” should enter next.  One of the men Kathryn did not know entered the conference room.

Eventually Kathryn was summoned to the conference room.  She was surprised to see not one but three admirals -- Admirals Paris, Necheyev and Smith -- all seated at one end of the table.

“Reporting as ordered, sirs,” Kathryn wasn’t taking any chances with Necheyev in the room.  Paris and Smith were usually informal in meetings like this but Necheyev never was.  Kathryn would let the admirals set the tone of this meeting.  Admiral Paris responded to Kathryn’s standard phrase.

“Kathryn, please sit down. We won’t stand on too much formality today.”  Necheyev looked disgruntled about Paris’s response.  Kathryn suspected Necheyev would have preferred Kathryn to stand during the entire meeting and that Paris had spoken first intentionally.

“Yes, Admiral.”  Kathryn took a seat opposite the three admirals and waited for them to speak.  Smith took up the conversation.

“With any other captain, Kathryn, I would expect you to be relieved about your orders.  However, I know you, and you will not like your orders or the staffing details that come with them.  Basically, Voyager will be one of four ships patrolling Federation borders away from the front lines.  It sounds like a job for the inexperienced, but it’s not.  Those borders are just as much at risk now as our lines near Cardassia, if not more so, and we will have only four ships in the entire area.  You will probably not see another Starfleet vessel larger than a shuttlecraft for the duration of hostilities.  For all intents and purposes, you will be on your own.  There will be no backup available less than ten days travel from your patrol area.  You will probably not even be able to get advice from Starfleet headquarters because, quite honestly, we will be focusing on the Cardassian front.”  Kathryn was stunned.  The possibility that she would be sent in the opposite direction from the war had never crossed her mind.  Paris picked up the conversation, if such a one-sided communication could be called a conversation.

“The Fleet’s only other intrepid class ship, the Adventurer, will be assigned the same duties.  The Enterprise is the third ship; we haven’t confirmed the fourth ship yet.  I can tell you that Picard isn’t much happier about his orders than I imagine you are.  Kathryn, I can’t impress upon you enough how important this will be to the Federation.  We absolutely cannot spend time worrying about our borders.  We at Starfleet Command will need to focus all of our attention on the Cardassians and the Dominion.  That’s why we’re putting only our best on border patrol.”

“Admiral, Voyager can do a lot for the Federation at the front.  Asking us to head away from the danger is asking us to turn our backs on our fellow officers, our friends, and for some of us, our families.”  Smith interrupted before Necheyev could finish taking a breath to reprove Kathryn.

“Yes, Captain.  Voyager can do a lot at the front.  But very few, if any, of those ships can do what Voyager can on the Federation’s other borders.  There were only a handful of captains we’d even consider for these patrol assignments.  To be blunt, the things that generally make a good captain are the same traits that make a person unacceptable for this assignment.  We have yet to agree to the best person for the fourth patrol post.  You are one of the few we believe can handle this assignment.  We trust YOU, Captain, and your crew to work without the backup you’ve been trained to expect and which experience has taught you is going to be there.  This decision is final, Kathryn.”  Kathryn nodded in unwilling acceptance.

“As you wish, Admiral.  When will the replacement officers be transferring to Voyager?  I take it my orders have Voyager leaving as soon as possible.”

“You’re right about the timing of Voyager’s departure.  We expect you to be gone by 12:00 tomorrow.  Give your crew the rest of today to prepare.  Pick up additional supplies if you think you will need them.  Restocking transports may be a bit irregular in the coming months.”  Paris finished answering that part of Kathryn’s question, then turned to look at the other two to see which wanted to give Captain Janeway the news about additional officers.  Necheyev didn’t waste the opportunity to speak, especially since she knew Kathryn wouldn’t like what she heard.

“Captain, you will not be receiving any additional senior officers.  In fact, you’re lucky to be keeping Tuvok and Cavitt at this point.  Tom Paris is going to be receiving orders to join your crew later today.  Don’t be surprised if one or more of these officers are transferred in coming months.  Most of your medical staff will be receiving orders within the hour to report to various hospital ships waiting to depart for bases closer to the front.  They will be of more use there than on a patrol ship.  Most of your middle-experience engineers will also be transferred.  Voyager’s systems are too new and their familiarity with the theory behind those systems is not any greater than last year’s Academy graduates.  You will be receiving replacements from that class for engineering.  There is a proposal before the C in C that may result in Voyager receiving a few more experienced officers in a month or two, but there are still many issues to resolve before it can be approved much less implemented, so don’t count on those transfers in the near future.”  Just like Necheyev to hold out a carrot then yank it away.  She alone of the three admirals seemed to enjoy giving these orders.  Once she had stopped talking, she waited for Kathryn’s response.  Kathryn remained silent.  She was beyond words.  First she was ordered to border patrol, an assignment that had long carried the stigma of incompetence; then she is told her two most senior officers may be transferred in the near future.  Finally she is told practically her entire staff of officers will be ensigns who have barely any experience at anything.  Admiral Paris finally broke the silence that had settled over the room.

“Any questions, Captain?”

“No, Admiral.  At least, I have no questions with answers that would make this any easier for me.  I understand my orders and the reasons behind them.  I will be honest, sirs, I do not like my orders, but you have my word as an officer that I will carry them out to the best of my ability.  At least the families of my crew will be happy about Voyager’s orders.  With your permission, I will take no more of your time.”

Necheyev was extremely disappointed by Kathryn’s reaction.  She had hoped for an angry protest, an argument, maybe even a threat to resign rather than a calm acceptance of the border patrol duty.  Necheyev thought Kathryn was in control of her reaction; she would have been very pleased to know that Kathryn was still too stunned to react.  Admirals Paris and Smith were relieved at Kathryn’s acceptance.  They would have understood if she had protested her orders more strongly and were quite frankly surprised that she didn’t ask them to reconsider leaving the engineers she already had stay with Voyager.  Paris concluded the meeting as he handed Janeway a padd.

“We’re counting on you, Kathryn.  Voyager has been cleared to leave space dock at your discretion.  The details of your orders are on the padd as well as a description of the areas assigned to the other three ships.  Please ask Jessup to join us as we leave.  Thank you.  Dismissed.  Good luck.”

“Yes, sir.  Thank you, sir.”  Kathryn left looking as unsettled as any other captain leaving the conference room, though not for the same reasons.  She nearly forgot to tell Jessup he was next.  It was a good thing he was the only person left or she might not have known who he was.  Functioning on autopilot, she made her way toward the main reception area.  About half way there, a voice pulled her from her thoughts.

“Captain.  Kathryn!”  Tom Paris’s voice finally broke through to her conscious mind.

“Tom!  I’m sorry.  I was thinking.  What are you doing down here?”

“My dad wanted to meet me for lunch, so here I am.”  Tom’s voice didn’t sound too enthused at the thought of lunch with his father.

“What’s wrong, Tom.  You don’t sound like you’re looking forward to seeing your father.”

“I’m not.  I think he’s still upset about that shuttle crash and me being forced out of Starfleet.  I don’t know whether he wants to tell me I’m being returned to that penal colony, yell at me about the cover up and lying again, or just have lunch with his son.  For all I know, it could be all three.  He’d not waste the opportunity to get three things accomplished at one time if it suited his purposes.  Did you get your new orders yet, Captain?”

“You know I couldn’t tell you even if I had, Tom.  You don’t even have to call me “captain” anymore.  Your appointment to work on Voyager ended when we returned to Earth.  The only reason you’re still on board is that Starfleet hasn’t yet told you where you’re going and I haven’t felt an urge to shove you out an airlock.”  Tom smiled at her humor.  At least he hoped it was humor.  Kathryn paused and considered her next words.

“Look, Tom, enjoy the time with your father.  Don’t be defensive unless he gives you a reason.  If nothing else comes up, why don’t you meet me in the main mess hall here at headquarters for dinner and you can tell me about your visit?  I should be there about 18:30 hours.  I’ll try to find a table near the east windows; that’s usually pretty empty in the evenings.”

“All right, Kathryn.  I’ll plan on meeting you about 18:30.  I’ll leave you a message if something comes up and I can’t make it.  Well, I’ll be late if I don’t get moving.”

“See you later, Tom.”  Kathryn smiled.  Well, at least she knew Tom wouldn’t be hearing that he was going back to the penal colony.  She hoped Voyager was good news for him.  She smiled for Tom.  Although they hadn’t mentioned what rank he would be given, Admiral Necheyev’s phrasing had indicated Tom would be subordinate only to Janeway, Cavitt and Tuvok.  That meant he would be a full lieutenant since the senior engineer was currently a full lieutenant.  It also meant Tom would be assigned to the administrative track, rather surprising considering his background.  His training did not qualify him for sciences and she had been told she would only be getting recent academy graduates for engineering so Tom wouldn’t be part of her engineering crew.  The only option left was the administrative track, or command track, if he didn’t get transferred back to engineering or ops later in his career.  Tom may have disappointed his father once before, but for now his father was probably very proud of Tom.  Kathryn only hoped Owen Paris would tell his son how he felt.  She thought Tom deserved to hear the words.

Her conversation with Tom reminded Kathryn that she should probably get her lunch soon.  She decided to try a coffee shop a few blocks from headquarters that used to make wonderful soups and salads.  The fact that they had the best coffee in San Francisco wasn’t any hardship either.  She would read the details of her orders and then return to Voyager to put in motion all the things that needed to be completed so they could leave space dock.

At 18:00 Kathryn straightened and then stretched.  She had been working for more than five hours at her desk in Voyager’s ready room.  She had been busy deciding which additional supplies she should request.  The task should normally have fallen to her first officer, but her orders were to keep Voyager’s orders confidential from her entire crew, including Cavitt until after they left space dock.  Cavitt’s responsibilities during the afternoon had been limited to making sure the entire crew had at least 8 hours leave before 06:00 tomorrow.  Kathryn told Cavitt to make sure that the entire kitchen staff had from 15:00 until 24:00 off, effectively closing Voyager’s mess hall during that time.  The supply list had been a bit challenging because it had to include those items that could not be easily obtained in Voyager’s assigned patrol area, or that came from any planet near the front lines.  Kathryn also tried to identify materials that might become scarce just because of higher consumption rates due to the war.  Fresh fruits and vegetables were the single biggest challenge.  Even with stasis storage, they would have to renew their supplies every few months.  Energy supplies were less of a problem because there were several sources within Voyager’s patrol area.  The problem there would be the higher demand caused by the war.  Kathryn decided that they would restock very soon at the source rather than take supplies from space dock that would be needed at the front.  Her final decision before leaving to meet Tom for dinner was to add three coffee plants to the requisition for hydroponics that already included a variety of fruit trees.  She copied the head of hydroponics on the requisition and attached a memo saying that if additional equipment was needed to house the new plants, it should be requisitioned immediately through Cavitt.  Kathryn looked at the clock.  She’d better hurry or she’d be late for her first meeting with Tom as one of her senior officers.

Kathryn was only two minutes late entering the main mess hall at Starfleet headquarters.  She wasn’t surprised that Tom was there before she arrived; she was surprised to see Owen Paris with him.

“Admiral.  I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.  Are you free to join us for dinner?”

“Actually, Kathryn, no.  And neither is Tom.  His mother insists that we all go out together tonight and that we bring you along with us.  We’re meeting her at 19:00 at Tom’s favorite restaurant in China Town.”  Tom was grinning ear to ear.  His rank pips shining nearly as brightly as his father’s grin.  His new rank and assignment must have been good news.

“I don’t think so, Owen.  This is Tom’s night.  He should spend it with his family.  I only wanted to know how your lunch went, and Tom’s face and your words have just told me all I needed to know.”  Kathryn started toward the serving line, but was stopped by Tom’s hand on her arm.

“No, Captain.  I really would like you to come.  You’re practically family and the only other Starfleet brat on Voyager.  This will be our last chance to share that before we leave for wherever it is we’re going.  Don’t argue, just come with us.  If we’re late, my mother will make us come back here and find you.  Save us all the trouble and let us enjoy some really great food at the same time.  Please.”  Kathryn studied the two men for a moment.  Both had puppy dog expressions on their faces; one resembled a face only a St. Bernard could love, the other reminded Kathryn of the face of a golden retriever’s pride and joy.  She sighed.  How could she say “no” to such adorable puppies?  Her expression told them they had won and that knowledge showed on their faces.  Each man took one of Kathryn’s arms and led her toward the door and dinner.

“Gentlemen, I agree to this on one condition.”  They looked at Kathryn waiting for the condition but never stopped walking. “My condition is that this is a dinner with friends, not fellow officers.  Agreed?”  The men smiled.

“Agreed”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Tom,” Kathryn’s voice held a warning.

“Sorry!  Yes, Kathryn.”  They were all laughing as they left Starfleet headquarters.  The few officers observing their departure wondered at their laughter when a war had just begun and envied them the brief respite that they wished they too could share.

Kathryn had thoroughly enjoyed her evening with the Paris family.  They had talked over their shared experiences during her years as she came up through the ranks and caught up on more recent happenings when the encounters became fewer and farther between after she received her promotion to full Commander.  Tom’s parents both told tales of his misbehavior before he entered Starfleet Academy.  Owen Paris said he was still trying to decide how to punish him for landing his private shuttle in a lake.  Tom flinched.  He was proud of his skills at the helm of a ship and that was his biggest black mark as a pilot.  Kathryn watched the three and knew that they were finally a family no longer torn by internal conflict.  Owen would never really understand Tom, but he was proud of his son.  For Tom, that was enough.  Julia Paris was clearly pleased that the two men had made their peace with each other.  They had laughed and talked for hours, moving from the dining area to a corner table in the bar for dessert and a nightcap.   Finally, Kathryn gave Owen a pointed look and said she really had to go because Voyager was still a full time job even in space dock.  Owen took the hint and helped override Julia’s protests.  Tom followed the lead of his captain and father.  Even though she wouldn’t admit it, he knew Kathryn had received new orders earlier even if he didn’t know what they contained.  The four parted at the door; Owen and Julia to return to their home; Tom and Kathryn to return to Voyager.

Kathryn and Tom had decided to walk back to headquarters rather than transport directly from the restaurant.  They discussed the evening and revisited a few jokes and stories before turning to Tom’s assignment on Voyager.  They discussed schedules for the people who were in Tom’s department.  Tom was still getting used to having a department much less being responsible for training and other matters.  Kathryn told him to report to the bridge at 07:00 for a duty shift.  He needed to start settling in as soon as possible.

Kathryn returned to her quarters to catch up on all the reports and transfers that had come in from Starfleet since her meeting earlier in the day.  Most of the transfers were as she had been told. Only one was unexpected and had been issued after the meeting.  That order transferred her Chief Engineer to another ship in space dock.  Kathryn was not surprised to see Admiral Necheyev’s name of the authorization line for that transfer.  Kathryn sighed.  She felt defeated by what was being asked of her.  Part of Kathryn wanted to confront Necheyev and everyone who looked blindly the other way.  Another part of Kathryn realized there was no point in even arguing.  Resigned, Kathryn pulled up a request form to complete and submit to Starfleet personnel through the normal channels.  She would ask for a chief engineer, but she would not beg for one.  She might have to follow their rules, but she didn’t have to play their games.  She transmitted the completed request and returned to the other files.  Tomorrow was time enough to select an acting chief engineer.  She may as well let the man get a good night’s sleep; it would probably be his last for many months.  Kathryn fell asleep at her desk preparing a list of all the additional people Voyager really needed to operate properly.

Kathryn awoke to her alarm going off, stiff from sleeping hunched over her desk.  She made a note to work on her couch the next time she was likely to fall asleep working.  It was a little more comfortable.  She got up, grabbed a cup of coffee and opened a com link to her new acting chief engineer.

“Janeway to Carey.”  She fully expected him to still be asleep.

“Carey here, Captain.  What can I do for you?”  Carey sounded alert.

“Can you meet me in the mess hall in 45 minutes.  I need to talk to you about some matters affecting engineering.”  Not the best place to land this on an unsuspecting lieutenant, but it would have to do.  She didn’t have time for long, formal meetings today.  She wanted Voyager away from space dock by 10:00 at the latest and it was already 06:00.

“Certainly, Captain.  I’ll see you there in 45 minutes.”  Carey’s voice reflected his confusion. He was not the usual person to be speaking to the captain about department matters. Kathryn realized that she had better meet with Cavitt soon to bring him up to speed on the transfers leaving the ship and those not coming to the ship.  He would know about the first, but not the second.

“Janeway to Cavitt.”

“Yes, Captain.  Go ahead.”  Cavitt sounded a bit disturbed at the early call.

“Meet me in my ready room at 07:30.”

“Yes, sir.  Do I need to bring any reports or other materials?”

“No, Commander.  Just bring a padd in case you want to take notes.”  Kathryn knew Cavitt prided himself on his memory and that the reference to taking notes would hit a small nerve.  With that, Kathryn headed for the shower promising herself another cup of coffee when she was dressed.

Joe Carey was rushing along the corridors heading for the mess hall.  He did not want to be late for his appointment with the captain.  He reached a turbolift and entered.  Samantha Wildman greeted him with a smile.  Joe returned her greeting.  He had seen her around the ship from time to time, but they had never really spoken.  She was quiet yet friendly.  A buddy had told him she was in an off and on relationship with a K’Tarian based at DS9.  Joe had considered asking her to have dinner with him, but hadn’t felt comfortable about it because of her involvement.  She didn’t seem like the type of person who would be happy in an off and on relationship.  She seemed like the type to want something more permanent.  Joe’s thoughts were interrupted when the doors of the turbolift opened on Deck 6 near the mess hall.  He smiled at Samantha and exited, picking up his pace as his thoughts returned to his meeting with the captain.

Kathryn had just found an empty table off to one side of the room when Carey entered the mess hall.  He quickly moved to the serving line and then made his way to where she was seated.

“Sit down, Joe.  I apologize for not giving you more notice about this meeting and for making it over breakfast.”

“Good morning, Captain.  It’s not an inconvenience, but I am puzzled about why I’m here when you said this dealt with engineering.”

“It’s really rather simple, Joe.  You might have noticed all the transfers yesterday?”  Joe nodded.  “Well, one of the last transfers sent Miller to the Castilian.  Starfleet has already advised me that I will not be getting any replacements above the rank of ensign.  That means, Lieutenant, that you are Voyager’s most senior engineer.  Effective as soon as I can complete the paperwork, you are Acting Chief Engineer.”  Kathryn paused.  This was the hard part – how to tell Joe that he wasn’t ready to be chief engineer.  Joe saved her the search for the correct words.

“Captain, I’m not ready to handle all that responsibility.  I know Voyager’s systems as well as anyone on board.  I can supervise the people and I’m more than willing to do the work.  But I just don’t have that intuitive grasp of how to put theory into practice that makes a good chief engineer.  Are you sure you want me in that position.”

“Joe, I am sure.  Right now you are the best I have; you’re all I have.  That is no reflection on you.  I think when you check the list of people in your department, you will find very few with more than a few months experience.  Don’t get me wrong, Joe, but I agree with everything you just said.  We do need someone who can put theory into practice but until we get that engineer, I need you to keep the department running.  Will you do that for me?”

“I’ll try, Captain.  I will really try.  I just hope I don’t let you down.”

“I don’t think that will happen, Joe.  Now, I’m due on the bridge.  Please, excuse me.”  Kathryn left Joe to finish his breakfast.  The man had more on his plate this morning than he could ever have expected.  Kathryn grinned at the pun and headed for the turbolift.

Kathryn had a lot to check before Voyager could leave space dock and she wanted them away in less than three hours.  She looked around the bridge when she entered, saw Tom already at the helm, turned the bridge over to him and continued to her ready room leaving instructions for Cavitt to join her as soon as he arrived.  She paused and added one additional instruction.

“Tom, begin checking systems for our departure from space dock.  Contact engineering and have them begin checking their systems.”

“Aye, Captain.”  Tom barely had time to acknowledge her instructions before the doors closed behind Kathryn.  He contacted engineering and was somewhat surprised to hear Joe Carey’s voice respond.  Tom passed on the Captain’s instructions.  Cavitt entered while Tom was speaking to engineering and looked a bit unsettled to see Tom in the Captain's chair issuing instructions to Carey in engineering.  Cavitt had the feeling he had missed something while he slept.  Tom turned to Cavitt as he finished speaking with Carey.

“The captain wants to see you in her ready room right away, Commander.”  Cavitt was not amused.  He would have been even less amused if he had noticed the pips on Tom’s collar or realized that the two men had been discussing Voyager’s departure.  Cavitt headed toward the ready room.  Hopefully all would be explained in the next few minutes.

“You wanted to see me, Captain?”  Cavitt’s vivacious personality burst upon the room like a cloud of doom.  Stiff and formal as always, Cavitt always made a situation seem worse than it was.  Kathryn didn’t know whether she was relieved or sorry he had not been among those transferred off Voyager in the last twelve hours.

“Ah, Commander.  Please sit down.  I received the orders for Voyager’s next assignment.  The only thing I can tell you about those orders until we are underway is that we’re leaving by 10:00.  You should have copies of numerous transfers from Starfleet personnel.  Make sure all those leaving Voyager are off the ship by 09:00.  Among the transfers was our chief engineer.  I’ve appointed Joe Carey as Acting Chief.  Please complete the paperwork and submit it to Starfleet Personnel before our departure.  I’ve already submitted a request for a replacement Chief Engineer.  You’ve probably noticed our additional officer when you arrived.”  Cavitt’s expression was a sure sign he had not noticed.  “Tom Paris has been assigned to Voyager as a full Lieutenant. He is our chief helmsman and part of our senior staff now.  Make sure he gets appropriate quarters.  You probably should move Carey to better quarters as well.  He’ll earn them in the coming weeks.  I’m in the process of preparing a rough analysis of our staffing needs.  As it stands, I know Voyager needs more crew before we are adequately staffed.  I’d like you to prepare a similar analysis on your own; we can compare them at 14:00 today.  Make sure all the supplies I requisitioned last night are on board by 09:30.  I don’t want any last minute problems delaying our departure.”  Kathryn issued a few more orders and dismissed Cavitt.  As he left she handed him a padd with a list of the issues she had just covered.  He might trust his memory, but she didn’t.

At 09:45, Captain Janeway entered her bridge.

“Status report, Mr. Paris.”

“Voyager is ready for departure.  All personnel are on board and all systems are operating at 100%.  Space dock flight control has cleared us for departure whenever we’re ready.”  Kathryn had heard the clearance and knew it included Voyager’s departure at her captain’s discretion had been given the unqualified go ahead.  Kathryn could take Voyager out whenever and however she wanted.

“Advise flight control that we are ready to leave.  Detach mooring clamps and bring maneuvering thrusters on line.”  Kathryn waited until Tom’s body language told her that the tasks had been completed.  “Move us away slowly, Mr. Paris, and get us in line with the space doors.  Forward view on screen.”  The space doors slowly centered themselves on the forward screen.  ”Take us out, Tom.  One-quarter impulse.”

“One-quarter impulse.  Aye, Captain.”  Tom’s voice was a bit hesitant.  Anything other than maneuvering thrusters inside space dock was frowned upon, but others had done it before.   Cavitt didn’t look any too pleased, but there was nothing he could do or say.  Kathryn watched Tom’s head move checking every reading he could.  She knew what was going through his head; at thrusters he was completely confident because he had time to make adjustments if he had made a minor error in Voyager’s orientation with respect to the space dock doors, but at one-quarter impulse they would be through the doors before he could possibly even know he had overlooked a reading.  She smiled as she saw Tom and Cavitt take deep breaths just before Tom hit the button to engage impulse engines, and sigh moments later when the screen showed they had cleared (and missed) the main doors to space dock.

“Tom, put us on a course perpendicular to the plain of the ecliptic ¾ impulse and let me know when we’ve passed the heliopause.”

“Aye, Captain.”

“I’ll be in my ready room.  Commander, you have the bridge.”

Kathryn had been in her ready room for all of five minutes when Cavitt signaled her.  “Incoming message from Starfleet for you, Captain.  It’s scrambled.”

“Put it through to me in here, Commander.”  Kathryn activated the viewscreen on her desk and was a bit surprised to see Owen Paris’s face.  Uh-oh.  I should have known they wouldn’t let me get away with that kind of departure from space dock.

“Yes, Admiral.  What can I do for you, sir?”  Kathryn was not going to apologize for scaring flight control into paying a little more attention to their phrasing when giving ships clearance to depart space dock.

“Kathryn, I’m glad to know you have such faith in Tom, but please consider that some of the people in flight control do not share that confidence.  You’re lucky Admiral Necheyev is touring the Academy today, or I’d have to officially reprimand you for giving the order and Tom for following it.”

“Admiral, I somehow doubt you called just to tell me I got lucky.  What is the real reason you called?”

“You’re right, Kathryn.  It appears that in the haste of restocking Voyager, some cargo handlers became confused and loaded some supplies that should have been held for the next transport to Vulcan.  We’re transferring a manifest of those supplies along with delivery instructions.  It won’t take you more than four hours out of the way to your assignment, so I’m asking you to make the delivery for us rather than return to space dock and transfer the supplies back to cargo storage.  I’d hate to see you come crawling back into space dock after that flashy departure.  I’d also hate to be in the control room when the assignment to handle Voyager’s arrival was made.”

“Admiral, I don’t for one minute believe the cargo handlers became confused or that the manifest would tell anyone what those supplies really were.  If I did, I would probably offer to drop them off in space with a locator beacon for a shuttle to pick up.  If I forget that idea and Voyager goes to Vulcan, do I have permission to remain in orbit long enough for some of my crew to visit their families, say 12 hours?”

“Kathryn, I think it will take you about 12 hours to make sure the cargo is delivered to the proper recipients and get clearance from Vulcan Central to depart.  Who is Starfleet to argue with the circumstances that caused the delay?  Tell me, Kathryn, who was the most shaken up by your order?  Tom or Cavitt?”

“I’m not sure, but I think Cavitt.  At least Tom could see all the relevant readings and know Voyager would clear the space doors.  I’d better get going, Admiral, or I’ll never get to Vulcan.”

“Good luck, Kathryn.  Take care of yourself and your crew.  Paris out.”

“Thank you, Owen.  Janeway out.”

“Janeway to Paris.”

“Yes, Captain?”

“How long until we reach the heliopause, Tom?”

“We should be there in about two minutes.”

“OK, Tom.  When we get there, set a course for Vulcan and engage at warp 7.  Let me know when we’re within com range of Vulcan Central.”

“Aye, Captain.”

Twenty-four hours later, Kathryn turned the bridge over to Cavitt and headed for her quarters.  The supplies had been delivered to Vulcan security.  Listed as foodstuffs on the manifest, Kathryn suspected the containers probably contained weapons for Vulcan civilian ships that might be traveling near the front lines or other sensitive areas.  Voyager was headed for her designated patrol station and Kathryn needed to get some sleep.  If the first day were any indicator of the weeks ahead, Voyager would be a busy ship if nothing else.