DARK ROSE

 

By cygirl1

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Star Trek is the property of Paramount. I am not making profit from this story.

 

SUMMARY: B'Elanna/Seven and Janeway/ Female. Voyager has made it back to the Alpha Quadrant but along the way, Seven and Harry Kim are stranded in Romulan Territory and fall into the hands of the Tal Shiar. B'Elanna and Tom, with the help of Romulan allies, attempt a rescue.

 

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is the sequel to my story Your Love Is An Oasis. I would suggest you read that story first to get some background information on how B'Elanna and Seven got together. In addition, it would help you understand some of the teasing and puns.

 

The events in the episode of MUSE, in Season 6 of Voyager, are mentioned.

 

Women Warriors At The River Of Blood is a novel mentioned in Voyager. B’Elanna was reading it in the episode ‘Real Life‘.

 

Vulcan Love Slave is a Holosuite program that is mentioned in Deep Space Nine and in several ‘Trek’ novels. The sequel is Vulcan Love Slave. Part Two: The Revenge.

 

In my story, Voyager never ran across the Borg Children. Voyager makes it back home earlier than seven years: More near six years and nine months. PG17 for some four-letter words, descriptions of consenting sex between women, unwanted sexual advances toward one of the main characters (NO RAPE), and violence, but not in the extreme.

 

The following story has some Romulan words and phrases:

 

Romulus: Ch'Rihan or sometimes seen as ch'Rihan

 

Romulan People: Rihannsu

 

Air, Water, Fire, and Earth. Rihannsu identify themselves with the Four Elements.

 

 Frahdha’nia Kholairlh-a nahi: What in the element’s name. An exclamation of surprise.

 

 Jol-ao-au: I love you.

 

Klivam: Derogatory word for Klingon.

 

Lagga uh’ j hu: A flower for an Angel.

 

Mnhei'sahe, “The ruling passion." Which centers on honor, duty, courtesy and strength.

 

 

 

 V-ri nanov: Adopted mother.

 

 

 

 

 

x

 

Sela is encountered in Star Trek: The Next Generation. She is the daughter of an alternate time line Tasha Yar and a Romulan official. This version of Yar went back in time to serve on the Enterprise-C, which was captured by the Romulans. (See The Next Generation episode of "Yesterday's Enterprise") Yar agreed to become the concubine of a Romulan official to save her fellow crewmembers. This union led to the birth of Sela, around 2345.

 

Yar attempted to escape with her daughter in 2349, but Sela did not want to go and revealed the plot. Yar was discovered and executed. Sela grew up to become an operative for the Roman Empire and a military officer. In my story, I have her serving as a Tal Shiar officer. Sela's first appearance was in the episode "The Mind’s Eye", and later in the episodes "Redemption, Part II" and "Unification. I and II"

 

x

 

Chapter One

 

“Time. 0600.”

 

“Computer. Lights at one quarter.” Seven’s voice was at a lower octave than usual having just awoken. She remained still, not wanting to extricate herself from the warmth of her wife’s body spooned behind her, feeling the soft breasts pressed against her back and one arm draped around her waist. She heard a groan close to her ear, feeling the soft warmth move against her, and then a soft mouth and nose nuzzle the back of her neck under her hair. The arm that was around her waist moved upward, and she felt a soft warm hand gently cup and squeeze her right breast. She felt hot, moist breath in her ear then a sharp nip on her earlobe. “We do not have sufficient time to engage in making love.”

 

“Uhm, how much time do we have?” B’Elanna enquired in a sleep-roughed voice.

 

“Fifty-six minutes and twenty seconds before we present our final report at the senior staff meeting. Captain Janeway will no longer tolerate our tardiness.” Seven turned over on her back and pulled B’Elanna over and on top of her, drawing her head down for a kiss.

 

B‘Elanna softly growled, “So what. The captain doesn’t have a beautiful woman in her bed when she wakes up in the morning or she would understand. Besides, we’ve only been late a couple of times.”

 

“Twelve times since we returned to duty one hundred and twenty days ago.”

 

“Big deal,” B’Elanna snorted. “That works out to what? Once every ten days.” She ran the tip of her tongue in the crease around the rim of Seven’s ear, causing her be’nal to feel a delicious shiver course down her spine.

 

Seven groaned but managed to say, “Incorrect, as we have had seventy meetings to date. One day out of every 5.833 is the correct correlation.”

 

B‘Elanna chuckled and said, “Who’s counting? Besides, we were late for only a couple of minutes--five at most.” B‘Elanna straddled Seven’s waist and placed her hands beneath her be’nal’s generous breasts, lifting them slightly and sighing. She watched as the pink nipples hardened and the areolaes pebbled. “Uhmm, I can’t leave these beauties pining for my attention now, can I?” She leaned down and taking a nipple between her teeth, lightly bit and flicked her tongue over it.

 

Seven squirmed and groaned, pulling B’Elanna down for a hard kiss, wrapping her legs around her be’nal.

 

B’Elanna abruptly pulled away, slid off her be’nal to stand by the bed, reaching her arms up high and arching her back in a long feline stretch, her breasts pert and stomach muscles taut. “Well, I guess you’re right, duty before pleasure.”

 

Seven quickly sat up, reached out catching B’Elanna by her right arm, and pulled her back in bed and on top of her. “You are correct. It is your duty to attend to my pleasure before we proceed with our schedules.”

 

B’Elanna melted into her be’nal and laughed. “If only all duties were so pleasurable.”

 

x

 

Captain Janeway entered the Conference Room, took her seat at the head of the table, and quickly looked around her, noting that all of her senior staff were here save for her Astrometrics Officer and Chief of Engineering. It was now two minutes until 0700 hours. She had given precise orders that no one was to be late to this meeting due to its importance. She couldn’t very well start without Seven and B’Elanna. The two informed her last evening of the final simulation of the transwarp coil, and Janeway planned this meeting to discuss the preparations that they would require for a successful trip back to the Alpha Quadrant.

 

Tuvok was perusing a padd and Chakotay was rubbing his tattoo with his index finger; something the Commander often did while thinking or waiting. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Tom nudging Harry while looking at his wristwatch and whispering a countdown, a smug look on his face. No doubt, he expected to win on a wager involving the two absent officers. She heard him whispering, “Six, Five, Four...” and was just about to nail him with a force ten stare, when the door whisked open at the count of ‘one’, and her two wayward officers entered. She quickly noticed the sour look on Tom’s face and the smile on Harry’s. She then knew for sure they were betting to see if the two officers would make it on time to the meeting.

 

She let her glance rest on the two arrivals, and smirked when she saw B'Elanna’s flushed face. She had a suspicion that that look came from dallying in bed too long with her wife, as was further evidenced by the dazed look in her eyes. Seven, of course, was immaculate. She could go through a velocity match and five minutes later look like a cadet for a Starfleet recruiting poster.

 

Seven had taken to wearing her hair in a loose ponytail held at the base of her neck by a wide gold hair clip, with nary a strand out of place. Since her and B’Elanna’s ordeal on the desert planet, she had taken to wearing a Starfleet Science Officers uniform, and Janeway thought she was far more alluring in a uniform than in those skintight biosuits, as was demonstrated by the generally approving glances of the crew when she passed them in the corridors.

 

She was also more approachable since embarking on her relationship with B’Elanna, and Janeway noticed that she smiled more frequently. Crewmates had now taken to greeting her in the hall and she returned their greeting with a slight smile and comment, rather than walking on by as if they didn‘t exist or were unworthy of notice.

 

That wasn’t the only change. Since marrying Seven, B’Elanna was more patient with her crew and less volatile when things didn’t go right. She was more willing to delegate responsibilities, and worked within her schedule instead of working 10-11 hour days, unless there was an emergency that required more time to resolve. She had taken to wearing her hair in a more attractive and Klingon manner; the loosely flowing waves a reflection of her more relaxed attitude. She didn’t seem as angry and easy to take offense as she once had. Yes indeed, marriage was definitely good for B’Elanna, or to be more precise, it was Seven who was good for B’Elanna. All it takes is the power of love and a certain Borg. Resistance is futile.

 

Janeway cleared her throat and said, “Now that everyone is here, we can begin. As you are aware, Seven and B’Elanna have been working diligently on perfecting a viable transwarp coil that will return us to the Alpha Quadrant. I’ll let them give you an update.” She looked expectedly at the two women.

 

B'Elanna smirked and facetiously said, “You want the good news first or the ah…flip side?”

 

Janeway, in good spirits answered, “Give us the good news.”

 

“All simulations show that it works.” There was a few seconds of silence before everyone started talking at once.

 

Janeway held up her hand for silence, clearing her throat before inquiring, “And?”

 

“We will need to equip the Delta Flyer with a small reflector array as it needs to follow in Voyager’s wake. The Flyer will be within Voyager’s transwarp bubble and the array will strengthen the transwarp signature, preventing the conduit from closing prematurely. Hmm, Seven, you give them the rest.”

 

Seven utilized a projector, which created a three dimensional star chart above the middle of the table. “We have constructed a coil based on that which the Borg utilize. Since the coil is composed of actual Borg components and those designed along Borg specifications, we could not improve the compatibility of the unit to operate efficiently with Voyager’s warp core power for the time needed to reach the Alpha Quadrant. Our simulations show that the transwarp corridor opened for a period of 2.47 minutes before collapsing, which would allow us to go a distance of 20,000 light years. This would put us in this sector and close to the border that separates the Delta from the Beta Quadrant.” A small area in the star chart lit up. “We found that if we elongated the warp bubble to a distance of at least 1000 Kilometers behind Voyager, it would facilitate an increase in time to 3.01 minutes. We would reach this area of the Alpha Quadrant.” She used her control padd to highlight the area. “Voyager’s array can only be used to keep the corridor open in its forward progress. We tried mounting a small array on Voyagers aft position, however, the power required to stretch the warp bubble drains needed energy from the forward array, causing the integrity of the field to collapse. The simulations show that if we mount a small deflector on the Delta Flyer, we can extend the bubble to the required amount needed. The corridor will collapse but not before we achieve our objective of reaching the Alpha quadrant.”

 

All eyes were  on the display with the pinpoint of light blinking in the Alpha Quadrant. Janeway’s expression showed a fleeting glance of worry before she went back to ‘Captain Mode’. “That puts us right at the edge of the Romulan Neutral Zone.”

 

Seven said, “Yes, Captain. We have a seventy-eight percent chance of making it to Federation Space and a nineteen percent chance of making it to this point.” A pinpoint of light activated just barely inside the neutral zone.

 

“That leaves three percent,” Commander Chakotay noted.

 

Seven activated another pinpoint of light a small distance from the neutral zone but well in Romulan space.

 

Janeway smirked and said, “That’s hardly a risk after what we have gone through out here in the Delta Quadrant.”

 

Tom piped up, “If that’s the bad news, then I don’t think we’ll be losing sleep over it.”

 

Seven looked at Tom and replied, “That is the good news. The negative aspect is to keep the Delta Flyer within the transwarp bubble at a precise distance from Voyager of 200 meters. Any deviation will cause the aft bubble to collapse, expelling Voyager and the Delta Flyer from the corridor and into the Delta Quadrant, or somewhere in the Beta Sector, perhaps even in Romulan space. We have boosted the engines of the Delta Flyer to obtain a maximum warp of eight. This will facilitate a sufficient entry into the transwarp bubble in Voyagers wake. Voyager must not exceed warp eight. The ideal speed for optimum safety would be at warp 7. 2.”

 

Tom said in his self-assured voice, “Piece of cake. With me at the helm of the Flyer you’ll be having dinner in Federation space on the same day we leave here.”

 

B’Elanna rolled her eyes. “It’s not going to be a ‘cake walk’, Tom. We will need you to pilot Voyager. The main turbulence occurs as the transwarp coil tears open space in front of Voyager to create the corridor. If Voyager is unable to navigate the eddies and deviates even slightly, it could cause the projected signature from Voyager to the Flyer’s reflector to fluctuate and collapse the bubble in her wake. That‘s why Seven and I will be in the Delta Flyer trying to adjust for any fluctuations.”

 

Janeway looked at both women and said, “Who will insure the steady operation of the transwarp coil and handle any problems that may arise in Engineering?”

 

B’Elanna glanced down at the table before looking at Janeway. “Well, I’m training both Carey and Vorik to handle the transwarp coil and make any adjustments to the deflector. They are both able to take care of any engineering crisis that may arise.”

 

“Is it necessary for you to be on the Flyer or can Seven handle the array?”

 

“Er, I thought I would go along as pilot.”

 

“I see. Well, I will go over your report before I make any final decisions as to what personnel are to go where. When can we have Voyager and the Flyer ready?”

 

Seven replied, “In approximately sixteen days, Captain.”

 

“Start right away. Take whatever personnel you need to get the job done. Our next transmission from Starfleet is in seven days. I will send them a packet with the information and expected place and time of arrival. It will be their decision if they want to contact the Romulans and try to get their cooperation if we should end up in Romulan space. Do we have any questions?”

 

Chakotay looking at Janeway, inquired, “Do we inform the crew, Captain?”

 

“Yes. They need to know. I had rather them hear the facts from us than have any wild speculations flying about at warp ten. Everyone needs to do his or her part in helping to achieve the success of this. We will give them the facts, both positive and negative. I want to know from all of you what the feelings of the crew are about this so we can address any concerns. Now on to other business…”

 

x

 

B‘Elanna walked beside Seven and said, “Uhh. I’m starving. Let’s get breakfast in the mess hall. I thought the Doc would never shut up about that damn home brew Ensign Jackson and Watson are making. It has to be at least 120 proof. Any fool that would drink that stuff deserves to feel like a photon torpedo exploded in their guts and head.”

 

Seven entered the turbo lift with B’Elanna. “Deck two. It is obvious that you have knowledge of Ensign Jackson and Watson‘s endeavor of producing a prohibited and obviously dangerous substance. As an officer you were obligated to report this to the Captain, were you not?” Seven’s ice blue eyes bored straight into B’Elanna’s surprised, dark brown ones.

 

“Err. Well, I ah…“ B’Elanna said sheepishly. She glanced at Seven and noticed that the ice blue stare did not waver. She sighed resignedly and said, “Okay, I had a small taste. A very small taste. A teensy weensy taste. I didn’t report them because every Starship, Maquis ship, and merchant ship, I have been on has a secret still that the Captain doesn’t know about, or turns a blind eye to. They probably had one on Noah’s ark, too. I’m sure Janeway knew someone on the ship had one, but didn’t want the details. Hell, she probably had a nip or two herself. If some of the crew hadn’t over indulged and told old Doc, she would have let it go. Now, it’s in Voyager’s log and Janeway has to follow the rules. If I know Jackson and Watson, despite having to scrub out the plasma conduits for a week, they‘ll be back in business. Hopefully, they will stick to making wine, like they used to do.”

 

She gave Seven a big smile and hoping to change the subject, added, “I think I could go for a big plate of banana pancakes and a side order of hash browns. Especially after that workout you gave me this morning.” She then wiggled her eyebrows up and down.

 

Seven maintained her icy demeanor and said, “You are attempting to divert my attention from the subject.”

 

The turbo lift stopped at deck two, and before the doors opened, B’Elanna quickly grabbed Seven by her chin and planted a kiss on her lips. The turbo lift doors swished open, B’Elanna stepped out and waited for Seven. Smiling coyly, she said,  “Was I successful?” She noticed the corners of Seven’s lips quirk up in a small smile, and took her be’nal’s hand in hers as they proceeded to walk the few yards to the mess hall.

 

There was still a lingering smile on Seven’s slightly upturned lips as she replied, “Perhaps.” She gave B’Elanna’s hand an affectionate squeeze.

 

Many of the crew in the mess hall greeted them. None offered them a seat, as the two were still considered to be in the Honeymoon stage, preferring to eat breakfast alone. On the occasions when they didn’t take meals in their quarters, they would gladly accept invitations or invite others to dine at their table in the mess hall. Seven would listen intently to their conversations, often joining in, asking questions in a polite voice, and smiling at their jokes. She even surprised the crew with her dry humor. The gossip making the rounds was that B’Elanna had managed to melt the Ice Queen, and Seven had tamed the Klingon.

 

Seven took a chance on Neelix’s Tagrath grain hot cereal with a dollop of replicated honey, and a glass of milk. B’Elanna used her replicator allotment for banana pancakes with maple syrup, and milk. They found a table by the window, and B’Elanna no sooner took a seat before she started eating her pancakes, and said around a mouthful, “Good, but not like my Nana could make.”

 

Seven took a sip of her milk and said, “You make that observation every time you consume them.”

 

B‘Elanna quickly swallowed her next bite. “It’s true. She made them from scratch and the maple syrup was the real thing. When we get back to the Alpha Quadrant I will make you the real thing with real bananas and maple syrup from real maple trees.”

 

Seven looked across the table at her mate. “B’Elanna, we have not discussed, nor have we made plans, for our future when we arrive in the Alpha Quadrant.”

 

“I know. If it’s okay with you, I would like to go to Qo'noS, make peace with my mother, and learn more about my Klingon heritage. We don’t have to stay long.”

 

“We will stay as long as you desire. If you like, we can make our home there.”

 

B‘Elanna’s smile was sappy. “You really are wonderful bang'wI.” She paused and then added, “I don’t know about a home there. Is there anywhere you would like to live? I know you have relatives on Earth. Maybe you would like to visit them for a while…maybe live on earth. I’m not adverse to that. Some of my father’s relatives still live on Earth.”

 

“I have no desire to live on Earth, or for that matter, anywhere else, except with you.” She looked at B’Elanna tenderly and said in a soft voice, “Wherever you are, bang’wI, is my home,”

 

B‘Elanna gave Seven a melting look and sighed. “You say the most wonderful things and you’re a wonderful be'nal. I feel the same way. But, I do think you need to see your relatives. I know your aunt and cousins have contacted you through the array. It‘s important for them, I think, to meet you and you to meet them. They are a part of your parents’ history. And through your parents, they are a part of your history.”

 

“I will visit my father’s sister, Irene Hansen. I believe I have an obligation to inform her of what occurred to her brother and my mother. It is an obligation I am not looking forward to performing.”

 

B‘Elanna reached across the table and rubbed the back of Seven‘s Borg hand. “I know. You know I’ll be there with you to give what support I can.”

 

“Yes. You are an exceptional mate. Thank you.” Seven took a sip of her milk before adding, “We need to decide our futures as far as careers. I know that Starfleet has pardoned the Maquis, and since I was born a Federation citizen, and married both a Federation and Klingon Citizen, Captain Janeway believes that Starfleet will not take me into custody as a threat to the Federation--”

 

B’Elanna interrupted and snarled, “If they touch a hair on your head they will rue the day they were born.” She continued in a calmer voice, “I sent a copy of our wedding certificate through the array to the Klingon Embassy on Earth. Since you are my be’nal, you are a full citizen of the Empire. I doubt Starfleet would want to start a confrontation. Klingons are warriors, but believe me, they have their romantic side and would champion our cause.”

 

Seven’s mouth flicked up at the corners in a decidedly seductive smile, and her voice sounded almost like a purr when she said, “Yes, I have personal experience with their… romantic side.” The look that accompanied this comment made B’Elanna tingle. Seven continued, “I have also read Women Warriors At The River Of Blood, which was very informative on Klingon romantic and sexual customs.”

 

B‘Elanna drew her head back slightly in obvious surprise before blurting out, “Gee, Seven, I thought I recycled that thing. It’s fiction and has nothing to do with reality, especially the sex scenes.” B’Elanna then gave Seven a salacious look and softly growled, “Believe me ‘be’nal, you’re so good in the love making department, you could write a manual on it.”

 

“That would be plagiarism, as I obtained my information on how to perform Klingon sexual practices from, Women Warriors At The River Of Blood.”

 

B'Elanna's eyes widened slightly in mild alarm. Kahless. I have to delete ‘Vulcan Love Slave’ from my collection of holosuite programs before Seven finds it, or she’ll think I’m into all that stuff and wasn’t just curious.’ She then smugly smiled. Yeow, with a be’nal like Seven, I don’t need no stinking holo-sex programs.

 

Chapter Two

 

Seven knelt on the deck by an open panel, making final adjustments to the deflector on the Delta Flyer. “Mr. Kim. A micro spanner please.” Harry Kim handed Seven a micro spanner and resumed reading his padd. Seven had selected Harry to help her install the reflector array in the Delta Flyer.

 

Janeway had called a meeting earlier that morning and announced that Harry would pilot the Delta Flyer as he had a hand in building and designing it, as well as a familiarity with the deflector, as he and Seven were working to install it. Seven would monitor the deflector in the Delta Flyer and B’Elanna would monitor the transwarp coil on board Voyager. Tuvok would handle Voyager’s deflector. B’Elanna was not too pleased that she wouldn’t be with Seven on the Delta Flyer, but understood why Janeway needed her on Voyager, as she knew the transwarp coil inside out.

 

“So, Seven? You and B’Elanna make any plans for when we return to the Alpha Quadrant?” asked Harry.

 

“We shall disembark on Earth, where we will proceed to the Klingon embassy. There, we will finalize my citizenship as a citizen of the Klingon Empire. We will proceed to stay with Captain Janeway, either at her residence in San Francisco, or at her mother‘ residence, while I arrange to visit my aunt. We will proceed to visit my aunt and I will attempt to explain to her what occurred to my father and mother. I am not looking forward to it. Following the visit to my aunt’s, we will return to Captain Janeway’s residence and obtain times and dates for a trip to Qo'noS. Captain Janeway might be able to obtain passage for us on a Starfleet vessel instead of a civilian starship. We will depart Earth. Depending on whether we are provided Starfleet passage, or that of a civilian ship, it will take us approximately--"

 

“Uh, Seven? That’s not what I meant. Have you and B’Elanna decided where you are going to live? And what career paths you will each pursue?”

 

“No.”

 

“Oh. Uh. I guess you have plenty of time to decide that when we get home.”

 

“Indeed.” Seven closed the panel and stood up. “We will now commence with testing procedure 15 Alpha.”

 

“Right, 15 Alpha.” Harry activated a communications console and said, “Lieutenant Torres, commence with testing procedure 15 Alpha.”

 

“Acknowledged, 15 Alpha has been initiated.”

 

Seven viewed the control panel while entering in the data. After a few moments, she announced, “The test was successful.”

 

B’Elanna still had the communications line open. “That’s great. It looks like we’re on schedule for the day after tomorrow. Let‘s call it quits for now and head for the mess hall. Bring Starfleet, he‘s treating.”

 

Harry suspiciously asked, “Wait a minute. Why am I treating?”

 

“I know you have a zillion replicator credits stashed away. No way you’re gonna be able to spend them all in two days. So, as your good friend, I thought I would help you get rid of them.”

 

“Oh, yeah. Right. Actually, I only have twenty-seven. Tom has been mooching off me since Neelix cleaned him out a few months ago.”

 

“Hey, that’s what Tom PetaQ gets for running bets on my love life. I thought by now he would have come up with a new scheme to fill his coffers.”

 

“Well, ever since his big loss, he has had a run of bad luck and owes everybody.”

 

“Ha. You know Starfleet, by helping him out you’re just feeding the beast. I bet he has a pool betting on when Voyager reaches home. At least he learned his lesson and won’t involve my personal life in his little schemes anymore.”

 

Harry was silent for a little too long and Seven noticed him grimace.

 

Despite not being able to see Harry, B‘Elanna noticed the strained silence. “Starfleet, you would tell me if he was making betting pools on me or Seven, wouldn’t you?"

 

“Ah…sure, B’Elanna,” He hesitantly answered.

 

“Hmmm. Okay, good. Now back to those twenty-seven credits you have. It’ll be a big steak and baked potato with sour cream for me. Oh, and a big piece of Texas toast, too. What will it be for you, Seven?”

 

“I shall have chicken Parmesan, baby asparagus sautéed in butter, and a dinner roll.”

 

“Wait a minute. That comes to over twenty credits. I won’t have any left for my dinner,” Harry groused.

 

Seven smirked and answered, “It comes to exactly twenty-six credits. You shall have one credit left.”

 

“Well, it is your lucky day, Starfleet. One credit is enough to get you a glass of tea to wash down Neelix’s Leola Root Surprise. See ya, B‘Elanna out.”

 

Harry looked beseechingly at Seven, and whined, “That’s not fair.”

 

“Fair is irrelevant,” Seven replied in her Borg monotone.

 

x

 

Captain Janeway looked at her Senior Staff seated around the conference table. She had listened to the various reports on the ship’s readiness to undertake the mission to return to the Alpha Quadrant. “Starfleet has been informed of our approximate time and place of arrival tomorrow. They will have several ships, not only at the expected points of arrival, but also ships at various distances surrounding those points if we should arrive at a different location. The Romulans have agreed to assist us if we should emerge from the corridor in their space. I think their cooperation has something to do with the fact that we were allies in the Dominion War.”

 

She then smiled and continued, “I have some important news for three of you here at this table. I put in a request for promotions and appointments to Starfleet, and they have been approved.” Janeway fixed her gaze on Ensign Harry Kim and allowed her smile to broaden. “Let it go on record that Ensign Harry Kim has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, Jr. Grade. Congratulations, Lieutenant Kim.” Janeway stood and motioned Harry over to her, and amidst the applause and cheers, pinned a black pip on his collar next to his gold one.

 

“Thank you, Captain.” Harry was all smiles.

 

“I want to thank you, Lieutenant, for your outstanding service to me, the crew, and this ship.”

 

Harry took his seat and Tom patted his back in congratulations.

 

Janeway remained standing and reached for a small envelope on the Table. “For her outstanding Service to me, this crew, and Voyager, Annika Hansen has been awarded the provisional rank of Senior Lieutenant.” Every one clapped and B’Elanna threw her arms around Seven’s neck, giving her a hug.

 

Seven gave B‘Elanna a questioning look, not knowing quite what to do. B‘Elanna looked at her wife with pride and said, “Go ahead and take it, Seven, you earned it.”

 

Seven rose from her seat and walked up to Janeway, who attached the oblong gold bar with two horizontal gold stripes onto her collar. She grinned and said, “Seven, thank you for all you have done for us. You’ve come through for us many times.”

 

“Thank you, Captain Janeway. I will serve to the best of my ability.”

 

“Of that I have no doubts,” Janeway said with her trademark lopsided smile.

 

Tom Paris looked over at B’Elanna and smirked. “Hey B’Elanna, she outranks you now. Guess she will be giving you orders.”

 

B’Elanna smiled good-naturedly and said, “And this will differ, how?” This caused everyone to laugh. Seven went back to her seat and B’Elanna reached over and squeezed her shoulder, looking at her be’nal with pride. Seven gave B’Elanna a pleased smile.

 

Captain Janeway reached for another envelope. “I have one more. For her outstanding service to Voyager, Lieutenant. Jr. Grade, B‘Elanna Torres, has been awarded the rank of Provisional Lieutenant Commander.”

 

Tom exclaimed, “What! Two whole jumps in rank. Gee, she’ll be bossing me around.”

 

Seven hugged a surprised B‘Elanna who rose from her seat and walked over to Janeway who pinned her Lieutenant Commander Bar on her collar. “B‘Elanna, we wouldn’t have made it this far without your expertise in engineering. You have done an outstanding job.”

 

Chakotay gave a “Hear, Hear” and among the cheers and clapping, B’Elanna took her seat next to Seven, who hugged her neck.

 

Janeway said, “Well folks, we have a big day tomorrow. I know with all the excitement it will be hard for many of us, as well as the crew, to get any work done. Just check to make sure there are no problems that we can‘t handle. Try to get some sleep tonight. I want everyone awake and aware tomorrow. We have come this far and I don‘t want any miscalculations because of fatigue to ruin our chances. Try to impart this to the crew also.”

 

The Doctor spoke up, “I don’t want any calls in the wee hours of the morning due to injuries received because of rowdy behavior or over indulgence in synthehol.” He looked at Tom and sniffed, “I heard all about the ‘Last Night in the Delta Quadrant’ party you’re throwing. I will b