"Lights!"

The illumination in the room brightened to normal levels. Sighing, Kathryn Janeway threw the covers off her bed, grabbed her silk robe and padded over to the washroom attached to her sleeping quarters.

She gazed at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were red rimmed with lack of sleep and her hair was tangled from tossing and turning in bed. Turning on the water, she filled the basin and used the contents to splash over her face.

Once again she considered her image in the mirror. The weight of command was pressing heavily upon her at the moment. The Starship Voyager was racing through an area of space that seemed to be teeming with hostile life right now and she wondered, not for the first time, if she had made the right choice by stranding her ship and crew in the Delta Quadrant.

They had seen and done much in the last six and a half years away from home. They had helped many people and made some new enemies as well, but on balance she thought that the Delta Quadrant was a better place for the influence of Voyager and its crew.

But she always had her responsibilities to that crew to think about. Not only the ones who had given their lives so far from their home worlds, but the new additions. Seven of Nine, Naomi Wildman, the crewmembers they had taken on from another stranded Starfleet ship, the Equinox. And coming up in a few months time, the child of Tom and B'Elanna Paris would be born. How many more children would grow up with Voyager as their only home?

"I sometimes wish we had never come to the Delta Quadrant," she told her reflection.

She was momentarily startled by a burst of light from behind her. But as her eyes adjusted, she knew exactly who she would see when they did.

"Hello, Kathryn. Long time no see. Well, for your species anyway."

"Q!" She spat the name like a curse. Turning from the mirror, which showed his smug image as well as her own furious one, she confronted the super being. "Why are you here?"

Q held up his hands in mock surrender. He was wearing his usual Starfleet Captain's uniform. "Kathryn, what a way to greet an old friend."

"I have no doubt that in cosmological terms, you are indeed old, but you are no friend of mine!" she told him. She barged past him and back into her bedroom.

"You know, Picard never appreciated me either," Q commented as he followed her. "Not even when I was helping him, like I was about to help you."

"Help? Why would you want to help me? And what is the price of this help?"

"So many questions my dear Kathryn, and so little time, at least for the human race." Q laughed, amused by his own joke.

"And you, as usual, haven't answered any of them," Janeway reminded him.

Q considered. "Very well. Yes. Because I like you. There is no charge. There, your three questions answered in full."

"You want to help me because you like me?" Janeway asked, scowling at her late night guest. "And what does this help entail? Getting us home?"

"Oh, I can do better than that Kathryn," Q said, spreading his arms wide. "I'm going to give you what you wished for."

Janeway looked puzzled. "I'm not sure I follow you Q," she admitted.

"I'm going to grant the wish you made just before I appeared. I'm going to ensure that Voyager never gets stranded in the Delta Quadrant!"

"But..." Janeway began before Q cut her off.

"You can thank me later. Oh, and remember that saying you humans are fond of quoting at times like these? 'Be careful what you wish for, it might come true'."

With those words he clicked his fingers and everything vanished.

***

"Captain's Log, Stardate 48316.4. We have entered the area known as the Badlands in search of the Maquis ship that has been causing the Cardassians so much grief recently. Mr Paris is proving that he knows the area well, having guided Lieutenant Stadi around a number of plasma storms that could have seriously damaged the ship. I am hoping this young man can use the opportunity I have given him to get his life back on track. Computer, pause."

Captain Kathryn Janeway sat back in the chair behind her desk. She was still getting used to the office of her first command. Rising from the chair, she moved to the replicator, intent on ordering herself a coffee.

Before she could reach it, her door chime sounded. "Come," she called, turning to face her visitor.

First Officer Cavit stepped through from the bridge. The door had barely shut behind him when he started speaking.

"Captain, I don't trust Paris."

"Why not?" Janeway inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"I believe he's leading us by the nose," Cavit said, pacing the floor before the Captain's desk. "He could be sending us around in circles for all we know, while his Maquis friends watch from a safe distance and laugh up their sleeves at us!"

"You don't like Mr Paris, do you?" she asked.

Cavit shook his head. "I don't like any criminal deserters Captain."

"I would prefer to give him the benefit of the doubt," Janeway said smoothly. "I think that young man has potential, if only someone would give him the chance to prove it."

Cavit set his firm jaw. "I can't agree with you on this Captain," he replied. "I shall be making an entry in my Log that I don't trust Tom Paris and that I have made my feelings plain on the matter to you. No offence," he added.

"None taken," Janeway replied. "A Captain and First Officer can't agree all the time. That would be a recipe for disaster. I did hear..."

A hail from the bridge interrupted her. "Captain, we have a contact on long range sensors!"

"I'll be right there Mr Kim," she replied. Nodding to Cavit, she let the grey haired man lead the way onto the bridge.

"Do you have the contact on the screen?" Janeway asked as she crossed to her command chair.

"Yes, Ma'am," replied Ensign Harry Kim from the operations console.

She remembered her earlier conversation with young Harry, when she had told him only to call her Ma'am in crunch situations. She decided that this almost qualified, so she didn't pull him up on the matter.

Instead, she turned to the main viewer. On the screen were the boiling plasma storms they had been skirting for most of the past day. In the centre was a small image of a ship.

"Can you magnify that ship?" she asked.

This time Harry didn't reply, but the ship on the screen became larger.

"It matches the Maquis Raider we've been sent to find," Cavit confirmed, studying the panel built into the arm of his chair.

Janeway nodded. "Shields up, red alert. Hail them, Mr Kim."

Harry's hands flashed over his control board. "They're not responding," he reported.

"They're turning away, Captain," said Stadi at the helm. Beside her, looking like he would rather be anywhere else right now, was Tom Paris.

"Hail them again," Janeway ordered. "If they don't answer this time, put a shot across their bows."

Again Harry punched buttons on his board. "Still no response."

From the security console, Lieutenant Jenkins, standing in for the absent Tuvok, glanced at his Captain. She nodded and he hit the firing control.

An orange beam lashed out across space, virtually scorching the hull plates of the Maquis ship.

"Hail them once more Harry," Janeway commanded.

Harry Kim did as he was told. He looked up quickly. "They're responding!"

"On screen."

On the main viewer appeared the image of a man in his early forties. His hair was still raven black and he had a tribal tattoo etched onto his handsome face. Behind him was a small bridge, containing a handful of crew.

"Why are you firing on us?" he demanded.

"We didn't fire on you," Janeway replied, standing squarely before her command chair. "We hailed you twice and when you not only didn't respond, but turned away, we fired a warning shot. I don't think that is unreasonable."

"Maybe not for Starfleet," he replied. "The Cardassians would have blasted us to bits, then tried hailing."

Despite herself, Janeway found she liked this man. Unfortunately, in the eyes of the Federation, he and his crew were criminals.

"I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Starship Voyager," she told the man. "And you are?"

"My name is Chakotay. And you no doubt already know I represent the Maquis."

She nodded. "And I'm here to return you to Federation space for trial. Your attacks on Cardassian ships are illegal under the treaty signed between the Federation and Cardassia."

"I'm sorry, Captain, but neither I nor my crew will shed any tears for the Cardassians. And as for taking us in, well you do have to catch us first."

Moments later Harry Kim shouted. "Captain, Photon Torpedo launched by the Maquis ship!"

"Helm, evasive manoeuvres!" Janeway ordered.

"Aye," replied Stadi, already working the controls of the helm.

The ship swung sideways but the torpedo, fired at close range, hit their shields hard enough to rock the ship.

"The Maquis ship is trying to outrun us," Harry reported.

"Keep on their tail," Janeway commanded. She tapped her comm badge. "Engineering?"

"Aye Captain, Bruce here," came the accented response.

Janeway smiled slightly, picturing the big, red haired Scotsman standing before his precious warp core. "Mr Bruce, can you give me that enhanced tractor beam we talked about?"

"Ready when you are Captain," he said.

"Very well, stand by." She turned to Stadi. "Are we gaining on them?"

"Yes, Captain. Their impulse engines are no match for Voyager and while we're within the Badlands they can't go to warp."

"Let me know when we're within five thousand kilometres of them." She turned. "Mr Kim, hail the Maquis ship again."

A few moments later Harry responded. "Got them."

"On screen Harry."

Chakotay reappeared on the main viewer. He sighed when he saw the image of Janeway. "You're certainly persistent, Captain."

"I'm here to do a job," she told him. "Now this is your last chance. Give yourself and your crew up and I can see it's taken into account at your trial."

"I think I'll pass thank you all the same," Chakotay replied. "Prison uniforms never did suit me." He reached out and cut the connection.

"Stand by for evasive manoeuvres," Janeway ordered.

This time they were ready for the torpedo launch and managed to move the ship so it passed safely by.

"We are now five thousand kilometres from the Maquis ship," Stadi reported.

"Engineering, ready to extend the tractor beam?"

"Just awaiting the order Captain," came Bruce's reply.

"Consider yourself ordered, Mr Bruce."

A blue beam of energy lanced out from the engineering hull of Voyager. It caught the Maquis ship in a wash of energy, completely halting its forward motion.

"We have them, Captain!" reported First Officer Cavit.

"Status of the tractor beam Mr Bruce?" Janeway inquired.

"Holding steady Captain."

"Very well, haul away. Put them in the shuttle bay."

"Aye Captain."

She turned to her First Officer. "Send a team of six security personnel to the shuttle bay, Number One. You're with me. Lieutenant Stadi, you have the bridge."

Janeway and Cavit strode briskly towards the turbo lift, heading for the shuttle bay.

***

The six-man security team was waiting outside the locked door of the shuttle bay. There was also a forcefield erected around it, just in case.

Janeway nodded to Cavit, giving him permission to take charge of the security detail.

"Lower the forcefield," he ordered. As one of the guards complied, the others moved into position, covering the main doors with their drawn phasers.

Cavit input the code that opened the doors. As they swished aside, the guards moved quickly inside, covering all angles.

The Maquis ship sat quietly in the centre of the bay. There was nobody standing around it, or hiding around the bay. The crew must all be still inside, Janeway reasoned.

Cavit walked up to the ship and rapped hard on the outer hatch. "Come on out. There's nowhere you can go, except back to Earth for trial."

The hatch hissed with hydraulic release, causing the First Officer to stand back quickly. With a clunk, the hatch moved down, becoming steps for the crew to descend.

Chakotay led them down the steps, into the shuttle bay of the Starship Voyager. A young woman who definitely had Klingon blood in her veins followed him, but given that the ridges on her forehead were not as pronounced as normal, Janeway guessed she also had another race in her heritage. She was followed by a Bajoran woman who scowled at the Federation guards. And following the women was a dark skinned Vulcan who was all too familiar to the Captain of Voyager.

Tuvok, security chief of the Starship Voyager, had been sent undercover by his Captain to infiltrate the Maquis when it became clear that they were a serious threat to the Federation/Cardassian peace treaty. The Vulcan had succeeded in becoming a trusted member of Chakotay's crew, so much so that the Maquis leader still didn't know about the traitor in his ranks. It had bought Janeway the time to get Voyager ready to come out here and capture the Maquis ship.

And now wasn't the time to blow Tuvok's cover, Janeway decided. As the last members of the rebel crew stepped down onto the deck, she approached their leader.

"Captain Chakotay, I am Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. I am hereby placing you and your crew under arrest for violations of the Federation/Cardassian peace accord. You will all be transported to Earth to stand trial at Federation Headquarters in San Francisco. Do you have anything to say?"

Chakotay smiled slightly. "I do not recognise the authority of the Federation in what I believe is a civil dispute."

"What you do or do not recognise is not my concern," Janeway shot back. "You have attacked Cardassian ships going about their legitimate business. That makes the peace between our species very fragile, which makes your actions Starfleet's problem. We shall transport you to station Deep Space Nine, from where you will be sent to Earth."

"We are standing up for the rights of the people of the Demilitarised Zone," protested the Klingon woman. "We're doing what you should be doing!"

"Save your breath B'Elanna," said the Bajoran woman. "She doesn't want to hear the truth. She's Starfleet, she thinks what she is told to think."

Janeway ignored the barb from the Bajoran and addressed herself to Chakotay. "How many in your crew?"

"Thirty four," he answered promptly, glancing back over his shoulder at them.

"How much room do we have in the brig?" Janeway asked Cavit.

"Not enough," he replied, eyeing the Maquis suspiciously. "Not unless we pack them in like sardines, which on reflection isn't such a bad idea."

Janeway shook her head. "Even prisoners deserve to be treated with some respect," she told her First Officer. "Make seven of the guest suites available on deck six. Five to a room. That should be better than cramming them into the brig. Two security guards to each door and doors to be locked unless ordered otherwise by a senior officer."

Cavit turned away and spoke into his comm badge, relaying the Captain's orders to the security crews.

Janeway spoke to Chakotay again. "I hope we can make your short stay on Voyager civilised, if not exactly luxurious."

"I'll settle for civilised," he replied. "It's more than some of the people in the Demilitarised Zone can hope for."

Frowning, Captain Janeway turned and left the shuttle bay, deciding that Cavit was capable of securing the prisoners.

***

"Captain's Log, Stardate 48319.1. Two days at maximum warp have brought us back to where we began our journey, Federation station Deep Space Nine. We can hand over our prisoners to Security Chief Odo and his men, who will see to their transport to Earth. While we await fresh orders, the crew can take a little R&R as reward for a job well done. And then of course there is the little matter of Mr Paris to sort out. Whoever said commanding a Starship was just giving orders to your crew and letting them do the work was seriously understating the case. End entry."

Janeway sat back from her desk, nursing a mug of steaming coffee in her cupped hands. She took a sip and let out a sigh of satisfaction.

Much to her irritation, the comm on her desk beeped. "Yes, Mr Kim," she said.

"Incoming call from DS9 Captain. Shall I put it through to your Ready Room?"

"Do that, Ensign," she ordered. Putting down the coffee, she pulled the comm unit towards her, pushing the button that accepted the hail.

An image formed on the small screen before her. A young woman, her neck showing the distinctive markings of a joined Trill, smiled pleasantly. Around her was the bustle of a busy command area.

"Captain Janeway, I'm Lieutenant Jadzia Dax, Science Officer of Deep Space Nine. Commander Sisko asked me to hail you when you docked."

"Did he indeed?" Janeway asked, raising an eyebrow and allowing a slight smile to curl her lips. "And is Ben too busy to speak to me himself?"

"No, he's not," said a rich voice from out of camera range. The angle tilted, to show Benjamin Sisko, his hands folded behind his back, standing behind Dax. "I just thought it was more polite to let Lieutenant Dax talk to you first." His face split into a wide grin.

Janeway was grinning too. ""How are you doing Ben?" she asked. "I'm sorry I missed you when we arrived."

"We were out on a mission," he replied easily. "Why don't you come over for coffee and we can swap stories?"

"I'll do that," Janeway promised him. "I have a little work to finish up then I'll be right over."

"Shall we say thirteen hundred?"

"Sounds great," she replied, signing off.

***

As Captain Janeway left her ready room, Lieutenant Stadi approached her. As they were now docked at DS9, there wasn't much the Helm Officer could do.

"Captain, could I possibly ask a favour?"

"You can ask, Lieutenant. Doesn't guarantee I'll say yes."

Despite Janeway's smile the young Betazoid woman looked nervous. "My Mother's ship is currently docked as DS9 as well. I was wondering if I could give her a tour of the ship?"

Janeway's smile widened. "Of course you can. Your Mother's a Doctor isn't she?"

"That's right. She's Chief Medical Officer on the USS Calgary."

"Then I'm sure she'll be interested in Sickbay. Be sure to activate the EMH. I don't think they are standard equipment on Alberta class Starships."

"I will. Thank you Captain."

"Glad to be of assistance Lieutenant." Janeway strode over to her command chair and pushed the button on the comm panel for shipwide broadcast.

"All hands, this is the Captain. Now we have successfully docked at Deep Space Nine I think we could all use a little rest and relaxation while Starfleet gives us another assignment. Liase with your department heads to work out a rotation. And enjoy your time off, I don't know when we'll be back in port."

She turned to her First Officer. "You have the bridge Lieutenant Commander. I shall be talking to Mr Paris."

***

"Come in," called Tom Paris as the door chime sounded.

He had been packed and ready to go for almost two hours, ever since they came in sight of DS9. Not that he didn't like this new Starship, quite the opposite. While advising Lieutenant Stadi how to navigate the plasma storms that peppered the Badlands region, he had wanted nothing more than to displace her, taking the helm controls for himself and seeing just what the ship would do. But that would never happen for Thomas Eugene Paris. He should count himself lucky he was getting his release from prison.

And now the woman who was organising that release was standing in the doorway of his quarters.

"Ready to go, Mr Paris?" she asked, taking in the suitcase and his civilian clothes.

He nodded. "Whenever you give me the word," he replied, rising to his feet in anticipation.

She held up her hands, facing him and shook her head. "Hold your horses there Mr. I still need confirmation from Admiral Nechayev first. You'll need to wait just a little longer."

"I thought you guaranteed my freedom if I helped you find Chakotay's ship," Paris said, remaining on his feet and taking a step towards the Captain.

"I did," she confirmed, standing her ground. "But I'm just a Captain, and a recently promoted one at that. I need the authority of an Admiral as confirmation."

Paris frowned. "How long will it take?"

"I'm expecting her call at any time," Janeway promised. "As soon as she gets in touch, I'll let you know."

Sighing, Paris turned away from his visitor. "I suppose that will have to do," he said glumly.

"What's the hurry? It shouldn't be more than an hour or two."

Paris turned back to her and she could see the longing in his eyes. "I've had a taste of freedom again since you requested my help. I've enjoyed it. I want more and I don't want to wait for it."

She nodded her understanding. "As I said, I'll contact you as soon as she gets in touch with me."

"I look forward to hearing from you," he said with feeling as she turned to leave his quarters.

***

"Kathryn! Long time no see."

Kathryn Janeway took the hand offered by Benjamin Sisko as he stepped from behind his desk. They shook firmly.

"Far too long Ben," she replied, looking around the office. "I like what you've done with this place."

Sisko followed her gaze. "Cardassian architecture can be a little sterile. Anything to change that I welcome." He waved her to a seat.

"I can't blame you," she replied with a smile as she sat down.

"Coffee?" he offered, stepping over to the replicator.

She nodded. "Remember how I like it?"

"Of course," he said, grinning. "I learnt a lot about your likes and dislikes over those two years at the Academy."

Janeway smiled again at the memory. Young Ben Sisko had been the year below her at Starfleet Academy. He had developed an attraction towards Janeway's roommate, Susan Tanner. Unknown to him, Susan had noticed the handsome Cadet and she had feelings towards him too. She had confided these feelings to Kathryn. Within a couple of days, Ben Sisko had approached Janeway, telling her about his own feelings and asking her advice. She had kept the secrets from both parties for a day while she engineered a potential meeting.

The following day she asked Susan if she would meet her in the Academy library after the Quantum Physics lecture. Then she suggested to Ben that he might want to attend the library himself, with a handy bunch of flowers.

Her plan had worked. Susan and Ben spent the next two years together. Unfortunately, the couple had eventually drifted apart, but the friendship that had been forged between Ben Sisko and Kathryn Janeway had lasted them into their Starfleet careers.

Sisko, passing her a steaming mug of coffee, interrupted her reverie. The smell was wonderful in her nostrils.

"A successful mission then," he commented, sitting behind his desk.

She nodded. "Couldn't have gone better if I planned it that way," she told him. "It almost went too well."

"There is no such thing as a mission that goes too well," he told her. "I've learnt that much from my time here."

"I've been reading the Starfleet briefing notes on the Dominion," she said. "They seem like a formidable force."

"They are," he confirmed. "Shape changers, totally obedient soldiers and middle men who know what they're doing. It's not a good combination, at least not for the Federation."

"You're worried about these Founders," she deduced.

"It takes a lot to worry me, but yes, I am worried about them. They have dominated the majority of the Gamma Quadrant for as long as anyone can remember. They are organised and powerful. I think they could be as dangerous as the Borg."

Janeway shivered slightly at his mention of the cyborg species. She had never faced them in battle, but she knew Sisko had. Ben had lost his wife Jennifer in the engagement at Wolf 359. Janeway herself hadn't been involved, her assignment at the time had been as First Officer on the USS Jensen, patrolling the Romulan Neutral Zone. By the time they had returned to Sector 001 Picard and his crew had managed to stop the Borg Cube that was intent on assimilating Earth.

She was about to speak when the comm channel on his desk chirped for attention.

He punched the button harder than he needed to. "Sisko, go ahead."

"Commander, I have a call from Admiral Nechayev for Captain Janeway," Dax reported.

"Put her through," he ordered.

The screen on his desk changed to the standard Federation symbol, which in turn was replaced by a stern looking blonde woman in her fifties.

"Greetings Admiral," Sisko said. "I've got Captain Janeway with me. I'll leave you two ladies to talk."

"Don't go, Commander," the Admiral requested. "I want to talk to you as well."

Sisko nodded and turned the screen so Janeway could see it and be seen by the built in camera lenses.

"You wanted to talk to me Admiral," Janeway said.

"I wanted to congratulate you on a successful mission Captain," said the woman on the screen. "You have helped us prove to the Cardassians that we are serious about keeping the peace between our races. And all without bloodshed. I must say you have impressed a number of people here at Starfleet Command."

Janeway inclined her head, smiling. "Thank you Admiral, but I couldn't have done the job half as well without a good crew behind me."

"Your loyalty does you credit," Nechayev commented. "Is there anybody you wish to single out in particular?"

"Any commendations will be in my full report," Janeway replied. "There is one matter however that needs to be cleared up. Tom Paris."

"Ah yes, Owen's son. You want me to confirm his release from prison?"

"He performed well during the mission. He deserves his freedom."

Admiral Nechayev nodded. "Then he shall have it. You may tell him he is free to go."

Janeway grinned. "Thank you, Admiral."

Nechayev turned her attention to Ben Sisko. "The Starship Exeter will be arriving at Deep Space Nine three days from now to take the Maquis prisoners to Earth for trial. Have they been transferred to the station yet?"

"Not yet," Sisko admitted. "Constable Odo didn't have room for them all in the cells on the station."

The Admiral frowned. "You'll need to move them soon, Commander. Captain Janeway will want to be underway tomorrow at 1600 hours."

"I will?" Janeway inquired.

"You have new orders Captain," Admiral Nechayev announced. "You'll be relieving the Enterprise of patrol duty in Sector 221H in six days time."

Janeway frowned. "Sector 221H? Isn't that on the border of Thallonian Space?"

"Indeed it is. There have been a number of rumours recently that the Thallonian Empire is on the verge of collapse. If and when that happens, we want someone from Starfleet there ready to assist in picking up the pieces. Until myself and Admiral Jellico can decide on which ship will be permanently stationed on the borders, we're rotating the duty."

"We can be underway at the specified time," Janeway confirmed.

"Good. Now, if there is nothing else?" Both the Captain and the Commander shook their heads. "Then I shall bid you both good day and continued success with your commands." The image on the screen returned to the Federation symbol.

"Border patrol?" Sisko asked, raising an eyebrow. "I don't envy you that one, Kathryn."

She shrugged. "Not nearly as exciting as sitting on the doorstep of a portal to another Quadrant," she admitted. "But you never know. It might provide a few surprises."

"It might at that," Sisko said with a wry smile.

Janeway's fingers brushed her comm badge. "Now, I really should be informing a young man of his freedom."

***

Chakotay had managed to arrange for himself to be placed with his bridge officers, despite the fact that they were male and female. He felt more comfortable in the presence of people he trusted implicitly.

"Looks like the end of the line," B'Elanna sighed, looking out of the big picture window at the ugly former Cardassian space station.

"Don't be so sure," Seska told her. She was sitting close to Chakotay on a comfortable sofa.

B'Elanna turned to the Bajoran. "Do you propose we take on this entire ship by ourselves?" she inquired.

"No," Seska admitted. "But in the Bajoran resistance we overcame worse odds than this. Don't forget, some of the crew will be over there, on the station. Eating, drinking, not worrying about a group of Maquis prisoners."

"Do you have a plan?" Chakotay asked her. He and Seska had been lovers for some months now and he had come to respect her cunning ways.

"How many guards are stationed outside the door?" she replied, answering his question with one of her own.

"Two," B'Elanna said, joining them now.

"And what is the oldest trick in the book?" Seska wanted to know.

"The fake illness trick?" supplied Chell, the blue skinned Bolian.

"Exactly!" Seska replied, grinning.

"Since it is the oldest trick in the book, you can be certain the guards will be aware of it," said Tuvok. "Logically, they would be wary of such an attempt."

Chakotay was stroking his chin. "It might work though," he mused. "It's certainly better than waiting here to be transported to Earth."

B'Elanna nodded. "Count me in. Anything to give us a fighting chance."

"Me too," Chell said with a wide smile.

The four of them looked over at Tuvok, who was sitting cross-legged on the floor.

"I still say it is an illogical exercise."

"At this stage, what have we to lose?" Chakotay asked. "I say we give Seska's plan a try."

Tuvok didn't reply. He would go along with the attempt, to prove the futility to Chakotay and his followers.

But a small nagging doubt remained in his mind. He recalled the tales told of his grandmother, T'Pol, who had been the first Vulcan to serve with humans aboard a starship. She had always said that humans were at their most dangerous when confined. It seemed he was about to discover if she was correct.

***

Paris grinned broadly as the door of his quarters slid open to reveal the First Officer of the Starship Voyager. "Ah, Cavit. Come to show me off the ship have you?"

Lieutenant Commander Cavit glared at the cocky young man. "The Captain has asked me to escort you to the Transporter Room."

"I'm sure you would rather be escorting me to the Brig," Paris replied, stepping out of his quarters and slinging his bag over his shoulder. "But we can't have everything in life, can we Cavit?"

"That's First Officer Cavit to you!"

Paris shook his head. "No, I don't think so. You see, I'm a civilian, a free man, not one of your Starfleet lackeys."

"Oh yes, that's right. You got booted out of Starfleet for trying to cover up a mistake that cost three of your crewmates their lives."

Paris turned angrily towards Cavit. "I've paid for that mistake. It's not one I'm about to make again!"

Cavit smirked. "That's because Starfleet didn't give you the chance."

Paris' fist clenched and his arm muscles tensed, prepared to swing. But a small inner voice told him that this was what Cavit wanted. He could file a charge against Paris and get him thrown straight back into jail. And he wasn't about to let that happen.

With an effort, he calmed himself, bringing his temper under control. He smiled at Cavit. "Nice try. You almost had me there."

Cavit scowled. "The Transporter Room is this way." He set off down the corridor, followed by a grinning Tom Paris.

***

"Guard! Guard, help us!" Chakotay shouted through the locked door. He thumped his fist against the solid door a few times.

"What's all the noise about?" shouted one of the guards through the thick metal.

"Everybody is getting sick," Chakotay called back. He broke off, coughing. "The women are already unconscious and it's starting to affect me now too. I think it was something we ate."

The door hissed open and one of the guards stood silhouetted against the light in the corridor beyond. He had his phaser drawn and ready.

Slowly he walked into the room, sweeping his phaser in front of him. In the doorway, his colleague covered his every move.

"Now, what's wrong?" he asked Chakotay.

The Maquis Commander waved him towards the sofa, where B'Elanna and Seska lay, pale and unmoving. "They started complaining of stomach cramps. Within minutes they were unconscious." He started coughing again.

"Where are the other two?" the guard wanted to know.

Chakotay looked around, as if they had been there moments before.

Chell was laid in front of the sofa. He seemed to be having a choking fit. Tuvok was sitting in a chair, shivering.

Beginning to believe the story, the guard moved over to the sofa to check on the two women. As he bent over, B'Elanna's eyes flashed open and she hit him full on the point of the jaw with a clenched fist.

The guard fell backwards, dead to the world. It took his colleague a moment to realise what had happened. It was a moment too late as Chell caught him full in the chest with a blast from the first guard's phaser.

Chakotay clapped his hands. "Good work people. Now, let's free our crew and take this ship!"

***

"Doctor Fitzgerald, this is my Mother, Doctor Ensor Stadi of the USS Calgary."

The short balding man looked all the smaller standing before the towering Betazoid woman. His usual ill-tempered expression cracked slightly into a smile however as he shook hands.

"A pleasure Doctor Stadi," he said. "I read your paper on Romulan Fire Fever. A ground breaking work."

"You're too kind," Doctor Stadi replied, flushing slightly. "And I would hardly call it ground breaking. I was only following up on the earlier work of Admiral Leonard McCoy."

"I'm sure even in the prime of his life he didn't have your level of insight," Fitzgerald said, laying on the charm.

Lieutenant Stadi sighed and rolled her eyes. Her Mother always caused men to act this way. "He's fawning all over you!" she sent through their mental link.

"Of course he is," her mother sent back. "Insecure men always do."

"My daughter tells me you have an EMH," Doctor Stadi said to Fitzgerald at the same time she was silently communicating. "It would be fascinating to see it in action."

Fitzgerald frowned slightly. "I don't know why they see the need to fit those things in a Sickbay. What sort of emergency, aside from the destruction of the ship, could cause all the medical staff to be incapacitated?"

While he was complaining, Fitzgerald moved over to the central console of the Sickbay area. He looked up towards the ceiling. "Computer, activate the Emergency Medical Hologram."

There was a slight fizzing sound and from the air before them appeared a tall bald man in a Starfleet Medical uniform.

"Please state the nature of the medical emergency," said the EMH.

"The actual visual matrix is based upon the creator of the EMH, Doctor Lewis Zimmerman," Fitzgerald informed them, walking around the EMH, who followed the movement with his eyes. "Rather an egotistical move if you ask me," Fitzgerald continued.

"Is there a medical emergency?" the EMH inquired.

"You see how limited the programme actually is," Fitzgerald said. "And the bedside manner leaves a lot to be desired."

The EMH seemed to be getting annoyed. "I assume there is no actual emergency at this time?"

"No there isn't," Lieutenant Stadi said, getting annoyed at the fact that Fitzgerald was ignoring the EMH's questions. "You've been activated as a demonstration."

"Thank you for informing me, Lieutenant," the EMH said. Then the hologram turned to Fitzgerald. "Would you be so kind as to deactivate me again? I'm a Doctor, not a fairground attraction!"

"This is my Sickbay and you shall remain active as long as I say so!" Fitzgerald snapped irritably.

Doctor Stadi, like her daughter, was becoming embarrassed. "I think we've seen all we need to see, thank you Doctor Fitzgerald."

Voyager's CMO nodded stiffly. "Computer, deactivate EMH."

"About time..." the EMH began to say as the hologram fizzled out of existence.

"Well, would you like to see my station on the Bridge?" Lieutenant Stadi said brightly, steering her mother out of Sickbay.

***

Sisko was escorting Janeway along the Promenade Deck of Deep Space Nine, on the way back to the Docking Ring where Voyager was waiting. As they passed Quark's she paused, noticing someone sitting at the bar.

"Do you mind if we make a slight detour?" she asked.

"Not at all," he replied easily. "I like to drop in on Quark occasionally, to keep him on his toes."

The two of them strode into the bar. A number of people looked up, many of them looking down again quickly, hoping to avoid being seen. They got a cheery wave from Doctor Bashir, who had just finished his shift and was talking to the station's Chief Engineer, Miles O'Brien, who also acknowledged them.

But Captain Janeway was heading directly towards the bar, where she seemed to be homing in on a young man dressed in dark pants and a brown leather jacket.

"Enjoying your freedom, Mr Paris?" she inquired.

The young man turned, grinning when he saw who was addressing him. "Ah, Captain. Yes I am, thank you."

"I see you headed straight for the nearest bar as soon as you were released."

"Each to their own," Paris replied, turning away again. "And last time I looked it was a free Universe."

Janeway shook her head sadly. "I had hoped you were going to make more of yourself once you gained your freedom."

"Well, we can't have everything we want, or life would be boring," Paris drawled.

At that moment Sisko's comm badge chirped for his attention. He stepped away and spoke briefly into it.

Captain Janeway turned in disgust from Tom Paris and left the bar, waiting outside for Ben Sisko.

When he stepped out of the bar, flanked by Doctor Bashir and Chief O'Brien, his face was grim.

"That was Major Kira, my second officer. Two minutes ago Voyager broke from her moorings. She is now heading at one quarter impulse power for the Bajoran wormhole."

Janeway paled as she slapped her own comm badge. "First Officer Cavit, report!" She was greeted by a hiss of static. "Voyager, this is Janeway, someone respond!" Once again her efforts met with no response.

"We'll take the Defiant, providing she's ready to leave." He glanced sideways at O'Brien.

"I finished the impulse engine repairs and tested them before going off duty," he replied.

Sisko slapped his comm badge. "Sisko to Kira."

"Go ahead," came the reply.

"We're taking the Defiant after Voyager. Notify Lieutenant Dax to meet us on board."

"Dax isn't responding to hails Commander," Kira reported. "When she got off shift she said she wanted to visit Voyager to look at their new bioneural gel pack technology."

Janeway frowned. "Sometimes being at the cutting edge can be a pain." She looked at Sisko. "How critical was she to this mission?"

"She's the best pilot I have. And the second best is down on Bajor right now."

Janeway pushed her comm badge again. "Captain Janeway to all Voyager crew on Deep Space Nine. Please report to..." she glanced at Sisko.

"Docking Port Three," he supplied.

"...Docking Port Three in five minutes for briefing. Janeway out."

"Who's going to take the helm if Dax is gone?" Bashir wanted to know.

Janeway smiled slightly. "I think I have a candidate in mind," she told them, heading back into Quark's.

***

"Why should I help you?" Tom Paris said. "I'm a free citizen after all. And you were infringing my civil rights just minutes ago, claiming I should be doing something better than drinking in a bar!"

Janeway stood her ground. "You told me back on the New Zealand penal colony that you were the best pilot I could have. Would you like to prove that?"

"I have nothing to prove to anyone," Paris replied defensively. "Anyway, why me?"

"Voyager has been stolen."

Paris sniggered.

"And we need somebody good to pilot the Defiant."

This made him sit up and take notice. "The Defiant?"

"But if you're not interested," she said, turning away.

"Hey, I didn't say I wasn't interested!"

"Sounded like it to me."

"The Defiant you say? And I get to pilot her? Without interference?"

"That's about the size of it."

Paris sighed. "I don't know how you do it, but you keep making me offers I can't refuse."

"Then let's get started, before Voyager gets too much of a head start."

***

Chakotay looked around the bridge of the Starship Voyager and smiled. Once he had freed the rest of his crew from confinement, taking over the ship had been easy. The remaining member of Starfleet had been locked away in the brig. He didn't mind about overcrowding that area of the ship. The only Starfleet personnel left free were Lieutenant Stadi at the helm and her mother, who was under armed guard to the left of the command area. Their unexpected guest, Lieutenant Commander Dax from Deep Space Nine, was down in the brig with the Voyager crew.

"We're on final approach to the wormhole," Seska announced from Ops.

"Steady as she goes, helm," Chakotay ordered. He noticed Stadi swallow nervously as she complied. He wanted to comfort the girl, tell her that they weren't killers and that the Starfleet people would be looked after until they could be left somewhere to be picked up by Federation forces. But he decided that while she was nervous, she was more likely to do as she was told.

Everybody's eyes were on the screen as the wormhole blossomed before them. Chakotay heard B'Elanna gasp at the engineering console. Seska looked awed and even Stadi seemed to forget her nerves as they took in the spectacle.

The only one who seemed unaffected was Tuvok at the tactical board. Damn Vulcan reserve, Chakotay cursed silently. He was probably analysing the phenomenon rather than enjoying it.

"Chakotay, we have pursuit from the station!" Seska announced.

"Confirmed," Tuvok said a beat later. "The Defiant has left Deep Space Nine and is matching our course."

"Then let's get out of here," Chakotay suggested. "Forward full impulse."

"Full impulse," Stadi repeated reluctantly, plunging Voyager into the heart of the wormhole.

***

"Follow them, Mr Paris," Sisko ordered as they watched Voyager disappear into the mouth of the wormhole.

"Aye sir," Paris replied crisply, his hands flying over the helm controls of the Defiant. He was still in his civilian clothes but was handling the situation like a full member of Starfleet.

Janeway looked around the cramped bridge. It was strange to see people she knew on this unfamiliar vessel. Harry Kim was sat at the Ops console between Miles O'Brien at the engineering station and the shape shifter Odo, who was at Tactical. Paris was at the helm while one of Sisko's junior Ensigns, T'Preck, was at the navigation.

"Don't worry," Sisko said quietly to Janeway. "We'll get your ship back."

"The only thing worrying me is how many pieces the Maquis will leave her in," Janeway replied. She was standing next to his command chair. He had offered her a seat at an auxiliary console but she preferred to stand.

The entrance to the wormhole loomed before them on the screen, at once daunting and inviting.

"Message from DS9 sir," Bashir reported.

"On screen," Sisko commanded.

An image of a red haired Bajoran woman appeared on the screen, the bustle of the Operations area of DS9 in the background.

"Good luck Commander," she said, smiling slightly.

"And you too Major," Sisko replied. "Mind the store for me until we get back."

"Will do," she replied, cutting the connection.

Sisko looked over to the helm position. "Take us in Mr Paris."

***

"That damned ship is still following us!" Seska reported shortly after they had cleared the exit of the wormhole.

"Then I think it's time to see what this ship can do," Chakotay decided. "Ahead, maximum warp."

Lieutenant Stadi moved her hands over the controls of her station. "We can't seem to get above warp seven," she replied, glancing over her shoulder.

"What?" Seska exploded, jumping down from her position on the upper deck and shoving the helm officer roughly out of the way. Her fingers danced across the console.

"She's right!" Seska said, turning to Chakotay. Then she rounded on Stadi. "What have you done to the controls?" she demanded, raising her hands to strike the young woman.

"Nothing," Stadi replied calmly, standing up to the angry Bajoran.

"It's true," B'Elanna said from the engineering panel. "There seems to be a phase variance in the plasma relays. I'm trying to compensate, but until it's cleared we can't get above warp seven point two."

Seska paused, lowering her raised arm. She glowered at Stadi. "Could she have triggered it?"

B'Elanna shook her head. "It could be done deliberately, or it could happen on its own. But she couldn't have done it using the helm controls."

Seska stalked back to her earlier position. "We'll never outrun them at this speed," she said to Chakotay.

"Agreed," he responded. He turned to B'Elanna. "Can you fix the problem from here?"

"I could, but it would be done quicker if I was in engineering."

"Then go," Chakotay ordered. Nodding, she headed off the bridge via a turbolift.

Standing to one side of the bridge under guard, Doctor Ensor Stadi sent a silent communication to her daughter. "Did you cause this sabotage, my dear?"

"No mother," the Lieutenant replied. "The Klingon woman was right, I couldn't have even if I tried."

Across the bridge, the actual culprit was hard at work, trying to find another way of disabling the ship without giving himself away.

Tuvok watched on a side screen on the tactical board as the image of the Defiant grew ever closer. Causing the phase variance had been relatively easy, but it also wasn't too effective. And he knew that B'Elanna Torres was a talented engineer. It wouldn't take her long to fix his little bit of sabotage. He only hoped he had bought enough time for the Defiant to catch them up.

***

"Voyager is holding at warp seven point two," Harry Kim reported from the Ops board on the Defiant.

Janeway frowned. "The ship is capable of sustained cruise at warp nine point nine-seven-five. I would have expected them to be showing us a clean pair of heels by now."

"Unless they can't," Sisko remarked.

Janeway grinned suddenly. "Tuvok!"

"Pardon me?" Sisko said.

"My Chief Security Officer. He's undercover among the Maquis crew. I would bet my Starfleet pension this is his doing."

"Then let's hope he can pull off a few more tricks."

"I'm sure he'll think of something logical."

Sisko raised an inquiring eyebrow at this remark.

"He's a Vulcan," Janeway explained.

Now Sisko's other eyebrow went up. "A Vulcan? In the Maquis? How did he manage to convince them he was on the level?"

"He simply explained the them, at great length I might add, why the Maquis cause was the most logical path to follow. He only got about halfway through his argument when they agreed he could join them!"

Sisko laughed. "I would have liked to have been there. Or not, as the case may be!"

"Commander, we're in weapons range of Voyager," Odo informed them from his station.

Sisko looked at Janeway. "It's your ship, what do you want to do?"

Janeway considered for a moment, then had an idea. "How about a shot across their bow?"

Commander Sisko nodded his approval and turned to Odo. "You heard the lady Constable. Fire across their bow. Close as you can without scorching the paintwork."

Odo inclined his head and worked the control board, producing a burst of sizzling energy that flashed across the screen, barely missing Voyager.

"We're being hailed," Doctor Bashir announced.

"Put them on," Sisko said.

The image changed from one of Voyager in space to Chakotay, standing before the command chair on the bridge.

"You seem to have a talent for getting my attention, Captain Janeway," he said, pointedly ignoring Sisko. "But this time it seems you needed to bring reinforcements."

"I wouldn't have needed them if you hadn't stolen my ship!" Janeway countered, letting her anger show.

"Actually, you took my ship first, I'm just reclaiming it. The fact that it happens to be still sitting in the shuttle bay of your vessel is coincidental."

Janeway was getting angrier by the second. "Surrender Voyager and I'll put in a good word at your trial."

Chakotay laughed. "I'll need more than the promise of a good word from you, Captain. But you have my word that your crew left aboard will not be harmed. So long as we are allowed to proceed in peace."

Janeway shook her head. "No deals. You have five minutes to surrender, and I'm probably being more than generous!"

Sisko glanced over to Bashir, who cut the connection. He then turned his attention to Janeway. "I believe this is what they used to call a Mexican Stand-off."

She frowned, then the germ of an idea caused her expression to brighten. "Would it be possible to piggyback a signal, encrypted of course, onto the next transmission?"

"I don't seen why not," Sisko replied. "Could you do that Doctor?"

Bashir shook his head. "I can operate the controls, but I'm no expert. I am a Doctor after all, not a comm officer."

"I can configure the message bandwidth to accommodate the signal," Chief O'Brien spoke up. "It will take a minute or two though."

"Get on it Chief," Sisko ordered. As O'Brien set to work, Sisko regarded his old friend. "I assume you have an idea?"

Janeway smiled. "I think I might be able to solve our dilemma," she replied.

***

"The Defiant is hailing us," Seska hissed through clenched teeth.

Chakotay nodded. He had ordered his ace in the hole to be brought up from the brig and that should be arriving any minute. "On screen," he commanded.

Captain Janeway's stern visage greeted him from the main viewer. "Your five minutes are up. Surrender Voyager."

Chakotay shook his head. "I can't do that, as I'm sure you will appreciate. I have a sense of duty, just like you. Duty to my cause and my crew. It's just that our views are different. Who knows, in other circumstances we might have become friends. We could have even worked together."

"I do not work with pirates," Janeway told him sternly.

The turbolift door hissed open behind him and he smiled. "Well, I know you won't fire on us, Captain. Not only do we have your ship and some of your crew, but we also have Commander Sisko's Science Officer."

Jadzia Dax was thrust towards the screen, stumbling slightly. She quickly regained her composure. "Captain, Commander, do whatever you have to to stop these people!"

This earned her a blow to the back of her head with the blunt end of a phaser. She groaned and slumped to the deck.

"Cut transmission!" Chakotay snapped. He then turned to Chell, who had hit Dax. "There was no need for that!"

"She was talking too much," Chell protested.

"Maybe so, but there are other, less violent ways," Chakotay informed him. He reached down to help Dax to her feet.

"Go to hell!" she spat, shoving the hand away as she got unsteadily to her feet.

At the Tactical console, Tuvok was monitoring these events with only part of his mind, while the other was working on the encryption matrix of the signal buried under the transmission. When the body of the signal appeared on a side screen, his eyes widened slightly in surprise, which was the same as a human exclaiming their shock out loud. He reflected momentarily upon the ingenuity of Captain Janeway as he implemented the code that he had discovered.

"Message from engineering!" Seska called across the bridge. "B'Elanna says she has fixed the phase variance and we can push up to top speed any time!"

Not a moment too soon, Tuvok thought as he finished his own covert task.

***

"Voyager's shields are dropping!" Harry Kim reported on the bridge of the Defiant. "The warp core is offline and weapons are inoperative!"

"Looks like your plan worked," Sisko said with a sly smile.

"I knew Tuvok would find my command authorisation code useful," Janeway told him, matching his smile.

"Three ships approaching at high warp!" Harry Kim warned.

O'Brien's fingers flew over his own board, calling up an identification. "They're Jem'Hadar," he reported.

"Shields up, red alert!" Sisko instructed instantly.

"The ships are dropping out of warp," Kim told them. "They are targeting weapons on Voyager!"

"And we've just left them defenceless," Janeway whispered, looking in horror at events unfolding on the main screen.

***

"What's happening?" Chakotay demanded as the shields, weapons and warp power failed all at the same time.

"Unknown," Tuvok lied. "Maybe they managed to access the command programming by remote."

"That should be impossible," Seska replied.

"Three new ships, coming in fast," Stadi announced, cutting across the panic beginning to grip the Maquis crew.

"Jem'Hadar attack cruisers," Dax said quietly as the ships on the screen swung towards them.

"That's not good, is it?" Chakotay remarked.

"Not unless you believe in the old Klingon saying," she replied.

"Which Klingon saying?"

" 'Today is a good day to die.' "

The enemy ships fired and the bridge rocked under them. Sparks erupted from panels around the outer edge of the command area.

"Do we have any weapons at all?" Chakotay asked.

"Nothing," Tuvok replied calmly. He knew they couldn't survive the attack for long and part of his mind sent a message of goodbye to his wife along their shared mental link.

The bridge rocked again and the navigation console exploded, throwing the Maquis crewman sitting there backwards.

Alarms screamed for attention across the bridge as the ships on the screen swung in again for another attack run.

The comm system on the command chair beeped. Chakotay stabbed at it. "Report!"

"We have a warp core breach in progress!" B'Elanna shouted from down in engineering. "I've tried, but I can't eject the core, the mechanism was damaged by one of those hits."

"How long have we got?" he asked grimly.

"Less than five minutes."

Chakotay turned to Tuvok. "Give me shipwide communications."

***

"Mr Paris, move us between the Voyager and the attacking vessels," Sisko commanded.

Paris glanced over his shoulder, looking like he was about to argue. But he turned his attention back to his panel and did as he had been told.

They could all see damage to the outer skin of Voyager as they moved to defend the ship. Hull plates were charred and buckled along the once sleek sides of the ship.

The Jem'Hadar ships seemed wary of the Defiant and moved off a little, keeping a distance between themselves and the small but powerful ship.

"Incoming message from Voyager," Harry Kim announced.

"Put them on," Sisko told him.

The image on the screen reinforced the damage done to Voyager during the attack. Fires burnt fiercely and the crew, those that were standing, looked distressed and grimy.

Chakotay had a cut on his forehead and his face was streaked with soot. But he was still very much a commanding presence. Janeway was slightly surprised to see Cavit standing nearby, while Jadzia Dax seemed to be working a console without armed escort.

"If you're here to help, it's a little too late," Chakotay said sadly. "We have a core breach in progress and we can't eject, so it looks like we're sitting on a bomb."

Janeway paled. "How long?"

"Just over three minutes. As you can see, I've released your crew. I've also informed everybody aboard of what is happening and of my plan, and offered anyone who wants to leave the opportunity to beam over to the Defiant."

"And what is your plan?"

"Well, if you back off, we can accelerate the warp core explosion next time the Jem'Hadar come in for an attack. Take as many of them out as we can."

Janeway felt her throat tighten, but she just about managed to speak. "How many to beam off?"

Chakotay actually smiled slightly. "None, Captain. Everybody has elected to stay and go down fighting."

"Then you'll have one added to your crew compliment," she told him. "The Captain should go down with her ship." She turned to leave the bridge, intent on heading for the transporter room.

"I'm sorry, I can't allow that," Chakotay said. "You would be better off surviving this encounter and becoming Captain of another ship. That way we'll all know we didn't give up out lives in vain, if there is someone with your courage and determination out there, ready to carry the fight."

Janeway felt a tear trickling down her cheek. Behind Chakotay, Cavit was nodding his agreement. Lieutenant Stadi at the helm was smiling bravely. Even Jadzia Dax looked up from her work.

"Good luck Ben!" the Trill shouted.

"You too, old man," Sisko replied in a hoarse voice.

Chakotay took centre stage once more. His slight smile was back in place. "So, Captain. Permission to destroy your ship?"

"Permission granted," Janeway said firmly, her voice filled with emotion. "None of you will be forgotten."

"Thank you. Voyager out."

"Move us away, Mr Paris," Sisko instructed as the connection was broken.

"Aye sir," he replied automatically, his hands moving confidently across the helm console.

"Two more Jem'Hadar ships joining the others," O'Brien said from his panel.

"A couple of the original ships are moving in on Voyager," Odo reported from his position. "They are forming a pincer movement."

On the screen they all watched as the two scorpion like ships moved towards the seemingly helpless Voyager. They began to fire as they approached, getting ready to break away quickly and return for another pass.

But Chakotay had other ideas. As the enemy vessels made their closest pass of the Starfleet ship, there was the bloom of an explosion from the aft section. Quickly, the blast took in the rest of the ship and its attackers.

The viewscreen of the Defiant darkened against the fierce light of the destroyed ship. However, many of those watching looked away, their eyes watering, though not as a result of the glare.

Captain Janeway's jaw tightened as she watched the fireball quickly fade. Her ship was gone. There would be an inquiry. But that was irrelevant. She had lost many crew in that explosion and her first duty, if they survived, would be to contact the families that had lost someone dear to them.

"The remaining Jem'Hadar are moving," Odo announced on the silent bridge.

"Where?" Sisko inquired.

"Towards us."

O'Brien sighed. "So much for their earlier caution," he muttered.

"Stand by phasers," Sisko commanded. "Ready photon torpedoes, full forward spread on my order."

"Ready when you are," Odo told him.

The Jem'Hadar attack ships filled the screen now, coming in from three different angles. They fired and the bridge of the Defiant rocked.

"Return fire, phasers and torpedoes!"

This time Odo didn't acknowledge the order, he just did his job. Orange energy lanced out, catching one of the attacking ships a glancing blow, which was absorbed by its shielding.

The torpedoes did a better job. They detonated in the path of one of the enemy craft, overloading its shields. While they were out of commission, Odo fired the phasers at the disabled ship, destroying it.

"That was for Voyager," Sisko said quietly, but loud enough for Janeway to hear. She nodded her approval.

But the last two ships were not easy to hit. They avoided the phaser fire and didn't come in close enough for the torpedo spread to work again. Instead they stayed at the limit of the Defiant's range.

Slowly but surely, the Jem'Hadar were wearing down the shields of the Starfleet vessel. When another of their ships dropped out of warp, Sisko realised it wasn't going to be their day.

"I think discretion is the better part of valour at the moment. Mr Paris, set us back on course for the wormhole, maximum speed."

Paris nodded and turned the Defiant away from the battle it couldn't now win. But as his fingers moved over the controls to engage the warp engines, nothing happened.

Sisko turned to O'Brien. "Is there a problem, Chief?"

The Irishman was studying his board. "It seems the injectors are offline. I can't give you warp power for at least half an hour."

"We don't have half an hour Chief," Sisko reminded him, a hard phaser hit from the Jem'Hadar backing him up. "Is there any way you can reroute power?"

O'Brien shook his head miserably. "I can't get it done quickly enough," he admitted. "I'm not a miracle worker."

Sisko looked grimly at Captain Janeway. Another hit made her stumble, but he caught her arm and stopped her from falling.

"It looks like we're not getting out of this one either," he said as an explosion towards the rear of the bridge caused them both to duck.

"I guess not," she replied, her eyes showing steely determination. "What do you say we give them a send-off to remember?"

Sisko grinned. "I was just going to suggest that."

The two ship commanders stood together on the bridge of the Defiant. Around them the crew worked to clear the worst of the damage and keep the ship operational, at least for a few more minutes.

"Bring us about Mr Paris," Sisko instructed. "Let's face the enemy again."

On the screen the Jem'Hadar ships paused, wondering why the Federation ship, which seemed about to flee, was turning back. Were they about to deploy some hidden weapon?

"I think you should give the order," Sisko said to Janeway.

She shook her head. "Why don't we give it together?"

He nodded. "Good idea."

The crew around them waited. They knew their fate now. They knew there was no getting out of this situation. But they were determined, as the crew of Voyager had been before them, to go down fighting.

Both Sisko and Janeway took a breath. "All ahead, ramming speed!" they ordered together.

To his credit, and despite his new won freedom and civilian status, Tom Paris seemed almost eager at the helm. "Ramming speed confirmed!" he reported, launching the ship towards its unsuspecting attackers.

O'Brien and Bashir exchanged looks. They wouldn't be spending any more time in the holosuites at Quarks, with their historical battle simulations.

Harry Kim glanced at his new friend at the helm. Looking over his shoulder, Tom Paris smiled at Harry and winked.

Sitting alone and contemplating his fate, Odo thought of Kira Nerys, safely back on Deep Space Nine. He experienced a pang of regret that he would never see her again.

Ben Sisko and Kathryn Janeway stood shoulder to shoulder, two old friends united in one final act of defiance against a foe that had destroyed both their ships and crews.

The USS Defiant, Starfleet Registry NX-74205, ploughed into the lead Jem'Hadar ship and exploded. The force of the blast caught the second ship, which was also destroyed in a ball of fire.

***

Captain Kathryn Janeway watched as the mass of fire and twisted wreckage that had been three ships quickly cooled in the airless vacuum of space. An airless vacuum she was currently standing on, without any apparent means of support. She also seemed to be able to breathe normally.

"Ah, such noble self sacrifice," said Q, who was standing beside her. He put his hand to his brow in a mocking gesture.

Janeway scowled at him. "So if we hadn't got dragged into the Delta Quadrant, we could have caused the destruction of Voyager and the Defiant?"

"Not only that," Q replied smugly. "With the destruction of the Defiant and the loss of most of Sisko's command crew, the Founders saw an opportunity. They sent an occupying force through the wormhole. While Major Kira and Bajoran Defence ships put up a good fight, they couldn't stop the Dominion claiming Deep Space Nine and controlling the wormhole."

Janeway's scowl turned to a frown. "Then what? I assume the Federation sent a force against them?"

"Oh yes, but not until the Dominion had sent a full invasion force through to their new bridgehead. From there, they made alliances with the Cardassians and the Romulans. With those powers on their side, it didn't take long to destroy the powerbases of the Federation and the Klingon Empire. They went on to dominate the Alpha and Beta Quadrants."

The Captain shivered at the thought. She had never really contemplated the consequences of their enforced stay in the Delta Quadrant, or of what would have happened if they hadn't been transported across the galaxy. Now she knew.

"So, am I talking to a ghost, or are you willing to settle for returning to the Delta Quadrant?"

Janeway sighed. "I don't have any choice. At least now I know for sure I took the right decision when I stranded us there."

"And it seems you've made the right decision again, my dear Kathryn," Q told her, snapping his fingers.

***

Captain Kathryn Janeway sat bolt upright in her bed, perspiration streaming down her face. The room was in darkness, only the trails of stars passing at high warp making any illumination.

"Lights!" she commanded.

Squinting against the sudden glare, she threw back the covers and headed for the washroom. Once there she splashed cold water onto her face.

Looking up, she stared at her reflection. She looked tired. It had been a long and exhausting night with little sleep, especially after that nightmare.

She opened her mouth to address her mirror image, when a voice seemed to whisper in her ear.

"Be careful what you wish for..."

She snapped her head around but there was nobody there, not even a superbeing. But she decided not to voice her own thought, just in case it hadn't been a nightmare after all.