Chapter Text
“These were the travels of the starship Voyager, our ongoing mission was to return home without compromising ourselves and our values, to still explore strange new worlds, seek out new life and new civilizations, to return from where no Alpha Quadrant species has come back from before. One undiscovered country from which none return has now been explored. Discovery has been a part of Starfleet’s mission since before the Federation. We have seen further from the shoulders of giants.
“Voyager promptly succeeded in its initial mission, locating the Maquis vessel Val Jean, but not before we found ourselves in the same predicament. We brought them back, but not as security officer and prisoner, but as one crew. In our first encounter with Delta Quadrant enemies, he rammed their ship with his to take the pressure off ours. I’m glad we were able to beam him out.
“The Federation is built on the principle of a better future by cooperation, which still held true 70,000 light years from home. As for how well we have bonded, I believe certain evidence will particularly interest Admiral Paris.”
The viewscreen cut to a new family in sickbay. “Spoken like a true scientist, Kathryn”
“Dad, not only is your son back, but also your daughter-in-law and granddaughter.”
“She must be something special to get you to settle down,” Owen pointed out. “I can’t wait to see you three in person. I am not as cold as some say.”
The laughs were no lie – many of the crew had remembered what Tom had once been, not least Tom himself. He’d been an idiot to B’Elanna at first – and to Veronica Stadi, his predecessor at the helm, one of the losses on the fateful first day. A new girlfriend and new boss who wouldn’t stand for the old him had inspired the new him.
He was grateful Harry had come to like him before finding out about his deadly mistake years before. First Officer Cavit, and the human the EMH had replaced, were amongst those who had treated him horribly, and he had come to somewhat of an understanding why. Still, his situation was not without precedent. Michael Burnham had been involved in the spark of war with the Klingons of 2256, Ro Laren had been responsible for the deaths of some away team members, both released from prison when needed for service.
“Now where was I? After seven years of arduous service marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude, we have accomplished our new mission. The officers and crew can soon return to their homes – their homes on Earth or elsewhere in the Federation – though Voyager had became our new home. Wherever you go, you will take with you the satisfaction of duty faithfully performed. With admiration of your devotion to the Federation, Starfleet, and your fellow crew, we shall soon bid farewell, but not yet.”
“We met not only Delta Quadrant races but also some of our own abducted to the quadrant. It was thought absurd in the 20th century, but that is truly what happened to Amelia Earhart.”
A command division ensign stepped forth. “I was on the frontier of the 1930’s and was intrigued to be on that of the 2370’s. I had not broken the speed of sound, and here we are at many times the speed of light.” She thought to herself Fred when he thought he was dying said he had feelings for me and we felt it better to part ways.
“Other people abducted alongside me took back the planet we’d been taken to. The leader of that settlement offered to let the Voyager crew stay, and Captain Janeway passed that offer along. Not a single person abandoned ship. From the beginning, Janeway was someone to follow, and Earth somewhere to follow her to.”
It was indistinct where the cheers came from because there were so many sources. Those who had played the Henry V holonovel felt nearly 800 year old words about a nearly millennia old battle ring true. He which hath no stomach to this fight, let him depart; his passport shall be made, and crowns for convoy put into his purse. We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us.
“With her, it has been a pleasure to meet one of my heroes.” Likewise, Tom had said teaching Amelia to fly was like teaching Robin Hood to shoot, very good for the ego, and B’Elanna said flyboys didn’t need any help in that department.
“I’ve been glad to see a lot of what I’ve seen, but most recently I was happy to report to the helm with Mr. Paris having personal business in sickbay. I’ve come to feel as at home with a 2370’s yoke as a 1930’s one.” The manual steering column was not just an ancient affectation; it allowed for particularly precise control. “This planet is awe-inspiring enough from a few kilometers up let alone a few hundred.”
“And to speak of a latter-day hero, Jean-Luc Picard is no longer the only former Borg drone liberated from the Collective.”
Another woman stepped forward, this one in blue rather than red. “Captain Janeway was instrumental in guiding me back to Humanity after over a decade as a drone. The Doctor was instrumental in surgically removing my Borg instruments.”
“Was that a joke? You are becoming more Human,” Harry whispered.
She tapped her eyepiece. “This had been essential to my functioning, but once such time had passed, I had grown accustomed to it along with my crewmates, and I feel it makes adequate ornamentation.”
“Thank you, Annika.”
“I repaid that favor when we found more of the Collective’s victims, and now Icheb is like a son to me. He insisted upon risking himself to salvage one of his Borg components to replace mine.
Naomi Wildman was close to her, but her own mother was alive and well. Once Neelix had soothed her fears about ‘the Borg lady’, Annika had become a friend akin to a big sister or aunt. The girl was intelligent and motivated, likely going quite far in life. Annika endeavored to be a positive influence on her, and she had no lack of tutors. If they hadn’t found faster ways home, she might’ve been part of turning it into a generational ship. She was the first child born on Voyager, but even within just seven years, hardly the last. “I also have my own daughter, a process Lieutenant Kim was eager to participate in.” Despite holographic lessons, she had not fully grasped Human social graces.
“Because Harry’s attracted to women and has functional eyesight,” Tom whispered.
“A ship’s crew is a team. It lives, eats, sleeps, and fights as a team. Yet the individual hero stuff isn’t quite bullshit. On multiple occasions, the ship was saved by one or a few remaining crewmembers.” This had included the captain herself about four and half years ago. “Sometimes we had a holographic hero.” This was not without precedent. The Enterprise-D had sometimes been saved by android immunity to certain Human threats, and the A as well as the NX-01 by Vulcans’ greater resilience.
“I feel we had the best team – the people, their spirit, our equipment. I almost pitied the poor bastards we were up against.” The Kazon made Klingons look even-tempered and made Pakleds look smart, the Borg Collective was an assemblage of victims. “Even those not directly confronting the enemy were key to the mission, and remained at their posts just the same. We were constantly on the advance, constantly pressing on towards home. The smaller the crew, the greater the share of honor.”
Icheb was the only Delta Quadrant native to follow them back. One that left would be forever in their minds. Edward Davis had stood right by the turbolift as Neelix marched off to a colony of his fellow Talaxians. That man, ever-helpful, had been so much more than their cook. One of his many roles had been morale officer. The song Help was still a favorite of some ships’ counselors; Ensign Davis was pleased that that the lads, colossally popular in the 20th century, retained some of their appeal in the 24th. He thought of an even older local institution. Everton FC existing for 500 years now made his 7 years seem short.
They all wanted to go home, but there were some things to attend to aboard ship first. With their return assured, what was one more day after seven years? For now, some of home would come to them. Many immediate family of the crew would follow Owen Paris up into Earth orbit. That was a great deal of why many of them wanted so badly to come home – not the buildings or the landscapes, but the people.